Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association of Increased Indoleamine 2, 3‐Dioxygenase With Impaired Natural Killer Cell Activity in Hemodialysis Patients

Indoleamine 2, 3‐dioxygenase (IDO) suppresses adaptive immune response. However, there was no study to examine whether IDO activity is associated with immune parameters in dialysis patients. In this study, we estimated serum IDO activity by the kynurenine/tryptophan ratio (KTR), and compared KTR with natural killer (NK) cell activity, soluble interleukin‐2 receptor (sIL‐2R) and serum levels of trace elements such as selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) that affect T‐cell function in 28 hemodialysis (HD) patients (age: 72 ± 13 years old, time on HD: 79 ± 89 months). NK cell activity was decreased in 35.7% of the patients. KTR values were almost 10‐times higher in HD patients (380.81 ± 385.46 mM/M) than those in the referred controls (32.9 ± 9.10 mM/M). KTR was lower in patients with impaired NK cell activity than those without (279 ± 111 vs. 565 ± 603 mM/M, P = 0.07). There was no relationship between KTR and sIL‐2R and Zn, while KTR was significantly and negatively correlated with serum Se levels that can impair cellular immunity (r = −0.41, P < 0.05). Our findings suggest that increased IDO activity with Se deficiency may be associated with impaired NK cell function in HD patients.
Transurethral resection of the prostate a 3 year experience

Background: Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is considered the 'gold standard' in the surgical management of bladder outlet obstruction secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia and advanced carcinoma of the prostate. The procedure is however still not routinely available in most public health institutions in Nigeria. We present our experience with this treatment modality over a three year period Methods: The records of patients who underwent TURP over a period of three years (April 2006 May 2009) were examined. The biodata, Laboratory investigations, detail of the surgical procedure and outcome were extracted and analysed Results: The records of forty three patients were examined. The age range was 49 76yrs (mean 65yrs +/- 5.8 SD). The prostate specific antigen ranged from 1.3 50.3ng/ml (mean 13.3 +/- 12.8). The mean prostate size was 59g +/- 20 SD (range 27 98grams). The indications for the surgery included refractory acute urinary retention 48.8%, failed medical treatment 21%, recurrent UTI 16%, recurrent haematuria 9%, chronic urinary retention 2%. The mean duration of surgery was 80.5mins +/- 14 SD (range 60 120mins). The period of hospital stay ranged from 3 32 days (mean 8.7 days +/- 7.7 SD). Complications included capsular perforation in 2 patients, TURP syndrome in 2 patients, total incontinence in 1 patient and failure to void in 2 patients. Most patients (93%) had satisfactory voiding and insignificant post void residual urine volume during subsequent follow up visits. Conclusion: Transurethral resection of prostate is a safe and effective treatment modality in the surgical management of men with bladder outlet obstruction secondary to BPH and advanced CAP in our environment. Key Words: Transurethral, Resection, Prostate, Experience
Effects of Maternal Surgical Weight Loss in Mothers on Intergenerational Transmission of Obesity

Previous studies have shown that obese women can transmit the susceptibility for obesity and its comorbidities to their offspring. Weight-loss surgery using biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) in severely obese women ameliorates type 2 diabetes, and corrects many features of the metabolic syndrome. These actions are associated with significant, long-term weight loss in these women. A pilot study showed that children born after their mother's BPD surgery had a significantly lower prevalence of obesity compared to siblings born before BDP surgery. This cross-sectional study investigated the effects of significant maternal weight loss associated with BDP surgery on the modification of obesity-related factors transmitted via the intrauterine environment and on the susceptibility of subsequent offspring to severe obesity. The study subjects were 49 mothers whose body weight loss (36% ± 1.8% body weight) had been maintained for 12 ± 0.8 years and their children aged 2.5 to 26 years born before (after maternal surgery [AMS] group, n = 57) and after (before maternal surgery [BMS] group, n = 54). Differences between the AMS and BMS groups in measures of anthropometry, and other metabolic parameters were studied. Multiple regression analysis was used to evaluate the independent contribution of individual factors. The birth weight of AMS children was lower compared to BMS children (2.9 ± 0.1 AMS vs. 3.3 ± 0.1 kg BMS, P = 0.003) and there was a reduced prevalence of macrosomia in neonates born after surgery (AMS: 1.8% vs. BMS: 14.8%, P = 0.03) with no difference in underweight. In addition to these marked anthropometric changes, the following metabolic improvements were noted at follow-up in the AMS children in comparison with the BMS children. The prevalence of severe obesity was decreased 3-fold (11% vs. 35%, P = 0.004). All markers of insulin resistance, including insulin (P = 0.01), glucose (P = 0.008), and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (P = 0.02) were decreased. The lipid profile was improved with decreases in the total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (P = 0.03) and increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.04). Levels of the inflammatory marker, C-reactive protein, were lower (P = 0.004). With respect to satiety-related factors, leptin was lower and ghrelin was higher (both P < 0.005). These findings demonstrate that prenatal weight control using BPD surgery in severely obese women can markedly lower the prevalence of severe obesity in AMS children through substantial reduction in several cardiometabolic markers transmitted via the intrauterine environment. This and similar interventions may have a long-term impact on the incidence of obesity in future generations.
Medusa and Pandora meet the web 2.0: How risk types influence the communication in social media

Risk communication is an important branch of technical communication: Innovative technologies need to be communicated to the general public; concerns of relevant stakeholders need to be addressed. Such concerns can be identified in topic-related comments in social media. This paper presents the results of a study on how people evaluate technologies that are characterized by as different risk types. Two examples of technology-induced risks types are examined: (1) The ubiquitous and persistent impacts of hydraulic fracturing (risk type: Pandora). (2) The consequences with high exposure but little damage potential of a local infrastructure project aiming at the introduction of a light-rail system (risk type: Medusa). Risk-relevant comments were identified automatically using a topic tracking approach based on dictionaries of risk-related terms. The identified comments were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively with regard to comment types, formulation styles, evaluation types, evaluated aspects and objects of comparison. The results show that the type of risk influences which aspects of a technology users evaluate and how they formulate evaluations. The findings are discussed with respect to implications for risk communication.
Low Hemoglobin Levels and Hypo‐Responsiveness to Erythropoiesis‐Stimulating Agent Associated With Poor Survival in Incident Japanese Hemodialysis Patients

Although erythropoiesis‐stimulating agents (ESAs) are effective at treating anemia, the association between hemoglobin (Hb) levels and survival is still unclear, especially for the incident Japanese hemodialysis (HD) population. The Japan Erythropoietin Treatment (JET) Study is an open multi‐center, prospective, observational study designed to evaluate the relationship between the maintenance of Hb levels and new HD patient prognosis after the first administration of epoetin beta. Landmark analyses were performed to examine the relationship between Hb levels at 6 months and survival. Among a total of 10 310 patients, 6631 completed the initial 6 months of epoetin beta treatment (induction phase) and were followed up for a further 2.5 years (maintenance phase). Three‐year survival rate of patients with <9 g/dL Hb levels after 6 months was 74.1%, which was significantly lower than 89.3% for patients with Hb levels 10 to 11 g/dL; the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) was 2.08 (95% CI, 1.57–2.77; P < 0.0001). Moreover, the 3‐year survival rate for poor responders defined by Hb levels <10 g/dL and weekly epoetin beta doses ≥9000 IU during the induction phase was 71.6%, which was significantly lower than 89.4% for the group, which had Hb levels 10 to 11 g/dL excluding poor responders and those with excursion; the HR was 1.71 (95% CI, 1.13–2.60; P = 0.0118). Adverse events related to the treatment were reported in 71 of 10 310 patients (0.69%). These findings suggest that the achieved low Hb levels and poor response to ESA therapy are significantly associated with high mortality.
Skin Autofluorescence Predicts Cardiovascular Mortality in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis

Tissue accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGE) is thought to contribute to the progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Skin autofluorescence, a non‐invasive measure of AGE accumulation using autofluorescence of the skin under ultraviolet light, has been reported to be an independent predictor of mortality associated with CVD in Caucasian patients on chronic hemodialysis. The aim of this study was to assess the predictive value of skin autofluorescence on all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality in non‐Caucasian (Japanese) patients on chronic hemodialysis. Baseline skin autofluorescence was measured with an autofluorescence reader in 128 non‐Caucasian (Japanese) patients on chronic hemodialysis. All‐cause and cardiovascular mortality was monitored prospectively during a period of 6 years. During the follow‐up period, 42 of the 128 patients died; 19 of those patients died of CVD. Skin autofluorescence did not have a significant effect on all‐cause mortality. However, age, carotid artery intima‐media thickness (IMT), serum albumin, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP), skin autofluorescence and pre‐existing CVD were significantly correlated with cardiovascular mortality. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed skin autofluorescence (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 3.97; 95% confidence interval [CI]1.67–9.43), serum albumin (adjusted HR 0.05; 95% CI 0.01–0.32), and hsCRP (adjusted HR 1.55; 95% CI 1.18–2.05) to be independent predictors of cardiovascular mortality. The present study suggests that skin autofluorescence is an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality in non‐Caucasian (Japanese) patients on chronic hemodialysis.
Repeated dosing of nebulised 5% saline improves respiratory scores in inpatients with mild to moderate bronchiolitis at 48 h

Commentary on: Al-AnsariKSakranMDavidsonBL. Nebulized 5% or 3% hypertonic or 0.9% saline for treating acute bronchiolitis in infants. J Pediatr 2010;157:630–4, 634.e1.
Recovery of several volatile organic compounds from simulated water samples: effect of transport and storage.

Solutions containing volatile organic compounds were prepared in organic-free water and 2% methanol and submitted to two US Geological Survey laboratories. Data from the determination of volatile compounds in these samples were compared to analytical data for the same volatile compounds that had been kept in solutions 100 times more concentrated until immediately before analysis; there was no statistically significant difference in the analytical recoveries. Addition of 2% methanol to the storage containers hindered the recovery of bromomethane and vinyl chloride. Methanol addition did not enhance sample stability. Further, there was no statistically significant difference in results from the two laboratories, and the recovery efficiency was more than 80% in more than half of the determinations made. In a subsequent study, six of eight volatile compounds showed no significant loss of recovery of 34 days. 19 references, 3 figures, 2 tables.
Knowledge and practice of primary care physicians about preventive and clinical aspect of dengue fever in Jeddah city, 2014 -

Background: Dengue fever (DF) remains a significant public health concern in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Proper, well-timed diagnosis and risk stratification for severe disease play vital role in the appropriate management of this illness. The responsibility of the primary care physician is important in the diagnosis, management, and prevention of dengue. Objective: To assess the knowledge and practice of the primary care physicians in Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health regarding the preventive and clinical aspects of DF in Jeddah city, 2014. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted including all primary health-care physicians working in the PHC centres of the MOH in Jeddah, during the period of the study. Self-administered questionnaire consisted of three main parts: sociodemographic data, questions to assess knowledge regarding preventive and clinical part of DF, and questions to assess the practice regarding preventive and clinical part of DF. Results: Of the 168 physicians invited to participate in the study, 138 returned completed questionnaire, giving a response rate of 82.1%. Almost one-third of them (34.8%) were aged 25â€“30 years, and only 8.6% were older than 45 years. Almost two-thirds of them (65.9%) were women. Female physicians showed higher significant overall DF knowledge score when compared with male physicians (10.49 Â± 1.84 vs. 9.85 Â± 1.72; p < 0.05). Most of the physicians (80.5%) always or most of the time performed dengue test if they suspect dengue compared with 7.2% never perform dengue test for suspected cases. Among those who always or most of the time perform a dengue test for suspected cases, leukocyte, platelets, and hematocrit were commonly utilized (75.7%), followed by dengue serology (IgM/IgG) (31.5%). Among those who did not perform dengue test and responded to the question, the most common reported cause was the unavailability of the test at their workplace (75%). Almost two-thirds of physicians (62.3%) cited that their center did not provide to the patients any type of preventive method (repellent, nets, etc.) to avoid mosquito bite. Conclusion: Primary heath care physicians in Jeddah, KSA, demonstrated adequate general knowledge on select dengue topics. However, a knowledge gap has been reported regarding important issues in clinical presentation, treatment, prevention, and control. Practices regarding frequent clinical monitoring were consistent with local and international guidelines.
Relationships Between Malnutrition, Inflammation, Sleep Quality, and Restless Legs Syndrome in Hemodialysis Patients

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurologic sensorimotor disorder. It is also seen in hemodialysis patients in whom the mechanism is not thoroughly understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between malnutrition‐inflammation score (MIS), sleep quality, and RLS in chronic hemodialysis patients. This cross‐sectional study included 232 adult stable chronic hemodialysis patients (mean age 60.9 ± 14.1 years, 56.5% male). RLS frequency, MIS, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), laboratory data of patients as well as severity of RLS were evaluated. Thirty‐seven patients (15.9%) were diagnosed with RLS. Mean MIS of patients with or without RLS were similar. PSQI of patients with RLS was significantly higher than patients without RLS (P = 0.002). There was a significant positive correlation between RLS severity and PSQI (r = 0.445, P = 0.006). A significant positive correlation was also found between PSQI and MIS in patients with RLS (r = 0.419, P = 0.010). RLS severity was positively correlated with some inflammatory parameters such as white blood cell count and C‐reactive protein (r = 0.427, P = 0.008 and r = 0.418 P = 0.010). PSQI was found as an independent significant predictor of RLS (odds ratio [OR] = 1.15 (1.06–1.25), P = 0.001) in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Our study revealed that there was no significant relationship between RLS and MIS in chronic hemodialysis patients. However, RLS severity is correlated with inflammatory parameters. Also, sleep quality in chronic hemodialysis patients with RLS is negatively associated with MIS.
Agility Training for Experienced Athletes: A Dynamical Systems Approach

RECENT EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT AGILITY IS A TRAINABLE MOTOR SKILL THAT CAN BE ACQUIRED THROUGH PROPER PROGRESSIVE PRACTICE. THIS PAPER IDENTIFIES AND DISCUSSES PERTINENT CONCEPTS IN MOTOR LEARNING TO ASSIST ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE COACHES WITH THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN EFFECTIVE AGILITY PROGRAM FOR EXPERIENCED OR TRAINED INDIVIDUALS.
Kinetics of the depletion of trichloroethene.

The depletion of trichloroethene (TCE) was studied in microcosms containing water and three types of natural sediment ranging in composition from highly organic to a calcareous sedimentary rock. The depletion rates varied slightly in the different sediments. The first-order rate constant k/sub 1/ for the depletion of TCE ranged from 8.7 x 10/sup -4/ and 4.9 x 10/sup -4/ h/sup -1/ in soils contaminated with TCE prior to microcosm preparation to 3.4 x 10/sup -4/ and 4.6 x 10/sup -4/ h/sup -1/ for soils with a large organic content to 3.2 x 10/sup -4/ h/sup -1/ for crushed rock microcosms. Depletion was found to follow nonlinear forms of Michaelis-Menten kinetics in the organic sediments; however, microcosms containing crushed rock and water followed a linear form of the equation. K/sub m/ values were found to be dependent on the percent of total organic carbon in the sediment. 16 references, 4 figures, 2 tables.
Time series forecasting using massively parallel genetic programming

In this paper we propose a massively parallel GP model in hardware as an efficient, flexible and scaleable machine learning system. This fine-grained diffusion architecture consists of a large amount of independent processing nodes that evolve a large number of small, overlapping subpopulations. Every node has an embedded CPU that executes a linear machine code GP representation at a rate of up to 20,000 generations per second. Besides being efficient, implementing the system in VLSI makes it highly portable and makes it possible to target mobile, on-line applications. The SIMD-like architecture also makes the system scalable so that larger problems can be addressed with a system with more processing nodes. Finally, the use of GP representation and VHDL modeling makes the system highly flexible and easy to adapt to different applications. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the system on a time series forecasting application.
Rates, management, and outcome of rivaroxaban bleeding in daily care: results from the Dresden NOAC registry.

Worldwide, rivaroxaban is increasingly used for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation and treatment of venous thromboembolism, but little is known about rivaroxaban-related bleeding complications in daily care. Using data from a prospective, noninterventional oral anticoagulation registry of daily care patients (Dresden NOAC registry), we analyzed rates, management, and outcome of rivaroxaban-related bleeding. Between October 1, 2011, and December 31, 2013, 1776 rivaroxaban patients were enrolled. So far, 762 patients (42.9%) reported 1082 bleeding events during/within 3 days after last intake of rivaroxaban (58.9% minor, 35.0% of nonmajor clinically relevant, and 6.1% major bleeding according to International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis definition). In case of major bleeding, surgical or interventional treatment was needed in 37.8% and prothrombin complex concentrate in 9.1%. In the time-to-first-event analysis, 100-patient-year rates of major bleeding were 3.1 (95% confidence interval 2.2-4.3) for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation and 4.1 (95% confidence interval 2.5-6.4) for venous thromboembolism patients, respectively. In the as-treated analysis, case fatality rates of bleeding leading to hospitalizations were 5.1% and 6.3% at days 30 and 90 after bleeding, respectively. Our data indicate that, in real life, rates of rivaroxaban-related major bleeding may be lower and that the outcome may at least not be worse than that of major vitamin K antagonist bleeding, and probably better. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials. gov as identifier #NCT01588119.
Improved outcome of adult Burkitt lymphoma/leukemia with rituximab and chemotherapy: report of a large prospective multicenter trial.

This largest prospective multicenter trial for adult patients with Burkitt lymphoma/leukemia aimed to prove the efficacy and feasibility of short-intensive chemotherapy combined with the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab. From 2002 to 2011, 363 patients 16 to 85 years old were recruited in 98 centers. Treatment consisted of 6 5-day chemotherapy cycles with high-dose methotrexate, high-dose cytosine arabinoside, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, ifosphamide, corticosteroids, and triple intrathecal therapy. Patients >55 years old received a reduced regimen. Rituximab was given before each cycle and twice as maintenance, for a total of 8 doses. The rate of complete remission was 88% (319/363); overall survival (OS) at 5 years, 80%; and progression-free survival, 71%; with significant difference between adolescents, adults, and elderly patients (OS rate of 90%, 84%, and 62%, respectively). Full treatment could be applied in 86% of the patients. The most important prognostic factors were International Prognostic Index (IPI) score (0-2 vs 3-5; P = .0005), age-adjusted IPI score (0-1 vs 2-3; P = .0001), and gender (male vs female; P = .004). The high cure rate in this prospective trial with a substantial number of participating hospitals demonstrates the efficacy and feasibility of chemoimmunotherapy, even in elderly patients. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials. gov as #NCT00199082.
Relationship Between Mortality and Cancer‐Bearing Status at Time of Dialysis Initiation

Patients with malignancy are reported to have poorer prognosis than those without malignancy. When patients with malignancy develop end‐stage kidney disease, clinicians must determine treatment with consideration of prognosis. Furthermore, malignancy is sometimes found at time of dialysis initiation. However, prognosis of patients with malignancy at time of dialysis initiation has not been investigated. A total of 1524 patients with chronic kidney disease who initiated dialysis at 17 centers participating in the Aichi Cohort Study of Prognosis in Patients Newly Initiated into Dialysis were included. Patients initiated dialysis between October 2011 and September 2013. Mortality rates were compared between patients with and without malignancy. Types of malignancy and respective prognoses also were assessed. The study included 1030 men and 492 women with a mean age of 67.5 ± 13.1 years. Of these, 92 had malignancy and 1430 did not; 45.7% of the former group and 16.0% of the latter group died by March 2015 (P < 0.01). Even after adjusting for various factors, presence of malignancy remained an independent risk factor for mortality (P < 0.01). Patients with performance status (PS) of 0 had significantly lower mortality (P < 0.01). Patients with malignancy at time of dialysis initiation had poor prognosis. Therefore, presence of malignancy should be taken into consideration when patients initiate dialysis. In patients with malignancy, better PS was associated with better prognosis.