Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relations between bleeding and outcomes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction in the ExTRACT-TIMI 25 trial.

AIMS To evaluate the association of bleeding with mortality in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS AND RESULTS We studied 20 323 patients with STEMI receiving fibrinolytic therapy and an antithrombin in ExTRACT-TIMI 25. Relationships between in-hospital bleeding, patient characteristics, treatments, and in-hospital cardiovascular complications with mortality were evaluated using Cox models. Likelihood ratios estimated each variable's model contribution. High 30-day mortality after major bleeding (n = 309, 37.6% mortality) was driven by the poor prognosis of intracranial haemorrhage (ICH; n = 143, 65.4% mortality, model contribution 7.8%). The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for 30-day death for any major bleeding and for ICH were 2.9 [2.4-3.6] and 10.3 [8.2-12.8], respectively. Neither non-ICH major nor minor bleeding was associated with 30-day death after adjustment. Cardiogenic shock (HR 13.5, 61% contribution) and age (HR 1.6/decade, 17% contribution) were most strongly correlated with 30-day death. Among 30-day survivors, age (HR 1.6/decade, contribution 43%) and heart rate (HR 1.2 per 10 b.p.m., contribution 18%) were most strongly associated with mortality between Days 31 and 365. CONCLUSION Cardiogenic shock, age, and ICH were important independent correlates of 30-day and 1-year mortality in STEMI patients receiving fibrinolytic therapy. In-hospital non-ICH major and minor bleeding were not independently associated with increased mortality at 30 days or 1 year.
Impulsive Driving: Definition and Measurement Using the I-Driving Scale (IDS)

Abstract Impulsivity has been widely studied in the context of traffic. The trait is believed to be the root of some accidents, along with other variables like aggression and anger. The present research objective is to develop a new scale – the I-Driving Scale (IDS) – to evaluate and measure the construct of impulsivity in specific driving situations. To that end, two studies were conducted, with 162 and 107 participants, respectively. In both studies, participants were recruited via their social networks, and answered anonymously. In addition to the IDS, they completed the Use the Vehicle to Express Anger subscale of the Driving Anger Expression Inventory (DAX), the Driving Anger Scale (DAS), and the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS11), and also provided demographic information. The final scale had 11 items falling into two factors: impatience, and aggressiveness/abruptness. The results show a high consistency (αT = .81, αI = .70, and αA = .85 in the first study; αT = .83, αI = .80, and αA = .88 in the second study). Statistical results of Exploratory Factor Analysis in the first sample indicated goodness of fit to a two-factor model (RMSR = .057, GFI = .98). The second study confirmed that factorial structure (χ2/df = 80.50/43 = 1.87, RMSEA = .088, CFI = .94, TLI = .92). Correlations with other measures indicated the Impatience subscale is associated with different expressions of anger behind the wheel, and directly correlated with the loss of driver’s license points. Furthermore, the Aggressiveness or Abruptness subscale was associated with more mechanical aspects, and correlated inversely with age.
Role of cytokines and adhesion molecules in malaria immunopathology

Cerebral malaria (CM) is the most common cause of death in severe malaria; more than two million children die of CM annually. Although the mechanisms of this neurologic complication remain poorly understood, studies in an experimental model of CM suggest that a natural body protein seems to be a major cause of this deadliest complication of malaria, a finding that could point towards new methods of treatment. We have explored the pathogenesis of CM with particular attention to the possible relationship between susceptibility or resistance to CM and cytokine expression and secretion patterns. We found that CM is associated with an increased expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interferon (IFN)‐Gm and a reduced expression of interleukin‐4 (IL‐4) and transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β The data obtained are consistent with a predominantly Thl response in mice developing the cerebral complications of malaria. The overexpres‐sion of TNF in brain was also correlated with the augmented expression of adhesion molecules involved in the sequestration of leukocytes in brain vessels, a distinctive feature of CM. These observations were seen in relation to the immune status of man, in which, akin to the mouse model, a predominant Thl response and upregulation of adhesion molecules in brain endothelium appear to be associated with susceptibility to the neurological complications of CM.
Detection of increased tissue concentrations of nerve growth factor with an improved extraction procedure

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a protein essential for the survival and normal function of sympathetic neurons. Two‐site immunoassays have been developed over the past decade in several laboratories and used to estimate its endogenous concentrations in a variety of effector tissues. However, levels appear restricted to a narrow range, display only a poor correlation with innervation density, and show obvious inter‐ and intralaboratory variations, the origins of which are unclear. This led us to examine alternative extraction procedures for NGF before quantification. In particular, we have found treatment of tissue extracts with high and low pH in the presence of detergent results in the detection of higher NGF concentrations in immunoassays using either polyclonal or commercially available monoclonal antibodies. These increases were tissue‐specific (sciatic nerve, mesenteric arteries, and thoracic aorta > heart and brain > sympathetic ganglia > abdominal aorta) and as much as 10 times greater than the amounts detected by traditional procedures. The method should also prove useful for the assay of other members of the neurotrophin family when appropriate antibodies become available. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
VISUALIZING RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIUM PHENOTYPES IN THE TRANSITION TO GEOGRAPHIC ATROPHY IN AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION.

PURPOSE To inform the interpretation of clinical optical coherence tomography and fundus autofluorescence imaging in geographic atrophy (GA) of age-related macular degeneration by determining the distribution of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) phenotypes in the transition from health to atrophy in donor eyes. METHODS In RPE-Bruch membrane flat mounts of two GA eyes, the terminations of organized RPE cytoskeleton and autofluorescent material were compared. In high-resolution histological sections of 13 GA eyes, RPE phenotypes were assessed at ±500 and ±100 μm from the descent of the external limiting membrane (ELM) toward Bruch membrane. The ELM descent was defined as curved, reflected, or oblique in shape. Thicknesses of RPE, basal laminar deposit (BLamD), and RPE plus BLamD were measured. RESULTS A border of atrophy that can be precisely delimited is the ELM descent, as opposed to the termination of the RPE layer itself, because of dissociated RPE in the atrophic area. Approaching the ELM descent, the percentage of abnormal RPE morphologies increases, the percentage of age-normal cells decreases, overall RPE thickens, and BLamD does not thin. The combination of RPE plus BLamD is 19.7% thicker at -100 μm from the ELM descent than that at -500 μm (23.1 ± 10.7 μm vs. 19.3 ± 8.2 μm; P = 0.05). CONCLUSION The distribution of RPE phenotypes at the GA transition supports the idea that these morphologies represent defined stages of a degeneration sequence. The idea that RPE dysmorphia including rounding and stacking helps explain variable autofluorescence patterns in GA is supported. The ELM descent and RPE plus BLamD thickness profile may have utility as spectral domain optical coherence tomography metrics in clinical trials.
Non-homogeneous grids for CPU-GPU ray tracing

Ray tracing is among the most resource consuming methods for realistic image generation. Over the years, different acceleration structures have been proposed to reduce ray-object intersection queries since these dominate execution time. Regular grids are one of the most popular structures due to their simplicity and effectiveness. However, regular grid implementations are plagued by two major issues: underwhelming performance on irregular scenes with unbalanced triangle density and high memory consumption due to the many empty cells in sparsely populated scenes, typical of many game scenarios. We present a novel hybrid solution based on non-homogeneous rectilinear grids to improve ray tracing performance on uneven scene distributions. Additionally, we use hashing to get rid of empty cells. Non-homogeneous grids feature moveable split planes along the three axes unlike regular grids where split planes must be equidistant. Our approach performs serial construction tasks such as compression in the CPU and offloads the remaining data parallel tasks to the GPU. Using this acceleration structure we are able to render a wide range of scenes at high frame rates on commodity graphics hardware, from irregular density low polygon count models to regular density high polygon count scanned scenes with rapid construction times and a small memory footprint. For some test cases, our approach nearly doubles the frame rate of a regular grid at a similar resolution, while featuring low build times.
Sf1 and Mis expression: Molecular milestones in the canine sex determination pathway

In mammals, the Y‐linked Sry gene is normally responsible for testis induction. However, testes develop in the absence of Sry in human patients and animal models with Sry‐negative XX sex reversal. The mechanism of testis induction in this disorder is presently unknown. Characterization of gene expression in normal embryos contributes to the framework within which the canine Sry‐negative XX sex reversal model can be evaluated. The objective of this study was to add two molecular milestones to the canine sex determination pathway by determining the temporal and spatial expression patterns of Sf1 and Mis in normal urogenital ridges (UGR) at various gestational stages. The onset of Sf1 expression signifies the start of the sex determination period, whereas initial Mis expression identifies the end of the testis induction period. Sf1 expression in UGR was measured by quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) and whole mount in situ hybridization (WMISH) at Carnegie stages (CS) 15 to 20. Canine sex determination begins at CS 15 with Sf1 expression in the emerging indifferent gonad. Gonadal Sf1 expression was detected in both sexes at all ages, and in the presumptive adrenal primordium at CS 15 and 17. At stages ≥CS 17, Sf1 expression was pronounced in male and female gonads. Mis expression, assayed by WMISH at CS 13.5‐20, was observed only in male gonads ≥CS 18, indicating that the testis induction period ends at CS 18. The expression patterns of both genes are similar to those observed in humans and domestic animals. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 70: 383–389, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
HIV Tat acts on endogenous retroviruses of the W family and this occurs via Toll-like receptor 4: inference for neuroAIDS

Objective:The objective of this study is to verify whether HIV activates two endogenous retroviruses of the human endogenous retrovirus (HERV)-W family, multiple sclerosis-associated retrovirus (MSRV) and Syncytin-1, whose neuropathogenic and immunopathogenic properties could contribute to HIV-related neurodegeneration. Design and methods:Peripheral blood mononuclear cells, monocyte-macrophages and astrocytes were either infected by HIV or exposed to HIV-Tat, and/or other treatments. The expression of transcripts and proteins of interest was evaluated by real-time RT-PCR and western blotting assays, respectively. Results:HIV and Tat increase the levels of MSRVenv mRNAs and HERV-Wenv proteins in astrocytes and in blood cells. In monocyte-macrophages, Tat also induces high levels of CCR2, CD16 and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) molecules. Syncytin-1 response to Tat depends on the cell context: in monocytes, Tat stimulates MSRVenv and inhibits Syncytin-1, while in differentiated macrophages, it stimulates both elements. In primary astrocytes, Tat stimulates MSRV and Syncytin-1 indirectly, through interaction with TLR4 and induction of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF&agr;), without internalization. Conclusion:In-vivo consequence of the study could be that, through increase of CD16 and CCR2, Tat promotes neuroinvasion not only by HIV-infected monocytes/macrophages but also by the HERV-Ws, with their neuropathogenic potential. Also, the novel finding of TLR4 stimulation by Tat may be of relevance, as TLR4 is critical in neuroinflammation. Within central nervous system (CNS), Tat-induced TNF&agr; could induce high levels of the HERV-Ws, in both macrophages and astrocytes, also without HIV replication. The indirect mechanism by which Tat activates the HERV-Ws through induction of TNF&agr; could add a new piece to the puzzle of CNS pathogenesis, that is the HERV-Wenv contribute to the HIV-related neurodegeneration.
A comparison of midazolam co-induction with propofol priming in propofol induced anesthesia.

BACKGROUND Combination therapy with two or more different drugs, with the intension of reaching the same therapeutic goal, was heavily criticized for a long time. However, it is accepted today, especially when advantage over monotherapy can be proved. Our study was undertaken to compare whether propofol priming and midazolam predosing would affect total induction dose requirement of Propofol. METHODS A prospective randomized, double blind control study was conducted where 120 patients (16-65 years) were divided into 3 groups. Group P received 0.4 mg/kg of Propofol, Group M received 0.05 mg/kg of Midazolam and Group N received 3 ml of Normal Saline 5 minutes after intravenous pethidine 0.75 mg / kg given for analgesia. We compared the total dose of propofol requirement for induction of anaesthesia in all the 3 groups, taking loss of verbal contact as the end point. Additionally, changes in haemodynamic status like blood pressure and heart rate at various intervals were studied and compared among the groups. RESULTS The groups were similar in terms of age, sex, weight and American Society of Anesesthesiologists Physical Status.The dose of Propofol required to induce anesthesia in Midazolam group was 1.58 mg/kg,1.86 mg/kg in Propofol group and 1.96 mg/kg in the control group. There were less hemodynamic changes in Midazolam group compared to the other two. CONCLUSIONS Pre-dosing with Midazolam is more effective than Propofol priming in reducing the dose of Propofol induced anaesthesia associated with minimum hemodynamic alterations.
Ka-Band Dual Copolarized Empirical Model for the Sea Surface Radar Cross Section

This paper presents dual copolarized (PP) (VV and HH) Ka-band sea surface backscattering measurements taken from the Black Sea research platform at incidence angles ranging from 25° to 65° and in the wind speed range from 3 to 18 m/s. These measurements are corrected for radar antenna pattern and geometry of observations. The resulting normalized radar cross section (NRCS) is parameterized in a form of truncated azimuthal Fourier series with coefficients dependent on the incidence angle and wind speed. This dual PP empirical model (KaDPMod) is consistent with the Ku-band NSCAT-4 model. However, some remarkable differences are revealed. They are apparent when analyzed using a decomposition of VV and HH measurements into polarized Bragg backscattering (polarization difference, PD = VV−HH) and nonpolarized (NP) backscattering from breaking waves. The polarization difference (PD) has strong azimuth and wind dependencies, with the wind exponent ranging from 2.5 to 3. The saturation wave spectra derived from multifrequency PD (based on KaDPMod and Ku- and C-band empirical models) have a notable peak in the capillary-gravity range. The relative contribution of NP radar return to the Ka-band NRCS is significant. In the upwind direction, it reaches up to 60%–80% and 25%–50% for HH and VV, respectively. It is found that the NP wind exponent is lower than that for Bragg backscattering. Therefore, the relative contribution of the NP to Ka-band NRCS decreases with increasing wind speed at both polarizations. Such a behavior is the opposite of that observed in the Ku-band.
Parenteral Anticoagulation with the Heparinoid Lomoparan (Org 10172) in Patients with Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia and Thrombosis

Summary Progressive thrombocytopenia may develop in as many as 5% of patients receiving heparin anticoagulation. In these patients, the risk of thromboembolic complications as well as continued thrombocytopenia necessitates discontinuation of heparin and initiation of an alternative anticoagulant when indicated. The heparinoid Lomoparan (Org 10172) is a mixture of several nonheparin low molecular weight glycosaminoglycans with proven anticoagulant efficacy that is generally non-reactive with platelets in the presence of plasma from patients with heparin induced thrombocytopenia, whereas standard heparin will induce platelet aggregation. We evaluated the role of heparinoid as a potential alternative anticoagulant in patients with heparin induced thrombocytopenia. During a 6 month period, we identified six patients with heparin induced thrombocytopenia who required an alternative parenteral anticoagulant, four as primary treatment for specific medical problem, and two as anticoagulation during a necessary surgical procedure. Heparinoid was used successfully in both medical and surgical patients requiring parenteral anticoagulation. In no case was there an exacerbation of the thrombocytopenia nor thromboembolic complications while on heparinoid therapy. Three of our patients sustained hemorrhagic complications, predominantly in the post-surgical setting in association with elevated anti-factor Xa levels and additional anticoagulant agents. We feel that these results confirm the utility of heparinoid anticoagulation in a select subset of patients with heparin induced thrombocytopenia who require continued parenteral anticoagulation.
Tanshinone IIA Prevents Rat Basilar Artery Smooth Muscle Cells Proliferation by Inactivation of PDK1 During the Development of Hypertension

Basilar vascular smooth muscle cells (BASMCs) hyperplasia is a prominent feature of cerebrovascular remodeling and stroke during the development of hypertension. Tanshinone IIA (Tan) has been reported to exhibit a protective effect against the pathological features of hypertension. Previous studies have shown that phosphoinostitide-3 kinase (PI3K)/3′-phosphoinostitide dependent kinase (PDK1)/AKT pathway is involved in the regulation of proliferation of various cell types. Therefore, there may be a crosstalk between Tan antihypertension processes and PI3K/PDK1/AKT proliferative effect in BASMCs. To test this hypothesis, we used a 2-kidney, 2-clip hypertension model to examine the effect of Tan on PI3K/PDK1/AKT pathway by cellular, molecular, and biochemical approaches. Our results revealed that the abundance of PDK1 in plasma was paralleled with an increase in blood pressure and the cross-sectional area of basilar artery in hypertensive rats. Tan decreased blood pressure and hypertension-induced PDK1 phosphorylation but produced no effect on the phosphorylation of PI3K. Moreover, Tan attenuated endothelin 1 induced the activation of PDK1/AKT pathway in rat BASMCs. Tan could inhibit cell cycle transition by regulating the expression of cyclin D1 and p27, in turn, prevent proliferation of BASMCs. Our study provides a novel mechanism by which Tan prevents cerebrovascular cell proliferation during hypertension, and thus Tan may be a potential therapeutic agent for cerebrovascular remodeling and stroke.
Facial nerve palsy after head injury: Case incidence, causes, clinical profile and outcome.

BACKGROUND To investigate the case incidence, causes, clinical profile, and outcome of facial nerve palsy complicating head trauma. METHOD A 10-year (1991-2000) retrospective study of head injured patients at the University Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria. Age, gender, and neurologic findings were analyzed. RESULTS Of 794 patients, facial nerve palsy occurred in 40 (5.04%). Facial nerve was the most frequently injured cranial nerve, followed by vestibulo-cochlear (12 [1.5%]) and abducens (8 [1.0%]). Majority (70%) of the seventh nerve palsies were of the lower motor neurone type. The left nerve was more frequently affected (60%). Facial nerve palsy was more common in male patients and adults with a peak incidence at the 4th decade. Spontaneous functional recovery occurring within 6 to 24 months of injury was total in 12 (30%), partial in 5 (12.3%), and none in 3 (7.5%) subjects. Thirteen patients died giving a mortality rate of 32.5%. The patients were aged 5 to 85 years (mean, 34 years). Causes of head trauma were traffic injuries (82.5%), fall from height (7.5%), assault (5%), and gunshot (2.5%). Though patient mortality rate was higher among patients with facial nerve palsy (32.5%) than those without (23.04%), facial nerve palsy was not a strong predictor of fatality (p = 0.2950). CONCLUSION The case incidence of facial nerve palsy in head injured patients in our center is 5.04%. The lower motor neurone type predominates. It is commoner in men and on the left side with spontaneous recovery occurring in 30% of cases.
Semiconductor quantum-dot saturable absorber mode-locked fiber laser

We demonstrate self-starting passive mode-locking of an ytterbium fiber laser by using a multilayer quantum-dot saturable absorber mirror. A high modulation depth of the absorber ensures robust pulse operation of the fiber laser with a threshold pump power of 30 mW. The 2.8-ps pulses with an average power of 5 mW have been generated at 1042 nm.
Impact of manufacturing technology and material composition on the mechanical properties of hydrogel contact lenses

Hydrogel materials are not only different as a result of different co‐monomer compositions but also as a result of the manufacturing method used to produce them. Hydrogel contact lenses fabricated by different methods are subjected to markedly different processing steps, which are likely to affect the resultant material network structure of a lens. The mechanical performance of five soft contact lens types was investigated using one conventional technique (tensile test) and three novel techniques (probe, tear and ball milling tests). The five lens groups consisted of three polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate (pHEMA) lenses which were each manufactured by a different technique: lathing, spin‐casting and cast‐moulding, a HEMA/methacrylic acid (HEMA/MAA) cast‐moulded lens and a HEMA/glycerol methacrylate (HEMA/GMA) cast‐moulded lens. Overall, the results show that the best mechanical performance is obtained for the pHEMA lenses, with some differences occurring between the lenses. The HEMA/GMA lens showed the worst performance.