Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scalar Localization of the Electrode Array After Cochlear Implantation: Clinical Experience Using 64-Slice Multidetector Computed Tomography

Objective: To use the improved resolution available with 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in vivo to localize the cochlear implant electrode array within the basal turn. Study Design: Sixty-four-slice MDCT examinations of the temporal bones were retrospectively reviewed in 17 patients. Twenty-three implants were evaluated. Setting: Tertiary referral facility. Patients: All patients with previous cochlear implantation evaluated at our center between January 2004 and March 2006 were offered a computed tomographic examination as part of the study. In addition, preoperative computed tomographic examinations in patients being evaluated for a second bilateral device were included. Intervention: Sixty-four-slice MDCT examination of the temporal bones. Main Outcome Measure: Localization of the electrode array within the basal turn from multiplanar reconstructions of the cochlea. Results: Twenty-three implants were imaged in 17 patients. We were able to localize the electrode array within the scala tympani within the basal turn in 10 implants. In 3 implants, the electrode array was localized to the scala vestibuli. Migration of the electrode array from scala tympani to scala vestibuli was observed in three implants. Of the 7 implants in which localization of the electrode array was indeterminate, all had disease entities that obscured the definition of the normal cochlear anatomy. Conclusions: Sixty-four-slice MDCT with multiplanar reconstructions of the postoperative cochlea after cochlear implantation allows for accurate localization of the electrode array within the basal turn where normal cochlear anatomy is not obscured by the underlying disease process. Correlating the position of the electrode in the basal turn with surgical technique and implant design could be helpful in improving outcomes.
Postprandial dyslipidaemia and diabetes: mechanistic and therapeutic aspects

Purpose of review There has been a resurgence of interest in the role of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins in the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, and this is particularly relevant to diabetes mellitus and the postprandial state. Recent findings Recent evidence suggests that insulin resistance in diabetes induces postprandial dyslipidemia by increasing the enterocytic production of chylomicrons and their remnant particles, but an impaired clearance capacity is also involved. Postprandial dyslipidaemia in diabetes induces oxidative stress, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction and this may be compounded by dysglycaemia. New guidelines for managing hypertriglyceridaemia in diabetes have been published, first-line therapies being improved glycaemic control, treatment of other secondary causes of dyslipidaemia and statin therapy, followed by judicious use of fibrates, n-3 fatty acids or niacin. A new role for incretin-based therapies in regulating dyslipidaemia has been identified. Summary Postprandial dyslipidaemia is a pivotal mechanism whereby diabetes can induce and accelerate atherosclerosis. Regulating the plasma concentrations of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins may decrease the cardiovascular complications of diabetes. The mechanisms of action of incretin-based treatments on dyslipidaemia and endothelial dysfunction need further investigation. The efficacy of new therapies targeted at postprandial dysmetabolism in diabetes need to be confirmed, against best current levels of care, in clinical endpoint trials.
Allelic Variation of Polymorphic Locus lytB, Encoding a Choline-Binding Protein, from Streptococci of the Mitis Group

ABSTRACT The choline-binding protein LytB, an N-acetylglucosaminidase of Streptococcus pneumoniae, is the key enzyme for daughter cell separation and is believed to play a critical pathogenic role, facilitating bacterial spreading during infection. Because of these peculiarities LytB is a putative vaccine target. To determine the extent of LytB polymorphism, the lytB alleles from seven typical, clinical pneumococcal isolates of various serotypes and from 13 additional streptococci of the mitis group (12 atypical pneumococci and the Streptococcus mitis type strain) were sequenced. Sequence alignment showed that the main differences among alleles were differences in the number of repeats (range, 12 to 18) characteristic of choline-binding proteins. These differences were located in the region corresponding to repeats 11 to 17. Typical pneumococcal strains contained either 14, 16, or 18 repeats, whereas all of the atypical isolates except strains 1283 and 782 (which had 14 and 16 repeats, respectively) and the S. mitis type strain had only 12 repeats; atypical isolate 10546 turned out to be a ΔlytB mutant. We also found that there are two major types of alternating repeats in lytB, which encode 21 and 23 amino acids. Choline-binding proteins are linked to the choline-containing cell wall substrate through choline residues at the interface of two consecutive choline-binding repeats that create a choline-binding site. The observation that all strains contained an even number of repeats suggests that the duplication events that gave rise to the choline-binding repeats of LytB involved two repeats simultaneously, an observation that is in keeping with previous crystallographic data. Typical pneumococcal isolates usually grew as diplococci, indicating that an active LytB enzyme was present. In contrast, most atypical isolates formed long chains of cells that did not disperse after addition of purified LytB, suggesting that in these strains chains were produced through mechanisms unrelated to LytB.
Cataract extraction in high myopic eyes.

BACKGROUND According to the high prevalence of myopia in Taiwan, we analyze the adopted cataract extractions, identify predicting factors for postoperative vision, and to assess the incidence of retinal complications after Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy in high myopic eyes. METHODS One hundred and twenty-five eyes, which the axial lengths were longer than 26 mm, following cataract extraction were enrolled. Surgeries adopted included phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation, extracapsular cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation, phacoemulsification, and extracapsular cataract extraction. Logistic regression was utilized to assess predictive factors for postoperative vision. RESULTS Postoperative vision of 41 eyes (32.8%) of the 125 high myopic eyes improved at least 4 lines of Snellen acuity. Thirty-two eyes (25.6%) achieved good postoperative vision (BCVA > or = 20/40), and 26 eyes (20.8%) demonstrated poor postoperative vision (BCVA < 20/200). Younger age and shorter axial length were appreciated for better visual outcome (p < 0.05). Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy is required for posterior capsular opacity. Three in 125 eyes (2.4%) developed retinal complications and 2 of them had retinal detachment subsequently within one month after Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy. CONCLUSION Most high myopic patients achieved visual improvement after cataract surgeries. Age and axial length are the predictive factors in high myopic patients. It is crucial to examine retina prior to Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy to prevent retinal complication.
Cone-beam Computed Tomography Imaging Findings of Bisphosphonate-related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws (BRONJ): A Review Article

Bisphosphonates are potent synthetic analogs of pyrophosphates that act to inhibit osteoclasts and reduce bone metabolism. These drugs have become important in the treatment of bone lesions of multiple myeloma, Paget’s disease, hypercalcemia of malignancy, metastatic bone tumors, and osteoporosis. The most common complication in patients on bisphosphonate therapy is osteonecrosis of jaw (ONJ) which can occur after any surgical dental procedure such as extraction, periodontal or endodontic surgery, or implant placement. Imaging may play an important role in determining the extent of the disease; the considerable number of studies investigating CT and/or MRI for bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis (BRONJ) imaging, there are significantly fewer papers in the literature that study the use of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) as a modality for imaging of BRONJ lesions. The purpose of this article is to investigate the radiological signs of BRONJ in CBCT scans and review of the literature.
Intracellular Uptake and Phototoxicity of 31,32‐Didehydrophytochlorin‐fullerene Hexaadducts

C60‐fullerene derivatives are potential building blocks in modular carrier systems for selective tumor targeting. In [5:1] fullerene hexakis adducts, one position can be occupied by an addressing unit (e.g. monoclonal antibody) while the other five positions are suitable for dendrimers or spacers loaded with several drug moieties. This article reports intracellular uptake and phototoxicity of three fullerene hexakis adducts coupled with a different number of photosensitizers: a bis(31,32‐didehydrophytochlorin)‐fullerene [5:1]‐hexaadduct (FHP1), a fullerene [5:1]‐hexaadduct with six 31,32‐didehydrophytochlorin groups (FHP6) and a fullerene [6:0]‐hexaadduct that carries 12 31,32‐didehydrophytochlorin units (FHP12).
Insights into the effects of disease‐causing mutations in human actins

Mutations in all six actins in humans have now been shown to cause diseases. However, a number of factors have made it difficult to gain insight into how the changes in actin functions brought about by these pathogenic mutations result in the disease phenotype. These include the presence of multiple actins in the same cell, limited accessibility to pure mutant material, and complexities associated with the structures and their component cells that manifest the diseases. To try to circumvent these difficulties, investigators have turned to the use of model systems. This review describes these various approaches, the initial results obtained using them, and the insight they have provided into allosteric mechanisms that govern actin function. Although results so far have not explained a particular disease phenotype at the molecular level, they have provided valuable insight into actin function at the mechanistic level which can be utilized in the future to delineate the molecular bases of these different actinopathies. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dissecting the Metabolic Role of Mitochondria during Developmental Leaf Senescence1

During developmental leaf senescence in Arabidopsis, mitochondria simultaneously maintain primary energy processes and are the site of a number of catabolic processes, thus ensuring effective nutrient reallocation. The functions of mitochondria during leaf senescence, a type of programmed cell death aimed at the massive retrieval of nutrients from the senescing organ to the rest of the plant, remain elusive. Here, combining experimental and analytical approaches, we showed that mitochondrial integrity in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) is conserved until the latest stages of leaf senescence, while their number drops by 30%. Adenylate phosphorylation state assays and mitochondrial respiratory measurements indicated that the leaf energy status also is maintained during this time period. Furthermore, after establishing a curated list of genes coding for products targeted to mitochondria, we analyzed in isolation their transcript profiles, focusing on several key mitochondrial functions, such as the tricarboxylic acid cycle, mitochondrial electron transfer chain, iron-sulfur cluster biosynthesis, transporters, as well as catabolic pathways. In tandem with a metabolomic approach, our data indicated that mitochondrial metabolism was reorganized to support the selective catabolism of both amino acids and fatty acids. Such adjustments would ensure the replenishment of α-ketoglutarate and glutamate, which provide the carbon backbones for nitrogen remobilization. Glutamate, being the substrate of the strongly up-regulated cytosolic glutamine synthase, is likely to become a metabolically limiting factor in the latest stages of developmental leaf senescence. Finally, an evolutionary age analysis revealed that, while branched-chain amino acid and proline catabolism are very old mitochondrial functions particularly enriched at the latest stages of leaf senescence, auxin metabolism appears to be rather newly acquired. In summation, our work shows that, during developmental leaf senescence, mitochondria orchestrate catabolic processes by becoming increasingly central energy and metabolic hubs.
Food Hygiene Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of the Food Handlers in the Military Hospitals *

Improper practices and lack of knowledge by food handlers are contributing factors for the spread of foodborne outbreaks. This study aimed to explore the knowledge, attitude and practice of food handlers in military hospitals in Jordan. A Self completed questionnaire was answered by 200 employees; 150 military employees and 50 civilian employees in 7 Jordanian military hospitals selected randomly one from the capital Amman and two from the three provinces. The results showed that the means of the percentage scores for the knowledge, attitude, practice, were 84.82, 88.88, 89.43, respectively and the overall knowledge, attitude, practice (KAP) mean percentage score was 87.88. A significant difference (P < 0.05) in these values was observed between the military and civilian employee. The mean percentage scores for knowledge, attitude and practice were 88.5, 93.2, and 91.4, respectively for military employee compared to those for civilian employee of 73.7, 75.8, and 83.5, respectively. A significant difference for the overall (KAP) mean percentage score was also observed between gender, education and specific occupation of the food handler. Female KAP percentage mean score was 90.0 and that for males was 86.6; The college or university educations employee had a mean score of 91.6 while the elementary school education employee had a mean score of 79.7; The nutritionists and cooks had statistically similar means of 91.6 but these occupations significantly differ from the waiters 84.4 and cleaners 80.2.
Cooperative Paramagnetism in the Geometrically Frustrated Pyrochlore Antiferromagnet Tb 2 Ti 2 O 7

W. A. MacFarlane, 2 N. P. Raju, 4 J. E. Sonier, 2 I. Swainson, 5 and Z. Tun5 1Department of Physics and Astronomy, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4M1 2Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 3Department of Physics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1 4Department of Chemistry, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4M1 5National Research Council, NPMR, Chalk River Laboratories, Chalk River, Ontario, Canada K0J 1J0 (Received 18 November 1997 )
Recognition and Management of Hypertension in Older Persons: Focus on African Americans

Hypertension is the most commonly diagnosed condition in persons aged 60 and older and is the single most important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and stroke), kidney disease, and dementia. More than half of individuals with hypertension in the United States are aged 60 and older. Hypertension disproportionately affects African Americans, with all age groups, including elderly adults, having a higher burden of hypertension‐related complications than other U.S. populations. Multiple clinical trials have demonstrated the beneficial effects of blood pressure (BP) reduction on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, with most of the evidence in individuals aged 60 and older. Several guidelines have recently been published on the specific management of hypertension in individuals aged 60 and older, including in high‐risk groups such as African Americans. Most recommend careful evaluation, thiazide diuretics and calcium‐channel blockers for initial drug therapy in most African Americans, and angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers in those with chronic kidney disease or heart failure. Among the areas of controversy is the recommended target BP in African Americans aged 60 and older. A recent U.S. guideline recommended raising the systolic BP target from less than 140 mmHg to less than 150 mmHg in this population. This article will review the evidence and current guideline recommendations for hypertension treatment in older African Americans, including the rationale for continuing to recommend a SBP target of less than 140 mmHg in this population.
International Neuromodulation Society Critical Assessment: Guideline Review of Implantable Neurostimulation Devices

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is well accepted for the treatment of chronic pain since its beginning in 1967. As its use continues to enter into the chronic pain treatment algorithm earlier, conscience patient selection and durability of the therapy are clearly clinically relevant. To improve treatment efficacy, consensus statements and guidelines were developed.
Peripheral‐type benzodiazepine receptors in anxiety disorders

Peripheral benzodiazepine receptors (pBDZr) were analyzed in lymphocyte membranes from patients with anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), n= 15; panic disorder (PD), n= 10; obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD), n= 18), other mental disorders (n= 40) and 50 healthy controls, by the specific binding of 3H‐PK11195. The number of binding sites (Bmax) was significantly decreased in groups with both GAD and OCD as compared with age‐matched controls, by 45% and 25% respectively, whereas the binding affinity (Kd) was the same in all disorder and control groups. Conversely, no changes in binding capacity was observed in the other disorder groups and particularly in the one with PD. The abnormality in pBDZr observed in patients with GAD was restored to a normal value after long‐term treatment with 2′‐chloro‐N‐desmethyldiazepam, which also coincided with their recovery from anxiety. Our data suggest that the clinical heterogeneity in anxiety disorders might be related to different biological mechanisms and that lymphocyte pBDZr might be useful in demonstrating these differences.
Obesity and Short Stature in Children with Myelomeningocele

The true degree of obesity in children with myelomeningocele may well be underestimated if conventional means of assessment are used. In this study of 50 children with myelomeningocele, mcasurements wzre made of height (in the supine position), weight and subscapular skinfold thickness. The results were recorded on charts to show the relationship between weight/age, height/age, weight/height and subscapular skinfold/age, and these were compared with percentile charts for normal children of the same ages. The children showed no sign of being overweight on the normal pzrcentile charts, but when weight was related to height (supine length), they were found to be shorter than normal and to be much heaver than would be expected for their ages. Most of the 50 children also had values over the 50th percentile for subscapular skinfold thickness, the difference being highly significant in comparison with the normal distribution.
Polymorphisms in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene: Their impact on liver steatosis and fibrosis of chronic hepatitis c patients

Aim & Background: The mechanism of steatosis in Hepatitis C virus infection is multifactorial; therefore, it is complex and unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of methylentetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphisms on the course of chronic hepatitis C virus infection and the development of steatosis due to hepatitis C virus. Methods: This study included 109 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Necroinflammatory activity, degrees of fibrosis and steatosis and MTHFR gene polymorphisms were investigated. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to determine MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms. Results: Fibrosis was correlated with age (r = 0.336, p = 0.002), platelet (r = ? 0.448, p was a relation between MTHFR C677T and the degree of fibrosis but not A1298C (p = 0.014, p = 0.187 respectively). Conclusion: We found that MTHFR C677T polymorphism contributed to the development of fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
Periodicity of nuclear morphology in human fibroblasts

Motivation: Morphology of the cell nucleus has been used as a key indicator of disease state and prognosis, but typically without quantitative rigor. It is also not well understood how nuclear morphology varies with time across different genetic backgrounds in healthy cells. To help answer these questions we measured the size and shape of nuclei in cell-cycle-synchronized primary human fibroblasts from 6 different individuals at 32 time points over a 75 hour period. Results: The nucleus was modeled as an ellipsoid and its dynamics analyzed. Shape and volume changed significantly over this time. Two prominent frequencies were found in the 6 individuals: a 17 hour period consistent with the cell cycle and a 26 hour period. Our findings suggest that the shape of the nucleus changes over time and thus any time-invariant shape property may provide a misleading characterization of cellular populations at different phases of the cell cycle. The proposed methodology provides a general method to analyze morphological change using multiple time points even for non-live-cell experiments.
Patterns and drivers of plant functional group dominance across the Western Hemisphere: a macroecological re-assessment based on a massive botanical dataset

Plant functional group dominance has been linked to climate, topography and anthropogenic factors. Here, we assess existing theory linking functional group dominance patterns to their drivers by quantifying the spatial distribution of plant functional groups at a 100-km grid scale. We use a standardized plant species occurrence dataset of unprecedented size covering the entire New World. Functional group distributions were estimated from 3 648 533 standardized occurrence records for a total of 83 854 vascular plant species, extracted from the Botanical Information and Ecology Network (BIEN) database. Seven plant functional groups were considered, describing major differences in structure and function: epiphytes; climbers; ferns; herbs; shrubs; coniferous trees; and angiosperm trees. Two measures of dominance (relative number of occurrences and relative species richness) were analysed against a range of hypothesized predictors. The functional groups showed distinct geographical patterns of dominance across the New World. Temperature seasonality and annual precipitation were most frequently selected, supporting existing hypotheses for the geographical dominance of each functional group. Human influence and topography were secondarily important. Our results support the prediction that future climate change and anthropogenic pressures could shift geographical patterns in dominance of plant functional groups, with probable consequences for ecosystem functioning. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, ●●, ●●–●●.
Spatial and Performance Optimality in Power Distribution Networks

Complex network theory has been widely used in vulnerability analysis of power networks, especially for power transmission ones. With the development of the smart grid concept, power distribution networks are becoming increasingly relevant. In this paper, we model power distribution systems as spatial networks. Topological and spatial properties of 14 European power distribution networks are analyzed, together with the relationship between geographical constraints and performance optimization, taking into account economic and vulnerability issues. Supported by empirical reliability data, our results suggest that power distribution networks are influenced by spatial constraints which clearly affect their overall performance.