Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Utility of Comparative Local Anesthetic Blocks Versus Placebo‐Controlled Blocks for the Diagnosis of Cervical Zygapophysial Joint Pain

Background:The development of target-specific local anesthetic blocks has enabled pain physicians to explore the anatomical source of chronic spinal pain. However, such blocks rely on subjective responses and may be subject to the placebo effect. Comparative local anesthetic blocks have been advocated as a means of identifying true-positive cases and excluding placebo responders. This paradigm employs two local anesthetics with different durations of action; only patients who obtain reproducible relief and correctly identify the longer-acting agent are considered positive. Objective:Our objective was to evaluate the reliability of comparative blocks of the medial branches of the cervical dorsal rami in the diagnosis of cervical zygapophysial joint pain. Design:We compared comparative blocks and the criterion-standard of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled blocks. Setting:The study was conducted at a tertiary referral center. Patients:We studied the first 50 consecutive patients referred for assessment of chronic neck pain (>3 months' duration) after a motor vehicle accident, who completed a series of placebo-controlled blocks after an initial positive response. Patients were 41 ± 11 years (mean ± SD) old with a male/female ratio of 1:2. Methods:Patients underwent three blocks using three different agents— lignocaine, bupivacaine, and normal saline—administered on separate occasions, in random order and under double-blind conditions. The diagnostic decision based on comparative blocks alone was compared with that based on placebo-controlled blocks. Results:Comparative blocks were found to have a specificity of 88%, but only marginal sensitivity (54%). Although comparative blocks result in few false-positive diagnoses, their liability is that they result in a high proportion of false-negative diagnoses. Expanding the comparative blocks diagnostic criteria to include all patients with reproducible relief, irrespective of duration, increases sensitivity to 100% but lowers specificity to 65%. Conclusions:Whether physicians use comparative or placebo-controlled blocks depends upon the implications of their results. If innocuous therapy will be prescribed, comparative blocks might suffice. However, when diagnostic certainty is critical, such as in a medicolegal context or when surgical intervention is contemplated, placebo-controlled blocks are recommended.
Comparison of ondansetron and granisetron for antiemetic prophylaxis in maxillofacial surgery patients receiving general anesthesia: a prospective, randomised, and double blind study

Objectives To compare the efficacy of intravenous ondansetron (4 mg, 2 mL) and granisetron (2 mg, 2 mL) for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients during oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures under general anesthesia. Materials and Methods A prospective, randomized, and double blind clinical study was carried out with 60 patients undergoing oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures under general anesthesia. Patients were divided into two groups of 30 individuals each. Approximately two minutes before induction of general anesthesia, each patient received either 4 mg (2 mL) ondansetron or 2 mg (2 mL) granisetron intravenously in a double blind manner. Balanced anesthetic technique was used for all patients. Patients were assessed for episodes of nausea, retching, vomiting, and the need for rescue antiemetic at intervals of 0-2, 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery. Incidence of complete response and adverse effects were assessed at 24 hours postoperatively. Data was tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis using the chi-square test, unpaired t-test, or the Mann-Whitney U-test as appropriate. A P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups for incidence of PONV or the need for rescue antiemetic. Both study drugs were well tolerated with minimum adverse effects; the most common adverse effect was headache. The overall incidence of complete response in the granisetron group (86.7%) was significantly higher than the ondansetron group (60.0%). Conclusion Granisetron at an intravenous dose of 2 mg was found to be safe, well tolerated, and more effective by increasing the incidence of complete response compared to 4 mg intravenous ondansetron when used for antiemetic prophylaxis in maxillofacial surgery patients receiving general anesthesia. Benefits of granisetron include high receptor specificity and high potency, which make it a valuable alternative to ondansetron.
Variability and Response of Urinary Resorption Markers to Hormone Replacement Therapy

We appreciate the comments of Garnero and Delmas on our recent report of the impact of intraindividual variability on the use of biochemical markers to monitor response to HRT and welcome the opportunity to respond to some of their comments. First, on a technical point, Garnero and Delmas state that the urine samples in our study were collected at an undefined time of day. In the paper, we state that they were second void samples. The implication was that they were second morning void samples and were in fact collected before 11:00 a.m. to minimize the effect of the large circadian rhythm associated with urinary markers of bone resorption. Garnero and Delmas have carried out a long-term study of intraindividual variability of urinary crosslaps (CTx) in a group 259 healthy untreated postmenopausal women aged 51–89 years (mean 64 years). The least significant change (LSC) cut-off, calculated from the intraindividual variability (CVi) for this cohort and an overall laboratory analytical coefficient of variation of the assay (CVa) was 69%. This was less that our value of 132%. LSC, like all estimates of precision, has associated confidence intervals as we showed in Hannon et al.’s Fig 5. The 95% confidence interval for LSC for CTx was 55–179%, which indicates that there is no significant difference between our estimate of LSC and that of Garnero and Delmas. Garnero and Delmas quite rightly point out that our sample size was small and this would have affected the magnitude of the confidence intervals. Recently, we have carried out further studies on the short-term intraindividual variability of markers of bone turnover, including CTx. In postmenopausal women untreated with HRT (n 4 34), in postmenopausal women treated with HRT (n 4 18) and in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (n 4 26), LSC calculated from CVa and CVi over one week was 69, 60, and 60%, respectively. LSC calculated over 3 months in the postmenopausal women untreated with HRT and in the postmenopausal women treated with HRT was 79% and 93%, respectively. If biochemical markers of bone turnover are to be used to determine response to therapy, some form of cut-off point is required. LSC accounts for the biological variability as well as the analytical variability and may provide a useful cut-off point. However, it is essential to be aware of the magnitude of the CI when using LSC in this way.
Peripheral Arterial Embolism

From the Peripheral Vascular Disease Clinic, The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City. Ever since 1911, when the first successful embolectomy was performed by Labey (1), there has been a steadily growing literature on peripheral arterial embolism. From then until 1934, under the influence of Key (2) and the Swedish authors (3), embolectomy was considered the only weapon against this condition. The year 1934 witnessed a conservative trend in the treatment of arterial em-
Analysis of mutual coupling in large arrays of printed antennas using Contour-FFT

An efficient mutual coupling analysis method is presented for large arrays of printed antennas. Mutual coupling effects play an important role when one deals with large arrays, as the near-field and far-field characteristics of an individual element get drastically altered in such conditions. These effects are characterised through the embedded element patterns and through the port currents when a single element is excited while all the other elements in the array are terminated with matched loads. We demonstrate that, with the help of the Contour-FFT Macro Basis Function (MBF) approach combined with the MBF-based multipole approach for homogeneous medium, mutual coupling effects can be accurately analyzed with N log2 N complexity for substrate related interactions. Moreover, a newly developed method of CFFT-based iterative solution for arbitrarily printed structures is briefly explained, and several results are presented. An excellent comparison is reported between results obtained with the proposed method and with reference solutions.
The thioredoxin-like fold: hidden domains in protein disulfide isomerases and other chaperone proteins.

Although protein disulphide isomerase (PDI) has been known for nearly 40 years, several new PDIs have recently been described that reveal a remarkable diversity in both structure and function. This article reviews our current knowledge of the PDI family members and identifies four novel PDIs in the human genome. These include human transmembrane proteins that have C. elegans or Drosophila orthologues for which a developmental role has been proven. Their role in development, together with other functional roles for PDIs such as conferring resistance to apoptosis under hypoxia and a potential role in the oxygen-sensing apparatus are discussed.
Supportive Evidence for the Anticancerous Potential of Alternative Medicine against Hepatocarcinogenesis in Mice

The present study examines if Lycopodium 200 (Lyco-200) has demonstrable anti-cancer activities in mice which are chronically fed carcinogens, p-dimethylaminoazobenzene (p-DAB) and phenobarbital (PB) to induce liver cancer. Materials and Methods: Mice in 5 different groups were chronically fed for varying periods of time: group I: normal diet; group II: normal diet + alcohol 200); group III: p-DAB + PB; group IV: p-DAB + PB + alcohol 200 (vehicle of Lyco-200 being ethyl alcohol); group V: p-DAB + PB + Lyco-200. They were sacrificed at day 7, 15, 30, 60, 90 or 120, and the following parameters were assessed: cytogenetic endpoints like chromosome aberrations, micronuclei, mitotic index and sperm-head anomaly; toxicity biomarkers like acid and alkaline phosphatases, alanine and aspartate amino transferase, glutathione reductase, succinate dehydrogenase and catalase activities, lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione content. Additionally, scanning and transmission electron microscopic analyses of liver tissues were made at day 90 and 120, and immunodetection of p53 protein as well as gelatin zymography for matrix metalloproteinases in liver tissue were performed. Furthermore, studies were conducted on blood glucose, hemoglobin and cholesterol, estradiol, testosterone and cortisol, and lymphocyte and hepatic cell viabilities. Physical properties of Lyco-200 and potentized alcohol 200 were analyzed by using methods such as UV, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Fluorescence Spectroscopy, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy). Results: Lyco-200 reduced cytogenetic damages yielding positive modulations of all biochemical, pathological and other risk factors, cell viability and expression of p53 protein and matrix metalloproteinases as compared to controls. Conclusion: Studies on other mammals are recommended to further investigate the potential of Lyco-200 in liver cancer.
Adult Sickle Cell Disease Epidemiology and the Potential Role of a Multidisciplinary Comprehensive Care Center in a City with Low Prevalence

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics of the sickle cell disease population in a city of low prevalence and compare them to those reported in the literature. We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study of all sickle cell disease patients seen in the Calgary Health Region, Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 2006 to 2010. Data on clinical endpoints including emergency department (ED) visits, hospital admissions, transfusions, as well as laboratory parameters were collected. A total of 37 adult sickle cell disease patients were identified. Over 5 years, they were represented by a total of 49.2 ED presentations/year, 29.2 (59.0%) of these requiring admission. Eighty-three percent of these presentations were for acute pain episodes. We concluded that the number of ED visits, hospital admissions and several other parameters in our cohort were similar to those in other centers of higher prevalence. This suggests that guidelines representing regions of high prevalence may be applicable to smaller centers, where patients experience similar clinical outcomes.
Oxane HD and Retinal Detachment Surgery in Routine Clinical Practice

Background/Aims: To assess the outcomes and complications of endotamponade with Oxane HD following retinal detachment repair. Methods: Retrospective consecutive case series of inferior retinal detachment with Oxane HD endotamponade within a 3-year period. Results: Case notes for 18 eyes of 18 patients were reviewed. Four (22.2%) were total retinal detachments and 13 (72.2%) had proliferative vitreoretinopathy. The mean Oxane HD endotamponade and follow-up durations were 27 ± 38 and 66 ± 39 weeks, respectively. The eventual anatomic success rate was 77.8%, but without any significant difference in vision. Postoperative complications occurred in 14 (77.8%), including emulsification (6 eyes; 33.3%), epiretinal membrane (5 eyes; 27.8%), and posterior capsular opacification (4 eyes; 22.2%). Of the 14 eyes requiring intraoperative perfluorodecalin, 12 (85.7%) developed complications; all 5 (100%) eyes with direct exchange of perfluorodecalin with Oxane HD developed complications. Conclusion: Although useful for inferior retinal detachments, Oxane HD was associated with a relatively high rate of emulsification when compared to other series. Our series also suggests that prior use of perfluorodecalin intraoperatively, and in particular direct exchange of perfluorodecalin with Oxane HD, may be associated with an increased risk of intraocular complications.
Genetic basis of tetracycline resistance in food-borne isolates of Listeria innocua

Eleven of 12 tetracycline-resistant Listeria innocua strains, isolated from chicken or turkey frankfurters and mozzarella cheese, were shown to carry DNA sequences which hybridized with the Tet M probe; of these, two strains also hybridized with Tet K. The remaining strain hybridized with the Tet K probe only. The Tet M determinant appeared to be located on the chromosome; in one case, it was transferable by conjugation to recipients Listeria monocytogenes, Listeria ivanovii, and Enterococcus faecalis.
Characterization in Mammalian Brain of a DARPP‐32 Serine Kinase Identical to Casein Kinase II

Abstract: DARPP‐32, a dopamine‐ and cyclic AMP‐regulated phosphoprotein of Mr 32,000, is phosphorylated in vitro by casein kinase II at a site which is also phosphorylated in intact cells. In the present study, we show that a protein kinase activity, present in caudate‐putamen cytosol, phosphorylates DARPP‐32 on a seryl residue located on the same thermolytic peptide that is phosphorylated by purified casein kinase II. This DARPP‐32 serine kinase was indistinguishable from casein kinase II on the basis of a number of biochemical criteria. Excitotoxic lesions of the caudate‐putamen and immunocytochemistry revealed the presence of casein kinase II in the medium‐sized striatonigral neurons which are known to contain DARPP‐32. Casein kinase II activity was high in all rat brain regions studied, and casein kinase II‐like immunoreactivity was detected in most brain neurons, although some neuronal populations (e.g., cortical pyramidal cells and large striatal neurons) were stained more intensely than others. In rat caudate‐putamen, 45% of the total casein kinase II activity was in the cytosol and 20% in the synaptosomal fraction. In mouse cerebral cortex and caudate‐putamen, casein kinase II activity was high at embryonic day 16, and remained elevated during development. In addition to DARPP‐32, several major substrates for casein kinase II were observed specifically in brain, but not in liver extracts. The high activity of casein kinase II in brain from the embryonic period to adult age and the existence of a number of specific substrates suggest that this enzyme may play an important role in both developing and mature brain, possibly in modulating the responsiveness of target proteins to various extracellular signals.
The differentiated and conserved roles of Swi5‐Sfr1 in homologous recombination

Homologous recombination (HR) is the process whereby two DNA molecules that share high sequence similarity are able to recombine to generate hybrid DNA molecules. Throughout evolution, the ability of HR to identify highly similar DNA sequences has been adopted for numerous biological phenomena including DNA repair, meiosis, telomere maintenance, ribosomal DNA amplification and immunological diversity. Although Rad51 and Dmc1 are the key proteins that promote HR in mitotic and meiotic cells, respectively, accessory proteins that allow Rad51 and Dmc1 to effectively fulfil their functions have been identified in all examined model systems. In this Review, we discuss the roles of the highly conserved Swi5‐Sfr1 accessory complex in yeast, mice and humans, and explore similarities and differences between these species.
ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES ON EPISTATIC INTERACTIONS: VIABILITIES OF CYTOCHROME C GENOTYPES IN INTERPOPULATION CROSSES

Abstract The genetic incompatibilities that underlie F2 hybrid breakdown and reproductive isolation between allopatric populations may be susceptible to environmental interactions. Here we show that epistatic interactions between cytochrome c (CYC) alleles and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation are dramatically influenced by environmental temperature in interpopulation hybrids of the copepod Tigriopus californicus. CYC is a nuclear-encoded gene that functionally interacts with electron transport system (ETS) complexes composed in part of mtDNA-encoded proteins. Previous studies have provided evidence for functional coadaptation between CYC and ETS complex IV (cytochrome c oxidase) and for cytoplasmic effects on the fitness of CYC genotype in copepod hybrids. In this study, selection on CYC genotype is shown to continue into advanced generation hybrids (F2–F8) increasing the likelihood that CYC itself is involved in the interaction (and not a linked factor). Relative viabilities varied markedly between copepods raised in two different temperature/light regimes. These results suggest that both intrinsic coadaptation and extrinsic selection will influence the outcome of natural hybridizations between populations. Furthermore, the results indicate that the fitness of particular hybrid genotypes depends on additional non-mtDNA encoded genes that interact with CYC.
Interleukin-6 and its relationship to C-reactive protein and fever in children with febrile neutropenia.

The assessment of febrile neutropenia is problematic. C-reactive protein (CRP) values alone do not differentiate those patients with microbiologically documented infections from those with unexplained fevers. Plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6), measured by ELISA, was correlated with different diagnostic groups in 47 episodes of febrile neutropenia in children. Samples were collected daily from admission until resolution of fever. On admission, the median IL-6 value for gram-negative infections was 1610 pg/ml (range, 896-40,000), for gram-positive infections it was 138 pg/ml (range, 66-1045), and for unexplained fevers it was 50 pg/ml (range, 24-135, with a single high value of 665 pg/ml). These medians were significantly different (P less than .005). There was no significant difference in median CRP values. IL-6 values peaked 24-48 h before CRP values. There was a positive correlation of IL-6 with the presence of fever. Plasma IL-6 may be a more sensitive marker than CRP of acute infection and should prove useful in the assessment of fevers in these patients.
Increased serum adiponectin levels in female patients with erosive compared with non-erosive osteoarthritis

Adipocytokines including adiponectin and resistin are suggested to be associated with obesity-related complications.1 In general, higher systemic concentrations of resistin and adiponectin compared with paired synovial fluid counterparts were demonstrated in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.2–4 In contrast, resistin and adiponectin levels were found to be increased at local sites of inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.3–5 It is suggested that adiponectin in particular actively participates in the process of immune response, inflammation and matrix degradation in destructive arthritides.6 7 Erosive osteoarthritis represents a subtype of generalised osteoarthritis primarily affecting the small joints of the hands, with prominent local inflammation …
Role of Visual Evoked Potentials in Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) affecting young adults and is considered as the leading cause of non traumatic neurological disability of young adults affecting nearly 2 million people worldwide. The pathogenesis of MS is at best incompletely understood. There are several proposed mechanisms that may be important in the production of MS plaques: autoimmunity, environment and heredity. Deviation of immune responses in a genetically susceptible patient plays a central role in its pathogenesis. Electrophysiological, spinal tap and Radiological tools are important laboratory investigations and have added so much to the clinical diagnosis and for the classification of MS. It was found that visual function and conduction has been changed in patients with multiple sclerosis.Objectives: The aims of the study is to estimate and evaluate the visual evoked potential (VEP) parameters in patients with MS and its relation to their disability degree (using the expanded disability status scale score "EDSS") and visual presentation of them in comparison with healthy individuals.Patients and Methods: 112 patients with multiple sclerosis and 50 subjects without any neurological or psychiatric diseases as control group were recruited in this study. The cases were collected from Baghdad teaching hospital, MS center, Baghdad, Iraq at the period from May 2012 to April 2013, and studied at the unit of electrophysiology in Al-Shaheed Ghazi Al-Hareri Hospital in the Medical city. All patients and control groups were tested for VEP.Results: The present study showed a significant increase in the P100 latency and inter-ocular (IO) latency difference and non statistical significant decrease in the IO amplitude difference in patients group than the control group. Also among patients group there was positive linear correlation between the severity of the disease measured by EDSS score and P100 latency while negative linear correlation with the amplitude. Conclusion: There was a higher percent of patients with defective VEP parameters and so their visual pathway even if it was asymptomatic, in addition to their relation with patients` disability than the control group, making it easy to quantify and predict MS disability objectively. Keywords: Multiple sclerosis, Expanded Disability Status Scale, VEP.