Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Endoscopic ultrasonography‐guided transhepatic antegrade stone removal in patients with surgically altered anatomy: case series and technical review (with videos)

Recently, endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)‐guided transhepatic antegrade interventions have been introduced in patients with a surgically altered anatomy. Herein, we focused on and reviewed EUS‐guided transhepatic antegrade stone removal (EUS‐TASR) in patients with a surgically altered anatomy and native papilla. The basic technique of EUS‐TASR involves the following steps: (1) EUS‐guided needle puncture; (2) guidewire placement; (3) tract dilation; (4) balloon sphincteroplasty; (5) stone removal; and (6) stent placement if needed. Based on reports in the literature including our cases, the complete stone extraction rate is 71.4% (10/14) including five of our cases (60% success rate) at one session without serious complications. In conclusion, EUS‐TASR appears to be feasible and useful in selected patients although its application may be limited depending on anatomical factors and current devices used.
The effects of intense sound exposure on phase locking in the chick (Gallus domesticus) cochlear nerve

Little is known about changes that occur to phase locking in the auditory nerve following exposure to intense and damaging levels of sound. The present study evaluated synchronization in the discharge patterns of cochlear nerve units collected from two groups of young chicks (Gallus domesticus), one shortly after removal from an exposure to a 120‐dB, 900‐Hz pure tone for 48 h and the other from a group of non‐exposed control animals. Spontaneous activity, the characteristic frequency (CF), CF threshold and a phase‐locked peri‐stimulus time histogram were obtained for every unit in each group. Vector strength and temporal dispersion were calculated from these peri‐stimulus time histograms, and plotted against the unit's CF. All parameters of unit responses were then compared between control and exposed units. The results in exposed units revealed that CF thresholds were elevated by 30–35 dB whereas spontaneous activity declined by 24%. In both control and exposed units a high degree of synchronization was observed in the low frequencies. The level of synchronization above approximately 0.5 kHz then systematically declined. The vector strengths in units recorded shortly after removal from the exposure were identical to those seen in control chicks. The deterioration in discharge activity of exposed units, seen in CF threshold and spontaneous activity, contrasted with the total absence of any overstimulation effect on synchronization. This suggested that synchronization arises from mechanisms unscathed by the acoustic trauma induced by the exposure.
Change Detection in 3D Models Based on Camera Images

3D models of the environment are used in numerous robotic applications and should reflect the current state of the world. In this paper, we address the problem of quickly finding structural changes between the current state of the world and a given 3D model using a small number of images. Our approach finds inconsistencies between pairs of images by reprojecting an image onto the other by passing through the 3D model. Ambiguities about possible inconsistencies resulting from this process are resolved by combining multiple images such that the 3D location of the change can be estimated. A focus of our approach is that it can be executed fast enough to allow the operation on a mobile system. We implemented our approach in C++ and tested it on an existing dataset for change detection as well as on self recorded images sequences. Our experiments suggest that our method quickly finds changes in the geometry of a scene.
Mortality in Parkinson's disease

Recently, Mollenhauer and Trenkwalder, in an extensive and critical review of CSF biomarkers in the differential diagnosis of movement disorders, stated that differences of total tau (TT) between PD and PDD are only marginal, but elevated in both dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and multiple system atrophy (MSA), whereas CSF Ab-42 in PD (no dementia) is normal or only slightly decreased, and regularly decreased in both DLB and MSA. These data can be confirmed by personal studies in a small cohort of patients, in whom both CSF Ab-42 and total tau protein were measured. The sample included (1) 10 patients who fulfilled the UK Parkinson Brain Bank criteria for clinically definite PD (8 males, 2 females aged 46–76, mean 63.2 6 7.8 years), all Hoehn & Yahr stages III or IV, none being demented; (2) 12 patients (6 males, 8 females, aged 71–88, mean 77.9 6 8.3 years) with the clinical diagnosis of secondary parkinsonism related to vascular encephalopathy or suspected vascular parkinsonism; (3) 3 patients with atypical parkinsonism fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of MSA-P (2 males, 1 female aged 53– 70, mean 61.3 6 7.1 years); (4) 2 males (age 63 and 84, mean 73.5 years) fulfilling the criteria of probable DLB. The control group consisted of 17 age-matched patients without neurologic or psychiatric disorders (mean age 60.7 6 1.5 years), while 27 patients (mean age 68.7 6 2.1 years) were diagnosed probable Alzheimer disease (AD) according to the NINCDSADRDA criteria. Examination of lumbar CS was performed using ELISA methods for Ab-42 and TT immunoreactivity (Innogenetics, Belgium)—for methods see Ref. 7. The results are summarized in Table 1. In both PD patients without dementia and in those with vascular pseudoparkinsonism, both CSF Ab-42 and TT levels were only insignificantly increased, but significantly differed from those in AD. The mild increase of CSF Ab-42 is at variance to the findings by others (see 1), as were our findings in a small group of patients with atypical parkinsonism (MSA-P), indicating increased CSF Ab-42 without considerable changes in TT immunoreactivity. These levels considerably differed from the 2 demented patients with DLB, where Ab-42 was mildly decreased and TT-IR was significantly—around twofold—increased versus controls and PD patients (P < 0.01). This suggested additional AD-related changes, although CSF levels of both Ab-42 and TT differed significantly from those in AD. The latter findings are in accordance with those by others, who either reported decreased Ab-42 and normal tau levels in DLB or normal Ab-42 and decreased phosphorylated tau (see 1). In conclusion, considering the variability in Ab-42 and TT levels in CSF in various types of movement disorders, further prospective clinico-pathological correlative studies using modern proteomics are needed to further elucidate the validity and to increase the sensitivity and specificity of CSF markers in movement disorders.
Meiosis in the grasshopper: chiasma frequency after elevated temperature and x-rays.

Grasshoppers were given an acute dose of X-rays, injected with H3-thymidine and thereafter maintained at 42 °C. Autoradiographic analysis of testicular tubules taken at daily intervals after injection gave meiotic stage durations. The mean chiasma frequency was reduced 4 days after the hoppers were placed at 42°, in both X-rayed and non-irradiated animals, and remained low in the non-irradiated animals throughout the experiment. In the X-rayed animals the chiasma frequency rose to control levels on die 6th day and dropped again thereafter. Analysis of the data indicates a period ending approximately at zygotene during which chiasma frequency can be reduced by high temperature. The chiasma frequency can be increased by irradiating leptotene-zygotene. The end of the heat and X-ray sensitive stages are temporally distinct. Univalents were never produced by the heat treatment. Changes in chiasma frequency are restricted to the four pairs of larger chromosomes where multiple chiasmata are commonly found. Hence.
Hybrid method for enhanced detection of coherent signals using circular antenna arrays

This paper proposes a modified hybrid method that combines Received Signal Strength (RSS) and Direction of Arrival (DOA) estimation based on MUSIC (Multiple Signal Classification) using circular antenna array. Simulation results are carried out to verify the improved performance obtained using the proposed hybrid method. This takes the form of successful detection of coherent signals at a higher accuracy and lower Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) in comparison with conventional method.
The Effect of Midazolam on Stress Levels During Simulated Emergency Medical Service Transport: A Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Response Study

Patients in the emergency medical service (EMS) may have increased endogenous catecholamines because of pain or fear and may benefit from sedation similar to premedication in the hospital. During a simulated EMS scene call, 72 healthy male volunteers were either transported by paramedics from a third-floor apartment through a staircase with subsequent EMS transport with sirens (three stress groups of n = 12; total, n = 36) or asked to sit on a chair for 5 min and lie down on a stretcher for 15 min (three control groups of n = 12; total, n = 36). Catecholamine plasma samples were measured in the respective stress and control groups at baseline and after placebo IV (n = 12) or 25 (n = 12) or 50 (n = 12) &mgr;g/kg of midazolam IV throughout the experiment, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed with analysis of variance;P < 0.05 was considered significant. The Placebo Stress versus Control group, but not the 50 &mgr;g/kg Stress Midazolam group, had both significantly increased epinephrine (73 ± 5 pg/mL versus 45 ± 5 pg/mL;P < 0.001) and norepinephrine (398 ± 34 pg/mL versus 278 ± 23 pg/mL;P < 0.01) plasma levels after staircase transport. After EMS transport, the Placebo Stress versus Control group had significantly increased epinephrine (51 ± 4 pg/mL versus 37 ± 4 pg/mL;P < 0.05) but not norepinephrine (216 ± 24 pg/mL versus 237 ± 18 pg/mL) plasma levels, whereas no significant differences in catecholamine plasma levels occurred between groups after either 25 or 50 &mgr;g/kg of midazolam. In conclusion, simulated EMS patients may be subject to more stress during staircase transport than during transport in an EMS vehicle. Titrating sedation with 25 &mgr;g/kg of midazolam significantly reduced endogenous catecholamines but not heart rate.
Oligocene cetaceans from Baja California Sur, Mexico

espanolBaja California Sur tiene un importante registro de fosiles marinos del Cenozoico que incluye los restos poco conocidos de cetaceos del Oligoceno de Mexico. En este estudio ofrecemos mas detalles sobre estos fosiles de cetaceos, incluyendo nuevas observaciones sobre materiales que proponen esclarecer aspectos de la evolucion del grupo Neoceti dentro de la cuenca del Pacifico. Los fosiles han sido colectados de los afloramientos de la Formacion El Cien (Oligoceno-Mioceno Temprano) y la Formacion San Gregorio (Oligoceno Tardio). Los especimenes pertenecen a la coleccion paleontologica del Museo de Historia Natural de la Universidad Autonoma de Baja California Sur. Se estiman alrededor de 26 especies sin nominar que incluyen cetaceos dentados: posibles “arqueocetos” (? Kekenodontidae), odontocetos arcaicos (Odontoceti), y el grupo basal de ballenas dentadas Aetiocetidae (Mysticeti). Los misticetos barbados (Chaeomysticeti) incluyen al grupo basal Eomysticetidae y formas similares a balenopteridos. Los cetaceos del Oligoceno de Baja California Sur, Mexico son taxonomicamente diversos y representan como tal el registro mas austral conocido de Norteamerica EnglishBaja California Sur has an important Cenozoic marine fossil record which includes diverse but poorly known Oligocene cetaceans from Mexico. Here we review the cetacean fossil record including new observations from materials that elucidate the evolution of the Neoceti in the Pacific basin. Fossils were collected from outcrops of the El Cien Formation (Oligocene-Early Miocene) and from San Gregorio Formation (Late Oligocene). The specimens belong to the paleontological collection of Museo de Historia Natural de la Universidad Autonoma de Baja California Sur. An estimated 26 unnamed species include toothed cetaceans: possible “archaeocetes” (? Kekenodontidae); archaic Odontoceti; and the basal group Aetiocetidae, toothed mysticetes (Mysticeti). Toothless mysticetes (Chaeomysticeti) include the basal group Eomysticetidae, and balaenopterids-like forms. The Oligocene cetaceans from Baja California Sur, Mexico are diverse and represent the most southern such assemblages known from North America.
Haplotype interaction analysis of unlinked regions

Genetically complex diseases are caused by interacting environmental factors and genes. As a consequence, statistical methods that consider multiple unlinked genomic regions simultaneously are desirable. Such consideration, however, may lead to a vast number of different high‐dimensional tests whose appropriate analysis pose a problem. Here, we present a method to analyze case‐control studies with multiple SNP data without phase information that considers gene‐gene interaction effects while correcting appropriately for multiple testing. In particular, we allow for interactions of haplotypes that belong to different unlinked regions, as haplotype analysis often proves to be more powerful than single marker analysis. In addition, we consider different marker combinations at each unlinked region. The multiple testing issue is settled via the minP approach; the P value of the “best” marker/region configuration is corrected via Monte‐Carlo simulations. Thus, we do not explicitly test for a specific pre‐defined interaction model, but test for the global hypothesis that none of the considered haplotype interactions shows association with the disease. We carry out a simulation study for case‐control data that confirms the validity of our approach. When simulating two‐locus disease models, our test proves to be more powerful than association methods that analyze each linked region separately. In addition, when one of the tested regions is not involved in the etiology of the disease, only a small amount of power is lost with interaction analysis as compared to analysis without interaction. We successfully applied our method to a real case‐control data set with markers from two genes controlling a common pathway. While classical analysis failed to reach significance, we obtained a significant result even after correction for multiple testing with our proposed haplotype interaction analysis. The method described here has been implemented in FAMHAP. Genet. Epidemiol. 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of Halothane on Excitatory Neurotransmission to Medullary Expiratory Neurons in a Decerebrate Dog Model

BackgroundThe activity of canine expiratory (E) neurons in the caudal ventral respiratory group is primarily dependent on N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor–mediated excitatory chemodrive inputs and modulated by an inhibitory mechanism mediated via &ggr;-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptors. In an intact canine preparation, halothane depressed the activity of these neurons mainly by reduction in overall glutamatergic excitation. A new decerebrate preparation allows comparison of the effects of halothane on these synaptic mechanisms with an anesthetic-free baseline state. MethodsTwo separate studies were performed in decerebrate, vagotomized, paralyzed, mechanically ventilated dogs during hypercapnic hyperoxia. In study 1, the effect of 1 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) halothane on extracellularly recorded E neuronal activity was studied before and during complete GABAA receptor blockade by localized pressure ejection of bicuculline. Complete blockade of the inhibitory mechanism allowed differentiation between the effects of halothane on overall GABAA-mediated inhibition and on overall NMDA receptor–mediated excitation. In study 2, the effect of 1 MAC halothane on the dose response of neurons to localized picoejection of the glutamate agonist NMDA was used to estimate halothane effect on postsynaptic glutamatergic excitatory neurotransmission. ResultsIn study 1, the spontaneous activity of 14 E neurons was depressed 38.6 ± 20.6% (mean ± SD) by 1 MAC halothane. Overall excitation was depressed 31.5 ± 15.5%. The GABAergic inhibition showed a 11.7 ± 18.3% enhancement during halothane. In study 2, the spontaneous activity of 13 E neurons was again significantly depressed by 1 MAC halothane (27.9 ± 10.6%), but the postsynaptic response of the neurons to exogenous NMDA was not significantly depressed by halothane (3.3 ± 38.4%). ConclusionsTogether these results suggest that in our E neuron paradigm, halothane exerted its depressive effect mainly via reduction of glutamatergic presynaptic mechanisms.
Pneumococcal Bacterial Load Colonization as a Marker of Mixed Infection in Children With Alveolar Community-acquired Pneumonia and Respiratory Syncytial Virus or Rhinovirus Infection

Background: The main aim of this study was to evaluate whether nasopharyngeal Streptococcus pneumoniae colonization in children with alveolar community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) or rhinovirus (RV) infection indicates a mixed lung infection. Methods: The nasopharyngeal secretions of 530 children with radiographically confirmed CAP were tested using the Luminex x TAG respiratory virus panel fast assay. Real-time polymerase chain reaction for the autolysin-A (LytA) and wzg (cpsA) genes of S. pneumoniae was performed on the RSV- and RV-positive samples. Results: Sixty-five of the 126 RSV-positive children (51.6%) were colonized with S. pneumoniae. Mean bacterial load was significantly higher in the patients with alveolar involvement (4.54 ± 1.47 log10 DNA copies/mL vs. 3.75 ± 1.62 log10 DNA copies/mL; P = 0.04). Serotypes 5 and 19A were almost exclusively identified in the children with RSV and alveolar CAP, although the difference was statistically significant only for serotype 19A (P = 0.03). Eighty-three of the 134 RV-positive children (61.9%) were colonized with S. pneumoniae and again mean bacterial load was significantly higher in the patients with alveolar involvement (4.21 ± 1.37 log10 DNA copies/mL vs. 3.41 ± 1.47 log10 DNA copies/mL; P = 0.03). Serotypes 1, 5 and 19A were more frequently identified in the children with RV and alveolar CAP, although the difference was statistically significant only for serotype 5 (P = 0.04). Conclusions: In children with alveolar CAP and RSV or RV infection, the determination of nasopharyngeal pneumococcal bacterial load and identification of the serotypes can contribute to the diagnosis of mixed lung infection.
Lithium Induced Cogwheel Rigidity: Treatment with Amantadine

Extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) as a result of treatment with lithium ion is an uncom· mon, but weil documented, phenomenon (Bien, 1976; Branchey et al., 1976; DiMascio et al., 1976; and Shopsin and Gershon, 1975). Such lithium induced cogwheel rigidity has been reported in the V.S. but has not been confirmed by European observers. Treatment of these particular lithium induced side effects has remained problematic. Bien (1976) reported one patient on lithium treatment whose cogwheel rigidity did not respond to either intramuscular benztropine, 4 mg, or diphenhydramine, 50 mg. Shopsin and Gershon (1975) gave intravenous benztropine, 4 mg, to nine patients on lithium treatment who exhibited cogwheel rigidity, and only two of their patients showed even minimal amelioration. We wish to report a single case of a young woman who developed EPS in association with lithium treatment, which responded minimally to benztropine and diphenhydramine, and markedly to amantadine.
Comparison of ovarian electrocautery and oral contraceptives in the treatment of hyperandrogenism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

BACKGROUND Endocrine treatment of hyperandrogenism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) aims at reduction of androgens and increasing sex hormone binding globuline (SHBG), which are also side effects of ovarian electrocautery (OE) when used for induction of ovulation. METHODS Hormonal effects of ovarian electrocautery were compared with the effects of oral contraceptives (OC) containing desogestrel (DG) or cyproteron acetate (CPA). OCs were given to 18 women with PCOS as their sole treatment (group A) and to 23 women after the restoration of regular ovulatory cycling by ovarian electrocautery (group B). RESULTS Ovarian electrocautery induced ovulation and increased the concentration of estrogens and especially progesterone, while OC induced the opposite effects. In the androgens and SHBG the two treatments induced changes that were in the same direction, but OC treatment induced changes that exceeded those of OE. The concentration of SHBG increased from 27.9 to 127.7 nmol/L on OC treatment (Group A), compared with 37.2 to 44.9 after OE (Group B). The androgens decreased, for testosterone the decreases were 2.1 and 0.99 nmol/L, respectively, for androsterone 5.36 and 3 nmol/L, for dihydrotestosterone 0.12 and 0.1 nmol/L, and for DHEAS 3.28 and 1.8 umol/L. No further gain was obtained by the combination of the two treatments. CONCLUSIONS Hyperandrogenism in women with PCOS can be effectively treated with OCs containing DG or CPA. In women with concurrent infertility, however, ovarian electrocautery can be recommended. The only indication for the combination of these two treatments is ambivalence with regard to the fertility after ovulation induction by OE. A temporary delay of ovulatory cycling with OC-treatment after OE has no negative impact upon the future fertility.
Risk and prevalence of treatable sexually transmitted diseases at a Birmingham substance abuse treatment facility.

OBJECTIVES We evaluated the prevalence of gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and syphilis in patients entering residential drug treatment. METHODS Data on sexual and substance abuse histories were collected. Participants provided specimens for chlamydia and gonorrhea ligase chain reaction testing. Trichomonas vaginalis culture, and syphilis serologic testing. RESULTS Of 311 patients, crack cocaine use was reported by 67% and multisubstance use was reported by 71%. Sexually transmitted disease (STD) risk behaviors were common. The prevalence of infection was as follows: Chlamydia trachomatis, 2.3%; Neisseria gonorrhoeae, 1.6%; trichomoniasis, 43%; and syphilis, 6%. CONCLUSIONS STD counseling and screening may be a useful adjunct to inpatient drug treatment.