Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Surfactant Protein-C in Ventilated Premature Lamb Lung

Although surfactants containing only lipids and surfactant protein C (SP-C) or SP-C analogs can be effective for the treatment of surfactant deficiency in animal models, there is no information concerning the alveolar or lung clearance of SP-C. Because the other lipid and protein components of surfactant are cleared very slowly from the preterm lung, we hypothesized that SP-C also would be cleared slowly. Therefore, we compared the losses of iodinated native SP-C (nSP-C) and recombinant SP-C analog (rSP-C, phenylalanines in positions 4 and 5 and isoleucine in position 32 of the human sequence) to [14C] dipalmitoylphos-phatidylcholine (DPPC) after airway administration at birth of trace or treatment doses of surfactant given to preterm lambs. In preterm lambs given trace doses at 134-136 d gestation, alveolar [14C]DPPC and [125I]rSP-C decreased to 14.7% recovery for DPPC and 8.3% recovery for rSP-C after 2 h ventilation. There was no loss of [14C]DPPC from the total lungs (alveolar wash + lung tissue), and approximately 20% of the [125I]rSP-C was lost from the lungs. For 128 d gestational age lambs treated with 100-mg/kg doses of surfactants containing nSP-C or 2% of rSP-C, the alveolar and total lung recoveries for [125I]nSP-C or [125I]rSP-C were equivalent to that of [14C]DPPC after 5 h ventilation. These results demonstrate that nSP-C and rSP-C have alveolar clearances and accumulations into preterm lung tissue that are similar to those of DPPC.
Permanent Anatomic Closure of the Ductus Arteriosus in Newborn Baboons: The Roles of Postnatal Constriction, Hypoxia, and Gestation

Permanent closure of the ductus arteriosus require loss of cells from the muscle media and development of neointimal mounds, composed in part of proliferating endothelial cells. We hypothesized that postnatal ductus constriction produces hypoxia of the inner vessel wall; we also hypothesized that hypoxia might lead to cell death and the production of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF), a hypoxia-inducible growth factor that stimulates endothelial proliferation. We mapped the distribution of hypoxia in newborn baboons and correlated it with the appearance of cell death (TUNEL technique), VEGF expression, and endothelial proliferation (proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression). In the full-term baboon (n = 10), the ductus was functionally closed on Doppler examination by 24 h after delivery. Regions of the ductus where the lumen was most constricted were associated with moderate/intense hypoxia; VEGF expression was increased in the hypoxic muscle media, and luminal endothelial cells, adjacent to the hypoxic media, were proliferating. Cells in the most hypoxic regions of the ductus wall were undergoing DNA fragmentation. In contrast, regions of the ductus with mild degrees of hypoxia had no evidence of cell death, VEGF expression, or endothelial proliferation. Cell death and endothelial proliferation seemed to be limited to regions of the full-term ductus experiencing moderate/intense hypoxia. In the premature baboon (67% gestation) (n = 24), only 29% closed their ductus by Doppler examination before d 6. None of the premature baboons, including those with a closed ductus by Doppler, had evidence of moderate/intense hypoxia; also, there was no evidence of cell death, VEGF expression, endothelial proliferation, or neointima formation by d 6. Therefore, the premature ductus is resistant to developing hypoxia, even when its lumen is constricted; this may make it susceptible to later reopening.
Steady State Maternal-Fetal Leucine Enrichments in Normal and Intrauterine Growth-Restricted Pregnancies

The aim of this study was to compare the fetal/maternal (F/M) leucine-enrichment ratio in normal (AGA) and intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) pregnancies at the time of fetal blood sampling (FBS). A maternal primed-constant infusion of L-[1-13C]-leucine was given in six AGA and 14 IUGR pregnancies, divided into three groups according to the pulsatility index (PI) of the umbilical artery and to fetal heart rate (FHR): group 1 (normal FHR and PI, four cases); group 2 (normal FHR and abnormal PI, five cases); and group 3 (abnormal FHR and PI, five cases). Maternal arterialized samples were taken at time zero and every 20 min for 125 ± 7 min. Umbilical venous samples were obtained after 114 ± 42 min of infusion. Under steady state conditions, there was a significant linear relationship between maternal leucine disposal rate and maternal leucine concentration. The comparison of fetal to maternal leucine enrichment showed a progressive dilution of the fetal enrichment relative to the mother between AGA and IUGR of group 1 (0.89 versus 0.78, p < 0.02), group 2 (0.71, p < 0.001), and group 3 (0.62, p < 0.001), and also among the three IUGR groups. The F/M leucine molar percent enrichment (MPE) ratio showed a positive correlation with the umbilical venous oxygen content and an inverse correlation with fetal lactate concentration. We conclude that the dilution in the fetal/maternal leucine-enrichment ratio correlates with the severity of growth restriction and reflects decreased transplacental leucine flux and/or increased protein breakdown within the fetoplacental compartments.
Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM affects colonic mucosal opioid receptor expression in patients with functional abdominal pain ‐ a randomised clinical study

In a recent double‐blinded clinical trial, the probiotic combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM (L‐NCFM) and B‐LBi07 reduced bloating symptoms in patients with functional bowel disorders; an effect more evident in those who reported abdominal pain. In mice, L‐NCFM but not B‐LBi07 induced colonic mu‐opioid receptor (MOR) and cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) expression, and reduced visceral sensitivity.
Letter: bile acid diarrhoea is not a rare cause of diarrhoea in secondary care

SIRS, We read the article by Wilcox et al., and the letter by Kurien et al. with interest. We agree that bile acid diarrhoea (BAD) may be the underlying aetiology in a significant proportion of patients with chronic diarrhoea. With this in mind, we would like to share our own experience of this issue. We undertook a review of consecutive unselected new patient referrals to a single gastroenterologist’s out-patient clinic during a 3-year period, from January 2010 to December 2012. All clinic letters were reviewed retrospectively, and symptoms reported by the patient at the initial consultation were recorded. Radiology, endoscopy, chemical pathology, and histopathology databases were then cross-examined in order to ascertain the final diagnosis following full investigation, to the level deemed appropriate by the consulting physician. We defined BAD using a 23-seleno-25-homo-tauro-cholic acid (SeHCAT) retention value of <15% at 7 days. Of 613 consecutive unselected new patient referrals, 151 (24.6%) reported chronic diarrhoea. After investigation the final diagnoses are listed in Table 1. The second commonest cause of chronic diarrhoea, after irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), was BAD. Nine (45.0%) of 20 patients with BAD reported lower abdominal pain or discomfort. In 13 (65.0%) of these 20 patients there was no obvious cause of BAD, and these were classified as idiopathic, or type II, BAD. In summary, BAD was the commonest underlying cause of diarrhoea after IBS, and idiopathic BAD was commoner than coeliac disease among these patients. Almost 50% of patients with BAD reported lower abdominal pain or discomfort. Given that current symptom-based diagnostic criteria perform only modestly in predicting IBS, this may lead to misdiagnosis of BAD as IBS unless SeHCAT scanning is performed routinely, an issue identified by other investigators. 5–7 BAD should be considered as a likely diagnosis in all patients with chronic diarrhoea, and SeHCAT scanning should be moved up the hierarchy of diagnostic tests in such patients.
Differential Diagnosis of Meningococcal Meningitis Based on Common Clinical and Laboratory Findings: Are There Criterion Standards?

Background:The prompt diagnosis of meningitis is essential for a good outcome. Aim:This study was designed to differentiate children with meningococcal meningitis, aseptic meningitis, and no meningitis. Patients and Methods:A total of 150 children aged 1 month to 12 years and adolescents aged 12 to 14 years, who had had a lumbar puncture, were recruited. In all patients, demographic characteristics and clinical and laboratory findings were recorded, and polymerase chain reaction for enterovirus was performed. On discharge, the patients were divided into 3 groups: children and adolescents with meningococcal meningitis, those with aseptic meningitis, and those without the disease. Results:Statistical analysis revealed that headache, vomiting, and clinical stiffness could differentiate the combined groups of meningitis irrespective of etiology with the group without meningitis. The presence of headache increased the probability of meningitis by 76%, the presence of vomiting doubled the probability, whereas the presence of neck stiffness increased the respective possibility by 67%. The number of leukocytes, neutrophils, and platelets as well as cerebrospinal fluid cells differed significantly among the 3 groups. An increase of 10 cerebrospinal fluid cells corresponds to a 12% elevation of the odds ratio for meningitis being meningococcal, whereas logistic regression analysis did not show any other significant variable among those of laboratory findings. The result of the polymerase chain reaction for enterovirus was negative in all samples. Conclusion:Clinical characteristics should contribute to the physician's decision to perform a lumbar puncture for the diagnosis of meningitis.
Consulting Service Users: The Stroke Association Home Therapy Project

In 1999, the Stroke Association set up a project to promote home-based occupational therapy for patients who had had a stroke and been discharged home from hospital. As part of the service evaluation, focus groups for service users and carers were set up in two of the sites to consult users about the changes in their quality of life during the period of the home therapy. A total of 11 service users and 9 carers attended the groups, representing 30% of the service users and 27% of the carers involved in the project. The group discussion was taped and transcribed and then analysed using a framework approach. The group members described their personal experiences of recovery from and limitations after the stroke and reported improvements in life issues during the period of their home therapy. The content and organisation of the service and the relationships with project staff were felt to influence the effectiveness of the occupational therapy. Other issues that affected the perceived outcome for the service users included individual choice, age, stroke consequences, other rehabilitation and community services and social limitations. This consultation process allowed the service users to describe the strengths and weaknesses of the service and provided valuable feedback that could be used to design the content and application of future home therapy services.
Hypercoagulability following major partial liver resection ‐ detected by thrombomodulin‐modified thrombin generation testing

Conventional coagulation tests are frequently prolonged after liver surgery, suggesting a post‐operative hypocoagulability. However, these tests are unreliable for assessment of the haemostatic status in these patients. In contrast, thrombin generation testing measures the true balance between pro‐ and anti‐coagulant factors.
A retrospective 15‐year review: survival advantage after switching to sirolimus in hepatitis C virus infected liver graft recipients

The use of sirolimus‐based immune suppression in liver transplantation, particularly in hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐infected recipients, remains contentious. There is some evidence that sirolimus retards hepatic fibrosis, is renal sparing and may be of benefit in preventing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence. Sirolimus has not been adopted by many transplant centres because of persistent concerns regarding an increased risk of hepatic artery thrombosis, graft loss and death with de novo sirolimus.
Regrowth patterns of plantar callus

Abstract A-scan ultrasound was used to measure the thickness of plantar callus, from scalpel debridement to regrowth. Twenty-six calluses (4 female and 7 male subjects) were studied over a nine-week period; 6 of these calluses (3 subjects) were followed over a further nine-week period. Three main patterns were identified, producing either a fast, medium or slow regrowth over the first couple of weeks. These patterns were reproduced for five of the six calluses studied over the second period of regrowth. The patterns of regrowth were not related to surface area or thickness of the callus. However, trends were identified with site. Some 66.7% of calluses occurring over the 2nd metatarsal head had slow patterns of regrowth and 71% of those over the 5th metatarsal head exhibited fast regrowth patterns. Although further work needs to be undertaken to identify other factors which may influence the patterns, these findings have important clinical implications when considering the treatment of plantar calluses, for example the timing of treatment intervention, the appropriateness of pressure relieving padding and even the amount of callus debridement itself.
Node-Deletion NP-Complete Problems

The entire class of node-deletion problems can be stated as follows: Given a graph G, find the minimum number of nodes to be deleted so that the remaining subgraph g satisfies a specified property $\pi $. For each $\pi $, a distinct node-deletion problem arises. The various deletion problems considered here are for the following properties: each component of g is (i) null, (ii) complete, (iii) a tree, (iv) nonseparable, (v) planar, (vi) acyclic, (vii) bipartite, (viii) transitive, (ix) Hamiltonian, (x) outerplanar, (xi) degree-constrained, (xii) line invertible, (xiii) without cycles of a specified length, (xiv) with a singleton K-basis, (xv) transitively orientable, (xvi) chordal, and (xvii) interval. In this paper, these 17 different node-deletion problems are shown to be NP-complete. A unified approach is taken for the transformations employed in the proofs.
An Analysis of a Memory Allocation Scheme for Implementing Stacks

Consider the implementation of two stacks by letting them grow towards each other in a table of size m . Suppose a random sequence of insertions and deletions are executed, with each instruction having a fixed probability p (0 > p > 1/2) to be a deletion. Let $A_p (m) denote the expected value of max{x,y}, where x and y are the stack heights when the table first becomes full. We shall prove that, as $m \rightarrow \infty$, $A_p (m) = \sqrt{m/(2 \pi (1-2p))} + O((log m)/ \sqrt{m})$. This gives a solution to an open problem in Knuth ["The Art of Computer Programming, Vol. 1, Exercise 2.2. 2-13].
Letter: wide variation in faecal calprotectin values according to the assay

SIRS, We read with great interest the paper by Yamamoto et al. recently published. Of note, endoscopy with biopsies is considered as the gold standard for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) but is expensive, time-consuming, and poorly accepted by the patient. Detection and follow-up of bowel inflammation may be investigated by several plasma and stool biomarkers, especially faecal calprotectin (FC), which might be one of the most accurate. Different methods and kits for the measurement of FC are commercialised. However, data comparing FC concentrations between available methods remain scarce. During a period of 7 days, a stool sample was obtained from 26 adult patients, 20 of whom were affected by IBD. FC concentrations were assessed at the biochemistry department of Rennes hospital, France. Three methods were tested: two ELISA tests [‘Calprest’ from Eurospital (dosing range 15–500 lg/g) and ‘B€ uhlmann fCAL ELISA’ from B€ UHLMANN (dosing range 30–1800 lg/g)], and one fully automated immunoassay [‘LIAISON Calprotectin’ from DiaSorin using chemiluminescent immunoassay on a LIAISONXL Analyser (dosing range 5–800 lg/g)]. Calprotectin extraction from stools was performed using the same device. The extraction buffer was provided by each manufacturer. Samples with values exceeding the upper limit of linearity were diluted and reanalysed. The three different tests were compared using scatter graphs (Figure 1). B€ uhlmann fCAL ELISA and LIAISON Calprotectin were well correlated (Pearson correlation test, r = 0.83, P < 0.0001, Figure 1a), whereas Calprest was poorly correlated with LIAISON (Pearson correlation test, r = 0.28, P = 0.0062, Figure 1b) as well as with B€ uhlmann fCAL ELISA (Pearson correlation test, r = 0.51, P = 0.0001). This lack of correlation of Calprest test with the others may be due, at least in part, to the discrepancy observed for high FC concentrations. In addition, the direct comparison of absolute FC values between the three tests demonstrated a poor correspondence. A twofold to threefold increase was observed. FC values obtained with the B€ uhlmann assay were twofold higher compared with the DiaSorin assay and threefold higher compared with the Eurospital assay. Objective mucosal or transmural inflammation (endoscopy or imaging) was assessed for 15 of the 26 patients in the
Validación de la entrevista diagnóstica para estudios genéticos (DIGS) en Colombia

Objetivo: validar la entrevista diagnostica para estudios geneticos (DIGS 3.0) en Colombia. Metodos: se hicieron dos traducciones del ingles al espanol del DIGS y se hizo traduccion en sentido inverso (al ingles) de cada una. Un comite de revision verifico la equivalencia translinguistica y transcultural. Se evaluo la confiabilidad examen-reexamen e interevaluador del DIGS 3.0 en 65 y 91 pacientes, respectivamente, mediante el calculo de kappa de Cohen. Resultados: el DIGS 3.0 mostro ser comprensible, con validez de apariencia y de contenido. La confiabilidad interevaluador fue excelente para esquizofrenia (k=0,81, IC95%: 0,68-0,93), trastorno bipolar (k=0,87, IC95%: 0,75-0,99), trastorno depresivo mayor (k=0,86, IC95%: 0,7- 1) y ausencia de trastorno psiquiatrico (k=0,88, IC95%: 0,71-1); fue buena para otro diagnostico psiquiatrico (k=0,65, IC95%: 0,41-0,89) y pobre para trastorno esquizoafectivo (k=0,37, IC95%: -0,02-0,76). La confiabilidad examen-reexamen fue excelente para todos los diagnosticos (k>0,8), excepto para otro diagnostico psiquiatrico (k=0,64, IC95%: 0,31-0,96), donde fue buena. Conclusiones: la version en espanol del DIGS para Colombia mostro comprensibilidad, validez de apariencia y de contenido, y confiabilidad examen-reexamen e interevaluador. Es una herramienta util para estudios geneticos en esquizofrenia y en trastornos afectivos.
Arboricity and Subgraph Listing Algorithms

In this paper we introduce a new simple strategy into edge-searching of a graph, which is useful to the various subgraph listing problems. Applying the strategy, we obtain the following four algorithms. The first one lists all the triangles in a graph G in $O(a(G)m)$ time, where m is the number of edges of G and $a(G)$ the arboricity of G. The second finds all the quadrangles in $O(a(G)m)$ time. Since $a(G)$ is at most three for a planar graph G, both run in linear time for a planar graph. The third lists all the complete subgraphs $K_l $ of order l in $O(la(G)^{l - 2} m)$ time. The fourth lists all the cliques in $O(a(G)m)$ time per clique. All the algorithms require linear space. We also establish an upper bound on $a(G)$ for a graph $G:a(G) \leqq \lceil (2m + n)^{1/2} \rceil $, where n is the number of vertices in G.
The Effects of Physician/Elder Patient Characteristics on Health Communication

Doctor-patient communication is affected by a rarely studied phenomenon, the difference in demographic characteristics of the participants. Variations in age, sex, class, race, and religion of doctors and patients are reviewed, and the effects of similarities and disparities between them are analyzed for their relevance to successful communication. Also considered are the length of the doctor-patient relationship, its locale, and the health of both patients and doctors. Last, the pervasiveness of medical uncertainty is shown to underscore the need for effective mutual understanding, and the implications of characteristics of future cohorts in the 21st century are noted.
A Depth-Universal Circuit

This paper describes a family of depth-universal circuits. For any n, c, d there is a universal circuit $U(n,c,d)$ that can simulate any circuit $\alpha $ having n inputs, of size c and depth d, and U has depth $O(d)$ and size $O(c^3 d/\log c)$. The construction is used to give an alternative proof of a theorem of Ruzzo showing the invariance under different uniformity conditions of complexity classes defined by uniform circuit families.
On the Single-Operation Worst-Case Time Complexity of the Disjoint Set Union Problem

We give an algorithm for the disjoint set union problem, within the class of algorithms defined by Tarjan, which has $O(\log n/\log \log n)$ single-operation time complexity in the worst case. Also we define a class of algorithms for the disjoint set union problem, which includes the class of algorithms defined by Tarjan. We prove that any algorithm from this class has at least $\Omega ({{\log n} / {\log \log n}})$ single-operation time complexity in the worst case.
Quality of Growth in Exclusively Breast-Fed Infants in the First Six Months of Life: An Italian Study

Nutrition in early life, growth, and subsequent health over a lifetime are significantly interrelated. The aim of this study was to assess body composition changes in exclusively breast-fed infants from birth up to 6 mo of age. An observational, prospective, cohort study was conducted. Fifty-nine full-term, healthy, exclusively breast-fed infants underwent assessment of growth and body composition, using air-displacement plethysmograph (i.e. PEA POD) by Life Measurement, Inc. (Concord, CA). Body composition was assessed at birth, 2 wk, and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 mo of age. Mean birth weight (g) and gestational age (wk) of the infants were 3170 ± 420 and 39.21 ± 1.29, respectively. Percentage of fat mass increased significantly over the first 4 mo (p < 0.001), both in boys and girls, with no differences detected between boys and girls at any time point. This article provides preliminary in-depth data on whole-body composition, in exclusively breast-fed infants during the first months of life. Further studies assessing larger sample sizes are desirable to develop reference body composition data.