Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Minimally invasive lag screw fixation of sacroiliac luxation/fracture using a dedicated novel instrument system: Apparatus and technique description.

OBJECTIVE To describe a novel Sacroiliac Luxation Instrument System (SILIS™) and its application in minimally invasive osteosynthesis (MIO) of sacroiliac luxations/fractures (SIL/F). The SILIS was designed to provide stable SIL/F reduction and accurate sacral screw placement while reducing personnel exposure to ionizing radiation during intraoperative fluoroscopy. STUDY DESIGN Descriptive, proof of concept cadaveric study. METHODS A right SIL and a left SIL/F were created on a Labrador Retriever that had died of natural causes. Bilateral sacroiliac lag screw fixation was performed under fluoroscopic guidance with the SILIS, which consists of dedicated reduction and fixation instruments rigidly linked to table-bound 6-axis arms. RESULTS Throughout surgery, the SILIS facilitated and maintained stable reduction and allowed accurate placement of a custom designed drill guide over the sacral body without the surgeon's manual holding of any reduction or fixation instruments. The surgical team was therefore able to step away from the C-arm when acquiring fluoroscopic images, thus reducing exposure to radiation. Dorsoventral and craniocaudal screw deviation from an ideal trajectory ranged from 0.9° to 3.8°. Both screws were fully located within the sacral body. CONCLUSION The SILIS addresses limitations associated with MIO of SIL/F, including maintenance of reduction throughout surgery along with reliable and accurate sacral screw placement. Distance from the X-ray source is the most effective protection against radiation. Use of the SILIS allows the surgical team to move away from the C-arm during fluoroscopy, thereby reducing personnel exposure to dangerous direct and back-scattered ionizing radiation.
THE SPITZER ICE LEGACY: ICE EVOLUTION FROM CORES TO PROTOSTARS

Ices regulate much of the chemistry during star formation and account for up to 80% of the available oxygen and carbon. In this paper, we use the Spitzer c2d Legacy ice survey, complimented with data sets on ices in cloud cores and high-mass protostars, to determine standard ice abundances and to present a coherent picture of the evolution of ices during low- and high-mass star formation. The median ice composition H2O:CO:CO2:CH3OH:NH3:CH4:XCN is 100:29:29:3:5:5:0.3 and 100:13:13:4:5:2:0.6 toward low- and high-mass protostars, respectively, and 100:31:38:4:–:–:– in cloud cores. In the low-mass sample, the ice abundances with respect to H2O of CH4, NH3, and the component of CO2 mixed with H2O typically vary by <25%, indicative of co-formation with H2O. In contrast, some CO and CO2 ice components, XCN, and CH3OH vary by factors 2–10 between the lower and upper quartile. The XCN band correlates with CO, consistent with its OCN− identification. The origin(s) of the different levels of ice abundance variations are constrained by comparing ice inventories toward different types of protostars and background stars, through ice mapping, analysis of cloud-to-cloud variations, and ice (anti-)correlations. Based on the analysis, the first ice formation phase is driven by hydrogenation of atoms, which results in an H2O-dominated ice. At later prestellar times, CO freezes out and variations in CO freezeout levels and the subsequent CO-based chemistry can explain most of the observed ice abundance variations. The last important ice evolution stage is thermal and UV processing around protostars, resulting in CO desorption, ice segregation, and the formation of complex organic molecules. The distribution of cometary ice abundances is consistent with the idea that most cometary ices have a protostellar origin.
The effect of added organic selenium on nutritional value, chemical and technological quality characteristics of pork

The aim of the research was to evaluate the effect of organic selenium in the feed on the selenium content in pork and selected qualitative traits of pork. The experiment was performed on 29 pigs in the control group and 21 pigs in the experimental group. Animals in both group were fed by same mixture, feed mixture for experimental group was supplemented by 300 µg selenium per 1 kg mixture. Selenium was in form protein-mineral premix. Selenised feed mixture increased the selenium concentration in muscles, selenium content in muscle was significantly higher in experimental group (P < 0.01). There was not difference between groups in chemical composition of muscle – water, proteins and intramuscular fat content. Statistically significant difference was found only in saturated fatty acids ratio (P < 0.05), other fatty acids did not differ between groups. No statistical difference was found in pH, drip loss and shear force. The pork with higher content of selenium showed significantly lower oxidative activity (P < 0.01) and higher color stability (P < 0.01).
Low-profile high-permittivity dielectric resonator antenna excited by a disk-loaded coaxial aperture

A low-profile equilateral-triangular dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) of very high permittivity is excited by a disk-loaded coaxial aperture. The loading disk is placed centrally on the aperture of a 50 /spl Omega/ subminiature version A (SMA) connector for impedance matching. The measured return loss, radiation patterns, and antenna gain of the proposed configuration are presented.
Can Facebook Predict Stock Market Activity?

Using a novel and direct measure of investor sentiment, I find that Facebook’s Gross National Happiness (GNH) has the ability to predict changes both in daily returns and trading volume in the US equity market. For instance, a one standard deviation increase in GNH predicts an increase in market returns equal to 11 basis points over the next day. Moreover, the impact of GNH appears to be stronger among small-cap stocks, and in the face of turmoil.
Antimicrobial Activity of Spice Extracts against Pathogenic and Spoilage Microorganisms

The ginger, galangal, turmeric, and fingerroot extracts were determined for their antimicrobial activities against foodborne pathogenic bacteria, spoilage bacteria and fungi by using agar dilution assay. Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium and Eschericia coli O157:H7 were resistant to ginger, galangal, turmeric, and fingerroot extracts. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ginger, galangal, turmeric and fingerroot extracts against those gram-negative bacteria were 8‐10% (v/v). Fingerroot extract showed stronger inhibitory activity against Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus aureus than ginger, turmeric, and galangal extracts. MICs of fingerroot extract was 0.2‐0.4% (v/v). For the spoilage bacteria Lactobacillus plantarum and L. cellobiosus, galangal extract gave the most efficiency of with MIC at 4% (v/v). The results showed that fingerroot and ginger extracts had antifungal activity ranging from 8 to 10 and ≥10% (v/v) against Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, A. parasiticus and Fusarium oxysporum, respectively. Moreover, inhibition over time of E. coli O157:H7 was studied in TSB added with spice extracts at concentrations ranging from 8 to 10% (v/v). The 8% galangal and 10% fingerroot extracts showed bactericidal effect at 36 hours and 9 hours, respectively. While 8% turmeric extract showed bacteriostatic effect. In conclusion, rhizomatous spice extracts had antimicrobial effect against some spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms, thus it has potential to be used as natural preservative agents.
MicroRNA Modulation in Obesity and Periodontitis

The aim of this pilot investigation was to determine if microRNA expression differed in the presence or absence of obesity, comparing gingival biopsies obtained from patients with or without periodontal disease. Total RNA was extracted from gingival biopsy samples collected from 20 patients: 10 non-obese patients (BMI < 30 kg/m2) and 10 obese patients (BMI > 30 kg/m2), each group with 5 periodontally healthy sites and 5 chronic periodontitis sites. MicroRNA expression patterns were assessed with a quantitative microRNA PCR array to survey 88 candidate microRNA species. Four microRNA databases were used to identify potential relevant mRNA target genes of differentially expressed microRNAs. Two microRNA species (miR-18a, miR-30e) were up-regulated among obese individuals with a healthy periodontium. Two microRNA species (miR-30e, miR-106b) were up-regulated in non-obese individuals with periodontal disease. In the presence of periodontal disease and obesity, 9 of 11 listed microRNAs were significantly up-regulated (miR-15a, miR-18a, miR-22, miR-30d, miR-30e, miR-103, miR-106b, miR-130a, miR-142-3p, miR-185, and miR-210). Predicted targets include 69 different mRNAs from genes that comprise cytokines, chemokines, specific collagens, and regulators of glucose and lipid metabolism. The expression of specific microRNA species in obesity, which could also target and post-transcriptionally modulate cytokine mRNA, provides new insight into possible mechanisms of how risk factors might modify periodontal inflammation and may represent novel therapeutic targets.
Prevalence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Northern India

Aim: The emergence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has posed a serious therapeutic challenge. We report the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of MRSA in the hospitals attached to GMC, Amritsar, Punjab. Materials and Methods: The study comprised of 250 coagulase-positive staphylococci (COPS) isolated from a total of 6743 clinical specimens (like pus, blood, urine, high vaginal swab, sputum, etc.) of patients admitted in hospitals attached to Government Medical College, Amritsar from January 2008–February 2009. Routine antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed and interpreted as per standard guidelines. Methicillin resistance was detected using oxacillin and cefoxitin disc diffusion method, oxacillin screen agar method, and minimum inhibitory concentration using broth macrodilution method. Results: A total of 115 (46%) strains were found to be methicillin resistant. Multidrug resistance was observed in 73% MRSA strains. However, no strain was resistant to vancomycin. Conclusion: Regular surveillance of hospital-associated infection and monitoring of antibiotic sensitivity pattern is required to reduce MRSA prevalence.
Inhibition of plasma vasopressin after drinking in dehydrated humans.

To study the effects of nonosmotic and nonvolumetric factors that may influence secretion of vasopressin, serum Na+, K+, and osmolality (Osm), hemoglobin, hematocrit, plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP), aldosterone (PA), and renin activity (PRA) were measured in five men and three women (26-50 yr, 73 +/- 4 kg) before and after 24 h of mild dehydration (food but no fluid) and seven times during the 1st h after rehydration with 10 ml/kg of tap water (17.5 +/- 0.5 degrees C) consumed in 105 s (range 35-240 s). Dehydration increased mean serum Na+ 3.7 +/- 0.7 meq/l (P less than 0.05), osmolality 9.1 +/- 1.1 mosmol/kg (P less than 0.05), and AVP from a hydrated level of 1.7 +/- 0.2 to 3.3 +/- 0.5 pg/ml (delta = 1.6 pg/ml, P less than 0.05). After rehydration AVP fell to 2.4 +/- 0.3 pg/ml (P less than 0.05) within 3 min and reached the water-replete level of 1.8 +/- 0.3 pg/ml 9 min after drinking started. Serum Na+ and Osm did not change until 30-60 min after drinking. No significant changes occurred in PRA, hemogloblin, hematocrit, or calculated delta in plasma volume, but PA increased from 11.1 +/- 1.5 ng/dl after dehydration to 15.6 +/- 2.6 ng/dl (P less than 0.05) between 30 and 60 min after drinking. The rapid fall in plasma AVP after rehydration took place in the absence of the expected changes in the primary regulators of plasma AVP (i.e., osmolality and plasma volume), with no change in blood pressure. The results suggest that oropharyngeal factors, alone or combined with gastric stimuli, are implicated.
Cognitive functions in children and adolescents with early-onset diabetes mellitus in Egypt

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to investigate performance on memory, intelligence, and executive functions in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and to investigate the role of glycemic control, hypoglycemic attacks and diabetic ketoacidosis. We compared 50 subjects with T1DM with 30 healthy controls (ages between 7 and 16 years) using Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT), the Arabic version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC), and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). We also compared good versus poor glycemic control in T1DM subjects. Results: T1DM subjects had significantly poorer performance than controls on all subtests of the BVRT, on all subscales of the WISC (verbal, performance and total IQ) and on most subtests of WCST (p < 0.05). T1DM subjects with good glycemic control performed significantly better than subjects with poor glycemic control on all subtests of the BVRT and on all subscales of the WISC (p < 0.05), but there was no difference on the WCST. T1DM subjects differed from controls on memory, intelligence, and executive functions. They also differed according to good or poor glycemic control (except on the WCST). Cognitive performance significantly correlated with a number of demographic and clinical variables.
Renal and cardiac effects of antihypertensive treatment with ramipril vs metoprolol in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND Hypertension is a common complication in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). This prospective randomized double-blind study was performed to compare the renal and cardiac effects of the ACE inhibitor ramipril and the beta-blocker metoprolol as first line therapy in ADPKD patients with hypertension. METHODS Forty-six hypertensive ADPKD patients were randomized to either ramipril (n = 23) or metoprolol (n = 23). Twenty-four hour (24-h) ambulatory blood pressure (BP), glomerular filtration rate (GFR) as calculated by the Cockcroft and Gault formula, urinary albumin excretion (albumin/creatinine ratio), and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were established at baseline and at yearly intervals. The total follow-up was 3 years. Baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. RESULTS Mean arterial pressure (MAP) decreased significantly in both the ramipril and the metoprolol group (-8 +/- 2 and -6 +/- 2 mmHg; both P < 0.01). There was a significant decline in renal function during follow-up which was similar in patients treated with ramipril or metoprolol (-2.5 +/- 0.7 vs -2.9 +/- 0.8 ml/min/year; P = NS). After the 3 years follow-up, no differences in GFR, LVMI and urinary albumin excretion were observed between the ramipril and the metoprolol group (80.7 +/- 10.7 vs 78.0 +/- 7.6 ml/min, 102.6 +/- 6.8 vs 100.3 +/- 5.4 g/m(2); and 42.6 +/- 12.3 vs 70.3 +/- 32.5 mg/g, respectively; all P = NS). A post-hoc analysis evaluating the effects of BP control, revealed that LVMI increased in patients with standard BP control while it remained stable in patients with rigorous BP control with a significant difference in LVMI between the groups after 3 years of follow-up (110.5 +/- 6.3 vs 90.9 +/- 4.7 g/m(2); P = 0.017). Also, by the end of the study albuminuria was lower in patients with rigorous vs standard BP control (23.5 +/- 6.7 vs 94.8 +/- 35.4 mg/g; P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS In our study population of hypertensive ADPKD patients, no differences in renal function, urinary albumin excretion and LVMI were detected between those treated with ramipril or metoprolol, respectively, during a 3 years follow-up. Rigorous BP control prevented an increase in LVMI and reduced urinary albumin excretion, suggesting a crucial role of BP control for slowing progression of cardiac and renal organ damage in ADPKD.
Antigen‐presenting human B cells are expanded in inflammatory conditions

Traditionally, B cells have been best known for their role as producers of antibodies. However, in recent years, a growing body of evidence has accumulated showing that B cells fulfill a range of other immunologic functions. One of the functions that has attracted increasing attention is the capacity of B cells to induce antigen‐specific activation of T cells through presentation of antigens. However, the analysis of this B cell function has been hampered by the lack of a phenotypically well‐defined antigen‐presenting B cell subset. Here, we report the identification of a human antigen‐presenting B cell subset with strong immunostimulatory properties. This B cell subset is characterized by low expression of CD21 and high expression of the activation marker CD86 and exhibits strong T cell–stimulatory activity, as demonstrated by means of an autologous mixed‐lymphocyte reaction. Phenotypically, CD21lowCD86pos immunostimulatory B cells (BAPC) represented CD27+ class‐switched IgMnegIgDneg B lymphocytes and displayed a higher expression of cell surface receptors, which mediate the migration from peripheral blood to sites of inflammation. Flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood obtained from individuals with inflammatory conditions revealed that the BAPC subset was expanded following vaccination and in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Taken together, our work shows that BAPC represents a strongly immunostimulatory B cell subset, which could be a promising target for immunotherapeutic intervention in inflammatory diseases.
Branched-chain amino acids for hepatic encephalopathy.

BACKGROUND Hepatic encephalopathy may be caused by a decreased plasma ratio of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) to aromatic amino acids. Treatment with BCAA may therefore have a beneficial effect on patients with hepatic encephalopathy. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the beneficial and harmful effects of BCAA for patients with hepatic encephalopathy. SEARCH STRATEGY We identified trials through The Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register (September 2002), (Issue 3, 2002), MEDLINE (1966-2002/09) and EMBASE (1980-2002/05), manual searches of bibliographies and journals, authors of trials, and pharmaceutical companies. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised trials comparing BCAA with any kind of control therapy for hepatic encephalopathy were included, regardless of blinding, language, or publication status. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Trial inclusion and data extraction were made independently by two reviewers. Our primary outcome was improvement of hepatic encephalopathy. Statistical heterogeneity was tested using random effects and fixed effect models. Binary outcomes are reported as risk ratios (RR) based on a random effects model. MAIN RESULTS Eleven randomised trials (556 patients) assessing BCAA versus carbohydrates, neomycin/lactulose, or isonitrogenous control were included. The median number of patients in each trial was 55 (range 22 to 75). Follow-up after treatment was reported in four trials (median 17 days (range 6 to 30 days)). Compared to the control regimens, BCAA significantly increased the number of patients improving from hepatic encephalopathy at the end of treatment (risk ratio (RR) 1.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04 to 1.66, nine trials). We found no evidence of an effect of BCAA on survival (RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.14, eight trials) or adverse events (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.41 to 2.31, three trials). Sensitivity analyses indicated that methodological quality had significant impact on the results. We found no evidence of an effect of BCAA on improvement of hepatic encephalopathy in trials with adequate generation of the allocation sequence (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.23, three trials), adequate allocation concealment (RR 1.09, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.33, five trials), or adequate double-blinding (RR 1.20, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.73, three trials). REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS We did not find convincing evidence that BCAA had a significant beneficial effect on patients with hepatic encephalopathy. The trials performed in this field were small with short follow-up and most had low methodological quality.
Late rectal complications after prostate brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer

This review of the literature on late rectal complications after prostate brachytherapy indicated that it is a highly effective treatment modality for patients with clinically localized prostate cancer but can cause chronic radiation proctitis. The most common manifestation of chronic radiation proctitis was anterior rectal wall bleeding, which often occurred within the first 2 years after brachytherapy. It is interesting to note that the rates of late rectal morbidity appear to have declined over time, which may reflect improvements in implantation techniques and imaging. Rectal biopsy as part of the workup to evaluate rectal bleeding can lead to rectal fistula and the need for colostomy, a rare but major complication. The authors recommend 1) screening colonoscopy before brachytherapy for patients who have not had a screening colonoscopy within the preceding 3 years to rule out colorectal malignancies and, thus, facilitate conservative management should rectal bleeding occur; 2) lifestyle modifications during treatment to limit exposure of the rectum to radiation; and 3) conservative management for rectal bleeding that occurs within 2 years after brachytherapy. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
Dolutegravir inhibits HIV-1 Env evolution in primary human cells

Objective:In treatment-naive HIV-positive individuals, the integrase strand-transfer inhibitor dolutegravir (DTG) has not been associated with emergent drug-resistance mutations, neither against this drug nor against other antiretroviral drugs that were used in combination with it. This is in contrast to all other antiretroviral drugs tested so far, including the integrase strand-transfer inhibitors raltegravir (RAL) and elvitegravir that can lead to treatment failure with the emergence of drug-resistance mutations. Design:These observations suggest that DTG may provide an additional protection against resistance compared to other drugs by decreasing HIV-1 genetic evolution. Methods:Here, we tested this hypothesis by measuring the genetic and amino-acid diversity of Env/gp160 from two HIV-1 primary isolates that were grown in the presence of increasing concentrations of DTG or RAL over the course of 38–55 weeks. Results:The results show that treatment with DTG led to less HIV-1 genetic and amino-acid diversification over time, as compared to treatment with RAL or the absence of drug. Conclusion:These results may help to explain the absence of emergent resistance mutations in treatment-naive individuals treated with DTG.
Cognitive slowing in Parkinson's disease fails to respond to levodopa treatment

To evaluate clinically the slowing of cognitive processing in Parkinson's disease, we used a visual discrimination task consisting of 15 superimposed images of objects. The time needed to identify 12 objects increased by 58% in 70 patients withdrawn from levodopa treatment compared with 20 controls matched for age and education. Perceptual, motor, and psycholinguistic factors, as well as mood, only partially accounted for the slowness of performance. The 15-objects test scores of the parkinsonian patients correlated significantly with both their intellectual impairment and the severity of their parkinsonian disability, but not with the duration of the disease. The scores did not correlate with depression. Levodopa had no effect on the score, although the parkinsonian motor disability score was improved by 54%. The results indicate a cognitive slowing in Parkinson's disease which is probably related to abnormalities of nondopaminergic neuronal systems in the brain.