Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of eye mask on sleep quality in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

INTRODUCTION Sleep is one of the basic human needs and sleep deprivation causes nu-merous adverse effects on the human body and mind. Due to reduced sleep quality in patients with acute coronary syndrome, this study was carried out to determine the effect of eye mask on sleep quality in patients with acute coronary syndrome. METHODS In this two-group controlled clinical trial, sixty patients with acute coronary syndrome in the coronary care units of Baqiyatallah Hospital in Tehran in 2010 were selected by purposeful sampling method and randomly allocated to two groups of case and control. In the case group, in the second night stay, the intervention of eye mask was done per night and by using the Petersburg's sleep quality index; sleep quality was evaluated during and at the end of hospitalization. Then data were analyzed by paired t-test, independent t-test, Spearman and Pearson's correlation coefficient and SPSS software version 19. RESULTS Total sleep quality score of the case group was significantly decreased after intervention (4.86 ± 1.88) from before intervention (10.46 ± 4.09) (p < 0.000). In addi-tion, total score of sleep quality after intervention in the case group (4.86 ± 1.88) was significant different from the control group (8.43 ± 1.97) (p < 0.005). CONCLUSION Using eye mask, as an economical and uncomplicated method, can improve sleep quality in patients with acute coronary syndrome in the coronary care units and can be used as an alternative method of treatment instead of drug therapy.
Comorbid anxiety disorders in late-life depression: results of a cohort study

ABSTRACT Background: Comorbid anxiety disorders are common in late-life depression and negatively impact treatment outcome. This study aimed to examine personality characteristics as well as early and recent life-events as possible determinants of comorbid anxiety disorders in late-life depression, taking previously examined determinants into account. Methods: Using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 2.0), we established comorbid anxiety disorders (social phobia (SP), panic disorder (PD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and agoraphobia (AGO)) in 350 patients (aged ≥60 years) suffering from a major depressive disorder according to DSM-IV-TR criteria within the past six months. Adjusted for age, sex, and level of education, we first examined previously identified determinants of anxious depression: depression severity, suicidality, partner status, loneliness, chronic diseases, and gait speed in multiple logistic regression models. Subsequently, associations were explored with the big five personality characteristics as well as early and recent life-events. First, multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted with the presence of any anxiety disorder (yes/no) as dependent variable, where after analyses were repeated for each anxiety disorder, separately. Results: In our sample, the prevalence rate of comorbid anxiety disorders in late-life depression was 38.6%. Determinants of comorbid anxiety disorders were a lower age, female sex, less education, higher depression severity, early traumatization, neuroticism, extraversion, and conscientiousness. Nonetheless, determinants differed across the specific anxiety disorders and lumping all anxiety disorder together masked some determinants (education, personality). Conclusions: Our findings stress the need to examine determinants of comorbid anxiety disorder for specific anxiety disorders separately, enabling the development of targeted interventions within subgroups of depressed patients.
Some factors influencing the rumen microbial population.

SUMMARY: In sheep fed once daily, the concentrations of micro-organisms in the rumen changed with the time after feeding, some organisms fluctuating in numbers more than others; peak concentrations were reached at different times for different organisms. These changes in concentration were reflected in changes in the proportion of dividing cells, for example, in Dasytricha ruminantium this proportion varied from less than 0.2% throughout most of the day to a maximum of 23 % a few hours before feeding; for Entodinium spp. the variation was less: it was possible to calculate the minimum doubling time for these latter organisms as about 5 hr. One animal at different times, or different animals, on the same ration and dietary regime had very different rumen microbial populations, these differences being particularly marked in the case of some organisms. Reasons why these marked differences in microbial population are not reflected in similarly marked differences in over-all rumen metabolism are discussed. Feeding different quantities of the same ration had little effect on the concentration of rumen microbes, provided the ration was above a minimal level; it is, however, suggested that output of microbial cells from the rumen may have varied with the amount of feed given. Starvation for a few days or prolonged under-nutrition had a marked effect, some organisms being drastically reduced in numbers or dying out completely. When the qualitative nature of the diet was changed, about 10 days were needed to complete the major adjustments in the rumen microbial population.
The sonographically thick placenta: a predictor of increased perinatal morbidity and mortality

In order to determine the prevalence and significance of sonographically thick placentas, we reviewed the computerized records of 18 827 viable, singleton pregnancies. Of these, 116 (0.6%) had thick placentas diagnosed by ultrasound examination. Perinatal mortality was markedly increased among pregnancies with thick placentas (odds ratio = 13.1, 95% confidence limits (CL) = 8.3–20.8), accounting for 6.2%; of the total. The rates of abruptio placentae (odds ratio = 2.9, CL = 1.1–8.1), neonatal intensive care unit admissions (odds ratio = 4.6, CL = 3.1–6.9) and anomalies (odds ratio = 8.4, CL = 4.9–14.4) were also significantly increased among the thick placenta cohort compared to controls. The 106 liveborn neonates with thick placentas had lower Apgar scores, were delivered at an earlier gestational age, and weighed less than controls. Anomalies, hydrops fetalis and abruptio placentae complicated 16 of the 24 cases of perinatal mortalities. Sonographically thick placentas should alert the clinician to the possibility of compromised perinatal outcome. Copyright © 1992 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Substrate-Integrated Cavity-Backed Patch Arrays: A Low-Cost Approach for Bandwidth Enhancement

The substrate-integrated waveguide (SIW) technology is utilized as an alternative low-cost approach in fabricating cavity-backed patch antennas. The proposed antenna arrays combine the attractive features of the conventional metalized cavity-backed patch arrays like surface wave suppression, high radiation efficiency, and enhanced bandwidth, yet provide a low manufacturing cost. A previously developed design of a 2×2 SIW cavity-backed microstrip patch sub-array is extended here and used as a basic building block to attain larger arrays of 2 × 4, 4 × 4, and 8 × 8 elements. The fabricated arrays have been measured and demonstrate good agreement with their simulated performance. The design and performance of these arrays are compared to other conventional bandwidth enhancement techniques, which prove SIW as a viable alternative.
Outcome analysis of unstable posterior ring injury of the pelvis: comparison between percutaneous iliosacral screw fixation and conservative treatment.

BACKGROUND Unstable posterior ring injuries of the pelvis are a challenge to pelvic surgeons, and their treatment has been controversial. The functional outcomes of such injuries following either percutaneous iliosacral screw fixation or conservative treatment remain to be elucidated. METHODS We conducted a retrospective analysis of 32 consecutive patients with unstable pelvic ring injuries who were treated with percutaneous placement of iliosacral screws (group 1) or conservative means (group 2) from January 2002 to September 2009. Radiographic, clinical, and functional outcomes were compared between the two treatment groups. RESULTS Patients who underwent percutaneous iliosacral screw fixation after pelvic trauma had better functional results than those treated conservatively, as per the Majeed grading system. In addition, patients in group 1 demonstrated better results for general health and mental health on the 36 item Short Form Health Status Survey. Patients in group 1 also demonstrated less residual displacement on radiography at 1 year follow up than those in group 2. Finally, patients in group 1 had better pain relief at 1 month and 1 year follow ups than those in group 2. CONCLUSIONS Percutaneous iliosacral screw fixation for unstable posterior pelvic ring injuries results in less residual displacement at medium term follow up, and better pain relief at short and medium term follow up, than does conservative treatment. Better functional outcomes were observed at 1 year follow up as compared with conservative treatment.
Evaluation of focused multipolar stimulation for cochlear implants in acutely deafened cats

Objective. The conductive nature of the fluids and tissues of the cochlea can lead to broad activation of spiral ganglion neurons using contemporary cochlear implant stimulation configurations such as monopolar (MP) stimulation. The relatively poor spatial selectivity is thought to limit implant performance, particularly in noisy environments. Several current focusing techniques have been proposed to reduce the spread of activation with the aim towards achieving improved clinical performance. Approach. The present research evaluated the efficacy of focused multipolar (FMP) stimulation, a relatively new focusing technique in the cochlea, and compared its efficacy to both MP stimulation and tripolar (TP) stimulation. The spread of neural activity across the inferior colliculus (IC), measured by recording the spatial tuning curve, was used as a measure of spatial selectivity. Adult cats (n = 6) were acutely deafened and implanted with an intracochlear electrode array before multi-unit responses were recorded across the cochleotopic gradient of the contralateral IC. Recordings were made in response to acoustic and electrical stimulation using the MP, TP and FMP configurations. Main results. FMP and TP stimulation resulted in greater spatial selectivity than MP stimulation. However, thresholds were significantly higher (p < 0.001) for FMP and TP stimulation compared to MP stimulation. There were no differences found in spatial selectivity and threshold between FMP and TP stimulation. Significance. The greater spatial selectivity of FMP and TP stimulation would be expected to result in improved clinical performance. However, further research will be required to demonstrate the efficacy of these modes of stimulation after longer durations of deafness.
Experimental paracetamol‐induced hepatic necrosis: A light‐and electron‐microscope, and histochemical study

Rats were killed at various time-intervals up to 48 hr after a single large dose of paracetamol (3 g per kg) and their livers examined by light and electron microscopy. In general, this revealed glycogen depletion, loss of ribosomes, and cytoplasmic matrix swelling commencing 3-6 hr after administration which in centrilobular hepatocytes progressed to frank coagulative necrosis at 12-24 hr. Midzonal cells showed more prominent aqueous swelling with besiculation of the endoplasmic reticulum, and in some cells, gross hydropic vacuolation.
Syphilis sero-positivity in recently admitted and long-term psychiatric inpatients: Screening, prevalence and diagnostic profile

Background. Syphilis research has neglected the prevalence of the disease among psychiatric patients, and traditional syphilis screening has been reported as inadequate. Objectives. (i) To assess the syphilis prevalence among psychiatric patients; (ii) to compare psychiatric diagnoses of syphilis-infected and -uninfected patients; (iii) to assess self-reported high-risk sexual behaviour; (iv) to establish syphilis/HIV co-morbidity; and (v) to investigate the performance of the rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test in syphilis screening, compared with the Treponema pallidum haemagglutination (TPHA) test. Methods. Psychiatric inpatients at Weskoppies Hospital, Pretoria, who consented to participate in the study (N=195) were categorised according to gender and length of admission (long-term or recent). Non-treponemal RPR, confirmatory TPHA, HIV-rapid and HIV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests were performed. A reactive TPHA test was used to diagnose syphilis. Results. The estimated prevalence of syphilis was 11.7%. There was no significant association between TPHA sero-positivity and primary psychiatric diagnosis or self-reported high-risk sexual behaviour. Significant co-morbidity existed between syphilis and HIV (p=0.012). Compared with the TPHA test, the RPR test performed poorly, identifying only 2/23 patients who had a sero-positive TPHA test (8.7% sensitivity and 100% specificity). Conclusions. The prevalence of syphilis was higher than anticipated, supporting the need for routine testing. The significant co-morbidity and alarming prevalence of HIV and syphilis warrant testing for both conditions in all psychiatric admissions. Current syphilis screening with a single RPR test is inadequate; both RPR and TPHA tests should be performed.
Blastomyces dermatitidis Production, Imparting Pathogenicity on α The WI-1 Adhesin Blocks Phagocyte TNF-

and Bruce S. KleinBea Finkel-Jimenez, Marcel Wuthrich, Tristan Brandhorsthttp://www.jimmunol.org/content/166/4/2665J Immunol€2001; 166:2665-2673; ;Referenceshttp://www.jimmunol.org/content/166/4/2665.full#ref-list-1This article cites 24 articles, 16 of which you can access for free at: Subscriptionshttp://jimmunol.org/subscriptionsInformation about subscribing to The Journal of Immunology is online at: Permissionshttp://www.aai. org/ji/copyright.htmlSubmit copyright permission requests at: Email Alertshttp://jimmunol.org/cgi/alerts/etocReceive free email-alerts when new articles cite this article. Sign up at:
Early and Strong Immune Responses Are Associated with Control of Viral Replication and Recovery in Lassa Virus-Infected Cynomolgus Monkeys

ABSTRACT Lassa virus causes a hemorrhagic fever endemic in West Africa. The pathogenesis and the immune responses associated with the disease are poorly understood, and no vaccine is available. We followed virological, pathological, and immunological markers associated with fatal and nonfatal Lassa virus infection of cynomolgus monkeys. The clinical picture was characterized by fever, weight loss, depression, and acute respiratory syndrome. Transient thrombocytopenia and lymphopenia, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, infiltration of mononuclear cells, and alterations of the liver, lungs, and endothelia were observed. Survivors exhibited fewer lesions and a lower viral load than nonsurvivors. Although all animals developed strong humoral responses, antibodies appeared more rapidly in survivors and were directed against GP1, GP2, and NP. Type I interferons were detected early after infection in survivors but only during the terminal stages in fatalities. The mRNAs for CXCL10 (IP-10) and CXCL11 (I-TAC) were abundant in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and lymph nodes from infected animals, but plasma interleukin-6 was detected only in fatalities. In survivors, high activated-monocyte counts were followed by a rise in the total number of circulating monocytes. Activated T lymphocytes circulated in survivors, whereas T-cell activation was low and delayed in fatalities. In vitro stimulation with inactivated Lassa virus induced activation of T lymphocytes from all infected monkeys, but only lymphocytes from survivors proliferated. Thus, early and strong immune responses and control of viral replication were associated with recovery, whereas fatal infection was characterized by major alterations of the blood formula and, in organs, weak immune responses and uncontrolled viral replication.
Gender differences in the relation between food cravings and mood in an adult community: Results from the fleurbaix laventie ville santé study.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this survey was to study food cravings and its indulgence in community adults (538 women and 506 men) and to compare nutritional parameters, weight preoccupations, and weight history between cravers and noncravers. METHOD Cravers experienced a strong urge to eat specific foods more than once a week during the past 6 months. Food intake was estimated by a 3-day food record. RESULTS 28% of women and 13% of men were food cravers. Cravers, especially women, were more frequently concerned about their weight than noncravers. Energy intake during snacks was higher in cravers. Less than 40% of cravers reported being hungry when they experienced cravings. Women cravers indulged their cravings as often as men. They reported more frequently negative feelings, whereas men reported more frequently positive feelings. DISCUSSION This study shows that food craving episodes are strongly associated with mood but in a different way in women and men.
Differential vascularization of nematode-induced feeding sites

Sedentary nematodes are destructive plant pathogens that cause significant yield losses. In the roots of their host plants, cyst nematodes (CNs) and root-knot nematodes (RKNs) induce different, highly specialized feeding sites—syncytia or giant cells (GCs), respectively—to optimize nutrient uptake. We compared the mechanisms by which nutrients are delivered from the model host plant, Arabidopsis, to GCs induced by the RKN Meloidogyne incognita or to syncytia induced by the CN Heterodera schachtii. From previous work, syncytia were known to be symplastically connected to newly formed host phloem composed of sieve elements (SEs) and companion cells. Here we studied the formation of plasmodesmata (PD) during GC and syncytia development by monitoring a viral movement protein that targets branched PD and the development of host phloem during GC formation by applying confocal laser scanning microscopy and immunocytochemistry. Analyses of plants expressing soluble or membrane-anchored green fluorescent protein in their phloem demonstrated symplastic isolation of GCs. GCs were found to be embedded in a tissue that consists exclusively of SEs. These de novo-formed SEs, contained nuclei and were interconnected by secondary PD. A similar interconnection of SEs was observed around syncytia. However, these secondary PD were also present at the SE–syncytium interface, demonstrating the postulated symplastic connection. Our results show that CNs and RKNs, despite their close phylogenetic relatedness, employ fundamentally different strategies to withdraw nutrients from host plants.
Comparisons between Antimicrobial Pharmacodynamic Indices and Bacterial Killing as Described by Using the Zhi Model

ABSTRACT Various suggestions have been made for empirical pharmacodynamic indices of antibiotic effectiveness, such as areas under the drug concentration-time curve in serum (AUC), AUC>MIC, AUC/MIC, area under the inhibitory curve (AUIC), AUC above MIC, and time above MIC (T>MIC). In addition, bacterial growth and killing models, such as the Zhi model, have been developed. The goal of the present study was to compare the empirical behavior of the Zhi model of bacterial growth and killing with the other empirical pharmacodynamic indices described above by using simulated clinical data analyzed with the USC*PACK PC clinical programs for adaptive control of drug therapy, with one model describing a concentration-dependent antibiotic (tobramycin) and another describing a concentration-independent antibiotic (ticarcillin). The computed relative number of CFU was plotted against each pharmacodynamic index, with each axis parameterized over time. We assumed that a good pharmacodynamic index should present a clear and continuous relationship between the time course of its values and the time course of the bacterial killing as seen with the Zhi model. Preliminary work showed that some pharmacodynamic indices were very similar. A good sensitivity to the change in the values of the MIC was shown for AUC/MIC and also forT>MIC. In addition, the time courses of some other pharmacodynamic indices were very similar. Since AUC/MIC is easily calculated and shows more sensitivity, it appeared to be the best of the indices mentioned above for the concentration-dependent drug, because it incorporated and used the MIC the best. T>MIC appeared to be the best index for a concentration-independent drug. We also propose a new composite index, weighted AUC (WAUC), which appears to be useful for both concentration-dependent and concentration-independent drugs.
A ONE‐YEAR, RANDOMISED, PLACEBO (SALINE) CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL OF 500–730 KDA SODIUM HYALURONATE (HYALGAN®) ON THE RADIOLOGICAL CHANGE IN OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE KNEE

The primary objective of this study was to investigate structural changes, as measured by joint space narrowing (JSN), within the knee joint during treatment with intra‐articular sodium hyaluronate (HA) of molecular weight 500–730 kDa in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Patients received a weekly intra‐articular injection of either 20 mg2/ml HA or a 2 ml vehicle placebo (saline) for three weeks. This course was repeated twice more at four‐monthly intervals. Concomitant treatment with analgesics or NSAIDs was allowed. The primary efficacy measure was the reduction in mean joint space width (JSW) of the medial compartment at 52 weeks. A total of 408 patients were randomised and 319 completed the one‐year study (HA: n=160, placebo: n=159); 273 of the 319 were included in the primary analysis. Analysis of variance on these 273 patients did not show a statistically significant difference between the two treatment groups. However, there was a significant difference in response to treatment in terms of the baseline JSW (p=0.01), indicating that outcome of treatment may depend on‐baseline JSW. Therefore, a subgroup analysis by baseline JSW was conducted. This compared patients with a JSW >4.6 mm with those with a JSW <4.6 mm. In those with radiologically milder disease at baseline and receiving HA, the JSN was significantly reduced compared with placebo (p=0.02). In patients with radiologically more severe disease there was no difference in JSN between the two treatments. Although, in this one‐year study, no overall treatment effect was seen, those with radiologically milder disease at baseline had less progression of joint space narrowing when treated with HA.
Adaptive Fast Path Architecture

Adaptive Fast Path Architecture (AFPA) is a software architecture that dramatically improves the efficiency, and therefore the capacity, of Web and other network servers. The architecture includes a RAM-based cache that serves static content and a reverse proxy that can distribute requests for dynamic content to multiple servers. These two mechanisms are combined using a flexible layer-7 (content-based) routing facility. The architecture defines interfaces that allow these generic mechanisms to be exploited to accelerate a variety of application protocols, including HTTP. Efficiency is derived from maximizing the number of requests that are handled entirely within the kernel, using a deferred-interrupt context instead of threads wherever possible. AFPA has been implemented on several server platforms including Microsoft Windows NT® and Windows® 2000, OS/390®, AIX®, and most recently Linux. By conservative estimates, AFPA more than doubles capacity for serving static content compared to conventional server architectures, and has allowed IBM to establish a leadership position in Web server performance. A prototype implementation of AFPA on Linux delivers more than 10000 SPECweb96 operations per second on a single processor.