Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Clinical analysis of tubulointerstitial lesions in IgA nephropathy].

OBJECTIVE To analyze the characteristics of tubulointerstitial lesions (TIL) in IgA nephropathy (IgAN). METHODS The pathologic and clinical materials of 609 IgAN patients were analyzed. RESULTS (1) Prevalence characteristics of TIL: Among all the patients, these with mild TIL accounted for 47.1%, moderate TIL 21.7%, severe TIL was about 16.6% and these without TIL 14.6%. (2) Relationship between TIL and the clinical findings: With increase of the severity of TIL, hypertension became worse and the level of proteinuria increased gradually. On the contrary, serum albumin decreased and renal function degraded. (3) Relationship between TIL and the pathologic findings: With increase of the severity of TIL, the scores of vascular lesion, total glomerular lesion, hypercellularity and glomerulosclerosis increased gradually. Moreover, when the glomerular lesion and vascular lesion became worse, the severity of TIL also increased. The relationship with the crescents was different, the score of the presence of crescents was highest when TIL was moderate in severity; it would not increase when TIL was severe. CONCLUSION With the increase of the severity of TIL, the condition of IgAN patients became worse. TIL may be one of the key factors for the prognosis of IgAN. TIL is closely related to the severity of glomerular and vascular lesions, and these lesions may further lead to the development of TIL.
Systematic review: lack of evidence for the success of revision arthroplasty outcome in younger patients

Introduction: Total hip arthroplasties (THAs) in younger patients are becoming increasingly popular. However, the outcome of subsequent revisions in younger patients is not well known and, therefore, their success (subsequent revision prosthesis survival) might be overestimated. We investigated available data on the outcome of primary- and subsequent revision THAs performed in the same cohort of patients who underwent primary THA under the age of 50. Methods: Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library (CENTRAL) were searched up until April 13, 2016 for studies that reported both the survival of primary and subsequent revisions THA of single cohorts of patients younger than 50. Eligible articles had to include Kaplan Meier analysis or competing risk analysis for survival of the primary THA at a mean follow-up of 10 years, as well as for the subsequent revision THA within the same cohort. Results: We found 4,799 unique records; 43 of which were potentially eligible. Only 1 paper met our inclusion criteria. It reported on the survival of 69 primary prostheses at a mean of more than 10 years follow-up and 13 subsequent revisions. Conclusions: There is a clear lack of evidence about the outcomes of the revision arthroplasty in younger patients. Only 1 study reported the survival-rate of subsequent revision arthroplasty with the minimum 10-year survival rate of the original THA cohort. In the future, this serious lack of knowledge could result in a large number of patients with no further reconstructive options after failed THA, and a large medical burden for society.
Asymmetric Supernovae, Pulsars, Magnetars, and Gamma-Ray Bursts

We outline the possible physical processes, associated timescales, and energetics that could lead to the production of pulsars, jets, asymmetric supernovae, and weak γ-ray bursts in routine circumstances and to a 1016 G magnetar and perhaps stronger γ-ray burst in more extreme circumstances in the collapse of the bare core of a massive star. The production of a LeBlanc-Wilson MHD jet could provide an asymmetric supernova and result in a weak γ-ray burst when the jet accelerates down the stellar density gradient of a hydrogen-poor photosphere. The matter-dominated jet would be formed promptly but requires 5-10 s to reach the surface of the progenitor of a Type Ib/c supernova. During this time, the newly born neutron star could contract, spin up, and wind up field lines or turn on an α-Ω dynamo. In addition, the light cylinder will contract from a radius large compared to the Alfvén radius to a size comparable to that of the neutron star. This will disrupt the structure of any organized dipole field and promote the generation of ultrarelativistic MHD waves (UMHDW) at high density and large-amplitude electromagnetic waves (LAEMW) at low density. The generation of these waves would be delayed by the cooling time of the neutron star ≃5-10 s, but the propagation time is short so the UMHDW could arrive at the surface at about the same time as the matter jet. In the density gradient of the star and the matter jet, the intense flux of UMHDW and LAEMW could drive shocks, generate pions by proton-proton collision, or create electron/positron pairs depending on the circumstances. The UMHDW and LAEMW could influence the dynamics of the explosion and might also tend to flow out the rotation axis to produce a collimated γ-ray burst.
False-Positive Results of Aspergillus Galactomannan Antigenemia in Liver Transplant Recipients

Background. Aspergillus galactomannan (GM) antigenemia is an early marker of invasive aspergillosis (IA), but may yield false-positive results. A prospective study, testing GM periodically in serum samples of liver transplant recipients, was performed. Methods. An index more than or equal to 0.5 were considered positive. Positive GM in samples from patients without any other criteria of proven or probable IA was considered as false-positive. The test was performed weekly during the first month after transplantation. Results. Three patients developed IA. In total, 414 serum samples from 85 liver transplant recipients were analyzed. Mean number of samples per patient (out of those who could be assessed) was 4.8. The number of false-positive GM samples was 40 (9.6%), corresponding to 28 patients. The frequency of false-positive results in samples obtained during the first week posttransplantation was 36% (27 of 75), significantly higher than the number of false-positive samples obtained after the first week (3.8%; 13 of 339; P<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that antibacterial prophylaxis with ampicillin was the only independent factor associated with a false-positive result. Different vials of &bgr;-lactam antibiotics were tested for GM. We obtained a positive GM value (>0.5) in four of the six vials of ampicillin, in three of the six vials of piperacillin-tazobactam, in none of the six vials of cefotaxime, and in none of the six controls. Conclusions. The present study suggests that the administration of ampicillin as antibacterial prophylaxis during the first days after transplantation could be a possible cause of false-positive GM results.
Both Memory and CD 45 RA 1 / CD 62 L 1 Naive CD 4 1 T Cells Are Infected in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Infected Individuals

Cellular activation is critical for the propagation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. It has been suggested that truly naive CD4 T cells are resistant to productive HIV-1 infection because of their constitutive resting state. Memory and naive CD4 T-cell subsets from 11 HIV-1-infected individuals were isolated ex vivo by a combination of magnetic bead depletion and fluorescence-activated cell sorting techniques with stringent criteria of combined expression of CD45RA and CD62L to identify naive CD4 T-cell subsets. In all patients HIV-1 provirus could be detected within naive CD45RA/CD62L CD4 T cells; in addition, replication-competent HIV-1 was isolated from these cells upon CD4 T-cell stimulation in tissue cultures. Memory CD4 T cells had a median of fourfold more replication-competent virus and a median of sixfold more provirus than naive CD4 T cells. Overall, there was a median of 16-fold more integrated provirus identified in memory CD4 T cells than in naive CD4 T cells within a given patient. Interestingly, there was a trend toward equalization of viral loads in memory and naive CD4 T-cell subsets in those patients who harbored CXCR4-using (syncytium-inducing) viruses. Within any given patient, there was no selective usage of a particular coreceptor by virus isolated from memory versus naive CD4 T cells. Our findings suggest that naive CD4 T cells may be a significant viral reservoir for HIV, particularly in those patients harboring CXCR4using viruses.
Interleukin (IL) 31 induces in cynomolgus monkeys a rapid and intense itch response that can be inhibited by an IL‐31 neutralizing antibody

Overexpression or administration of interleukin 31 (IL‐31) has been shown to induce a profound itch response in mice and dogs. The chronic pruritus observed in mouse IL‐31 transgenic mice results in the development of skin lesions and alopecia through excoriation from excessive scratching, a condition similar to that observed in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD).
Telmisartan‐induced lithium intoxication in a patient with schizoaffective disorder

subsequent courses of acute ECT (13 and eight trials, respectively). The third course of ECT, however, with 11 trials, dramatically alleviated her symptoms, resulting in complete remission (BPRS: 5). After 8-month hospitalization, she was discharged home and was attending the outpatient clinic for M-ECT. Abnormal electroencephalogram findings and definite cognitive decline have not been found to date. The present case report implies that M-ECT without antipsychotic medication may be a treatment option for antipsychotic-resistant or -intolerant schizophrenia. A controlled study, however, indicated that a combination of M-ECT and flupenthixol was superior to M-ECT monotherapy or flupenthixol. Further study is needed to identify schizophrenia patients who may benefit from M-ECT alone. Careful consideration should be given to the interval of M-ECT, as well as to the changes in cognitive function and cortical excitability that might induce epileptic seizures.
Do Arms Control Treaties Work? Assessing the Effectiveness of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty

How do international arms control treaties influence state policies? This article investigates this question by analyzing the efficacy of the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). Despite fierce debate over the last several decades, scholars still lack a full understanding of whether or not the treaty “works. ” This debate persists, in part, because existing studies suffer from a key limitation: they are not designed to infer a causal connection between NPT membership and nuclear proliferation. Prior research cannot determine whether membership in the treaty restrains states from developing nuclear weapons or simply reflects existing preferences. To address this limitation, this article accounts for selection effects by using a measure of states’ ex ante treaty commitment preferences. Our analysis of nuclear proliferation from 1970 to 2000 provides evidence that the NPT has played a key role in curbing the spread of nuclear weapons. Even after accounting for strategic selection into the treaty, NPT ratification is robustly associated with a lower likelihood of pursuing nuclear weapons. Our results not only matter for debates over the NPT and nonproliferation but also have broad implications for the study of how international institutions affect international politics.
Magnetic Properties and Magnetic Entropy Change in Gd/Ti Multilayers

[Gd/Ti]n multilayers with different thicknesses of Gd layers (LGd) have been prepared by magnetron sputtering. These multilayers exhibit second-order phase transitions at different temperatures, which are determined by LGd. The peak value of magnetic entropy change in Gd(300 nm) film is nearly two times smaller than the one of bulk Gd. The decrease of the LGd in the thin film samples leads to a reduction of the maximum value of the magnetic entropy change. Simultaneously, the corresponding full-width at half-maximum increases with LGd decrease. The practical utility of the magnetic layer thickness as control parameter to tune the magnetocaloric properties of materials has been demonstrated.
Attention Can Retrospectively Distort Visual Space

A brief visual cue that attracts attention repels the perceived location of a subsequent visual stimulus away from the focus of attention (attentional repulsion). In the first experiment reported here, we presented a visual cue after a visual target and found that the perceived location of the target stimulus shifted toward the location of the cue (attentional attraction). The subsequent experiments ruled out nonattentional hypotheses and indicated that the mislocalization effect is attributable to the attentional shift. The results of this study suggest that preceding and succeeding contexts differentially modulate the perceived location of a briefly presented stimulus. Our findings also underscore the importance of retrospective processes in visual attention.
point-of-care testing trachomatis Chlamydia Alarmingly poor performance in

Background Infection by Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection (STI) world wide. The most frequently used diagnostic test for CT is a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), which is highly sensitive and specific. To further shorten time delay until diagnosis has been made, in order to prevent CT spread, the use of point-of-care (POC) tests may be
Environmental Controls on Soil and Whole‐ecosystem Respiration from a Tallgrass Prairie

Environmental controls on C cycling in terrestrial ecosystems are difficult to define, because (i) C fluxes from plant vs. microbial activity are difficult to separate, and (ii) controlling variables are often inter-correlated. We investigated temporal and spatial determinants of soil respiration and whole-ecosystem respiration using nighttime exposure of static chambers to alkali absorption during 2 yr on a tallgrass prairie in northeastern Kansas. Soil respiration (mg CO 2 -C m -2 h -1 ) was positively related to soil organic C (SOC, kg m -2 0.1 m -1 ) through linear regression [CO 2 -C = -44 + (40 SOC), r 2 = 0.71]. Temporal variations in respiration were related to soil temperature, water-filled pore space (WFPS), and a plant growth rate function, with a combined R 2 of 0.76 for soil respiration and of 0.84 for whole-ecosystem respiration. Temporal variograms suggested that both soil and whole-ecosystem respiration became increasingly dissimilar the longer the time between measurements up to 30 d, while dissimilarity in soil temperature and WFPS leveled between 10 and 20 d of separation. A plant growth rate function was an important variable that controlled whole-ecosystem respiration, as well as soil respiration. The ratio of soil respiration to whole-ecosystem respiration was =0.4 during maximum plant growth (July) and approached a value of 1 during minimal plant growth (November to March). We conclude that whole-ecosystem respiration is under similar environmental controls as soil respiration, the main variables being soil organic C, soil temperature, WFPS, and plant growth rate, which all control the supply of readily mineralizable substrates.
Endoscopic Pediatric Plastic Surgery

Although the advent of endoscopic technology is expanding the fields of reconstructive and aesthetic surgery in adults, there have been to date no reports of its use in the pediatric population. Because of its minimally invasive nature, yet wide range of exposure, endoscopic techniques have much appeal in this age group. Herein we present our initial experience with endoscopic pediatric plastic surgery. From February 1995 to December 1995, 41 patients were treated utilizing 5-mm and 10-mm endoscopes at Scottish Rite Children's Medical Center, Atlanta, GA. There were 19 males and 22 females. The mean age at surgery was 5.6 years (range, 7 months-15 years). The most common types of procedures performed were insertion of tissue expanders (N=19), excision of facial dermoids (N=7), torticollis release (N=5), and excision of vascular lesions (N=4). The remaining 6 patients underwent a variety of reconstructive procedures. The complication rate in the tissue expander group was 3 out of 39 expanders inserted (9.5%), and consisted of infection (N=2) and rupture (N=1). In the dermoid group, complications consisted of wound infection requiring reoperation (N=1), and transient frontal paresis (N=1). One patient in the hemangioma group had an incomplete resection necessitating open excision. The remaining patients all had satisfactory outcomes with no complications. The majority of the procedures were done on an outpatient basis. These results suggest that endoscopic techniques are eminently applicable in the pediatric population, providing the benefits of small and remote incisional wounds with complication rates that are comparable to those of conventional surgical treatment. Huang MHS, Burstein FD, Cohen SR, Simms Ca. Endoscopic Pediatric Plastic surgery. Ann Plast Surg 1997;38;1-8
Detection of mild types of Mediterranean (Cooley's) anemia.

IN 1925 and in 1927, Cooley and his associates1drew attention to an anemia which had heretofore been regarded as belonging to the heterogeneous group of von Jaksch's anemia, but which possessed such well defined features as to constitute a clinical entity. The outstanding characteristics of this condition are the familial and racial tendencies, the progressive anemia, marked distortion of the red cells, large numbers of normoblasts, the occurrence of jaundice, splenomegaly and, frequently, hepatomegaly, the mongoloid facies and definite roentgenographic changes. The patients are mainly of Greek, Italian (principally Sicilian) or Syrian ancestry. Since Cooley's original description, an increasing number of cases of the severe form of the disease has been frequently reported. The prognosis for the severe form of the disease with symptoms dating from the first two years of life is unfavorable, although with frequent transfusions children have been carried beyond adolescence. In familial studies of
A single regulatory gene integrates control of vitamin B12 synthesis and propanediol degradation

The cob operon of Salmonella typhimurium encodes enzymes required for synthesis of adenosyl-cobalamin (vitamin B12). The pdu operon encodes enzymes needed for use of propanediol as a carbon source, including an adenosyl-cobalamin-dependent enzyme, propanediol dehydratase. These two operons both map near min 41 of the S. typhimurium linkage map and are transcribed divergently. Here we report that the cob and pdu operons form a single regulon. Transcription of this regulon is induced by either glycerol or propanediol. The metabolism of these compounds is not required for induction. Propanediol induces the regulon either aerobically or anaerobically during growth on poor carbon sources. Aerobically glycerol induces only if its metabolism is prevented by a mutational block such as a glpK mutation. Under anaerobic conditions, glycerol induces in both glpK+ and glpK mutant strains during growth on poor carbon sources. A new class of mutations, pocR, prevents induction of the cob/pdu regulon by either propanediol or glycerol and causes a Cob- Pdu- phenotype. The pocR gene is located between the cob and pdu operons and appears to encode a trans-acting protein that acts as a positive regulator of both operons. Transcription of the pocR regulatory gene is induced, even without the PocR protein, during aerobic growth on poor carbon sources and during anaerobic respiration. With the functional PocR protein, transcription of the pocR gene is autoinduced by propanediol but not by glycerol. The growth conditions that increase pocR gene expression correlate with growth conditions that allow high induction of the cob/pdu regulon. A model for control of this regulon suggests that the PocR protein is a transcriptional activator of both the cob and pdu operons and that both glycerol and propanediol can individually serve as effectors of the PocR protein. We suggest that global control mechanisms cause variation in the level of the PocR protein; an increased level of the PocR protein permits higher induction by propanediol or glycerol.
An economic evaluation of irbesartan in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes, hypertension and nephropathy: cost-effectiveness of Irbesartan in Diabetic Nephropathy Trial (IDNT) in the Belgian and French settings.

BACKGROUND In the Irbesartan in Diabetic Nephropathy Trial (IDNT), treatment with irbesartan demonstrated 23 and 20% reductions in the combined endpoint of doubling of serum creatinine (DSC), end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or death in patients with hypertension, type 2 diabetes and overt nephropathy compared with amlodipine and control, respectively. A simulation model was developed to project long-term cost consequences of the IDNT in Belgium and France. METHODS A Markov model simulated progression from nephropathy to DSC, ESRD and death in patients with hypertension, type 2 diabetes and overt nephropathy. Treatment-specific probabilities were derived from IDNT. Country-specific ESRD-related data were retrieved from published sources. Delay in onset of ESRD, life expectancy and mean lifetime costs were calculated for patients with a baseline age of 59 years. Future costs were discounted at 3% per annum (p.a.), and clinical benefits were discounted at 0 and 3% p.a. Extensive sensitivity analyses were performed. RESULTS Onset of ESRD was delayed with irbesartan by 1.41 and 1.35 years vs amlodipine and control, respectively. When a 10-year time horizon was considered, delay in ESRD onset led to anticipated improvements in life expectancy of 0.13 years vs amlodipine and 0.26 years vs control. Irbesartan was associated with cost savings of 14 949 and 9205/patient in Belgium, and 20 128 and 13 337 in France, vs amlodipine and control, respectively. The results were robust under a wide range of plausible assumptions. CONCLUSIONS Treating patients with hypertension, type 2 diabetes and overt nephropathy using irbesartan was both cost- and life-saving compared with amlodipine and control.
The role of initial radiologic and clinical manifestations in predicting the prognosis for pneumonia caused by H1N1 influenza virus.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to investigate the prognostic values of initial radiologic findings and preexisting medical conditions in pneumonia caused by H1N1 influenza virus that were obtained during the novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus (S-OIV) pandemic spread. METHODS Thirty-nine patients hospitalized due to H1N1 infection between September and December 2009 were retrospectively evaluated regarding the radiologic and clinical aspects. The thoracic computed tomography (CT) findings of all patients were assessed and accompanying conditions that may raise the morbidity were stated. The patients were divided into two groups as those who needed the intensive care unit administration and those treated with brief hospitalization; initial radiologic findings and preexisting medical situations of patients were compared among both groups respectively in terms of their prognostic value. RESULTS In 39 patients with H1N1 infection (21 males and 18 females; mean age of 53.9±14 in range between 19 and 99 years); the necessity of intensive care was significantly higher in patients with solely chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (P=0.008, Odds ratio: 27) or co-existence of COPD and malignity (Odds ratio: 13); however, no statistically significant difference between two groups was observed regarding the radiologic facts or other combinations of accompanying medical conditions in terms of any effects to the prognosis. CONCLUSIONS In the H1N1 (S-OIV) pandemic, we observed that merely the contribution to the diagnostic process; the radiologic features have no significance as being prognostic indicator. Additionally; the superposition of H1N1 infection in patients with either COPD or COPD by malignity was stated to be a potential risk factor in terms of increased morbidity.