Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of body load on the gait pattern in Parkinson's disease

The influence of body unloading (to 75, 50, and 25% body weight) on lower leg muscle activation during treadmill walking was investigated in patients with Parkinson's disease, age‐matched and young healthy subjects. The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that patients suffer from impaired extensor load receptor function. Although lower leg flexor muscle electromyographic (EMG) activity was relatively independent of body load, lower leg extensor EMG activity was markedly load sensitive. The EMG amplitude of the latter decreased with body unloading during stepping in all three groups of subjects. The load sensitivity progressively increased from patients to age‐matched to young healthy subjects. In addition, the absolute level of leg extensor EMG amplitude during the stance phase of stepping became progressively larger from patients to age‐matched subjects to young healthy subjects. It is suggested that decreased sensitivity of extensor load reflex mechanisms contributes to impaired gait in elderly subjects and is more pronounced in parkinsonian patients.
A case‐control study of cancer of the esophagus and gastric cardia in linxian

A case‐control study involving interviews with 1,244 patients (758 males and 486 females) with cancer of the esophagus or gastric cardia and 1,314 population‐based controls (789 males, 525 females) was carried out in Linxian, a rural county in North Central China with one of the world's highest mortality rates for these tumors. Cancer risks tended to rise with increasing intake of wheat and corn, but no association was found with adult intake of pickled vegetables, the leading a priori suspect, and risks were not elevated among those consuming low quantities of fresh vegetables or fruits. Few differences in preparation or storage of food or water were detected, although cancer patients reported less fluid intake than controls. Few persons reported drinking alcoholic beverages. Smoking was reported by 61% of the male cases and was a mild risk factor, related more to cancer of the cardia than of the esophagus. The risk was increased by 70% among those whose parents had esophageal or stomach cancer, but only slightly among those whose spouses had such cancers, suggesting that exposure early in life and/or genetic effects may be involved.
Outcome of anthroposophic medication therapy in chronic disease: A 12-month prospective cohort study

Background Anthroposophic medications (AMED) are prescribed in 56 countries. Objective To study clinical outcomes in patients prescribed AMED for chronic disease. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting 110 medical practices in Germany. Participants 665 consecutive outpatients aged 1–71 years, prescribed AMED for mental, respiratory, musculoskeletal, neurological, genitourinary, and other chronic diseases. Main outcomes Disease and Symptom Scores (physicians’ and patients’ assessment, 0–10) and SF-36. Results During the first six months, an average of 1.5 AMED per patient was used, in total 652 different AMED. Origin of AMED was mineral (8.0% of 652 AMED), botanical (39.0%), zoological (7.2%), chemically defined (13.0%), and mixed (33.0%). From baseline to six-month-follow-up, all outcomes improved significantly: Disease Score improved by mean 3.15 points (95% confidence interval 2.97–3.34, p < 0.001), Symptom Score by 2.43 points (2.23–2.63, p < 0.001), SF-36 Physical Component Summary by 3.04 points (2.16–3.91, p < 0.001), and SF-36 Mental Component Summary by 5.75 points (4.59–6.92, p < 0.001). All improvements were maintained at 12-month follow-up. Improvements were similar in adult men and women, in children, and in patients not using adjunctive therapies. Conclusion Outpatients using AMED for chronic disease had long-term reduction of disease severity and improvement of quality of life.
Distress During Radiation Therapy: Assessment among patients with breast or prostate cancer

BACKGROUND: Distress is regarded as the sixth vital sign in cancer care, but few studies describe distress in patients undergoing radiation therapy. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess distress levels among patients with breast or prostate cancer undergoing radiation therapy and investigate which problems contribute to patients' distress levels. METHODS: A retrospective medical record review was conducted for 217 patients with breast or prostate cancer at a midwestern community cancer center. Demographic data, distress scores, and problems or concerns from the patient‐completed Distress Thermometer and associated Problem List were collected. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were calculated. FINDINGS: The average distress of patients with breast cancer was significantly higher than that of patients with prostate cancer, and patients with breast cancer reported more problems than those with prostate cancer.
Health Care Utilization for Emotional Problems: Results from a Community Survey *

A survey was conducted in which 865 randomly selected adult household residents of Edmonton, Alberta were interviewed to obtain information about health care in the preceding year. Eighty percent of the sample had seen a family physician, and eight percent of visits to family physicians involved a mental or emotional problem. Thirteen percent of the sample received professional help for a mental or emotional problem from some type of caregiver. The most frequently consulted professional was the family physician (eight percent of the sample), followed by psychologists and psychiatrists (each seeing two percent of the sample). Family physicians accounted for the greatest number of consultations for mental or emotional problems (41 %), followed by psychologists (16%), social workers (12%) and psychiatrists (nine percent). Women were 27% more likely to seek a consultation than men, and consultation rates were highest in the group ranging in age from 35 to 44 years. There was also a strong relationship between having recent psychiatric symptoms and having had a consultation in the past year.
Mirror Neurons and Their Reflections

Human mirror neuron system is believed to provide the basic mechanism for social cognition. Mirror neurons were first discovered in 1990s in the premotor area (F5) of macaque monkeys. Besides the premotor area, mirror neuron systems, having different functions depending on their locations, are found in various cortical areas. In addition, the importance of cingulate cortex in mother-infant relationship is clearly emphasized in the literature. Functional magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalography, transcortical magnetic stimulation are the modalities used to evaluate the, activity of mirror neurons; for instance, mu wave suppression in electroencephalography recordings is considered as an evidence of mirror neuron activity. Mirror neurons have very important functions such as language processing, comprehension, learning, social interaction and empathy. For example, autistic individuals have less mirror neuron activity; therefore, it is thought that they have less ability of empathy. Responses of mirror neurons to object-directed and non-object directed actions are different and non-object directed action is required for the activation of mirror neurons. Previous researchers find significantly more suppression during the observation of object-directed movements as compared to mimed actions.
Vehicle Detection in Aerial Traffic Monitoring

This work describes a cascade detection of vehicles in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) images and videos. There are some new approaches used in the detection. In particular, the Region of Interest (ROI) search is not only based on GIS and navigation data, but also employs visual method based on rapid image segmentation and road detection. The work also suggests doing ROI segmentation by the superpixel technique and trainable four-level cascade detector that uses artificial neural networks as classifiers. Characteristics of the being analyzed regions (combined superpixels) are based on geometric and texture features, as well as on deep features extracted from the image patches by nonlinear auto encoders. To improve the detection quality of the moving vehicles a separate stage of the detector based on optical flow analysis was introduced. Proposed detection algorithm was benchmarked on the real UAV videos and showed the sufficiently high accuracy. Performance of the algorithm allows supposing the on-board usage.
Current Problems in the Management of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Turkey

Although a large scale survey investigating the practice patterns of physicians for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) throughout Turkey is absent, there is an increasing enthusiasm on this subject after several years of experience with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKI) therapy. Considering the problems in the management of CML patients, we can focus on deficiencies in the laboratory tests for diagnosis and monitoring, management of suboptimal response with imatinib therapy and conducting visit frequency of patients.
Banality reinvestigated: A computer-based content analysis of suicidal and forced death documents.

Suicide and simulated notes and forced-death documents were processed on the Harvard III Psycho-Sociological Dictionary. For each text, frequencies of related words were generated; these were contrasted with each other and with baseline data using z scores. The results indicated that the suicidal groups were more "deviant. " Other findings are concreteness and constriction of focus for suicides--a pattern suggesting denial just prior to the deed. The forced-death group seemed to be more meaningfully in contact with life and aware of responsibility. The stimulated group appeared to be fabricating a popular stereotype rather than exhibiting empathy. Implications were discussed.
Results of Thoracoscopic Instrumented Fusion versus Conventional Posterior Instrumented Fusion in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Undergoing Selective Thoracic Fusion

Study Design. Retrospective review of 31 consecutive female patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis undergoing selective thoracic fusion. Objective. To compare safety and efficacy of two techniques in treating adolescent idiopathic scoliosis undergoing selective thoracic fusion. Summary of Background Data. There is paucity in the literature comparing posterior versus thoracoscopic instrumented fusion in scoliosis. Methods. Nineteen patients (group 1) underwent posterior instrumented fusion. Twelve patients (group 2) had thoracoscopic anterior instrumented fusion. All patients had a minimum of 25 months of follow-up observation. Results. Both groups were similar in terms of age at menarche and surgery. Preoperative Cobb angles in the coronal (erect and bending) and sagittal planes did not differ between the two groups. Group 1 patients had higher estimated blood loss (P = 0.006). Operative time (P < 0.001) and intensive care unit stay (P = 0.01) were longer in group 2 patients. There was no difference in parenteral analgesia requirement. There were no complications in group 1. Complications in group 2 included lobar collapse (1) and scapula winging (1). Improvement in scoliosis among group 1 patients averaged 77 (1 week), 72 (6 months), and 67% (most recent follow-up review). In group 2 patients, mean improvement in scoliosis was 66 (1 week), 62 (6 months), and 62% (most recent follow-up review). The differences between the two groups in terms of scoliosis improvement were not significant. Thoracic kyphosis (T2–T12) did not increase significantly with thoracoscopic versus posterior instrumentation. No significant change in lumbar lordosis (T12–S1) was noted with either procedure. Conclusions. The efficacy of thoracoscopic surgery was similar to standard posterior procedures. Advantages included lower intraoperative blood loss. The longer operative time and intensive care unit stay were attributed to the steep learning curve of this technique.
Salvia fruticosa reduces intrinsic cellular and H2O2-induced DNA oxidation in HEK 293 cells; assessment using flow cytometry.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the role of water-soluble extract of Salvia fruticosa (Greek sage) (S. fruticosa) leaves in reducing both intrinsic cellular and H2O2-induced DNA oxidation in cultured human embryonic kidney 293 cells. S. fruticosa, native to the Eastern-Mediterranean basin, is widely used as a medicinal herb for treatment of various diseases. METHODS Dried leaves of S. fruticosa were extracted in phosphate buffer saline and purified using both vacuum and high pressure filtrations. Each mL of the preparation contained (7.1±1.0) mg of extract. HEK-293 cells were incubated in one set with S. fruticosa extract in the presence of 0.1 mmol/L H2O2, and in the other set with the addition of the extract alone. The DNA oxidation was measured using fluorescence upon fluorescein isothiocyanate derivatization of 8-oxoguanine moieties. The fluorescence was measured using flow cytometry technique. RESULTS Cells incubated 3 h with 150 µL extract and exposed to 0.1 mmol/L H2O2 showed lower intensity of fluorescence, and thus lower DNA oxidation. Moreover, cells incubated 3 h with 100 µL of the extract showed lower intensity of fluorescence, and thus lower intrinsic cellular DNA oxidation compared to control (without S. fruticosa). CONCLUSIONS The results from this study suggest that the water-soluble extract of S. fruticosa leaves protects against both H2O2-induced and intrinsic cellular DNA oxidation in human embryonic kidney 293 cells.
Chronic Pain After Ankle Fracture: An Arthroscopic Assessment Case Series

Background: The purpose of this study was to document findings of ankle arthroscopy in patients with residual complaints after an appropriately treated ankle fracture. Methods: Patients who had ankle arthroscopy at the Alpine Orthosports Clinic between 1998 and 2000 were identified by a retrospective review of the ankle arthroscopy database. Fifty patients were identified who had arthroscopy for complaints after ankle fracture. The mean duration from injury to arthroscopy was 20.5 ± 33.5 months, with a range of 2 to 184.6 months. Results: There were 37 isolated fractures and 13 combination fractures. The Danis-Weber classification was used for lateral malleolar fractures. There were five type A, 14 type B, and 11 type C lateral malleolar fractures. Results: Synovitis was present in 46 ankles and was located antero-laterally in 36. Synovitis was noted in 26 of the 30 ankles that had a lateral malleolar fracture. Arthrofibrosis was found in 20 ankles, with anterolateral joint involvement in 16. There was chondral damage noted in 45 ankles, 30 located on the talus and 15 on the tibia. Spurs were found in 15 ankles, and nine had loose bodies or debris. There were two postoperative complications: one patient had bleeding from a portal and the other had an area of paresthesia at the anterolateral portal site. Conclusion: Synovitis and chondral damage were more frequent than arthrofibrosis and spurs. Synovitis and arthrofibrosis were found most frequently in the anterolateral aspect of the joint. Also, the higher the lateral malleolar fracture was in relation to the syndesmosis, the higher was the occurrence of talar chondral damage.
THE IMPACT OF SOME DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS ON THE SEVERITY OF ASTHMA IN CHILDREN

Objective: To investigate the association between some demographic factors and the levels of severity among asthmatic children. Method: One hundred and twenty five asthmatic children aged between 6 months and 15 years were studied in pediatric and asthma clinics at King AbdulAziz University Hospital (KAUH). The assessment of clinical severity was based on the global strategy guidelines for asthma assessment and management. Subjects were grouped by age: infants (≤1 year), toddlers (1-3 years), preschool or kindergarten (3-6 years), school (6-12 years), and adolescents (12-15 years). Demographic data (age and sex) were analyzed for any statistical significance. Results: Boys were 80 (64%) and predominated in all age groups except in infants. 10(8%) were infants, 22(17.6%) toddlers, 26 (20.8%) preschool or kindergarten, 49 (39.2%) school, and 18 (14.4%) adolescent. The levels of severity of asthma were intermittent 11 (8.8%), mild persistent 74 (59.2%), moderate persistent 33 (26.4%), and severe persistent 7 (5.6%). Frequency and severity of asthma were significantly higher in boys than girls (P<0.05) and at school age compared to other age groups (P<0.05). Conclusion & recommendation: This study demonstrated an increase in the frequency and severity of bronchial asthma in boys, particularly, those at school age. As stated in the literature, correlating demographic factors and clinical status can help in the prediction of the severity of asthma and possibly its outcome. This demands greater vigilance in the care of this group of asthmatics more than any others.
Chemopreventive and Anti-Cancer Efficacy of Silibinin Against Growth and Progression of Lung Cancer

The use of systemic chemotherapeutic drugs and molecular-targeted therapies in the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic lung cancer has its limitations due to the associated acute and cumulative dose limiting toxicities and acquisition of drug resistance. Prevention and therapeutic intervention by dietary agents including nutraceuticals which are non-toxic, cost-effective, and physiologically bioavailable, are emerging approaches in lung cancer management. In this regard, silibinin, a natural flavonolignan, has been rigorously evaluated for the prevention and growth control of lung cancer through extensive in vitro and in vivo studies. Successful studies conducted so far, have established that silibinin is effective both alone and in combination with other agents (e.g., chemotherapeutic and epigenetic agents) in significantly inhibiting the growth of lung cancer cells. In vivo, its effects have been shown to be mediated through inhibition of proliferation, angiogenesis and epigenetic-related events. Therefore, the present review focuses on encompassing the efficacy and mechanisms of silibinin against lung cancer.
The evaluation of M-commerce interface on smart phone in Thailand

In this research, text-based E-money application interface and graphic-based application interface on a the smart phone were evaluated. The goal is to study the effect of application interfaces on ease of use, intention to use and perceived risk. The questionnaire survey was conducted to ask university students and middle age people. Both groups have been using or have an expertise in using a smart phone. However, they do not have experience on using E-money services. They were asked to evaluate by randomly selecting the tasks of applications. In the experiment, a reliability analysis, factor analysis and regression analysis were conducted. The result shows that ease of use and perceived risk are affected by a text-based. Ease of use and intention to use are affected by a graphic-based E-money application affects but not perceived risk. This research discusses about the smart phone users toward the E-money application interface which will be useful for E-money business.
On the Distribution of Diffie-Hellman Triples with Sparse Exponents

Let g be a primitive root modulo a (n+1)-bit prime p. In this paper we prove the uniformity of distribution of the Diffie--Hellman triples (gx, gy, gxy) as the exponents x and y run through the set of n-bit integers with precisely k nonzero bits in their bit representation provided that $k \ge 0.35 n$. Such "sparse" exponents are of interest because for these the computation of gx, gy, gxy is faster than for arbitrary x and y. In the latter case, that is, for arbitrary exponents, similar (albeit stronger) uniformity of distribution results have recently been obtained by R. Canetti, M. Larsen, D. Lieman, S. Konyagin [ Israel J. Math, 120 (2000), pp. 23--46], and the authors.
Urinary Tract Infections in Children: A Changing Paradigm

Purpose: To review the changing paradigms in the diagnosis, investigation and management of Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in children beyond the neonatal period. Methods: A literature search was done using PUBMED, EBSCO host database and GOOGLE SCHOLAR of all articles including reviews and guidelines on UTIs in children for the last ten years. A total of 2725 articles including review articles and guidelines published over the last 10 years were searched and reviewed. Results: UTIs are the second most common cause of serious bacterial infections in early childhood, thus placing a huge financial burden on the health budget. Despite increasing resistance to several first-line antibiotics, appropriate antibiotic treatment has almost eliminated mortality. Early guidelines advocated aggressive treatment and extensive imaging studies, particularly for the detection of serious ureteric reflex and kidney scarring. Treatment in the acute episode is aimed at eradication of bacteriuria and alleviation of symptoms. Long-term goals include prevention of recurrent attacks of UTIs, kidney scarring and correction of urological lesions that may predispose to recurrent infections. Although there is increasing evidence to show that long-term antimicrobial prophylaxis may be associated with a reduced risk of recurrent infection in selected groups of patients, but not renal scarring, more studies are needed to confirm this. Surgical intervention is now restricted to cases with severe vesicoureteric reflux and failed medical management with endoscopic surgery being increasingly used in most centres compared to open surgery. Conclusion: Following extensive research, a more tangible approach to UTIs is advocated providing for more judicious use of resources with reduced harm from procedures, without affecting outcome. This review addresses the diagnosis, management and treatment of UTIs in children beyond the neonatal period.
Superoxide Dismutase 2 Polymorphisms and Osteoporosis in Asian Indians: A Genetic Association Analysis

Abstract Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of osteoporosis. The present cross-sectional study focuses on mapping single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD2) gene in Asian Indians. The bone mineral density (BMD) of study subjects was assessed by dual x-ray absorptiometry. Individuals were classified as normal (n = 82) or osteoporotic (n = 98). Biochemical parameters such as vitamin D, total oxidant status (TOS) and SOD2 enzyme activity were estimated from plasma samples. Semi-quantitative PCR was carried out using GAPDH as an endogenous control. Genomic DNA was isolated from whole blood and SNPs were evaluated by PCR sequencing. Thirteen SNPs are reported in the examined region of the SOD2 gene, out of which in our samples SNPs rs5746094 and rs4880 were found to be polymorphic. Allele G of rs5746094 (intronic) and allele C of rs4880 (exonic) are significantly higher in the osteoporotic individuals. Presence of allele C of rs4880 and increased level of TOS among osteoporotic individuals were found to be associated with disease risk.
Learning from the Viral Journey: How to Enter Cells and How to Overcome Intracellular Barriers to Reach the Nucleus

Viruses deliver their genome into host cells where they subsequently replicate and multiply. A variety of relevant strategies have evolved by which viruses gain intracellular access and utilize cellular machinery for the synthesis of their genome. Therefore, the viral journey provides insight into the cell’s trafficking machinery and how it can be best exploited to improve nonviral gene delivery systems. This review summarizes viral internalization pathways and intracellular trafficking of viruses, with an emphasis on the endosomal escape processes of nonenveloped viruses. Intracellular events from viral entry through nuclear delivery of the viral complementary DNA are also discussed.