Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the vestibulo-ocular reflex time constant in patients with benign recurrent vertigo associated with head-shaking nystagmus

Conclusions. When considering benign recurrent vertigo and a similar peripheral vestibular deficiency, the asymmetry of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) time constant (Tc) is lower in those patients with paretic head-shaking nystagmus (HSN) than in those with reversed HSN or without HSN. Objective: To determine whether the existence of HSN is related to the time constant of the VOR in patients with benign recurrent vertigo (BRV). Patients and methods. This was a prospective study conducted at a tertiary care center in which patients were subjected to the head-shaking test, the caloric test and rotatory chair impulsive test on the same day. The clinical features of the disease analyzed were the disease duration, frequency of vertigo spells, time since the last vertigo spell and the existence of migraine. The results of the head-shaking test were considered positive when nystagmus appeared after head-shaking had ended. Two groups of patients were established on the basis of these results and the group that displayed HSN was divided according to the direction of nystagmus. In the impulsive test, the time constant of the VOR after ipsilesional and contralesional acceleration was analyzed, as was the symmetry of the response. The differences in the means were calculated. Results: BRV was diagnosed in 25% of patients suffering recurrent spells of vertigo, of which 33 patients were HSN− and 29 were HSN+. In the latter group, vestibular migraine was frequently observed (83% of the patients), the spells of vertigo were more frequent and the patients were seen closer to the previous spell of vertigo. No differences were observed in the Tc of the VOR between HSN+ and HSN− patients, although the asymmetry of this Tc was higher in HSN− patients than in HSN+ patients. Nevertheless, the differences observed were only significant between paretic and reversed HSN patients and paretic HSN patients and HSN− patients.
PROGNOSIS FOR SPERM FERTILIZABILITY: ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENT VARIABLES IN MEN

An overview of various sperm tests is presented. The standard semen analysis obtained by most clinicians evaluating infertility usually consists of sperm concentration, percent motility, quality of motility, and sperm morphology. Unfortunately, unless the motile density is extremely low, the count and motility are not good prognosticators of fertility potential. Values above the norm for normal fertile couples unfortunately cannot reliably predict normal fertility potential. It is important to find sperm tests that are easy to perform, are relatively inexpensive, and provide an accurate prognosis. Strict morphology was hoped to be such a tool with initial optimism that it was far superior to standard morphology. Unfortunately, this test also failed to be the ideal inexpensive prognostic test after further evaluation. One test that is inexpensive and highly correlates with fertilizability is the presence of antisperm antibodies since their presence frequently does not alter count, motility, or morphology. This test should be performed as part of the routine semen analysis. Other tests highly correlate with the achievement of pregnancy and are simple and inexpensive to perform, but, interestingly, do not correlate with fertilizability. These include the hypoosmotic swelling test (HOST) and the sperm stress test. Abnormalities in these tests imply a different abnormality of sperm that leads to conception failure and that is the transfer of a toxic factor from the sperm to oocyte to embryo that prevents the embryo from implanting. Certainly, the simple, inexpensive HOST should be performed routinely. Other tests of sperm function, e.g., sperm penetration assay, sperm-zona pellucida binding assay, and acrosome reaction, have their definite place in the evaluation of the infertile male. However, because they are expensive and difficulty to perform they lend themselves to certain specific circumstances but not to routine testing.
Rates of cesarean section and perinatal outcome: Perinatal mortality

A comparison of relevant statistics from National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland and University Hospital, Newark, New Jersey, USA, for the years 1983‐1989, revealed that after removal of major confounding factors, such as a fourfold difference in < 2500 gram births and an about tenfold discrepancy in the frequency of lethal congenital defects, the perinatal survival rates in all weight categories were significantly higher in the American center. The findings suggest that optimum perinatal results could not be achieved in an American high risk center with the approximately 6% abdominal delivery rate favored in Dublin. The same data also suggest, however, that the 17.5% rate of abdominal deliveries in Newark was unnecessarily high. The favorable impact of the relatively liberal use of cesarean section might have been derived in this study from a marked reduction of in utero losses, in the absence of an identifiable effect upon the rate of neonatal mortality.
Renal angiomyolipoma with epithelial cysts : report of a rare cystic variant of angiomyolipoma and review of the literature

Angiomyolipoma with epithelial cysts (AMLEC), or cystic AML, is a recently characterized, distinctive cystic subtype of AML of the kidney. To date, less than two dozen of such case have been reported. Herein, we reported a prototypical case of AMLEC occurring in a 41-year-old female patient who presented with left low back pain for one month. Abdominal computed tomograph scan demonstrated a well-demarcated, 2.5-cm complex cystic mass in the mid-pole of left kidney which abutted renal capsule and protruded into perirenal fat. Laparoscopic tumorectomy was performed. Histologically, the tumor was composed of three components. The first component was multiple cysts lined by cuboidal to columnar epithelial cells. The second component was a compact layer of subepithelial “cambium-like” condensation composed of short-spindled to small round stromal cells. The third component was a thick exterior wall of plump smooth muscle cells that arranged in poorly formed fascicles, appearing to emanate from thick-walled, dysplastic blood vessels. Immunohistochemically, the subepithelial stromal cells showed strong and diffuse reactivity to antibodies against HMB45, melan A and CD10, and patchy reaction to antibodies against smooth muscle actin (SMA) and desmin. The exterior smooth muscle cells strongly and diffusely expressed SMA and desmin and occasionally expressed HMB45, melan-A and CD10. Both subepithelial stroma and exterior smooth muscle cells showed strong and diffuse nuclear labeling for ER and PR. The epithelium lining the cystic spaces labeled strongly with PAX8, AE1/AE3 and CK7, but not with melanocytic markers or hormone receptors. The patient has been alive with no evidence of disease for 8 months postoperatively. We summarize the clinicopathologic features of this usual variant of AML with an emphasis on differential diagnosis based on literature review.
Serum adipokines in patients with psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis alone and their correlation with disease activity

Objective To compare the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the levels of related biomarkers in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and psoriasis without arthritis (PsC). Methods This study compared patients with PsA and patients with PsC. The presence of MetS was determined. Serum levels of insulin, adiponectin and leptin were measured. The homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. HOMA-IR, adiponectin and leptin were log-transformed. Continuous variables were compared using the t test and the χ2 test was used for discrete variables. Multivariate regression models were used to investigate the association of MetS and adiponectin with PsA compared to PsC after adjusting for potential confounding variables. Results 203 PsA and 155 PsC patients were analysed. The prevalence of MetS was higher in PsA patients compared to those with PsC. However, this did not reach statistical significance (36.5% vs 27.1%, p=0.056). The levels of adipokines were significantly higher in PsA compared to PsC: adiponectin (8.8±5.2 vs 7.4±4.5 log (µg/ml), p=0.009) and leptin in women (3.1±0.8 vs 2.8±0.8, log (ng/ml), p=0.04). HOMA-IR was also higher in PsA (0.97±0.63 vs 0.68±0.81, p<0.001). No difference was observed in leptin levels in men. In multivariate regression analysis, PsA (p=0.04) and the psoriasis area and severity index score (p=0.02) were associated with MetS. Adiponectin was significantly associated with PsA (p=0.005), the use of anti-tumour necrosis factor α therapy (p=0.03) and active joint count (p=0.001). Conclusions MetS and related adipokines correlated with an increased burden of skin and joint inflammation.
Short- and long-term outcomes of primary Achilles tendon repair in cats: 21 Cases

Summary Objectives: To evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of surgically repaired Achilles tendons in cats. Methods: Twenty-one cats that underwent surgical repair of Achilles tendon injuries were retrospectively examined. Signalment, type of injury, time from injury to surgery, the surgical repair, complications, and long-term outcomes were recorded. Statistical comparisons were made between traumatic and atraumatic injuries using Student’s paired t-tests. Results: Both traumatic and atraumatic causes of disruption were equally represented and female cats were significantly over-represented. Type I and Type IIc injuries were found in cats, but the type did not affect short- or long-term outcome. A complication rate of 33% was identified and was always attributable to the method of external coaptation. None of the cats that were augmented with a splint developed complications, however complications did occur in those with transarticular external skeletal fixators. Long-term clinical outcome found an 84% overall success rate and a 79% success rate for cats with Type IIc injuries. A significantly shorter time from injury to surgery was identified for traumatic injuries, but not for age, weight, or long-term outcome. Clinical significance: Surgical correction resulted in excellent functional outcome in all cases but one, and should be considered in both complete and partial disruption of the Achilles mechanism in cats. A direct comparison between surgical and conservative management of Type IIc injuries in cats should be considered to determine which method is most appropriate to manage these injuries.
Systemic medium-sized vessel vasculitis associated with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.

OBJECTIVE To determine the clinical aspects of systemic vasculitis associated with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). METHODS In this retrospective study, 8 patients suffering from systemic vasculitis associated with CMML are described. The French and English literature on systemic vasculitis associated with myelodysplasia was reviewed. RESULTS All 8 patients had a systemic medium-sized vessel vasculitis which fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology criteria for polyarteritis nodosa in the setting of active CMML. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) were negative in 7 patients. One patient had cytoplasmic ANCA by indirect immunofluorescence without antiproteinase 3 or antimyeloperoxydase antibodies on the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. At presentation, 6 patients had fever of unknown origin, 5 had polymyalgia rheumatica, 3 had sensory hearing loss, and 4 had eosinophilia. None had viral infection or drug-associated vasculitis. Diagnostic procedures included renal or hepatic angiography in 6 patients which showed microaneurysms in 4, skin and temporal artery biopsy in 2 which showed vasculitis, and 1 postmortem examination which showed gastroduodenal arteritis. All patients were treated with corticosteroids, and 7 received immunosuppressive drugs. Death was attributable to vasculitis in 2 cases, infection in 3, and other vasculitis-related causes in 2. In a review of the French-English literature, we found 11 similar cases of ANCA-negative systemic vasculitis, generally associated with refractory anemia, with or without blast excess. CONCLUSIONS Systemic ANCA-negative polyarteritis nodosa-type vasculitis seems closely associated to CMML. Clinical presentation is nonspecific, and systemic vasculitis should be suspected when a patient with myelodysplasia develops atypical manifestations. Renal, gastrointestinal, or hepatic angiography are useful diagnostic procedures when more invasive biopsies should be avoided because of low platelet count. The prognosis of CMML-associated systemic vasculitis is poor.
Embryonic stem cell neurogenesis and neural specification

The prospect of using embryonic stem cell (ESC)‐derived neural progenitors and neurons to treat neurological disorders has led to great interest in defining the conditions that guide the differentiation of ESCs, and more recently induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), into neural stem cells (NSCs) and a variety of neuronal and glial subtypes. Over the past decade, researchers have looked to the embryo to guide these studies, applying what we know about the signaling events that direct neural specification during development. This has led to the design of a number of protocols that successfully promote ESC neurogenesis, terminating with the production of neurons and glia with diverse regional addresses and functional properties. These protocols demonstrate that ESCs undergo neural specification in two, three, and four dimensions, mimicking the cell–cell interactions, patterning, and timing that characterizes the in vivo process. We therefore propose that these in vitro systems can be used to examine the molecular regulation of neural specification. J. Cell. Biochem. 111: 535–542, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Neonatal Salvage by Weeks' Gestation in Pregnancies Complicated by HELLP Syndrome

OBJECTIVE: For clinical management and counseling purposes, we determined the neonatal salvage by weeks' gestation and birth weight of pregnancies complicated by HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets). METHODS: All patients who delivered with a diagnosis of HELLP syndrome between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 1991 at a single tertiary care medical center were evaluated for neonatal outcome and survival. The syndrome was diagnosed in the presence of severe preeclampsia/ eclampsia accompanied by laboratory evidence of hemolysis, hepatic dysfunction, and thrombocy topenia. RESULTS: During the study interval, 58,670 live-born deliveries occurred, of which 527 (0.11%) had HELLP syndrome. In this population, 143 patients delivered fetuses at less than 30 weeks' gestational age. Based upon gestational age intervals, neonatal salvage was 0% at 23 weeks in 13 deliveries, 17% (intact salvage 8.5%) at 24 weeks, 31% (intact salvage 15%) at 25 weeks, 75% (intact salvage 65%) at 26 weeks, 80% (intact salvage 70%) at 27 weeks, and 83% at 28 and 29 weeks (intact salvage 70 and 76%). Based on birth weight intervals, neonatal salvage was 0% at less than 600 g, 34% at 600-700 g (intact salvage 17%), 69% at 700-800 g (intact salvage 53%), and 84% or more at greater than 800 g. These pregnancy outcomes are similar to those in this institution in patients without HELLP syndrome. Disease severity was distributed evenly among the 143 patients at less than 30 weeks' gestation. Apart from gestational age, there was no significant relation between the severity of the HELLP disease process and ultimate neonatal salvage. CONCLUSIONS: Intact neonatal salvage in pregnancies complicated by HELLP syndrome is poor at weights less than 700 g and gestation of 25 weeks or less, but is more optimistic in pregnancies of greater than 700 g and 26 weeks' gestation or later. Aggressive efforts to enhance perinatal outcome, by operative delivery if indicated for fetal compromise, appear especially appropriate in gestations of greater than 700 g and 26 weeks' gestation or later, provided that adequate intensive care nursery facilities and neonatal expertise are available. (J Soc Gynecol Invest 1994;1:206-9)
An Approach to Extract Informative Rules for Web Page Recommendation by Genetic Programming

SUMMARY Clickstreams in users’ navigation logs have various datawhich are related to users’ web surﬁng. Those are visit counts, stay times,product types, etc. When we observe these data, we can divide clickstreamsinto sub-clickstreams so that the pages in a sub-clickstream share more con-texts with each other than with the pages in other sub-clickstreams. In thispaper, we propose a method which extracts more informative rules fromclickstreams for web page recommendation based on genetic programmingand association rules. First, we split clickstreams into sub-clickstreamsby contexts for generating more informative rules. In order to split click-streams in consideration of context, we extract six features from users’ nav-igation logs. A set of split rules is generated by combining those featuresthrough genetic programming, and then informative rules for recommen-dation are extracted with the association rule mining algorithm. Throughexperiments, we verify that the proposed method is more eﬀective than theother methods in various conditions.
Can Home‐based Primary Care: Cut Costs?

The Nurse Practitioner • July 2008 39 ome care is a broad term covering both shortand long-term care and acute and chronic care management. It encompasses both unskilled care, such as assistance with bathing, grooming, meal preparation, laundry, grocery shopping, and errand assistance; skilled care, such as wound management, infusion therapies, patient assessment, and education; and rehabilitation therapies. There is a smaller subset of primary medical care and house calls performed by advance practice nurses and physicians. It is this diversity in services and skill level of providers that impedes comparisons of previous research when asking the question, “Is home care cost effective? ” Over 2.5 million patients received Medicare-reimbursed skilled level home care services in 2002 at an average cost of $3,780 per patient. The Veterans Administration HospitalBased Home Care Program was developed in the early 1970s to deliver appropriate and affordable healthcare to homebound veterans. In the mid-1990s, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) responded to a drastically changing healthcare industry by developing an integrated healthcare network that shifted the focus of care from a hospital-based system to outpatient primary care models. Inpatient beds were reduced and care was provided by outpatient clinic teams and expanded home care services. In 2000, there were 73 home-based primary care (HBPC) programs serving over 15,000 homebound veterans nationwide. Interdisciplinary staffing, patient population, and duration of care vary by HBPC program site to meet the needs of the community it serves. The Eastern Colorado Health Care System (ECHCS) H Can Home-based Primary Care
Automated Neuropsychological Test Battery in depression -- preliminary data.

AIMS Studies have demonstrated neuropsychological deficits across a variety of cognitive domains in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) during acute episode. However, limited data are available concerning whether these abnormalities persist in the remission phase. METHODS In the present study CANTAB (Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Battery) was used to evaluate the cognitive impairment associated with depression during acute episode and in remission. 25 patients with MDD during an acute episode and 11 patients also during remission were tested with CANTAB. RESULTS During the acute episode, Delayed matching to sample, Paired associate learning, Spatial recognition memory, Rapid visual processing and Visuospatial planning were impaired. In remission the improvement of visual learning ability, spatial recognition memory, psychomotor speed, and executive function was observed. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that MDD is associated with neurocognitive dysfunctions in different domains, the most prominent deficit was found in the Paired associate learning test, which requires both the elaboration of "frontal strategies" and the "mnemonic processes". Cognitive impairment was found to improve partly in remission, suggesting that an individual's current mood interacts with the ability to perform a cognitive task. Besides these state markers, trait deficits are important because cognitive impairments which do not improve in remission might serve as endophenotypes of depression.
Vaginal pH-Balanced Gel for the Control of Atrophic Vaginitis Among Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effects of vaginal pH-balanced gel on vaginal symptoms and atrophy in breast cancer survivors treated with chemotherapy or endocrine therapy. METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Breast cancer survivors who experienced menopause after chemotherapy or endocrine therapy were voluntarily enrolled and randomly administered vaginal topical pH-balanced gel or placebo three times per week for 12 weeks. Vaginal dryness and dyspareunia were measured by visual analog scale, vaginal health index, and vaginal pH. The endometrium and ovary were evaluated by transvaginal ultrasonography. RESULTS: Among 98 enrolled women, 86 completed the treatment (n=44 and n=42 for the pH-balanced gel group and placebo group, respectively). Vaginal dryness and dyspareunia improved more in the pH-balanced gel group than in the placebo group (baseline mean 8.20 compared with end-point mean 4.23 [P=.001] and 8.23 compared with 5.48 [P=.040], respectively). Vaginal pH-balanced gel reduced the vaginal pH (gel: baseline mean 6.49 compared with end-point mean 5.00; placebo: 6.22 compared with 5.69 [P<.001]), and enhanced vaginal maturation index (gel: 45.5 compared with 51.2; placebo: 46.4 compared with 47.9 [P<.001]) and vaginal health index (gel: 15.8 compared with 21.1; placebo 14.3 compared with 16.98 [P=.002]). There was no significant difference in adverse effects between the two groups except for mild irritation at the early time of pH-balanced gel administration. CONCLUSION: Vaginal pH-balanced gel could relieve vaginal symptoms and improve vaginal health in breast cancer survivors who have experienced menopause after cancer treatment. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, www.clinicaltrials. gov, NCT00607295. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I
Performance of Fast Multicast Algorithms in Real Networks

Multicast heuristic algorithms are currently the field of interest for networks researchers. The optimization analysis of fast algorithms is performed using random and heuristic networks (graphs). This theoretical work approaches problem of constructing trees between the sender and group of receivers in real computer networks. The paper presents basic methods of generating the Internet topology on graph level -Waxman method and the Barabasi-Albert method. A performance study of multicast trees constructed by the algorithms is carried out and analysed, also with the heuristic network generator -Inet.
New Fetal Radiation Doses for 18F-FDG Based on Human Data

Current standard values of fetal dosimetry deriving from 18F-FDG injection in pregnant women are estimated from animal data. The present communication offers a revision of fetal dosimetry values calculated from recently published human data, in which fetal 18F-FDG uptake was directly observed in vivo. The final doses were obtained from the observed time-integrated activity coefficients and a new generation of anthropomorphic voxel-based pregnancy phantoms.