Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Polymorphism at position -308 of the tumor necrosis factor alpha gene influences outcome of infliximab therapy in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To test whether the G-to-A polymorphism at position -308 in the promoter of the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) gene influences response to infliximab therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS We genotyped 59 RA patients by polymerase chain reaction and subdivided them into two groups: those with the A/A or A/G genotype and those with the G/G genotype. We compared the groups' clinical responses to infliximab treatment after 22 weeks, using the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28). RESULTS We found that 42% of patients in the A/A and A/G group and 81% of patients in the G/G group had improvement of at least 1.2 in the DAS28 score (P = 0.0086). The average improvement in the DAS28 score was 1.24 in the A/A and A/G patients and 2.29 in the G/G patients (P = 0.029). CONCLUSION These data suggest that patients with a TNFalpha -308G/G genotype are better infliximab responders than are patients with A/A or A/G genotypes. TNFalpha -308 genotyping may be a useful tool for predicting response to infliximab treatment.
ranscatheter Cryoablation f Tachyarrhythmias in Children nitial Experience From an International Registry oel

OBJECTIVES We sought to describe the early pediatric experience of transcatheter cryoablation, and identify whether specific arrhythmia substrates and/or ablation locations were particularly suited to cryoablation. BACKGROUND Radiofrequency (RF) ablation has become established therapy for pediatric tachyarrhythmias. However, challenges remain in terms of the safety and efficacy of RF ablation in specific locations; new methods may address these issues. METHODS Prospective data were available for 64 patients age 13 4 (mean SD) years undergoing cryoablation at 14 centers participating in the Cryocath International Patient Registry. Dysrhythmia duration was 5.0 4.2 years, with diagnoses of atrioventricular node re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT) (n 30), anteroseptal (n 11), midseptal (n 5), or other (n 15) accessory pathway (AP) mediated AV re-entry, ventricular tachycardia (VT) (n 3), and ectopic atrial tachycardia (EAT) (n 2). Two patients had more than one arrhythmia substrate. Transcatheter cryoablation was offered by cardiologist preference after written informed procedural consent of each patient and/or legal guardian. Cryomapping was performed at 30°C and cryoablation was delivered with 4-min applications at 75°C. RESULTS Acute success was achieved in 45 of 65 (69%) cryoablation patients, with best success rates in AVNRT (83%) and right septal AP (75%), and lower success rates in other AP (43%), VT (66%), and EAT (0%). No device-related adverse events were reported. The success of radiofrequency (RF) ablation applied in 14 cryoablation failures was 4 of 4 for AVNRT patients, 1 of 1 for anteroseptal AP patients, 5 of 6 for other AP patients, 0 of 1 for VT patients, and 0 of 2 for EAT patients. CONCLUSIONS Transcatheter cryoablation is a safe and well-tolerated alternative to RF ablation in pediatric patients on the basis of our initial experience. Success is highest in AVNRT and in substrates recognized as technically challenging or risky for RF ablation. (J Am Coll Cardiol 2005;45: ublished by Elsevier Inc. doi:10.1016/j.jacc. 2004.10. 049
Evaluation of harmonic current sidebands for broken bar diagnosis in induction motors

Effects of rotor faults on stator currents in induction motors are studied in the present work. Particularly, the effects of such faults on the sidebands at fundamental and harmonics current components are analyzed. A multiple-coupled circuit model determines the variation of amplitude of these sidebands as a function of the number of broken bars, load and motor-load inertia. The results obtained from this analysis allow improving the rotor fault diagnosis techniques and identifying and separating rotor faults from others. Simulation and experimental results are presented to validate the proposal.
High-Risk HPV DNA Testing and HPV-16/18 Genotyping: What Is the Clinical Application?

Objective. There are currently 2 tests approved for clinical use that nonspecifically detect the presence of multiple oncogenic or high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types. One HPV genotyping test is also available for use that specifically detects the presence of high-risk HPV types 16 and 18. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the clinical performance of these HPV DNA tests and the utility of the tests within current screening recommendations. Materials and Methods. The sensitivity and specificity of currently available HPV DNA tests to detect the presence of precancerous high-grade cervical lesions are reviewed. Appropriate test usage is discussed in the context of the natural history of HPV infection. Results. Molecular testing for the presence of high-risk HPV is more sensitive but less specific than cytologic testing for the detection of high-grade cervical lesions. Current patient management guidelines recommend the use of high-risk HPV DNA testing to triage women 21 years or older with equivocal cytology results and in conjunction with cytology for cervical screening in women 30 years or older. The HPV-16/18 genotyping test may be used in women 30 years or older with negative cytology and positive high-risk HPV DNA test results to determine the need for colposcopy. Conclusions. Although infection with high-risk HPV is highly prevalent in adult females, most infections are transient and do not require intervention. Clinical application of appropriate age-adjusted use of HPV DNA testing and its use in conjunction with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance cytology will avoid unnecessary follow-up procedures.
THE NEXT GENERATION VIRGO CLUSTER SURVEY. XX. RedGOLD BACKGROUND GALAXY CLUSTER DETECTIONS

We build a background cluster candidate catalog from the Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey (NGVS) using our detection algorithm RedGOLD. The NGVS covers 104 deg2 of the Virgo cluster in the -bandpasses to a depth of g ∼ 25.7 mag (5σ). Part of the survey was not covered or has shallow observations in the r band. We build two cluster catalogs: one using all bandpasses, for the fields with deep r-band observations (∼20 deg2), and the other using four bandpasses ( ) for the entire NGVS area. Based on our previous Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope Legacy Survey W1 studies, we estimate that both of our catalogs are ∼100% (∼70%) complete and ∼80% pure, at z ≤ 0.6 (z ≲ 1), for galaxy clusters with masses of M ≳ 1014 M⊙. We show that when using four bandpasses, though the photometric redshift accuracy is lower, RedGOLD detects massive galaxy clusters up to z ∼ 1 with completeness and purity similar to the five-band case. This is achieved when taking into account the bias in the richness estimation, which is ∼40% lower at 0.5 ≤ z < 0.6 and ∼20% higher at 0.6 < z < 0.8, with respect to the five-band case. RedGOLD recovers all the X-ray clusters in the area with mass M500 > 1.4 × 1014 M⊙ and 0.08 < z < 0.5. Because of our different cluster richness limits and the NGVS depth, our catalogs reach lower masses than the published redMaPPer cluster catalog over the area, and we recover ∼90%–100% of its detections.
Systematic review of practice-based research on psychological therapies in routine clinic settings.

PURPOSE To review the published material on practice-based research and to compare results with benchmarks derived from efficacy studies. METHODS Electronic and manual searches were carried out up to and including 2008. Studies were screened for content relevance and selected according to specified inclusion criteria. Data were extracted from all studies that met criteria and were quality assessed using an adapted version of a checklist designed for the appraisal of both randomized and non-randomized studies of health care interventions. Studies were synthesized according to (1) the type of problem being treated and (2) study design using descriptive and meta-analytic methods where appropriate. RESULTS Psychological treatment conducted in routine clinic settings is effective for a range of client problems, particularly common mental health problems (uncontrolled effect size = 1.29; 95% CI = 1.26-1.33, N = 10,842). When benchmarked against data from efficacy studies, practice-based studies yielded effect sizes that fell short of the selected benchmark. In contrast, the practice-based studies achieved the benchmark for percentage of clients meeting a stringent criterion for recovery. CONCLUSIONS Clients receiving treatment as normally delivered within routine practice report significant relief of symptoms. However, the result of comparisons with efficacy benchmarks is dependent on the outcome index used. Notwithstanding this, substantive factors are also likely to contribute. Therefore, in addition to attending to methodological issues, further work is required to understand the relative contribution of these factors.
Very Low Frequence of Pneumocystis carinii DNA Detection by PCR in Specimens from Patients with Lung Damage

Data reported by Dr. Sing et al. ([3][1]) about Pneumocystis carinii carriage in immunocompetent adults with primary pulmonary disorders differ partially from our results. We have analyzed 81 bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples (BALs) from 78 patients (37 male and 41 female; mean age, 57.8 years;
Systemic symptoms predict presence or development of severe sepsis and septic shock

Abstract Background: Severe sepsis is a major cause of mortality and morbidity globally. As the time to adequate treatment is directly linked to outcome, early recognition is of critical importance. Early, accessible markers for severe sepsis are desirable. The systemic inflammatory response in sepsis leads to changes in vital signs and biomarkers and to symptoms unrelated to the focus of infection. This study investigated whether the occurrence of any of six systemic symptoms could predict severe sepsis in a cohort of patients admitted to hospital for suspected bacterial infections. Methods: A retrospective, consecutive study was conducted. All adult patients admitted during 1 month to a 550-bed secondary care hospital in western Sweden and given intravenous antibiotics for suspected community-acquired infection were included (n = 289). Symptoms (fever/chills, muscle weakness, localised pain, dyspnea, altered mental status and gastrointestinal symptoms) were registered along with age, sex, vital signs and laboratory values. Patients who fulfilled criteria of severe sepsis within 48 h were compared with patients who did not. Odds ratios for severe sepsis were calculated, adjusted for age, sex and comorbidities. Results: Criteria for severe sepsis were fulfilled by 90/289 patients (31.1%). Altered mental status (OR = 4.29, 95% CI = 2.03–9.08), dyspnea (OR = 2.92, 95% CI = 1.69–5.02), gastrointestinal symptoms (OR = 2.31, 95% CI = 1.14–4.69) and muscle weakness (OR = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.06–4.75) were more common in patients who had or later developed severe sepsis. Conclusions: Systemic symptoms in combination with other signs of infection should be considered warning signs of severe sepsis.
Insulin Resistance in Mitochondrial Gene Mutation

From the Saiseikai Central Hospital (Y.S., K.H., Y.A., K.M.); Institute for Diabetes Care and Research, Asahi Life Foundation (H. Kadowaki); Third Department of Internal Medicine (H. Katagiri, T.K., Y.O., Y.Y.), Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo; and the Department of Biochemistry (M.S.), School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan. Address correspondence to Yoshihiko Suzuki, MD, at Saiseikai Central Hospital, 1-417, Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108, Japan.
Alling 1 EVALUATING SAMPLING AND DNA EXTRACTION TECHNIQUES FOR CULTURE-INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS OF BOVINE MAMMARY GLAND NORMAL FLORA

Udder health in dairy cattle is not solely influenced by bacteria present within the teat’s internal structures but also by bacteria growing at external epidermal surfaces on the mammary gland. Culture-independent methods for surveying bacterial diversity of epidermal surfaces have created more accurate profiles of bovine teat microbiota that contribute to an enhanced understanding of mastitis etiology and prevention. This study evaluated techniques for bacterial DNA extraction from milk and skin swab sampling to determine their applicability for use in future culture-independent investigations of this microbiome. Two commercial column-based kits (the Norgen Milk Bacterial DNA Isolation Kit and the Qiagen QIAamp DNA Mini Kit) were used to extract DNA from gradients of milk dilutions spiked with S. aureus (0 cfu/mL to ~10 5 cfu/mL) so that a threshold of reliable PCR detection of extracted DNA could be established for each kit. Additionally, three individual comparisons were made for skin swab transportation media (ddH2O, “Swab Buffer” and “Milk Buffer”), swab moisture status at the time of sampling (Wet vs. Dry) and swab agitation methods following sample collection (Vortexing vs. Stomaching) by analyzing both aerobically-cultured bacterial yields and extracted bacterial DNA concentrations from skin swabs of Holstein-Friesian and Jersey dairy cows. The two commercial milk bacterial DNA extraction kits were generally ineffectual in recovering amplifiable bacterial DNA extracts from low concentrations of bacteria and as such should be avoided for cultureindependent analysis of bacterial communities in non-mastitic milk unless their protocols are amended with improved milk fraction treatment and more rigorous cellular lysis conditions. Moreover, no clearly superior skin swab sampling and processing methods were identified from any of the three comparisons, so future investigations covering larger herds or employing altered study designs are necessary to obtain more definitive results.
Turns‐amplitude analysis of the electromyographic recruitment pattern disregarding force measurement. II. Findings in patients with neuromuscular disorders

Turns‐amplitude analysis of the electromyographic recruitment pattern was performed on‐line in the brachial biceps muscle of 46 patients with neuromuscular disorders using the mean amplitude as an indicator of force. The parameters, peak‐ratio (PR) and number of time intervals (TI) from 0 to 1.5 ms, were increased in patients with myopathy. In patients with neurogenic involvement, the characteristic pattern was a decreased PR and a decreased incidence of TI between 0 and 1.5 ms. The results indicate that the two parameters supplement each other as some of the patients were identified only by one or the other. In patients with myopathy, the method had a higher diagnostic yield than the individual motor unit action potential analysis. The method is objective, fast, and reliable. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Differences between statins on clinical endpoints: a population-based cohort study

ABSTRACT Objective: Many studies have shown differences between statins based on surrogate endpoints, but few have studied differences in reaching clinical endpoints. This study compares the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events between atorvastatin users and other statin users in daily general practice. Research design and methods: A cohort study was performed in the Integrated Primary Care Information project database, a longitudinal general practice research database with electronic patient records of more than 500 000 individuals in the Netherlands. All new statin users in the period 1st September 1999 to 31st December 2002 were included. Multivariate Cox-regression analysis was used to compare the occurrence of the primary endpoint between atorvastatin users and other statin users. Main outcome measures: The primary endpoint was the composite outcome of fatal or non-fatal myocardial infarction, admission for unstable angina pectoris, fatal or non-fatal cerebrovascular accidents, or transient ischaemic events. Results: 3499 new statin users were identified, including 797 patients with a history of cardiovascular disease. 1341 persons started with simvastatin (38.3%), 1154 with atorvastatin (33.0%), 811 with pravastatin (23.2%) and 193 with other statins (5.5%). The median follow-up was 1.9 years. Two hundred and thirty three patients (6.7%) experienced a primary endpoint. Atorvastatin users had a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events than users of other statins (relative risk [RR]: 0.70, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.55–0.96). The relative risks of atorvastatin users compared to simvastatin and pravastatin users individually were 0.70 (95% CI: 0.48–1.02) and 0.78 (95% CI: 0.52–1.16), respectively. The protective effect of atorvastatin was more pronounced in persons without a history of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events. Conclusion: Atorvastatin showed a more favourable effect on fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in the general population than other statins.
Instantaneous viscous flow in a corner bounded by free surfaces

We study the instantaneous Stokes flow near the apex of a corner of angle 2α formed by two plane stress free surfaces. The fluid is under the action of gravity with g↘ parallel to the bisecting plane, and surface tension is neglected. For 2α≳126.28°, the dominant term of the solution as the distance r to the apex tends to zero does not depend on gravity and has the character of a self‐similar solution of the second kind; the exponent of r cannot be obtained on dimensional grounds and the scale of the coefficient depends on the far flow field. Within this angular domain, the instantaneous flow is deeply related to the (steady) flow in a rigid corner known since Moffatt [J. Fluid Mech. 18, 1 (1964)] and, as in that case, there may be eddies in the flow. The situation is substantially different for 2α<126.28°, as the dominant term is related to gravity and not to the far flow. It has the character of a self‐similar solution of the first kind, with the exponent of r being given by dimensional analysis. The so.
Lutein improves visual function in some patients with retinal degeneration: a pilot study via the Internet.

PURPOSE The purpose of this article is to examine the effects of lutein supplementation on visual acuity, central visual-field area, and subjective visual disturbances in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and related retinal degenerations, in an international study population recruited via an Internet mailing list. METHODS Sixteen participants (13 with RP, three with other retinal degenerations) completed a 26-week program of lutein supplementation (40 mg/day for 9 weeks, 20 mg/day thereafter); 10 participants also took 500-mg docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)/day, vitamin B complex, and digestive enzymes. Ten participants previously taking vitamin A and/or beta-carotene continued those supplements throughout the study. Participants self-tested their visual acuity on their computer screen and their central visual-field extent on a wall chart, weekly for 14 weeks, bi-weekly thereafter. RESULTS Mean visual acuity improved by 0.7 dB and mean visual-field area by 0.35 dB. Improvements started 2 to 4 weeks after supplementation began, and plateaued at 6 to 14 weeks. Visual acuity gains were strongly correlated with eye color: 1.2 dB in seven blue-eyed participants, but 0.3 dB in seven dark-eyed participants. Participants who received previous supplements showed greater benefits in central visual-field area (0.55 dB) than those not receiving previous supplements (no change). No significant effects of age, sex, disease stage, or study supplement were found. CONCLUSIONS Short-term vision improvements after lutein supplementation--previously reported in age-related macular degeneration--also occur in RP, especially in blue-eyed individuals; vitamin A may increase visual field benefits.
Dysfunctional Customer Behavior in Cross-Border E-Commerce: A Justice-Affect-Behavior Model

E-commerce has become one of the major consumption patterns currently. Understanding consumer e-commerce shopping behavior helps to improve the competitiveness of enterprises. The purpose of this study is to examine service justice as the antecedent factor of dysfunctional customer behavior (DCB) and how it interacts with negative emotion and service dissatisfaction, which in turn, affect DCB. The study utilizes an online survey to obtain data from 490 Taobao.com users after the well known whistle-blowing incident against Taobao counterfeits. The partial least square method of structure equation modeling is employed to test the proposed research model. The results indicate that service justice has a negative significant correlation with negative emotion, and negative emotion significantly induces service dissatisfaction. Finally, both negative emotion and service dissatisfaction are positively correlated with DCB. Knowledge about cross-border e-commerce DCB is scarce. This study is based on customer justice theory to provide empirical evidence about the factors influencing DCB perpetrated on Taobao’s shopping website. Implications and future research are further discussed.
Triggered lightning testing of an airport runway lighting system

The interaction of rocket-triggered lightning with an airport runway lighting system has been studied. The lighting system included a buried counterpoise with attached vertical ground rods for protection of the series lighting cable from lightning. Experimental data for voltages and currents at various locations in the runway lighting system due to direct lightning strikes are presented along with the causative lightning current. The data include the first measurements of the responses of an underground bare conductor (counterpoise) to direct lightning strikes. These measurements can serve as ground truth for the testing of the validity of various counterpoise models.
IMPACTO DE LAS CONDICIONES ORALES SOBRE LA CALIDAD DE VIDA EN ESCOLARES DE 11 Y 12 AÑOS DE EDAD DE ZAPALLAL–PUENTE PIEDRA

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of oral conditions on the quality of life of schoolchildren aged 11 and 12 years of Zapallal – Puente Piedra. MATERIALS AND METHODS. 4 of the 7 public educational institutions were selected within the area of influence of the Maternal-Infant Center of Zapallal (Puente Piedra), 805 of the 903 schoolchildren of 11 and 12 years of age, who attended these four institutions, agreed to participate in the study (non-response rate of 10.9 %). Structured face to -face interviews were conducted using the Peruvian version of Child-OIDP. RESULTS. The prevalence of the impact of the oral conditions on the quality of life was 82.0 % while for the severity an average score of 7.77 underline + 8.64 % was found. Among the 660 children who reported impacts, most of them (82.7 %) showed little to very little intensity, while the average number of daily activities impacted was 2.23 + line 1.70, being eating, cleaning the mouth and Smile the daily activities most frequently impacted. CONCLUSION. Toothache was the main cause of the impact on all daily activities except for smiling, whose main cause was the alteration in the position of the teeth. The present results highlight the usefulness of assessing self-perceived needs, as a complement to the clinical indicators commonly used to determine the needs of oral-dental treatment, as well as to plan services for oral health care in the community.