Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Profile of sexually transmitted infections in HIV positive patients - a retrospective study.

A retrospective analysis of records of 663 patients attending the sexually transmitted infection clinic of the Shrimati Sucheta Kriplani Hospital from the year 1997 to 2001 was made. There was 404 male (60.94 per cent) and 259 female (39.06 per cent) patients. Nine patients were HIV positive with a prevalence rate of 1.36 per cent. In the HIV positive patients the commonest age group involved was 21-30 years with a literacy rate of 44.4 per cent. Heterosexual promiscuity was noted in 66.6 per cent patients. Mixed venereal infection was the most common presentation (44.4 per cent) with condyloma acuminata being the commonest single sexually transmitted infection (alone/mixed) (66.6 per cent). No case of gonorrhea and donovanosis was observed. All the sexually transmitted infections presented with classical clinical features course and therapeutic response. A rising trend of the viral infections was observed in the HIV positive patients. (authors)
The effects of hydroxyethyl starches on intracellular calcium in platelets.

UNLABELLED Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solutions impair platelet function. To determine whether this effect is achieved through interference of HES with intracellular activation processes, in which calcium is the key second messenger, we evaluated the agonist-induced increase of the cytoplasmic calcium concentration in the presence of HES of different molecular weights. Aliquots of citrated whole blood of 12 volunteers were incubated in vitr. with saline, HES 450 (molecular weight in kilodalton), HES 130, and HES 70, resulting in 20% hemodilution. An undiluted sample served as control. The samples were stained with Fluo-3 as the calcium-sensitive fluorescent probe with subsequent flow cytometric analysis. After determination of a baseline, platelets were activated with thrombin receptor activator peptide 6. Platelet activation with thrombin receptor activator peptide 6 resulted in a fast increase in fluorescence (approximately eightfold), representing intracellular calcium mobilization. None of the tested HES solutions exerted a statistically significant effect on the cytoplasmic calcium concentration compared with samples that were incubated with saline or that remained undiluted. These results indicate that the known inhibiting effect of HES on platelets is not achieved through interference with intracellular activation processes. IMPLICATIONS Hydroxyethyl starch does not exert its known inhibitory effect on platelet function by interfering with intracellular activation processes.
O acesso à informação sobre higiene bucal e as perdas dentárias por cárie entre adultos

Objetivou-se testar a associacao entre perdas dentarias por carie (PDC) e variaveis relativas ao acesso a informacoes em saude bucal. Foram analisados dados de 780 adultos (35-44 anos) participantes de um estudo epidemiologico. A variavel dependente foi o total de PDC e as independentes foram reunidas em blocos de variaveis: demograficas e socioeconomicas; utilizacao dos servicos odontologicos; acesso a informacoes em saude bucal (informacoes sobre como evitar problemas bucais, sobre higiene bucal e sobre dieta) e; comportamentais. Conduziu-se regressao linear multipla hierarquizada. O numero medio de PDC foi de 7,03 (EP= 0,31) e 83% dos adultos haviam perdido algum dente por carie. As PDC foram maiores entre os mais velhos, os com menor escolaridade, as mulheres, os que raramente ou nunca receberam informacoes sobre higiene bucal, os que escovavam os dentes uma vez ou menos ao dia e entre os que nao usavam fio dental. Adultos que raramente/nunca receberam informacoes dos servicos odontologicos sobre higiene bucal perderam 2,15 dentes a mais por carie que aqueles que sempre/frequentemente receberam tais informacoes (p = 0,000). Assim, sugere-se que a garantia do acesso a informacao deva ser incentivada a fim de contribuir com maior equidade em saude bucal.
Student Perception About Peer-Assisted Learning Sessions in a Medical School in Nepal

Background: Peer-assisted learning has been informally used in medical schools in Nepal. The manuscript describes feedback from first year students about learning sessions conducted by third year students. Methods: Two third year medical students (BS, AKS) conducted interactive learning sessions for first year students during the last week of March and first two weeks of April 2011. The session for each subject was of 2 hours duration and the number of students was 25 for some sessions and 50 for others. The sessions concentrated on revising concepts of the module and preparing students to answer theory question papers. Student opinion was studied using a questionnaire. Results: Seventy-five of the 100 students (75%) completed the questionnaire. The common feedback obtained were the sessions concentrated on must know areas (36 respondents), the learning environment was friendly (21 respondents), and students learned how to answer exam questions (12 respondents). Conclusions: The feedback suggests that student perception of peer teaching was positive and more sessions can be considered in future. Further studies are required.
Genetic Diversity and Classification of the Cytoplasm of Chinese Elite Foxtail Millet [Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.] Parental Lines Revealed by Chloroplast Deoxyribonucleic Acid Variation

Due to the maternal inheritance of cytoplasm, using foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv. ] male sterile lines with a single cytoplasmic source as the female parent will inevitably lead to a narrow source of cytoplasm in hybrids, which may make them vulnerable to infection by cytoplasm-specific pathogens, ultimately leading to destructive yield losses. To assess cytoplasmic genetic diversity in plants, molecular markers derived from chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) have been used. However, such markers have not yet been applied to foxtail millet. In this study, we designed and screened nine pairs of polymorphic foxtail millet-specific primers based on its completely sequenced cpDNA. Using these primers, we analyzed the genetic diversity and cytoplasmic types of 130 elite foxtail millet parental lines collected in China. Our results revealed that the cytoplasmic genetic diversity of these accessions was low and needs to be increased. The parental lines were divided into four cytoplasmic types according to population structure analysis and a female parent-derivative evolutionary graph, indicating that the cytoplasmic types of elite foxtail millet lines were rather limited. A principal component analysis (PCA) plot was linked with the geographic and ecological distribution of accessions for each cytoplasmic type, as well as their basal maternal parents. Collectively, our results suggest that enriching cytoplasmic sources through the use of accessions from diverse ecological regions and other countries as the female parent may improve foxtail millet breeding programs, and prevent infection by cytoplasm-specific pathogens.
Effect of a 16-Day Altitude Training Camp on 3,000-m Steeplechase Running Energetics and Biomechanics: A Case Study

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a 16-day training camp at moderate altitude on running energetics and biomechanics in an elite female 3,000-m steeplechase athlete (personal best: 9 min 36.15 s). The 16-day intervention included living and training at 1,600 m altitude. A maximal incremental test was performed at sea level to determine the maximal oxygen uptake (V∙O2max). Before (pre-) and after (post-) intervention, the participant performed a specific training session consisting of 10 × 400 m with 5 hurdles with oxygen uptake (V∙O2), blood lactate, stride length and stride rate being measured. A video analysis determined take-off distance and landing around the hurdle (DTH and DLH), take-off velocity and landing around the hurdle (VTH and VLH), and the maximal height over the hurdle (MH). The results demonstrated that the mean V∙O2 maintained during the ten 400 m trials represented 84–86% of V∙O2max and did not change from pre- to post-intervention (p = 0.22). Mean blood lactate measured on the 6 last 400-m efforts increased significantly (12.0 ± 2.2 vs. 17.0 ± 1.6 mmol.l−1; p < 0.05). On the other hand, post-intervention maximal lactate decreased from 20.1 to 16.0 mmol.l−1. Biomechanical analysis revealed that running velocity increased from 5.12 ± 0.16 to 5.49 ± 0.19 m.s−1 (p < 0.001), concomitantly with stride length (1.63 ± 0.05 vs. 1.73 ± 0.06 m; p < 0.001). However, stride rate did not change (3.15 ± 0.03 vs. 3.16 ± 0.02 Hz; p = 0.14). While DTH was not significantly different from pre- to post- (1.34 ± 0.08 vs. 1.40 ± 0.07 m; p = 0.09), DLH was significantly longer (1.17 ± 0.07 vs. 1.36 ± 0.05 m; p < 0.01). VTH and VLH significantly improved after intervention (5.00 ± 0.14 vs. 5.33 ± 0.16 m.s−1 and 5.18 ± 0.13 vs. 5.51 ± 0.22 m.s−1, respectively; both p < 0.01). Finally, MH increased from pre- to post- (52.5 ± 3.8 vs. 54.9 ± 2.1 cm; p < 0.05). A 16-day moderate altitude training camp allowed an elite female 3,000-m steeplechase athlete to improve running velocity through a greater glycolytic—but not aerobic—metabolism.
Endothelial Progenitor and Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Newborns With Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Undergoing Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Background: Endothelial progenitor (EPC) and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) can regenerate damaged endothelium and thereby improve pulmonary endothelial dysfunction. We do not know, how extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) might affect EPC- and MSC-mediated regenerative pathways in patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Therefore, we investigated, if ECMO support impacts EPC and MSC numbers in CDH patients. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from newborns with ECMO-dependent (n = 18) and ECMO-independent CDH (n = 12) and from healthy controls (n = 12) were isolated. The numbers of EPC and MSC were identified by flowcytometry. Serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin (Ang)-2 were determined. Results: EPC and MSC were elevated in newborns with CDH. ECMO-dependent infants had higher EPC subpopulation counts (2,1–7,6-fold) before treatment compared to ECMO-independent infants. In the disease course, EPC and MSC subpopulation counts in ECMO-dependent infants were lower than before ECMO initiation. During ECMO, VEGF serum levels were significantly reduced (by 90.5%) and Ang2 levels significantly increased (by 74.8%). Conclusions: Our data suggest that ECMO might be associated with a rather impaired mobilization of EPC and MSC and with a depression of VEGF serum levels in newborns with CDH.
Optimizing Optogenetic Activation of Purkinje Cell Axons to Investigate the Purkinje Cell – DCN Synapse

Optogenetics is a state-of-the-art tool for interrogating neural circuits. In the cerebellum, Purkinje cells serve as the sole output of the cerebellar cortex where they synapse on neurons in the deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN). To investigate the properties of this synaptic connection, we sought to elicit time-locked single action potentials from Purkinje cell axons. Using optical stimulation of channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2)-expressing Purkinje cells combined with patch-clamp recordings of Purkinje cells and DCN neurons in acute cerebellar slices, we determine the photostimulation parameters required to elicit single time-locked action potentials from Purkinje cell axons. We show that axons require longer light pulses than somata do to elicit single action potentials and that Purkinje cell axons are also more susceptible to light perturbations. We then demonstrate that these empirically determined photostimulation parameters elicit time-locked synaptic currents from postsynaptic cells in the DCN. Our results highlight the importance of optimizing optogenetic stimulation conditions to interrogate synaptic connections.
Comparative evaluation of i-gel® insertion conditions using dexmedetomidine-propofol versus fentanyl-propofol - A randomised double-blind study

Background and Aims: i-gel® insertion necessitates adequate depth of anaesthesia to prevent laryngospasm, gagging or limb movements. We aimed to compare i-gel® insertion conditions with propofol induction after pre-treatment with dexmedetomidine or fentanyl. Methods: Eighty ASAI/II patients undergoing general anaesthesia were randomised into Groups D (n = 40) and F (n = 40). Group D received 1 μg/kg dexmedetomidine over 10 minutes followed by 5ml of 0.9%normal saline (NS) over 2 minutes. Group F received 10 ml of 0.9%NS over 10 minutes followed by fentanyl 1 μg/kg over 2 minutes. Thirty seconds after study drugs, propofol 2 mg/kg was given. Ninety seconds after propofol, i-gel® was inserted. Overall insertion conditions were assessed by Modified Scheme of Lund and Stovener. Heart-rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were noted at baseline, after study drug, propofol induction and 1,3,5,10 minutes after i-gel® insertion. Respiratory rate and apnoea times were recorded. Results: Insertion conditions were comparable between both groups. Moderately relaxed jaw, coughing and movement was observed in more patients of Group F. Incidence of apnoea was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in group F (18/40) than group D (3/40). Mean duration of apnoea in group F (284.5 ± 11.19 sec) was significantly higher than group D (217.17 ± 16.48 sec). Percentage drop in MAP from baseline after propofol was more in group F (10.3%) than group D (5.6%). MAP after induction was significantly lower in group F compared to group D (P = 0.002), but similar after i-gel® insertion, 1,3,5 and 10 minutes after insertion. After propofol (P = 0.003) and i-gel® insertion (P < 0.001), HR was significantly lower with dexmedetomidine. Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine and fentanyl provide comparable conditions for i-gel® insertion with propofol.
Modulation of plasma triglycerides concentration by sterol-based treatment in subjects carrying specific genes

Introduction: Genetic load may indirectly influence on cardiovascular risk. This work aimed to analyze the influence of polymorphisms (APOA5 C56G-Ser19Trp, Prothrombin-G20210A, F5 Arg506Gln, MTHFR-C677T, LIPC-C-514T, LPA-I4300M, PPAR_ALPHA-L162V, APOA5-1131T > C, APOE-APOE2/3/4, and APOE-APOE2,3,4) in plasma triglyceride (TG) levels of patients ingesting plant sterols. Materials and Methods: Double-blind, crossover, controlled clinical trial was performed in 45 individuals (25 women). About 2.24 g sterols in milk and placebo milk were ingested daily during 3 weeks each, separated by a 2-week washout period. Blood draws and saliva genomic DNA was extracted. Results: APOA5-C56G-Ser19Trp, MTHFR-C677T, and PPAR_ALPHA-L162V greatly benefit from sterols intake. APOA5-C56G-Ser19Trp GG homozygous carriers lowered their TGs more than CG heterozygote carriers (P = 0.003). TT homozygous carriers of gene LIPC C-514T experienced an increase of TGs. Conclusions: Further studies are needed to establish which genotype combinations is the most protective against hypertriglyceridemia.
Modern Trends for Peripheral Nerve Repair and Regeneration: Beyond the Hollow Nerve Guidance Conduit

Peripheral nerve repair and regeneration remains among the greatest challenges in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Even though peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) are capable of some degree of regeneration, frail recovery is seen even when the best microsurgical technique is applied. PNIs are known to be very incapacitating for the patient, due to the deprivation of motor and sensory abilities. Since there is no optimal solution for tackling this problem up to this day, the evolution in the field is constant, with innovative designs of advanced nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) being reported every day. As a basic concept, a NGC should act as a physical barrier from the external environment, concomitantly acting as physical guidance for the regenerative axons across the gap lesion. NGCs should also be able to retain the naturally released nerve growth factors secreted by the damaged nerve stumps, as well as reducing the invasion of scar tissue-forming fibroblasts to the injury site. Based on the neurobiological knowledge related to the events that succeed after a nerve injury, neuronal subsistence is subjected to the existence of an ideal environment of growth factors, hormones, cytokines, and extracellular matrix (ECM) factors. Therefore, it is known that multifunctional NGCs fabricated through combinatorial approaches are needed to improve the functional and clinical outcomes after PNIs. The present work overviews the current reports dealing with the several features that can be used to improve peripheral nerve regeneration (PNR), ranging from the simple use of hollow NGCs to tissue engineered intraluminal fillers, or to even more advanced strategies, comprising the molecular and gene therapies as well as cell-based therapies.
Correlation of Dermoscopic and Histopathologic Patterns in Leprosy – A Pilot Study

Background: Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. It is diagnosed based on clinical features and confirmed on the histological findings and peripheral slit-skin smear staining. Dermoscopy is a handy, easily accessible tool to diagnose this granulomatous disease and classify patients based on the immunological and clinical response. Methods: A single spot observational analysis was conducted in a tertiary hospital in North India. Patients attending the leprosy clinic and admitted patients for institutional therapy on the day of the study were enrolled in the cohort. The clinical and histological findings were correlated with the characteristic dermoscopy findings. A total of 50 patients were included in the study. All patents included in the study were on multidrug therapy and anti-lepra reaction drugs for a duration of less than 6 months. Results: The dermoscopy findings correlated with the clinical and histological findings. Tuberculoid poles of leprosy classically showed loss of hair and skin pigment along with absence of white dots as sweat glands in dermoscopy. Lack of blood vessel changes ruled out any lepra reaction. Lepromatous pole of leprosy on the other hand showed characteristic xerosis and white scaling on dermoscopy in the background of hypotrichosis and hypopigmentation. Leprosy reactions were characterized by blood vessel changes and arborizing blood vessels were characteristic in erythema nodosum leprosum, and a diffuse erythema was a clue toward diagnosing type I lepra reaction. Interestingly, clofazimine-induced pigmentation was picked up characteristically on dermoscopy as a “honey comb pattern”. Conclusion: Dermoscopy is certainly a handy tool in aiding the diagnosis of leprosy, lepra reactions, and course of therapy. Characteristic patterns during the course of leprosy would certainly facilitate a quick and definitive diagnosis of patients suffering from leprosy. Also, patient drug compliance particularly to clofazimine can also be picked up objectively on dermoscopy.
DIABETIC POLYNEUROPATHY: ROLE OF OXIDATIVE STRESS AND INFLAMMATION

Background: The pathogenesis of diabetic peripheral polyneuropathy occurs as a consequence of complex interactions among multiple hyperglycemia initiated mechanisms, impaired insulin signaling, inflammation and disturbances of metabolism. Increasing evidence has highlighted the roles of oxidative stress and inflammation in the promotion of diabetic complication including diabetic polyneuropathy. Objective: To evaluate the role of oxidative stress and inflammation in the pathogenesis of peripheral polyneuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Subjects and Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 50 healthy control subjects and 103 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The entire subjects met certain inclusion and exclusion criteria to exclude other possible contributing factors of neuropathy. According to the results of nerve conduction study, diabetic patients were divided into three groups including diabetic patients with normal nerve conduction study, diabetic with polyneuropathy and diabetic patients with entrapment neuropathy. The following biochemical parameters were measured: Serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) by ELISA technique, serum soluble receptors for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) by ELISA technique, serum gamma glutamyl transferase, serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein by fluorescence immunoassay technique. Results: Type 2 diabetic patients with or without neuropathy showed significantly lower serum TAC levels compared to control group,
Ocular Abnormalities in Vitiligo Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

© 2019 Indian Dermatology Online Journal | Published by Wolters Kluwer Medknow This is an open access journal, and articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution‐NonCommercial‐ShareAlike 4.0 License, which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work non‐commercially, as long as appropriate credit is given and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms. 2013;52:714‐7. 7. Campanelli CD, Santoro AF, Webster CG, Lee JB. Symmetrically distributed orange eruption on the ears: A case of lupus vulgaris. Cutis 2001;67:311‐4. 8. O’Donovan WJ. Lupus vulgaris of the ear lobule. Proc R Soc Med 1921;14:64‐5. 9. Okazaki M, Sakurai A. Lupus vulgaris of the earlobe. Ann Plast Surg 1997;39:643‐6. 10. Baylan O, Arca E, Ozcan A, Kisa O, Albay A, Doganci L. Polymerase chain reaction based detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in lupus vulgaris: A case report. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2004;8:1147‐50.
Spatiotemporal Mapping of the Contracting Gravid Uterus of the Rabbit Shows Contrary Changes With Increasing Gestation and Dosage With Oxytocin

Spontaneous and oxytocin induced contractile activity was quantified in the bicornuate uteri of pregnant rabbits maintained in situ, using data from two- and uni- dimensional video spatiotemporal maps (VSTM) of linear and area strain rate and compared statistically. Spontaneous contractions occurred over a range of frequencies between 0.1 and 10 cpm, in gravid animals at 18–21 and at 28 days of gestation, and propagated both radially and longitudinally over the uterine wall overlying each fetus. Patches of contractions were randomly distributed over the entire surface of the cornua and were pleomorphic in shape. No spatial coordination was evident between longitudinal and circular muscle layers nor temporal coordination that could indicate the activity of a localized pacemaker. The density and duration of contractions decreased, and their frequency increased with the length of gestation in the non-laboring uterus. Increasing intravenous doses of oxytocin had no effect on the mean frequencies, or the mean durations of contractions in rabbits of 18–21 days gestation, but caused frequencies to decrease and durations to increase in rabbits of 28 days gestation, from greater spatial and temporal clustering of individual contractions. This was accompanied by an increase in the distance of propagation, the mean size of the patches of contraction, the area of the largest patch of contraction and the overall density of patches. Together these results suggest that progressive smooth muscle hypertrophy and displacement with increasing gestation is accompanied by a decrease in smooth muscle connectivity causing an increase in wall compliance and that oxytocin restores connectivity and decreases compliance, promoting volumetric expulsion rather than direct propulsion of the fetus by peristalsis. The latter effects were reversed by the β2 adrenergic receptor agonist salbutamol thus reducing area of contraction, and the duration and distance of propagation.