Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Patient education self-management during surgical recovery: combining mobile (iPad) and a content management system.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this investigation was to assess whether a new electronic health (e-health) platform, combining mobile computing and a content management system, could effectively deliver modular and "just-in-time" education to older patients following cardiac surgery. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Patients were provided with iPad(®) (Apple(®), Cupertino, CA) tablets that delivered educational modules as part of a daily "to do" list in a plan of care. The tablet communicated wirelessly to a dashboard where data were aggregated and displayed for providers. RESULTS A surgical population of 149 patients with a mean age of 68 years utilized 5,267 of 6,295 (84%) of education modules delivered over a 5.3-day hospitalization. Increased age was not associated with decreased use. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that age, hospitalization, and major surgery are not significant barriers to effective patient education if content is highly consumable and relevant to patients' daily care experience. We also show that mobile technology, even if unfamiliar to many older patients, makes this possible. The combination of mobile computing with a content management system allows for dynamic, modular, personalized, and "just-in-time" education in a highly consumable format. This approach presents a means by which patients may become informed participants in new healthcare models.
No Antioxidant Effect of Combined HRT on LDL Oxidizability and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Treated Post-Menopausal Women

Objective: To compare oxidative stress and LDL oxidizability in postmenopausal women with and without HRT. Methods: In a cross sectional study, two groups of women, with or without combined per os HRT (1.5–2 mg estrogen associated with 10 mg dydrogesteron), were age and duration of menopause matched. Women were recruited after medical examination at LBSO (Oxidative Stress Laboratory), Joseph Fourier University, Grenoble, and Department of Gynecology, Grenoble University Hospital, France. Main outcome measures included determination of lipid profile and oxidative stress biomarkers (TBARS, LDL oxidizability, auto-antibodies against oxidized-LDL). Measurement of circulating levels of vitamin C, E, β-carotene, lycopene and total antioxidant plasma capacity. Results: HRT led to decreased plasma total and LDL cholesterol (p < 0.05), but did not affect oxidizability and oxidation of LDL. Circulating levels of antioxidant vitamins (β-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E/triglycerides) and total antioxidant capacity of plasma and lipid peroxidation, assessed by plasma TBARs, were not different from controls in postmenopausal women receiving HRT. Conclusion: This study suggests that even if combined HRT modifies the blood lipid profile, it does not appear to influence oxidative status.
The Zografos-Balakrishnan odd log-logistic family of distributions: Properties and Applications

We study some mathematical properties of a new generator of continuous distributions with two additional shape parameters called the Zografos-Balakrishnan odd log-logistic family. We present some special models and investigate the asymptotes and shapes. The density function of the new family can be expressed as a mixture of exponentiated densities based on the same baseline distribution. We derive a power series for its quantile function. Explicit expressions for the ordinary and incomplete moments, quantile and generating functions, Shannon and Renyi entropies and order statistics, which hold for any baseline model, are determined. We estimate the model parameters by maximum likelihood. Two real data sets are used to illustrate the potentiality of the proposed family
Cognitive Strategies of Children with Reading Disability and Normal Readers in Visual Sequential Memory

Primary school boys with reading disability were divided into two groups (dysphonetics and dyseidetics) on the basis of learning style defined by an analysis of spelling errors. Dysphonetics and dyseidetics clearly differed in their cognitive strategies in visual sequential memory tasks, yet were able to remember items presented sequentially provided that the nature of the stimulus was congruent with learning style. In memory for order tasks incorporating both spatial and serial formats, dysphonetics chose spatial order in preference to serial order whereas preferences of dyseidetics were in the opposite direction. When they were required to recognise both spatial order and serial order, dysphonetics made more correct spatial order responses than dyseidetics. The converse was the case for correct serial order responses. As a composite group, children with reading disability were shown to be no less competent in these tasks than normal readers who also revealed strong strategy preferences and little flexibility in switching strategies.
A Comparison of the Fallopian Tube's Response to Overt and Silent Salpingitis

We examined two groups of infertile women who underwent microsurgical repair of their fallopian tube(s) for distal tubal obstruction, one with a history of salpingitis (overt pelvic inflammatory disease) (N=34) and one without (silent pelvic inflammatory disease) (N=25). Nine women with normal tubes undergoing hysterectomy and salpingectomy served as controls. Tubal biopsy specimens were studied by light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy to assess tubal damage. Morphologic damage was scored 0-9, with 0 representing normal tubal architecture and 9 assigned to severe tubal damage. The mean score (± SEM) in women with overt pelvic inflammatory disease was 4.2 ± 0.4; in women with silent pelvic inflammatory disease, 4.3 ± 0.4; and in the control group, 0.76 ± 0.2 (P<.001). Fallopian tube abnormalities seen in women with overt and silent pelvic inflammatory disease included flattened mucosal folds, extensive deciliation, and degeneration of secretory epithelial cells, morphologic changes that are similar to the cellular changes observed in our experimental Chlamydia trachomatis infections in monkeys. Laser lightscattering spectroscopy was used to measure the ciliary activity of the epithelial cells. Ciliary beat frequency was significantly reduced in women with overt pelvic inflammatory disease (N=13; f=6.4 ± 1.2 Hz) and in women with silent pelvic inflammatory disease (N=11; f=7.2 ± 1.2 Hz) as compared with the controls (N=5; f=23 A ± 1.5 Hz) (P<.001). Positive antibody response to C trachomatis was found in 52% of women with overt pelvic inflammatory disease and 57% of women with silent pelvic inflammatory disease; no control women had positive serology. These results indicate that women can have permanently damaged tubes with or without clinical manifestations of disease, and that there is a strong association with previous C trachomatis infection. (Obstet Gynecol 73:622, 1989)
Chain-breaking Antioxidant and Cytoprotective Action of Nitric Oxide on Photodynamically Stressed Tumor Cells¶

Abstract Nitric oxide (•NO) has a multitude of physiological roles, including the ability to protect cells against oxidant-induced killing, e.g. by inhibiting caspase-mediated apoptosis or by intercepting damaging free radicals derived from membrane lipids. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that low flux •NO acting in the latter fashion can enhance tumor-cell resistance to photodynamic killing, specifically that sensitized by 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)–derived protoporphyrin IX (PpIX). Preliminary model experiments with iron-ascorbate–treated, PpIX-sensitized liposomes showed that spermine NONOate (SPER/NO)–derived •NO had no effect on photoinduced accumulation of primary singlet oxygen adducts, e.g. the cholesterol hydroperoxide 5α-OOH, but dose-dependently inhibited the buildup of free radical–generated oxidation products arising from one-electron turnover of primary peroxides. In subsequent studies, breast tumor COH-BR1 cells in serum-free medium were treated with 1 mM ALA for 15 min and then without ALA for 3.75 h, allowing biogenerated PpIX to diffuse to extramitochondrial sites, including plasma membrane. Cells were irradiated in the absence or presence of SPER/NO and compared for peroxidative damage and Hoechst-assessed viability after 5 h in the dark. Iron-stimulated necrotic photokilling and accumulation of chain lipid peroxidation products were observed, and this was inhibited strongly by SPER/NO, but not by decomposed SPER/NO, confirming that •NO was the active agent. When introduced after irradiation, •NO became progressively less inhibitory, consistent with ongoing but waning free-radical activity. These findings provide new insights into the possible role of •NO in tumor resistance to ALA–photodynamic therapy and other photodynamic treatments.
Effects of weather variability and air pollutants on emergency admissions for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases

We examined the effect of ambient temperature, air pressure and air pollutants on daily emergency admissions by identifying the cause of admission for each type of stroke and cardiovascular disease using generalized linear Poisson regression models allowing for overdispersion, and controlling for seasonal and inter-annual variations, days of the week and public holidays, levels of influenza and respiratory syncytial viruses. Every 1°C decrease in mean temperature was associated with an increase in the daily number of emergency admissions by 7.83% (95% CI 2.06–13.25) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and heart failure, by 35.57% (95% CI 15.59–59.02) for intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) and by 11.71% (95% CI 4.1–19.89) for cerebral infarction. An increase of emergency admissions due to ICH (3.25% (95% CI 0.94–5.51)), heart failure (3.56% (95% CI 1.09–5.96)) was observed at every 1 hPa decrease in air pressure from the previous days. We found stronger detrimental effect of cold on stroke than cardiovascular disease.
Proposed clinical case definition for cytomegalovirus-immune recovery retinitis.

BACKGROUND Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis has been extensively described in patients with advanced or late human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease under ineffective treatment of opportunistic infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART) failure. However, there is limited information about patients who develop active cytomegalovirus retinitis as an immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) after successful initiation of ART. Therefore, a case definition of cytomegalovirus-immune recovery retinitis (CMV-IRR) is proposed here. METHODS We reviewed medical records of 116 HIV-infected patients with CMV retinitis attending our institution during January 2003-June 2012. We retrospectively studied HIV-infected patients who had CMV retinitis on ART initiation or during the subsequent 6 months. Clinical and immunological characteristics of patients with active CMV retinitis were described. RESULTS Of the 75 patients under successful ART included in the study, 20 had improvement of CMV retinitis. The remaining 55 patients experienced CMV-IRR; 35 of those developed CMV-IRR after ART initiation (unmasking CMV-IRR) and 20 experienced paradoxical clinical worsening of retinitis (paradoxical CMV-IRR). Nineteen patients with CMV-IRR had a CD4 count of ≥50 cells/µL. Six patients with CMV-IRR subsequently developed immune recovery uveitis. CONCLUSIONS There is no case definition for CMV-IRR, although this condition is likely to occur after successful initiation of ART, even in patients with high CD4 T-cell counts. By consequence, we propose the case definitions for paradoxical and unmasking CMV-IRR. We recommend close follow-up of HIV-infected patients following ART initiation.
Biodistribution and safety assessment of bladder cancer specific recombinant oncolytic adenovirus in subcutaneous xenografts tumor model in nude mice.

BACKGROUND The previous works about safety evaluation for constructed bladder tissue specific adenovirus are poorly documented. Thus, we investigated the biodistribution and body toxicity of bladder specific oncolytic adenovirus Ad-PSCAE-UPII-E1A (APU-E1A) and Ad-PSCAE-UPII-E1A-AR (APU-E1A-AR), providing meaningful information prior to embarking on human clinical trials. MATERIALS AND METHOD Conditionally replicate recombinant adenovirus (CRADs) APU-E1A, APU-EIA-AR were constructed with bladder tissue specific UroplakinII(UPII) promoter to induce the expression of Ad5E1A gene and E1A-AR fusing gene, and PSCAE was inserted at upstream of promoter to enhance the function of promoter. Based on the cytopathic and anti-tumor effect of bladder cancer, these CRADs were intratumorally injected into subcutaneous xenografts tumor in nude mice. We then determined the toxicity through general health and behavioral assessment, hepatic and hematological toxicity evaluation, macroscopic and microscopic postmortem analyses. The spread of the transgene E1A of adenovirus was detected with RT-PCR and Western blot. Virus replication and distribution were examined with APU-LUC administration and Luciferase Assay. RESULTS General assessment and body weight of the animals did not reveal any alteration in general behavior. The hematological alterations of groups which were injected with 5x10(8) pfu or higher dose (5x10(9) pfu) of APU-E1A and APU-E1A-AR showed no difference in comparison with PBS group, and only slight increased transaminases in contrast to PBS group at 5x10(9) pfu of APU-E1A and APU-E1A-AR were observed. E1A transgene did not disseminate to organs outside of xenograft tumor. Virus replication was not detected in other organs beside tumor according to Luciferase Assay. CONCLUSIONS Our study showed that recombinant adenovirus APU-E1A-AR and APU-E1A appear safe with 5x10(7) pfu and 5x10(8) pfu intratumorally injection in mice, without any discernable effects on general health and behavior.
p 38 MAP Kinase Controls IL-17 Synthesis in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Syndrome and Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis

PURPOSE. Interleukin (IL)-17, which is responsible for the initial influx of leukocytes into the target tissue, was recently described as the main cytokine involved in autoimmune diseases. Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome is a significant cause of noninfectious blindness in the world. Herein the authors aimed at unraveling the involvement of IL-17 in VKH and in experimental autoimmune uveitis, focusing on the signaling pathways involved in IL-17 synthesis.
FREQUENCY OF ANTI TOXOCARA ANTIBODIES IN SCHOOL CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC COUGH AND EOSINOPHILIA IN AHWAZ, IRAN

Objectives: To determine the seroprevalence of Toxocara in children having chronic cough. Methodology: It is a cross sectional study conducted at Ahwaz a city southwest Iran, from Sep 2006 to Dec 2006. Analyses were based on 115 children (randomized cluster sampling) with chronic cough (cough with duration of 2 weeks or more). Laboratory exams; CBC, eosinophils absolute count and tests for intestinal parasites were performed. Eosinophils >500/mm3 were considered as eosinophilia. IgG anti-toxocara antibodies test was carried out by ELISA method for eosinophilic child. Results: Out of total 115 children 29(25.2) were eosinophilic, among them 10(34.48%) hypereosinophilic and 40 (34.78%) had intestinal parasites. Frequency of Toxocara-IgG in chronic cough, eosinophilic and hypereosinophilic was 13.9%, 55.2% and 80% respectively. Conclusions: Chronic cough associated eosinophilia among children in Ahwaz may be contributing to Toxocara infection.
Sensitive and specific detection of Xanthomonas campestris pv. pelargonii with DNA primers and probes identified by random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis

The random amplified polymorphic DNA method was used to distinguish strains of Xanthomonas campestris pv. pelargonii from 21 other Xanthomonas species and/or pathovars. Among the 42 arbitrarily chosen primers evaluated, 3 were found to reveal diagnostic polymorphisms when purified DNAs from compared strains were amplified by the PCR. The three primers revealed DNA amplification patterns which were conserved among all 53 strains tested of X. campestris pv. pelargonii isolated from various locations worldwide. The distinctive X. compestris pv. pelargonii patterns were clearly different from those obtained with any of 46 other Xanthomonas strains tested. An amplified 1.2-kb DNA fragment, apparently unique to X. campestris pv. pelargonii by these random amplified polymorphic DNA tests, was cloned and evaluated as a diagnostic DNA probe. It hybridized with total DNA from all 53 X. campestris pv. pelargonii strains tested and not with any of the 46 other Xanthomonas strains tested. The DNA sequence of the terminal ends of this 1.2-kb fragment was obtained and used to design a pair of 18-mer oligonucleotide primers specific for X. campestris pv. pelargonii. The custom-synthesized primers amplified the same 1.2-kb DNA fragment from all 53 X. campestris pv. pelargonii strains tested and failed to amplify DNA from any of the 46 other Xanthomonas strains tested. DNA isolated from saprophytes associated with the geranium plant also did not produce amplified DNA with these primers. The sensitivity of the PCR assay using the custom-synthesized primers was between 10 and 50 cells. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Use of Rhodococcus equi virulence-associated protein for immunization of foals against R equi pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate use of the virulence-associated protein of Rhodococcus equi in immunizing foals against R equi pneumonia. ANIMALS Eight (experimental group) and 6 (controls) mares with their foals. PROCEDURE Virulence-associated protein extracted from R equi was used to prepare an acetone-precipitated. Triton X-extracted (APTX) antigen. After determination of the efficacy of passive immunization, in untreated foals or in foals given plasma from a horse vaccinated with APTX antigen or from a nonvaccinated horse, a field trial was done to evaluate the efficacy of vaccination of 8 mares, twice with APTX before parturition, and of their foals at ages 3 and 5 weeks; 6 mares and their foals served as unvaccinated controls. All 2-day-old foals were given plasma from local donor horses inoculated with a locally produced bacterin. Serum opsonizing activity produced by vaccination with APTX was determined. Passively immunized foals were challenge exposed with an aerosol of virulent R equi. Foals of the field trial were exposed to enzootic R equi infection. RESULTS Inoculation with APTX resulted in high IgG antibody liters with opsonizing activity. Passive immunization of foals with plasma from an immunized horse enhanced bacterial clearance from the lungs, compared with that in foals not given plasma or given plasma without APTX antibodies. Vaccination of mares and foals exposed to natural infection resulted in development of R equi pneumonia in 4 of 8 vaccinated foals, but in only 1 of 6 unvaccinated foals. CONCLUSIONS Vaccination with APTX antigen led to high-titer, opsonizing antibody. Plasma from a vaccinated horse appeared to enhance clearance of R equi from the lungs of foals. Paradoxically, vaccination of mares and their foals with APTX antigen did not protect foals and may have enhanced R equi pneumonia in the foals.
Canine spontaneous brain tumors--a large animal model for BNCT.

Brain tumors occur spontaneously on dogs with an incidence similar to that in humans. Brain tumors of dogs have histologic, radiologic, and other diagnostic similarities to human brain tumors. Tumor kinetics and biologic behavior of these tumors in dogs are also similar to that in man. Recent studies indicate that conventional radiation therapy of brain tumors of dogs result in a survival interval appropriate to study the late radiation reactions in the surrounding normal brain and other tissues within the irradiated field. The relatively large size of the dog allows identical diagnostic and therapeutic modalities and methodology. The dog's head size enables the complex dosimetric variables to be relevant to that found in human radiation therapy. For these reasons, spontaneous brain tumors in the dog are an excellent model to study neuon capture theory (NCT). 7 refs., 1 fig., 3 tabs.
Fatigue, psychological distress, coping and quality of life in patients with uterine cancer.

BACKGROUND Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a subjectively experienced symptom that is multidimensional and multifactorial. Patients with cancer have identified fatigue as one of the major troubling symptoms and the primary cause of distress in their lives. AIMS The major aim of the study was to examine how patients diagnosed with uterine cancer describe their experience of fatigue, psychological distress, coping resources and quality of life. A secondary aim was to describe the relationship between selected variables. METHOD A descriptive and correlational design was used and the study was conducted at a university hospital in Sweden. The study population consisted of women, diagnosed with uterine cancer, who where scheduled to receive curative external radiation therapy. Sixty women participated in the study and data were collected through self-report instruments. Demographic and clinical data were extracted from patient records. The data were collected during year 2000-2002. The Conceptual Model of Symptom Management was used as a framework to guide the study. FINDINGS Patients experienced a low grade of fatigue and psychological distress, but their functional status and global quality of life was high. Significant correlations were found between general fatigue and anxiety and also between general fatigue and depression. There was a significant negative correlation between general fatigue and coping resources. Depression explained 44% of the variance in general fatigue. CONCLUSIONS The findings provide knowledge about predictors of CRF in women with uterine cancer, and can serve as a basis for future longitudinal studies in which different prophylactic strategies against therapy-related fatigue are prospectively studied.
Age group differences in performance using distinct input modalities: A target acquisition performance evaluation

The traditional attitude towards user interfaces has changed. The Post-WIMP era has brought about novel input modalities such as touch, tangibles or gestures that allow users to manipulate digital contents more intuitively. These novel input modalities make use of the users' innate skills instead of imposing the learning of new interaction techniques. Nonetheless, there has not been a systematic evaluation on how, or if, these interfaces influence the users' performance and/or preference: distinct interfaces may be more or less appropriate regarding different age groups, user profiles, contexts or type of tasks. This work is a preliminary evaluation on whether the users' efficiency is indeed influenced by different input modalities or age. We conducted a target acquisition performance evaluation with 60 subjects to understand how different input modalities influence the speed and accuracy of three specific age groups (children, young adults and older-adults) when dealing with a continuous selection task. Three input modalities were considered to perform the task (mouse, touch and gestures) and the methodology was based on Fitts' law, a target acquisition performance evaluation model. Overall, when comparing movement times amongst the three groups, there are significant differences between age groups regarding the index of performance. We believe our findings may show that indeed the type of input modality used and the user's age could affect one's performance.