Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reconstruction of Radical Prostatectomy-Induced Urethral Damage Using Skeletal Muscle-Derived Multipotent Stem Cells

Background. Postoperative damage of the urethral rhabdosphincter (URS) and neurovascular bundle (NVB) is a major operative complication of radical prostatectomy. It is generally recognized to be caused by unavoidable surgical damage to the muscle-nerve-blood vessel units around the urethra. We attempted to treat this damage using skeletal muscle-derived stem cells, which are able to reconstitute muscle-nerve-blood vessel units. Methods. Cells were enzymatically extracted and sorted by flow cytometry as CD34+/45− (Sk-34) and CD34−/45− (Sk-DN) cells from green fluorescent protein transgenic mice and rats. URS-NVB damage was induced by manually removing one-third of the total URS and unilateral invasion of NVB in wild-type Sprague-Dawley and node rats. Freshly isolated Sk-34, Sk-34+Sk-DN cells, and cultured Sk-DN cells were directly transplanted into the damaged portion. Results. At 4 and 12 weeks after transplantation, urethral pressure profile by electrical stimulation through the sacral surface (L6-S1) was evaluated as functional recovery. The recovery ratio in the control and transplanted groups was 37.6% and 72.9%, at 4 weeks, and 41.6% and 78.4% at 12 weeks, respectively (P<0.05). Immunohistochemical and immunoelectron microscopic analysis revealed that transplanted cells differentiated into numerous skeletal muscle fibers having neuromuscular junctions (innervation) and nerve bundle-related Schwann cells and perineurium, and blood vessel-related endothelial cells and pericyte around the urethra. Conclusions. Thus, we conclude that transplantation of skeletal muscle-derived multipotent Sk-34 and Sk-DN cells is potentially useful for the reconstitution of postoperative damage of URS and NVB after radical prostatectomy.
Reduced Progression of Diabetic Retinopathy After Islet Cell Transplantation Compared With Intensive Medical Therapy

Background. Diabetic retinopathy is a major complication of type 1 diabetes and remains a leading cause of visual loss. There have been no comparisons of the effectiveness of intensive medical therapy and islet cell transplantation on preventing progression of diabetic retinopathy. Methods. The British Columbia islet transplant program is conducting a prospective, crossover study comparing medical therapy and islet cell transplantation on the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Progression was defined as the need for laser treatment or a one step worsening along the international disease severity scale. An interim data analysis was performed after a mean 36-month follow-up postislet transplantation and these results are presented. Results. The medical and postislet transplant groups were similar at baseline. Subjects after islet transplantation had better glucose control than the medically treated subjects (mean HbA1c 6.7%±0.9% vs. 7.5±1.2, P<0.01) and were C-peptide positive. Progression occurred significantly more often in all subjects in the medical group (10/82 eyes, 12.2%) than after islet transplantation (0/51 eyes, 0%) (P<0.01). Considering only subjects who have received transplants, progression occurred in 6/51 eyes while on medical treatment and 0/51 posttransplant (P<0.02). Conclusions. Progression of diabetic retinopathy was more likely to occur during medical therapy than after islet cell transplantation.
New clostebol metabolites in human urine by liquid chromatography time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry and their application for doping control.

In this study, clostebol metabolic profiles were investigated carefully. Clostebol was administered to one healthy male volunteer. Urinary extracts were analyzed by liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MS) using full scan and targeted MS/MS techniques with accurate mass measurement for the first time. Liquid-liquid extraction and direct injection were applied to processing urine samples. Chromatographic peaks for potential metabolites were found by using the theoretical [M-H](-) as target ion in full scan experiment, and their actual deprotonated ions were analyzed in targeted MS/MS mode. Fourteen metabolites were found for clostebol, and nine unreported metabolites (two free ones and seven sulfate conjugates) were identified by MS, and their potential structures were proposed based on fragmentation and metabolism pathways. Four glucuronide conjugates were also first reported. All the metabolites were evaluated in terms of how long they could be detected and S1 (4ξ-chloro-5ξ-androst-3ξ-ol-17-one-3ξ-sulfate) was considered to be the long-term metabolite for clostebol misuse detected up to 25 days by liquid-liquid extraction and 14 days by direct injection analysis after oral administration. Five conjugated metabolites (M2, M5, S2, S6 and S7) could also be the alternative biomarkers for clostebol misuse.
Efficacy and safety of Curcuma domestica extracts in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of Curcuma domestica extracts in pain reduction and functional improvement in patients with knee osteoarthritis. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING The design and setting were a randomized controlled study at a university hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. METHODS One-hundred and seven (107) patients with primary knee osteoarthritis (OA) with pain score of > or =5 were randomized to receive ibuprofen 800 mg per day or C. domestica extracts 2 g per day for 6 weeks. The main outcomes were improvement in pain on level walking, pain on stairs, and functions of knee assessed by time spent during 100-m walk and going up and down a flight of stairs. The adverse events were also recorded. RESULTS Fifty-two (52) and 55 patients were randomized to C. domestica extracts and ibuprofen groups, respectively. Baseline characteristics of the patients in both groups were not different. The mean scores of the aforementioned outcomes at weeks 0, 2, 4, and 6 were significantly improved when compared with the baseline values in both groups. There was no difference in those parameters between the patients receiving ibuprofen and C. domestica extracts, except pain on stairs (p = 0.016). No significant difference of adverse events between both groups was found (33.3% versus 44.2%, p = 0.36 in C. domestica extracts and ibuprofen groups, respectively). CONCLUSIONS C. domestica extracts seem to be similarly efficacious and safe as ibuprofen for the treatment of knee OA.
Traditional Cryotherapy Treatments are More Effective than Game Ready on Medium Setting at Decreasing Sinus Tarsi Tissue Temperatures in Uninjured Subjects

Traditional Cryotherapy Treatments are More Effective than Game Ready® on Medium Setting at Decreasing Sinus Tarsi Tissue Temperatures in Uninjured Subjects The daily application of cryotherapy for orthopedic injury pain management is a common practice in clinical settings. McCaffery reported in 1979 that cryotherapy was the most effective, yet underutilized modality for pain [1]. This underutilization of cryotherapy for pain management may be in part due to unclear relationship between cryotherapy application and orthopedic injury pain. Our purpose was to compare the cooling potential of Game Ready® with ice with compression and a slush bucket, at comparable pressures. We believed that ice with compression would cool the tissue the most, followed by the slush bucket, and Game Ready®.
Assessment of quality of life of type 2 diabetes patients with newly diagnosed non alcoholic fatty liver disease using quality of life instrument for Indian diabetes patients

Abstract Introduction: Non alcoholic fatty liver disease is emerging as a public health problem among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. It has an impact on quality of life, which is meagrely explored. Aim: To assess quality of life of type 2 diabetes patients with newly diagnosed non alcoholic fatty liver disease. Materials and Methods: Confirmed cases of newly diagnosed non alcoholic fatty liver disease with type 2 diabetes mellitus (n = 55) were enrolled. Clinical, anthropometric and medical profiles were assessed. Quality of life was assessed with the help of quality of life instrument for Indian diabetes patients. Results: Weight (P = 0.005) and body mass index (P 0.008) in grade 3 hepatic steatosis were higher than grade 2 steatosis. Physical health deteriorated from grade 1 to grade 3 hepatic steatosis. The mean likert scores decreased significantly (P 0.000) from grade 2 to grade 3 and between grade 1 and grade 3 (P 0.0014) hepatic steatosis in the physical endurance domain. Perceptions regarding general health and treatment satisfaction revealed existing loopholes in the health system and one′s general attitude towards health. The dietary domain was marked with gross dissatisfaction amongst most with hepatic steatosis with a significant reduction in mean likert scale score between grade 1 and grade 2 (P 0.012) of hepatic steatosis. Conclusions: Modifiable domains of quality of life should be addressed as a core component of standard care in newly diagnosed non alcoholic fatty liver disease with type 2 diabetes mellitus to avert future cardiac and hepatic events.
Canine responses to hypoglycemia in patients with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE Anecdotal evidence suggests that domestic dogs may be able to detect hypoglycemia in their human caregivers; scientific investigation of this phenomenon, however, is sorely lacking. This study thus aimed to investigate how pet dogs respond to the hypoglycemic episodes of their owners with type 1 diabetes. METHODS Two hundred and twelve dog owners (64.2% female) with medically diagnosed type 1 diabetes participated in the study. All participants owned at least 1 dog. Each person completed a purpose-designed questionnaire developed to collect information on their dogs' responses (if any) to their hypoglycemic episodes. RESULTS One hundred and thirty-eight (65.1%) respondents indicated that their dog had shown a behavioral reaction to at least one of their hypoglycemic episodes, with 31.9% of animals reacting to 11 or more events. Canine sex, age, breed status, and length of pet ownership were unrelated to hypoglycemia-response likelihood. Thirty-six percent of the sample believed that their dogs reacted most of the times they went "low"; 33.6% indicated that their pets reacted before they themselves were aware they were hypoglycemic. Dogs' behavioral responses to their owners' hypoglycemic episodes varied. Most animals behaved in a manner suggestive of attracting their owners' attention, for example, vocalizing (61.5%), licking them (49.2%), nuzzling them (40.6%), jumping on top of them (30.4%), and/or staring intently at their faces (41.3%). A smaller proportion showed behavioral responses suggestive of fear, including trembling (7.2%), running away from the owner (5.1%), and/or hyperventilating (2.2%). CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that behavioral reactions to hypoglycemic episodes in pet owners with type 1 diabetes commonly occur in untrained dogs. Further research is now needed to elucidate the mechanism(s) that dogs use to perform this feat.
Antirejection Treatment in Kidney Transplant Patients with BK Viruria

Background. Kidney transplant recipients with BK virus nephropathy or viremia are generally treated with reduction of immunosuppression to facilitate virus eradication. Methods. Prompted by biopsy findings interpreted as acute rejection, we administered intravenous bolus steroids to five patients with BK virus in the plasma (BKP) (group 1) and also tried other antirejection therapies in 13 patients with BK virus in the urine (BKU) but no BKP (group 2). Results. All group 1 patients had continued viremia, whereas two viruric patients in group 2 developed viremia after therapy. Ultimately, after reduced immunosuppression both groups cleared BKP over 53±29 days and 50±6 days. BKU clearance was not consistently observed. One year postbiopsy, there were no graft failures (0%) in group 1 and 2 (15%) in group 2; however, suboptimal renal function was observed in 40% and 62%, respectively (P=0.6). Conclusion. Cautious antirejection treatment to patients with active BKP or BKU can lead to two possible outcomes: (a) reduction in serum creatinine that is seemingly consistent with a diagnosis of acute rejection and (b) lack of clinical response, which in the absence of overt BK nephropathy, makes it difficult to distinguish between refractory rejection and virus-induced tissue inflammation.
The Role of Tissue Doppler Imaging as a New Diagnostic Option in Evaluating Left Ventricular Function

The widespread use of the pulsed Doppler echocardiography has facilitated the noninvasive evaluation of hemodynamic abnormalities of the left atrium and left ventricle (LV) based on transmitral and pulmonary venous flow velocity patterns. However, it has been shown that loading conditions, especially preload, influence the indices obtained from these velocity patterns. Recently, tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) has been applied to the clinical setting to assess LV myocardial function. In particular, this procedure has the following characteristics: 1) it can provide circumferential and longitudinal information for the LV myocardium; 2) the early diastolic LV myocardial parameters determined by TDI are not influenced by preload; 3) LV myocardial contractility can be evaluated from the early systolic parameters; 4) LV systolic and diastolic asynchrony can be detected; 5) myocardial velocity gradients obtained from color-coded TDI are not influenced by the entire heart motion; and 6) TDI parameters are useful for establishing the prognosis of patients with LV heart failure. In the future, technologic improvements will elucidate the tissue characteristics based on tissue velocity information in patients with myocardial disease or allow the detection of endocardial and/or epicardial involvement of the LV myocardium in patients with ischemic heart disease.
Erken Postpartum Dönemde Emzirme ve Depresyon Arasindaki İlişki

The relationship between breast feeding and depression in the early postpartum period Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between breast feeding and postnatal depression in mothers in the early postpartum period. Material and Method: This descriptive and correlational study was conducted at the maternity hospital in the city center of Erzurum between 1 February 2013 and 30 April 2013. The data were collected using the Introductory Information Form, LATCH Breastfeeding Assessment Tool and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. One way analysis of variance, t test, Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U and correlation analysis were used to assess the data. Results: It was determined that there was a statistically significant difference between the age, educational level and pregnancy number of mothers and LATCH mean scores (p<0.05), and a statistically significant difference between the EPDS mean scores and income level, pregnancy number and pregnancy intention of mothers (p<0.05). According to these results, no relationship was determined between LATCH and EPDS mean scores. Conclusion: As a result of the study, it was determined that mothers had a moderate-level success of breast feeding, one fourth of them were under risk in terms of depression and there was no relationship between the depression and breast feeding.
Renal Function in Pediatric Liver Transplantation: A Long-Term Follow-Up Study

Background. Renal impairment is a frequent complication after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). However, most studies in children use inaccurate renal assessment based on serum creatinine, and long-term follow-up data are lacking. The purpose of this study was to determine incidence, determinants, and progression of long-term chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) in a single-center series of pediatric liver transplant recipients. Methods. The true glomerular filtration rate was measured by inulin clearance before and serially after OLT in 69 consecutive patients followed more than 2 years after transplantation. Cumulative incidence of CRI (glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2) was determined using a Kaplan-Meier method. A Cox proportional hazard model was performed to identify predictors of CRI. Results. The median age at OLT was 3.2 years. The median follow-up time after OLT was 9.3 years (interquartile range 6.3–11.9). At 10 years post-OLT, the cumulative incidence of CRI was 25%. In a multivariate Cox regression model, arterial hypertension during follow-up as time dependant variable (P=0.03), cyclosporine as primary immunosuppression (P=0.048), and liver diseases with potential renal involvement including inborn errors of metabolism, Alagille syndrome, and hepatic fibrosis (P=0.003) were associated with CRI. Conclusions. Renal function is a major concern long after OLT in children. Renal dysfunction post-OLT may be reduced by optimal control of arterial hypertension, immunosuppression protocols adapted to primary liver disease, and calcineurin inhibitor sparing regimen.
A clinical trial of the traditional medicine Vernonia amygdalina in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria.

BACKGROUND The leaves of the shrub Vernonia amygdalina Del (Compositae) are widely used in Africa to treat malaria. It is widely available, accessible, and affordable in many remote areas that do not have ready access to modern medicines. INTERVENTION This study examined the efficacy and safety of an infusion of fresh V. amygdalina leaves for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in patients aged 12 years and over. OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome measure was an adequate clinical response. The secondary outcome measure was incidence of adverse events, assumed to be side-effects of the medicine. RESULTS The remedy was associated with an adequate clinical response (ACR) at day 14 in 67% of cases. However, complete parasite clearance occurred in only 32% of those with ACR, and of these, recrudescence occurred in 71%. There was no evidence of significant side-effects or toxicity from the medication. There was a trend toward a reduction in hemoglobin between day 0 and day 28, although this did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS Further studies are needed to determine whether the efficacy can be improved by increasing the dose, changing the preparation, or adding other antimalarial plants.
Occurrence and co-occurrence of types of complementary and alternative medicine use by age, gender, ethnicity, and education among adults in the United States: the 2002 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).

BACKGROUND There are widespread assumptions that a large proportion of American adults use a variety of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies. The goal of this study is to explore the clustering or linkages among CAM categories in the general population. Linkset analysis and data from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were used to address two specific aims. First, the dominant linkages of CAM categories used by the same individual were delineated, and population estimates were generated of the percentage of American adults using different linksets of CAM categories. Second, it was determined whether dominant linkages of CAM modalities differ by age, gender, ethnicity, and education. METHODS Linkset analysis, a method of estimating co-occurrence beyond chance, was used on data from the 2002 NHIS (N = 29,862) to identify possible sets of CAM use. RESULTS Most adults use CAM therapies from a single category. Approximately 20% of adults combined two CAM categories, with the combination of mind-body therapies and biologically based therapies estimated to be most common. Only 5% of adults use therapies representing three or more CAM categories. Combining therapies across multiple CAM categories was more common among those 46-64, women, whites, and those with a college education. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study allow researchers to refine descriptions of CAM use in the adult population. Most adults do not use a wide assortment of CAM; most use therapies within a single CAM category. Sets of CAM use were found to differ by age, gender, ethnicity, and education in ways consistent with previous research.
Sirolimus As Primary Immunosuppressant Reduces Left Ventricular Mass and Improves Diastolic Function of the Cardiac Allograft

Background. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and diastolic dysfunction occur after cardiac transplantation. We investigated sirolimus (SRL) as primary immunosuppression for the attenuation of LVH and diastolic dysfunction of the cardiac allograft. Methods. Seventy cardiac transplant recipients were converted to SRL, 5.79±3.90 years after transplant, with complete calcineurin-inhibitor (CNI) withdrawal. Three consecutive echocardiographic studies, 1 year apart, were analyzed for changes in left ventricular (LV) mass and diastolic function during CNI and SRL treatment. Results. Changes in systolic (P=0.69) and diastolic blood pressures (BP) (P=0.32) did not differ between SRL and CNI treatment. LV mass and LV mass index increased (185.03±41.59-197.21±47.39 g, P=0.033 and 94.20±18.64-98.93±20.08 g/m2; P=0.030) during CNI and decreased (197.21±47.39-187.59±48.88 g, P=0.025 and 98.93±20.08-94.06±20.31 g/m2 P=0.050) during SRL. The difference in &Dgr;LV mass and &Dgr;LV mass index was significant (P=0.011 and P=0.017, respectively) and was not associated with changes in BP. Left atrium volume index increased during CNI (46.73±16.3 5-54.20±18.47 cm3/m2, P=0.006) and decreased during SRL (54.20±18.47-49.75±18.40 cm3/m2, P=0.0036). The difference in left atrium (&Dgr;LA) volume index was significant (P=0.002) and was not associated with changes in BP. Conclusions. Withdrawal of CNI and replacement with SRL in cardiac transplant recipients results in a decrease in LV mass and improvement in diastolic function. SRL may be useful to attenuate LVH and improve cardiac allograft diastolic function.
Vipassana meditation: systematic review of current evidence.

OBJECTIVES Vipassana meditation (VM) is one of the most ancient and diffused types of meditative practices belonging to the pole of mindfulness. Despite the growing interest toward the neurobiological and clinical correlates of many meditative practices, no review has specifically focused on current evidence on neuro-imaging and clinical evidence about VM. METHODS A literature search was undertaken using MEDLINE,((R)) ISI web of knowledge, the Cochrane database, and references of retrieved articles. Controlled and cross-sectional studies with controls published in English up to March 2009 were included. RESULTS Seven (7) mainly poor-quality studies were identified. Three (3) neuro-imaging studies suggested that VM practice could be associated with the activation of the prefrontal and the anterior cingulate cortex during meditative periods, and with increased thickness in cortical areas related to attention as well as increased subcortical gray matter in right insula and hippocampus in long-term meditators. Three (3) clinical studies in incarcerated populations suggested that VM could reduce alcohol and substance abuse but not post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in prisoners. One (1) clinical study in healthy subjects suggested that VM could enhance more mature defenses and copying styles. DISCUSSION Current studies provided preliminary results about neurobiological and clinical changes related to VM practice. Nonetheless, few and mainly low-quality data are available especially for clinical studies and current results have to be considered with caution. Further research is needed to answer critical questions about replications, self-selection, placebo, and long-term effects of VM.