Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adjacent Segment Degeneration After Lumbar Interbody Fusion With Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Fixation for Adult Low-Grade Isthmic Spondylolisthesis: Minimum 3 Years of Follow-up

BACKGROUND: Although favorable clinical outcomes have been reported for instrumented lumbar interbody fusion (LIF), adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) has been reported as a long-term complication after LIF. OBJECTIVE: To investigate ASD after instrumented LIF performed at a single level and only for the homogeneous disease of adult low-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis. METHODS: A total of 128 patients who had undergone LIF for the treatment of adult low-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis involving the lower lumbar spine at our institution between February 2001 and December 2004 were retrospectively reviewed by chart review and telephone survey. Of them, 103 patients with a minimum of a 36-month follow-up period were enrolled in this study. The mean age was 48.5 years. The average follow-up period was 59 months. Clinical and radiological data related to segmental lordosis (SL), whole lumbar lordosis, sacral slope, pelvic tilt, pelvic incidence, and L1 axis S1 distance were analyzed to identify significant risk factors for ASD. RESULTS: The overall incidence of ASD was 10.6% (11/103). The incidences of radiographic and symptomatic ASD were 8.7% (9/103) and 1.9% (2/103), respectively. All patients improved clinically and functionally during the follow-up period. Postoperative SL, preoperative SL, whole lumbar lordosis, and L1 axis S1 distance were significant risk factors for ASD. Only SL was a significant risk factor for both the preoperative and postoperative states. CONCLUSION: ASD may occur at a relatively lower incidence in adult low-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis compared with other degenerative lumbar spinal diseases. SL is significantly correlated with ASD, whereas mechanical alterations caused by LIF are less likely to affect the adjacent segment. Restoration of normal SL is important for preventing ASD, and long-term follow-up is necessary.
Design and in Vitro Test of a Differentially Fed Dual-Band Implantable Antenna Operating at MICS and ISM Bands

The design of a novel differentially fed dual-band implantable antenna operating at 402-405 MHz Medical Implant Communication Services (MICS) band and 2.4-2.5 GHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band is introduced. The proposed implanted antennas are for both planar and flexible implantation scenarios. Biocompatible material parylene-C is adopted to cover the implanted antenna. The size of the proposed antennas including the encapsulation for planar and flexible case is 179.0 mm3 and 186.3 mm3 respectively. The Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) distribution and the radiation pattern at both frequencies induced by the implanted antenna are evaluated. The performance of the communication link between the implanted antenna and an external half-wavelength dipole at two resonant frequencies is also presented. In vitro test in minced pork is performed to test the reliability of the antenna in the real implantation cases.
Cti6 Is an Rpd3-Sin3 Histone Deacetylase-associated Protein Required for Growth under Iron-limiting Conditions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae*

Iron and copper are redox active metals essential for life. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, expression of iron and copper genes involved in metal acquisition and utilization is tightly regulated at the transcriptional level. In addition iron and copper metabolism are inextricably linked because of the dependence on copper as a co-factor for iron uptake or mobilization. To further identify genes that function in iron and copper homeostasis, we screened for novel yeast mutants defective for iron limiting growth and thereby identified the CTI6 gene. Cti6 is a PHD finger-containing protein that has been shown to participate in the interaction of the Ssn6-Tup1 co-repressor with the Gcn5-containing SAGA chromatin-remodeling complex. In this report we show that CTI6 mRNA levels are increased under iron-limiting conditions, and that cti6 mutants display a growth defect under conditions of iron deprivation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Cti6 is a nuclear protein that functionally associates with the Rpd3-Sin3 histone deacetylase complex involved in transcriptional repression. Cti6 demonstrates Rpd3-dependent transcriptional repression, and cti6 mutants exhibit an enhanced silencing of telomeric, rDNA and HMR loci, similar to mutants in genes encoding other Rpd3-Sin3-associated proteins. Microarray experiments with cti6 mutants grown under iron-limiting conditions show a down-regulation of telomeric genes and an up-regulation of Aft1 and Tup1 target genes involved in iron and oxygen regulation. Taken together, these data suggest a specific role for Cti6 in the regulation of gene expression under conditions of iron limitation.
Performance of cornell-geneva rootstocks across north america in multi-location nc-140 rootstock trials

From 1992 to 1999, five multi-site replicated rootstock trials were established by the US national rootstock testing group, "NC-140". The trials compared elite Geneva apple rootstocks which were bred for tolerance to fire blight and Phytophthora root rot, high yield efficiency and good tree survival to commercial standards. The named Geneva rootstocks are designated as Geneva(TM) or "G" stocks while unnamed numbered selections from Geneva are designated as 'CG' stocks. In the 1992 plots which used 'Liberty' as the scion, Geneva(TM) 11 and CG.3029 had the highest cumulative yield efficiency, good tree survival and also had good average fruit size. They had similar tree size as M.9, but exceeded the yield performance of M.9. In contrast, Geneva(TM) 65 was more dwarfing than M.9 and had significantly lower cumulative yield efficiency and smaller fruit size than M.9. Among semi-dwarf stocks, Geneva(TM) 30, CG.6210, CG.4222 and CG.5179 all exceeded the performance of M.7 and MM.106. In the 1993 plots which also used 'Liberty' as the scion, CG.4247, CG.3041, CG.3902 and CG.3007 had the highest yield efficiencies and had good tree survival. All were similar in size to M.9, but performed significantly better than M.9 or M.26. Among the semi-dwarf stocks top performers were G.30, CG.6210, CG.222 and Geneva(TM) 202. All performed significantly better than M.7. In the 1994 plots which used Gala as the scion, Geneva(TM) 30 produced a tree similar in size to M.26 and more efficient than M.26 at 12 sites and less efficient at 6 sites. Fruit size was similar to M.26. G.30 generally had good survival; however, in 5 of 23 sites 50-60% of the trees broke off at the graft union during wind storms. In the 1998 and 1999 trials, Geneva(TM) 16 has been slightly larger than M.9 with Gala, Fuji and McIntosh, but similar to M.9 with Jonagold. Productivity of Geneva(TM) 16 has been similar to M.9 in all trials. CG.3041 has been similar in size and productivity to M.9 with Jonagold, Fuji and McIntosh.
Genomic Footprints in Selected and Unselected Beef Cattle Breeds in Korea

Korean Hanwoo cattle have been subjected to intensive artificial selection over the past four decades to improve meat production traits. Another three cattle varieties very closely related to Hanwoo reside in Korea (Jeju Black and Brindle) and in China (Yanbian). These breeds have not been part of a breeding scheme to improve production traits. Here, we compare the selected Hanwoo against these similar but presumed to be unselected populations to identify genomic regions that have been under recent selection pressure due to the breeding program. Rsb statistics were used to contrast the genomes of Hanwoo versus a pooled sample of the three unselected population (UN). We identified 37 significant SNPs (FDR corrected) in the HW/UN comparison and 21 known protein coding genes were within 1 MB to the identified SNPs. These genes were previously reported to affect traits important for meat production (14 genes), reproduction including mammary gland development (3 genes), coat color (2 genes), and genes affecting behavioral traits in a broader sense (2 genes). We subsequently sequenced (Illumina HiSeq 2000 platform) 10 individuals of the brown Hanwoo and the Chinese Yanbian to identify SNPs within the candidate genomic regions. Based on allele frequency differences, haplotype structures, and literature research, we singled out one non-synonymous SNP in the APP gene (APP: c.569C>T, Ala199Val) and predicted the mutational effect on the protein structure. We found that protein-protein interactions might be impaired due to increased exposed hydrophobic surfaces of the mutated protein. The APP gene has also been reported to affect meat tenderness in pigs and obesity in humans. Meat tenderness has been linked to intramuscular fat content, which is one of the main breeding goals for brown Hanwoo, potentially supporting a causal influence of the herein described nsSNP in the APP gene.
Effects of the beta-isomer of hexachlorocyclohexane on estrogen-sensitive human mammary tumor cells.

The effects of the beta-isomer of hexachlorocyclohexane (beta-HCH) on the induction of the cytosolic progesterone receptor (PgRc), on the redistribution of the estrogen receptor (ER), and its affinity for ER were investigated in the estrogen-sensitive human mammary tumor cell line MCF-7. The effects of beta-HCH were compared to those of estradiol-17 beta (E2) and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP), a major urinary metabolite of beta-HCH in rats. beta-HCH in concentrations higher than 1 microM caused induction of PgRc whereas TCP was essentially without effect up to a cytotoxic concentration of 100 microM. Furthermore, beta-HCH (10 microM) caused redistribution of ER, i.e., decrease of cytosolic ER concentration and increase of nuclear ER concentration, in a way similar to E2. In contrast to this, beta-HCH up to a molar excess of 6 X 10(4) (concentration 30 microM) caused no significant displacement of [3H]E2 from ER indicating that beta-HCH has no substantial affinity for ER. It is concluded that beta-HCH has estrogenic properties which are at variance with the failure to demonstrate binding of beta-HCH to ER.
Pentobarbital anesthesia suppresses basal and 2-deoxy-D-glucose-stimulated plasma catecholamines.

Since pentobarbital anesthesia is known to attenuate certain autonomic reflexes, we tested whether pentobarbital would suppress both basal and stimulated levels of plasma catecholamines and whether a large stimulus might counterbalance this suspected suppression. In untrained dogs, sampled by venipuncture, pentobarbital (30 mg/kg iv) decreased the plasma concentration of epinephrine (E) from 146 +/- 9 to 38 +/- 8 (SE) pg/ml (n = 46) and norepinephrine (NE) from 276 +/- 13 to 91 +/- 10 pg/ml (both P less than 0.0005), suggesting that barbiturate anesthesia suppresses sympathetic outflow in these mildly stressed animals. Pentobarbital also had a marked suppressive effect on the lower baseline catecholamines (E, 84 +/- 14 pg/ml; NE, 118 +/- 10 pg/ml; n = 6) of trained, chronically catheterized dogs, suggesting that it was capable of suppressing resting sympathetic outflow as well. To determine whether pentobarbital anesthesia also suppressed reflex activation of the sympathetic nervous system, the plasma catecholamine response to the neuroglucopenic agent, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), was measured in conscious and in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs. In conscious dogs, the administration of 2-DG (100 mg/kg iv) doubled the base-line plasma concentration of E and NE 30 min after the 2-DG injection. In contrast, the administration of 2-DG (100 mg/kg iv) to pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs produced no significant increase of either plasma catecholamine, suggesting marked suppression of this sympathetic reflex. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Current state of knowledge: the canine gastrointestinal microbiome

Abstract Gastrointestinal (GI) microbes have important roles in the nutritional, immunological, and physiologic processes of the host. Traditional cultivation techniques have revealed bacterial density ranges from 104 to 105 colony forming units (CFU)/g in the stomach, from 105 to 107 CFU/g in the small intestine, and from 109 to 1011 CFU/g in the colon of healthy dogs. As a small number of bacterial species can be grown and studied in culture, however, progress was limited until the recent emergence of DNA-based techniques. In recent years, DNA sequencing technology and bioinformatics have allowed for better phylogenetic and functional/metabolic characterization of the canine gut microbiome. Predominant phyla include Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. Studies using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene pyrosequencing have demonstrated spatial differences along the GI tract and among microbes adhered to the GI mucosa compared to those in intestinal contents or feces. Similar to humans, GI microbiome dysbiosis is common in canine GI diseases such as chronic diarrhea and inflammatory bowel diseases. DNA-based assays have also identified key pathogens contributing to such conditions, including various Clostridium, Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Escherichia spp. Moreover, nutritionists have applied DNA-based techniques to study the effects of dietary interventions such as dietary fiber, prebiotics, and probiotics on the canine GI microbiome and associated health indices. Despite recent advances in the field, the canine GI microbiome is far from being fully characterized and a deeper characterization of the phylogenetic and functional/metabolic capacity of the GI microbiome in health and disease is needed. This paper provides an overview of recent studies performed to characterize the canine GI microbiome.
The Efficacy of the Storz Miller 1 Video Laryngoscope in a Simulated Infant Difficult Intubation

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown video laryngoscopy to be a useful technique in the management of patients in whom glottic exposure by direct laryngoscopy is difficult. We conducted this study as a preliminary investigation comparing the Storz DCI Miller 1 video laryngoscope (VL, Karl Storz GmbH, Tuttlingen, Germany) and direct laryngoscopy with a Miller 1 laryngoscope (DL) in an infant manikin model simulating difficult direct laryngoscopy. We hypothesized that compared with DL, VL would provide a better glottic view but would be associated with a longer time to intubation because of the different skill set required when using video intubation. METHODS: A Laerdal® infant airway management training manikin (Laerdal Medical, Wappingers Falls, NY) was adapted using cloth tape to limit cervical spine mobility. Thirty-two attending pediatric anesthesiologists attempted tracheal intubation of the infant manikin using VL and DL in randomized order. The best laryngeal view with each laryngoscope and time to intubation were documented. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the distributions of laryngoscopy grades between VL and DL (P < 0.001), with the VL giving a better laryngeal view. Forty percent of anesthesiologists reported a Grade 3 or 4 view with DL; all of which were converted to Grades 1 and 2 with VL. The median grade with interquartile range was two (2-3) for DL and one (1-2) for VL (P < 0.001). Seventy-eight percent of participants reported an improvement of at least one grade in laryngeal view with VL compared with DL. There were two failed intubations using DL and none using VL. Time to intubation was similar between the two techniques. CONCLUSIONS: The Storz Miller 1 VL blade improved glottic exposure in a simulated difficult laryngoscopy compared with direct laryngoscopy with a standard Miller 1 blade without increasing the time to intubation.
Relation between Regional Functional MRI Activation and Vascular Reactivity to Carbon Dioxide during Normal Aging

Recent blood oxygenation level–dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging studies have shown a reduction of cerebral activation during aging, which may be associated with age-related changes of the cerebral vascular system. The authors used a global hypercapnic breath-holding challenge to define nonneuronal contributions to a significantly reduced activation in the primary sensorimotor cortex during finger tapping in a group of old (n = 6; mean age 65 years) compared with a group of young (n = 6; mean age 27 years) subjects. Within significantly activated voxels in both groups during finger tapping, the mean BOLD signal amplitudes were significantly smaller in the group of older subjects for both tasks. In those voxels showing significant activation only in young subjects during finger tapping, the response to hypercapnia was also greatly diminished in older subjects. The attenuated hypercapnic BOLD signal response in older subjects within this region suggests that age-dependent changes of the cerebral vasculature may alter the neuronal–vascular coupling. In older subjects, cerebral vessels may not react as effectively in response to a vasodilating stimulus, which will lead to differences in the number of voxels that pass a criterion threshold despite similar neuronal activation.
Sinus Node Recovery Time Assessment Revisited: Role of Pharmacologic Blockade of the Autonomic Nervous System

Sinus Node Recovery and Autonomic Blockade. Sinus node recovery time assessment is used to diagnose clinically significant sinus node dysfunction (SND) when Holter has failed to prove a relationship between sinus bradyarrhythmias and symptoms, but consensus has not been reached as to the value of including assessment after pharmacologic blockade of the autonomic nervous system. This issue was addressed in the present study performed on 52 patients with syncope or presyncope/dizziness (n = 48), sinus bradyarrhythmias (n = 45), or both (n = 41). Group 1 consisted of 13 patients with a proven relationship between symptoms and sinus bradyarrhythmias. Group 2 consisted of 39 patients with suspected SND. The protocol included three pacing periods at two pacing rates and was performed at baseline (n = 52), after single doses of atropine and propranolol (0.02 mg/kg and 0.1 mg/kg, respectively) (n = 41), and again after a second dose (n = 29). The sensitivity of prolonged recovery times was 77% in group 1. Among group 2 patients, 56% had prolonged recovery times at baseline (79% when including the results after the first dose of drugs). The second dose did not contribute diagnostic information, but it caused significant adverse reactions in 7 of 29 patients (P < 0.001). These 7 patients were all older than 60 years. Assessment of sinus node recovery time after pharmacologic blockade of the autonomic nervous system thus increases the sensitivity of the method in patients with suspected SND and normal baseline results. However, only 50% of the initially suggested doses of atropine and propranolol is sufficient and eliminates the risk for significant adverse reactions.
Normal weight men and women overestimate exercise energy expenditure.

AIM The limited potential of exercise to induce weight loss could be partly due to the overestimation of the energy cost of exercise. The objectives of this study were twofold: 1) to investigate whether men and women are able to accurately estimate exercise energy expenditure (EE); and 2) to determine whether they have the ability to accurately compensate for the EE of exercise during a buffet-type meal. METHODS Sixteen (8 men, 8 women) moderately active (VO2 peak=45.4±7.7 mL.kg-1.min-1), normal weight (BMI=22.8±3.3 kg/m2) individuals, aged 20-35 years, were studied. They were blinded to two randomly assigned experimental conditions: a 200 and a 300 kcal (measured by indirect calorimetry) exercise sessions that were performed on a treadmill at the same intensity (50% of VO2 peak). At the end of each exercise session individuals were asked to estimate EE of the exercise sessions and to then eat the caloric equivalent of their estimated exercise EE from a buffet-type meal. RESULTS Estimated EE was higher than measured EE for both the 200 kcal (825.0±1061.8 vs. 200.1±0.7 kcal, P<0.05) and 300 kcal (896.9±952.4 vs. 300.2±0.7 kcal, P<0.05) sessions. Further, post-exercise energy intake was higher than measured EE for the 200 kcal (556.8±204.4 vs. 200.1±0.7 kcal, P<0.001) and the 300 kcal (607.2±166.5 vs. 300.2±0.7 kcal, P<0.001) sessions. Although post-exercise energy intake was lower than estimated EE, no significant differences were noted. CONCLUSION These results suggest that normal weight individuals overestimate EE during exercise by 3-4 folds. Further, when asked to precisely compensate for exercise EE with food intake, the resulting energy intake is still 2 to 3 folds greater than the measured EE of exercise.
Mosaicism of autosomes and sex chromosomes in morphologically normal, monospermic preimplantation human embryos

We have previously detected chromosome abnormalities in human embryos whilst identifying the sex for preimplantation diagnosis of X‐linked disease. In this study we assess the incidence of these abnormalities, both for sex chromosomes and autosomes 1 and 17, using dual fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Sixty‐nine normally fertilized embryos of good morphology at the 6–10 cell stage (day 3 post‐insemination) were examined. The embryos were spread whole using HCl and Tween 20 to dissolve the cytoplasm. Thirty‐four embryos were analysed for the sex chromosomes and 35 for autosomes 1 and 17. All probes were directly labelled with fluorochromes allowing analysis in 2 h. Control lymphocytes demonstrated that the probes were of high specificity. For the sex chromosomes, five embryos were mosaic (15 per cent) with the remaining 29 being uniformly XX or XY. In no case was an XX nucleus found in an otherwise XY embryo, indicating that even though mosaicism for the sex chromosomes is present, such abnormalities would not lead to a misdiagnosis of sex. For the autosomes, 16 embryos were abnormal (46 per cent); one embryo was triploid, one was monosomic for chromosome 1, and ten others were diploid mosaics (three diploid/aneuploid, three diploid/polyploid, and four diploid/haploid). A further four embryos had variable chromosome numbers in the majority of nuclei which appeared to be the result of uncontrolled mitotic division. The presence of haploidy or double monosomy, which occurred in 15 per cent of nuclei, has important implications for the diagnosis of trisomies and dominant disorders.
Developing Connections Between Integrated Laboratory Practices and First-Year Undergraduate Nature of Science (NOS) Understanding

This study featured findings from a three-year National Science Foundation (NSF) funded research project at a STEM focused college. ‘Project Synapse’ was developed to build relevance between disciplines through authentic collaborations between biology and chemistry content. Integrated science practices were explicitly addressed during investigations of interdisciplinary topics such as microscopy and redox reactions. This study focused on the impact of one integrated laboratorybased intervention on student nature of science (NOS) understanding. Using a previously validated survey, Views on Nature of Science (VNOS), student NOS knowledge was assessed at the beginning and end of the academic school year. Structured interviews were conducted to gather a more indepth understanding of student thinking. Additional qualitative data sets included participant observations of labs, interviews with in instructors, and focus groups with students. Project Synapse students performed better on both the pre and post assessments of NOS understanding. At the close of the academic year, Project Synapse students scored higher in the domains of inference and theoretical entities in science and nature of scientific theories as compared to students not exposed to the model. Students in both the control and experimental group struggled to discriminate between theories and laws or provide specific examples. his integrated model offered a more authentic look at the actual practices of science through investigations that extended beyond a single subject area. Findings suggest that this collaborative instructional model may provide greater opportunities to address NOS content throughout the school year.