Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Glossopexy as an alternative to aortopexy in infants with repaired esophageal atresia and upper airway obstruction.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE Clinical manifestations of airway obstruction in infants with repaired esophageal atresia or tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) are attributed conventionally to tracheomalacia. In the current study, the authors tested the hypothesis that a retrodisplacement of the tongue (glossoptosis), by causing a functional upper airway obstruction (obstructive apnea/hypopnea), may play a role in the pathogenesis of the respiratory problems. METHODS The records of 5 infants with repaired EA/TEF and respiratory symptoms treated by glossopexy, which serves to anchor the tongue forward, were reviewed. Prompt improvement after glossopexy in clinical manifestations, in blood gas exchange, and in weight velocity was used to establish a primary cause-effect relationship between glossoptosis and respiratory problems. RESULTS Before glossopexy, all infants presented with severe respiratory distress. Three infants had life-threatening events requiring recurrent or chronic airway intubation. Four infants had severe tracheomalacia, diagnosed at bronchoscopy. All infants presented obstructive apnea/hypopnea with desaturation. Body weight was below the third percentile in all infants. After glossopexy, 3 presented a marked clinical improvement associated with significant increase in mean oxygen saturation (88% +/- 0.4 SE v 95% +/- 0.3 SE; P <.001). In another infant, glossopexy allowed permanent decannulation but did not relieve the problem during crying or excitement when obstructive hypopnea with desaturation required supplemental oxygen. After glossopexy and despite subsequent aortopexy, the last infant could not be extubated and died later of mycotic sepsis. Autopsy results showed a vascular ring. In the 4 surviving infants, glossopexy was followed promptly by significant catch-up growth and subsequent normal growth velocity (P =.03). CONCLUSIONS Present findings support the concept that, in some infants with EA/TEF, respiratory problems are mainly caused by recurrent obstructive apnea/hypopnea, which may be treated successfully by lip-tongue adhesion procedures. Severe airway obstruction, not relieved by glossopexy, requires aortopexy to reduce the respiratory load imposed by tracheomalacia.
High Phosphorus Level Leads to Aortic Calcification via β-Catenin in Chronic Kidney Disease

Aims: Vascular calcification is a risk factor for causing cardiovascular events and has a high prevalence among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this pathogenic process is still obscure. Methods: Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were induced by a concentration of phosphorus (Pi) of 2.5 mM, and were subjected to cell calcification analyses. The effect of high Pi on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was measured using a TOP/FOP-Flash reporter assay. The transcriptional regulation of β-catenin on PIT1 (a type III sodium-dependent phosphate cotransporter) was confirmed by promoter reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. The 5/6 nephrectomized rat was used as an in vivo model and was fed a high Pi diet to induce aortic calcification. Serum levels of phosphate, calcium, creatine, and blood urea nitrogen were measured, and abdominal aortic calcification was examined. Results: High Pi induced VSMC calcification, downregulated expression levels of VSMC markers, and upregulated levels of osteogenic markers. High Pi activated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and β-catenin activity. β-Catenin was involved in the process of high Pi-induced VSMC calcification. Further investigation revealed that β-catenin transcriptionally regulated Pit1, a necessary player in VSMC osteogenic phenotype change and calcification. The in vivo study showed that β-catenin was involved in rat abdominal aortic calcification induced by high Pi. When knockdown expression of β-catenin in the rat model was investigated, we found that aortic calcification was reduced. Conclusion: These results suggest that β-catenin is an important player in high phosphorus level-induced aortic calcification in CKD.
Prevalence and characteristics of chronic pain in veterans with spinal cord injury.

To assess prevalence and characteristics of individual chronic (>6 mo) pain components in the veteran spinal cord injury (SCI) population, we conducted a telephone survey with 348 (66%) of 530 veterans with SCI who received care from one regional Department of Veterans Affairs SCI center during a 3 yr period. The short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire was used to assess qualitative properties of the pain experience. Other questions were used to assess frequency, duration, intensity, exacerbating factors, and effects on daily activities. Of the participants, 75% reported at least one chronic pain component. The majority (83%) of the chronic pain components occurred daily (mean = 27.4 d/mo) and lasted most of the day (mean = 17.4 h/d). Mean pain intensity in the week before the interview averaged 6.7 (on a 0 to 10 scale), while worst pain intensity averaged 8.6. Two-thirds (67%) of the chronic pain components interfered with daily activities. The most commonly selected pain descriptors were "aching," "sharp," "hot-burning," and "tiring-exhausting. " More research is needed to identify better ways to prevent, assess, and treat chronic pain in the veteran SCI population.
The Fine Specificity, but Not the Invasion Inhibitory Activity, of 19-Kilodalton Merozoite Surface Protein 1-Specific Antibodies Is Associated with Resistance to Malarial Parasitemia in a Cross-Sectional Survey in The Gambia

ABSTRACT In a cross-sectional survey of 187 Gambian children and adults, we have analyzed prevalence, fine specificity, and 19-kilodalton merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-119)-specific erythrocyte invasion inhibitory activity of antibodies to MSP-119 but find no significant association between any of these parameters and prevalence or density of malarial parasitemia, except that, after correcting for total anti-MSP-119 antibody levels, individuals with anti-MSP-119 antibodies that compete with an invasion inhibitory monoclonal antibody (12.10) were significantly less likely to have malaria infections with densities of ≥1,000 parasites/μl than were individuals without such antibodies. This association persisted after correction for age and ethnic origin.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE 30‐SECOND WINGATE TEST AND CHARACTERISTICS OF ISOMETRIC AND EXPLOSIVE LEG STRENGTH IN YOUNG SUBJECTS

The aim of this study was to investigate a possible relation between power performance of the Wingate test (WT) and isometric leg strength (ILS) and explosive leg strength (ELS) characteristics in young men and women with different physical fitness levels. A total of 166 subjects, including 98 young men and 68 young women, were included in the study. The subjects were divided into a regular exercise group and a sedentary group. The physical and body mass index characteristics of the subjects were not different, and they had not taken part in the directed jumping. When the regular exercise and sedentary groups were considered together with men, women, and total population groups, no significant correlation existed between WT anaerobic fatigue index and ILS and ELS (p > 0.05), but significant positive correlations existed among peak power, peak power per weight, mean power, mean power per weight, and WT power, which were recorded in 5-second intervals (p < 0.001). Although the 5-second WT parameters were significantly correlated with ILS and ELS for the first 15-second period, this correlation was more pronounced for the last 15 seconds for all groups (p < 0.01). As a result, this study indicated that regular physical activity has a positive significant relation on WT power, ILS, and ELS in both sedentary men and women and those engaged in regular sports activities.
Effect of amount and type of dietary fiber on food intake in energy-restricted dogs.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of adding different amounts of insoluble (IF) or soluble (SF) dietary fiber to a commercial diet formulated for weight reduction on satiety and perception of hunger in dogs. ANIMALS 6 adult dogs. PROCEDURE Test diets included 2 low-fiber control diets (CL1 and CL2), 2 diets with increased amount of IF (IF1 and IF2), and 2 diets with increased amount of SF (SF1 and SF2). Each test diet was fed for 12 days to 6 dogs in a Latin square design, and in amounts that correspond to the food allowance recommended for weight reduction. Behavioral characteristics of dogs were recorded for 30-minute periods after introduction of test diets. On 2 occasions during each test period, exactly 3 hours after feeding of the test diet, dogs were given a challenge meal consisting of a standard commercial canned dog food ad libitum. At the end of each 12-day feeding period, all dogs entered a 6-day washout period in which they were offered a standard commercial canned dog food ad libitum. RESULTS Diet had no significant effect on intake of the challenge meal, intake of food during the subsequent washout period, or perception of hunger, as represented by behavioral characteristics during the 30-minute period after presentation of test diets. In addition, diet had no significant effect on percentage of weight loss. CONCLUSIONS Inclusion of high amounts of IF or SF in a commercial low-energy diet has no apparent beneficial effects on satiety when fed to dogs on an energy intake regimen corresponding to allowances for weight reduction.
Dysregulation of the neuregulin‐1–ErbB network modulates endogenous oligodendrocyte differentiation and preservation after spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in degeneration of oligodendrocytes that leads to demyelination and axonal dysfunction. Replacement of oligodendrocytes is impaired after SCI, owing to the improper endogenous differentiation and maturation of myelinating oligodendrocytes. Here, we report that SCI‐induced dysregulation of neuregulin‐1 (Nrg‐1)–ErbB signaling may underlie the poor replacement of oligodendrocytes. Nrg‐1 and its receptors, ErbB‐2, ErbB‐3, and ErbB‐4, play essential roles in several aspects of oligodendrocyte development and physiology. In rats with SCI, we demonstrate that the Nrg‐1 level is dramatically reduced at 1 day after injury, with no restoration at later time‐points. Our characterisation shows that Nrg‐1 is mainly expressed by neurons, axons and oligodendrocytes in the adult spinal cord, and the robust and lasting decrease in its level following SCI reflects the permanent loss of these cells. Neural precursor cells (NPCs) residing in the spinal cord ependyma express ErbB receptors, suggesting that they are responsive to Nrg‐1 availability. In vitro, exogenous Nrg‐1 enhanced the proliferation and differentiation of spinal NPCs into oligodendrocytes while reducing astrocyte differentiation. In rats with SCI, recombinant human Nrg‐1β1 treatment resulted in a signifcant increase in the number of new oligodendrocytes and the preservation of existing ones after injury. Nrg‐1β1 administration also enhanced axonal preservation and attenuated astrogliosis, tumor necrosis factor‐α release and tissue degeneration after SCI. The positive effects of Nrg‐1β1 treatment were reversed by inhibiting its receptors. Collectively, our data provide strong evidence to suggest an impact of Nrg‐1–ErbB signaling on endogenous oligodendrocyte replacement and maintenance in the adult injured spinal cord, and its potential as a therapeutic target for SCI.
Narrow chaotic compound autoionizing states in atomic spectra.

doorway state which accumulates a large share of the total width. This state is in essence a modified singleparticle continuum decoupled from the resonances due to its large width. Narrow compound AIS should be a common feature of atomic spectra at energies sufficient for excitation of several electrons above the groundstate configuration. The narrow resonances can be observed as peaks in the photoabsorption, or, in electron-ion scattering, as Fano-type profiles on the background provided by the wide doorway-state resonance. It is also shown that the statistics of electromagnetic and autoionization amplitudes involving compound states are close to Gaussian. @S1050-2947~96! 07208-3#
Reactivity to stressor pile-up in adulthood: effects on daily negative and positive affect.

This study used data from a 30-day diary study with 289 adults (age range 18-89 years) to model the effects of stressor pile-up on individuals' daily negative affect (NA) and positive affect (PA) and to test for age differences in these effects. Specifically, we developed a new approach to operationalize and model stressor pile-up and evaluated this approach using generalized mixed models, taking into account the gamma response distribution of the highly skewed daily NA data. Findings showed that pile-up of stressors over a 1-week period was significantly coupled with increases in individuals' daily NA above and beyond the effect of concurrent stressors. Findings also showed that the effects of stressor accumulation and concurrent stress were additive rather than multiplicative. Age interacted significantly with stressor accumulation so that a higher age was associated with less NA reactivity to stressor pile-up. Yet, we did not find such an age-related association for NA reactivity to concurrent daily stressors. Daily PA was not associated with daily stress or with stressor pile-up. The operational definition of stressor pile-up presented in this study contributes to the literature by providing a new approach to model the dynamic effects of stress, and by providing new ways of separating the effects of acute stressors from the effects of stressor pile-up. The age differences found in the present study suggest that older adults develop effective emotion regulation skills for handling stressor pile-up, but that they react to acute daily stressors in a similar way than younger adults.
Few-Shot Learning Through an Information Retrieval Lens

Few-shot learning refers to understanding new concepts from only a few examples. We propose an information retrieval-inspired approach for this problem that is motivated by the increased importance of maximally leveraging all the available information in this low-data regime. We define a training objective that aims to extract as much information as possible from each training batch by effectively optimizing over all relative orderings of the batch points simultaneously. In particular, we view each batch point as a `query' that ranks the remaining ones based on its predicted relevance to them and we define a model within the framework of structured prediction to optimize mean Average Precision over these rankings. Our method achieves impressive results on the standard few-shot classification benchmarks while is also capable of few-shot retrieval.
Gene expression profiling of the hippocampal dentate gyrus in an adult toxicity study captures a variety of neurodevelopmental dysfunctions in rat models of hypothyroidism

We previously found that developmental hypothyroidism changed the expression of genes in the rat hippocampal dentate gyrus, a brain region where adult neurogenesis is known to occur. In the present study, we performed brain region‐specific global gene expression profiling in an adult rat hypothyroidism model to see if it reflected the developmental neurotoxicity we saw in the developmental hypothyroidism model. Starting when male rats were 5 weeks old, we administered 6‐propyl‐2‐thiouracil at a doses of 0, 0.1 and 10 mg kg−1 body weight by gavage for 28 days. We selected four brain regions to represent both cerebral and cerebellar tissues: hippocampal dentate gyrus, cerebral cortex, corpus callosum and cerebellar vermis. We observed significant alterations in the expression of genes related to neural development (Eph family genes and Robo3) in the cerebral cortex and hippocampal dentate gyrus and in the expression of genes related to myelination (Plp1 and Mbp) in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. We observed only minor changes in the expression of these genes in the corpus callosum and cerebellar vermis. We used real‐time reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction to confirm Chrdl1, Hes5, Mbp, Plp1, Slit1, Robo3 and the Eph family transcript expression changes. The most significant changes in gene expression were found in the dentate gyrus. Considering that the gene expression profile of the adult dentate gyrus closely related to neurogenesis, 28‐day toxicity studies looking at gene expression changes in adult hippocampal dentate gyrus may also detect possible developmental neurotoxic effects. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
L-Selectin and P-Selectin Are Novel Biomarkers of Cervicovaginal Inflammation for Preclinical Mucosal Safety Assessment of Anti-HIV-1 Microbicide

ABSTRACT A major obstacle thwarting preclinical development of microbicides is the lack of a validated biomarker of cervicovaginal inflammation. Therefore, the present study aims to identify novel noninvasive soluble markers in a murine model for assessment of microbicide mucosal safety. By performing cytokine antibody array analysis, we identified two adhesion molecules, L-selectin and P-selectin, which significantly increased when mucosal inflammation was triggered by nonoxynol-9 (N9), an anti-HIV-1 microbicide candidate that failed clinical trials, in a refined murine model of agent-induced cervicovaginal inflammation. We found that patterns of detection of L-selectin and P-selectin were obviously different from those of the two previously defined biomarkers of cervicovaginal inflammation, monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). The levels of these two soluble selectins correlated better than those of MCP-1 and IL-6 with the duration and severity of mucosal inflammation triggered by N9 and two approved proinflammatory compounds, benzalkonium chloride (BZK) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), but not by two nonproinflammatory compounds, carboxymethyl celluose (CMC; microbicide excipients) and tenofovir (TFV; microbicide candidate). These data indicated that L-selectin and P-selectin can serve as additional novel cervicovaginal inflammation biomarkers for preclinical mucosal safety evaluation of candidate microbicides for the prevention of infection with HIV and other sexually transmitted pathogens.
Feasibility of closed‐loop titration of propofol guided by the Bispectral Index for general anaesthesia induction: a prospective randomized study

Background: This study was designed to evaluate the feasibility of propofol infusion by a closed‐loop system for the titration of anaesthetic induction guided by Bispectral Index. Methods: Forty patients were prospectively and randomly allocated into two groups: the target control infusion (TCI) group, where propofol titration was performed manually guided by the Bispectral Index using a commercial pharmacokinetic model (Diprifusor device) and the closed‐loop group where titration was performed using a proportional differential algorithm. For both groups, the objective was to achieve a Bispectral Index of 50. Remifentanil TCI was infused at a target of 2 ng mL−1 and was maintained constant throughout the study. Feasibility of automatic induction was evaluated with performance error and haemodynamic data. Results: Bispectral Index overshoot (−9 ± 13% vs. −16 ± 20%, P = 0.035) and mean duration of induction (381 ± 106 s vs. 490 ± 131 s, P = 0.004) were lower in the closed‐loop group than in the TCI group. Haemodynamic data were similar between groups with a similar use of ephedrine bolus. Conclusion: The system was able to allow induction clinically for all patients. Automated titration guided by Bispectral Index for propofol infusion was feasible without increase in haemodynamic adverse effects.
Sensitization from transfusion in patients awaiting primary kidney transplant.

BACKGROUND Sensitization to human leukocyte antigen (HLA) from red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is poorly quantified and is based on outdated, insensitive methods. The objective was to evaluate the effect of transfusion on the breadth, magnitude and specificity of HLA antibody formation using sensitive and specific methods. METHODS Transfusion, demographic and clinical data from the US Renal Data System were obtained for patients on dialysis awaiting primary kidney transplant who had ≥ 2 HLA antibody measurements using the Luminex single-antigen bead assay. One cohort included patients with a transfusion (n = 50) between two antibody measurements matched with up to four nontransfused patients (n = 155) by age, sex, race and vintage (time on dialysis). A second crossover cohort (n = 25) included patients with multiple antibody measurements before and after transfusion. We studied changes in HLA antibody mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) and calculated panel reactive antibody (cPRA). RESULTS In the matched cohort, 10 of 50 (20%) transfused versus 6 of 155 (4%) nontransfused patients had a ≥ 10 HLA antibodies increase of >3000 MFI (P = 0.0006); 6 of 50 (12%) transfused patients had a ≥ 30 antibodies increase (P = 0.0007). In the crossover cohort, the number of HLA antibodies increasing >1000 and >3000 MFI was higher in the transfused versus the control period, P = 0.03 and P = 0.008, respectively. Using a ≥ 3000 MFI threshold, cPRA significantly increased in both matched (P = 0.01) and crossover (P = 0.002) transfused patients. CONCLUSIONS Among prospective primary kidney transplant recipients, RBC transfusion results in clinically significant increases in HLA antibody strength and breadth, which adversely affect the opportunity for future transplant.
Action starring narratives and events: Structure and inference in visual narrative comprehension

Studies of discourse have long placed focus on the inference generated by information that is not overtly expressed, and theories of visual narrative comprehension similarly focused on the inference generated between juxtaposed panels. Within the visual language of comics, star-shaped “flashes” commonly signify impacts, but can be enlarged to the size of a whole panel that can omit all other representational information. These “action star” panels depict a narrative culmination (a “Peak”), but have content which readers must infer, thereby posing a challenge to theories of inference generation in visual narratives that focus only on the semantic changes between juxtaposed images. This paper shows that action stars demand more inference than depicted events, and that they are more coherent in narrative sequences than scrambled sequences (Experiment 1). In addition, action stars play a felicitous narrative role in the sequence (Experiment 2). Together, these results suggest that visual narratives use conventionalized depictions that demand the generation of inferences while retaining narrative coherence of a visual sequence.
Hygienic Hand Disinfection

Abstract The purpose of hygienic hand disinfection is to render hands safe after contact with pathogens. Comparing effects of disinfection procedures on infection ratios is too difficult for routine purposes but the degerming efficacy may be determined in laboratory tests with volunteers. In the Vienna test model the efficacy of a specific procedure being tested is compared to that of a standard disinfection (rubbing into hands 3 ml of iso-propanol 60% v/v, 30 seconds, twice) tested in parallel with the same volunteers. This ensures standardization, thus comparability of results between laboratories, and provides the investigator with a yardstick for efficacy. The model includes artificial contamination, assessment of the release of test bacteria (E. Coli ATCC 11229) before and after disinfection by the finger tip method, and addition of neutralizers to sampling fluids. Alcohols in appropriate concentrations are highly effective (log reductions: >4.0) whereas procedures employing disinfectant detergents act like soap (log reductions: ≤ 3.2) and may cause dissemination of pathogens.