Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anger Expression and Incident Hypertension

Objective It has long been thought that anger is important in the development of essential hypertension. However, tests of this hypothesis have yielded conflicting findings. This study prospectively examined the relationship between anger expression style and incident hypertension in a population sample of middle-aged men. Methods Participants were 537 initially normotensive men from eastern Finland, who completed a medical examination and series of psychological questionnaires at baseline and at 4-year follow-up. Anger expression was assessed by Spielberger's Anger-out and Anger-in scales. Results At follow-up, 104 men (19.4%) were hypertensive (blood pressure >or=to 165 mm Hg systolic and/or 95 mm Hg diastolic). Age-adjusted logistic regression analyses revealed that each 1-point increase in Anger-out was associated with a 12% increase in risk of hypertension after 4 years of follow-up (p < .002), which corresponded to a two-fold increased risk of hypertension among men with scores in the top tertile of the Anger-out scale, relative to those with scores in the bottom tertile (odds ratio = 2.00, 95% confidence interval 1.20-3.38). Each 1-point increase on the Anger-in scale also was related to a 12% increased risk of hypertension (p < .01). Adjustments for body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, a positive parental history of hypertension, and baseline resting diastolic blood pressure had little impact on the findings. Conclusions These data provide strong epidemiological evidence for a positive relationship between anger expression style and subsequent hypertension, independent of known risk factors. Findings support the hypothesis that extreme expression of anger in either direction has adverse cardiovascular consequences.
Inflammation and outcome in end-stage renal failure: does female gender constitute a survival advantage?

BACKGROUND Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) is a strong predictor of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. However, although sex hormones may influence serum levels of inflammatory proteins, gender has not been taken into consideration in previous studies of inflammation and outcome in ESRD patients. METHODS We included 663 (374 males) ESRD patients (59 +/- 1 year) from three European renal centers (Sweden, Germany and Italy) in which CRP levels and outcome data (follow-up 33 +/- 1 months) were available. The relation between outcome and serum levels of the soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM-1) was evaluated in 312 of the patients. RESULTS The present study shows that elevated CRP is a strong predictor of outcome, but whereas no difference in all-cause mortality was observed between non-inflamed (CRP <or=3.4 mg/L) males and females, inflamed males had a significantly (log rank 6.1; P = 0.01) higher mortality rate than inflamed females. A strong positive correlation between CRP and sICAM-1 was found in the combined patient material (rho = 0.37; P < 0.0001) as well as in the male (rho = 0.25; P < 0.01) and female (rho = 0.52; P < 0.0001) subgroups. The Cox proportional hazard model showed that whereas both elevated sICAM-1 and log CRP predicted outcome in males, neither predicted outcome significantly in females. CONCLUSIONS As inflamed female patients have a better outcome that inflamed males the present observation suggests that sex hormones may have important cardioprotective effects that limit the effect of inflammation on vascular injury in female ESRD patients.
In vivo intradiscal pressure measurement in healthy individuals and in patients with ongoing back problems.

STUDY DESIGN In vivo intradiscal pressure measurement in different postures in healthy individuals and in those with ongoing back problems. OBJECTIVES With the most recent technique, 1) to analyze the influence of degeneration on the intradiscal pressure, 2) to calculate the spinal load on the L4-L5 intervertebral discs, and 3) to assess the relation between the spinal load and movement of the intervertebral motion segment. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Almost all the data on intradiscal pressure are from the studies by Nachemson. The results from these pioneering studies have formed the basis for current knowledge about the in vivo loading conditions of the human spine. Although performed already during the 1960s and 1970s with the technique available at that time, virtually no other similar studies have been performed to corroborate the findings. METHODS The intradiscal pressure (vertical and horizontal) was measured using an advanced pressure sensor in 8 healthy volunteers and 28 patients with ongoing low back pain, sciatica, or both at L4-L5. Among other calculations, the actual loading conditions in various body positions were calculated in relation to the angle between the two vertebrae of the studied motion segments. RESULTS The effect of respiration on intradiscal pressure was shown as a continuously periodic fluctuation in the healthy prone individual. The intradiscal pressure was significantly reduced according to the degree of disc degeneration as estimated by magnetic resonance imaging. There possibly was a difference between the vertical and horizontal pressures in the degenerated and nondegenerated discs because the nucleus pulposus was pressure-tropic property. The spinal load increased in the following order of body positions: prone, 144 N; lateral, 240 N; upright standing, 800 N; and upright sitting, 996N (P < 0.0001). In the standing and sitting body positions, the spinal load increased not only with forward bending, but also with backward bending. The spinal load was highly dependent on the angulation in the motion segment. The movements of the spine from a flexed to an extended position made the load of the spine change in a curvilinear fashion, fitting a squared equation in the standing body position. There was a correlation between the spinal load and the angle of the motion segment in the standing but not in the sitting body position. CONCLUSIONS The spinal load was highly dependent on the angle of the motion segment in normal discs in vivo. The intradiscal pressure in degenerated discs was significantly reduced compared with that of normal discs. However, further studies on the effect of respiratory movement on intradiscal pressure, the difference between vertical and the horizontal pressures, and the difference in the spinal load between standing and the sitting body positions are necessary. The data obtained from the current study are fundamental to understanding the pathomechanisms and biomechanical problems of disc disease.
Human Granulocyte Antigens: Current Status and Biological Significance

Summary The biological reason for the polymorphism of granulocyte-specific antigens is unknown. Clinical complications due to granulocyte antigen-antibody reactions cannot yet be predicted with certainty. Thus reactions following granulocyte transfusions may occur, despite cross-matching (25, 59- 66). Autoimmune disorders and maternal/ fetal incompatibility have been traced to known granulocyte antigens, and sera from patients with these disorders have been used to define many of these antigens (73-86). One of the main difficulties in deciphering the system of granulocyte antigens has been the limitations of the various testing procedures used. None of the techniques yet discovered, including indirect immunofluorescence, has been able to detect all the antigens which other tests detect (28-31). This fact suggests that these tests may be inadequate and could explain their lack of predictive value. A panel of known cell types is also unavailable, because the viability of granulocytes following current cryogenic procedures is unpredictable and often disappointing. The lack of high-titered monospecific antisera directed against antigens has also been a major block to research. Efforts to produce monoclonal antibodies, bypassing this block, have detected species-specific, subpopulation, differentiation, and leukemic antigens, but not the clinically interesting alloantigens (36-57). The development of more sensitive tests and monoclonal antibodies specific for granulocyte alloantigens could lead to a better understanding of granulocyte antigens and be helpful in treating disorders involving these antigens.
Evolution and physiology of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family of neuropeptides in vertebrates.

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), urotensin-I, urocortin and sauvagine belong to a family of related neuropeptides found throughout chordate taxa and likely stem from an ancestral peptide precursor early in metazoan ancestry. In vertebrates, current evidence suggests that CRF on one hand, and urotensin-I, urocortin and sauvagine, on the other, form paralogous lineages. Urocortin and sauvagine appear to represent tetrapod orthologues of fish urotensin-I. Sauvagine's unique structure may reflect the distinctly derived evolutionary history of the anura and the amphibia in general. The physiological actions of these peptides are mediated by at least two receptor subtypes and a soluble binding protein. Although the earliest functions of these peptides may have been associated with osmoregulation and diuresis, a constellation of physiological effects associated with stress and anxiety, vasoregulation, thermoregulation, growth and metabolism, metamorphosis and reproduction have been identified in various vertebrate species. The elaboration of neural circuitry for each of the two paralogous neuropeptide systems appears to have followed distinct pathways in the actinopterygian and sarcopterygian lineages of vertebrates. A comparision of the functional differences between these two lineages predicts additional functions of these peptides.
Surgical outcomes after initial surgery for clinical single-station N2 non-small-cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE Single-station N2 (Stage IIIA) non-small-cell lung cancer has been reported to have a relatively favorable prognosis after surgery. However, most previous studies examined surgical outcomes in N2 disease by pathologic nodal status but not by clinical nodal status. The objective of this study was to clarify the surgical outcomes in clinical single-station N2 non-small-cell lung cancer patients. METHODS A total of 125 consecutive patients with clinical single-station N2 non-small-cell lung cancer were treated in our institution between 1992 and 2008. Among them, 97 (78%) patients underwent thoracotomy, and were included in this retrospective study. We defined clinical single-station N2 node as a node measuring 1-2 cm in a single mediastinal station observed on contrast-enhanced computed tomography. The median follow-up period was 5.9 years (range, 1.8-12.6). RESULTS Eighty-eight (91%) patients underwent lung resection. Of them, 17 (19%) had true (pathologic) single-station N2 disease. Twenty-eight (32%) had pathologic multistation N2 and 43 (49%) had pN0-1 disease with favorable prognoses. The overall survival of the clinical single-station N2/pathologic N2 patients after initial surgery was unsatisfactory with a 5-year overall survival of 23.6%, but their prognoses were heterogeneous. True single-station pathologic N2 status (hazard ratio = 0.35, P = 0.008) and negative subcarinal node status (hazard ratio = 0.34, P = 0.022) were independent favorable prognostic factors after initial resection for clinical single-station N2/ pathologic N2 patients. The patients with both factors revealed a relatively favorable 5-year overall survival of 43.8%. CONCLUSION Clinical single-station N2 status does not always correspond with pathologic true N2 status. From a prognostic point of view, initial surgery for clinical single-station N2 patients is indicated if their true single-station N2 status and negative subcarinal involvement are preoperatively confirmed.
Simplified procedure for decoding nonsystematic reed-solomon codes over gf(2m) using euclid's algorithm and the fast fourier transform

Gao's algorithm similar to Shiozaki's algorithm for decoding nonsystematic Reed-Solomon (RS) codes which is a subclass of the redundant residue polynomial codes is considered here. This algorithm computes the message polynomial directly without explicitly finding the error-locator polynomial and errorevaluator polynomial. In this letter, a simplified decoding algorithm to correct both errors and erasures is used in conjunction with Gao's algorithm for efficiently decoding RS codes. In addition, we show that the extended Gao algorithm similar to the Shiozaki-Truong-Cheung-Reed algorithm significantly reduces the decoding complexity.
LPA and PLG Sequence Variation and Kringle IV-2 Copy Number in Two Populations

Background/Aims: Lp(a) levels have long been recognized as a potential risk factor for coronary heart disease that is almost completely under genetic control. Much of the genetics impacting Lp(a) levels has been attributed to the highly polymorphic LPA kringle IV-2 copy number variant, and most of the variance in Lp(a) levels in populations of European-descent is inversely correlated with kringle IV copy number. However, less of the variance is explained in African-descent populations for the same structural variation. African-descent populations have, on average, higher levels of Lp(a), suggesting other genetic factors contribute to Lp(a) level variability across populations. Methods: To identify potential cis-acting factors, we re-sequenced the gene LPA for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) discovery in 23 European-Americans and 24 African-Americans. We also re- sequenced the neighboring gene plasminogen (PLG) and genotyped the kringle IV copy number variant in the same reference samples. Results: These data are the most comprehensive description of sequence variation in LPA and its relationship with the kringle IV copy number variant. With these data, we demonstrate that only a fraction of LPA sequence diversity has been previously documented. Also, we identify several high frequency SNPs present in the African-American sample but absent in the European-American sample. Finally, we show that SNPs within PLG are not in linkage disequilibrium with SNPs in LPA, and we show that kringle IV copy number variation is not in linkage disequilibrium with either LPA or PLG SNPs. Conclusions: Together, these data suggest that LPA SNPs could independently contribute to Lp(a) levels in the general population.
Gender differences in methods of suicide attempts and prevalence of previous suicide attempts.

OBJECTIVE Suicide attempts are important predictors of completed suicide. Adolescents admitted to the emergency room of a large university hospital in Bern after a suicide attempt during the years 2004-2010 were prospectively assessed for methods of suicide attempt. METHOD Adolescents (N = 257; 66.5% female; age 14-21 years), presenting after a suicide attempt, were assessed with the WHO/EURO Multicentre Study on Parasuicide assessment tool. RESULTS Males more often used jumping from a high place (14% vs. 4.6% in females, p < .05) and less often intoxication (36% vs. 71.3%, p < .01). At least one previous suicide attempt was reported in 100 patients (44.4%; more females than males: Cramer-V = 0.21; p = .002). Of these, 35 adolescents did not present to this hospital or not at all for a previous suicide attempt. CONCLUSIONS The present study is the first to examine methods of suicide attempts according to the ICD-10 X codes in this age group. Gender differences were observed. Because a relevant number of patients did not present to the same hospital or not at all for a previous suicide attempt, studies on pathways to care of adolescents after their first suicide attempt are important for early detection and intervention strategies.
Case-control Study of the Frequency of Thrombophilic Disorders in Couples with Late Foetal Loss and no Thrombotic Antecedent

Summary Background: Women with familial thrombophilia have an increased risk of still birth. We postulated that the presence of asymptomatic risk factors for venous thrombosis might be a risk factor for late foetal loss. Methods: We performed a case-control study on the prevalence of heritable thrombophilic defects, of antiphospholipid-related markers and of the C677T mutation in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene in patients with at least one episode of late unexplained foetal loss and in control women with successful pregnancies. Partners of cases and controls were also studied. Written conclusions of the pathological examination of the placentas, when available, were also reviewed. Results: We found at least one positive biological risk factor for venous thrombosis in 21.1% of the patients and in 3.9% of the controls (p <10–4). In women, the crude odds ratio for still birth associated with any positive biological risk factor for venous thrombosis was 5.5, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) [3.4-9.0]. No difference was found between partners of cases and controls (5.2% and 4.7%). Using conditional logistic regression analysis, 4 adjusted risk factors for still birth remained: protein S deficiency, positive anti β2 glycoprotein I IgG antibodies, positive anticardiolipin IgG antibodies and the factor V Leiden mutation. The C677T mutation in the MTHFR gene was not an individual risk factor but an homozygous genotype was strongly associated with the former 4 risk factors (16.8% of patients vs. 0.9% of controls). In women with such associations, still births always occurred in absence of folic acid supplementation during pregnancy. Available conclusions of pathological analysis of placentas were found to have a very high proportion of “maternal vascular disease of the placenta” in patients with at least one positive risk marker for thromboembolism, specially in case of association with the C677T MTHFR homozygous genotype, compared to patients with negative markers (p <10–4). Conclusions: Late foetal loss, through placenta thrombosis, may sometimes be the consequence of a maternal multifactorial prothrombotic state associating traditional heritable or acquired thrombosis risk factors to conditions predisposing to an acute mild hyperhomocysteinaemia (coexistence of a genetic predisposition with late pregnancy-related increased folate needs).
Assessment of matriculating medical students’ knowledge and attitudes towards professionalism

Background: Students’ perceptions of traditional attributes of professionalism are important for understanding their professional development needs, and determining appropriate curricular initiatives and assessment methods. Aim: This study assessed the knowledge and attitudes towards professionalism of three classes of matriculating students at two institutions. Methods: Subjects completed four instruments: a multiple-choice test and a clinical scenario instrument assessed knowledge; and a semantic differential scale and Likert-format statement instrument assessed attitudes. Items reflected traditional professionalism attributes. Factor analysis identified scales and descriptive statistics were computed for each scale. Results: Six hundred and forty six students (82%) completed the instruments. Correlations among scales were low to moderate. Knowledge scores were highest for the attributes ‘humanism’ and ‘professional responsibility’ and lowest for the attribute ‘professional commitment’. Attitude scores were highest for ‘humanistic values’ and lowest for ‘subordinating self-interests’. Conclusions: Results indicate students’ attitudes are positive about several of the attributes associated with traditional professionalism definitions; however, there were cases where students’ knowledge and attitudes towards professionalism appear incongruent with traditional definitions. Further development of self-assessments of knowledge and attitudes towards professionalism are suggested.
Further delineation of cardiac abnormalities in Costello syndrome.

We review the cardiac abnormalities in 94 patients (27 new, 67 literature) with Costello syndrome, an increasingly recognized syndrome consisting of increased birth weight, postnatal growth retardation, and distinctive facial, skin, and musculoskeletal features (MIM 218040). A cardiac abnormality was found in 59 (63%) patients, with each of three categories occurring in approximately one-third of patients. A cardiovascular malformation (CVM) was noted in 30%, typically pulmonic stenosis (46% of those with a CVM). Cardiac hypertrophy was reported in 34%, which involved the left ventricle in 50% and was usually consistent with classic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). A variety of rhythm disturbances were reported in 33%. Most (74%) were atrial tachycardia that was reported as supraventricular, chaotic, multifocal, or ectopic. Of 31 patients with a rhythm abnormality, 22 (68%) had an additional abnormality, i.e., CVM (4), cardiac hypertrophy (12), or both (6). Nine patients had isolated dysrhythmia, five (56%) of whom died. All of the 12 (13%) patients who died had a cardiac abnormality. One patient died of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, but in the remainder, a cardiac cause of death could not be disproved. All patients with Costello syndrome need a baseline cardiology evaluation with echocardiography and Holter monitoring. Additional prospective evaluations, even in patients without apparent cardiac abnormalities, would be prudent, although data are insufficient to propose a specific schedule.
Complete Francis turbine flow simulation for the whole range of discharges

Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) is widely used today in design, research and development of hydralic turbines. It is also a part of automatic shape optimisation procedure where the goal is to find optimal shape of turbine parts. Today mostly steady state numerical simulations are applied in industry. Such case is presented in this paper where numerical simulation of an entire Francis turbine fluid flow is shown. Calculation domain contains all tandem cascade and runner channels and no averaging is applied in circumferential direction. The simulation was carried out with the comercial fluid flow solver FLUENT. Geometry definition and grid generation was performed with the FLUENT preprocesor GAMBIT. Diferent points of operations are shown at the same head and compare well with messurments.
Molecular epidemiology of Alzheimer's disease.

The apolipoprotein E gene is present in the general population in three alleles, e2, e3, and e4, with e3 being common and e2 and e4 relatively less common. Genetic-linkage and association studies have shown that the e4 allele is overrepresented1 and the e2 allele is underrepresented2 in patients with Alzheimer's disease. These observations are now generally accepted and have been replicated in numerous clinic-based, case–control studies. In this issue of the Journal, Polvikoski et al.3 describe the results of an investigation of the relation of the apolipoprotein E genotype to the development of Alzheimer's disease in a prospectively studied cohort .