Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Case Reports LATE VASCULAR COMPLICATIONS AFTER BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION FOR DYSKERATOSIS CONGENITA

Two patients ( h and 1 1 years old) received HLA-identical bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for dyskeratosis congenita (DCG). a rare constitutional aplastic anaemia recognized by its association with dermal lesions (cutaneous reticulated hyperpigmentation. nail dystrophy and leucoplakia of the mucous membranes). Conditioning included cyclophosphamide (CY) 60 mg/kg on days 5 and -4, and a single dose total body irradiation on day 1 in one case, and CY 50 mg/ kg on days 5. -4, 3 . and thoraco-abdominal irradiation on day 1 (6 .00 Gy) in the other. Cyclosporine alone was used for prophylaxis of graft-versus-host disease. Rapid and sustained engraftment was seen, and complete chimaerism was proven cytogenetically and/or by erythrocyte markers. IJnfortunately. both patients died of late unexpected vascular complications developing hypertension associated with renal failure (1 years and 18 months after BMT. respectively. Renal post-mortem biopsy findings showed similar lesions. characterized by alteration of the capillary walls of glomeruli, mesangiolysis. arteriolonecrosis and occasional arteriolar luminal thrombosis. The same lesions of thrombotic microangiopathic syndrome (TMAS) have been described after BMT for leukaemia (Antignac et al. 1989; Guinan c’t 01. 1988). In these cases the latent period for nephritis was 2-10 months post BMT. Electron microscopic studies showed subendothelial and mesangial deposits of a n heterogenous material and on immunofluorescence. capillary wall deposition of fibrinogen. IgM and C3 (Antignac et al, 1989). Portal hypertension also appeared in the younger child. The liver biopsy showed marked centrolobular lesions (complete obliteration of terminal venules by fibrosis. dilated sinusoids lined by fibrosis and portal to central bridging) similar to those described as late changes of venocclusive disease (VOD) (Shulman et al. 1980). These changes were associated with portal and trabecular fibrosis. Post-mortem histology of the lung showed luminal narrowing by fibrosis of some terminal lung venules or concentric subintimal vessel wall thickening in others, displaying pulmonary VOD. In contrast to other cases reported in the literature (Mahmound et a] . 1985: Conter et al, 1988: Oberling. oersonal communication). our Datients did not show any ROW TRANSPLANTATION FOR DYSKERATOSIS
Numerical Solution of the Stationary Navier-Stokes Equations Using a Multilevel Finite Element Method

The numerical implementation of a multilevel finite element method for the steady-state Navier--Stokes equations is considered. The multilevel method proposed here for the Navier--Stokes equations is a multiscale method in which the full nonlinear Navier--Stokes equations are only solved on a single coarse grid; subsequent approximations are generated on a succession of refined grids by solving a linearized Navier--Stokes problem. Two numerical examples are considered: the first is an example for which an exact solution is known and the second is the driven cavity problem. We demonstrate numerically that for an appropriate choice of grids, a two- or three-level finite element method is significantly more efficient than the standard one-level finite element method.
Database analyses for the prediction of in vivo drug-drug interactions from in vitro data.

AIMS In theory, the magnitude of an in vivo drug-drug interaction arising from the inhibition of metabolic clearance can be predicted using the ratio of inhibitor concentration ([I]) to inhibition constant (K(i)). The aim of this study was to construct a database for the prediction of drug-drug interactions from in vitro data and to evaluate the use of the various estimates for the inhibitor concentrations in the term [I]/K(i). METHODS One hundred and ninety-three in vivo drug-drug interaction studies involving inhibition of CYP3A4, CYP2D6 or CYP2C9 were collated from the literature together with in vitro K(i) values and pharmacokinetic parameters for inhibitors, to allow calculation of average/maximum systemic plasma concentration during the dosing interval and maximum hepatic input plasma concentration (both total and unbound concentration). The observed increase in AUC (decreased clearance) was plotted against the estimated [I]/K(i) ratio for qualitative zoning of the predictions. RESULTS The incidence of false negative predictions (AUC ratio > 2, [I]/K(i) < 1) was largest using the average unbound plasma concentration and smallest using the hepatic input total plasma concentration of inhibitor for each of the CYP enzymes. Excluding mechanism-based inhibition, the use of total hepatic input concentration resulted in essentially no false negative predictions, though several false positive predictions (AUC ratio < 2, [I]/K(i) > 1) were found. The incidence of true positive predictions (AUC ratio > 2, [I]/K(i) > 1) was also highest using the total hepatic input concentration. CONCLUSIONS The use of the total hepatic input concentration of inhibitor together with in vitro K(i) values was the most successful method for the categorization of putative CYP inhibitors and for identifying negative drug-drug interactions. However this approach should be considered as an initial discriminating screen, as it is empirical and requires subsequent mechanistic studies to provide a comprehensive evaluation of a positive result.
Congestion Influence on Bidding Strategies in an Electricity Market

In this paper, a bidding strategy is developed from the viewpoint of utility wishing to maximize its profit in a congestion environment. The proposed algorithm is formulated as a two steps optimization problem. At the first step, a bidding strategy is solved to maximize its expected profit, and at the second step, a curtailment strategy will be perform to maximize the participant's profit when the system occurs the transmission congestion. An immune algorithm (RIA) with scale scheme system (SSS) is proposed to solve the optimization problem. It has advantages and some characteristics to show a better performance than many other algorithms. The IEEE 30 bus is selected for test. Simulation results have a good result with this standard to obtain an optimal bidding strategy for electricity suppliers under the congestion environment
Mycophenolic acid inhibits hepatitis C virus replication and acts in synergy with cyclosporin A and interferon-alpha.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the leading indication for liver transplantation. Clinical evidence suggests that particular immunosuppressive agents can have an influence on HCV recurrence. Cyclosporine A (CsA) specifically inhibits HCV replication through blocking the viral RNA polymerase enzyme NS5B. In this study, we investigated the effect of mycophenolic acid (MPA) and other immunosuppressants on HCV replication. METHODS MPA and other compounds were tested in vitro using an HCV-replication model containing a luciferase reporter gene. RESULTS At clinically relevant concentrations (1.0-6.0 microg/mL), MPA inhibited HCV replication to approximately 75%. CsA and interferon (IFN)-alpha also showed inhibition in a dose-dependent manner. In these short-term (18 hours) experiments, MPA did not inhibit cell proliferation or induce cell death, which could have accounted for the antiviral effect. In contrast to the antiviral activity of MPA against West Nile virus, the effect of MPA on HCV replication was guanosine independent. When combined, MPA and CsA showed significant synergistic inhibition of replication, reaching maximum inhibition of approximately 90% at the highest doses. Synergistic effects were observed with suboptimal concentrations of IFN-alpha with MPA or CsA. The kinetics of HCV inhibition by MPA, CsA, and IFN-alpha were clearly distinct, with earliest effects seen with IFN-alpha. No specific inhibitory effects were observed with tacrolimus or rapamycin. CONCLUSIONS The immunosuppressive drug MPA is as potent as CsA as an inhibitor of HCV replication. MPA was shown to have a distinct anti-HCV mechanism of action, independent of cell proliferation and guanosine depletion.
Transition from school to work of students with developmental disabilities and mental retardation: an Israeli perspective

The present research was conducted in four special education schools for students with developmental disabilities and mental retardation in the Haifa area. The total number of subjects was 72. There were 45 (63%) males and 27 (37%) females. The mean age was 18.1 years (range: 16-19.5). The mean IQ (WISC) was 66.3 points (range: 40-85). The vocational placement at the end of 6 months after leaving school was recorded for each school graduate. A total of 53 teachers--school principles, counsellors, specialized teachers and speech and occupational therapists--filled out specially designed questionnaires covering three areas: (1) students' work programme experience; (2) teachers' ratings of final year students on: academic studies, social behaviour, independence and vocational skills as well as teachers' recommendations, given towards the end of the final year at the school, for the immediate plan of action for each of the graduating students; (3) teachers' ratings of parental involvement with the educational programme of each student. Background variables included IQ, age and gender. The major finding was that 6 months after graduation, one-third of special school graduates were not working, were not enrolled in any formal programme and were idle at home. The variables that were found to correlate with successful placement were students' prior work experience, teachers' ratings of students achievements and their recommendations for each student, and parental involvement.
Procalcitonin as a marker of neonatal sepsis

Introduction: Neonatal sepsis is one of the commonest causes of neonatal mortality in the developing world. Procalcitonin (PCT) has emerged as the most studied and promising sepsis biomarker. Objective: To assess the role of procalcitonin (PCT) as a marker in the early diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of neonatal sepsis. Methods: Twenty five neonates with clinical (n=5), suspected (n=13) and proven sepsis (n=7) were evaluated. The PCT levels were measured by immunoluminoassay before and on day 5 of treatment. PTC levels of 0.5-2 ng/ml, 2.1-10 ng/ml and >10 ng/ml were considered as weakly positive, positive and strongly positive, respectively. Findings: The levels of PCT in proven sepsis group were higher than that in other groups. Strongly positive PCT level was seen in 2 cases of proven sepsis, 5 cases of suspected sepsis and in 1 case of clinical sepsis. PCT levels were dramatically decreased in three groups on day 5 of treatment. Conclusion: The results show that the serum procalcitonin levels seem to be significantly increased in proven sepsis and decrease dramatically in all types of sepsis after appropriate treatment.
Diagnostic value of different screening tests in isolation or combination for predicting difficult intubation: A prospective study

1. Marhofer P, Greher M, Kapral S. Ultrasound guidance in regional anaesthesia. Br J Anaesth 2005;94:7‐17. 2. Sites BD, Gallagher JD, Cravero J, Lundberg J, Blike G. The learning curve associated with a simulated ultrasound‐guided interventional task by inexperienced anesthesia residents. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2004;29:544‐8. 3. Emergency ultrasound guidelines. Approved by the ACEP Board of Directors, June 1, 2001. Available from: http://www. acep.org/NR/rdonlyres/8024079E‐28E8‐4875‐93E6‐6867EA70 5A2A/0/ultrasound_guidelines. pdf. 4. Minimum training guidelines. European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology. Available from: http://www.efsumb. org/efsumb/Guidelines/list.htm. Accessed August 11, 2013. 5. Sites BD, Chan VW, Neal JM, Weller R, Grau T, Koscielniak‐Nielsen ZJ, Ivani G; American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine; European Society Of Regional Anaesthesia and Pain Therapy Joint Committee. The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine and the European Society Of Regional Anaesthesia and Pain Therapy Joint Committee recommendations for education and training in ultrasound‐guided regional anesthesia. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2009;34:40‐6.
MAJOR CARCASS PARTS OF BROILER CHICKEN FROM DIFFERENT GENOTYPE, SEX, AGE AND NUTRITION SYSTEM

The aim of this paper was to examine the influence of sex, age and nutrition system on mass and yield of major parts in broiler chicken carcass from different genotypes. Research material was one-day chicken of Hubbard Classic and Cobb 500 genotypes fattened 49 days in production conditions. The chicken used two nutrition systems. The first nutrition system had higher level of energy and E : P ratio, while the second had higher level of proteins and lower values of E : P ratio in all phase of nutrition. Chicken were separated by sex, and by method of random selection were selected and slaughtered 40 male and 40 female chicken (total 240) in 35t h , 42 nd and 49 th day of age. Major parts of carcass (breasts, thighs and drumsticks) were separated and was calculated their mass, yield and variance. The computer program STATISTICA 6 statistically processed all dates. Differences in mass and yield of breasts, thighs and drumstick were statistically significant (P<0.05) at chicken with different age. The chicken at 49t h day of age had significantly higher mass of major carcass parts than the chicks at 42 nd and 35 th day of age. Genotype had influence only on yield of breasts, namely chickens of Cobb 500 genotype had significant (P<0.05) bigger yield of breast then chickens of Hubbard genotype. The male chickens had statistically significant (P<0.05) bigger main parts mass of carcass and bigger thighs yield then female chickens. The nutrition system basically had not effect on major edible parts of carcass, except on thighs yield, which were significantly (P<0.05) bigger at chicken that have used mixtures with higher level of proteins and lower values of E : P ratio.
Prognostic significance of plasma osteopontin levels in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND Osteopontin (OPN) mRNA is highly expressed in atherosclerotic plaques and plasma OPN levels are high in patients with coronary artery disease and in those with restenosis. OPN-overexpressing transgenic mice show markedly increased neointimal formation after arterial injury. METHODS AND RESULTS The prognostic significance of the preprocedural plasma OPN level was investigated in 130 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Patients were followed up for restenosis and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). At 7+/-3 months after PCI, angiography was performed again in 91 patients, of whom 40 had restenosis. Between patients with and without restenosis, OPN (492+/-200 vs 482+/-224 ng/ml) and C-reactive protein (CRP: 0.78 vs 0.70 mg/L) levels did not differ. During a 3-year follow-up, MACE occurred in 21 patients, who had higher OPN (586+/-230 vs 438+/-195 ng/ml) and CRP (1.30 vs 0.70 mg/L) levels than those without MACE (P<0.005). Both OPN and CRP levels were independent predictors for MACE. Hazard ratios for MACE were 1.3 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-1.5) for a 100 ng/ml increase in OPN and 3.6 (95%CI 1.4-9.3) for CRP >1.0 mg/L. CONCLUSIONS In patients undergoing PCI, the preprocedural OPN and CRP levels are independent predictors for further cardiovascular events, but not for restenosis.
Factors affecting female or male consultant stress in an Australian teaching hospital

* Research Assistant, ‡ Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW; † Deputy Medical Director, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Concord, NSW; § Medical Student, ¶ Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney. Correspondence: Dr Deborah H Yates, Department of Respiratory Medicine, St Vincent’s Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010. deborahy88@hotmail.com
Perinatal Problems of the Obese Mother and Her Infant

The health consequences of obesity in adults encompass both metabolic and cardiovascular complications. Pregnancy in obese women also has a particular set of problems. For the obese pregnant woman, these include weight gain less than 5.4 kg, chronic hypertension and superimposed preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, multiple gestation, and the potential for a macrosomic child. The combination of obesity and maternal diabetes does not appear to have an additive effect on the excessive growth of infants of obese mothers. Furthermore, despite inadequate weight gain, hypertension, and multiple gestation, infants of obese mothers are usually born with a greater birth weight than those of nonobese women. In addition, the incidence of intrauterine growth retardation is lower after an obese pregnancy. Neonates born to obese mothers have increased risk for birth asphyxia and birth trauma. Recently infants born to obese women were noted to have transient neonatal fasting asymptomatic hypoglycemia. Hyperinsulinism is not present in the infants of obese mothers; thus, alternate fuel mobilization (free fatty acids, glycerol, ketones) may respond to the hypoglycemic stimulus. Suggestions and rationale for the management of the pregnant obese woman, fetus, and newly born infant are discussed in the text.
Congenital rubella affecting an infant whose mother had rubella antibodies before conception.

A 49-year-old woman presented with nausea, general malaise, and a dull ache in the right hypochondrium. Liver biopsy showed slight inflammatory-cell infiltration, and results of liver function tests suggested hepatitis. Hepatitis B surface antigen was not detected, and a cholecystogram was normal. Two years later she presented with similar symptoms, and both illnesses were found to have occurred after ingestion ofa herbal remedy containing kelp, motherwort, skullcap, and mistletoe. A challenge test established this to be the cause of the illness. Mistletoe is the only constituent of the tablets known to contain any potential toxin and thus was probably the cause of the illness. Mistletoe is widely used in herbal remedies, whose ingestion may therefore cause hepatitis.
Intrinsically Passive Grasping and Manipulation

This article presents and discusses the application of an Intrinsically Passive Control (IPC) strategy to robotic grasping and manipulation tasks. Major advantages of the presented control strategy are the physical intuition on which it is based, its passive nature, and the ensured stability for the overall system in all the situations, including in particular the transition from no-contact to contact and vice-versa. One of the main features of the proposed control is that only joint position measurements are needed. This means that no velocity or force measurements are required in the control loop, simplifying the sensorial complexity and enlarging the possibilities of application of the scheme. Experimental results are reported, showing the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy. Keywords— Passivity, Interaction, Physical Control, Robotic Manipulation.
Imaging findings in patients with clinical anophthalmos.

PURPOSE To review the intracranial and facial imaging features in children with congenital anophthalmos. METHODS We retrospectively studied eight children with anophthalmos with respect to intraorbital, intracranial, and craniofacial anomalies (six had CT examinations, including the face, orbits, and brain, and four had MR imaging, including the orbits and brain). RESULTS Three patients had primary bilateral anophthalmos on CT (n = 1) and MR (n = 3) studies. In these patients, MR images showed hypoplasia of the optic chiasm and posterior visual pathways (n = 3), agenesis (n = 1) or dysgenesis of the corpus callosum (n = 2), and a mass in the tuber cinereum region (n = 1). One patient had incontinentia pigmenti. Five patients had unilateral anophthalmos on CT (n = 5) and MR (n = 1) studies. One of these patients had a contralateral congenital cystic eye and one had contralateral severe microphthalmia and absent optic chiasm. All had craniofacial anomalies that consisted of midline facial clefts (n = 2) and concomitant hemifacial hypoplasia (n = 2). One had a craniosynostosis. All five had normal-appearing brains. CONCLUSION Patients with bilateral anophthalmos represent a distinct group from those with unilateral anophthalmos. In our patients, bilateral anophthalmos was associated with absence of the optic chiasm, diminished size of the posterior optic pathways, and agenesis or dysgenesis of the corpus callosum. Patients with unilateral anophthalmos had severe craniofacial anomalies. Imaging of the face is helpful in patients with unilateral anophthalmos.
Enhanced Regeneration of Critical Bone Defects Using a Biodegradable Gelatin Sponge and β-Tricalcium Phosphate with Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2

We examine the osteogenicity of a sponge biomaterial consisting of a biodegradable mixture of gelatin and β-tricalcium phosphate (βTCP) that bound bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) in critical-sized bone defects in rats. Gelatin-βTCP sponges containing either phosphate buffered saline or incorporating BMP-2 are implanted into 5 mm diameter bone defects created in rat mandibles. We assess the defects biweekly for 8 weeks following implantation. There is significantly higher osteoinductive activity and significantly more Gla-osteocalcin content at bone-defect healing sites treated with gelatin-βTCP sponges incorporating BMP-2 than there is in those treated with sponges that did not contain BMP-2. Histologically, new bone that contains bone marrow and that is connected to the original bone almost entirely replaces the regenerated bone. These results show that biodegradable gelatin-βTCP incorporating BMP-2 is osteogenic enough to promote healing in large bone defects.
Association of vitamin D deficiency, season of the year, and latent tuberculosis infection among household contacts

Objectives Vitamin D (VD) enhances the immune response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro, and VD deficiency has been described in patients with active tuberculosis (TB). However, the role of hypovitaminosis D in the pathogenesis of early TB infection acquisition is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the association of VD deficiency, season of the year, and latent TB infection in household contacts (HHC), given that this is a potentially modifiable condition often related to nutritional deficiencies and lack of sun exposure. Methods We prospectively enrolled new pulmonary TB cases (n = 107) and their HHC (n = 144) over a 2-year period in Santiago, Chile. We compared plasma 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25OHD) levels and examined the influence of season, ethnic background, living conditions, and country of origin. Results Over 77% of TB cases and 62.6% of HHC had VD deficiency (<20 ng/ml). Median 25OHD concentration was significantly lower in TB cases than in HHC (11.7 vs. 18.2 ng/ml, p<0.0001). Migrants HHC had lower 25OHD levels than non-migrants (14.6 vs. 19.0 ng/ml, p = 0.026), and a trend towards a higher burden of latent TB infection (52.9% vs. 35.2%, p = 0.066). Multivariate analysis found VD deficiency in HHC was strongly associated with being sampled in winter/spring (adOR 25.68, 95%CI 7.35–89.7), corresponding to the seasons with lowest solar radiation exposure. Spring enrollment–compared with other seasons–was the chief risk factor for latent TB infection in HHC (adOR 3.14, 95%CI 1.28–7.69). Conclusions Hypovitaminosis D was highly prevalent in TB cases and also in HHC. A marked seasonality was found for both VD levels and latent TB in HHC, with winter being the season with lowest VD levels and spring the season with the highest risk of latent TB infection.