Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Obesity in psoriasis: the metabolic, clinical and therapeutic implications. Report of an interdisciplinary conference and review

Experts on psoriasis convened with authorities from other medical specialties to discuss the recently described association between psoriasis, obesity and subsequent cardiovascular comorbidity. Similar to other diseases of increased systemic inflammation, psoriasis has been linked to a heightened risk of myocardial infarction, especially in the more severely affected, younger patients. However, unlike in other inflammatory diseases – such as rheumatoid arthritis – more severely affected patients with psoriasis are much more likely to be obese. Importantly, the pathophysiology of both psoriasis and obesity shows many shared cytokines that are known to contribute to features of the metabolic syndrome, such as hypertension, dyslipidaemia and insulin resistance. The strong association between psoriasis and obesity potentially makes psoriasis an important healthcare issue that requires an update in its standard of care. This meeting reviewed the evidence‐based literature and addressed how, moving forward, dermatologists and other specialists may redefine the magnitude of health risk associated with more severe psoriasis and its comorbidities, while clarifying both the epidemiology and pathophysiology of the association with obesity.
Outcomes in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma in a phase I study of everolimus in combination with lenalidomide

Everolimus, an oral mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, has been studied in multiple myeloma (MM) but lacks significant single agent activity. Based on preclinical studies showing synergistic activity of mTOR inhibitors with lenalidomide, we studied the combination of lenalidomide and everolimus in relapsed or refractory MM in a phase I clinical trial. We assessed patient samples using gene expression, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry to probe the mTOR pathway. Twenty‐six patients were evaluable for toxicity. Dose‐limiting toxicities included grade 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. The maximum tolerated dose was lenalidomide 15 mg and everolimus 5 mg for 21 d with a 7 d rest period. Grade 3/4 adverse events included thrombocytopenia (35%) and neutropenia (42%). The overall response rate was 65% (1 complete response + 4 partial response + 10 minimal response). The median progression‐free survival was 5·5 months and median overall survival was 29·5 months. Biomarker data demonstrated downregulation of phosphorylated p70S6K. Gene expression profiling suggested activation of mTOR in responders versus non‐responders. The combination of lenalidomide and everolimus was well tolerated with predictable toxicities and showed responses in a heavily pretreated population. When confirmed with larger patient numbers, this analysis may guide patient selection for future clinical trials of mTOR inhibition in MM.
Prevention and 18-Month Outcomes of Serious Pulmonary Hemorrhage in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants: Results From the Trial of Indomethacin Prophylaxis in Preterms

OBJECTIVES. A patent ductus arteriosus is a risk factor for pulmonary hemorrhage; however, despite halving the incidence of patent ductus arteriosus, indomethacin prophylaxis did not reduce the rate of pulmonary hemorrhage in the Trial of Indomethacin Prophylaxis in Preterms. Inclusion of mild bleeds after trauma to the upper airways may have masked a beneficial drug effect. Using the Trial of Indomethacin Prophylaxis in Preterms database, we studied the effect of prophylactic indomethacin on the prevention of serious hemorrhages in extremely low birth weight infants. We also compared the 18-month outcomes of infants with and without a serious pulmonary bleed. METHODS. Pulmonary hemorrhage was classified as serious when it was treated with increased ventilator support, a higher concentration of oxygen, or transfusion of blood products. The cumulative risk for serious pulmonary hemorrhage was estimated for the first week of life and for the entire NICU stay. Poor outcome at a corrected age of 18 months was death or survival with cerebral palsy, cognitive delay, blindness, and/or deafness. RESULTS. A total of 123 (10.2%) of 1202 infants developed a serious pulmonary hemorrhage. During week 1, prophylactic indomethacin reduced the risk for serious pulmonary hemorrhage by 35%; however, during the entire NICU stay, the risk for such hemorrhages was decreased by only 23%. A reduced risk for patent ductus arteriosus explained 80% of the beneficial effect of prophylactic indomethacin on serious pulmonary bleeds. The risks for death or for survival with neurosensory impairment were doubled after a serious pulmonary hemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS. Extremely low birth weight infants with serious pulmonary hemorrhage have an increased risk for poor long-term outcome. Prophylactic indomethacin reduces the rate of early serious pulmonary hemorrhage, mainly through its action on patent ductus arteriosus. Prophylactic indomethacin is less effective in preventing serious pulmonary hemorrhages that occur after the first week of life.
Estimation of serum M-protein concentration from polyclonal immunoglobulins: an alternative to serum protein electrophoresis and standard immunochemical procedures

Abstract Background: Serum monoclonal proteins (M-proteins) are usually quantified by electrophoresis or immunochemical measurement. A third alternative involves immunochemical measurement of the monoclonal isotype by subtraction of the polyclonal part of the isotype calculated from the other polyclonal isotypes and light chain. We experimentally calculated heavy chain/light chain equivalence factors for three immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes and compared serum M-protein concentrations obtained using the three approaches. Methods: Equivalence factors were calculated for 1427 samples from 322 patients with a clinical diagnosis of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and validated in serum samples with and without a monoclonal component. Serum light chain recovery by nephelometry was compared to estimates using factors for serum immunoglobulin concentrations. Some 3735 samples were measured by electrophoresis and nephelometry for comparison of M-protein concentrations. Results: The experimentally calculated factors were 3.3059 (IgGκ), 3.5204 (IgGλ), 3.4567 (IgAκ), 3.5308 (IgAλ), 4.9104 (IgMκ) and 4.8020 (IgMλ). Light chains quantified by nephelometry in 984 serum samples without M-protein gave recovery of 100.97%±6.89% compared to immunoglobulin concentration estimates. Light chain recovery of <80% was observed more often for IgMκ (61.0%) and IgMλ (42.5%). Method differences for M-protein were >25% for 37.4%–52.3% of the serum samples. Electrophoresis results were higher than nephelometry results for 5% of serum samples and 23.7% of the estimates, especially for M-protein <20 g/L. Method differences for concentrations >40 g/L were <25% for most IgG and IgA isotypes, but not IgM. Conclusions: No method can accurately measure serum M-proteins over the entire concentration range. Estimation using polyclonal immunoglobulins and light chains represents a simple alternative to electrophoresis that is applicable to any serum M-protein concentration, regardless of electrophoretic migration and particularly for M-protein serum <20 g/L. Clin Chem Lab Med 2008;46:1156–62.
Attracting manifold for a viscous topology transition.

An analytical method is developed describing the approach to a finite-time singularity associated with collapse of a narrow fluid layer in an unstable Hele-Shaw flow. Under the separation of time scales near a bifurcation point, a long-wavelength mode entrains higher-frequency modes, as described by a version of Hill`s equation. In the slaved dynamics, the initial-value problem is solved explicitly, yielding the time and analytical structure of a singularity which is associated with the motion of zeros in the complex plane. This suggests a general mechanism of singularity formation in this system. {copyright} {ital 1995} {ital The} {ital American} {ital Physical} {ital Society}.
Creating Common Grazing Rights on Private Parcels: How new rules produce incentives for cooperative land management

Privatization of common lands shifts legal authority for land use decisions from communities to individual land owners. In so doing, privatization may undermine systems of rules regulating access to and use of common resources, such as grazing land among northern Kenya pastoralists. This study of privatization of pastoral land among the Samburu finds, however, that while individual land owners do claim a high level of autonomy over decision-making regarding their land, new social norms have emerged following privatization that promote the continued accessibility of private land for livestock grazing by neighbor’s herds. These new rules stipulate, for example, that land owners who refuse others’ access to grazing on their property will not be allowed to graze their livestock on any privately owned land in the community. In this way, communal sanctions are used to enforce cooperation in maintaining shared grazing rights, even on private parcels. Furthermore, these rules have differential effects on land owners depending on the number of livestock they own. Those with many livestock requiring greater access to pasture are encouraged to keep their land available to others, while those with few livestock may benefit by enclosing their land and leasing it for cultivation or grazing. Private ownership coupled with such norms regarding access creates varied incentives for land owners resulting in new patterns of land use. The emergence of new norms demonstrates the presence of institutional innovation at community level in the face of de jure shifts in ownership originating from national level policy. This case illustrates the important role of social sanctions in establishing and maintaining cooperation, and the dynamic interplay of public and private realms in Samburu land management. 1 Assistant Professor,George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University, St. Louis,Campus Box 1196,1 Brookings Drive,St. Louis, MO 63130,Email: clesorogol@wustl.edu
Improvement in Arterial Oxygen Control using Multiple Model Adaptive Control Procedures

A computer-based proportional-integral (PI) controller has been developed to control arterial oxygen levels in mechanically-ventilated animals. Arterial oxygen saturation is monitored using a non-invasive oximeter and control is effected by adjusting inspired oxygen fraction. The performance of the feedback system is sensitive to the open-loop gain so that the desired transient specifications can only be achieved by empirical adjustment of a PI controller. Because the open-loop gain includes the animal's response, it may vary with time and with the administration of positive end-expiratory pressure. Multiple model adaptive control procedures were therefore used to desensitize the system to these gain variables. Computer simulations demonstrated the effectiveness of the algorithm over a wide variation of plant parameters. A comparison with a fixed well-tuned proportional-integral controller showed an improvement in the regulatory response to a step disturbance. Animal experiments reiterated the feasibility of using multiple model adaptive control procedures in arterial oxygen saturation regulation.
Significance of serum procalcitonin in sepsis

Context: Rapid treatment of sepsis is of crucial importance for survival of patients. Specific and rapid markers of bacterial infection have been sought for early diagnosis of sepsis. One such measurement, Procalcitonin (PCT), has recently become of interest as a possible marker of the systemic inflammatory response to infection. Aims: This study was done to find out the common sources of sepsis and to evaluate the diagnostic value of PCT, its predictive value and its relation with Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores and mortality in various stages of sepsis. Settings and Design: The prospective study was conducted at our tertiary care center from October 2006 to December 2008. A total of 100 patients were included in the study. The study sample included all patients aged above 18 years presenting consecutively to our center during the study period with acute sepsis. They were divided into three groups: sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shockbased on standardized criteria. Materials and Methods: PCT and various other relevant factors were measured in all study subjects. These parameters were compared among the three study groups. The statistical analyses were done using Student “t” test and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: Respiratory tract infection was the most common source of sepsis. PCT proved to be an excellent indicator of sepsis with sensitivity of 94%. There was a significant association between serum PCT and SOFA scores (P < 0.05). Serum PCT levels did not predict mortality in the present study. Conclusions: PCT is among the most promising sepsis markers, capable of complementing clinical signs and routine lab parameters suggestive of severe infection.
Two case reports: Fatal Absidia corymbifera pulmonary tract infection in the first postoperative phase of a lung transplant patient receiving voriconazole prophylaxis, and transient bronchial Absidia corymbifera colonization in a lung transplant patient

Absidia corymbifera is a rare cause of pulmonary tract infection. There exist only 5 case reports predominantly diagnosed in bone marrow transplant patients. Lung transplant patients are at high risk for invasive fungal infections. Due to A. corymbifera as pathogen, known to be voriconazole resistant, a fatal invasive pulmonary mycosis occurred. In the present case voriconazole prophylaxis failed. A second patient showed a transient colonization of the bronchi. To prevent airborne transmitted invasive pulmonary mycosis in the first postoperative period of lung transplantation the patient should be situated in a room ventilated by HEPA-filtered air. The specific treatment should start very early when first suspicion arises. A review of the literature on pulmonary tract infections induced by Absidia corymbifera is provided.
Gonorrhoea treatment failure and ciprofloxacin resistance

Summary: Ciprofloxacin-resistant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae have been on the increase over the past few years in Singapore and worldwide. The aim of this study is to correlate treatment failures with in vitro ciprofloxacin resistance of N. gonorrhoeae . A total of 694 patients attending the Department of STD Control (DSC) clinic in 1996 who were diagnosed to have gonococcal infection confirmed by culture were analysed. Treatment failure rates for ciprofloxacin were determined and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ciprofloxacin were traced for all cases of treatment failure. The case notes of all patients who had strains with MICs of ciprofloxacin in the resistant ( 1 mug/ml) and less sensitive (0.125-0.5 mug/ml) range were also reviewed to determine the clinical outcome. Ciprofloxacin treatment failure rate was 1.7% (8/461) which was lower than the percentage of ciprofloxacin-resistant strains isolated in the laboratory. Of these 8 cases, 6 were resistant and 2 were less sensitive to ciprofloxacin. Cure rates with ciprofloxacin for resistant and less sensitive strains were 40% and 92% respectively. In conclusion, in vitro resistance to ciprofloxacin may not translate into clinical treatment failure. Clinical treatment failures, on the other hand, are also seen in less sensitive strains.
Antibacterial iridoid glucosides from Eremostachys laciniata

Eremostachys laciniata (L) Bunge (family: Lamiaceae alt. Labiatae; subfamily: Lamioideae) is one of the 15 endemic Iranian herbs of the genus Eremostachys. A decoction of the roots and flowers of E. laciniata has traditionally been taken orally for the treatment of allergies, headache and liver diseases. Three antibacterial iridoid glucosides, phloyoside I (1), phlomiol (2) and pulchelloside I (3) have been isolated from the rhizomes of this plant. The structures of these compounds were elucidated unequivocally by a series of 1D and 2D NMR analyses. The antibacterial activity and brine shrimp toxicity of these compounds were assessed using the resazurin microtitre assay and the brine shrimp lethality assay, respectively. All three iridoid glycosides 1–3 exhibited from low to moderate levels (MIC = 0.05–0.50 mg/mL) of antibacterial activity. Of these compounds, compound 3 was the most active, and displayed antibacterial activity against 9 of 12 different strains tested. The most noteworthy activity of 3 was against Bacillus cereus, penicillin‐resistant Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis and Staphylococcus aureus with an MIC value of 0.05 mg/mL. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Exploring the relationship between hope and burnout in competitive sport

Abstract Researchers have postulated that hope may be an important factor associated with burnout. Consistent with hope theory contentions, low-hope individuals may be susceptible to burnout because they are prone to experience goal blockage, frustration, and negative affect, all of which likely increase the risk of burnout. We examined the relationship between hope and athlete burnout among 178 competitive athletes (63 females and 115 males) aged 15–20 years. Hope was significantly and negatively correlated with all three burnout subscales: emotional/physical exhaustion, a reduced sense of accomplishment, and sport devaluation. Moreover, results of a multivariate analysis of variance showed that low-hope athletes scored significantly higher than medium- and high-hope athletes on all three burnout dimensions. Finally, results revealed that agency thinking was a significant predictor of all burnout dimensions. Frustration over unmet goals and a perceived lack of agency, a characteristic of low-hope athletes, might pose a risk factor in athlete burnout, whereas being able to maintain hope appears to be associated with health and well-being.
Prevalence of ZnT8 antibody in relation to phenotype and SLC30A8 polymorphism in adult autoimmune diabetes. Results from the HUNT study, Norway

Zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8), a product of the SLC30A8 gene, is a target-antigen in autoimmune diabetes. Associations between ZnT8 antibody (ZnT8A), phenotype and the genetic variant rs13266634 in the SLC30A8 gene have primarily been studied in patients with young-onset diabetes. We explored such associations in adult-onset autoimmune diabetes identified from the all-population based Nord-Trøndelag health Study (HUNT) ZnT8A (assayed by a fusion probe of C-terminal Arg325 and Trp325), and antibodies against glutamic decarboxylase (GADA) and tyrosine phosphatase-like protein insulinoma antigen-2 (IA-2A) were analysed in 266 subjects classified as having adult-onset autoimmune diabetes ( ≥ 25 years of age at diagnosis). Of these, 161 subjects fulfilled the criteria of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA), whereas 105 subjects were termed “classical” type 1 diabetes. Ten out of 161 LADA (6.2%) and 23 out of 105 adult-onset “classical” type 1 diabetic patients (22%) were ZnT8A positive. Adult-onset diabetic subjects positive both for GADA and IA-2A (n = 17), had lower waist circumference (p = 0.024) and higher fasting glucose levels (p = 0.023) than those positive both for GADA and ZnT8A (n = 13). Genotyping results of rs13266634 (available in 178 adult-onset diabetic subjects), showed a tendency for association between ZnT8A positivity and the TT- and CC genotypes of SNP rs13266634 (p = 0.101) using the standard cut-off level of 0.06ai, and a significant association at a lower cut-off level of 0.01ai (p = 0.005). We conclude that ZnT8A positivity in a population of adult-onset autoimmune diabetes is a less strong marker of autoimmunity than IA-2A. Further, positivity could be influenced by polymorphism of the SLC30A8 gene.
Damping Interarea Oscillations by Multiple Modal Selectivity Method

The paper describes a control method, to be used in conjunction with wide-area measurement system (WAMS), to damp the very low frequency interarea modes of very large power systems from only a limited number of power stations. It requires knowledge of the eigenvectors of the targeted modes only. The other modes are not destabilized. Results from numerical simulations and eigenvalue evaluations are given.
Examination of contraction-induced muscle pain as a behavioral correlate of physical activity in women with and without fibromyalgia

Abstract Purpose: This study aimed to compare muscle pain intensity during a sustained isometric contraction in women with and without fibromyalgia (FM), and examine the association between muscle pain and self-reported levels of physical activity. Methods: Fourteen women with FM and 14 healthy women completed the study, where muscle pain ratings (MPRs) were obtained every 30 s during a 3 min isometric handgrip task at 25% maximal strength, and self-reported physical activity was quantified using the Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire. Results: Women with FM were less physically active than healthy controls. During the isometric contraction, MPR progressively increased in both groups at a comparable rate, but women with FM generally reported a greater intensity of muscle pain than healthy controls. Among all women, average MPR scores were inversely associated with self-reported physical activity levels. Conclusions: Women with FM exhibit augmented muscle pain during isometric contractions and reduced physical activity than healthy controls. Furthermore, contraction-induced muscle pain is inversely associated with physical activity levels. These observations suggest that augmented muscle pain may serve as a behavioral correlate of reduced physical activity in women with FM. Implications for Rehabilitation Women with fibromyalgia experience a greater intensity of localized muscle pain in a contracting muscle compared to healthy women. The intensity of pain during muscle contraction is inversely associated with the amount of physical activity in women with and without fibromyalgia. Future studies should determine whether exercise adherence can be improved by considering the relationship between contraction-induced muscle pain and participation in routine physical activity.
Post‐operative use of knee brace in bone–tendon–bone patellar tendon anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: 5‐year follow‐up results of a randomized prospective study

Sixty patients were prospectively randomized to brace and no‐brace groups after bone–tendon–bone patellar tendon anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The brace group wore a rehabilitation knee brace for 12 weeks post‐operatively, while the no‐brace group was mobilized immediately, and crutches were discarded 2 weeks post‐operatively. The groups were comparable with respect to age, gender, time from injury to surgery and concomitant injuries. There were no differences either pre‐operatively or 5 years post‐operatively (80% of patients reviewed) between the groups in terms of the knee score (Lysholm), activity level (Tegner), degree of laxity or isokinetic peak muscle torque. Thus it appears that knee braces are not needed in the post‐operative rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction with the patellar tendon graft.
Obstacles in Investigating the Role of Restructuring in Insightful Problem Solving

In the present article, we articulate three assumptions underlying theories proposing that restructuring processes play a key role in insightful problem solving: representational difficulty, representational change, and discontinuity in solution processes. We argue that these assumptions need empirical validation to justify the proposition of restructuring mechanisms that are unique from those involved in classic information-processing theories of problem solving. To this end, we review some theoretical and methodological obstacles that are inherent in the investigation of the existence and nature of restructuring processes. We then offer some recommendations on how to overcome or avoid these obstacles in future studies. Finally, we discuss some questions to help motivate new research.