Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Internal Fixation with a Veterinary Cuttable Plate in Small Animals

Summary 63 cases (42 cats, 21 dogs) were treated with a newly developed plate that can be cut during surgery to the required length and may be sandwiched if one plate is not rigid enough. The plate is manufactured in lengths of 30 cm and in two different thicknesses, 1.0 mm and 1.5 mm. The thinner plate is used with 1.5 mm or 2.0 mm Cortex screws and the thicker one with 2.0 or 2.7 mm Cortex screws. Healing was generally uneventful with the exceptions noted.
The use of misoprostol before hysteroscopic surgery in non-pregnant premenopausal women: a randomized comparison of sublingual, oral and vaginal administrations.

BACKGROUND The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of misoprostol administered orally, vaginally, or sublingually on cervical ripening before hysteroscopic surgery in premenopausal non-pregnant women. METHODS Non-pregnant premenopausal women scheduled for operative hysteroscopy (with a 10-mm hysteroscope) were assigned by computerized randomization to receive 400 mg of misoprostol, administered either orally or vaginally 6-8 h prior to surgery or 400 mg sublingually 2-4 h prior to surgery. The primary outcome in this study was the preoperative cervical width as measured by the largest number of Hegar dilators. The time to Hegar number 10 was also recorded along with side effects related to misoprostol and complications during surgery for each group. RESULTS Patients were randomized to receive sublingual (n = 47), oral (n = 47) or vaginal (n = 47) misoprostol. The three groups were comparable in terms of age, BMI (body mass index), parity, gravidity, history of vaginal delivery, post-operative pathological findings and surgeon type. The preoperative cervical width [sublingual: 7.5 +/- 2.0 mm (8, 3-10); oral: 7.5 +/- 1.9 mm (7, 4-10); vaginal: 7.6 +/- 2.4 mm (8, 1-10)] was statistically similar among the groups. The time to Hegar number 10, side effects and complications during the hysteroscopy were comparable among the three groups. CONCLUSION A limitation of this study was that the surgeons, but not the patients, were blinded to the test procedures. Nevertheless we found that sublingual, oral and vaginal misoprostol were equally effective for cervical priming before hysteroscopic surgery in premenopausal non-pregnant women.
Update on metastatic basal cell carcinoma: a summary of published cases from 1981 through 2011.

While basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cancer in the United States,1 metastasis (mBCC) is extremely rare, with an incidence of 0.0028% to 0.55%. 2 The most recent review of mBCC cases from 1894 through 1980 by von Domarus and Stevens2 is now 30 years old. We conducted a retrospective systematic evaluation of all published mBCC cases from 1981 through 2011 to update patient demographics and tumor characteristics associated with mBCC and to determine whether adjuvant therapy was associated with improved survival.
A comparative analysis of assisted reproductive technology cycles in Australia and New Zealand 2004-2007.

BACKGROUND There are different funding arrangements for fertility treatments between New Zealand (NZ) and Australia. In NZ, there are two options for patients accessing treatment: either meeting specified criteria for age, no smoking and BMI for publicly funding or funding their own treatment. This differs from Australia, which has no explicit eligibility criteria restricting access to fertility treatment. An analysis of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in Australia and NZ was undertaken to consider the impact of these different funding approaches. METHODS Data were extracted from the Australian and New Zealand Assisted Reproduction Database between 2004 and 2007. A total of 116 111 autologous fresh cycles were included. RESULTS In Australia, more cycles were in women aged 40 years or older compared with those in NZ (23.5 versus 16.0%, P < 0.01). Single embryo transfer was more common in NZ than that in Australia, in women < 35 years of age (75.1 versus 59.6%, P < 0.01). In women <35 years, the crude rates of clinical pregnancy (37.5 versus 31.2%, P < 0.01) and live delivery (31.6 versus 26%, P < 0.01) following fresh ART cycles were significantly higher in NZ than that in Australia. These differences in outcomes persisted in older age groups. CONCLUSIONS The purpose of the criteria used in NZ to access public funding for fertility treatments is to optimize pregnancy outcomes. This approach has resulted in a healthier population of women undergoing treatment and may explain the improved pregnancy outcomes seen in NZ couples who undergo fertility treatments.
Anticoagulant options--why the FDA approved a higher but not a lower dose of dabigatran.

Last fall, the FDA approved dabigatran, in a 150-mg dose only, for reducing risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. A 110-mg regimen was also effective, but the agency believes that patients should receive the higher dose.
A very large proportion of young Danish women have polycystic ovaries: is a revision of the Rotterdam criteria needed?

BACKGROUND According to the Rotterdam 2003 criteria, an ovary is defined as polycystic if 12 or more follicles of 2-9 mm are present, when evaluating the ovary by ultrasonography on Days 3-5 of the menstrual cycle in women not using hormonal contraceptives. The aim of this population-based study was to estimate the prevalence of polycystic ovaries (PCO) in a representative sample of young Danish women according to the Rotterdam criteria. METHODS From a Danish pregnancy cohort established in 1988-1989, 267 (61%) young adult daughters agreed to participate in a clinical examination and 174 (40%) consented to vaginal ultrasound. Sufficient image quality in at least one ovary was obtained from 154 women. Both users and non-users of hormonal contraceptives were included and the examination was not restricted to a particular time of the menstrual cycle. RESULTS The median (range) age was 20.1 (19.5-21.0) years. The median follicle number per ovary was 14 (6-30) and 12 or more follicles were counted in 104 of the 154 women. Thus, the prevalence was estimated to 68% [95% confidence interval (CI): 60-74%]. PCO were present in 80% (95% CI: 65-89%) of non-users (n = 44) of hormonal contraceptives. Of the 104 women with PCO, 41% (95% CI: 32-51%) could be defined as having polycystic ovary syndrome. CONCLUSIONS A very large proportion of the young women had PCO according to the Rotterdam 2003 criteria. As the number of follicles is higher at a younger age, we believe the Rotterdam criteria should be revised, particularly to avoid misdiagnosis in this age group.
The most common isolated microorganisms and its clinical manifestation in hospitalised women suffering from urogenital diseases in Latvia

Background: The monitoring of genital tract infections, especially sexually transmitted infections, is a vital part of health priority in many countries. One of the most common vaginal infections in women of childbearing age is bacterial vaginosis. Methods: This is a laboratory based retrospective study. We analysed 774 patients’ cases (age range 18-35 years). Patients were subcategorized into three groups: patients with inflammation in genital tract, patients without inflammatory processes in genital tract, threatened abortion women. Laboratory tests also were divided depending on the type of examination. Results: There were 49 patients in the first group, 60 women in the second group and 236 pregnant women with threatened abortion in the third group. Gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp.) were the most common isolated bacteria in the first and second group. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were predominant in the third group. Streptococcus agalactiae was isolated in 11.8 % cases. In our study, Trichomonas vaginalis infection was found in 1.2%. Conclusions: The most common isolated bacteria were Coagulase-negative staphylococci and gram negative bacteria. Ureaplasma urealyticum was detected in a decisive majority (38.9%) of Mycoplasma species infections. In the first patients group – women with inflammatory process in genital tract were not found 3 bacteria, opposite to the second and third group.
The neural correlates of trustworthiness evaluations of faces and brands: Implications for behavioral and consumer neuroscience

When we buy a product of a brand, we trust the brand to provide good quality and reliability. Therefore, trust plays a major role in consumer behavior. It is unclear, however, how trust in brands is processed in the brain and whether it is processed differently from interpersonal trust. In this study, we used fMRI to investigate the neural correlates of interpersonal and brand trust by comparing the brain activation patterns during explicit trustworthiness judgments of faces and brands. Our results showed that while there were several brain areas known to be linked to trustworthiness evaluations, such as the amygdalae, more active in trustworthiness judgments when compared to a control task (familiarity judgment) for faces, no such difference was found for brands. Complementary ROI analysis revealed that the activation of both amygdalae was strongest for faces in the trustworthiness judgments. The direct comparison of the brain activation patterns during the trustworthiness evaluations between faces and brands in this analysis showed that trustworthiness judgments of faces activated the orbitofrontal cortex, another region that was previously linked to interpersonal trust, more strongly than trustworthiness judgments of brands. Further, trustworthiness ratings of faces, but not brands, correlated with activation in the orbitofrontal cortex. Our results indicate that the amygdalae, as well as the orbitofrontal cortex, play a prominent role in interpersonal trust (faces), but not in trust for brands. It is possible that this difference is due to brands being processed as cultural objects rather than as having human‐like personality characteristics.
The Groningen ART cohort study: the effects of ovarian hyperstimulation and the IVF laboratory procedures on neurological condition at 2 years.

BACKGROUND Up to 4% of children are born following assisted reproduction techniques (ART) yet relatively little is known on neurodevelopmental outcome of these children after 18 months of age. Only a limited number of long-term follow-up studies with adequate methodological quality have been reported. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of ovarian hyperstimulation, IVF laboratory procedures and a history of subfertility on neurological condition at 2 years. METHODS Singletons born after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation IVF (COH-IVF, n = 66), modified natural cycle IVF (MNC-IVF, n = 56), natural conception in subfertile couples (Sub-NC, n = 87) and in fertile couples (reference group, n = 101) were assessed (using Hempel approach) by neurological examination at 2 years of age. This resulted in a neurological optimality score (NOS), a fluency score and the prevalence of minor neurological dysfunction (MND). Primary outcome was the fluency score, as fluency of movements is easily affected by subtle dysfunction of the nervous system. RESULTS Fluency score, NOS and prevalence of MND were similar in COH-IVF, MNC-IVF and Sub-NC children. However, the fluency score (P < 0.01) and NOS (P < 0.001) of the three subfertile groups were higher, and the prevalence of MND was lower (P = 0.045), than those in the reference group. CONCLUSIONS Neurological condition of 2 year olds born after ART is similar to that of children of subfertile couples conceived naturally. Moreover, subfertility does not seem to be associated with a worse neurological outcome. These findings are reassuring, but we have to keep in mind that subtle neurodevelopmental disorders may emerge as children grow older.
Ustekinumab associated with flares of psoriatic arthritis.

IMPORTANCE Ustekinumab is a human monoclonal antibody that binds to the shared p40 subunit of interleukin (IL) 12 and IL-23. It is approved in the United States for adults (>18 years) with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy. In 1 phase 2 trial of ustekinumab for treatment of psoriatic arthritis, joint disease improved. OBSERVATION We report 4 cases of ustekinumab monotherapy for plaque psoriasis that resulted in disabling flares of known psoriatic arthritis or unmasked previously occult joint disease. In all of our cases, psoriasis improved dramatically with ustekinumab therapy while psoriatic arthritis flared. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Despite early results of a phase 2 ustekinumab trial suggesting efficacy for both plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, our case series raises concern that ustekinumab may unmask or aggravate joint disease in selected patients. These data underscore the need for further investigation of ustekinumab's effects on psoriatic arthritis.
When Doctors Join Unions

Grace Budrys, Cornell University Press, £11.95, pp 177 ISBN 0 8014 8354 9 The factors militating against American doctors joining unions are so pervasive that to discover any unionised doctors in the United States is a surprise. This book is a case study of the unique circumstances prevailing in California since the 1970s, which have enabled a doctors’ union, the Union of American Physicians and Dentists, to flourish. A small (12 or 17 mm diameter) umbrella device introduced through a catheter to close a persistent patent ductus arteriosus. From Illustrated Textbook of Paediatrics by Tom Lissauer and Graham Clayden (Mosby, …
Affordable ART: a different perspective.

BACKGROUND Although ≈ 10% of the population is affected by infertility, the treatment option of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) remains unaffordable for the majority of infertile couples. We have initiated a lowcost programme incorporating an uncommonly used, but recognized, ovarian stimulation protocol, together with certain costlimiting initiatives in an established assisted reproductive technology (ART) set up. METHODS The medical records of women who underwent the lowcost programme were analysed. Clomiphene citrate 50 mg daily was administered from Day 2 of the cycle and continued till the day of hCG trigger, thus preventing the LH surge. Intermittent doses of human menopausal gonadotrophin 150 IU were administered on alternate days from the 5th day onwards. Oocyte retrieval was carried out once at least two follicles of >18 mm were identified. The cycle was monitored by ultrasound only, with embryo transfer being carried out on Day 3. Clinical outcomes were recorded together with an estimation of the direct costs per cycle. Direct cost calculations did not include professional charges or facility costs. RESULTS Of 143 women evaluated, 104 women underwent embryo transfer. The live birth rate and clinical pregnancy rate per embryo transfer were 19 and 22%. The live birth rate per initiated cycle was 14% (20/143). The multiple pregnancy rate was 26% with no case of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome being recorded. The average direct cost per cycle was US$ 675 for IVF and US$ 725 for an ICSI treatment cycle. CONCLUSIONS Using this protocol, together with several costcutting measures, we achieved an acceptable live birth rate per transfer of 19% at a reasonable cost. This approach could be used by established ART centres to provide treatment to couples who cannot afford conventional ART.
Developmental assessment of human vitrified-warmed blastocysts based on oxygen consumption.

BACKGROUND In this study, we aimed to develop a model for embryo selection based on oxygen consumption following cryopreservation, the relationship between the developmental competence of blastocysts and their oxygen consumption was assessed. METHODS Oxygen consumption of vitrified-warmed human blastocysts was measured at 0, 1.5, 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, 9 and 24 h after warming using scanning electrochemical microscopy. On the basis of their developmental stage at 24 h, blastocysts were classified into four groups (hatched, hatching, arrested and degenerated). Moreover, cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) activity in vitrified-warmed blastocysts was assessed at 0 and 24 h. RESULTS The oxygen consumption rate of blastocysts just after warming was significantly lower than that of non-vitrified blastocysts (P< 0.05). The oxygen consumption rate of blastocysts was significantly higher in the hatched group than in the arrested and the degenerated groups after 1.5 h (P< 0.05) and than in the hatching group (P< 0.05) at 7.5 and 9 h. Moreover, CCO activity was absent in vitrified-warmed blastocysts at 0 h, but was detected at 24 h. CONCLUSIONS The respiratory rate of vitrified blastocysts after warming was significantly lower than non-cryopreserved blastocysts. Oxygen consumption of blastocysts with high developmental potential was restored earlier than that of blastocysts with low developmental potential. The results of this study suggest that it is possible to select vitrified-warmed blastocysts with high developmental potential based on their respiratory activity.
Intra-individual variation of the sperm chromatin structure assay DNA fragmentation index in men from infertile couples.

BACKGROUND The sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) is a valuable tool for prediction of fertility in vivo, with DNA fragmentation index (DFI) of 30% as a clinically useful cut-off level. Previous studies on fertile men have shown a high level of repeatability, with an intra-individual variability in DFI of ≈ 10%. However, conflicting data on how much the DFI fluctuates within individuals exist. The aim of the present study was to investigate the intra-individual variation of DFI in order to further evaluate the clinical use of SCSA. METHODS Among 2409 consecutive men under infertility investigation, repeated SCSA analyses were performed on 616 samples from men between 18 and 66 years of age. The coefficient of variation (CV) for DFI was calculated. For each patient, we also analyzed whether the DFI value in tests I and II switched the category from <30 to >30%, or vice versa. RESULTS Mean CV for DFI for men with at least two SCSA analyses within a 30-month period was 30.1% (SD 21.5). Compared with the first test, 85% (95% confidence interval: 82-87%) of the men remained on the same side of the cut-off point of 30%. CONCLUSIONS Despite showing a high intra-individual CV for DFI, 85% of the men from infertile couples did not change category between tests, with respect to the cut-off level of 30%. Thus, using the previously established DFI cut-off value of 30%, a single SCSA analysis has a high predictive value for assessing fertility in vivo.
Phylogenetic conservatism in plant-soil feedback and its implications for plant abundance.

We examined whether plant-soil feedback and plant-field abundance were phylogenetically conserved. For 57 co-occurring native and exotic plant species from an old field in Canada, we collected a data set on the effects of three soil biota treatments on plant growth: net whole-soil feedback (combined effects of mutualists and antagonists), feedback with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) collected from soils of conspecific plants, and feedback with Glomus etunicatum, a dominant mycorrhizal fungus. We found phylogenetic signal in both net whole-soil feedback and feedback with AMF of conspecifics; conservatism was especially strong among native plants but absent among exotics. The abundance of plants in the field was also conserved, a pattern underlain by shared plant responses to soil biota. We conclude that soil biota influence the abundance of close plant relatives in nature.
Paired-box gene 2 is down-regulated in endometriosis and correlates with low epidermal growth factor receptor expression.

BACKGROUND Paired-box 2 (Pax2) is involved in the development of the female genital tract and has been associated with endometrial pathologies. The expression of Pax2 is induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF) and estrogens. In the present study, Pax2 expression and regulation were investigated in endometriosis. METHODS AND RESULTS Pax2 protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry in the eutopic (i.e. inside the uterus) and ectopic tissue (endometriosis) from 11 patients. Immunoreactivity was high in the endometrium, with strong epithelial and weaker stromal staining. Similar expression patterns of Pax2 were observed in the endometrium of women without endometriosis (n = 12). The mRNA level of Pax2 was assessed by real-time PCR in the eutopic and ectopic endometria of 14 patients and in the endometrium from women without endometriosis (n = 20). Pax2 expression was lower in endometriotic lesions than that in the eutopic endometrium of patients (P< 0.001) and controls (P= 0.007). Three possible mechanisms determining low Pax2 expression were investigated: EGF signalling, CpG DNA methylation of the Pax2 promoter and steroid response. The mRNA level of the EGF receptor (EGFR1) was assessed in the samples used for Pax2 mRNA assessment. A significant correlation between EGFR1 and Pax2 in both eutopic and ectopic tissues was observed (R = 0.58; slope regression line, 0.81; 95% CI: 0.09-1.52 and R = 0.54; slope regression line, 2.51; 95% CI: 0.02-4.99, respectively). CpG DNA methylation was analyzed by methyl-specific PCR in two regions of the Pax2 promoter but they were unmethylated in all samples. Steroid responsiveness was assessed using endometrial explant cultures and Pax2 was not regulated by either 17β-estradiol or progesterone. CONCLUSIONS In endometriosis patients, Pax2 is down-regulated in the lesions compared with the eutopic tissue, possibly due to low EGF signalling.
From species distributions to meta-communities.

The extent that biotic interactions and dispersal influence species ranges and diversity patterns across scales remains an open question. Answering this question requires framing an analysis on the frontier between species distribution modelling (SDM), which ignores biotic interactions and dispersal limitation, and community ecology, which provides specific predictions on community and meta-community structure and resulting diversity patterns such as species richness and functional diversity. Using both empirical and simulated datasets, we tested whether predicted occurrences from fine-resolution SDMs provide good estimates of community structure and diversity patterns at resolutions ranging from a resolution typical of studies within reserves (250 m) to that typical of a regional biodiversity study (5 km). For both datasets, we show that the imprint of biotic interactions and dispersal limitation quickly vanishes when spatial resolution is reduced, which demonstrates the value of SDMs for tracking the imprint of community assembly processes across scales.
Assessment of Smoking Pattern among Patients Visiting a Private Dental Hospital in Chennai, India

The aim of the study is to evaluate the assessment of smoking pattern among 200 patients who are current smokers and have smoked tobacco in any form at any point of time during last month, with no history of trauma or mental disabilities, with the habit of smoking, who are randomly selected using a structured self- administered questionnaire. From this study it was evident that more than 50% of the population started smoking between 21-25 years of age. And more than 50% of the smokers started smoking because of peer pressure, 33.5% due to stress and 13.5% responded that insomnia, social situation and nervousness/anxiety are factors which influenced them. The study also showed that although 72.5% of smokers showed interest to quit smoking, only 51% of them attempted to quit and 98.5% of them are not confident. To conclude, the present study reported the pattern of smoking in Chennai and a low success rate to quit smoking. Hence improving the awareness about ill effects of smoking should be able to control tobacco epidemic.