Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Practical comparison of ranging in IEEE 802.15.4 and IEEE 802.15.4a medical body sensor networks

In this paper, a practical comparison of the wireless standards IEEE 802.15. 4 and IEEE 802.15. 4a is described. Particularly the ranging capabilities of both systems are studied, with the aim of enabling a senior health monitoring application to automatically detect with which user sensors are associated. The relevant characteristics of both systems are presented, as well as the difference between received signal strength and time of arrival based ranging methods. Next, a measurement campaign based on a TI 802.15. 4/Zigbee chipset and IMEC's 802.15. 4a demonstrator is presented. Results show that the received signal strength is too heavily influenced by other parameters to use it as a metric for accurate distance estimation. IEEE 802.15. 4a based time of arrival methods are far more accurate. Particularly leading edge detection performs well, with an average error in line-of-sight conditions below 6 cm.
Impaired Fitness and Transmission of Macrolide-Resistant Campylobacter jejuni in Its Natural Host

ABSTRACT Campylobacter jejuni is a major zoonotic pathogen transmitted to humans via the food chain and is prevalent in chickens, a natural reservoir for this pathogenic organism. Due to the importance of macrolide antibiotics in clinical therapy of human campylobacteriosis, development of macrolide resistance in Campylobacter has become a concern for public health. To facilitate the control of macrolide-resistant Campylobacter, it is necessary to understand if macrolide resistance affects the fitness and transmission of Campylobacter in its natural host. In this study we conducted pairwise competitions and comingling experiments in chickens using clonally related and isogenic C. jejuni strains, which are either susceptible or resistant to erythromycin (Ery). In every competition pair, Ery-resistant (Eryr) Campylobacter was consistently outcompeted by the Ery-susceptible (Erys) strain. In the comingling experiments, Eryr Campylobacter failed to transmit to chickens precolonized by Erys Campylobacter, while isogenic Erys Campylobacter was able to transmit to and establish dominance in chickens precolonized by Eryr Campylobacter. The fitness disadvantage was linked to the resistance-conferring mutations in the 23S rRNA. These findings clearly indicate that acquisition of macrolide resistance impairs the fitness and transmission of Campylobacter in chickens, suggesting that the prevalence of macrolide-resistant C. jejuni will likely decrease in the absence of antibiotic selection pressure.
Surgery for Equinovarus Deformity in Friedreich’s Ataxia Improves Mobility and Independence

Friedreich’s ataxia results in morbidity because of many factors; progressive equinovarus deformity is one of these. We studied the risk factors and incidence of this deformity. We sought to assess whether surgical management of fixed equinovarus deformity leads to functional improvement. Thirty-six patients with Friedrich’s ataxia were assessed for this deformity. These patients were treated by splinting, botulinum toxin Type A injection, and surgery, as indicated by the severity, followed by an ongoing rehabilitation program. The effect of surgery was assessed using subscales of the Barthel index and functional independence measure. Severe foot deformities in which either surgery or botulinum toxin injection was recommended correlated with current age, years since disease onset, and years that the patient required a wheelchair for mobility, but not with the GAA repeat size or age at disease onset. Function and mobility were improved after surgery compared with a similar period before surgery. Three of seven patients who had surgery had significant complications. Aggressive management of foot deformities should be considered, and active measures to prevent permanent foot deformities should be pursued to maximize quality of life and independence of patients with Friedreich’s ataxia. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic study, Level IV (case series-no, or historical control group)
Critical Role of CD4 Help in CD154 Blockade-Resistant Memory CD8 T Cell Activation and Allograft Rejection in Sensitized Recipients1

Allograft rejection in sensitized recipients remains the major problem in clinical organ transplantation. We have developed a donor-type skin-sensitized mouse cardiac allograft model (BALB/c→C57BL/6) in which both rejection (<5 days) and alloreactive CD8 activation are resistant to CD154 blockade. First, we attempted to elucidate why CD154 blockade fails to protect cardiac grafts in sensitized recipients. The gene array analysis has revealed that treatment with anti-CD154 mAb (MR1) had distinctive impact on host immunity in naive vs sensitized animals. Unlike in naive counterparts, host sensitization mitigated the impact of CD154 blockade on critical immune signaling pathways. Indeed, we identified 3234 genes in cardiac grafts that were down-regulated by MR1 in naive (at least 5-fold), but remained unaffected in sensitized hosts. Moreover, MR1 treatment failed to prevent accumulation of CD4 T cells in cardiac allografts of sensitized recipients. Then, to determine the role of CD4 help in CD154 blockade-resistant immune response, we used CD4-depleting and CD4-blocking Ab, in conjunction with MR1 treatment. Our data revealed that CD154 blockade-resistant CD8 activation in sensitized mice was dependent on CD4 T cells. In the absence of CD4 help, CD154 blockade prevented differentiation of alloreactive CD8 T cells into CTL effector/memory cells and abrogated acute rejection (cardiac graft survival for >30 days), paralleled by selective target gene depression at the graft site. These results provide the rationale to probe potential synergy of adjunctive therapy targeting CD4 and CD154 to overcome graft rejection in sensitized recipients.
Analysis of preoperative serum levels of MMP1, -2, and -9 in patients with site-specific head and neck squamous cell cancer.

BACKGROUND Head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) includes tumors of various anatomical sites sharing common etiological factors. Serum levels of MMP1, MMP2, and MMP9 were analyzed in patients with oropharyngeal, laryngeal, and hypopharyngeal carcinomas in an effort to elucidate the pathobiology and in order to find useful biomarkers of site-specific HNSCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study group comprised of 46 patients with HNSCC (21 with oropharyngeal, 21 with laryngeal and 4 with hypopharyngeal cancer). Serum levels of MMP1, -2, and -9 were determined by the MAGPIX multiplex method. P16 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry. Serum levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were correlated with clinicopathological features of carcinomas and were compared with respect to tumor site. RESULTS Significant correlations were confirmed between p16 positivity and oropharyngeal cancer, MMP1 and p16 positivity, and recurrence and smoking. Statistically significant differences in serum levels of MMPs between cancer of different locations were not found. CONCLUSION MMP1 expression is significantly affected by smoking habit and by p16 and might mediate etiopathogenetical process in cancerogenesis of HNSCC. Our pilot study did not establish any utility of MMP1, -2, or -9 in clinical practice as diagnostic/prognostic markers.
THU0032 The association of serum matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitor levels with scleroderma disease severity

Background Matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) is reported to play an important role in the pathogenesis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Studies have also investigated the association of different tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) with fibrosis in scleroderma (SSc). Objectives To evaluate the correlation of serum MMP-1,3 and TIMP-1 with severity and disease specific markers of SSC and RA. Methods Serum MMP-1,3 and TIMP-1 were measured in 42 SSc patients (age range 28–68 y, mean 47 y) and compared to measurement in 29 RA and healthy age/sex individuals. Elevated values of MMPs and TIMP-1 were defined as those greater than 2 S. D above normal mean. All SSc and RA patients were scored for disease severity. Results Serum MMP-1 was significantly elevated in 8/42 (19%) SSc patients (p = 0.01) but only in 2/29 (7%) RA patients (p = 0.2). Whereas MMP-3 levels were elevated in 10/29 (34%) RA patients (p = 0.002), it was elevated in only 5/42 (12%) SSc patients (0.03). TIMP-1 was found elevated in 17/42 (40%) SSc patients (p = 0.001) and in only 4/29 RA patients (a strong trend towards significance p = 0.052). We found a significant association between the elevation of both MMPs and TIMP-1 levels, with the severity of SSc. Those who had an increase of more than one MMP and/or TIMP, demonstrated life-threatening major organ involvement such as severe lung fibrosis, diffuse GI, or kidney involvement and severe cardiac failure. Contrary to that in SSc, the severity of RA was associated with MMP-3 only. Conclusion We confirm previous observations that MMPs and TIMPs may play an important role in various rheumatic diseases. Whereas serum increase of MMP-3 correlated with RA severity, SSc severity was characterised mainly by the increase of both MMP-1 and TIMP-1. This suggests that the MMPs and TIMPs involved in SSc are different than those playing a role in RA. These factors may play a synergistic role in the severity ofsystemic sclerosis.
Assessment of the occurrence of menstrual disorders in female flight attendants - preliminary report and literature review.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the presented study was to determine the incidence of menstrual disorders and to evaluate the influence of the work period and the frequency of flying on the occurrence of these disorders in flight attendants flying within one time zone. METHODS The questionnaire-based survey covered 43 flight attendants which remained within one time zone. The statistical analysis was made by Statistica 10.0 (StatSoft Inc., USA). RESULTS The study population of flight attendants revealed the occurrence of irregular menstrual cycles in 21%. Irregular menstruations were found to occur more frequently in women with length of work period exceeding 5 years and in women covering more than 14 routes a week though the differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Statistically significant correlation was found between years of work and incidence of thyroid diseases and cervical erosions. Only flight attendants working longer than 5 were found to be treated for thyroid diseases. Also in these women cervical erosions developed more frequently than in women with a shorter period of work (55.00% and 21.74%, respectively). Sleep disturbances in the form of insomnia were reported in 19 cases (44%). The study revealed that women with sleep disturbances complain on dysmenorrhea significantly more frequently (p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS The specificity of the work of flight attendants contributes to a higher incidence of menstrual disorders, sleep disturbances and cervical erosions. These disorders seem to be largely related to the shift work.
Prophylaxis of acute posttraumatic bacterial endophthalmitis: a multicenter, randomized clinical trial of intraocular antibiotic injection, report 2.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of intraocular gentamicin sulfate and clindamycin in the prevention of acute posttraumatic bacterial endophthalmitis following penetrating eye injuries. METHOD We conducted a multicenter, randomized, double-masked controlled trial of 346 eyes with penetrating eye injury. Following primary repair, eyes were randomized to intracameral or intravitreal injection of 40 microg of gentamicin sulfate and 45 microg of clindamycin (cases) vs balanced salt solution (controls). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Occurrence of endophthalmitis within 2 weeks. RESULTS Endophthalmitis occurred in 8 (2.3%) of 167 eyes in the control group and only in 1 (0.3%) of 179 eyes in the case group (P = .04; odds ratio, 8.93 [95% confidence interval, 1.11-71.43]). In eyes with an intraocular foreign body, endophthalmitis developed in 7 of 25 control eyes and in none of 27 eyes receiving antibiotics. However, in eyes without an intraocular foreign body, endophthalmitis developed in 1 of 142 eyes and 1 of 152 eyes in the 2 groups, respectively (P value for interaction = .04). Intravitreal injection was superior to intracameral injection in preventing endophthalmitis (P value for interaction = .01). Vitreous culture results were positive in 6 (67%) of 9 eyes with endophthalmitis. CONCLUSION Intraocular gentamicin and clindamycin are effective in the prevention of acute posttraumatic bacterial endophthalmitis in eyes with retained intraocular foreign body. APPLICATION TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Prophylaxis of traumatic endophthalmitis. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00398658.
Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Expressing Heme Oxygenase‐1 Reverse Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remains a serious disease, and although current treatments may prolong and improve quality of life, search for novel and effective therapies is warranted. Using genetically modified mouse lines, we tested the ability of bone marrow‐derived stromal cells (mesenchymal stem cells [MSCs]) to treat chronic hypoxia‐induced PAH. Recipient mice were exposed for 5 weeks to normobaric hypoxia (8%–10% O2), MSC preparations were delivered through jugular vein injection and their effect on PAH was assessed after two additional weeks in hypoxia. Donor MSCs derived from wild‐type (WT) mice or heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) null mice (Hmox1KO) conferred partial protection from PAH when transplanted into WT or Hmox1KO recipients, whereas treatment with MSCs isolated from transgenic mice harboring a human HO‐1 transgene under the control of surfactant protein C promoter (SH01 line) reversed established disease in WT recipients. SH01‐MSC treatment of Hmox1KO animals, which develop right ventricular (RV) infarction under prolonged hypoxia, resulted in normal RV systolic pressure, significant reduction of RV hypertrophy and prevention of RV infarction. Donor MSCs isolated from a bitransgenic mouse line with doxycycline‐inducible, lung‐specific expression of HO‐1 exhibited similar therapeutic efficacy only on doxycycline treatment of the recipients. In vitro experiments indicate that potential mechanisms of MSC action include modulation of hypoxia‐induced lung inflammation and inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation. Cumulatively, our results demonstrate that MSCs ameliorate chronic hypoxia‐induced PAH and their efficacy is highly augmented by lung‐specific HO‐1 expression in the transplanted cells, suggesting an interplay between HO‐1‐dependent and HO‐1‐independent protective pathways. STEM CELLS 2011;29:99–107
Depletion of Intracellular Ca2+ by Caffeine and Ryanodine Induces Apoptosis of Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells Transfected with Ryanodine Receptor*

Recent studies have suggested a central role for Ca2+ in the signaling pathway of apoptosis and certain anti-apoptotic effects of Bcl-2 family of proteins have been attributed to changes in intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. Here we report that depletion of Ca2+ from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) leads to apoptosis in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Stable expression of ryanodine receptor (RyR) in these cells enables rapid and reversible changes of both cytosolic Ca2+ and ER Ca2+ content via activation of the RyR/Ca2+release channel by caffeine and ryanodine. Sustained depletion of the ER Ca2+ store leads to apoptosis in Chinese hamster ovary cells, whereas co-expression of Bcl-xL and RyR in these cells prevents apoptotic cell death but not necrotic cell death. The anti-apoptotic effect of Bcl-xL does not correlate with changes in either the Ca2+ release process from the ER or the capacitative Ca2+ entry through the plasma membrane. The data suggest that Bcl-xL likely prevents apoptosis of cells at a stage downstream of ER Ca2+ release and capacitative Ca2+entry.
Pearls and pitfalls in experimental in vivo models of migraine: Dural trigeminovascular nociception

Background Migraine is a disorder of the brain and is thought to involve activation of the trigeminovascular system, which includes the peripheral afferent projection to the nociceptive specific dura mater, as well as the central afferent projection to the trigeminal nucleus caudalis. Stimulation of the blood vessels of the dura mater produces pain in patients that is referred to the head similar to headache. Headache mechanisms The likely reason for the pain is because the vascular structures of the dura mater, including the superior sagittal sinus and middle meningeal artery, are richly innervated by a plexus of largely unmyelinated sensory nerve fibers from the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal ganglion. Methodology Stimulation of these nociceptive specific nerve fibers is painful and produces neuronal activation in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis. Preclinical models of headache have taken advantage of this primarily nociceptive pathway, and various animal models use dural trigeminovascular nociception to assay aspects of head pain. These assays measure responses at the level of the dural vasculature and the central trigeminal nucleus caudalis as a correlate of trigeminovascular activation thought to be involved in headache. Summary This review will summarize the history of the development of models of dural trigeminovascular nociception, including intravital microscopy and laser Doppler flowmetry at the level of the vasculature, and electrophysiology and Fos techniques used to observe neuronal activation at the trigeminal nucleus caudalis. It will also describe some of pitfalls of these assays and developments for the future.
Coordinated induction of cell proliferation and syndecan expression in dental mesenchyme by epithelium: Evidence for diffusible signals

Epithelial–mesenchymal interactions induce the expression of syndecan, a cell surface proteoglycan, and tenascin, an extracellular matrix glycoprotein in the mesenchymal component of many organ rudiments including the tooth. Experimental recombination cultures of early dental epithelium and mesenchyme were analysed by double immunostaining to compare the distribution of syndecan, tenascin, and proliferating cells (BrdU incorporation) in the induced dental mesenchyme. After 5–9 hr in culture expression of syndecan and tenascin as well as an increase in BrdU incorporation were evident in the mesenchymal cells adjacent to the epithelium and the positive area enlarged with time. Syndecan and tenascin were colocalized only partially in some explants. The expression of syndecan and tenascin in the recombinants correlates with their stage‐dependent expression pattern during early tooth development in vivo (Vainio and Thesleff, 1992). The area of increased cell proliferation in the mesenchyme correlated closely with syndecan expression. In none of the explants was increased BrdU incorporation observed in syndecan negative areas. Epithelium induced also condensation of the mesenchymal cells. Induction and spread of the syndecan‐positive zone in the dental mesenchyme required close and continuous contact with the epithelium. The mechanism by which the induction of syndecan expression spreads in the mesenchyme was studied in rat‐mouse interspecies recombination cultures, using syndecan antibodies that recognize mouse but not rat syndecan. The rat mesenchyme and epithelium were first cultured in contact for 24 hr. Then the epithelium was removed and freshly dissected, “uninduced” mouse mesenchyme was placed in contact with different aspects of the rat mesenchyme. The rat mesenchymal cells that had located next to the epithelial tissue stimulated syndecan expression in adjacent mouse mesenchyme. The induction potential was gradually lost toward the periphery of the rat mesenchyme. Based on these findings we suggest that diffusible signal molecules mediate the spread of syndecan induction in the mesenchyme and that syndecan plays a role in the regulation of cell proliferation. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Blood lead level and blood pressure during pregnancy in South Central Los Angeles.

In many studies in which the relationship between blood pressure and blood lead level has been examined, investigators have found significant--but small--associations. There was only one previous report of a significant association of blood lead with blood pressure in pregnant women. We measured blood lead level and sitting blood pressure of 1,627 women in their third trimester of pregnancy. We eliminated subjects with known causes of hypertension. Most women (98.4%) were normotensive. We controlled for body mass index, age, and stress--among other factors--and constructed multiple-regression models of lead association with diastolic and systolic blood pressures. Immigrants (73% of total) had significantly higher blood lead levels and different blood pressures than nonimmigrants, suggesting that analysis be stratified by "immigrant, nonimmigrant" status. Positive relationships between blood lead level and blood pressure were found only for immigrants (p < or = .001). From the 5th to 95th blood-lead percentiles (0.9-6.2 microg/dl) in immigrants, systolic blood pressure increased 2.8 mm Hg, and diastolic blood pressure increased 2.4 mm Hg. Higher prior lead exposure of immigrants (97.7% from Latin countries) than nonimmigrants might explain the differential effect of these low levels of blood lead on blood pressure in nonimmigrants. Perhaps some immigrants are at higher risk than nonimmigrants for lead-associated elevated blood pressure during pregnancy, despite blood lead levels within the currently considered acceptable range.
Pharmacoepidemiology of antiretroviral drugs in a teaching hospital in Lagos, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE Prescribing, adherence, and adverse drug events to HAART in a large antiretroviral programme in Lagos was evaluated. DESIGN A retrospective 5 year open cohort study. SETTING The AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria (APIN) clinic at LUTH is one of the United States Presidential Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEP-FAR) funded centers for HIV relief program in Nigeria Participants The case files of 390 patients on HAART and attending the APIN clinic were reviewed sequel to random selection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Demographics of the patients and pattern of antiretroviral (ARV) combination drugs prescribed were extracted from their case files. The details of the adverse drug events (ADEs) were extracted from drug toxicity forms regularly filled for each patient. A Chi-square test with Yates correction was used to determine the association between adherence and therapeutic outcome. RESULTS A total of 2944 prescriptions were assessed. Zidovudine + lamivudine + nevirapine (35.87%) and stavudine + lamivudine + nevirapine (35.63%) were the most frequently prescribed combinations. Over 2000 ADEs were reported with cough (13.3%), fever (8.75%) and skin rashes (8.01%) being the most frequently reported. Drug adherence was associated with good therapeutic outcome (χ(2) = 115.60, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Zidovudine + lamivudine + nevirapine was the most frequently prescribed ARV combination. Cough was the most frequently reported ADE. Interventions aimed at rational prescribing of ARV drugs and improving adherence to antiretroviral drugs is essential for good therapeutic outcome in the treatment of HIV infection.