Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The importance of urinary calcium in postmenopausal women with osteoporotic fracture.

INTRODUCTION Calcium stones are associated with osteoporosis and manifested mainly by elevated fasting urinary calcium/creatinine ratio. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the presence of abnormal metabolism of calcium and calciuria in women with osteoporotic fracture with no previously known renal lithiasis compared to women without osteoporosis and without renal lithiasis. METHODS In total, 87 women were included in the study. They were divided into two groups: Group 1 with 55 postmenopausal women with osteoporotic fracture and without renal lithiasis; and Group 2 with 32 postmenopausal women without osteoporosis and without history of renal lithiasis. The following parameters of phospho-calcium metabolism were analyzed: calciuria 24-hour, oxaluria 24-hour, uricosuria 24-hour, and citraturia 24-hour. The presence of hypercalciuria, hyperoxaluria, hyperuricosuria, and hypocitraturia was compared between groups. Statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS The mean age was 70.1 ± 13.8 in Group 1 and 56.7 ± 6.4 in Group 2 (p = 0.0001). Women in Group 1 had higher levels of serum alkaline phosphatase (p < 0.05) and fasting urinary calcium/creatinine ratio (p < 0.05). The percentage of patients with hypercalciuria in Group 1 (40%) was higher compared to Group 2 (18.8%) and statistically significant (p = 0.04). There were no statistically significant differences in the percentage of hyperoxaluria, hyperuricosuria, and hypocitraturia between groups. This study has its limitations including its cross-sectional nature at a unique centre and its low number of patients. CONCLUSION The determination of urinary calcium and fasting calcium/creatinine ratio in postmenopausal women with osteoporotic fracture without renal lithiasis may facilitate individualization of medical therapy and decreasing lithogenic risk.
Methylation of p16INK4a Is a Non-Rare Event in Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia

The cell cycle inhibitor, p16INK4a may be a useful surrogate biomarker of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN); however, there is currently no consensus of p16INK4a genetic alterations throughout the multiple step process of CIN. Our goal was to identify the methylation frequency of p16INK4a in each step of CIN that is associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, using several different detection methods of p16INK4a methylation to correlate the data. The present study included a total of 43 patients, including 38 with CIN, and 5 normal patients. Three different methods were used to detect hypermethylation of CpG islands, methylation-specific PCR (MSP) amplification of different primer sets of M1, M2, and M3, pyrosequencing of each forward primer region, and immunohistochemistry of p16INK4a. Analysis of MSP showed that 20 of the 38 CIN patients (52.6%) revealed hypermethylation in at least 1 primer set of the p16INK4a promoter. A complete loss of p16INK4a protein expression was observed in 11 cases (28.9%). There was no observed association of methylation of the p16INK4a gene with either CIN grading (P=0.0698) or HPV status (P=0.2811): specifically 42.9% (3/7) was found in CIN 1, 57.1% (8/14) in CIN 2, and 52.9% (9/17) in CIN 3. In concordance with immunohistochemistry results, hypermethylation of the p16INK4a promoter was significantly correlated with a lack of p16 protein expression (P=0.0145). All positive peaks from pyrosequencing matched the MSP results, which ranged from 6.3% to 24.5%. In conclusion, p16INK4a gene silencing during CIN was not determined to be a particularly rare event; however, it does not correlate with either HPV status or CIN grading.
Crucial Mitochondrial Impairment upon CDC48 Mutation in Apoptotic Yeast*

Mutation in CDC48 (cdc48S565G), a gene essential in the endo-plasmic reticulum (ER)-associated protein degradation (ERAD) pathway, led to the discovery of apoptosis as a mechanism of cell death in the unicellular organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Elucidating Cdc48p-mediated apoptosis in yeast is of particular interest, because Cdc48p is the highly conserved yeast orthologue of human valosin-containing protein (VCP), a pathological effector for polyglutamine disorders and myopathies. Here we show distinct proteomic alterations in mitochondria in the cdc48S565G yeast strain. These observed molecular alterations can be related to functional impairment of these organelles as suggested by respiratory deficiency of cdc48S565G cells. Mitochondrial dysfunction in the cdc48S565G strain is accompanied by structural damage of mitochondria indicated by the accumulation of cytochrome c in the cytosol and mitochondrial enlargement. We demonstrate accumulation of reactive oxygen species produced predominantly by the cytochrome bc1 complex of the mitochondrial respiratory chain as suggested by the use of inhibitors of this complex. Concomitantly, emergence of caspase-like enzymatic activity occurs suggesting a role for caspases in the cell death process. These data strongly point for the first time to a mitochondrial involvement in Cdc48p/VCP-dependent apoptosis.
Personal use and professional recommendations of complementary and alternative medicine by Hong Kong registered nurses.

OBJECTIVE To provide an understanding of Hong Kong registered nurses' personal and professional use of complementary and alternative medicine. DESIGN Cross-sectional questionnaire study. PARTICIPANTS Registered nurses who were members of the Hong Kong College of Nursing were invited to participate. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Demographic data of the respondents, prevalence of personal and professional use of complementary and alternative medicines, including their use for detailed clinical conditions. RESULTS A total of 187 nurses participated in this study. Nearly four fifths (80%; 95% confidence interval, 74-86%) of the participants had used at least one form of complementary/alternative medicine. In addition to the personal use of such treatment, over two fifths (41%; 95% confidence interval, 34-48%) had recommended at least one form of complementary/alternative medicine to their patients. These included bone-setting (20%), Chinese remedial massage (tuina, 19%), and meditation (19%). Specifically, registered nurses recommended acupuncture or acupressure to patients with musculoskeletal disorders, chronic pain, or headaches/migraines. CONCLUSIONS Personal use and professional recommendations for complementary and alternative medicine by registered nurses in Hong Kong is substantial. Registered nurses played an active role in advising such treatment for their patients based on their personal knowledge of perceived benefit in specific conditions. Further investigations with a larger sample size should focus on registered nurses' educational needs in respect of complementary and alternative medicine and the advice they recommended.
Endoscopic Outcome Beyond Esophageal Variceal Eradication in Children with Extrahepatic Portal Venous Obstruction

Objectives: To find out the recurrence of esophageal varices, evolution of gastric varices, portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) and risk of rebleeding following esophageal variceal eradication. Methods: Between 1992 and 2002, children with extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) and bleeding from esophageal varices received endoscopic injection sclerotherapy until eradication. Surveillance endoscopy was performed initially at 3 months and subsequently at intervals of 6 months to one year to detect esophageal and gastric varices, and PHG. Gastric varices were classified as gastroesophageal (GOV) or isolated gastric varices (IGV). Gastroesophageal varices included types GOV1 and GOV2 that extend along lesser and greater curvatures respectively. Patients who had recurrence of bleeding were evaluated by emergency upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Results: 163 of 183 children who achieved esophageal variceal eradication were evaluated. Esophageal varices recurred in 40% cases. Primary gastric varices (before sclerotherapy) were seen in 61% cases [GOV 98% (83% GOV1, 15% GOV2) and IGV 2%] and secondary (after sclerotherapy) in 28% [GOV 71% (47% GOV1, 24% GOV2) and IGV 29%]. Secondary gastric varices were distributed as 20% GOV1, 42% GOV2 and 87% IGV. Frequency of gastric varices before sclerotherapy and at the last follow up showed decrease in GOV1 from 82 to 56 (P = 0.02), increase in GOV2 from 15 to 23 and increase in IGV from 2 to 15 (P < 0.001). PHG increased in frequency from 12% to 41% (P < 0.001) and severity from one patient to 12 (P < 0.001). Eleven cases had rebleeding from gastric varices (5 GOV1, 4 GOV2 and 2 IGV). Conclusions: Following esophageal variceal eradication in children with EHPVO a significant decrease in GOV1, increase in IGV and increased frequency and severity of PHG takes place. Small rebleeding risk persists from gastric varices irrespective of the type.
H-band MMIC amplifiers in 250 nm InP DHBT

In this paper, single-stage and multistage amplifiers of two different topologies, common-base with resistive feedback and common-emitter, operating at up to 290 GHz are presented and demonstrated. The amplifiers use an indium-phosphide (InP) double-heterojunction bipolar transistor (DHBT) process. The multistage common-emitter amplifier demonstrates a gain above 10 dB from 220 to 280 GHz with a peak gain of 15 dB while the multistage common-base amplifier demonstrates a gain of 16 dB at 265 GHz.
Persistent Japanese encephalitis in Kathmandu: the need for immunization.

Japanese encephalitis (JE) has spread to new areas of Asia during the last 25 years.1,2 It was previously believed that JE in Nepal was limited to the tropical lowlands (Terai). We reported the first known outbreak of JE in the Kathmandu Valley in 1995.3 Here,we report persistent outbreaks during subsequent years that we believe support a change in policy of immunization for travelers to Kathmandu.
Genetic analysis of ORF5 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus isolated in Vietnam

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is one of the most economically important swine pathogens because it is highly infectious and causes economic losses due to decreased pig productivity. In this study, the 603 bp complete major envelope protein encoding gene (ORF5) of 32 field PRRSV isolates from Vietnam collected during 2008–2012 were sequenced and analyzed. Multiple nucleotide (nt) and deduced amino acid (aa) alignments of ORF5 were performed on the 32 isolates: the representative strains (European and North American genotypes), Chinese strains available in GenBank and vaccine strains licensed for use in Vietnam. The results showed 94.8–100.0% nt identity and 94.0–100% aa similarity among the 32 isolates. These isolates shared similarities with the prototype of the North American PRRSV strain (VR‐2332; nt 87.8–89.3%, aa 87.5–90.0%), and Lelystat virus, the prototype of the European PRRSV strain (LV; nt 61.1–61.9%, aa 55.1‐57.0%). There was greater similarity with QN07 (nt 96.5‐98.5%, aa 96.0‐99.0%) from the 2007 PRRS outbreak in QuangNam Province, CH‐1a (nt 93.2–95.1%, 91.5–93.5%) isolated in China in 1995 and JXA1 (nt 96.5–98.6%, aa 95.0–98.0%), the highly pathogenic strain from China isolated in 2006. The Vietnamese isolates were more similar to JXA1‐R (nt 96.5–98.6%, aa 95.0–98.0%), the strain used in Chinese vaccines, than to Ingelvac MLV/BSL‐PS (nt 87.2–89.0%, aa 86.0–89.0%). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the 32 isolates were of the North American genotype and classified into sub‐lineage 8.7. This sub‐lineage contains highly pathogenic Chinese PRRSV strains. This study documents genetic variation in circulating PRRSV strains and could assist more effective use of PRRS vaccines in Vietnam.
Characteristics of noises in high-temperature YBCO Josephson junctions

In this work, the characteristics of the noises for high-temperature YBCO Josephson junctions and SQUIDs were studied. The noise power spectrum densities showed complicated behaviors, which may be attributed to many causes. In order to realize the contributions of these causes to the noise, the noise power spectra were detected at various bias currents. Thus, the noises owing to the critical current fluctuation, resistance fluctuation or apparent flux motion can be investigated. By comparing these noise power spectra under the different conditions, the origins of the noises for the junctions and SQUIDs can be clarified.
Asian Monsoon Failure and Megadrought During the Last Millennium

Of Monsoons and Megadroughts The Asian monsoon is the weather system that has the greatest effect on the greatest number of people in the world. Naturally then, knowing better how climate change might affect the monsoon is tremendously important. One obstacle that prevents a better understanding of future behavior is a poor knowledge of its past. Cook et al. (p. 486; see the Perspective by Wahl and Morrill) help to fill this gap with a 700-year reconstruction of the monsoon from tree-ring data obtained throughout Asia. The reconstruction chronicles monsoon failures and megadroughts, as well as patterns of precipitation, and can thus be compared with other relevant climate records to allow links with sea-surface temperatures to be better understood. Tree-ring data from more than 300 locations provide a 700-year-long record of monsoon variability throughout Asia. The Asian monsoon system affects more than half of humanity worldwide, yet the dynamical processes that govern its complex spatiotemporal variability are not sufficiently understood to model and predict its behavior, due in part to inadequate long-term climate observations. Here we present the Monsoon Asia Drought Atlas (MADA), a seasonally resolved gridded spatial reconstruction of Asian monsoon drought and pluvials over the past millennium, derived from a network of tree-ring chronologies. MADA provides the spatiotemporal details of known historic monsoon failures and reveals the occurrence, severity, and fingerprint of previously unknown monsoon megadroughts and their close linkages to large-scale patterns of tropical Indo-Pacific sea surface temperatures. MADA thus provides a long-term context for recent monsoon variability that is critically needed for climate modeling, prediction, and attribution.
Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndromes: Evidence Supporting the Cholinergic Overdrive Hypothesis

The authors present case examples of the various antidepressant withdrawal syndromes. Substantial evidence supports the contention that these syndromes result from cholinergic overdrive; thus, they may have a common pathophysiological basis. Even paradoxical reactions on antidepressant withdrawal, such as mania, are consistent with the cholinergic overdrive hypothesis. If the cholinergic overdrive hypothesis is accepted, antidepressant withdrawal phenomena lend support to the cholinergic-adrenergic hypothesis of affective illness. The cholinergic overdrive hypothesis is both of considerable heuristic value and is further testable by the study of the tonic and phasic aspects of sleep and neuroendocrine parameters in the withdrawal state.
TUBULAR LAVA STALACTITES AND OTHER RELATED

Tubular lava stalactites are found in many lava tubes. Field observations, sample analysis, and comparative studies indicate that these are segregations extruded during cooling from partially crystallized lava at about 1,070° to 1,000°C. Retrograde boiling within the lava creates a vuggy fabric and provides a mechanism to expel the interstitial liquid. In addition to tubular lava stalactites, a variety of other lava formations can also result.
Calorie restriction alleviates the age‐related decrease in neural progenitor cell division in the aging brain

Production of new neurons from stem cells is important for cognitive function, and the reduction of neurogenesis in the aging brain may contribute to the accumulation of age‐related cognitive deficits. Restriction of calorie intake and prolonged treatment with rapamycin have been shown to extend the lifespan of animals and delay the onset of the age‐related decline in tissue and organ function. Using a reporter line in which neural stem and progenitor cells are marked by the expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP), we examined the effect of prolonged exposure to calorie restriction (CR) or rapamycin on hippocampal neural stem and progenitor cell proliferation in aging mice. We showed that CR increased the number of dividing cells in the dentate gyrus of female mice. The majority of these cells corresponded to nestin–GFP‐expressing neural stem or progenitor cells; however, this increased proliferative activity of stem and progenitor cells did not result in a significant increase in the number of doublecortin‐positive newborn neurons. Our results suggest that restricted calorie intake may increase the number of divisions that neural stem and progenitor cells undergo in the aging brain of females.
The Role of &ohgr;-3 Fatty Acid Supplemented Parenteral Nutrition in Critical Illness in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective:To determine whether the supplementation of parenteral nutrition with &ohgr;-3 fatty acids confers treatment benefits to critically ill adult patients. Data Source:We performed computerized searches for relevant articles from 1996 to June 2011 on MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane register of controlled trials and abstracts of scientific meetings from 2005 to 2011. Study Selection:Randomized controlled trials of &ohgr;-3 fatty acid supplemented parenteral nutrition in critically ill adult patients admitted to the intensive therapy unit, given in addition to their routine care, compared with parenteral nutrition without &ohgr;-3 fatty acid supplementation. Data Synthesis:Five fully published trials and three trials published in abstract form with 391 participants have been included. Overall trial quality was poor. Mortality data were pooled from eight studies with 391 participants. No differences were found with a risk ratio for death of 0.83 (95% confidence interval 0.57, 1.20; p = 0.32). Data for infectious complications were available from five studies with 337 participants. No differences were found, with a risk ratio for infection of 0.78 (95% confidence interval 0.43, 1.41; p = 0.41). Data for intensive therapy unit and hospital length of stay were available from six and three studies with 305 and 117 participants, respectively. With respect to intensive therapy unit length of stay, no differences were observed with a mean difference of 0.57 days in favor of the &ohgr;-3 fatty acid group (95% confidence interval –5.05, 3.90; p = 0.80). A significant reduction in hospital length of stay of 9.49 days (95% confidence interval –16.51, –2.47; p = 0.008) was observed for those receiving &ohgr;-3 fatty acid supplemented parenteral nutrition, but results were strongly influenced by one small study. Conclusions:On the basis of this systematic review, it can be concluded that &ohgr;-3 fatty acid supplementation of parenteral nutrition does not improve mortality, infectious complications, and intensive therapy unit length of stay in comparison with standard parenteral nutrition. Although &ohgr;-3 fatty acids appear to reduce hospital length of stay, the poor methodology of the included studies and the absence of other outcome improvements mean they cannot be presently recommended.
Computer Networks and Productivity Revisited: Does Plant Size Matter? Evidence and Implications

Numerous studies have documented a positive association between information technology (IT) investments and business- and establishment-level productivity, but these studies usually pay sole or disporportionate attention to small- or medium-sized entities. In this paper, we revisit the evidence for manufacturing plants presented in Atrostic and Nguyen (2005) and show that the positive relationship between computer networks and labor productivity is only found among small- and medium-sized plants. Indeed, for larger plants the relationship is negative, and employment-weighted estimates indicate computer networks have a negative relationship with the productivity of employees, on average. These findings indicate that computer network investments may have an ambiguous relationship with aggregate labor productivity growth.
Pupil Scaling for the Estimation of Aberrations in Natural Pupils

Purpose This study aimed to validate the mathematical Zernike pupil size scaling from bigger pupils to smaller pupils, and vice versa, by comparing the estimates of the Zernike coefficients with corresponding clinical measurements obtained at different pupil sizes. Methods The i.Profiler Plus (Carl Zeiss Vision, Inc, USA) was used to obtain measures of wavefront aberrations for two pupil sizes (3 mm and the maximum natural pupil size) from the right eyes of 28 visually normal subjects (mean [±SD] age, 57 [±7] years) whose maximum pupil size was greater than or equal to 5 mm without pharmacological dilation. Zernike coefficients were estimated for a 3-mm pupil size scaling down from the measured data of the maximum natural pupil size and, similarly, for the maximum pupil size scaling up from the measured data of the 3-mm pupil. Results The differences between the estimated and measured values were not significantly different (repeated-measures analysis of variance; p > 0.05) over the range of pupil sizes examined, irrespective of whether the estimates were made by scaling up from a small pupil or scaling down from a large pupil. However, the difference between the measured and estimated coefficients was more variable and less systematic when scaling to a larger pupil size when compared with scaling to a smaller pupil size. Conclusions Estimation of ocular wavefront aberration coefficients either scaling down from large to smaller pupils or scaling up from smaller to large pupils provides estimates that are not significantly different from clinically measured values. However, when scaling up to a larger pupil size, the estimates are more variable. These findings have implications for pupil scaling on an individual basis, such as in cases of refractive surgery or when using pupil scaling to examine a clinical cohort.
A comprehensive long-term retrospective analysis of silent corticotrophic adenomas vs hormone-negative adenomas.

BACKGROUND Silent corticotrophic adenomas (SCAs) stain adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)+ without causing Cushing disease. SCAs are reportedly more aggressive, but information comes from small series. OBJECTIVE To determine whether SCAs behave more aggressively than hormone-negative adenomas (HNAs), and characterize SCA ACTH production alterations. METHODS SCAs (n = 75) and HNAs (n = 1726) diagnosed at our institution from 1990 to 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. RT-PCR was used to compare expression of ACTH-producing factors. RESULTS SCA patients exhibited comparable sex and age as HNA patients (P = .7-.9). SCAs exhibited comparable size as HNAs (2.2 vs 2.0 cm, P = .2), with cavernous sinus invasion in 30% of SCAs vs 18% of HNAs (P = .03). SCA patients had higher mean preoperative serum ACTH (46 vs 19 ng/L; P = .005; normal = 5-27 ng/L), but comparable serum cortisol (13 vs 12 μg/dL; normal = 4-22 μg/dL; P < .05) as HNA patients. SCAs were gross totally resected 59% of the time, vs 53% for HNAs (P = .8). Kaplan-Meier 3-year progression/recurrence rates were 34% for strongly ACTH-positive Type I SCAs, 10% for weakly ACTH-positive Type II SCAs, and 6% for HNAs (P < .001 SCA vs HNA; P < .001 Type I vs HNA; and P = .08 Type II vs HNA). Expression of ACTH precursor pro-opiomelanocortin was 900-fold elevated in SCAs and 1300-fold elevated in Cushing disease-causing adenomas (CDCAs) vs HNAs (P < .001). Transcription of PC1/3, which cleaves pro-opiomelanocortin into ACTH, was 30-fold higher in CDCAs than SCAs (P = .02). CONCLUSION In the largest series to date, SCAs exhibited comparable size, but increased cavernous sinus invasion and progression/recurrence vs HNAs. SCAs exhibit deficient pro-opiomelanocortin to ACTH conversion. Close follow-up is warranted for SCAs.