Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
L5 Vertebrectomy for the Surgical Treatment of Spondyloptosis: Thirty Cases in 25 years

Study Design. Retrospective review. Objectives. To review the long-term results, complications, and predictability of outcomes of the L5 vertebrectomy and reduction of L4 onto S1 for the surgical treatment of fixed spondyloptosis. Summary of Background Data. Before the development of the procedure, surgical instrumentation with Harrington rods and posterolateral fusion, or fusion in situ with cast immobilization, with or without a period of bedrest, in the cast, were the alternatives for patients who elected operative treatment. Methods. Charts, operative notes, hospital and office records, preoperative and postoperative radiographic studies, and clinical photographs were reviewed for the 30 patients who had had the L5 vertebrectomy, over the past 25 years. The average follow-up of the patients was 15 years. The follow-up was performed by the treating physician/surgeon. Results. The clinical results of the first 16 patients were independently reviewed by a surgeon who was not involved in the patients treatment, at all. His independent review indicated that the patients were functioning well. All of them would recommend the surgery to other patients who needed it. None of them was taking narcotic medication on a regular basis. The follow-up of the additional 14 patients operated since that review was performed by the author. The results of the patients operated since 1994 was the same as the group operated before 1994, except there have been 2 patients who had to have surgical revision and reinstrumentation for screw fracture, although neither lost reduction, as a consequence of their nonunion and screw fracture. Both healed their reconstruction, following removal and replacement of the fractured pedicle screws and grafting of the nonunion. None of the patients has required any treatment at all (surgical or nonsurgical) for “junctional problems” with follow-up, now, on the earliest patients, up to 25 years. Improvement in the “spinal performance” of the patients, in particular the resolution of the “crouch gait,” which many of them showed before surgery, is particularly gratifying to them, since, for that group, the improvement in gait efficiency is particularly dramatic. Conclusions. Extensive review of all the complications in the series is accomplished in the manuscript. While 23 of the patients have had some temporary clinical deficit in the L5 root for from 6 weeks to 3 years following their reconstruction, all but 2 have recovered fully, and only 2 of the patients wear ankle foot orthoses (AFO) on a regular basis. No patient has had any problem with bowel or bladder or sexual neurologic deficit, but 1 patient does have retrograde ejaculation.
Attentional and mnemonic deficits associated with infectious disease in humans

Background. Infectious diseases are accompanied by behavioural and psychological changes that suggest the implication of the central nervous system. Among them, cognitive alterations have been reported, but their specificity and implication in everyday life are still largely unclear. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate and specify the everyday memory disturbances in sick human subjects and to determinate the role of fever in the appearance of these alterations. Methods. The study was carried out in a military training centre for naval recruits. Ninety-one volunteer subjects, healthy (N=30) or suffering from flu-like syndrome, with (N=29) or without fever (N=32), participated in this experiment and were administered a cognitive test (the ERBMT) according to a cross-sectional design for assessing various aspects of everyday memory. Results. Sick subjects were specifically impaired in daily memory tasks that require the temporary management of a large amount of information. This impairment was similar for the feverish and apyretic sick subjects who both differed from the controls. Conclusion. These findings suggest that infectious disease disturbs the complex cognitive processes that might be associated with attentional functions. Moreover, these results show that fever is not a necessary condition for the appearance of these cognitive disturbances.
Co-occurring medical and substance use disorders in patients with schizophrenia: a systematic review

Abstract Comorbid medical and substance use disorders are common in people with schizophrenia. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize evidences on co-occurring medical and substance use disorders (SUDs) in patients with schizophrenia. A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) review was conducted. Medline, CinAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library were searched to August 31, 2016 without restriction by publication status. Publications were screened according to predefined inclusion criteria. Qualitative analysis was undertaken for this systematic review. Twenty-six materials published from 1990 to 2015 were included in a qualitative analysis. From a total of 202 articles identified, 26 articles were eligible for systemic review. The evidence shows that 18.5 to 90% of people with schizophrenia develop any SUDs at some point in their lives including nicotine and 18.5% to 61.5% excluding nicotine. Nicotine use disorders are particularly common in people with schizophrenia, with a lifetime prevalence of roughly 58–90% followed by alcohol, khat, and cannabis use disorders, respectively. In addition, up to 80% of people with schizophrenia have recognizable medical disorders of which approximately up to 50% remain undetected and medical problems may explain or exacerbate their condition in about 20% of people with schizophrenia. This systematic review indicates that comorbid medical disorders and SUD are common in people with schizophrenia. Routine screening and integrated management of medical and substance use disorders is implicated in persons with schizophrenia.
Endothelial nitric oxide synthase inhibition triggers inflammatory responses in the brain of male rats exposed to ischemia‐reperfusion injury

Nitric oxide (NO) derived from endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) plays a role in preserving and maintaining the brain's microcirculation, inhibiting platelet aggregation, leukocyte adhesion, and migration. Inhibition of eNOS activity results in exacerbation of neuronal injury after ischemia by triggering diverse cellular mechanisms, including inflammatory responses.
Association Between Hyponatremia and Complicated Appendicitis.

PACIFIC COAST SURGICAL ASSOCIATION Association Between Hyponatremia and Complicated Appendicitis Complicated appendicitis is associated with worse outcomes among patients with acute appendicitis.1 Preoperative identification of patients with a perforated or gangrenous appendicitis may have important clinical implications regarding the timing of surgery and the suitability for nonoperative management strategies. The objective of this study was to identify clinical variables associated with the presence of complicated appendicitis.
Potentiation by propofol of the response of rat submandibular acinar cells to purinergic agonists.

The effect of propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) on the intracellular concentration of calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)) and on the response of rat submandibular acini to purinergic agonists was studied. By itself, propofol (60 to 200 microM) slowly increased the [Ca(2+)](i) without affecting the production of inositol phosphates. The increase of the [Ca(2+)](i) involved for about 50% the mobilization of thapsigargin-sensitive intracellular calcium pools. The rest of the calcium originated from a pool distinct from mitochondria. Propofol also increased the uptake of extracellular calcium but not manganese by a mechanism inhibited by nickel. The variation of the [Ca(2+)](i) by propofol provoked a decrease of cell volume measured by light scattering. Propofol increased the effect of a maximal concentration of extracellular ATP on the [Ca(2+)](i). This interaction could be observed when propofol and ATP were added simultaneously to the medium but not when propofol had been removed from the medium before adding ATP. Among ATP analogs, propofol only increased the response to benzoyl-ATP (Bz-ATP). The blockade of P2X(7) receptors with oxidized ATP or Coomassie blue did not prevent the interaction between propofol and ATP. The effect of propofol could also be observed even when the concentration of ATP(4-) was decreased by extracellular magnesium to such a level that only P2X(4) receptors could possibly be activated by the nucleotide. Propofol had no effect on the uptake of manganese, the formation of pores and the activation of phospholipase D in response to a P2X(7) agonist. These results exclude an interaction with this receptor. It is concluded that, in rat submandibular acini, propofol can increase the [Ca(2+)](i) and decrease the cell volume. Propofol can also modulate the activation of P2X(4) receptors by extracellular nucleotides. These effects are observed at concentrations of propofol reached during the induction of anesthesia and might explain why hypersalivation has been reported as one of the side-effects of propofol.
Effect of Cinacalcet Hydrochloride, a New Calcimimetic Agent, on the Pharmacokinetics of Dextromethorphan: In Vitro and Clinical Studies

Cinacalcet hydrochloride (cinacalcet) is a positive allosteric modulator of the calcium‐sensing receptor indicated for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in dialysis patients. In vitro study has demonstrated that cinacalcet is a potent inhibitor of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 with a Ki value of 0.087 μmol/L, which is comparable to the well‐known potent CYP2D6 inhibitor, quinidine (0.064 μmol/L). A clinical study was conducted to assess the inhibitory effect of cinacalcet on CYP2D6 substrates in healthy volunteers. Each subject received 50 mg of cinacalcet or a matched placebo orally once daily for 8 days with 30 mg of dextromethorphan coadministered on day 8. The mean AUC0‐∞and Cmax of dextromethorphan increased 11‐ and 7‐fold, respectively, in extensive metabolizers when coadministered with cinacalcet versus placebo. Therefore, during concomitant treatment with cinacalcet, it may be necessary to consider making dose adjustments for drugs with a narrow therapeutic index that are mainly metabolized by CYP2D6.
Everolimus combined with gefitinib in patients with metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer: Phase 1/2 results and signaling pathway implications

The effects of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibition are limited by feedback reactivation of receptor tyrosine kinase signaling in phosphatase and tensin homolog–null tumors. Thus, this study tested the combination of mTOR inhibition (everolimus) and epidermal growth factor receptor inhibition (gefitinib) in castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).
Epilepsy and behaviour disorder in school-children.

1. The general tendency in the literature is to admit that whilst certain classes epileptics, including institutional patients, temporal lobe cases and patients showing progressive deterioration—show strong evidence of extreme personality disturbance, there is little to show that this “typical” behaviour is in fact due to any “epileptoid personality”. 2. The main anti-social characteristics which so many epileptics exhibit, for whatever reason, are irritability, temper and aggressiveness, together with a moodiness and emotional changeability. 3. It appears established that anti-convulsant medication has no primary effect on the personality, but control of seizures by this means may reveal psychopathic tendencies hitherto less obtrusive. 4. Structural cerebral damage may have some part to play in behaviour disorders, but beyond the fact that epilepsy due to temporal lobe foci is largely productive of problem behaviour, we cannot yet localize psychopathic symptoms in the brain. 5. A great deal of the disturbance previously thought to be due to epilepsy per se , is now considered a reaction to conditions imposed on the child by reason of its handicap, either as frustration of natural desires or of intolerance of institutional standards, routine or unenlightened treatment. 6. Deprivation or maltreatment in early childhood may account for some present disorders, but it is now questioned whether this has necessarily a permanent effect, and often prognosis is relatively better for such children following removal of the deprivation than for controls. 7. At least a component of the behaviour disorders seen may be an exacerbation of normal anxiety states which appear to a greater or less extent in normal children. 8. The part which personality tests can play in the diagnosis of behaviour disorders is not fully established, but investigations to date offer hope in this direction. The same comment would seem to apply to EEG findings. More conclusive research is needed and proceeding in both fields. 9. In spite of great advances in recent years, the treatment of epileptic children with psychoses or behaviour disorders by medication or by surgery is at present still a controversial subject. Although anti-convulsant medication is proving increasingly effective, the field of pharmacological psychiatry in the child deserves closer study. 10. It is probable that behaviour disorders of epileptic children spring very largely from their reaction to environment and handling. In addition to adequate and suitably trained staff, a carefully planned scheme of treatment (both anti-convulsant and psychotherapeutic) needs to be considered. 11. The contemporary attitude is that the treatment and education of the epileptic child shall, wherever possible, be within the framework of the normal community.
discs large in the Drosophila testis

Gamete development requires a coordinated soma-germ line interaction that ensures renewal and differentiation of germline and somatic stem cells. The physical contact between the germline and somatic cell populations is crucial because it allows the exchange of diffusible signals among them. The tumor suppressor gene discs large (dlg) encodes a septate junction protein with functions in epithelial cell polarity, asymmetric neuroblast division, and formation of neuromuscular junctions. Our recent work reveals a new role of dlg in the Drosophila testis, as mutations in dlg lead to testis defects and cell death. Dlg is required throughout spermatogenesis in the somatic lineage and its localization changes from a uniform distribution along the plasma membrane of somatic cells in the testis apex, to a restricted localization on the distally located somatic cell in growing cysts. The extensive defects in dlg testis underline the importance of the somatic cells in the establishment and maintenance of the male stem cell niche and somatic cell differentiation. Here, we discuss our latest findings on the role of dlg in the Drosophila testis, supporting the view that junction proteins are dynamic structures, which can provide guiding cues to recruit scaffold proteins or other signaling molecules.
Influence of surface impregnation with silane on penetration of chloride into cracked concrete and on corrosion of steel reinforcement

Capillary suction is suppressed by surface impregnation with silane. As a result, ingress of liquid water and harmful ions such as chlorides or sulphates dissolved in water is prevented. In practice, concrete structures are usually cracked. Cracks serve as preferential paths for ingress of water and chloride dissolved in water. The efficiency of water repellent surface impregnation has been studied. Recommendations for applications in practice can be formulated. If cracks occur after surface impregnation, it may be necessary to repeat the protective treatment. Mechanically induced damage (micro-cracks) usually reduces durability of concrete. The reduction of service life of reinforced concrete structures can be avoided if the surface is impregnated with silane. Surface impregnation delays initiation of corrosion in aggressive environment significantly. If chloride contaminated concrete is surface impregnated with silane, the rate of corrosion is reduced.
Switching from Sitagliptin to Alogliptin under Treatment with Pioglitazone Increases High Molecular Weight Adiponectin in Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Observational Study

Background: There are few clinical trials addressing the difference in pleiotropic effects among dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitors. We aimed to identify difference in effects on biochemical markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and atherosclerosis between two DPP-4 inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: We prospectively observed twenty subjects with type 2 diabetes before and after a practical medication change from a treatment with pioglitazone and sitagliptin 50 mg to a combination tablet containing the same dose of pioglitazone and alogliptin 25mg, which was actually identical to switching from sitagliptin to alogliptin. After 3 months, changes from baseline in clinical data and various biochemical markers were evaluated. In particular, body mass index (BMI) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) were additionally followed after 12 months for evaluation of chronic outcomes. Results: Among markers, serum levels of high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin significantly increased from 6.9 ± 3.6 μg/ml to 8.2 ± 4.0 μg/ml (P = 0.0045). Although no clinical data changed after 3 months, significant improvements in HbA1c and BMI were observed after 12 months. Their rates of changes tended to inversely correlate with the increased percentages of serum HMW adiponectin levels during initial 3 months, but they did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: In spite of pretreatment with pioglitazone, additional increase in serum HMW adiponectin levels was demonstrated after switching from sitagliptin to alogliptin. Given multiple favorable roles of adiponectin in metabolic and cardiovascular states, alogliptin, at least when combined with pioglitazone, would be beneficial in treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Transitions and instabilities in liquid crystal elastomers.

Solid nematic liquids, formed by cross-linking polymer liquid crystals into elastomers, are shown to display novel and complex elasticity. The internal (nematic) direction suffers a barrier to its rotation and this couples to standard elasticity. By considering imposed strains we illuminate this elasticity and also demonstrate an entirely new nematic phase transition. At a critical strain there is a discontinuity of director rotation
The potential use of urinary excretion data for assessing the relative bioavailability of rifampicin in fixed dose combination anti-tuberculosis formulations.

SETTING The perceived need for simple, non-invasive methods of assessing the relative bioavailability of rifampicin in fixed-dose combination (FDC) anti-tuberculosis formulations. OBJECTIVE To compare the performance of methods based on urinary excretion data with those utilising plasma concentration-time profiles to assess the relative bioavailability of rifampicin in combined and single-drug formulations. DESIGN A two-period randomised crossover bioequivalence study in healthy male volunteers with a 1 week washout period between treatments. Plasma rifampicin concentrations were measured at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours after each drug administration using a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The rifampicin and desacetylrifampicin content of complete urinary collections made from 0-4 and 4-8 hours after dosage were determined using both the HPLC and a much simpler colorimetric procedure. RESULTS There was good agreement between the relative bioavailability of the formulations using plasma and urinary excretion data, although the precision of the urinary-based estimates was slightly less than those derived from the plasma findings. There was also good agreement between the HPLC and colorimetric estimates of the combined urinary excretion of rifampicin plus desacetylrifampicin. CONCLUSIONS Urinary excretion data may be used for ongoing quality control to confirm that commercial combined rifampicin-containing formulations that were initially shown to be satisfactory continue to be so.
Architecture of a Full-length Retroviral Integrase Monomer and Dimer, Revealed by Small Angle X-ray Scattering and Chemical Cross-linking*

We determined the size and shape of full-length avian sarcoma virus (ASV) integrase (IN) monomers and dimers in solution using small angle x-ray scattering. The low resolution data obtained establish constraints for the relative arrangements of the three component domains in both forms. Domain organization within the small angle x-ray envelopes was determined by combining available atomic resolution data for individual domains with results from cross-linking coupled with mass spectrometry. The full-length dimer architecture so revealed is unequivocally different from that proposed from x-ray crystallographic analyses of two-domain fragments, in which interactions between the catalytic core domains play a prominent role. Core-core interactions are detected only in cross-linked IN tetramers and are required for concerted integration. The solution dimer is stabilized by C-terminal domain (CTD-CTD) interactions and by interactions of the N-terminal domain in one subunit with the core and CTD in the second subunit. These results suggest a pathway for formation of functional IN-DNA complexes that has not previously been considered and possible strategies for preventing such assembly.
GEOREFERENCING AND REPROJECTION ERROR INVESTIGATION ON IMAGE BASED 3D DIGITIZATION AND MAPPING OF HISTORICAL BUILDINGS

Abstract. Image based dense point cloud creation is easy and low-cost application for three dimensional digitization of small and large scale objects and surfaces. It is especially attractive method for cultural heritage documentation. Reprojection error on conjugate keypoints indicates accuracy of the model and keypoint localisation in this method. In addition, sequential registration of the images from large scale historical buildings creates big cumulative registration error. Thus, accuracy of the model should be increased with the control points or loop close imaging. The registration of point point cloud model into the georeference system is performed using control points. In this study historical Sultan Selim Mosque that was built in sixteen century by Great Architect Sinan was modelled via photogrammetric dense point cloud. The reprojection error and number of keypoints were evaluated for different base/length ratio. In addition, georeferencing accuracy was evaluated with many configuration of control points with loop and without loop closure imaging.
Distraction with external fixator for contractures of proximal interphalangeal jointsGood outcome in 10 cases

We present a new and simple technique for the treatment of proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint contractures by mini Orthofix external fixator without open surgery. The technique was tested on 10 patients. We found that the fixator is easy to apply and effective in reducing contractures of the PIP joint by soft tissue distraction.