Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A point of minimal important difference (MID): a critique of terminology and methods

The minimal important difference (MID) is a phrase with instant appeal in a field struggling to interpret health-related quality of life and other patient-reported outcomes. The terminology can be confusing, with several terms differing only slightly in definition (e.g., minimal clinically important difference, clinically important difference, minimally detectable difference, the subjectively significant difference), and others that seem similar despite having quite different meanings (minimally detectable difference versus minimum detectable change). Often, nuances of definition are of little consequence in the way that these quantities are estimated and used. Four methods are commonly employed to estimate MIDs: patient rating of change (global transition items); clinical anchors; standard error of measurement; and effect size. These are described and critiqued in this article. There is no universal MID, despite the appeal of the notion. Indeed, for a particular patient-reported outcome instrument or scale, the MID is not an immutable characteristic, but may vary by population and context. At both the group and individual level, the MID may depend on the clinical context and decision at hand, the baseline from which the patient starts, and whether they are improving or deteriorating. Specific estimates of MIDs should therefore not be overinterpreted. For a given health-related quality-of-life scale, all available MID estimates (and their confidence intervals) should be considered, amalgamated into general guidelines and applied judiciously to any particular clinical or research context.
EFFECTS OF HYPOXIC EXERCISE CONDITIONING ON WORK CAPACITY, LACTATE, HYPOXANTHINE AND HORMONAL FACTORS IN MEN

1. Hypoxanthine is a purine degradation product and exercise plasma hypoxanthine can be an index of ATP supply–demand imbalance during exercise. The present study determined the effects of hypoxic exercise conditioning on work capacity, blood lactate, plasma hypoxanthine and various neurohormonal factors.
The Natural Carotenoid Crocetin and the Synthetic Tellurium Compound AS101 Protect the Ovary against Cyclophosphamide by Modulating SIRT1 and Mitochondrial Markers

Cancer therapies are associated with increased infertility risk due to accelerated reproductive aging. Oxidative stress (OS) is a potential mechanism behind ovarian toxicity by cyclophosphamide (CPM), the most ovotoxic anticancer drug. An important sensor of OS is SIRT1, a NAD+-dependent deacetylase which regulates cellular defence and cell fate. This study investigated whether the natural carotenoid crocetin and the synthetic compound AS101 protect the ovary against CPM by modulating SIRT1 and mitochondrial markers. We found that the number of primordial follicles of female CD1 mice receiving crocetin plus CPM increased when compared with CPM alone and similar to AS101, whose protective effects are known. SIRT1 increased in CPM mouse ovaries revealing the occurrence of OS. Similarly, mitochondrial SIRT3 rose, whilst SOD2 and the mitochondrial biogenesis activator PGC1-α decreased, suggesting the occurrence of mitochondrial damage. Crocetin and AS101 administration prevented SIRT1 burst suggesting that preservation of redox balance can help the ovary to counteract ovarian damage by CPM. Decreased SIRT3 and increased SOD2 and PGC1-α in mice receiving crocetin or AS101 prior to CPM provide evidence for mitochondrial protection. Present results improve the knowledge of ovarian damage by CPM and may help to develop interventions for preserving fertility in cancer patients.
Prognostic value of visceral pleural invasion in non‐small cell lung cancer: A propensity score matching study based on the SEER registry

Visceral pleural invasion (VPI) is considered a poor prognostic factor in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We aimed to analyze the effect of VPI on cancer‐specific survival, using propensity score matching (PSM) based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database.
Evaluation of Apically Extruded Debris using Two Niti Systems Associated with Two İrrigation Techniques in Primary Teeth.

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to compare the effects of 2 NiTi file systems [Twisted File Adaptive (TFA) and Reciproc (RP)] and 2 irrigation techniques [Conventional needle irrigation (CNI) and Laser activated irrigation (LAI)] on the amount of apically extruded debris in primary maxillary molars. STUDY DESIGN Sixty extracted primary maxillary molars were randomly divided into 4 groups. The mesio-buccal roots of teeth in 4 groups were instrumented using TFA with LAI, RP with LAI, TFA with CNI and RP with CNI respectively. Debris extruded during instrumentation was collected into Eppendorf tubes and amounts were determined. The data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA test at 0.05 level of significance. RESULTS The results indicated all instrumentation and irrigation systems caused a measurable apical extrusion of debris. However, no statistically significant difference in debris extrusion was observed between irrigation techniques or instrumentation systems (P > 0.05). The total amount of debris extruded apically by LAI was greater than that by CNI. CONCLUSIONS All instrumentation and irrigation techniques caused debris extrusion. However, the optimal laser activation time and power settings should be investigated to ensure minimal extrusion of debris and irrigant due to cavitation and pressure during LAI in root canal treatment.
Treatment outcome of acne vulgaris with oral isotretinoin.

OBJECTIVE To determine the clinical efficacy of oral isotretinoin in the treatment of severe acne and assess its effect on total serum cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol and Low-Density Lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol). STUDY DESIGN A cohort, descriptive, hospital-based study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Al-Ain Medical District, Tawam Hospital, United Arab Emirates, from 1994 to 2002. METHODOLOGY A total of 198 patients seen at Tawam Hospital, referred with acne vulgaris for a minimum of 6 weeks, were treated by isotretinoin for the first time, were included in the study. Variables studied were as per objectives apart from demographics and distribution. RESULTS The study included 63 (32%) males and 135 (68%) females of mean age (+/-SD) of 21.3+/-5.6 years. Majority (81%) of patients was under 25 years. Of them, 26 patients had family history of acne. The most common site of acne was on face (66.7%), followed by trunk (26.2%) and neck (9.1%). Of 198 patients treated, 32.8% were cured, 19.1% markedly improved, 11.1% moderately improved and 24.2% of patients were advised for further treatment. There was no marked change in total and LDL-cholesterol, while LDL and triglycerides changed markedly. CONCLUSION In acne patients, isotretinoin is effective in producing remission. In addition, it was safe and its effect on serum lipids was transient, especially in healthy and young patients with normal liver functions.
Influence of gender on the diurnal variation of urine production and micturition characteristics of the rat

The diurnal variation in the frequency/volume characteristics of male and female conscious rats was evaluated with reference to fluid consumption and urine production. Baseline values of the micturition volume and frequency of nine male and 10 female SD adult rats were measured over a 24‐hour time period. The level of initial hydration conditions was standardized with 5 ml of water administered orally. With animals in a metabolism chamber having free access to water, the total volume of water consumed, the frequency/volume characteristics during micturition and the urine production rate were derived from the measurements of voided volume as detected by a digital balance. To establish reliability of measurements two separate micturition studies were done per rat at an interval of 1 week. Mean frequency of micturition and mean volume voided per micturition and urine production rate were computed in 3‐hour time bins and represented over the 24‐hour period. In addition the mean values of the number of micturitions and mean micturated volumes during the day/dark cycle were evaluated. The results show significant gender specificity in water consumption, urine production, and diurnal variations in micturition frequency/volume characteristics. Females consistently consume significantly larger amounts of water (83%) than males while urine production rate was correspondingly higher in females. It is concluded that water consumption and urine production are gender‐specific. Because higher volumes of water are imbibed by females than males, the frequency/volume characteristic of micturition in the rat is also gender‐specific. Data suggest that the volume voided per micturition depends on the urine production rate.Neurourol. Urodynam. 20:287–295, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An explorative, population-based study of female disability pensioners: the role of childhood conditions and alcohol abuse/dependence.

AIMS This study investigates the association in women between conditions during childhood and adolescence and alcohol dependence or abuse in adulthood on the one hand, and disability pensions and long-term sickness absence on the other. METHODS A stratified population-based sample of women in Göteborg was interviewed. For analyses in this study the following variables were selected from the interview protocol: childhood and adolescence, education, employment, social class, self-rated physical health and alcohol dependence or abuse (ADA), with diagnoses assessed according to DSM-III-R. Information on disability pension and sickness absence was obtained from the local Social Insurance Office. RESULTS Unfavourable conditions during childhood and adolescence and school difficulties as well as early deviant behaviours predicted disability pension and long-term sickness absence in adulthood. For most risk factors ADA could explain only a minor part of the odds ratios found in crude and age-adjusted analyses. CONCLUSION It is concluded that conditions early in life are predictors in women of disability pension and long-term incapacity to work. There are similarities in the pattern of early risk factors for later alcohol dependence or abuse and for disability pension/long-term sickness absence.
L-thyroxin treatment and post-menopausal osteoporosis: relevance of the risk profile present in clinical history.

AIM Nodular thyroid disease and osteoporosis share some common factors such as: 1) elevated frequency in the general population; 2) major prevalence in the female sex; 2) incidence proportional to the age. There is a wide debate in literature regarding the real impact of chronic treatment with L-thyroxin (LT4) on the bone mineral density (BMD), especially in post-menopausal women. The aim of this study was to undertake to evaluate the effects of LT4 administration for the treatment of normo-functioning nodular thyroid disease on the BMD in post-menopausal women after one year of continuative treatment. Particular attention was paid in examining the role of some anamnestic risk factors for osteoporosis on the clinical response. METHODS Ninety nine postmenopausal women of age comprised between 50 and 56 years were examined before and after 1 year of therapy with a fixed dose of LT4 for the treatment of nodular thyroid disease by monitoring the following laboratory parameters: thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), FT4, FT3, antithyroglobulin antibodies [AbTG], hyroid peroxidase antibodies [AbTPO], serum calcium and alkaline phosphatase levels and 24-urinary excretion of calcium and hydroxyproline. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry of the lumbar vertebrae. RESULTS The results of this study showed that the patients on treatment with LT4 have a slight, but significant reduction of the BMD after 1 year of treatment, associated with increased serum levels of alkaline phosphatase and urinary excretion of hydroxyproline. Comparison between patients with unsuppressed (group A) or suppressed (group B) TSH following LT4 treatment showed that group B patients had significantly lower BMD. The following risk factors influenced, in a statistically significant manner, the BMD: 1) Body Mass Index <19 kg/m(2); 2) the onset of menarche after the age of 15 years; 3) history positive for period of amenorrhoea; 4) nulliparity; 5) surgical menopause; 6) lack of hormonal replacement therapy; and 7) presence of auto-antibodies against thyroid antigens. CONCLUSION LT4 treatment in postmenopausal women reduced significantly the BMD. This treatment should be therefore prescribed with caution in this condition and particularly when the following risk factors are present: surgically driven menopause, constitutional thinness, history of nulliparity, absence of hormonal treatment, positive history of secondary amenorrhoea during the reproductive age, autoimmune thyroid disease and delayed menarche.
On-site diagnostic technique for smart maintenance of power cables

Polymeric insulation of power cables has excellent short-term dielectric properties but is subjected to serious degradation problems due to defects, water, ionic contamination, partial discharges, electrical treeing, etc. Since more than 20% of installed underground power cables are older than their design life-time, utilities are faced with important maintenance related questions whether to repair, refurbish or completely replace old cables. In the era of Smart Grid, accurate assessment of the operating state of cable insulation through reliable diagnostic measurements is crucial to the so called “Smart Maintenance”, i.e. the replacement of only those cables that may adversely affect the reliability of the network in the near future. At the National Research Council of Canada, an on-site testing technique for estimating the degree of degradation of power cables based on the polarization/depolarization current measurements has been developed and tested for two years on underground power network of a local utility. Using a noiseless, high voltage solid state switch, both the high frequency (HF) and the low frequency components of the depolarization current (IDep) were measured and analyzed. It was observed that the area under the HF component of the IDep curve, QDep, could be linked to the dielectric loss factor, and the intensity of water treeing in cable insulation. Furthermore, it was observed that the IDep waveforms of new and aged cables could be fitted to an equation, which contains a parameter that correlates with the degree of insulation degradation. This new insulation degradation indicator and the QDep characteristics could be used for monitoring the operating condition of cables in service and would help utilities to develop cable replacement programs based on the actual state of the insulation operating conditions. Long term aging (∼ 3.5 yrs) of XLPE miniature cables in NaCl solution has shown a large increase of the area under the polarization current curve, QP with aging time. Comparing the QP characteristics of miniature cables with those of cables in the field could also help to assess the degree of insulation aging.
Thoracoscopic resection of suspected metastatic pulmonary nodules after microcoil localization technique: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND Newly developed pulmonary nodules less than 20 mm in diameter in patients with a previous history of malignancy is highly suspicious to be metastatic. In this study we evaluate a new technique of computed tomography guided microcoils localization to facilitate thoracoscopic resection of deep pulmonary nodules. METHODS Seventy-four patients, who were discovered to have lung nodules (less than 20 mm) during follow up and were referred to the thoracic surgical unit in our institute from Sept. 2008 till Sept 2013, underwent CT-scan guided Microcoil localization followed by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) where the nodule along with microcoil was excised completely using endostaplers guided by fluoroscopy. RESULTS CT-scan guided microcoil placement was successful in all cases; however, two coils were displaced at the time of lung isolation. There was no mortality, no bleeding or hemothorax, or massive pneumothorax, no air emboli or any other post procedural complications, but a small pneumothorax occurred in 3 patients, who were managed conservatively. Mean operative time was 52.5±24.5 minutes, microcoil localization time was 43±13 minutes, and fluoroscopy time was 3±1.2 minutes. The resected nodules were inflammatory or granulomatous disease in 17 patients (23%), benign lung lesions in12 patients (16.2%), metastatic in origin in 43 patients (58.1%), and 2 patients (2.7%) primary lung cancer. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that CT-guided microcoil localization is feasible, safe, and effective. It increases the success rate of VATS resection of pulmonary nodules to 100% compared with the reported 37% success rate with the non-guided approach.
Naturalistic sleep monitoring in women suffering from bulimia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE Eating disorders may be associated with alterations in sleep. There is evidence that some bulimia nervosa (BN) patients have sleep abnormalities. No studies of their sleep-wake cycles in a natural environment have as yet been reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate an objective and subjective sleep-wake cycle of BN compared to a healthy age-equated control group (CON). METHOD Twenty-nine BN female and eighteen CON subjects were recruited. Sleep-wake patterns were monitored using ambulatory monitoring, mini-actigraphs (Min-Act), for 1 week. Each subject completed self-report questionnaires. RESULTS The self-reporting questionnaires revealed that BN complained of significantly more sleep disturbances than CON. The ambulatory sleep data revealed significant differences between BN and CON in sleep onset and offset time. DISCUSSION BN had sleep onset and sleep offset of 1 hr later, which may be connected to binge-purge patterns during the day. It is suggested that future research should focus on BN after remission.
Solid‐state 2H NMR studies of the effects of cholesterol on the acyl chain dynamics of magnetically aligned phospholipid bilayers

We report the utilization of magnetically aligned phospholipid bilayers (bicelles) to study the effects of cholesterol in phospholipid bilayers for both chain perdeuterated DMPC and partially deuterated α‐[2,2,3,4,4,6‐d6]‐cholesterol using 2H solid‐state NMR spectroscopy. The quadrupolar splittings at 40°C were 25.5 and 37.7 kHz, respectively, for the 2,4‐2Heq and 2,4‐2Hax deuterons when the bilayer normal of the discs was aligned perpendicular to the static magnetic field. The quadrupolar splittings were doubled when Yb3+ ions were added to flip the bicelles 90° such that the bilayer normal was colinear with the magnetic field. The results suggest that cholesterol is incorporated into the bicelle discs. For chain perdeuterated DMPC‐d54, incorporated into DMPC–DHPC bicelle discs, the individual quadrupolar splittings of the methylene and methyl groups doubled on going from the perpendicular to the parallel alignment. Also, the presence of cholesterol increased the overall ordering of the acyl chains of the phospholipids. SCDi calculations were extracted directly from the 2H quadrupolar splittings of the chain perdeuterated DMPC. The order parameter, SCDi, calculations clearly indicated an overall degree of ordering of the acyl chains in the presence of cholesterol. We also noted a disordering effect at higher temperatures. This study demonstrates the ease with which 2H order parameters can be calculated utilizing magnetically aligned phospholipid bilayers when compared with randomly dispersed membrane samples. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Investigation of mercury accumulation in cattails growing in constructed wetland mesocosms

Only a few studies have investigated foliar air-surface exchange associated with wetland plants and none have investigated this exchange in an experimental setting as a function of different soil and water mercury (Hg) exposure concentrations or monitored foliar Hg concentrations. In this study, foliar total Hg (THg) and methyl Hg (MeHg) concentrations and foliar Hg flux were investigated using Typha latifolia growing within controlled mesocosms. Exposure scenarios included combinations of two soil exposure Hg concentrations (0.03–0.1 and 0.38–0.44 μg g−1), and two water exposure Hg concentrations (4–8 and 40–140 ng L−1). Soil and water Hg concentrations were not correlated with foliar total Hg concentrations or foliar Hg flux. Foliar Hg fluxes measured with a gas exchange chamber were low, and atmospheric deposition to foliage was the dominant flux for all exposures, except for those plants growing in the low Hg in water and soil scenario. Based on data developed, it is suggested that Hg concentrations in foliage of Typha latifolia growing in media contaminated with Hg from historic mine waste were influenced primarily by assimilation of Hg from the atmosphere and not contaminated by water or sediment. In contrast, foliar MeHg concentrations followed a temporal pattern that was similar to observed changes in water MeHg concentrations. This indicated that MeHg in foliage could have been derived from the rooting media and was assimilated by different processes than THg in leaves.
MiR-27a is Essential for the Shift from Osteogenic Differentiation to Adipogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

Background/Aims: Osteoporosis is a progressive bone disease characterized by a decrease in bone mass and density, which results in an increased risk of fractures. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are progenitor cells that can differentiate into osteoblasts, osteocytes and adipocytes in bone and fat formation. A reduction in the differentiation of MSCs into osteoblasts contributes to the impaired bone formation observed in osteoporosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a regulatory role in osteogenesis and MSC differentiation. MiR-27a has been reported to be down-regulated in the development of osteoporosis and during adipogenic differentiation. Methods: In this study, a miRNA microarray analysis was used to investigate expression profiles of miRNA in the serum of osteoporotic patients and healthy controls and this data was validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). MSCs isolated from human and mice with miR-27a inhibition or overexpression were induced to differentiate into osteoblasts or adipocytes. TargetScan and PicTar were used to predict the target gene of miR-27a. The mRNA or protein levels of several specific proteins in MSCs were detected using qRT-PCR or western blot analysis. Ovariectomized mice were used as in vivo model of human postmenopausal osteoporosis for bone mineral density measurement, micro-CT analysis and histomorphometric analysis. Results: Here, we analyzed the role of miR-27a in bone metabolism. Microarray analysis indicated that miR-27a expression was significantly reduced in osteoporotic patients. Analysis on MSCs derived from patients with osteoporosis indicated that osteoblastogenesis was reduced, whereas adipogenesis was increased. MSCs that had undergone osteoblast induction showed a significant increase in miR-27a expression, whereas cells that had undergone adipocyte induction showed a significant decrease in miR-27a expression, indicating that miR-27a was essential for MSC differentiation. We demonstrated that myocyte enhancer factor 2 c (Mef2c), a transcription factor, was the direct target of miR-27a using a dual luciferase assay. An inverse relationship between miR-27a expression and Mef2c expression in osteoporotic patients was shown. Silencing of miR-27a decreased bone formation, confirming the role of miR-27a in bone formation in vivo. Conclusion: In summary, miR-27a was essential for the shift of MSCs from osteogenic differentiation to adipogenic differentiation in osteoporosis by targeting Mef2c.