Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Surgical Treatment of Acquired Flatfoot Deformity: What is the State of Practice among Academic Foot and Ankle Surgeons in 2002?

Purpose: This study was performed to review the present approach to the surgical treatment of acquired flatfoot deformity among a cross section of academic foot and ankle surgeons in the United States. Methods: A typical case of stage II posterior tibial tendon dysfunction was developed. The hypothetical patient was a healthy 62-year-old male with a symptomatic acquired flatfoot deformity with posterior tibial tendon dysfunction. Nonoperative management had failed. A series of academic foot ankle surgeons were surveyed to identify their proposed operative treatment. Each surgeon surveyed was affiliated with an orthopaedic residency program and was directly responsible for teaching orthopaedic residents. Each surgeon had foot and ankle patients as the major component of their practice. The overall response rate was 81% (104/128). Results: Ninety-seven percent (101/104) of respondents reported that they would employ some type of bony procedure in their surgical treatment. Eighty-eight percent (89/104) described techniques that would preserve the subtalar and talonavicular joints. These included a medializing calcaneal osteotomy in 73% (76/104), a lateral column lengthening in 41% (43/104), and a medial column stabilization (first tarsometatarsal and/or navicular cuneiform arthrodesis) in 15% (16/104). Twelve percent (12/104) reported that they would perform an arthrodesis of one or more of the hindfoot joints. Ninety-eight percent (102/104) of respondents reported that they would employ some type of soft-tissue procedure. Ninety-four percent (98/104) would augment the posterior tibial tendon, 53% (55/104) would formally repair the spring ligament, and 70% (73/104) would address a presumed equinus contracture. Conclusions: There is a wide variation in the approach to surgical treatment of stage II acquired adult flatfoot deformity among academic foot and ankle surgeons. Most surgeons employed a combination of bony and soft-tissue procedures that preserved the subtalar and talonavicular joints.
Anemia em crianças menores de cinco anos que freqüentam creches públicas do município do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

OBJETIVOS: estimar a prevalencia de anemia em criancas matriculadas em creches municipais do Rio de Janeiro e identificar os subgrupos de maior risco. METODOS: foram avaliadas 865 criancas. A hemoglobina (Hb) foi dosada em fotometro portatil (HemoCue) e a anemia foi definida quando Hb <11g/dL e <9,5g/dL para maiores e menores de seis meses, respectivamente. Foram obtidas informacoes biologicas e socioeconomicas atraves de questionarios aplicados as maes. RESULTADOS: A prevalencia de anemia foi de 47,3%. As criancas anemicas apresentaram medias de z escore de peso para a idade (-0,239) e a altura para a idade (-0,548) mais baixas do que as nao-anemicas. O risco de anemia foi maior para as criancas com idade abaixo de dois anos (razao de prevalencia [RP]=1,73; intervalo de confianca [IC95%: 1,52-1,97), para as que tinham pais com menos de quatro anos de estudo (RP=1,57; IC95%:1,24-1,99) e moravam em domicilios com mais de oito moradores (RP=1,45; IC95%:,1,07-1,95). CONCLUSOES: a prevalencia de anemia foi elevada. As criancas com mais baixo peso e estatura para a idade, menores de dois anos, que moravam em residencias com numero elevado de pessoas e que tinham pais com baixa escolaridade foram as mais vulneraveis a anemia, devendo ser alvo de politicas de controle e prevencao.
Supernatants from Staphylococcus epidermidis grown in the presence of different antibiotics induce differential release of tumor necrosis factor alpha from human monocytes

Bacterial products from gram-positive bacteria, such as peptidoglycan, teichoic acid, and toxins, activate mononuclear cells to produce tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF). The present study evaluated the release of soluble cell wall components from Staphylococcus epidermidis capable of inducing TNF after exposure of the bacteria to various antibiotics. A clinical S. epidermidis isolate (694) was incubated with either penicillin, oxacillin, vancomycin, or clindamycin at five times the MIC. Supernatants of the cultures obtained by filtration were added to plastic adherent monocytes in the absence or presence of human serum. After 18 h of incubation, monocyte supernatants were tested for the presence of TNF by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Supernatants from bacteria incubated with beta-lactam antibiotics induced higher TNF levels than those obtained from bacteria incubated with culture medium only (no antibiotics), vancomycin, or clindamycin. Human serum potentiated supernatant-induced TNF release, especially in beta-lactam supernatants. The soluble peptidoglycan and teichoic acid contents of supernatants, as estimated by inhibition ELISA and, for peptidoglycan, also by affinity depletion with vancomycin-Sepharose gel, were proportional to TNF release. Differences in the ability of individual antibiotics to generate TNF-releasing products from S. epidermidis were observed, the most potent antibiotics being penicillin and oxacillin.
Chemotherapy-induced apoptosis in melanoma cells is p53 dependent

Metastatic melanomas are often resistant to chemotherapy. To study whether the p53 mutational status affects chemosensitivity, we compared the responses to chemotherapy of four melanoma cell lines containing the wild-type p53 and four cell lines carrying the mutant p53. Cisplatin, at 10,µM, virtually killed all the cells in the wildtype p53 cell lines, while 57-95% of the cells in the mutant p53 cell lines survived (P=0.005). After treatment with 100 nM of vincristine, on average 18% of the wildtype p53 melanoma cells survived compared with 55% of the mutant p53 cells (P=0.04). After treatment with 40 nM, 200 nM or 1 µM of camptothecin the survival rates were, on average, 16%, 8% and 4% for the wild-type p53 melanoma cells, compared with 89%, 67% and 38% for the mutant p53 cells, respectively (P=0.00004, P=0.003 and P=0.04, respectively). The anticancer agents were not toxic to normal melanocytes at doses inducing cytotoxicity in wild-type p53 melanoma cells. The main mechanism of cytotoxicity appears to be drug-induced apoptosis. Cisplatin, camptothecin and vincristine all induced apoptosis in wild-type p53 melanoma cells, but not in mutant p53 cells. Our results suggest that chemotherapy- induced apoptosis in melanoma cells is p53 dependent, and mutation of the p53 gene is an indicator of drug resistance in melanoma. © 1998 Rapid Science Ltd
In Vivo Inhibition of NF-κB in T-Lineage Cells Leads to a Dramatic Decrease in Cell Proliferation and Cytokine Production and to Increased Cell Apoptosis in Response to Mitogenic Stimuli, But Not to Abnormal Thymopoiesis

To understand the role of NF-κB complexes in T cell development and activation, we have generated transgenic mice in which RelA and c-Rel complexes were selectively inhibited in the T-lineage cells by specific expression of a trans-dominant form of IκBα. Transgene expression did not affect the thymic development, but led to lowered numbers of splenic T cells and to a dramatic decrease in the ex vivo proliferative response of splenic T lymphocytes. Analysis of IL-2 and IL-2Rα expression demonstrated that the perturbation of the proliferation response was not attributable to an abnormal expression of these genes. In contrast, expression of IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ was strongly inhibited in the transgenic T cells. The proliferative deficiency of the transgenic T cells was associated with an increased apoptosis. These results point out the involvement of NF-κB/Rel family proteins in growth signaling pathways by either regulating proteins involved in the IL-2 signaling or by functionally interfering with the cell cycle progression.
Ultrastructural Changes in Hemocyte Cells of Hard tick (Hyalomma dromedarii: Ixodidae): A model of Bacillus thuringiensis var. thuringiensis H14 -endotoxin mode of action

2 Abstract: The ultrastruture and characteristics of hemocytes of ixodidae tick, Hyalomma dromedarii, after treatment with Bacillus thuringiensis serovar thuringiensis H14 -endotoxin were studied. Little information is available on the systemic effects of Bacillus thuringiensis toxins in the hemocoel of arthropods. To evaluate the effect of B. thuringiensis 43-kDa toxins elicit a toxic response in the hemocoel, it was measured the effect of intrahemocoelic injections of 43-kDa Cry4Ba toxin on the hemocytes (ultrastructure and characteristics) and survival of Hyalomma dromedarii engorged female. It was found that of 43-kDa Cry4Ba toxin was highly toxic In short term (48h) to Hyalomma dromedarii engorged female, the resulte indicated that the complete growth was arrest and death in a dose-dependent manner. On receiving 10µl of 157µg ml soluble B. t. toxin/tick a 1 rapid paralysis, followed by hemocytic disruption and death was occurred. This investigation revealed that a severe damage in the cells membrane and granulocytes of the hemolymph after injection with -endotoxin. Bacillus thuringiensis var. thuringiensis H14 -endotoxin, this toxin destroys the granular cell and renders it abnormal. These cells are stored defensin and secreted it in hemolymph plasma after the exposure of the tick to bacterial infection. This explains the mechanism of action of this bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis on H. dromedarii hard tick. It kills the tick by causing a malfunction of the cellular immune system of the tick. The model proposed for Cry4Ba is that injected with toxins may reach a hemocytic target, as demonstrated by the good correlation between cytotoxicity and toxicity upon injection. In conclusion, the results of This study suggests that Bacillus thuringiensis var. thuringiensis -endotoxins targets are not only present in the gut. This is an important result of biological relevance at the level of Bacillus thuringiensis mode of action.
Complement-induced phospholipase A2 activation in experimental membranous nephropathy.

BACKGROUND In the passive Heymann nephritis (PHN) model of membranous nephropathy, C5b-9 induces glomerular epithelial cell (GEC) injury and proteinuria, which is partially mediated by eicosanoids. By analogy, in cultured rat GEC, sublytic C5b-9 injures plasma membranes and releases arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosanoids, due to activation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2). This study addresses the mechanisms of PLA2 activation. METHODS PLA2 expression was assessed with the polymerase chain reaction or immunoblotting, and activity was determined using an in vitro assay or by measurement of free AA. RESULTS Under basal conditions, GEC in culture expressed a relatively low level of cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2) protein, while mRNAs of groups IB, IIA and V secretory PLA2s (sPLA2) were not detectable. Incubation of GEC with sublytic C5b-9 induced 1.5- to 2.0-fold increases in free [3H]AA at 40 minutes, and three and 24 hours. C5b-9 did not increase cPLA2 protein, and did not induce group IB, IIA or V sPLA2 mRNAs. Stable overexpression of cPLA2 in GEC amplified the C5b-9-induced increases in free [3H]AA, while analogous overexpression of group IIA sPLA2 had no effect. PLA2 activity was increased in glomeruli of rats with PHN, and this enhanced activity was characterized as cPLA2. There were no differences in cPLA2 protein expression between PHN and control glomeruli. CONCLUSIONS Release of AA by C5b-9 in GEC in culture and in vivo is mediated by cPLA2, and the mechanism is consistent with post-translational regulation of cPLA2 activity. C5b-9 does not induce expression or stimulate activity of sPLA2 isoforms in GEC.
Reliability Analysis of Multistate Phased-Mission Systems With Unordered and Ordered States

Multistate phased-mission systems (MS-PMS) are multistate systems subject to multiple, consecutive, and nonoverlapping phases of operation. The challenges in analyzing MS-PMS reside in the dynamic system configuration, failure criteria, and component state transition behavior in different phases, as well as the s-dependence across different phases and among different states of a given component. Existing methods for the reliability analysis of MS-PMS are either based on monolithic Markov models that suffer from the well-known state explosion problem, or using a hierarchical strategy that can only handle ordered component states. This paper presents integrated modeling approaches for the reliability analysis of repairable MS-PMS with both ordered and unordered component states. The proposed methods integrate efficient decision diagram models for representing the system structure function and incorporating the unordered/ordered component states at the system level, and Markov models for describing dependence and transition behaviors at the component level. The application and advantages of the proposed approaches are illustrated through a case study in which the reliability for a sequence of tasks in a multistate distributed computing system is analyzed.
A dicarboxylate/4-hydroxybutyrate autotrophic carbon assimilation cycle in the hyperthermophilic Archaeum Ignicoccus hospitalis

Ignicoccus hospitalis is an anaerobic, autotrophic, hyperthermophilic Archaeum that serves as a host for the symbiotic/parasitic Archaeum Nanoarchaeum equitans. It uses a yet unsolved autotrophic CO2 fixation pathway that starts from acetyl-CoA (CoA), which is reductively carboxylated to pyruvate. Pyruvate is converted to phosphoenol-pyruvate (PEP), from which glucogenesis as well as oxaloacetate formation branch off. Here, we present the complete metabolic cycle by which the primary CO2 acceptor molecule acetyl-CoA is regenerated. Oxaloacetate is reduced to succinyl-CoA by an incomplete reductive citric acid cycle lacking 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase or synthase. Succinyl-CoA is reduced to 4-hydroxybutyrate, which is then activated to the CoA thioester. By using the radical enzyme 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydratase, 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA is dehydrated to crotonyl-CoA. Finally, β-oxidation of crotonyl-CoA leads to two molecules of acetyl-CoA. Thus, the cyclic pathway forms an extra molecule of acetyl-CoA, with pyruvate synthase and PEP carboxylase as the carboxylating enzymes. The proposal is based on in vitro transformation of 4-hydroxybutyrate, detection of all enzyme activities, and in vivo-labeling experiments using [1-14C]4-hydroxybutyrate, [1,4-13C2], [U-13C4]succinate, or [1-13C]pyruvate as tracers. The pathway is termed the dicarboxylate/4-hydroxybutyrate cycle. It combines anaerobic metabolic modules to a straightforward and efficient CO2 fixation mechanism.
Absence of Kaposi's sarcoma--associated herpesvirus DNA sequences in multiple myeloma.

To the Editor: Rettig et al[1][1] originally described the presence of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) in cultured bone marrow (BM) stromal dendritic cells of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) using both in situ hybridization and simple, liquid-phase polymerase chain reaction (LP
Predictive Factors for Sustained Remission after Discontinuation of Antiviral Therapy in Patients with HBeAg-positive Chronic Hepatitis B.

BACKGROUND/AIMS The optimal timing for discontinuing oral antiviral therapy in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is unclear. The aim of our study was to investigate sustained remission after stopping antiviral therapy in patients with HBeAg-positive CHB. METHODS We analyzed the medical records of 58 patients who were HBeAg-positive and had discontinued antiviral therapy. Antiviral therapy was discontinued after HBeAg seroconversion and HBV DNA negativity for 6-12 months with consolidation therapy. Virologic relapse was defined as an increase in serum HBV DNA >2,000 IU/mL. RESULTS No difference was observed between the virologic non-relapse and virologic relapse groups in baseline HBV DNA level (p=0.441) or duration of seroconversion (p=0.070). Time-to-undetectable HBV DNA during treatment was shorter in the virologic non-relapse group (29 patients) compared to the relapse group (29 patients) (4.9±2.6 vs. 13.2±12.7 months; p<0.01). Cumulative relapse rates were 12.7 in month 3, 32.7 in month 6, 47.3 in month 12, and 52.7% in month 18. We determined by multivariate analysis that the consolidation period (≥18 months, p=0.020) and early virologic response (HBV DNA <20 IU/mL) at six months during antiviral therapy (p=0.017) were significant predictors for sustained remission. CONCLUSIONS A consolidation period of at least 18 months and early virological response at six months during antiviral therapy were associated with sustained remission in patients with HBeAg-positive CHB after treatment.
Soil pH, Bone Preservation, and Sampling Bias at Mortuary Sites

Prediction of human skeletal preservation at mortuary sites is important in archaeological research and in cultural resources management. In this study, correlations between osseous deterioration and soil acidity, as measured by pH, were found to be significant. Age-associated preservation biases were also evident. The use of multiple regression is suggested as a technique for estimating recovery of human osteological remains in archaeological context.
Successful Management of an Obstructed Tenckhoff Catheter Using an Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) Cytology Brush

lineage,” which is characteristic of ileal Crohn’s (5) but can be seen in any chronic inflammatory condition of the small intestine where previous ulceration has occurred. The peritoneum in this region showed focal subserosal fibrosis, suggesting the ulcer was related to local vascular compromise. None of the other classical “transmural” inflammatory changes associated with longstanding Crohn’s was present. The pattern of subserosal fibrosis was certainly not typical of Crohn’s. In summary, the findings were consistent with a diagnosis of obstruction due to peritoneal sclerosis and ileal encapsulation. This case report demonstrates that EPS can be exquisitely localized and should always be a differential diagnosis of patients with abdominal symptoms following long-term PD. Further study into the etiology and pathogenesis of EPS is essential in better rationalizing therapeutic options for this complex problem facing PD.
Periprosthetic humeral fractures after shoulder arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND Currently, there is little information concerning periprosthetic humeral fractures after shoulder arthroplasty. Therefore, we reviewed our experience with these fractures to determine the results of treatment, the risk factors for periprosthetic fracture, and the rates of reoperation. METHODS Between 1976 and 2001, nineteen postoperative periprosthetic humeral fractures occurred among 3091 patients who had undergone shoulder arthroplasty at our institution. Sixteen patients had a complete series of radiographs and were included in this study. The average time from the arthroplasty to the fracture was forty-nine months. Seven patients had severe osteopenia. Twelve fractures occurred at the tip of the prosthesis; of these, six extended proximally (type-A fractures) and six did not (type-B fractures). Three fractures occurred distal to the implant and extended into the distal humeral metaphysis (type-C fractures). One fracture occurred in the proximal metadiaphyseal region because of osteolysis. RESULTS Six fractures healed after an average of 180 days of nonoperative treatment. Five fractures were treated operatively after an average of 123 days of unsuccessful nonoperative treatment. The remaining five fractures had immediate operative treatment. All sixteen fractures healed. One patient required multiple operations over a period of three years before union was achieved. With the exclusion of this patient and one other patient who received a custom prosthesis, the average time between the first operative procedure and union was 278 days. CONCLUSIONS Our data do not clearly indicate the need for operative treatment of type-A fractures unless the humeral component is loose. A trial of nonoperative treatment may be considered for well-aligned type-B fractures that are associated with a well-fixed humeral component; however, operative intervention should be considered for type-B fractures that have not progressed toward union by three months. If the component is well fixed, open reduction and internal fixation may be performed. If the component is loose, revision with a long-stem component is recommended. For type-C fractures, a trial of nonoperative treatment is recommended.
Parametric analysis of the relationship between end-capillary and mean tissue PO2 as predicted by a mathematical model.

An increase of the partial pressure of oxygen in venules towards larger vessels has been observed experimentally, but the mechanism of this phenomenon has not been established. The present study considers a simple mathematical model of oxygen transport from a capillary to the surrounding tissue cylinder and analyses the conditions under which the end-capillary partial pressure of oxygen is lower than the mean tissue pressure. Under these conditions oxygen would diffuse into the venules since they are surrounded by the tissue with a higher partial pressure of oxygen. Cerebral circulation is chosen for these calculations and conditions of normoxia, hypoxic hypoxia, carbon monoxide hypoxia, anemia, and polycythemia are simulated. The tissue metabolic rate is also varied. It is found that under most conditions the relationship between the end-capillary and mean tissue partial pressures of oxygen can be reversed when one of the parameters is varied within its physiological range, i.e. the difference between these variables could be either positive or negative depending on the value of the parameters. Therefore, under many realistic conditions this mechanism would contribute to an increase of the partial pressure of oxygen in the venules. This conclusion should hold for a more realistic geometrical model of capillary network, but the relationships between the end-capillary and mean tissue partial pressures of oxygen, in addition to their dependence on the parameters considered in this study, would likely be dependent on the spatial location within the network.
Phagosomal membranes of Mycobacterium bovis BCG-immune alveolar macrophages are resistant to disruption by Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv

Data obtained in this study reaffirm that virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv has a potent phagosome-destroying capacity when ingested by normal alveolar macrophages. In contrast, Mycobacterium bovis BCG-immune alveolar macrophages are highly resistant to this virulence mechanism. BCG-immune sera incubated with BCG-immune alveolar macrophages did not increase resistance of BCG-immune alveolar macrophages as compared with the data obtained from experiments with normal sera. BCG-immune sera failed to confer resistance to normal alveolar macrophages against the phagosomal membrane-destroying H37Rv virulence mechanism.
Arthroscopic surgery for osteoarthritis of the knee?

Orthopedic surgeons perform arthroscopic surgery in many joints of the extremities, most commonly the knee. Two or three incisions are routinely made, each measuring approximately 7 mm. The knee is inflated with fluid under pressure, with the assistance of a pump, to facilitate visualization. Because of advances in fiberoptics and instrumentation, many knee procedures (e.g., ligament reconstruction, meniscus excision and repair, synovectomy, and removal of loose bodies) can now be performed arthroscopically, with greater ease and accuracy and fewer complications than with an open incision. However, as with any surgical procedure, arthroscopic surgery is not appropriate for all patients with .