Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hemodynamic Effects of Closure of Residual Arteriovenous Fistulae during in Situ Graft Procedures

The objective was to study the intraoperative hemodynamic effects of closure of residual arteriovenous fistulae during in situ saphenous vein graft procedures. Data on 60 residual arteriovenous fistulae in nine patients (five men) with a median age of 74 years (range 64–83 years) with critical lower limb ischemia were obtained. Direct measurements of proximal and distal blood pressures in the graft were taken and simultaneous determinations of volume blood flow proximally and distally in the graft with ultrasound transit time technique before and after closure of residual fistulae were made. Closure of a fistula with blood flow around or below 100 mL/min did not increase distal outflow, whereas closure of fistulae with higher blood flow resulted in unpredictable changes in distal outflow. Only fistulae with a blood flow above approximately 100 mL/min may be of hemodynamic significance.
Tissue plasminogen activator-assisted vitrectomy for submacular hemorrhage due to age-related macular degeneration

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the treatment efficacy of vitrectomy combined with subretinal recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r-tPA) and factors affecting visual improvement in patients with submacular hemorrhage (SMH) due to neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Materials and Methods: Medical records of 17 consecutive patients diagnosed with SMH secondary to nAMD were retrospectively reviewed. The initial surgical procedure involved a 23-gauge transconjunctival vitrectomy, subretinal r-tPA application through a self-sealing inferior retinotomy, and sulfur hexafluoride gas for tamponade in all patients. The duration, size, and thickness of the hemorrhage and the pre- and post-operative visual acuity (VA) using a Snellen chart were recorded. VA was converted to logMAR for statistical analysis. Results: The average duration and size of the SMH were 12.8 ± 18.2 days and 8.6 ± 5.3 disc areas, respectively. The mean follow-up time was 16.9 ± 4.7 months. A statistically significant visual improvement was found when comparing initial VA with postoperative best-corrected VA (BCVA) and final BCVA (Wilcoxon rank test, P ≤ 0.01). There was no significant correlation between the size of the hemorrhage and postoperative BCVA and final BCVA (Spearman's rho test). There was no statistically significant correlation between the initial VA and postoperative BCVA and final BCVA (Spearman's rho test). There was no significant correlation between the duration of hemorrhage and postoperative BCVA and final BCVA (Spearman's rho test). The preoperative thickness of hemorrhage (747.5 ± 30 μm) was not correlated with postoperative BCVA or final BCVA (Pearson's test). Conclusions: Vitrectomy combined with subretinal r-tPA injection and gas tamponade is an effective surgical intervention to preserve VA in selected patients with apparent SMH.
The K-T cancellation test in the older adults: Normative data and construct validity

ABSTRACT Since cutoff scores are necessary for differentiating normal cognitive functioning from dementia, the main objective of this study was to establish normative data of the K-T test, a standardized cancellation test. The construct validity of K-T test was also investigated. In total, 2471 cognitively intact elderly subjects from the SU.VI. MAX 2 study were included in the present study. Younger subjects, women and subjects with higher education had a higher number of correct answers and fewer omission errors. Participants made few commission errors and only the educational level was found to have a significant effect. Normative data for correct responses and efficiency were stratified by age, education, and gender. Correlation analysis showed that the K-T test was significantly correlated to validated neuropsychological tests assessing executive functions. This study permits to strengthen the utility of the K-T test to detect impairment of the executive components involved in the task.
Sentido de autoeficacia en inveStigación de eStudianteS de poSgrado

En este articulo, reportamos los resultados de una investigacion cuyo objetivo fue comprender el desarrollo del sentido de la autoeficacia en investigacion de estudiantes de posgrado y la influencia que ejercen en el las fuentes de la autoeficacia. Como referente teorico, utilizamos la teoria de la autoeficacia de Bandura. El diseno metodologico empleado fue narrativo, especificamente relatos de vida. Utilizamos entrevistas en profundidad, asi como videos y fotografias para la obtencion de los datos. Los hallazgos indican que el bajo sentido de autoeficacia que los estudiantes tenian al inicio del programa se incremento con el transcurso de este. Varios aspectos contribuyeron a lo anterior: la experiencia y el apoyo positivo del director de tesis en casi todos los casos; el diseno del plan de estudios; los mecanismos instrumentados por el programa para favorecer la enculturacion de los estudiantes; y las medidas de supervision de la tesis. La motivacion intrinseca para emprender los estudios de maestria fue el aspecto personal que mas influyo en el sentido de la autoeficacia. Este trabajo invita a reflexionar sobre la relevancia del papel que juegan las diferencias individuales en el exito de un programa educativo y la idoneidad de las politicas del posgrado en Mexico.
Caspofungin Susceptibility Testing of Candida inconspicua: Correlation of Different Methods with the Minimal Fungicidal Concentration

ABSTRACT Minimal inhibitory and minimal fungicidal concentrations of caspofungin were determined for 48 Candida inconspicua isolates. By using CLSI (formerly NCCLS) methodology with the partial inhibition endpoint criterion, caspofungin exhibited a good fungicidal effect against C. inconspicua (the MIC90 was 0.25 μg/ml and the minimum fungicidal concentration [MFC] was 0.5 μg/ml after 24 h). Total inhibition yielded falsely elevated MICs, exceeding even the respective MFCs.
The relationships between short-term exposure to particulate matter and mortality in Korea: impact of particulate matter exposure metrics for sub-daily exposures

Most studies of short-term particulate matter (PM) exposure use 24 h averages. However, other pollutants have stronger effects in shorter timeframes, which has influenced policy (e.g., ozone 8 h maximum). The selection of appropriate exposure timeframes is important for effective regulation. The US EPA identified health effects for sub-daily PM exposures as a critical research need. Unlike most areas, Seoul, Korea has hourly measurements of PM10, although not PM2.5. We investigated PM10 and mortality (total, cardiovascular, respiratory) in Seoul (1999–2009) considering sub-daily exposures: 24 h, daytime (7 am–8 pm), morning (7–10 am), nighttime (8 pm–7 am), and 1 h daily maximum. We applied Poisson generalized linear modeling adjusting for temporal trends and meteorology. All PM10 metrics were significantly associated with total mortality. Compared to other exposure timeframes, morning exposure had the most certain effect on total mortality (based on statistical significance). Increases of 10 μg m−3 in 24 h, daytime, morning, nighttime, and 1 h maximum PM10 were associated with 0.15% (95% confidence interval 0.02–0.28%), 0.14% (0.01–0.27%), 0.10% (0.03–0.18%), 0.12% (0.03–0.22%), and 0.10% (0.00–0.21%) increases in total mortality, respectively. PM10 was significantly associated with cardiovascular mortality for 24 h, morning, and nighttime exposures. We did not identify significant associations with respiratory mortality. The results support use of a 24 h averaging time as an appropriate metric for health studies and regulation, particularly for PM10 and mortality.
De novo peptide sequencing by deep learning

Significance Our method, DeepNovo, introduces deep learning to de novo peptide sequencing from tandem MS data, the key technology for protein characterization in proteomics research. DeepNovo achieves major improvement of sequencing accuracy over state of the art methods and subsequently enables complete assembly of protein sequences without assisting databases. Our model is retrainable to adapt to any sources of data and provides a complete end-to-end training and prediction solution, an important feature given the growing massive amount of data. Our study also presents an innovative approach to combine deep learning and dynamic programming to solve optimization problems. De novo peptide sequencing from tandem MS data is the key technology in proteomics for the characterization of proteins, especially for new sequences, such as mAbs. In this study, we propose a deep neural network model, DeepNovo, for de novo peptide sequencing. DeepNovo architecture combines recent advances in convolutional neural networks and recurrent neural networks to learn features of tandem mass spectra, fragment ions, and sequence patterns of peptides. The networks are further integrated with local dynamic programming to solve the complex optimization task of de novo sequencing. We evaluated the method on a wide variety of species and found that DeepNovo considerably outperformed state of the art methods, achieving 7.7–22.9% higher accuracy at the amino acid level and 38.1–64.0% higher accuracy at the peptide level. We further used DeepNovo to automatically reconstruct the complete sequences of antibody light and heavy chains of mouse, achieving 97.5–100% coverage and 97.2–99.5% accuracy, without assisting databases. Moreover, DeepNovo is retrainable to adapt to any sources of data and provides a complete end-to-end training and prediction solution to the de novo sequencing problem. Not only does our study extend the deep learning revolution to a new field, but it also shows an innovative approach in solving optimization problems by using deep learning and dynamic programming.
Associations between sedentary behavior and blood pressure in young children.

OBJECTIVE To examine the effect of sedentary behavior on blood pressure (BP) in young children using different indicators of sedentariness. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING A rural Midwestern US community. PARTICIPANTS Children aged 3 to 8 years (N = 111). Intervention Adiposity was assessed using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Objective measurements of sedentary activity were obtained from the accelerometers that participants wore continuously for 7 days. Measurements of television (TV) viewing, computer, and screen time (TV + computer) were obtained via parent report. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Systolic and diastolic BP. RESULTS The sample spent a mean of 5 hours per day in sedentary activities, of which 1.5 hours were screen time. Accelerometer-determined sedentary activity was not significantly related to systolic BP or diastolic BP after controlling for age, sex, height, and percentage of body fat. However, TV viewing and screen time, but not computer use, were positively associated with both systolic BP and diastolic BP after adjusting for potential confounders. Participants in the lowest tertile of TV and screen time had significantly lower levels of systolic and diastolic BP than participants in the upper tertile. CONCLUSIONS Sedentary behaviors, particularly TV viewing and screen time, were associated with BP in children, independent of body composition. Other factors that occur during excessive screen time (eg, food consumption) should also be considered in the context of sedentary behavior and BP development in children.
Cerebellar and Visual Gray Matter Brain Volume Increases in Congenital Nystagmus

Structural brain abnormalities associated with congenital nystagmus (CN) are still unknown. In some patients with CN additional sensory, metabolic, or gross structural alterations can be detected. In the present study voxel-based morphometry was used to compare the gray matter (GM) brain volumes of 14 individuals with CN without associated sensory, metabolic, or obvious structural alterations (i.e., idiopathic CN) to those of a group of controls. Further, GM brain volumes were correlated with nystagmus severity as measured by sway path. Intergroup comparison exhibited significant volume increases in the human motion sensitive complex V5/MT+, the fusiform gyrus, and the middle occipital gyrus bilaterally in CN. These volume increases may be associated with excess visual motion stimulation due to involuntary retinal slip of the visual scene. A positive correlation (linear model) of nystagmus sway path with cerebellar GM volume was seen in the following areas: vermal parts VIII-X as well as hemisphere lobule II, hemisphere VI, crus I, crus II, and lobule VII-IX bilaterally. There is evidence that the reported GM volume changes in the vestibulo-cerebellum, which correlated with nystagmus sway path, might be related to the subjects‘ attempt to maintain fixation, rather than be due to the generation of nystagmus.
Antimicrobial stewardship in the intensive care setting--a review and critical appraisal of the literature.

BACKGROUND Many antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) target the intensive care unit owing to high antimicrobial utilisation. In this review, we summarise and assess the quality of evidence supporting the implementation of various ASP strategies in the intensive care unit setting with a focus on publications between 2010 and 2015. METHODS We searched Medline up to April 2015 and screened publications of interest for additional relevant articles. We grouped the strategies into four categories: audit and feedback, formulary restrictions, guidelines/clinical pathways, and procalcitonin. We used GRADE terminology to describe the quality of evidence. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS We identified several studies reporting optimisation and reduction of antibiotic utilisation as well as cost reduction in all four strategies. Randomised controlled trials reviewing the role of procalcitonin demonstrate a moderate level of evidence. Given the lack of randomised controlled trials to support the role of guidelines, formulary restrictions, and audit and feedback, the level of evidence supporting these strategies is low. Importantly, there is no convincing evidence to support the main goal of ASP, namely to improve patient outcomes. Larger, rigorous long-term studies using a cluster randomised controlled trial or at least a controlled quasi-experimental design with time series are required to assess the impact of ASP on patient-important outcomes and on the emergence of resistance in the intensive care unit setting.
Imaging assessment of the responses of osteosarcoma patients to preoperative chemotherapy

Assessment of the responses of osteosarcoma patients to preoperative chemotherapy is of clinical importance. The purpose of this study was to estimate the accuracy of angiography and thallium‐201 scintigraphy, compared with histology, in assessing the responses of patients with osteosarcoma to preoperative chemotherapy.
Less Impairment on One Portion of a Driving-Relevant Psychomotor Battery in Buprenorphine-Maintained Than in Methadone-Maintained Patients: Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Cognitive impairment in drug-dependent patients under methadone maintenance treatment has been reported before. We assessed whether patients under buprenorphine, a partial μ-opioid agonist, perform better in cognitive tests measuring psychomotor performance as described in previous nonrandomized studies. Methods: We performed a randomized clinical trial in 62 drug-dependent patients under either buprenorphine or methadone treatment. Sixteen patients dropped out of maintenance therapy, before the testing was performed, after 8 to 10 weeks of treatment. Several subtests of the Act & React Test System test battery were used measuring visual perception, selective attention, vigilance, reactivity, and stress tolerance. Findings: Although there were no differences in cognitive function at baseline, patients under buprenorphine treatment showed partially better results in some of the domains tested. The used tests are relevant when assessing driving ability. There was a significant correlation between dose of buprenorphine and some test results. We also found a correlation between age and reaction time and between duration of opioid dependence and results in some subtests. Interpretations (Conclusions): When comparing both treatments in drug dependent patients, buprenorphine produces partially less impairment on cognitive functions in some of the subtests of the psychomotor battery than methadone. This difference is specially relevant when it comes to driving ability and social functioning.
A glial protein specific for the nervous system.

The large neurons and surrounding glia from the lateral vestibular (Deiters') nucleus of the rabbit brain stem were used. After rapid removal of the brain stem, a section was placed at the rostral boundary of the tubercula acustica. The sections of both sides, 3-4 mm thick, were placed in cold 0.25 M sucrose solution. The neurons or the glia were separated and cleaned by freehand dissection as previously described.6 The for these types of neurons is that many data on their biochemical characteristics
Trends in sexually transmitted infections in general practice 1990-2000: population based study using data from the UK general practice research database

Abstract Objective To describe the contribution of primary care to the diagnosis and management of sexually transmitted infections in the United Kingdom, 1990-2000, in the context of increasing incidence of infections in genitourinary medicine clinics. Design Population based study. Setting UK primary care. Participants Patients registered in the UK general practice research database. Main outcome measures Incidence of diagnosed sexually transmitted infections in primary care and estimation of the proportion of major such infections diagnosed in primary care. Results An estimated 23.0% of chlamydia cases in women but only 5.3% in men were diagnosed and treated in primary care during 1998-2000, along with 49.2% cases of non-specific urethritis and urethral discharge in men and 5.7% cases of gonorrhoea in women and 2.9% in men. Rates of diagnosis in primary care rose substantially in the late 1990s. Conclusions A substantial and increasing number of sexually transmitted infections are diagnosed and treated in primary care in the United Kingdom, with sex ratios differing from those in genitourinary medicine clinics. Large numbers of men are treated in primary care for presumptive sexually transmitted infections.
University of Groningen The course of depressive symptoms and prescribing patterns of antidepressants in schizophrenia in a one-year follow-up study

Background. – Antidepressants are frequently prescribed in patients with psychotic disorders, but little is known about their effects in routine clinical practice. The objective was to investigate the prescribing patterns of antidepressants in relation to the course of depressive symptoms in patients with psychotic disorders. Methods. – A cohort of 214 Dutch patients with psychotic disorders received two assessments of somatic and psychiatric health, including a clinician-rated screening for depressive symptoms, as part of annual routine outcome monitoring. Results. – Depressive symptoms were prevalent among 43% (93) of the patients. Antidepressants were prescribed for 40% (86) of the patients and the majority 83% (71) continued this therapy after one year. Multivariable analysis showed that patients with more severe psychopathology had a higher risk to develop depressive symptoms the following year (OR [95% CI] = 0.953 [0.912–0.995]). For patients with depressive symptoms at baseline, polypharmacy was a potential risk factor to keep having depressive symptoms (OR [95% CI] = 1.593 [1.123–2.261]). Antidepressant use was not an independent predictor in both analyses. Conclusions. – Routine outcome monitoring in patients with psychotic disorders revealed a high prevalence of depressive symptoms. Antidepressants were frequently prescribed and continued in routine clinical practice. 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved. * Corresponding author. Tel. : +31 50 3638205; fax: +31 50 3632772. E-mail address: k.taxis@rug.nl (K. Taxis). 0924-9338/$ – see front matter 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy. 2010.10. 007 describing the course of depressive symptoms do not report details of prescribing patterns of antidepressant therapy [4,12,35,39]. It is unclear how many patients with persistent depressive symptoms continue to use antidepressants or remain untreated with antidepressants. The current naturalistic study is based on a cohort of patients with schizophrenia or related psychotic disorders, assessed during yearly routine outcome measurements. The aim is to investigate the course of depressive symptoms in relation to prescribing patterns of antidepressants in schizophrenia during oneyear follow-up.
Shielding requirements in helical tomotherapy

Helical tomotherapy is a relatively new intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment for which room shielding has to be reassessed for the following reasons. The beam-on-time needed to deliver a given target dose is increased and leads to a weekly workload of typically one order of magnitude higher than that for conventional radiation therapy. The special configuration of tomotherapy units does not allow the use of standard shielding calculation methods. A conventional linear accelerator must be shielded for primary, leakage and scatter photon radiations. For tomotherapy, primary radiation is no longer the main shielding issue since a beam stop is mounted on the gantry directly opposite the source. On the other hand, due to the longer irradiation time, the accelerator head leakage becomes a major concern. An analytical model based on geometric considerations has been developed to determine leakage radiation levels throughout the room for continuous gantry rotation. Compared to leakage radiation, scatter radiation is a minor contribution. Since tomotherapy units operate at a nominal energy of 6 MV, neutron production is negligible. This work proposes a synthetic and conservative model for calculating shielding requirements for the Hi-Art II TomoTherapy unit. Finally, the required concrete shielding thickness is given for different positions of interest.
Downstream transmission dimensioning in FDMA-PON architectures: Results from the EU project “FABULOUS”

In this paper we present the FDMA-PON (Frequency Division Multiple Access - Passive Optical Network) architecture proposed by the FP7 EU STREP project titled “FABULOUS”, focusing on downstream transmission. We experimentally demonstrate that the proposed architecture allows to reach 16 Gbps aggregated capacity per downstream wavelength over an optical distribution network with 30dB loss, still using direct-detection receivers and requiring relatively low speed digital signal processing at the ONU side.