Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Localized Inflammatory Response to Bronchoscopic Thermal Vapor Ablation

Background: Bronchoscopic thermal vapor ablation (BTVA) reduces lung volumes in emphysema patients by inducing a localized inflammatory response (LIR) leading to a healing process of fibrosis, but may also increase symptoms. Objectives: We sought to evaluate whether the clinical manifestation of LIR correlated with patient outcome. Methods: Respiratory adverse events and inflammatory markers were analyzed from a multicenter trial of BTVA in patients with upper-lobe-predominant emphysema. End points including changes in forced expiratory flow (FEV1), lobar volume, St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) and 6-minute-walk distance (6-MWD) were analyzed according to the presence or absence of a respiratory adverse event requiring treatment with an antibiotic or steroid. Results: Forty-four patients received BTVA. Increases of inflammatory markers were observed with a peak between the second and fourth week. Eighteen respiratory adverse events occurred in 16 patients within 30 days of BTVA, requiring antibiotics and/or steroids. These patients had significantly greater lobar volume reduction (65.3 vs. 33.4%, p = 0.007) and a change in residual volume at 12 months (-933 vs. 13 ml, p < 0.001) associated with a greater improvement of exercise capacity and health-related quality of life than patients without respiratory adverse events. Conclusion: Patients with more prominent respiratory symptoms in the first 30 days following BTVA experience greater efficacy. The clinical manifestations of the LIR are predictive of long-term clinical benefits.
Influence of glucocorticoid on bone in 3-, 6-, and 12-month-old rats as determined by bone mass and histomorphometry

The influence of glucocorticoid (GC) on bone in rats at different ages was investigated in order to provide insight into human glucocorticoid induced osteoporosis (GCOP). Three-, 6-, and 12-month-old female Wistar rats were divided into four groups: Zero-time control (ZT), vehicle (Cont), prednisolone (PSL) 2 mg/kg (P–L), PSL 20 mg/kg (P–H). PSL was subcutaneously administered every day for 4 weeks. Bone mineral density (BMD) at the proximal metaphysis and diaphysis of the tibia was measured by peripheral quantitative computed tomography. Histomorphometry of the tibia was performed for 3- and 6-month-old rats. GC increased trabecular and cortical BMD at the metaphysis in all 3-month-old rats with time. Trabecular BMD at the metaphysis in the P–L and P–H groups was significantly higher than in the control group. Histomorphometric parameters for both bone formation and resorption were also increased by GC treatment. In the 6-month-old rats, the metaphyseal trabecular BMD did not significantly change in any group, but the diaphyseal trabecular BMD significantly increased in the control group with time. The trabecular BMD of the metaphysis and diaphysis was significantly lower in the P–L and P–H groups than in the control group at week 4. Histomorphometric parameters for bone formation and resorption were both reduced by GC treatment. The BMD remained unchanged in all 12-month-old rats. Six-month-old rats treated with 20 mg/kg GC are suitable models for GC-induced osteoporosis with dominant cancellous bone decrease and reduced bone turnover. The pathology induced by 20 mg/kg prednisolone in 6-month-old female rats seems to be most similar to glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in humans.
Choriocarcinoma in northwestern Nigeria: a histopathological review.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Gestational choriocarcinoma is a malignant form of gestational trophoblastic disease with a highly aggressive biologic behavior and responds well to chemotherapy. The objective of this study is to analyse the various histological features of this neoplasm as seen in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching hospital, ( ABUTH ) Zaria, determine its incidence, and compare with other studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS The bench registers were used to retrieve the request forms, slides, and tissue blocks. The slides were all stained with standard haematoxylin and Eosin. The histological criteria published by Gehrig and van Lee was used to diagnose the tumours and grading of the cases from grade I to III. RESULTS Forty three cases were studied and these formed 4.9% of all products of conception and 37.7% of all gestational trophoblastic diseases. The peak age of incidence was in the third and fourth decades of life with vaginal bleeding as the leading mode of presentation. Extensive histopathological analysis and grading revealed haemorrhage, necrosis diamorphic appearance and pleomorphism as the most frequent features. CONCLUSION Gestational choriocarcinoma is a common problem in Zaria, North- Western Nigeria with an incidence of 1 in 1039 deliveries. Haemorrhage, necrosis, diamorphic appearance and pleomorphism were the most frequent histological features. Health education and early detection are of paramount importance in reducing morbidity and mortality.
Thrombosis of the superior vena cava and auxiliary branches in patients with indwelling catheterization of the internal jugular vein.

BACKGROUND Central venous thrombosis is a serious and life-threatening complication in hemodialysis (HD) patients with an indwelling catheter. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of thrombosis of the superior vena cava and auxiliary branches in Chinese HD patients with an indwelling internal jugular venous catheter and to explore its risk factors. METHODS Fifty-four patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) with an indwelling catheter were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The thrombosis of the internal jugular vein, subclavical vein, brachiocephalic vein and superior vena cava was assessed by vascular ultrasound. Collected were data on age, gender, ultrafiltration volume, Kt/V, blood pressure, levels of hemoglobin, serum albumin, lipid, calcium, and phosphorus, and parathyroid hormone. RESULTS The patients were given short- or long-term double lumen central venous catheters. Among them, 42 patients had the catheter placed into the right internal jugular vein, and 12 patients into the left internal jugular vein. Different degrees of central venous thrombosis were found in 33 patients (61.1%). The prevalence of thrombosis in the jugular vein, brachiocephalic vein, subclavical vein and superior vena cava was 61.1% (33/54), 44.4% (24/54), 16.7% (9/54) and 5.6% (3/54), respectively. Among the 33 HD patients with central venous thrombosis, the percentages for one, two, three and four affected veins were 27.3% (9/33), 45.4% (15/33), 18.2% (6/33) and 9.1% (3/33), respectively. Twelve (12/33, 36.4%) of the 33 HD patients with central venous thrombosis had clinical symptoms. Nine patients (27.3%) had edema of the upper extremity and 3 (9.1%) had new-onset symptoms of pulmonary embolism such as cough, chest distress and short breath. The incidences of diabetes mellitus and malignant tumor and levels of lipoprotein a and homocysteic acid were significantly higher in the HD patients with central venous thrombosis than in those without central venous thrombosis. Logistic regressive analysis revealed that high level of homocysteic acid was the important risk factor for central venous thrombosis in HD patients with indwelling catheterization of the internal jugular vein. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of central venous thrombosis in Chinese HD patients with indwelling catheterization of the internal jugular vein is quite high, especially in those patients with diabetes mellitus, malignant tumor, high levels of serum lipoprotein and homocysteic acid. Its clinical symptoms are insidious but dangerous. High level of homocysteic acid may be the important risk factor for central venous thrombosis in Chinese HD patients with indwelling catheterization of the internal jugular vein.
Serum thymosin α 1 levels in patients with chronic inflammatory autoimmune diseases

Thymosin alpha 1 (Tα1) is a powerful modulator of immunity and inflammation. Despite years of studies, there are a few reports evaluating serum Tα1 in health and disease. We studied a cohort of healthy individuals in comparison with patients affected by chronic inflammatory autoimmune diseases. Sera from 120 blood donors (healthy controls, HC), 120 patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), 40 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 40 with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), attending the Transfusion Medicine or the Rheumatology Clinic at the Policlinico Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy, were tested for Tα1 content by means of a commercial enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Data were analysed in relation to demographic and clinical characteristics of patients and controls. A gender difference was found in the HC group, where females had lower serum Tα1 levels than males (P < 0·0001). Patients had lower serum Tα1 levels than HC (P < 0·0001), the lowest were observed in PsA group (P < 0·0001 versus all the other groups). Among all patients, those who at the time of blood collection were taking disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs (DMARD) plus steroids had significantly higher Tα1 levels than those taking DMARD alone (P = 0·044) or no treatment (P < 0·0001), but not of those taking steroids alone (P = 0·280). However, whichever type of treatment was taken by the patients, serum Tα1 was still significantly lower than in HC and there was no treatment‐related difference in PsA group. Further prospective studies are necessary to confirm and deepen these observations. They might improve our understanding on the regulatory role of Tα1 in health and disease and increase our knowledge of the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory autoimmune diseases.
La gestion du comportement du detenu. (l'apparence legaliste du droit penitentiaire)

Depuis l'origine, la legitimite de la prison penale est discutee. Ses fondements affiches n'ont jamais correspondu a ses objectifs reels. Anbiguite et hesitation sont constants entre humanisme et maintien de l'ordre. Dans son fonctionnement interne, l'objectif premier est cependant la maitrise des comportements individuels et collectifs des detenus, tant au plan global qu'au plan local. Sa realisation passe par une realite largement a-normative. Au flou du droit s'ajoutent son irrespect par l'ensemble des acteurs ainsi que l'absence de veritable voie de recours pour les detenus. La legalite du droit penitentiaire n'est donc qu'apparente, mais le maintien d'un semblant minimal de legalisme est neanmoins indispensable pour conserver une legitimite relative a l'institution. Il n'est pas certain que l'avenir continue a s'accommoder d'un fonctionnement si peu normatif.
Effects of thyrotropin releasing hormone on cardiac and extracardiac flows of appropriately grown and growth‐retarded fetuses

The objective of this study was to establish the effect of thyrotropin releasing hormone on the fetal circulation of appropriately grown and growth‐retarded fetuses. Doppler recordings were performed immediately before and 15 min after maternal administration of 400 µg of thyrotropin releasing hormone in 14 women with appropriately grown and 19 with growth‐retarded fetuses. Furthermore, in six women with growth‐retarded fetuses, serial recordings were performed at 2‐hourly intervals for 8 h until a second thyro tropin releasing hormone dose was administered. Velocity waveforms were recorded from the outflow tracts, inferior vena cava, umbilical artery, middle cerebral artery and descending aorta, and different Doppler indices calculated. In appropriately grown fetuses, thyrotropin releasing hormone induced a significant increase of peak systolic velocity values in the aorta and pulmonary artery and an increase of Doppler‐estimated cardiac output. In growth‐retarded fetuses, these changes were more evident and associated with a significant decrease in reverse flow in the inferior vena cava during atria1 contraction. No changes were observed in fetal heart rate or in the other fetal vessels investigated. In the growth‐retarded fetuses followed longitudinally, these changes were evident for the following 8 h and were potentiated by the second thyrotropin releasing hormone administration. In conclusion, thyrotropin releasing hormone induces significant hemodynamic effects on the fetal heart that may temporarily improve the impaired cardiac function of growth‐retarded fetuses. Copyright © 1995 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
NO EVIDENCE OF BOTTLENECK IN THE POSTGLACIAL RECOLONIZATION OF EUROPE BY THE NOCTULE BAT (NYCTALUS NOCTULA)

During the Pleistocene, the habitat of the noctule bat (Nyctalus noctula) was limited to small refuge areas located in Southern Europe, whereas the species is now widespread across this continent. Using mtDNA (control region and ND1 gene) polymorphisms, we asked whether this recolonization occurred through bottlenecks and whether it was accompanied by population growth. Sequences of the second hypervariable domain of the control region were obtained from 364 noctule bats representing 18 colonies sampled across Europe. This yielded 108 haplotypes that were depicted on a minimum spanning tree that showed a starlike structure with two long branches. Additional sequences obtained from the ND1 gene confirmed that the different parts of the MST correspond to three clades which diverged before the Last Glacial Maximum (18,000 yrC14 BP), leading to the conclusion that the noctule bat survived in several isolated refugia. Partitioning populations into coherent geographical groups divided our samples (φCT = 0.17; P = 0.01) into a group of highly variable nursing colonies from central and eastern Europe and less variable, isolated colonies from western and southern Europe. Demographic analyses suggest that populations of the former group underwent demographic expansions either after the Younger Dryas (11,000–10,000 yrC14 BP), assuming a fast mutation rate for HV II, or during the Pleistocene, assuming a conventional mutation rate. We discuss the fact that the high genetic variability (h = 0.69–0.96; π = 0.006–0.013) observed in nursing colonies that are located some distance from potential Pleistocene refugia is probably due to the combined effect of rapid evolution of the control region in growing populations and a range shift of noctule populations parallel to the recovery of forests in Europe after the last glaciations.
Use and treatment modalities for SSRI and SNRI antidepressants in Italy during the period 2003–2009

Abstract Objectives: This drug utilization study aims to evaluate the incidence and prevalence of prescribed antidepressants (SSRIs or SNRIs) and to describe treatment modalities in Italy during the period 2003–2009. Methods: This retrospective analysis on the prescription and treatment modalities of SSRIs or SNRIs is based on an Italian general practice database, which includes data on about 1,000,000 patients. Eligible patients should have age ≥18 years, and ≥1 year of clinical history. Prevalence, incidence of use and adherence were calculated for SSRIs and SNRIs and for the individual agents. Results: The prevalence of SSRI use increased from 7.5% (2003) to 13.1% (2009) while the prevalence of SNRI use increased from 0.8% to 2.5%. The most evident increase was reported for escitalopram (+2.78%). The number of new antidepressant users (incidence rate) showed a modest decrease for SSRIs (−0.3%) and a slight increase for SNRIs (+0.9%). A higher percentage of continuers was reported for SSRIs versus SNRIs (15.1% vs 13.0%). Escitalopram was associated with the highest percentage of continuers and with the highest number of days of uninterrupted treatment. Overall, over 10% of antidepressant users switched their first choice during one year of follow-up. Escitalopram was associated with the highest frequency of ‘high’ adherers (28.5%). Conclusions: SSRIs may be regarded as the elective treatment for depression. Of the SSRIs, escitalopram seems to be associated with the highest number of days of uninterrupted treatment, the lowest proportion of switchers and the highest adherence. This consideration might have practical relevance when comparing escitalopram to other SSRIs and to venlafaxine and duloxetine.
Transcriptome Analysis of Acetate Metabolism in Corynebacterium glutamicum Using a Newly Developed Metabolic Array

Following the determination of the whole-genome sequence of Corynebacterium glutamicum, we have developed a DNA array to extensively investigate gene expression and regulation relevant to carbon metabolism. For this purpose, a total of 120 C. glutamicum genes, including those in central metabolism and amino acid biosyntheses, were amplified by PCR and printed onto glass slides. The resulting array, designated a “metabolic array”, was used for hybridization with fluorescently labeled cDNA probes generated by reverse transcription from total RNA samples. As the first demonstration of transcriptome analysis in this industrially important microorganism, we applied the metabolic array to study differential transcription profiles between cells grown on glucose and on acetate as the sole carbon source. The changes in gene expression observed for the known acetate-regulated genes (aceA, aceB, pta, and ack) were well consistent with the literature data of northern analyses and enzyme assays, indicating the utility of the metabolic array in transcriptome analysis of C. glutamicum. In addition to the known responses, many previously unrecognized co-regulated genes were identified. For example, several TCA cycle genes, such as gltA, sdhA, sdhB, fumH, and mdh, and the gluconeogenic gene pck were up-regulated in the acetate medium. On the other hand, a few genes involved in glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway, as well as many amino acid biosynthetic genes, were down-regulated in acetate. Furthermore, two gap genes, gapA and gapB, were found to be inversely regulated, suggesting the presence of a new regulatory step for carbon metabolism between glycolysis and gluconeogenesis.
Localization of epileptogenic zones in Lennox–Gastaut syndrome using frequency domain source imaging of intracranial electroencephalography: a preliminary investigation

Although intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) has been widely used to localize epileptogenic zones in epilepsy, visual inspection of iEEG recordings does not always result in a favorable surgical outcome, especially in secondary generalized epilepsy such as Lennox–Gastaut syndrome (LGS). Various computational iEEG analysis methods have recently been introduced to confirm the visual inspection results. Of these methods, high gamma oscillation in iEEG has attracted interest because a series of studies have reported a close relationship between epileptogenic zones and cortical areas with high gamma oscillation. Meanwhile, frequency domain source imaging of EEG and MEG oscillations has proven to be a useful auxiliary tool for identifying rough locations of epileptogenic zones. To the best of our knowledge, however, frequency domain source imaging of high gamma iEEG oscillations has not been studied. In this study, we investigated whether the iEEG-based frequency domain source imaging of high gamma oscillation (60–100 Hz) would be a useful supplementary tool for identifying epileptogenic zones in patients with secondary generalized epilepsy. The method was applied to three successfully operated on LGS patients, whose iEEG contained some ictal events with distinct high gamma oscillations before seizure onset. The resultant cortical source distributions were compared with surgical resection areas and with high gamma spectral power distributions on the intracranial sensor plane. While the results of the sensor-level analyses contained many spurious activities, the results of frequency domain source imaging coincided better with the surgical resection areas, suggesting that the frequency domain source imaging of iEEG high gamma oscillations might help enhance the accuracy of pre-surgical evaluations of patients with secondary generalized epilepsy.
Effect of medication-related factors on adherence in people with schizophrenia: A European multi-centre study

SUMMARY Aim – To investigate the relation between medication-related factors and adherence in people with schizophrenia in outpatient treatment. Methods – The sample comprised 409 outpatients (ICD-10 diagnosis of schizophrenia) with clinician-rated instability in four European cities (Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Verona, Italy; Leipzig, Germany; London, Great Britain). Adherence was assessed using the Medication Adherence Questionnaire (patient perspective), and the Clinician Rating Scale (clinician perspective). Examined medication-related factors were type (atypical vs. typical), application (oral vs. depot), daily dose frequency of antipsychotic medication (Medication History Scale), number of side effects (Liverpool University Neuroleptic Side Effect Rating Scale), and patient attitudes toward medication (Drug Attitude Inventory). Multiple regression analysis was used to identify predictors of adherence by medication-related factors. Results – Adherence, as rated by patient and clinician, was predicted by patient attitude towards medication, but was unrelated to type of drug, formulation or side effects of antipsychotic medication. A high daily dose frequency was associated with better adherence, but only when rated by the patient. Conclusions – In order to improve adherence there is a need to seriously consider and attempt to improve patient attitude toward medication. However, type of antipsychotic and other medication-related factors may not be as closely related to adherence as it has often been suggested. Declaration of Interest: The study was funded by a grant from the Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources Program of the European Union (QLG4-CT-2001–01734). JM, AS, CB, MK, CB, LB, and BP declare that they have not received any form of financing including pharmaceutical company support or any honoraria for consultancies or interventions during the last two years. DR has received honoraria from Eli Lilly, Janssen Cilag and Astra Zeneca for consultancy work, and Anita Patel has received research consultancy funding from Servier. TB reports research funding to the department from Astra Zeneca, GlaxoSmithKline and Affectis for clinical trials and investigator-initiated trials; the department has also received funds to a minor extent for symposia and in-house training from Astra Zeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eisai, Janssen Cilag, Lilly Germany, Lundbeck, Novartis, Pfizer, Servier, and Wyeth. All authors declare that they have no other involvements that might be considered a conflict of interest in connection with this article.