Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enamel matrix proteins in the treatment of intra-bony defects. A prospective 24-month clinical trial.

BACKGROUND A growing flow of recent evidence indicates enamel matrix derivative (EMD, Emdogain) as a useful tool for the regeneration of periodontal tissues. This prospective clinical study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of EMD combined with surgical treatment of periodontal intra-bony defects, as compared with surgery alone, up to 24 months of follow-up. METHODS Twenty-four intra-bony defects were treated in 24 patients in a single clinical centre. Each defect had intra-bony depth (IBD) > or = 4 mm and probing pocket depth (PPD) > or = 6 mm. Patients were randomly assigned to either test or control group. Plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), PPD and periodontal attachment level (PAL) were assessed at baseline pre-surgical examination at the site to be treated. Full mouth plaque score (FMPS) and full mouth bleeding score (FMBS) were also evaluated. Twelve patients were treated by simplified papilla preservation flap technique (control group), while 12 patients were treated with the same surgical technique plus EMD after ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid root conditioning (test group). Any probing at the involved sites was avoided in the first year post-surgery. Radiographs were taken at baseline, 12 and 24 months after surgery using customized bite blocks. Intra-bony defect depth (IBD) and angle (IBA) were measured from X-rays by a computer-aided technique. At 12 and 24 months post-surgery, FMPS, FMBS, PI, GI, PPD, PAL and radiographic IBD and IBA were assessed. The difference between each follow-up and baseline, and between groups at each follow-up was evaluated for the above parameters by standard statistical methods. RESULTS In both groups, clinical and radiographic parameters were improved at either 12 or 24 months when compared with baseline. The test group displayed better outcomes when compared with the control group for IBD, PPD, and PAL gain at 12 months, and only for PAL and IBD gain at 24 months. No adverse event related to the use of EMD was reported. CONCLUSIONS The surgical procedure used in the present study, aiming for maximum preservation of the regenerative potential of periodontal tissues, showed per se excellent results. The use of EMD as an adjunct to periodontal surgery in the treatment of angular defects possibly enhances periodontal regeneration rate.
Traumatic injuries in patients with diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with increased in-hospital morbidity and mortality in patients sustained traumatic injuries. Identification of risk factors of traumatic injuries that lead to hospital admissions and death in DM patients is crucial to set effective preventive strategies. We aimed to conduct a traditional narrative literature review to describe the role of hypoglycemia as a risk factor of driving and fall-related traumatic injuries. DM poses significant burden as a risk factor and predictor of worse outcomes in traumatic injuries. Although there is no consensus on the impact and clear hazards of hyperglycemia in comparison to the hypoglycemia, both extremes of DM need to be carefully addressed and taken into consideration for proper management. Moreover, physicians, patients, and concerned authorities should be aware of all these potential hazards to share and establish the right management plans.
Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise? The Impact of the Old Age Assistance Program on Elderly Mortality in the United States

How much have government programs improved elderly well-being? I examine the impact of OAA on mortality between 1930-1955. I construct two new data sets: a database on OAA, and a database on elderly mortality. To control for joint determination of income and mortality, I use a simulated IV approach that relies on exogenous changes in OAA legislation. I find substantial reductions in mortality for vulnerable elderly groups, especially poor males. Mortality decreased mainly because of declines in risky behavior, infectious diseases (after the introduction of antibiotics), and suicides. Household survey analyses reveal changes in consumption consistent with these patterns.
Ventricular mapping during atrial and ventricular pacing. Relationship of multipotential electrograms to ventricular tachycardia reentry circuits after myocardial infarction.

AIMS Conduction through separated myocyte bundles causes multipotential electrograms and reentrant ventricular tachycardia. We hypothesized that without initiating tachycardia, the reentry region could be detected by analysing the change in multipotential electrograms during two different activation sequences. METHODS AND RESULTS During catheter mapping and ablation in 16 patients with ventricular tachycardia late after infarction ventricular electrograms were recorded from 1072 sites during atrial and right ventricular paced ventricular activation. Multipotential electrograms were present during both activation sequences at 285 (27%) sites, during atrial pacing only at 159 (15%) sites and during right ventricular pacing only at 152 (14%) sites. Sites with multipotential electrograms during both activation sequences were more often related to a ventricular tachycardia circuit isthmus (43%) as compared to sites where such electrograms were present during one activation sequence (20%). Multipotential electrograms with >2 low amplitude deflections and a >100 ms difference in duration between the two activation sequences were infrequent but highly predictive of the reentry circuit. CONCLUSION Regions with fixed multipotentials consistent with conduction block might be useful guides for ablation approaches that target large regions of the infarct, but are not sufficiently specific to be the sole guide for focal ablation approaches.
Randomized Controlled Trial of Specific Spinal Stabilization Exercises and Conventional Physiotherapy for Recurrent Low Back Pain

Study Design. Pragmatic, multicentered randomized controlled trial, with 12-month follow-up. Objective. To evaluate the effect of adding specific spinal stabilization exercises to conventional physiotherapy for patients with recurrent low back pain (LBP) in the United Kingdom. Summary of Background Data. Spinal stabilization exercises are a popular form of physiotherapy management for LBP, and previous small-scale studies on specific LBP subgroups have identified improvement in outcomes as a result. Methods. A total of 97 patients (18–60 years old) with recurrent LBP were recruited. Stratified randomization was undertaken into 2 groups: “conventional,” physiotherapy consisting of general active exercise and manual therapy; and conventional physiotherapy plus specific spinal stabilization exercises. Stratifying variables used were laterality of symptoms, duration of symptoms, and Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire score at baseline. Both groups received The Back Book, by Roland et al. Back-specific functional disability (Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire) at 12 months was the primary outcome. Pain, quality of life, and psychologic measures were also collected at 6 and 12 months. Analysis was by intention to treat. Results. A total of 68 patients (70%) provided 12-month follow-up data. Both groups showed improved physical functioning, reduced pain intensity, and an improvement in the physical component of quality of life. Mean change in physical functioning, measured by the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire, was −5.1 (95% confidence interval −6.3 to −3.9) for the specific spinal stabilization exercises group and −5.4 (95% confidence interval −6.5 to −4.2) for the conventional physiotherapy group. No statistically significant differences between the 2 groups were shown for any of the outcomes measured, at any time. Conclusions. Patients with LBP had improvement with both treatment packages to a similar degree. There was no additional benefit of adding specific spinal stabilization exercises to a conventional physiotherapy package for patients with recurrent LBP.
Effects of fertilization and cutting on the chemical composition of vegetation and soils of mountain heathlands in Spain

Abstract In the mountains of northern Spain, patches dominated by Calluna vulgaris are scarce and they may disappear or change as a result of continued lack of management and possibly increasing nutrient availability through atmospheric deposition. The effects in the soil properties and in the composition of Calluna vulgaris and Erica tetralix shoots on heathlands dominated by Calluna and Erica subjected to fertilization and experimental cutting were studied in three mountain passes in northern Spain. A total of 90 1-m2 plots received different combinations of cutting and twice the estimated atmospheric deposition of nitrogen (5.6 g.m−2.yr−1) as ammonium nitrate. One of the dominant ericaceous species (Calluna and Erica) was selectively cut by hand at ground level and their nitrogen shoot content were compared in the presence or absence of the other. Treatments were carried out in April 1998. In each plot one soil sample was taken in the original situation and 12, 24 and 36 months after the treatments. Soil properties such as organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and pH were determined. In every plot five shoots of Calluna and Erica were also taken to analyse total nitrogen content in the original situation and 12, 24 and 36 mo after the treatments. Nitrogen addition does not necessarily lead to increased levels in the soil, and a clear pattern was not found in the three areas. A gradual decrease in available phosphorus content was detected in the three areas until two years after treatment, although values tend to recover in two of the areas in the third study year. An increase in organic matter content was observed in all areas. It is concluded that increased nutrients alone, at twice the rate of the estimated current atmospheric deposition for the area, which is relatively low, will not alter significantly the soil characteristics of the mountain heathland stands. A clear increase in plant N-content is observed in the fertilized plots in comparison with the non-fertilized ones and Calluna always has higher nitrogen content than Erica. This increase is most pronounced one year after the treatments started in one of the areas and after two years in the other two areas. In some cases the elimination of one species is seen to favour nitrogen increase in the other.
The use of barrier membranes and enamel matrix proteins in the treatment of angular bone defects. A prospective controlled clinical study.

UNLABELLED In the present prospective clinical trial, the effect of various regenerative procedures performed at sites with angular bone defects were evaluated. The main outcome variable was probing attachment alteration. MATERIAL AND METHODS 40 subjects, aged 32-61 years participated. They met the following inclusion criteria: (i) presence of generalized, advanced periodontal tissue destruction; (ii) presence of 2 similar, contralateral, angular bone defects (experimental sites) located in either the maxilla or the mandible; (iii) the defect site must exhibit a probing pocket depth (PPD) of > or = 6 mm, a probing attachment level (PAL) of > or = 7 mm, and a depth of the intrabony component of > or = 3 mm. All subjects had a good oral hygiene standard, were in good general health and did not use any medication. Prior to the start of the study, all subjects received non-surgical treatment for periodontal disease. Baseline clinical measurements (plaque, gingivitis, PPD, PAL and soft tissue recession) of the selected experimental sites were obtained 6 months after the completion of basic therapy. The 40 subjects were randomly divided into 4 treatment groups including 10 subjects each: 3 membrane groups and one Emdogain group. 1 h before surgery, the patients were given 3 g of Amoxicillin. No other antibiotics were prescribed. The test and control sites were treated during the same surgical session. Full thickness flaps were elevated and the exposed root surfaces were planed. Membrane placement: The root surface was rinsed with saline. A barrier membrane (Guidor or Resolut or Periodontal (e-PTFE) material) was positioned to cover the defect and the adjacent 2-3 mm of bone tissue. The control treatment was identical to the test treatment with the exception of barrier placement. Emdogain placement: The exposed root surfaces at both the test and control sites were, during a 2-min period, conditioned with a 24% EDTA gel. Emdogain was applied to the exposed root surface of the test site. In the control site, the vehicle, the PGA gel, was used as placebo control. The flaps were closed and sutured to obtain a complete coverage of the intrabony defect. RESULTS Re-examinations, which were performed 12 months after surgery, disclosed that regenerative therapy, including either the use of barrier membranes or application of enamel matrix proteins to an instrumented root surface in an angular, intrabony defect, enhanced outcome variables such as probing pocket depth and probing attachment gain. It was furthermore demonstrated that clinical improvements were better at sites with deep, than at sites with shallow, intrabony defects. CONCLUSION The 4 regenerative modalities tested appeared to be equally effective in terms of PPD reduction and PAL gain, and superior to open flap curettage alone.
Roles of cyclooxygenase 2 and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase 1 in rat acid reflux oesophagitis

Background: Although prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase 1 (mPGES-1) are known to play a role in various inflammatory events, their roles in the pathogenesis of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease are not known. Aims: We examined the dynamics of COX-1, COX-2, mPGES-1, mPGES-2, cytosolic PGES (cPGES), and PGE2 synthetic activity in rat acid reflux oesophagitis and the effects of COX-2 inhibitors on the severity of oesophagitis. Methods: Acid reflux oesophagitis was induced by ligating the transitional region between the forestomach and the glandular portion and wrapping the duodenum near the pylorus. Rats were killed on day 3 (acute phase) or day 21 (chronic phase) after induction of oesophagitis. Results: Expression of COX-2 and mPGES-1 was markedly increased in oesophagitis while modest changes in COX-1, cPGES, and mPGES-2 expression were observed. COX-2 and mPGES-1 were colocalised in epithelial cells of the basal layer, as well as inflammatory and mesenchymal cells in the lamina propria and submucosa. COX-2 inhibitors significantly reduced the severity of chronic oesophagitis but did not affect acute oesophageal lesions. COX-2 inhibitors significantly inhibited the increase in PGE2 synthesis in oesophageal lesions on both days 3 and 21. Epithelial proliferation was significantly increased in the basal layer on day 21. Inflammatory cells and epithelial cells of the basal layer exhibited reactions for EP4 in oesophagitis. Conclusion: PGE2 derived from COX-2 and mPGES-1 plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of chronic acid reflux oesophagitis, and possibly in basal hyperplasia and persistent inflammatory cell infiltration.
concept co cept Towards completion of the Earth ’ s proteome

New protein sequences are deposited in databases at an accelerating pace; however, many of these are homologous to known proteins and could be considered redundant. If all historical releases of the protein database are analysed using the original sequence-clustering procedure described here, the fraction of newly sequenced proteins that are redundant is increasing. We interpret this as an indication that the sequencing of the Earth’s proteome—the complete set of proteins on Earth—is approaching completion. We estimate the approximate size of the Earth’s proteome to be 5 million sequences, most of which will be identified during the next 5 years. As the Earth’s proteome nears completion, cluster analysis of the protein database will become essential to identify under-explored taxa to which future sequencing efforts should be directed and to focus research on protein families without experimental characterization.
Long-term effectiveness of the continuous an the sectional archwire techniques in leveling the curve of

Introduction: The correction of a deep overbite with the subsequent achievement of long-term stability is a difficult problem for orthodontists. The role of leveling the curve of Spee (COS) in bite opening and the success of orthodontic treatment has been well documented in the literature. The aim of this study was to investigate whether leveling the COS, by using 2 orthodontic treatment techniques, produces stable results on a long-term basis. Methods: We compared the long-term stability of leveling the COS with the straight-wire Alexander technique and the bioprogressive sectional-arch technique. The randomly selected subjects for this retrospective study were obtained from the private practices of Drs R. G. Alexander and Ruel Bench. Study models taken 2 months before treatment (T1), 2 months after treatment (T2), and after retention (T3) were evaluated. Measurements of the COS were made on the mandibular casts with a commercially available palatometer. Mandibular intercanine width, overbite, overjet, mandibular incisor irregularity, and mandibular arch length were also recorded. Results and Conclusions: Both techniques produced highly significant reductions in the COS (T1 to T2). Statistically significant, but clinically insignificant, postretention relapse of the COS occurred (T2 to T3). For both techniques, a statistically significant difference was seen in the incidence of the relapse of the COS between patients who were completely leveled posttreatment and those who were not. We did not find a correlation between pretreatment COS and relapse in any of the other occlusal traits studied. (Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2008;133:550-5)
Distressed personality without a partner enhances the risk of depression in patients with coronary heart disease

Cultural differences in the combined effects of Type D personality and other mediating factors in the Asian population have not been reported. We examined the influence of the Type D personality in relation to the presence of a partner by measuring symptoms of anxiety and depression, quality of life, self‐perception of health status in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients and normal controls.
Surgical Management and Prognostic Factors in Patients with Subungual Melanoma

ObjectiveForty-six cases of subungual melanoma were reviewed to identify significant clinicopathologic prognostic factors, determine the role of DNA content analysis in the biologic assessment of these tumors, and evaluate the effectiveness of amputation level, lymph node dissection (LND), and regional limb perfusion on the survival of these patients. BackgroundSubungual melanoma is a unique and rare subtype of melanoma, constituting only 1% to 3% of cases. Thus, little is known about prognostic factors and optimal management of patients with this disease. Moreover, the appropriate level of amputation and LND and limb perfusion in the management of subungual melanoma remain controversial. MethodsForty-six patients underwent amputation alone or in combination with LND and/or regional limb perfusion for primary subungual melanoma. The effects of these treatment modalities and the prognostic significance of patient and tumor-related variables, including DNA flow cytometric data, on overal survival were assessed. ResultsUnivariate statistical analysis identified six factors that significantly affected patient survival. They were stage at diagnosis (p = 0.0001), percentage of aneuploid cells (p = 0.01), presence of ulceration (p = 0.02) or bone invasion (p = 0.02), thickness of the primary lesion (p = 0.03), and percentage of cells in S-phase (p = 0.03). Multivariate analyses identified tumor stage and S-phase fraction as independent prognostic factors in these patients. Survival did not differ among patients who received amputation alone or those who underwent amputation in combination with LND or perfusion (p = 0.90); however, the use of limb perfusion reduced the incidence of locally recurrent disease. The level of amputation did not affect patient survival (p = 0.74) or the incidence of local recurrence. ConclusionsThe study identified several significant prognostic factors, including DNA flow cytometric parameters, in patients with subungual melanoma. In addition, it showed that conservative amputation of the affected digit at the level of the proximal interphalangeal or metacarpophalangeal/metatarsophalangeal joint appears to be safe, provided that clear margins
Prediction of the Timing of the Adolescent Growth Spurt from Ossification Events in Hand—Wrist Films

The prediction of the timing of the pubertal growth spurt could be helpful in planning some types of orthodontic treatment. It has been suggested that information from hand—wrist radiographs could be used for this purpose. Insufficient attention has been paid to the distinction between ossification events and bone stages. In the present paper it is shown that the uncertainty of prediction of the timing of the peak height Velocity from ossification events in the hand and wrist, is generally large and so they are of limited value for this purpose.
Malaria transmission rates estimated from serological data

Summary A mathematical model was used to estimate malaria transmission rates based on serological data. The model is minimally stochastic and assumes an age-dependent force of infection for malaria. The transmission rates estimated were applied to a simple compartmental model in order to mimic the malaria transmission. The model has shown a good retrieving capacity for serological and parasite prevalence data.
RELATIONSHIP AMONG DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES AND THE PREFERENCES OF WATER PARK VISITATORS: AN IMPLICATION FROM TURKEY

Many scientific studies show that there is a significant relationship among demographic characteristics of individuals and leisure activities undertaken by them. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship among demographic variables and the preference of leisure activities undertaken by visitors at one of the water parks in Turkey. Twenty-six different types of leisure activities were selected by the researcher from various literatures. “Others” option also was given to the respondents to identify other leisure activities which were not given on the questionnaire. The results obtained from this study showed that demographic characteristics of individuals had some degree of impacts on the preference of leisure activities undertaken by water park visitors.
Cellular Responses of Mice to Diffusion Chambers I. Reactions to Intraperitoneal Diffusion Chambers Containing Listeria monocytogenes and to Bacteria-Free Chambers

Diffusion chambers made with membranes having a pore size of 0.22 μm were implanted in the peritoneal cavities of mice. Chambers that contained no cells induced splenic lymphoreticular hyperplasia and a proliferation of fibroblasts around the chambers. When the chambers contained the bacterium, Listeria monocytogenes, there was strong and continuous chemotaxis of phagocytic cells to the membrane surface. The tendency to incite fibrosis around the chambers containing bacteria produced a tissue reaction resembling a chronic abscess or granuloma. The important difference from a natural lesion was the prevention of direct parasite-host cell interactions. In studies on the pathogenesis of long persisting host-parasite relationships, one might successfully use diffusion chambers to investigate the role of humoral antimicrobial substances as well as the effects of chronic inflammation, with its local concentration of metabolic products and constituents of phagocytic cells. On the other hand, the presence of diffusion chambers in the tissues is an abnormal situation and changes arising from their presence may complicate the interpretations of some experiments.