Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measurement of the apparent diffusion coefficient in diffuse renal disease by diffusion‐weighted echo‐planar MR imaging

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and diffuse renal disease by diffusion‐weighted echolanar magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (EPI). Thirty‐four patients were examined with diffusion‐weighted EPI. The average ADC values were 2.55 × 10−3 mm2/sec for the cortex and 2.84 × 10−3 mm2/sec for the medulla in the normal kidneys. The ADC values in both the cortex and medulla in chronic renal failure (CRF) kidneys and in acute renal failure (ARF) kidneys were significantly lower than those of the normal kidneys. In renal artery stenosis kidneys, the ADC values in the cortex were significantly lower than those of the normal and the contralateral kidneys. In the cortex, ADC values were above 1.8 × 10−3 mm2/sec in all 32 normal kidneys, ranging from 1.6 to 2.0 × 10−3 mm2/sec in all 8 ARF kidneys, and below 1.5 × 10−3 mm2/sec in 14 of 15 CRF kidneys. In the medulla, there was considerable overlap in the ADC values of the normal and diseased kidneys. There was a linear correlation between ADC value and sCr level in the cortex (r = 0.75) and a weak linear correlation in the medulla (r = 0.60). Our results show that diffusion‐weighted MR imaging may be useful to identify renal dysfunction. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 1999;9:832–837. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Treatment of Plane Wart with Topical Adapaline Gel 0.1%: An Open Therapeutic Trial

Plane wart is a common dermatological disease with a high rate of spontaneous recovery. Topical adapalene gel 0.1% is a known keratolytic agent with many dermatological uses. To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of topical adapalene gel 0.1% in the treatment of plane warts. Fifty patients with plane warts consulting the department of Dermatology and Venereology of Al-Kindy Teaching Hospital from August 2011 to April 2012 were enrolled in this opened therapeutic trial. All patients were instructed to apply adapalene gel 0.1% twice daily for 4 weeks duration to be assessed clinically and by digital photograph. If at the end of 4 th week no or partial response occurred, the patients were instructed to continue using the treatment and then they were re-evaluated clinically and photographically by the end of 8 th week. The response rate was evaluated according to number of lesions. After 4 weeks of treatment, patients who achieved an excellent response were those with 1-10 lesions (8%), while no one with 11- ≥20 achieved an excellent response. The response to treatment in the view of different grades of response and according to no. of lesions were statistically significant (P-value=0.015, p-value=0.031 respectively). After 8 weeks of treatment, the highest figure of excellent response was in those with 1-10 lesions group (30%). The overall response of different grades was statistically significant (P-value=0.014). Whereas response according to number of lesions was not significant (P-value =0.235). According to duration of lesions, after 4 weeks of treatment, patients who achieved an excellent response were mostly those with 1-4 months (8%), while no one with duration of > 4 months achieved an excellent response. After 4 weeks treatment, the response to treatment in the view of different
Protective role of methanol extract of Cetraria islandica (L.) against oxidative stress and genotoxic effects of AFB1 in human lymphocytes in vitro

In this study, the antigenotoxic and antioxidant effects of Cetraria islandica methanol (CME) extract were determined by using sister chromatid exchange (SCE), micronuclei (MN) assays and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels against effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB 1) induced oxidative stress and genotoxicity in human lymphocytes in vitro. The results showed that the frequencies of SCE, MN and MDA level decreased, SOD and GPx activities increased when 5 μg/mL and 10 μg/mL doses of CME were added to AFBı-treated cultures. Also, the present results indicate that CME has strong antioxidative and the antigenotoxicity mechanisms of CME are associated with its antioxidant nature.
Analysis of Unsupervised Feature Learning in Image Segmentation

Unsupervised feature learning was proved to be a potentially powerful tool for image segmentation as pixel-wise classification. However, there is no comprehensive study on the importance of each module of image segmentation pipeline. In this project we aim to understand the formulated variability of performance of feature learning methods in the context of image segmentation. A generic test framework was developed, then two segmentation tasks from two different domain were studied and analyzed. Through extensive experiments on buildings segmentation and multiple sclerosis lesions segmentation, different parameters are compared. Discussions about the preprocessing settings, the impact of dictionary learning, encoding and classification is presented. Our results conform in some parts with the analysis previously reported on image classification, but also new conclusions are drawn specific to the segmentation task.
Randomized comparison trial of gait training with and without compelled weight-shift therapy in individuals with chronic stroke

Objective: To compare the effects of gait training combined with compelled weight-shift therapy and gait training alone on velocity and gait symmetry in patients with chronic stroke. Design: Single-blind randomized controlled trial. Participants: Patients (N=28) with chronic stroke and stance asymmetry toward the non-paretic side. Interventions: Six weeks of gait training combined with compelled weight-shift therapy via a shoe lift applied under the non-paretic leg (experimental group, n=14) or gait training alone (control group, n=14). Main measures: Percentage of total body weight carried by the paretic limb, gait velocity and gait spatiotemporal symmetry ratios including step symmetry, stance symmetry, swing symmetry and overall temporal symmetry. Results: When comparing the two groups, weight bearing on the affected side increased more significantly in experimental group than in control group (40.14±3.77, 38.28±4.06) after the end of treatment and also after a three-month follow-up (44.42±3.5, 38.5±3.77) (P<0.05). Among the experimental and control groups, there were no significant differences of gait velocity (cm/s) after six weeks of treatment (49.82±16.82, 42.66±18.75) and also after a three-month follow-up (50.94±16.27, 41.66±17.58) (P>0.05). There were no significant differences of gait spatiotemporal symmetry ratios including step symmetry, stance symmetry, swing symmetry and overall temporal symmetry between the two groups after six weeks of treatment and also at three-month follow-up (P>0.05). Conclusions: This study did not confirm that the effect of gait training combined with compelled body weight shift therapy was better than gait training alone on improving velocity and gait symmetry in patients with chronic stroke.
Risk factors for long intensive care unit stay after cardiopulmonary bypass in children*

ObjectivesTo determine whether children who experience longer intensive care unit (ICU) stays after open heart surgery may be identified at admission by clinical criteria. To identify factors associated with longer ICU stays that are potential targets for quality improvement. SettingTertiary pediatric cardiac surgical center. DesignA retrospective review was performed of pre-, intra-, and postoperative factors for children undergoing open heart surgery. All factors were evaluated for strength of association with length of ICU stay (LOS) using a negative binomial model. After multiple analysis, factors were deemed significant if associated with a LOS with p < . 02. PatientsA total of 355 pediatric patients who had cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass in a 1-yr period from April 1999 until March 2000. Measurements and Main ResultsChildren who fell above the 95th percentile for LOS in our institution occupied 30% of bed days and had a three-fold greater mortality. Of all clinical factors considered, those significantly associated with LOS were as follows:preoperative—mechanical ventilation, neonatal status, medical problems, and transfer from abroad;intraoperative—higher operative complexity, increased cardiopulmonary bypass time or ischemic time, and circulatory arrest; and postoperative—delayed sternal closure, sepsis, renal failure, pulmonary hypertension, chylothorax, diaphragm paresis, and arrhythmia. A model combining all factors identified preoperative mechanical ventilation, neonatal status, major medical problems, operative complexity, cardiopulmonary bypass time, and a postoperative complication score as independently associated with LOS (p < .01). ConclusionsAt the time of ICU admission after open heart surgery, clinical criteria are evident that highlight a child’s risk of longer ICU stay. These pre- and intraoperative factors relate to LOS independent of subsequent postoperative events. Those postoperative complications that are most strongly associated with increased LOS are identified and, therefore, made accessible to quality control.
Why are there race/ethnic differences in adult body mass index–adiposity relationships? A quantitative critical review

Body mass index (BMI) is now the most widely used measure of adiposity on a global scale. Nevertheless, intense discussion centers on the appropriateness of BMI as a phenotypic marker of adiposity across populations differing in race and ethnicity. BMI–adiposity relations appear to vary significantly across race/ethnic groups, but a collective critical analysis of these effects establishing their magnitude and underlying body shape/composition basis is lacking. Accordingly, we systematically review the magnitude of these race‐ethnic differences across non‐Hispanic (NH) white, NH black and Mexican American adults, their anatomic body composition basis and potential biologically linked mechanisms, using both earlier publications and new analyses from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Our collective observations provide a new framework for critically evaluating the quantitative relations between BMI and adiposity across groups differing in race and ethnicity; reveal new insights into BMI as a measure of adiposity across the adult age‐span; identify knowledge gaps that can form the basis of future research and create a quantitative foundation for developing BMI‐related public health recommendations.
CORR Insights®: What are the Challenges and Complications of Sterilizing Autografts with Liquid Nitrogen for Malignant Bone Tumors? A Preliminary Report.

Limb salvage surgery is the mainstay of treatment after resection of malignant bone tumors of the extremities. Modern imaging that provides an accurate evaluation of the extent of the disease and effective chemotherapy facilitate limbsparing surgery. The goals that must be met for limb salvage to be appropriate include tumor removal with adequate surgical margins, conservation of unaffected limb structures to maximize function, minimization of postoperative complications, and administration of adjuvant therapies when needed. Typical surgical options for skeletal reconstruction after tumor resection include reconstruction with megaprostheses, allograft prosthetic composites, bone transport (such as distraction osteogenesis), allografts, and autograft techniques. Although most biologic reconstructive techniques have used ether autogenous bone transplantation or allografts, a novel technique using the bone affected by the tumor and seeking to sterilize the bone and eradicate the tumor by freezing in liquid nitrogen has been championed by Tsuchiya et al. [3-5, 7]. In these procedures, the bone is dissected free of the soft tissues, the tumor is killed by freezing it with liquid nitrogen, and the bone is reimplanted.Any skeletal defects caused by tumor destruction are filled with bone cement and the bone is repaired with internal fixation. Others have performed similar surgical procedures but have used extracorporeal radiation therapy for sterilizing recycled autografts before reimplantation [6]. In the current study, Hindiskere et al. [1] used recycled bone grafts and sterilized the bone affected by the tumor using liquid nitrogen to cause tumor necrosis. They compared two different techniques for this procedure. One technique involved skeletonizing the affected bone, keeping it connected to the host (pedicle-based graft), and then dipping the bone into a vat of liquid nitrogen. In the other technique, they removed the bone completely (free autograft), dipped it in liquid nitrogen, and reimplanted the bone. They described the technical aspects of these procedures and associated complications and provided practical suggestions for handling liquid nitrogen to facilitate bone freezing. They also described the mostappropriate osteotomy levels to allow freezing using the pedicle-based method, thus allowing them to maneuver the bone into the vat of liquid nitrogen. These findings are interesting because they validate the use of these techniques in an institution in a different part of the world from where they were developed. The use of recycled bone is an oncologically safe and structurally sound method for skeletal reconstruction after tumor excision.
Low-volume plus ascorbic acid vs high-volume plus simethicone bowel preparation before colonoscopy.

AIM To investigate the effectiveness of low-volume plus ascorbic acid [polyethylene glycol plus ascorbic acid (PEG + Asc)] and high-volume plus simethicone [polyethylene glycol plus simethicone (PEG + Sim)] bowel preparations. METHODS A total of one hundred and forty-four outpatients (76 males), aged from 20 to 84 years (median age 59.5 years), who attended our Department, were divided into two groups, age and sex matched, and underwent colonoscopy. Two questionnaires, one for patients reporting acceptability and the other for endoscopists evaluating bowel cleansing effectiveness according to validated scales, were completed. Indications, timing of examination and endoscopical findings were recorded. Biopsy forceps were used as a measuring tool in order to determine polyp endoscopic size estimation. Difficulty in completing the preparation was rated in a 5-point Likert scale (1 = easy to 5 = unable). Adverse experiences (fullness, cramps, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache and insomnia), number of evacuations and types of activities performed during preparation (walking or resting in bed) were also investigated. RESULTS Seventy-two patients were selected for each group. The two groups were age and sex matched as well as being comparable in terms of medical history and drug therapies taken. Fourteen patients dropped out from the trial because they did not complete the preparation procedure. Ratings of global bowel cleansing examinations were considered to be adequate in 91% of PEG + Asc and 88% of PEG + Sim patients. Residual Stool Score indicated similar levels of amount and consistency of residual stool; there was a significant difference in the percentage of bowel wall visualization in favour of PEG + Sim patients. In the PEG + Sim group, 12 adenomas ≤ 10 mm diameter (5/left colon + 7/right colon) vs 9 (8/left colon + 1/right colon) in the PEG + Asc group were diagnosed. Visualization of small lesions seems to be one of the primary advantages of the PEG + Sim preparation. CONCLUSION PEG + Asc is a good alternative solution as a bowel preparation but more improvements are necessary in order to achieve the target of a perfect preparation.
Retina Retinal Ganglion Cell Damage in an Experimental Rodent Model of Blast-Mediated Traumatic Brain Injury

RESULTS. Assessment of the pupil response to light demonstrated decreased maximum pupil constriction diameter in blast-injured mice using red light or blue light stimuli 24 hours after injury compared with baseline in the eye exposed to direct blast injury. A decrease in the pupil light reflex was not observed chronically following blast exposure. We observed a biphasic pERG decrease with the acute injury recovering by 24 hours postblast and the chronic injury appearing at 4 months postblast injury. Furthermore, at 3 months following injury, a significant decrease in the retinal nerve fiber layer was observed using OCT compared with controls. Histologic analysis of the retina and optic nerve revealed punctate regions of reduced cellularity in the ganglion cell layer and damage to optic nerves. Additionally, a significant upregulation of proteins associated with oxidative stress was observed acutely following blast exposure compared with control mice.
IL‐1 is expressed in human adrenal gland in vivo. Possible role in a local immune‐adrenal axis

IL‐1 is an important mediator in the dialogue between the immune system and the hypothalamo‐pituitary‐adrenal axis. A direct influence of IL‐1 upon adrenal steroidogenesis has been demonstrated in experimental animals. We therefore designed a study to see if IL‐1 is expressed within the normal human adrenal gland. The combination of in situ hybridization and specific immunostaining to IL‐1β was eminently suited to demonstrate both mRNA and protein production. The specific immunostaining of the different cells combined with in situ hybridization (IL‐1) allowed us to identify the exact cellular source of IL‐1. IL‐1 mRNA occurred in the zona reticularis in 17α‐hydroxyiase positive steroid cells surrounding the adrenomedullary cells. Some CD68+ macrophages in this zona showed a positive signal. A weak signal was seen to IL‐1 mRNA in few chromaffin cells, while IL‐1‐like immunoreactivity was more frequent. We conclude that in the normal situation in man IL‐1 is mainly expressed in specialized cortical cells. The occurrence of the major glucocorticoid inducing factor in the normal human adrenal gland itself provides evidence for an autocrine or paracrine reaction under physiological conditions.
Study of Biological Characteristics of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsial Genotypes RpA4, DnS14, and DnS28

The modern study of nonpathogenic rickettsiae assumes a search of the new methodological approaches for their detection and cultivation. Some species of spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae can’t be cultivated using traditional models (guinea pigs, hamsters, chicken embryos) (for example, R. peacockii ). Even cell culture cultivation has limited success. 1 So we have developed an alternative model for studying rickettsia using experimental modeling of the natural cycle of metamorphosis of infected ticks. Ticks ( Dermacentor nuttalli from Altai, D. silvarum from Central Kazakhstan, D. silvarum from Buryatiya), which are naturally infected with SFG rickettsiae, are used for cultivation and study of levels of transovarial (TOT) and transstadial (TST) transmission of rickettsiae in carriers. Feeding of pairs of ticks (female and male) was conducted on adult laboratory animals (white mice and guinea pigs). The descendants were contained in serial feedings-sheddings “larva-nymph-imago. ” Suckling white mice were used for feeding larvae and nymphs. For definition of availability of rickettsiae in descendant samples, larvae (100 − 150 copies) and nymphs (20 − 50 copies) were investigated in IIFA with polyclonal antibodies individually, both in a hungry condition and after satiation. The study of antigenic structure of rickettsiae in experimental lines was conducted in IIFA with monoclonal antibodies. 2 Now, as a result of application of PCR and sequence analysis, with the help of the tick experimental model (TEM), the strains of rickettsiae concerned are genotypes RpA4, DnS14, DnS28. 3
Teachers' Perceptions of Their Professional Learning Activities.

Teacher renewal and improvements in teaching quality through teacher professional development (PD) have been high on the agenda of many countries for some time. Several principles of effective PD for teachers, based on a synthesis of research evidence, have been espoused by the Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI, 1998). A survey based on these principles was developed and administered to 395 primary and secondary teachers at the conclusion of a variety of curriculum, topic or Information Communication Technology (ICT) based professional learning activities which ranged from seminars and workshops to longer courses. While teacher age, gender and school level were not significant, teachers’ ratings indicated ICT activities and longer courses contributed significantly to their professional renewal. Teachers also perceived longer courses were more applicable to their work. These findings affirm the CERI principles of effective PD and endorse the need for long term activities that have specific focus. Teacher perceptions, teacher professional development, teacher renewal
Sheep Endogenous Betaretroviruses (enJSRVs) and the Hyaluronidase 2 (HYAL2) Receptor in the Ovine Uterus and Conceptus

Abstract The ovine genome contains approximately 20 copies of endogenous betaretroviruses (enJSRVs) that are highly related to two exogenous oncogenic viruses, Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) and Enzootic nasal tumor virus. The cellular receptor for both JSRV and the enJSRVs is hyaluronidase 2 (HYAL2). In this study, we assessed expression of enJSRVs envelope (env) and HYAL2 mRNAs in the ovine uterus and conceptus (embryo/fetus and extraembryonic membranes) throughout gestation. By reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses, enJSRVs env were found to be expressed beginning in the Day 12 conceptus, whereas HYAL2 was expressed from Day 16. HYAL2 mRNA was detected throughout gestation in the placentome but not in the endometrium, whereas enJSRVs env expression was detected throughout gestation in endometrium and placentomes. The enJSRVs env mRNA was specifically expressed in the endometrial lumenal epithelium (LE) and glandular epithelium (GE) as well as the trophoblast giant binucleate cells (BNC) and multinucleated syncytia of the placenta. HYAL2 mRNA was only detected in the BNC and multinucleated syncytial plaques of the placentome. Partial sequencing of the transcriptionally active enJSRVs from sheep endometrium, placentomes, and placenta revealed expression of many enJSRV loci. Cloning of the expressed enJSRVs env mRNA from ovine uteroplacental tissues found sequences similar to the previously identified enJS5F16 and enJS56A1 gene with an intact open reading frame, although the polypeptides they encode were not studied. Collectively, results provide further support for our hypothesis that the enJSRVs Env have been beneficial to the host and are involved in protection of the uterus from viral infection and regulators of placental morphogenesis and function.
Aberrant crypt foci in the colo-rectal mucosa as reliable markers of tumor development

The aim of the present thesis has been to evaluate a recently developed short term in vivo model, the aberrant crypt foci bioassay (ACF), for its ability to predict the development of colo-rectal tumors. Based on the knowledge obtained during the last decade, it can be stated that no simple connection exists between occurrence of ACF (neither qualitatively nor quantitatively) and later development of tumors. However, the literature has shown that part of the ACF show morphologic and genetic features characteristic for the tumorigenic process and a recent investigation indicate that all ACF belong to the same unity with basically the same chances for gradual progressing into tumors. It may be speculated that the progression depends on promotional conditions in the environment.