Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Laser Doppler Flowmetry in Asymmetric Glaucoma

Purpose. To evaluate the relationship between extent of glaucoma damage and optic nerve blood flow, we investigated optic nerve head blood flow in patients with asymmetric glaucoma damage between their two eyes and also in glaucomatous eyes with asymmetric damage inferiorly versus superiorly. Methods. From our institutional practice, 16 subjects with asymmetric glaucoma damage between their two eyes and 25 eyes of 20 patients with asymmetric damage superiorly versus inferiorly were included in the study. Determinations of relative optic nerve head blood flow, velocity, and volume were obtained with laser Doppler flowmetry in the superotemporal and inferotemporal neuroretinal rim and in the cup. Means of flow (Flow3), velocity (Vel3), and volume (Vol3) were calculated from these three measurement sites, and eyes or hemidisks with greater glaucomatous damage were compared to eyes or hemidisks with less damage. Results. For subjects with asymmetric glaucoma damage between eyes, Flow3 and Vel3 were significantly lower in the eyes with worse glaucoma damage (mean difference=2.09, p=0.005, and mean difference=0.05, p=0.002, respectively). When comparing optic disks displaying within-eye asymmetry, the hemidisk with greater damage showed significantly lower blood velocity than the hemidisk with less damage (mean difference=0.05, p=0.013); however, no difference in blood flow or volume was detected. Conclusions. This study provides additional evidence that impaired optic nerve circulation is associated with the extent of glaucomatous pathology.
RECENT VARIATIONS IN THE SEASON OF BIRTH IN PUERTO RICO.

the external sheath or membrane. Therefore, in isolated fibers the electrical conductivity of the myelin is greater than the conductivity of the Schwann membrane. The physiological role of the myelin is, of course, to determine, together with the Schwann membrane, the values of the natural units of length X and of time r and therefore the manner in which the action currents spread electrotonically ahead of the traveling nerve impulse. When its conductivity increases, the myelin layer can no longer fulfill its role. Therefore, it can properly be said that the myelinated fibers of desheathed nerves are partly demyelinated fibers, and that the isolated myelinated fiber actually is a demyelinated fiber. Summary.Applied cathodal currents can initiate impulses at all points of the internodes of the fibers of desheathed nerves. However, important periodic variations of threshold appear because, as a consequence of damage done by removal of the sheath, the juxtanodal segments of the internodes undergo a certain degree of depolarization, and demarcation currents flow in the direction from the centers of the internodes toward the juxtanodal segments. In the fibers of desheathed nerves the electrical resistance of the myelin layer is much smaller than in normal nerve fibers. In isolated nerve fibers the resistance of the myelin is so low as to be negligible. The isolated myelinated nerve fiber actually is a demyelinated nerve fiber.
Sense of Time and Executive Functioning in Children and Adults

A number of patient studies suggest that impairments in frontal lobe functions are associated with disorders in temporal information processing. One implication of these findings is that subjective experience of time should be related to executive functions regardless of etiology. In two experiments, we examined sense of time in relation to components of executive functioning in healthy children and adults. In Experiment 1, children between 8 to 12 years completed six experimental tasks that tapped three components of executive functioning: inhibition, updating, and mental shifting. Sense of time was examined in a duration judgment task in which participants reproduced stimulus durations between 4 to 32 s. In Experiment 2, adult participants completed the time reproduction task under varying concurrent task demands. Both experiments showed selective effects in that time reproduction errors were related to the inhibition and updating, but not to the shifting, components of executive functioning. However, the observed effects were modulated by task demands and age-related differences in cognitive competence. We conclude that individual differences in executive functioning are only weakly related to time reproduction performance in healthy children and adults.
Efficacy of the McKenzie Method in Patients With Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Protocol of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background The McKenzie method is widely used as an active intervention in the treatment of patients with nonspecific low back pain. Although the McKenzie method has been compared with several other interventions, it is not yet known whether this method is superior to placebo in patients with chronic low back pain. Objective The purpose of this trial is to assess the efficacy of the McKenzie method in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain. Design An assessor-blinded, 2-arm, randomized placebo-controlled trial will be conducted. Setting This study will be conducted in physical therapy clinics in São Paulo, Brazil. Participants The participants will be 148 patients seeking care for chronic nonspecific low back pain. Intervention Participants will be randomly allocated to 1 of 2 treatment groups: (1) McKenzie method or (2) placebo therapy (detuned ultrasound and shortwave therapy). Each group will receive 10 sessions of 30 minutes each (2 sessions per week over 5 weeks). Measurements The clinical outcomes will be obtained at the completion of treatment (5 weeks) and at 3, 6, and 12 months after randomization. The primary outcomes will be pain intensity (measured with the Pain Numerical Rating Scale) and disability (measured with the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire) at the completion of treatment. The secondary outcomes will be pain intensity; disability and function; kinesiophobia and global perceived effect at 3, 6, and 12 months after randomization; and kinesiophobia and global perceived effect at completion of treatment. The data will be collected by a blinded assessor. Limitations Therapists will not be blinded. Conclusions This will be the first trial to compare the McKenzie method with placebo therapy in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain. The results of this study will contribute to better management of this population.
Oscillatory orbits of the Parametrically excited Pendulum

We consider oscillatory, nonrotating periodic solutions of the parametrically excited pendulum. We determine the zones in the parameter space in which different types of oscillatory solutions are realized. In particular we determine the zones in which the T-periodic and 2T-periodic harmonic and subharmonic oscillatory solutions are the dominant type of stable solutions. The symmetry properties of these solutions and the associated scenarios of transition to tumbling chaos are also discussed.
Adaptive ordering for imperfect successive decision feedback multiuser detection

A method for selecting the order in which the users are detected in communication systems employing adaptive successive decision feedback multiuser detection is proposed. Systems employing channel coding without the assumption of perfect decision feedback are analyzed. The method is based on the mean squared error (MSE) measurements during a training period for each user. The analysis' shows that the method delivers BER performance improvement relative to other previously proposed ordering methods.
Response of antioxidant defense system to laser radiation apical meristem of Isatis indigotica seedlings exposed to UV-B

To determine the response of antioxidant defense system to laser radiation apical meristem of Isatis indigotica seedlings, Isatis indigotica seedlings were subjected to UV-B radiation (10.08 kJ m-2) for 8 h day-1 for 8 days (PAR, 220 µmol m-2 s-1) and then exposed to He-Ne laser radiation (633 nm; 5.23 mW mm-2; beam diameter: 1.5 mm) for 5 min each day without ambient light radiation. Changes in free radical elimination systems were measured, the results indicate that: (1) UV-B radiation enhanced the concentration of Malondialdahyde (MDA) and decreased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) in seedlings compared with the control. The concentration of MDA was decreased and the activities of SOD, CAT and POD were increased when seedlings were subjected to elevated UV-B damage followed by laser; (2) the concentration of UV absorbing compounds and proline were increased progressively with UV-B irradiation, laser irradiation and He-Ne laser irradiation plus UV-B irradiation compared with the control. These results suggest that laser radiation has an active function in repairing UV-B-induced lesions in seedlings.
Direct and Indirect Reputation Formation in Nonhuman Great Apes and Human Children

Humans make decisions about when and with whom to cooperate based on their reputations. People either learn about others by direct interaction or by observing third-party interactions or gossip. An important question is whether other animal species, especially our closest living relatives, the nonhuman great apes, also form reputations of others. In Study 1, chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans, and 2.5-year-old human children experienced a nice experimenter who tried to give food/toys to the subject and a mean experimenter who interrupted the food/toy giving. In studies 2 and 3, nonhuman great apes and human children could only passively observe a similar interaction, in which a nice experimenter and a mean experimenter interacted with a third party. Orangutans and 2.5-year-old human children preferred to approach the nice experimenter rather than the mean one after having directly experienced their respective behaviors. Orangutans, chimpanzees, and 2.5-year-old human children also took into account experimenter actions toward third parties in forming reputations. These studies show that the human ability to form direct and indirect reputation judgment is already present in young children and shared with at least some of the other great apes.
Feasibility and impact of a structured, exercise-based rehabilitation programme for intensive care survivors

Our objective was to assess the impact of an outpatient physiotherapy-led rehabilitation programme on exercise capacity and anxiety and depression scores in a cohort of adult intensive care survivors. In a prospective study in a teaching hospital, 38 general intensive care survivors following hospital discharge underwent an established physiotherapy-led outpatient rehabilitation programme. The programme involved 2 hours of supervised exercise and education sessions each week and two unsupervised exercise sessions each week for 6 weeks. Assessments took place 1 week before and 1 week after completing the programme. Primary outcome measures were changes in exercise capacity measured using the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT). Secondary outcome measures were changes in anxiety and depression scores using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Median distance covered in the 6MWT improved by 160 metres (p<0.001), and median distance covered in the ISWT also improved by 160 metres (p < 0.001). Significant improvement in anxiety (p = 0.001) and depression (p = 0.001) scores were also seen. Outpatient, physiotherapy-lead rehabilitation appears to improve both exercise capacity and anxiety and depression scores in a cohort of intensive care survivors. A similar programme should be tested in a randomised controlled trial.
KRAS and BRAF Mutation Status in Patients with Sporadic Colorectal Cancer: Data from Two Different Mediterranean Countries

mentioned borderline statistical significance, most of the frequent carriers of KRAS mutations among women were those younger than 60 years of age (2). Offering a descriptive approach by revisiting our analysis in the study of 2007, among women younger than 60 years KRAS codon 12 mutations were detected in 28.6% of cases while among women older than 61 years a frequency of 18.7% was calculated (2). Both studies highlighted the need for bioclinical research involving larger population groups (1, 2). Along these lines it is also important to collect data from neighboring countries with financially limited resources for research and to establish possible common trends or differences despite possible weaknesses, so that future studies can be properly designed (6). In the era of globalization, this observation becomes even more relevant because it will help us build joint projects by using preagreed techniques or protocols, and gain major investigational benefit in terms of clinical usefulness.
Función neuropsicológica en la fenilcetonuria tratada precozmente: Una revisión

La fenilcetonuria (FCU) es un error metabólico congénito que implica una deficiencia de la enzima fenilalanina hidroxilasa. Este proceso da lugar a niveles elevados de fenilalanina y niveles bajos de tirosina. Si no se administra tratamiento aparecen graves secuelas neuropatológicas y neuroconductuales. La puesta en práctica de la detección sistemática de recién nacidos y el tratamiento dietético precoz ha reducido significativamente esta morbilidad. A pesar de una función intelectual general relativamente conservada, en los pacientes con FCU tratados precozmente se detectan todavía sutiles deficiencias cognitivas y conductuales. Este trabajo aporta una revisión de los datos del deterioro de la elaboración de información, la función ejecutiva, la memoria, el aprendizaje, el aprovechamiento escolar y la conducta. En este trabajo también revisamos las dos teorías principales propuestas hasta la fecha en relación con los mecanismos subyacentes de las deficiencias cognitivas y conductuales halladas en pacientes con FCU tratados, concretamente la disfunción prefrontal y las anomalías de la sustancia blanca. Aunque es necesario ampliar la investigación, la literatura disponible hasta la fecha da a entender que los pacientes afectados de FCU tratados precozmente presentan un riesgo de deficiencias neuroconductuales insidiosas en toda una gama de dominios neuropsicológicos. Por lo tanto, los pacientes con FCU tienen que ser monitorizados minuciosamente para detectar precozmente estos problemas y aplicar intervenciones apropiadas capaces de asegurar que estos pacientes alcancen su pleno potencial.
“ No Mesh Technique of Inguinal Hernia Repair – Desarda ’ s Repair ”

Background: The Desarda’s technique for inguinal hernia repair is a new tissue-based method. Application of the external oblique muscle aponeurosis in the form of an undetached strip (which makes the posterior wall of the inguinal canal stronger) has been established as a new concept in tissue-based hernia repair. Method: A prospective study of 50 hernia patients operated by Desarda technique was conducted in Government Medical College, Jammu during a period from November 2012 to October 2013. Data of intra operative complications, pain, hospital stay, ambulation, time to return to work, and postoperative complications were recorded and analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS software for Windows Results: The age of the patients varied from 16 to 85 years with a mean age (± standard deviation) of 46.7 (± 17.8) years. In the present study, majority of operations (48; 96%) were done under spinal anaesthesia. Average time taken was 40 to 120 minutes with a mean of 54.86 minutes. All patients (48; 96%) were ambulatory on the first post-operative day, i.e. 12 to 24 hours. Pain was assessed by Visual Analogue Scale score. Patients who were operated under local anaesthesia (2; 4%) were discharged on the first postoperative day (<24 hours). Out of the rest 48 patients who were operated under spinal anaesthesia, 43 (86%) were discharged on the second postoperative day (24 to 48 hours). Only 5 (10%) patients required to prolong their stay in the hospital beyond 48 hours. In the present study, 45 (90%) patients returned to work within 2 weeks of surgery done. Only 5 (10%) patients prolonged their period of return to work to more than 2 weeks. Minor complications were encountered in the present study 3 (6%) patients developed seroma, 3(6%) developed wound infection, while 1 (2%) developed ecchymosis. Conclusion: The operating technique is very simple and safe, cost effective, easy to understand and at the same time has shown excellent result.
Randomized clinical trial examining the incremental efficacy of a 90-minute motivational alcohol intervention as an adjunct to standard batterer intervention for men.

AIMS The efficacy of batterer intervention programs to reduce intimate partner violence (IPV) is questionable, with individuals with alcohol problems particularly unlikely to benefit. We examined whether adding adjunctive alcohol intervention to batterer intervention reduced the likelihood of substance use and violence relative to batterer intervention alone. DESIGN Randomized clinical trial. SETTING Batterer intervention programs in Rhode Island, USA. PARTICIPANTS A total of 252 hazardous drinking men in batterer intervention programs. Participants were randomized to receive 40 hours of standard batterer program (SBP) or the SBP plus a 90-minute alcohol intervention (SBP + BAI). None withdrew due to adverse effects. Data were collected at baseline, 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-up, with follow-up rates of 95, 89 and 82%, respectively. MEASUREMENTS Substance use was measured with a well-validated calendar-assisted interview. Violence was measured with a validated questionnaire. Arrest records were obtained for all participants. The primary substance use outcome was drinks per drinking day (DPDD) and the primary violence outcome was frequency of any physical IPV. FINDINGS Relative to SBP alone, men receiving SBP + BAI reported consuming fewer DPDD at 3-month follow-up [B = -1.36, 95% confidence interval (CI): -2.65, -0.04, P = 0.04] but not 6- or 12-month follow-up. In secondary analyses, men receiving SBP + BAI reported significantly greater abstinence at 3- (B = 0.09, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.14, P = 0.002) and 6-month (B = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.11, P = 0.01) follow-up but not 12-month follow-up. There were no significant differences in physical IPV between men receiving SBP and men receiving SBP + BAI. In secondary analyses, men receiving SBP + BAI reported less severe physical aggression at 3-month (IRR = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.65, P = 0.009) but not 6- or 12-month follow-up. Men receiving SBP + BAI reported less severe psychological aggression (B = -1.24, 95% CI: -2.47, -0.02, P = 0.04) and fewer injuries to partners at 3- and 6-month follow-up (IRR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.92, P = 0.03), with differences fading by 12 months. CONCLUSIONS Men with a history of intimate partner violence and hazardous drinking who received a batterer intervention plus an alcohol intervention showed improved alcohol and violence outcomes initially, but improvements faded by 12 months.
The Effect of Apolipoprotein A-II on the Structure and Function of Apolipoprotein A-I in a Homogeneous Reconstituted High Density Lipoprotein Particle*

In this study we examined the effects of apoA-II on the structure and function of apoA-I in homogeneous reconstituted HDL (rHDL). First, we measured the binding of apoA-II to apoA-I-rHDL, containing dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine or palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylcholine, and the degree of apoA-I displacement at various ratios of apolipoproteins. Using fluorescence methods, we determined that apoA-II binding is rapid, irreversible, and associated with apoA-I displacement only when the molar ratio of apoA-II/apoA-I is greater than 1:2. Next, we used the stable apoA-II/apoA-I-rHDL complex at the apoA-II/apoA-I ratio of 1:2 to examine its physical properties, apoA-I structure, and reactivity with lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT). Using chemical cross-linking in conjunction with fluorescence and electrophoretic methods, we demonstrated that the conformation of apoA-I must be flexible to allow apoA-II binding to the apoA-I-rHDL particles and showed that the hybrid particles have an unchanged Stokes diameter. Fluorescence and circular dichroism measurements revealed little or no change in the secondary structure or in the N-terminal domain of apoA-I, but showed a marked destabilization of apoA-I to denaturation by guanidine hydrochloride. Limited tryptic digestion indicated that the central region of apoA-I becomes accessible to proteolysis in the hybrid particles. Together, these results suggest that amphipathic α-helices of apoA-II replace four central helices of one apoA-I molecule (residues ∼99–187) in the complex and in the process destabilize apoA-I. Thus, apoA-II binding at physiologic ratios may not completely displace apoA-I from HDL, but may provide a reservoir of easily exchangeable apoA-I. Finally, we showed that the reaction of the hybrid HDL with LCAT was inhibited 2–5-fold, relative to apoA-I-rHDL, due to a corresponding increase in the apparent K m value. This suggests that LCAT binding to the hybrid particles is sterically hindered by the excess protein (portions of apoA-I and apoA-II not bound to lipid). Therefore, apoA-II can modulate the reaction of HDL with LCAT by decreasing LCAT binding to hybrid particles and making the enzyme available for reaction with other substrates.
Effects of increased body weight and short-term weight loss on serum PCSK9 levels – a prospective pilot study

Introduction Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is associated with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) catabolism, but its serum concentration is not uniformly associated with cardiovascular disease in clinical studies. Obesity is linked with increased cardiovascular risk, but the effect of increased body weight and short-term weight loss on serum PCSK9 levels is not well studied. Material and methods The aim of this prospective pilot study was to assess differences in serum PCSK9 levels (determined with a quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay) between otherwise healthy drug-naïve obese subjects and healthy individuals with normal body weight. Additionally, PCSK9 levels were determined at baseline and after a 3-month weight-loss program with a low-fat diet in a randomly assigned subgroup of the obese subjects (n = 15). Results Obese subjects (n = 35) were older (age: 43 ±11 years) and had significantly higher body mass index, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein B and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA) index levels, as well as significantly lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration, compared with normal-weight subjects (n = 20, age: 35 ±6 years). Serum PCSK9 levels were significantly higher in obese subjects compared with normal-weight individuals, even after adjustment for age, LDL-C, triglycerides, HDL-C, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B, apolipoprotein E, glucose, insulin and HOMA index levels (p = 0.018). Obese subjects experienced significant weight loss (from 109 ±22 to 104 ±23 kg, p < 0.01), but serum PCSK9 levels did not significantly change after the 3-month weight-loss program. Conclusions Serum PCSK9 levels are higher in obese subjects than in normal-weight individuals. Short-term weight loss with a low-fat diet does not significantly affect PCSK9 levels.
The Continuing Story of Endoribonuclease III

Endoribonuclease III (RNase III) plays an important role in the processing of rRNA and mRNAs. It is timely to summarize the most relevant insights obtained during the last years stemming from RNase III. With this aim, the present mini-review provides a wealth of new information focusing on the distribution and architecture of RNase III, substrate recognition, cleavage mechanisms and regulation of gene expression.