Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Treatment of superior labrum anterior posterior lesions: a literature review.

OBJECTIVE Treatment of superior labrum anterior posterior (SLAP) lesions continues to be controversial, but with the development of suture anchors, it has become acceptable to repair these lesions arthroscopically. The aim of this study was to review recent trends in the evaluation and treatment of SLAP lesions, with particular emphasis on comparing the results of biceps tenodesis and SLAP repair. METHODS All English language publications from the PubMed, Cochrane, and SCOPUS databases between 1928 and 2012 on biceps tendon, SLAP lesions, and biceps surgery were reviewed. Literature was reviewed in table form because of the lack of Level 1 studies. RESULTS Surgical repair can have complications and may not return overhead athletes to their previous level of activity. Biceps tenodesis has become the preferred primary procedure in non-athletic individuals because of the high failure rate of SLAP repair. In patients with continuing symptoms after SLAP lesion repair, biceps tenodesis offers a more predictable operation than a second repair attempt. CONCLUSION Biceps tenodesis may present a viable treatment option for SLAP repair or for failed SLAP repair in some patients.
Chimeric Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus with Glycoprotein Gene Substitutions from Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (HRSV): Effects on Host Range and Evaluation as a Live-Attenuated HRSV Vaccine

ABSTRACT We recently developed a system for the generation of infectious bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) from cDNA. Here, we report the recovery of fully viable chimeric recombinant BRSVs (rBRSVs) that carry human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) glycoproteins in place of their BRSV counterparts, thus combining the replication machinery of BRSV with the major antigenic determinants of HRSV. A cDNA encoding the BRSV antigenome was modified so that the complete G and F genes, including the gene start and gene end signals, were replaced by their HRSV A2 counterparts. Alternatively, the BRSV F gene alone was replaced by that of HRSV Long. Each antigenomic cDNA directed the successful recovery of recombinant virus, yielding rBRSV/A2 and rBRSV/LongF, respectively. The HRSV G and F proteins or the HRSV F in combination with BRSV G were expressed efficiently in cells infected with the appropriate chimeric virus and were efficiently incorporated into recombinant virions. Whereas BRSV and HRSV grew more efficiently in bovine and human cells, respectively, the chimeric rBRSV/A2 exhibited intermediate growth characteristics in a human cell line and grew better than either parent in a bovine line. The cytopathology induced by the chimera more closely resembled that of BRSV. BRSV was confirmed to be highly restricted for replication in the respiratory tract of chimpanzees, a host that is highly permissive for HRSV. Interestingly, the rBRSV/A2 chimeric virus was somewhat more competent than BRSV for replication in chimpanzees but remained highly restricted compared to HRSV. This showed that the substitution of the G and F glycoproteins alone was not sufficient to induce efficient replication in chimpanzees. Thus, the F and G proteins contribute to the host range restriction of BRSV but are not the major determinants of this phenotype. Although rBRSV/A2 expresses the major neutralization and protective antigens of HRSV, chimpanzees infected with this chimeric virus were not significantly protected against subsequent challenge with wild-type HRSV. This suggests that the growth restriction of rBRSV/A2 was too great to provide adequate antigen expression and that the capacity of this chimeric vaccine candidate for replication in primates will need to be increased by the importation of additional HRSV genes.
Thin layers prepared by pulsed laser deposition from Yb0.19Co4Sb12 target

Bulk Yb0.19Co4Sb12 skutterudite prepared by hot pressing was found to be a good high temperature thermoelectric material with a high figure of merit ZT (ZT=1.2 at T=650 K). In this contribution the properties of thin layers prepared by pulsed laser deposition from such target are presented. The target was prepared by hot pressing and was proved to be a skutterudite structure. The thin films were deposited on quartz glass substrates using KrF excimer laser. The substrate temperature during the deposition was 200 degC, 250 degC, 300 degC or 410 degC, the energy density of the laser beam was held at 2 J/cm2, 3 J/cm2 or 5 J/cm 2 for individual experiments. The deposition took place in Ar atmosphere of 13 Pa. The layers from 150 nm up to 440 nm were examined by X-ray diffraction method. Depending on the deposition conditions the layers between amorphous and skutterudite structures were obtained. For some samples, CoSb2 phase and mixed CoSb2 phase with skutterudite structure were also observed. For the layer with skutterudite structure the homogeneity and relative quantity of Yb across the 1cm2 of the surface was examined by secondary ion mass spectrometry. The 60 nm thick layers with skutterudite structure were characterized by Seebeck coefficient and resistivity measurements in the temperature range from 300 K to 550 K. The results are compared with the published results for the bulk material
Whole-blood cultures from renal-transplant patients stimulated ex vivo show that the effects of cyclosporine on lymphocyte proliferation are related to P-glycoprotein expression

Background. Cyclosporine (CsA) is a substrate for the MDR-1 gene product P-glycoprotein (P-gp). CsA efficacy may be modulated by lymphocyte P-gp expression levels. In this study, CsA inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation in whole-blood cultures ex vivo has been related to (1) lymphocyte P-gp expression and (2) the C3435T polymorphism in the MDR-1 gene, which has been reported to alter P-gp function. Methods. In 30 renal-transplant recipients taking CsA monotherapy, P-gp expression was measured by flow cytometry. Whole-blood samples were stimulated with purified protein derivative (PPD) and phytohemagglutinin (PHA). CsA resistance ex vivo was defined as less than 10% reduction in proliferation with either PPD or PHA at 2 hours compared with 0 hours. Results. CsA resistance was associated with greater P-gp expression using either PPD (median expression, resistant 1.89 vs. sensitive 0.96, P =0.02) or PHA (1.66 vs. 0.96, respectively, P =0.02). Whole-blood CsA levels in resistant and sensitive patients were similar. The C3435T polymorphism did not affect inhibition of proliferation by CsA (P >0.05 for all between genotype group comparisons). Conclusions. Our results indicate that lymphocyte P-gp expression determines the degree of inhibition of proliferation by CsA ex vivo; whether this also affects CsA effectiveness in vivo and therefore graft survival requires further study.
Identification of novel targets in scleroderma: update on population studies, cDNA arrays, SNP analysis, and mutations

Purpose of reviewSystemic sclerosis, or scleroderma, is an uncommon autoimmune connective tissue disease that results in systemic fibrosis. Its etiologic basis remains unclear. The pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis involves a proliferative and obliterative vasculopathy resulting from endothelial cell dysfunction, extensive fibrosis secondary to fibroblast activation, and autoimmunity as demonstrated by the presence of disease-specific autoantibodies. Although there is no clear and convincing evidence for an environmental trigger in most cases, accumulating data emphasize the role of genetic factors in systemic sclerosis. As in other complex human diseases, multiple genes likely contribute to disease susceptibility and the clinical manifestations of systemic sclerosis. This review will cover the application of genomics to the complex genetics of systemic sclerosis. Recent findingsThe following review is an update on novel targets identified in scleroderma based on published reports (May 2000–May 2003) of mutation/polymorphism analysis (using SNP and haplotyping), the results from a recent genome-wide scan on a Native American population with systemic sclerosis, and gene expression studies (microarrays). SummaryThe use of genomics has revealed novel targets and genetic associations that may contribute to the cause, the onset, and the subsequent pathologic changes that constitute systemic sclerosis. The identification of potential candidates for gene therapy or disease-specific targets amenable to pharmacologic intervention will benefit patients with systemic sclerosis who are currently being treated for their symptoms and not the disease process itself.
Comparison of gestational weight gain-related pregnancy outcomes in American primiparous and multiparous women.

BACKGROUND In Danish data, the tradeoffs between mother and infant in the risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes were reached at lower gestational weight gain (GWG) among multiparous than among primiparous women. It is unknown whether the same difference exists among American women. OBJECTIVE The objective was to determine whether these tradeoffs also differ by parity among women in a contemporary American birth cohort. DESIGN Data from 822 primiparous and 2055 multiparous American women who participated in the Infant Feeding Practices Study II (2005-2007), a national cohort study, were analyzed. Their self-reported GWG was divided into 4 categories (≤10, >10 to <15, 15 to <20, and ≥20 kg). GWG-specific absolute adjusted risks for emergency cesarean delivery, birth of a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) or large-for-gestational-age (LGA) infant, and postpartum weight retention at 6 mo were estimated by multiple logistic regression analyses for women in 3 categories of prepregnancy body mass index. RESULTS Primiparous women gained more weight during pregnancy than did multiparous women (mean ± SD: 15.9 ± 6.9 compared with 13.5 ± 6.2 kg; P < 0.0001). The absolute adjusted risk of postpartum weight retention rose steeply with increasing GWG among both primiparous and multiparous women. The risk of emergency cesarean delivery and of delivering LGA infants increased with increasing GWG only among multiparous women. The risk of SGA tended to decrease with increasing GWG in both parity groups. CONCLUSION These findings extend the concept of a lower optimal GWG among multiparous than primiparous women to American women.
Tête à Tête of Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus and Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Sardinia Virus in Single Nuclei

ABSTRACT Since 1997 two distinct geminivirus species, Tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus (TYLCSV) and Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), have caused a similar yellow leaf curl disease in tomato, coexisted in the fields of southern Spain, and very frequently doubly infected single plants. Tomatoes as well as experimental test plants (e.g., Nicotiana benthamiana) showed enhanced symptoms upon mixed infections under greenhouse conditions. Viral DNA accumulated to a similar extent in singly and doubly infected plants. In situ tissue hybridization showed TYLCSV and TYLCV DNAs to be confined to the phloem in both hosts, irrespective of whether they were inoculated individually or in combination. The number of infected nuclei in singly or doubly infected plants was determined by in situ hybridization of purified nuclei. The percentage of nuclei containing viral DNA (i.e., 1.4% in tomato or 6% in N. benthamiana) was the same in plants infected with either TYLCSV, TYLCV, or both. In situ hybridization of doubly infected plants, with probes that discriminate between both DNAs, revealed that at least one-fifth of infected nuclei harbored DNAs from both virus species. Such a high number of coinfected nuclei may explain why recombination between different geminivirus DNAs occurs frequently. The impact of these findings for epidemiology and for resistance breeding concerning tomato yellow leaf curl diseases is discussed.
Orthostatic Intolerance and Autonomic Dysfunction in Youth With Persistent Postconcussion Symptoms: A Head-Upright Tilt Table Study

Objective:To explore head-upright tilt table (HUT) signs of autonomic dysfunction in a cohort of youth with persistent postconcussion symptoms (PCSs) that include light-headedness and to correlate repeat tilt table results with symptom improvements for those patients found to have postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) on initial testing. Design:Prospective cohort design. Setting:Nationwide Children's Hospital, Neurology Clinic. Participants:Thirty-four patients (13-18 years of age) with persistent PCSs. Main Outcome Measures:All patients underwent at least 1 tilt table test. The PCS Interview (PCS-I) and patient ratings of light-headedness and vertigo were used to measure symptom burden. Patients found to have POTS were asked to repeat tilt table testing when PCSs improved or 3 to 6 months after the initial test if symptoms persisted. Results:Twenty-four of the 34 (70.6%) patients had abnormal tilt table results with patients categorized as normal (n = 10), isolated syncope (n = 10), and POTS (n = 14). Patients with POTS had higher PCS-I scores than normal patients (P < 0.001) and higher ratings of light-headedness than both normal patients (P = 0.015) and syncope patients (P = 0.04). Twelve POTS patients underwent repeat tilt table testing, and 9 of 12 (75%) no longer met POTS diagnostic criteria. All patients with resolution of POTS had corresponding improvements in PCSs, including light-headedness and vertigo. Conclusions:Our study demonstrates a high rate of tilt table abnormalities among youth with persistent PCSs. Several patients with POTS had normalization of tilt table testing when PCSs improved. These findings warrant further research of autonomic dysfunction related to concussion. Clinical Relevance:Our study is the first to prospectively characterize autonomic dysfunction in patients with persistent PCSs using HUT testing and to show that the tilt test abnormalities normalize in some patients as PCSs improve.
Hepatic alpha-smooth muscle actin expression in hepatitis C patients before and after interferon therapy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS The mechanism of hepatic fibrogenesis with chronic viral hepatitis is not well understood. Persistent activation of hepatic stellate cells is felt to play a role in the development of fibrogenesis and progression to cirrhosis. METHODOLOGY We determined the expression of hepatic alpha-smooth muscle actin, a marker of hepatic stellate cell activation, in 29 patients with chronic hepatitis C and varying degrees of liver injury and fibrosis. In addition to a baseline evaluation, we assessed the effect of interferon therapy on alpha-smooth muscle actin expression in 11 patients, including 6 with a sustained response to therapy. Specimens were evaluated by light microscopy for grade of inflammation and stage of fibrosis. Expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin was assessed semiquantitatively by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS At baseline, all patients had alpha-smooth muscle actin expressed within the liver without an obvious correlation with the severity of liver injury. However, among sustained responders, a reduction in hepatic necroinflammatory activity was associated with a trend towards a decrease in alpha-smooth muscle actin expression. This however did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS Hepatic alpha-smooth muscle actin expression, as a marker of hepatic stellate cell activation appears reversible and tends to correlate with necroinflammatory activity.
Diet of the wild boar in the French Alps

En Francia, como en otras paises europeos, la poblacion de jabali ha aumentado rapidamente durante la ultima decada. Desde 1990, las areas de montana se han visto particularmente afectadas por este fenomeno. El crecimiento poblacional del jabali ha llevado a un incremento de los danos causados a los prados por su actividad durante la busqueda de raices. Al mismo tiempo, se conoce poco sobre la biologia de los jabalies en areas elevadas. Ha sido necesario un estudio de tres anos de duracion para entender las relaciones entre la dieta de los jabalies y los danos a los prados. Durante dos anos (desde abril de 1994 hasta abril de 1996)se han recogido muestras de heces y del contenido estomacal (n=352) y hemos observado grandes variaciones en la composicion de la dieta a lo largo del ano, tanto mensual como estaciona! Todos estos efectos fueron relacionados con la disponibilidad de alimentos. Analisis especificos del consumo de lombrices por los jabalies muestran la importancia de la lombriz en la dieta de los jabalies de areas montanosas. No podemos establecer una relacion entre el consumo de lombrices y la vegetacion enterrada. Nuestros resultados sugieren que la actividad de hozar de los jabalies no estaba dirigida solo y exclusivamente hacia las lombrices.
Increasing cancer screening: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Primary care physicians believe preventive services are important, but perform these activities infrequently. Numerous studies have attempted to increase cancer screening, employing a variety of interventions with varying results. METHODS We conducted a meta-analysis of published studies to identify effective office-based interventions for increasing cancer screening. Selected studies: (a) evaluated an intervention in a primary care setting, (b) addressed screening for breast, cervical, or colorectal cancer, and (c) reported results allowing calculation of an effect size. Study qualities and results were coded, entered, and analyzed using DSTAT. RESULTS Interventions targeting either physician or patient were equally successful (d = +0.1894 and d = +0.1756, respectively). However, studies targeting both physician and patient demonstrated a smaller effect size (d = +0.0514). Greater success was found for interventions targeting the physician both during and outside the patient visit (d = +0.1222 during visit, d = +0.1849 outside visit, d = +0.3375 both). Similarly, screening behavior improved when the physicians were the target of more than one, but not more than three, interventions (d = +0.1360, d = +0.2495, d = +0.6829, d = -0.0058). CONCLUSIONS Cancer screening activities increase with interventions that target either the physician or the patient and, when physicians are targeted, multiple interventions to serve as behavior cues and increase awareness appear optimal.
Description and Interpretation of Adaptive Evolution of Escherichia coli K-12 MG1655 by Using a Genome-Scale In Silico Metabolic Model

ABSTRACT Genome-scale in silico metabolic networks of Escherichia coli have been reconstructed. By using a constraint-based in silico model of a reconstructed network, the range of phenotypes exhibited by E. coli under different growth conditions can be computed, and optimal growth phenotypes can be predicted. We hypothesized that the end point of adaptive evolution of E. coli could be accurately described a priori by our in silico model since adaptive evolution should lead to an optimal phenotype. Adaptive evolution of E. coli during prolonged exponential growth was performed with M9 minimal medium supplemented with 2 g of α-ketoglutarate per liter, 2 g of lactate per liter, or 2 g of pyruvate per liter at both 30 and 37°C, which produced seven distinct strains. The growth rates, substrate uptake rates, oxygen uptake rates, by-product secretion patterns, and growth rates on alternative substrates were measured for each strain as a function of evolutionary time. Three major conclusions were drawn from the experimental results. First, adaptive evolution leads to a phenotype characterized by maximized growth rates that may not correspond to the highest biomass yield. Second, metabolic phenotypes resulting from adaptive evolution can be described and predicted computationally. Third, adaptive evolution on a single substrate leads to changes in growth characteristics on other substrates that could signify parallel or opposing growth objectives. Together, the results show that genome-scale in silico metabolic models can describe the end point of adaptive evolution a priori and can be used to gain insight into the adaptive evolutionary process for E. coli.
Renal arterial stenosis in renal allografts: retrospective study of predisposing factors and outcome after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

PURPOSE To determine the predisposing factors to transplant renal arterial stenosis (TRAS) and assess the outcome of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) as the primary treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS Of 831 renal allograft recipients (584 cadaveric, 247 living related) between January 1991 and December 1998, 72 had hypertension and/or renal dysfunction. All 72 underwent arteriography, and their medical charts were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS Prevalence of TRAS was 3.1% (26 of 831). Technical success rate of PTA was 94% (16 of 17), and clinical success rate was 82% (14 of 17). Those with renal dysfunction had a mean pre-PTA creatinine value of 2.6 mg/dL (230 micromol/L) +/- 0.5 (SD) versus a 1-week post-PTA value of 1.7 mg/dL (150 micromol/L) +/- 0.3 (P <.001). Of those with hypertension, all but one had substantial improvement in mean diastolic blood pressure. At 26.9 months mean follow-up in 16 patients with successful PTA, two stenoses reoccurred, and two grafts were lost to chronic rejection. TRAS was present in 14 of 45 end-to-side anastomoses and 12 of 27 end-to-end anastomoses (P =.31), and TRAS was more prevalent in cadaveric grafts (24 of 584) than in living related grafts (two of 247). In cadaveric grafts, the mean cold ischemia time was 29.0 hours +/- 6.9 in those with TRAS (n = 24), as compared with 25.5 hours +/- 8.1 in those with no TRAS (n = 39; P = .35). Seven of 17 patients with acute rejection and six of 35 with chronic rejection had TRAS. CONCLUSION Primary treatment of TRAS with PTA has good intermediate-term results. TRAS is more prevalent in cadaveric allografts with long cold ischemia time.
Prediction of extubation outcome in infants using the tension time index

Objective Approximately one-third of ventilated infants fail extubation. The objective of this study was to determine whether assessment of the load relative to the capacity of respiratory muscles by measurement of the tension time index (TTI) successfully predicted extubation outcome in infants. Design Prospective study. Setting Tertiary neonatal intensive care unit. Patients Twenty ventilated infants, with a median gestational age of 31 (range 24–39) weeks, were studied at a median postnatal age of 2.5 (range 1–37) days. Interventions The diaphragm tension time index (TTdi) was derived from measurements of transdiaphragmatic pressure using a dual-pressure transducer tipped catheter. The respiratory muscle tension time index (TTmus) was derived from non-invasive airway pressure measurements. Measurements were made within the 6 h prior to extubation. Main outcome measures Extubation failure was defined as the need for reintubation within 48 h of extubation. Results Five infants failed extubation; their median TTdi (p=0.001) and TTmus (p=0.001) were significantly higher than those of the successfully extubated infants. A TTdi of >0.15 and a TTmus of >0.18 were 100% sensitive and 100% specific in predicting extubation failure Conclusion In ventilated infants, invasive and non-invasive measurements of the TTI could provide an accurate prediction of extubation outcome.