Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Laparoscopic revision of failed antireflux operations.

BACKGROUND A small number of patients fail fundoplication and require reoperation. Laparoscopic techniques have been applied to reoperative fundoplications. We reviewed our experience with reoperative laparoscopic fundoplication. METHODS Reoperative laparoscopic fundoplication was undertaken in 28 patients, 19 F and 9 M, of mean age 56 years +/- 12. Previous antireflux procedures included 19 open and 12 laparoscopic antireflux operations. RESULTS Symptoms were heartburn (90%), dysphagia (35%), and atypical symptoms (30%%). The mean interval from antireflux procedure to revision was 13 months +/- 4.2. The mean DeMeester score was 78+/-32 (normal 14.7). Eighteen patients (64%) had hiatal breakdown, 17 (60%) had wrap failure, 2 (7%) had slipped Nissen, 3 (11%) had paraesophageal hernias, and 1 (3%) had an excessively tight wrap. Twenty-five revisions were completed laparoscopically, while 3 patients required conversion to the open technique. Complications occurred in 9 of 17 (53%) patients failing previous open fundoplications and in 4 of 12 patients (33%) failing previous laparoscopic fundoplications and included 15 gastrotomies and 1 esophagotomy, all repaired laparoscopically, 3 postoperative gastric leaks, and 4 pneumothoraces requiring tube thoracostomy. No deaths occurred. Median length of stay was 5 days (range 2-90 days). At a mean follow-up of 20 months +/- 17, 2 patients (7%) have failed revision of their fundoplications, with the rest of the patients being essentially asymptomatic (93%). CONCLUSIONS The results achieved with reoperative laparoscopic fundoplication are similar to those of primary laparoscopic fundoplications. Laparoscopic reoperations, particularly of primary open fundoplication, can be technically challenging and fraught with complications.
Ragweed allergic rhinitis and the paranasal sinuses. A computed tomographic study.

OBJECTIVE To explore the potential association of allergic rhinitis and sinusitis. DESIGN Prospective clinical trial. SETTING Academic tertiary referral center. PARTICIPANTS Ten subjects with symptomatic ragweed allergy during the peak of the ragweed season. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES We obtained a paranasal sinus computed tomographic scan on all volunteers and had them complete a modified Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire. All subjects were then treated with intranasal aqueous beclomethasone dipropionate (168 micrograms twice a day) and completed the Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire weekly until the end of the study. RESULTS Six of 10 of the subjects had sinus mucosal thickening on computed tomographic scan. All subjects improved symptomatically. A second computed tomographic scan was obtained after the pollen season in 5 patients with mucosal abnormalities, while the patients continued treatment with intranasal steroids and symptomatically improved. The sinus mucosal abnormalities persisted in all patients. CONCLUSION Despite the 60% incidence of abnormalities on the computed tomographic scans of the subjects with ragweed allergy during the season, these abnormalities appear, at most, to contribute minimally to the patient's symptoms, since resolution of symptoms was not accompanied by a reduction in sinus mucosal abnormalities.
Protocol Single-Molecule Gold-Nanoparticle Tracking

Gold nanoparticles, like single fluorophores, can be used to locate single molecules with nanometer accuracy. Unlike an optical trap, the gold particle label does not exert an external load, which is important for studying diffusive processes. Thus, a gold particle can be used analogously to a single fluorophore, providing similar information but with submillisecond time resolution. The features of goldnanoparticle tracking (high temporal resolution, small label size, and lack of applied force) facilitate the characterization of structural properties of short-lived intermediates, as shown by our work with myosin V. This protocol provides details for gold-nanoparticle-tracking experiments, including flow cell construction, microscopy, and data analysis, along with a brief outline of actin and myosin preparation. Although details particular to our experiment are given, the approach should be generally applicable.
Detection of bovine herpesvirus 1 from an outbreak of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis

Clinical symptoms from the respiratory tract were observed in cattle after the introduction of pregnant heifers into the dairy herd. Sera and nasal swabs from all animals and tissue samples from two dead animals were tested for BHV1. Specific antibodies against BHV1 were found in serum samples of 24 animals. Only one sample reacted doubtfully in gB ELISA. The virus was isolated only from nasal swabs and lungs collected from 2 weeks old calf. The remaining samples were negative in virus isolation test. PCR with external primers detected the presence of BHV1 in 11 nasal swabs and in lung and liver samples of 2 weeks old calf. In nested PCR almost all tested samples were positive. Restriction enzyme analysis confirmed the specificity of amplification. Results of laboratory diagnosis revealed that introduction of newly purchased animals into the herd initiated the outbreak of disease caused by BHV1.
A NOVEL BIOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL AGENT: L-AMINO ACID OXIDASE WITH CORRELATION TO CANCER MANAGEMENT: AN OVERVIEW

Different types of snake venom including LAAO venom found in different organism which possesses anticancer effect as well as other pharmacological activity. Now a days using medicine for cancer treatment that have a lots of adverse effect such as alopecia, bone marrow depression, vomiting etc., we are focusing on SV-LAAOs to search out the natural bioactive novel agents. King cobra venom LAAO has more stability than other SV-LAAOs which may be correct agent to developed anticancer medicine. These effects mainly produced due to hydrogen peroxide which is generated during catalytic reaction.
Follow-up of children with autism spectrum disorders from age 2 to age 9

The purpose of the present study was to examine the developmental outcomes of children 7 years after their initial diagnosis. Children diagnosed with autism or PDD-NOS at age 2 received follow-up evaluations at age 9. Diagnostic stability was high, with 88 percent of the sample obtaining autism spectrum diagnoses at age 9. Cognitive scores improved considerably for a large segment of the sample, with over 50 percent obtaining scores in the average range at follow-up. Language outcomes were also positive at follow-up; 88 percent of the sample demonstrated at least some functional language, and 32 percent were able to engage in conversational exchanges. Early characteristics that predicted outcome status were: age of diagnosis, age 2 cognitive and language scores, and total hours of speech-language therapy between ages 2 and 3.These findings highlight the potential long-term benefits of both early identification and early intervention, and provide additional evidence for the importance of promoting public awareness of the early signs of autism.
Path loss modeling and fading analysis for channels with various antenna setups in tunnels at 30 GHz band

The high-speed railway (HSR) environment has unique characteristics in radio propagation. The research on radio channel in HSR plays a vital role in system design, especially for advanced mobile systems working in the millimetre-wave band. This paper presents the simulation in a typical straight and arched tunnel at 30 GHz band with a verified ray-tracing tool. The simulation results illustrate that the advanced mobile communication system with high gain directional antennas can support longer than 1 km communication links in the tunnel. In this paper, the channel characteristics of three different antenna setups are compared at frequencies ranging from 31.5 GHz~33.5 GHz, e.g., path loss exponent, autocorrelation and decorrelation distance of shadow fading, etc. Additionally, these characteristics will be shown with statistic values that can easily reproduce the radio channel properties. Furthermore, the results will be utilized to guide further realistic measurement campaign and physical layer design for advanced mobile communication systems.
Efficacy and safety of oral fludarabine/cyclophosphamide regimen in previously treated indolent lymphomas

The term ‘indolent’ refers to a lymphoid malignancy characterized by variable clinical presentation, high survival rate and scarce response to any therapeutic strategy. The introduction of promising new therapies, like purine analogs agents and, more recently, monoclonal antibodies has vastly increased the range of valid choices [1,2]. In particular, several reports have shown the efficacy of fludarabine in combination with mitoxantrone or cyclophosphamide in various lymphoproliferative disorders, both at diagnosis and relapse [3,4]. In addition to the IV formulation of fludarabine, a more convenient immediate-release oral formulation has been developed that shows similar efficacy and tolerability in pre-treated and untreated patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia [5,6]. On the basis of these data, we started a monoinstitutional study with fludarabine-cyclophosphamide (FLU-CY) regimen in previously treated indolent lymphoma. Between April 2001 – October 2003, 12 patients with indolent lymphoma entered the study and were treated with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide. The main protocol requirement was that patients initially had advanced (stage III or IV) disease as defined by the Ann Arbor staging system [7], for which first-line treatment (fludarabine or other purine analogs as a prior therapy were admitted but no response was considered an exclusion criterion) had failed to produce complete response or relapse had occurred. Criteria for entry into the study included: histologic diagnosis of indolent B-cell lymphoma according to the REAL classification [8]; presence of measurable disease; normal hepatic, renal, cardiac function; radiation and chemotherapy had to be discontinued at least 6 weeks prior to treatment initiation. Informed consent was obtained from all patients in accordance with the ethical policy of the Institute. The study population included 12 patients. All the patients had recurrent, relapsed disease and none presented resistant disease. Patients’ characteristics are reported in Table I. The FLU-CY regimen schedule was: oral FLU at a dose of 40 mg m d for 3 days and oral CY at a dose of 300 mg m d for 3 days, every 4 weeks for a total of 6 cycles. Oral FLU was supplied by Schering S.p.A. (Milan, Italy). All patients received Pneumocystis carinii prophylaxis with co-trimoxazole (2 days per week) only during the entire course of therapy. Complete response (CR), partial response (PR) and no response were evaluated according to the international criteria [9]. Of the 12 patients studied, 8 (66%) fulfilled the criteria for CR and the remaining 4 patients did not respond to therapy (2 stable disease and 2 disease progression). The likelihood of response was related to the number of previous chemotherapy regimens. In fact, in the 6 patients who had previously received only one regimen, 5 CR were documented. In contrast, among the 6 patients who had received 2 or more different previous treatments, 3 CR were documented. Concerning the patients previously treated with purine analogs regimens, we observed CR in 4/4 (100%).
The recent emergence of Leishmania tropica in Jericho (A'riha) and its environs, a classical focus of L. major

Between 1997 and 2002, 49 strains of Leishmania were isolated from the cutaneous lesions of Palestinians living in and around Jericho. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifying the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1‐PCR) was applied to their cultured promastigotes and to 207 individuals’ skin scrapings spotted on filter‐papers, 107 of which proved positive for leishmanial DNA. Species identification was performed by restricting the ITS1‐PCR amplification products from the cultured promastigotes and the amastigotes in the scrapings with the endonuclease HaeIII. Of the 49 cultures, 28 (57%) were L. major and 21 (43%) were L. tropica. Of the 107 dermal samples tested directly, 53 (49.5%) were infected with L. major, 52 (48.5%) with L. tropica and two remained unidentified. This is the first time L. tropica has been exposed in the population of the Jericho area and on such a large scale. The itinerant behaviour of some of this population precludes categorically declaring that L. tropica has recently become established in this classical focus of L. major. For this and although 88.2% of the cases of L. tropica claimed not to have travelled out of the vicinity of Jericho, local infected sand fly vectors of L. tropica must be caught, identified and, if possible, shown to harbour infections, and, if one exists, an animal reservoir host should also be exposed to endorse whether the cases caused by L. tropica were imported or autochthonous.
Atrazine-induced changes in the myocardial structure of peripubertal rats

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of atrazine (6-chloro-N2-ethyl-N4-isopropyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine) on the left ventricle myocardium in juvenile/peripubertal male Wistar rats. Atrazine was administered orally at 50 or 200 mg/kg of body weight dose for 28 consecutive days. In order to assess possible structural alterations, tissue sections were examined histologically and then subjected to quantification analysis using stereological methods. The tissue specimens were routinely processed and stained with Mallory trichrome method in order to clearly distinguish muscle cells from the connective tissue components. A toluidine blue staining method was additionally used for the demonstration of mast cells. Statistically significant increase in length density and numerical density of capillaries were found at both the investigated doses of atrazine compared with the control. The increase in surface density and volume density of capillaries found at lower dosage of atrazine was significant in comparison with the control. The extensive mast cell degranulation was noted on the histological examination at both doses of the applied chemical. No significant changes were demonstrated for the stereological parameters of cardiomyocytes. Based on the available published data and the present results, it can be concluded that atrazine promoted angiogenesis in the rat myocardium, which might be partially mediated by mast cells.
Post-traumatic stress among rescue workers after terror attacks in Norway.

BACKGROUND On 22 July 2011, Norway was struck by two terror attacks. Seventy-seven people were killed, and many injured. Rescue workers from five occupational groups and unaffiliated volunteers faced death and despair to assist victims. AIMS To investigate the level of, and associations between, demographic variables, exposure and work-related variables and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). METHODS A cross-sectional study of general and psychosocial health care personnel, police officers, firefighters, affiliated and unaffiliated volunteers were conducted ~10 months after the terror attacks. The respondents answered a self-reported questionnaire. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Checklist - specific (PCL-S) assessed PTSS. RESULTS There were 1790 participants; response rate was 61%. About 70% of the professional rescue workers had previous work experience with similar tasks or had participated in training or disaster drills. They assessed the rescue work as a success. Firefighters and unaffiliated volunteers reported more perceived threat compared with the other groups. Among the professional personnel, the prevalence of sub-threshold PTSD (PCL 35-49) was 2% and possible PTSD (PCL ≥ 50) 0.3%. The corresponding figures among the unaffiliated volunteers were 24% and 15%, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, female gender (β = 1.7), witnessing injured/dead (β = 2.0), perceived threat (β = 1.1), perceived obstruction in rescue work (β = 1.6), lower degree of previous training (β = -0. 9) and being unaffiliated volunteers (β = 8.3) were significantly associated with PTSS. CONCLUSIONS In the aftermath of a terror attack, professional rescue workers appear to be largely protected from post-traumatic stress reactions, while unaffiliated volunteers seem to be at higher risk.
Evaluating anxiety in patients attending optometric practice

Although anxiety is a well‐established obstacle to the delivery of effective health care, there have been no attempts to measure it in the optometric consulting room. In this paper, we introduce physiological and psychological techniques that may be used to evaluate anxiety and arousal in the consulting room and present data from a small group of patients attending for a routine eye examination. Specifically, arousal was assessed before, during, and after the examination by measuring skin conductance in five patients. Anxiety was evaluated using the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory. Our data confirm the ability of these techniques to quantify arousal and anxiety in the optometric consulting room and reveal a previously unknown but important facet of the eye examination. We conclude that these techniques are suitable for use in further experimental work and may be used to identify factors capable of reducing anxiety in the optometric consulting room.
Evaluation and improvements of two community models in simulating dry deposition velocities for peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) over a coniferous forest

Exchange Model (Noah-GEM) were only 0.2 cm s � 1 and 0.6 cm s � 1 , respectively. The observations also showed considerable PAN deposition at night with typical Vd values of 0.2–0.6 cm s � 1 , while the estimated values from both models were less than 0.1 cm s � 1 . Noah-GEM modeled more realistic stomatal resistance (Rs) than WDDM, as compared with observations of water vapor exchange fluxes. The poor performance of WDDM for stomatal uptake is mainly due to its lack of dependence on leaf area index. Thermal decomposition was found to be relatively unimportant for measured PAN fluxes as shown by the lack of a relationship between measured total surface conductance and temperature. Thus, a large part of the underprediction in Vd from both models should be caused by the underestimation of nonstomatal uptake, in particular, the cuticle uptake. Sensitivity tests on both stomatal and nonstomatal resistances terms were conducted and some recommendations were provided.
Comparative evaluation of pulpal blood flow during incisor intrusion

Abstract Aim The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare changes in pulpal blood flow (PBF) as a result of maxillary incisor intrusion achieved by one of two methods (utility arches or mini-implants). Materials and methods Thirty subjects were divided into three groups, the first of which underwent maxillary incisor intrusion using utility arches (UA) and a second group, intrusion via mini-implants (MI). The third group acted as a control. An intrusive force of 100 g was applied to the upper incisors in the treatment groups, whereas no force was applied to the anterior teeth in the control group. A laser Doppler flowmeter (LDF) was used to measure PBF at baseline (T0) and during incisor intrusion at 24 hours (T1), three days (T2), seven days (T3) and three weeks (T4). Statistical changes in PBF were assessed by the Wilcoxon Signed Rank and Mann-Whitney U tests, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results The mean PBF in the UA and MI groups decreased significantly from T0 to T1 (p < 0.001), slightly increased at T2 and continued to increase gradually at T3. PBF attained levels similar to those measured prior to intrusion at T4. No significant changes in PBF were observed in the control group over the course of the study. The only statistically significant difference between the UA and MI groups were at T1 and T2, at which time the MI group had lower PBF values (p < 0.001). Conclusions Despite slight regressive changes in pulpal tissue observed over the short term, PBF values tended to return to initial levels within three weeks, indicating that changes observed in PBF with the UA and MI intrusion methods are reversible. Although the changes in PBF could not be directly related to the method of intrusion employed, in general, a more severe drop in PBF was observed in the MI group during the first three days of intrusion.
The safety of levetiracetam

Levetiracetam is an antiepileptic drug approved for use as an adjunct agent in partial-onset seizures in adults and children aged ≥ 4 years. It was also approved as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of adults and adolescents aged ≥ 12 years with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. A parenteral intravenous formulation has recently become available allowing for its use when oral administration is temporarily not feasible. Available literature has demonstrated and supported that levetiracetam has an acceptable safety profile and this review discusses the safety profile of levetiracetam, with attention to special populations. The most common adverse effects are somnolence, asthenia and dizziness, which usually appear early after initiation of levetiracetam therapy and generally resolve without medication withdrawal. The most serious adverse effects are behavioral in nature and are more common in children and in patients with a prior history of behavioral problems.
Plant development regulated by cytokinin sinks

Morphogenetic signals control the patterning of multicellular organisms. Cytokinins are mobile signals that are perceived by subsets of plant cells. We found that the responses to cytokinin signaling during Arabidopsis development are constrained by the transporter PURINE PERMEASE 14 (PUP14). In our experiments, the expression of PUP14 was inversely correlated to the cytokinin signaling readout. Loss of PUP14 function allowed ectopic cytokinin signaling accompanied by aberrant morphogenesis in embryos, roots, and the shoot apical meristem. PUP14 protein localized to the plasma membrane and imported bioactive cytokinins, thus depleting apoplastic cytokinin pools and inhibiting perception by plasma membrane–localized cytokinin sensors to create a sink for active ligands. We propose that the spatiotemporal cytokinin sink patterns established by PUP14 determine the cytokinin signaling landscape that shapes the morphogenesis of land plants.
Dual Use of Traveling and Standing Lamb Waves for Structural Health Monitoring

Structural health monitoring (SHM) is an emerging technology with great potential in structural diagnosis and prognosis. SHM systems can be passive or active. Active SHM systems rely on structural interrogation using active sensors (transducers) that can transmit and receive ultrasonic Lamb waves traveling at large distances in the structural material. Piezoelectric-wafer active sensors (PWAS) are small, inexpensive, non-invasive, transmitters and receivers of ultrasonic Lamb waves that can be permanently affixed to structures. The paper presents results on the dual use of PWAS for structural health monitoring through: (a) tuned traveling Lamb waves using the pitch-catch, pulse echo, and phased-array methods, and (b) broadband standing Lamb wave approach using the high-frequency electromechanical (E/M) impedance method. This paper shows that the traveling-wave and standingwave approaches are complementary to each other and can be used with the same installation of PWAS transducers. Three examples are discussed: (a) detection of cracks in aircraft panel specimens; (b) monitoring of crack growth in an Arcan specimen under mixed-mode fatigue fracture testing; (c) disbond detection in adhesively bonded specimens. In all three cases, both traveling waves and standing waves were used. The paper ends with conclusions and suggestions for further work.