Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microvascular Decompression as Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia in the Elderly Patient

Elderly patients with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia are commonly referred to percutaneous treatment if medical therapy has failed. Due to elaborated microsurgical techniques and perioperative care, minimal invasive neurosurgical operations like microvascular decompression (MVD) can be offered increasingly to elderly patients. We operated upon 8 elderly patients (median 70.5 years) suffering from trigeminal neuralgia using MVD in a one-year period (1995). Seven patients were free of pain at release. At a two year follow-up, 2 patients reported of slight dull pain in the trigeminal area, one of these had been pretreated with retrogasserian glycerol rhizolysis and an initial MVD procedure four years before this decompression. All patients were still off medication (analgetics and anticonvulsants), indicating that all patients experienced an excellent (6/8) or a good (2/8) result two years after MVD. One CSF fistula requiring reoperation was the only complication. After failure of medical therapy for symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia, we encourage elderly patients to undergo MVD if the general medical condition is stable and complete pain relief without medication is the requested aim of treatment.
Tips and tricks in designing management procedures

Rademeyer, R. A. , Plaganyi, E. E. , and Butterworth, D. S. 2007. Tips and tricks in designing management procedures. - ICES Journal of Marine Science, 64: 618-625.Management procedures (MPs) are becoming widely used in fisheries management, but guidelines to assist in their construction, evaluation, and implementation are few. We provide simple guidelines by drawing on experience from developing and applying MPs in southern Africa and internationally. Suggestions are provided on how to choose between candidate MPs and on key trade-offs in selecting between data-based (empirical) and model-based formulations. Assistance is also provided in dealing with different sources of uncertainty, such as deciding which operating models should be included in a reference set used for primary simulation testing and tuning (in contrast to robustness or sensitivity tests), and on how weights for the associated alternative hypotheses are most practically assigned. Finally, some guidelines are given for presenting the results effectively, which is one of the key challenges of a successful implementation process.
Determination of Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 in Dogs Using a Commercially Available Immunoradiometric Assay

The objective of the present study was to characterize a commercially available immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) intended for the determination of human insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) when used to determine IGF-1 in canine plasma samples. The assay was evaluated by assessment of the precision, accuracy, and detection limit, and by comparing the IGF-1 values observed in healthy dogs and in dogs with acromegaly and hereditary pituitary dwarfism to values reported in the literature. Since extraction of IGF-1 from its binding proteins is essential for reliable test results, the efficiency of the extraction method used in the assay was also examined. The main conclusions can be summarized as follows: The commercially available IRMA method offers a precise determination of the IGF-1 concentration in canine plasma samples with IGF-1 values directly comparable to those obtained by others. The assay accuracy was confirmed for normal dogs by parallelity between IGF-1 concentrations and plasma dilutions, whereas plasma from acromegalic dogs could not fullful parallelity. The detection limit was below the IGF-1 concentrations observed in dogs with hereditary pituitary dwarfism. In plasma samples with low or normal IGF-1 levels, the assay's extraction efficiency was comparable to that found using other extraction methods. In samples with IGF-1 concentrations above usual physiological levels, the extraction efficiency decreased unexplainably. However, this decrease in extraction efficiency seems to be of only minor importance when the measurements are used in the diagnosis of canine acromegaly.
Gut–brain and brain–gut axis in Parkinson's disease models: Effects of a uridine and fish oil diet

Recent investigations have focused on the potential role of gastrointestinal (GI) abnormalities in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). The ‘dual-hit’ hypothesis of PD speculates that a putative pathogen enters the brain via two routes: the olfactory system and the GI system. Here, we investigated (1) whether local exposures of the neurotoxin rotenone in the gut or the brain of mice could induce PD-like neurological and GI phenotypes as well as a characteristic neuropathology in accordance with this ‘dual-hit hypothesis’ and (2) the effects of a diet containing uridine and fish oil providing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), in both models. Mice were given rotenone either orally or by an injection in the striatum. Dietary interventions were started 1 week before rotenone exposures. We found that (1) both oral and intrastriatal administration of rotenone induced similar PD-like motor deficits, dopaminergic cell loss, delayed intestinal transit, inflammation, and alpha-synuclein accumulation in the colon; (2) the uridine and DHA containing diet prevented rotenone-induced motor and GI dysfunctions in both models. The models suggest possible bidirectional communication between the gut and the brain for the genesis of PD-like phenotype and pathology. The dietary intervention may provide benefits in the prevention of motor and non-motor symptoms in PD.
Perfect Hash Families: Probabilistic Methods and Explicit Constructions

An (n, q, t)-perfect hash family of size s consists of a set V of order n, a set F of order q, and a sequence ? 1, ? 2, ? , ? s of functions from V to F with the following property. For all t-subsets X? V, there exists i? {1, 2, ? , s} such that ? i is injective when restricted to X. An (n, q, t)-perfect hash family of minimal size is known as optimal. The paper presents a probabilistic existence result for perfect hash families which improves on the well known result of Mehlhorn for many parameter sets. The probabilistic methods are strong enough to establish the size of an optimal perfect hash family in many cases. The paper also gives several explicit constructions of classes of perfect hash families.
Analysis of Convectively Coupled Kelvin Waves in the Indian Ocean MJO

Abstract The active convective phase of the Madden–Julian oscillation (hereafter active MJO) comprises enhanced moist deep convection on its own temporal and spatial scales as well as increased variance in convection associated with higher-frequency modes. Synoptic-scale cloud superclusters apparently associated with convectively coupled Kelvin waves occur within the active convective envelopes of most MJO events. These convectively coupled Kelvin waves also occur during the suppressed convective phase of the MJO (hereafter suppressed MJO). This observational study presents an analysis of outgoing longwave radiation and reanalysis data to determine how these waves behave differently as they propagate through the active and suppressed MJO. Time indices of the MJO and Kelvin waves are derived for over the equatorial Indian Ocean. Dates of local extrema in these indices are used to composite data to discern how the waves and associated circulations behave on average; then, further composites are made based o.
Existence and construction of large stable food webs

Ecological diversity is ubiquitous despite the restrictions imposed by competitive exclusion and apparent competition. To explain the observed richness of species in a given habitat, food web theory has explored nonlinear functional responses, self-interaction or spatial structure and dispersal — model ingredients that have proven to promote stability and diversity. We here instead return to classical Lotka-Volterra equations, where species-species interaction is characterized by a simple product and spatial restrictions are ignored. We quantify how this idealization imposes constraints on coexistence and diversity for many species. To this end, we introduce the concept of free and controlled species and use this to demonstrate how stable food webs can be constructed by sequential addition of species. When we augment the resulting network by additional weak interactions we are able to show that it is possible to construct large food webs of arbitrary connectivity. Our model thus serves as a formal starting point for the study of sustainable interaction patterns between species.
Is ageing associated with a shift in the balance between Type 1 and Type 2 cytokines in humans?

The balance between Type 1 and Type 2 cytokines is important for the outcome of several infectious diseases. As elderly humans show increased morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases, this study tests if ageing is associated with a change towards Type 2 dominance in T cells. Expression of IFN‐γ, and IL‐4 was measured in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells by flow cytometry in three groups: young controls (n = 28), 81‐year‐olds (n = 22), and centenarians (n = 25). The major findings were that the percentage of IFN‐γ+ as well as IL‐4+ T cells was increased in aged subjects. Furthermore, after adjusting for decreased lymphocyte counts in the elderly, the concentration in the blood of IFN‐γ+ and IL‐4+ CD8+ T cells was still increased in the 81‐year‐olds. In centenarians, a shift towards a relative dominance of Type 2 cytokine expression was found within CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, the percentage of T cells with cytokine expression was closely correlated to the in vivo expression of CD95 and CD45RO. In conclusion, we found some evidence for an age‐related shift towards a Type 2 cytokine profile.
Whose Space is MySpace? A Content Analysis of MySpace Profiles

This study examines the content of MySpace pages to reveal the types of personal information users disclose on their pages and the types of communication users engage in via through their MySpace account. The researchers performed a traditional content analysis on MySpace user profiles to learn about user characteristics and about the types of content posted on profiles pages. Findings showed a clear pattern of use of the site for creating and developing personal identities and relationships online. Findings show a high degree of control by users over private information, with very few users posting personal information such as telephone numbers and addresses. The results of this research contribute to an understanding of the use of MySpace as a social networking site, a communication tool, and a means of self-disclosure and identity formation.
MALE PATIENTS WITH CALCIUM OXALATE KIDNEY STONES

1, The daily excretion of oxalate, calcium, magnesium and creatinine was determined in fifty-two normal men and sixty-five male patients with calcium oxalatecontaining renal stones. 2. Direct relationships were found between calcium and oxalate excretion, magnesium and oxalate excretion and calcium and magnesium excretion in both normal subjects and stone-formers. The significance of these relationships is discussed. 3. The mean excretion of calcium and oxalate was significantly higher in the stoneformers, compared with the controls, both calcium and oxalate excretion being raised by about 20%. 4. The effect of oral ingestion of glucose and casein on the rate of excretion of calcium, magnesium, oxalate and phosphate was examined. Glucose increased the rate of calcium and magnesium excretion but had no effect on oxalate excretion and suppressed phosphate excretion. Casein also increased calcium excretion but had little or no effect on magnesium or oxalate excretion, and it increased phosphate excretion. 5. The association of high calcium excretion with high oxalate excretion, in both normal subjects and stone-formers, results in a high degree of supersaturation of the urine with respect to calcium oxalate. The implication of these findings with respect to the cause and treatment of calcium oxalate stones is discussed.
Monocyte Deactivation in Severe Human Sepsis or Following Cardiopulmonary Bypass

We investigated the specificity for gram-negative stimuli as well as the contribution of signal transduction pathways for leukocyte hyporesponsiveness in sepsis or following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Whole blood of nine patients undergoing CPB and 25 patients with severe sepsis was stimulated ex vivo with LPS (E. coli O111:B4) or with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain I (SAC-I) lysate in the absence or presence of inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC), protein-tyrosine kinase (PTK), or protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTP). Both toxins stimulated a TNF-&agr; response through PTK signaling. Although suppression of the cytokine response was similar for LPS and SAC-I after CPB, it was significantly more pronounced for SAC-I in sepsis. Inhibition of PTP failed to increase TNF-&agr; upon LPS, whereas a moderate increase was observed with SAC-I. Impaired TNF-&agr; responses occur in sepsis and after CPB. Although this has primarily been reported for gram-negative stimuli, our data suggest that this is even more pronounced for gram-positive stimuli in severe sepsis. Although PTK was the predominant signaling pathway, inhibition of PTP only partially restored the TNF-&agr; response to SAC-I. Our results suggest that cellular mechanisms underlying monocyte deactivation are different in sepsis or following CPB and are discriminate for gram-positive and gram-negative toxins.
Evaluation of the revised NIOSH lifting equation. A cross-sectional epidemiologic study.

STUDY DESIGN A cross-sectional study of the 1-year prevalence of low back pain was conducted in workers employed in manual lifting jobs. OBJECTIVES To provide epidemiologic data to determine the correlation between the prevalence of low back pain and exposure to manual lifting stressors, measured with the lifting index component of the revised lifting equation from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA The NIOSH lifting equation has been proposed as a practical, yet valid tool for assessing the risks of low back pain caused by manual lifting. To date, however, there have been few studies in which the effectiveness of the equation to identify jobs with elevated rates of low back pain has been evaluated. METHODS Fifty jobs from four industrial sites were evaluated with the NIOSH lifting equation. A symptom and occupational history questionnaire was administered to 204 people employed in lifting jobs and 80 people employed in nonlifting jobs. Regression analysis was used to determine whether there was a correlation between the lifting index and reported low back pain. RESULTS As the lifting index increased from 1.0 to 3.0, the odds of low back pain increased, with a peak and statistically significant odds ratio occurring in the 2 < lifting index < or = 3 category (odds ratio = 2.45). For jobs with a lifting index higher than 3.0, however, the odds ratio was lower (odds ratio = 1.45). CONCLUSIONS Although low back pain is a common disorder, the lifting index appears be a useful indicator for determining the risk of low back pain caused by manual lifting.
Survival of a national cohort of hepatitis C virus infected patients , 16 years after exposure

The aim of this study was to describe the natural history of HCV after 16 years of infection, in a cohort of individuals who acquired their infections on a known date in the United Kingdom. A total of 924 HCV-infected transfusion recipients (cases) and 475 anti-HCV negative transfusion recipients (controls) were eligible for inclusion in the study. Survival was compared between cases and controls to see if there was any excess mortality attributable to HCV. The results show that all-cause mortality was not significantly different between cases and controls (hazard ratio IT7, 95% CI 0-92-1-49, P = 021). However, the risk of death directly from liver disease was higher in cases than controls (hazard ratio 2-71, 95 % CI 1-09-6-75, P = 0-03). Nearly 30 % of those HCVinfected cases who died directly from liver disease were known to have consumed excess alcohol.
Accounting Quality : International Accounting Standards and US GAAP

We compare measures of accounting quality for firms applying IAS with US firms to investigate whether IAS are associated with less earnings management, more timely loss recognition, and higher value relevance of accounting amounts than US GAAP. We find that IAS firms exhibit lower accounting quality relative to US firms in terms of earnings smoothing, correlation between accruals and cash flows, timely loss recognition, and the association between accounting amounts and share price. Comparisons for IAS firms before and after they adopt IAS suggest that applying IAS moves firms closer to US GAAP. Conclusions are similar when we limit our sample to more recent periods. Comparing IAS firms with US GAAP reconciled from domestic GAAP and reported by non-US firms that cross list on US markets, we find that IAS accounting amounts are of similar quality to reconciled US GAAP amounts. Our results suggest that although IAS accounting amounts may not be of higher quality than those of US GAAP applied comprehensively, they are of comparable quality to reconciled US GAAP amounts reported by cross-listed firms.
Storm Track Shifts under Climate Change: What Can Be Learned from Large-Scale Dry Dynamics

Earth’s storm tracks are instrumental for transporting heat, momentum, and moisture and thus strongly influence the surface climate. Climate models, supported by a growing body of observational data, have demonstrated that storm tracks shift poleward as the climate warms. But the dynamical mechanisms responsible for this shift remain unclear. To isolate what portion of the storm track shift may be accounted for by large-scale dry dynamics alone, disregarding the latent heat released in phase changes of water, this study investigates the storm track shift under various kinds of climate change in an idealized dry general circulation model (GCM) with an adjustable but constant convective stability. It is found that increasing the mean surface temperature or the convective stability leads to poleward shifts of storm tracks, even if the convective stability is increased only in a narrow band around the equator. Under warming and convective stability changes roughly corresponding to a doubling of CO_2 concentrations from a present-day Earthlike climate, storm tracks shift about 0.8° poleward, somewhat less than but in qualitative agreement with studies using moist GCMs. About 63% (0.5°) of the poleward shift is shown to be caused by tropical convective stability variations. This demonstrates that tropical processes alone (the increased dry static stability of a warmer moist adiabat) can account for part of the poleward shift of storm tracks under global warming. This poleward shift generally occurs in tandem with a poleward expansion of the Hadley circulation; however, the Hadley circulation expansion does not always parallel the storm track shift.
Risk Factors and Social Background Associated with Suicide in Japan: A Review.

AIM This study examines, from multiple perspectives, the risk factors associated with, and the social background of, individuals committing suicide in Japan. Effective suicide prevention measures are also proposed. METHOD An analysis of the risk factors for suicide, including the social background of suicide victims, suicide statistics, municipality surveys, interview surveys with bereaved families, mental health surveys, occupational injury inspections, and social resources available to victims, was conducted in the present study. RESULTS Histories of both mental illnesses (especially depression) and previous suicide attempts are high-risk factors for suicide. Abuse and experience of violence were the remote causes of suicide. On average, more than three crisis factors were present prior to suicide. For example, overwork, problems with human relations, physical/mental disease, and poverty could form a chain that leads to suicide, regardless of gender. More than 40% of suicide attempts were the result of prescription medication overdose. Overall, 70-90% of suicide victims had medical treatment or an expert consultation before death. Staff and financial backing for voluntary telephone consultation were insufficient. Meanwhile, psychiatric social workers could not provide adequate services. CONCLUSIONS Help seeking is the basis for suicide prevention. In addition to medication management and reducing work hours, communication with caregivers and healthcare providers as well as intervention for the prevention and treatment of mental illness are essential to suicide prevention. Psychotherapy by clinical psychologists is highly recommended. Active placement of psychiatric social workers for telephone consultations and for emergency hospitals' staff at the expense of the government will reduce suicides, suicide attempts, and the human and financial burden on hospitals.
The Merkel cell carcinoma challenge

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a highly aggressive neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin that occurs primarily in elderly or immunocompromised patients. For this report, the authors reviewed the diagnostic challenges associated with MCC encountered on their fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) service and also conducted an in‐depth review of the literature on MCC. A computer search for patients who were diagnosed with MCC by FNA at the authors' institution from 2006 to 2010 was conducted, and 5 patients were selected for cytologic and immunochemical analyses based on their varied and diagnostically challenging clinical presentations. The 5 selected patients had clinical findings commonly associated with MCC, including advanced age (4 of the 5 patients were ages 75‐85 years) and a history of previous malignancies (3 of the 5 patients had a history of previous malignancy), and 1 patient was diagnosed with a concomitant low‐grade lymphoma. The patients and their disease illustrated the protean clinical presentation of MCC and the clinical and cytologic challenges associated with this neoplasm. The current findings indicate the need for cytopathologists to be aware of the deceptive presentation of this neoplasm and its cytologic and immunochemical features to correctly diagnose this insidious neoplasm. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2013;121:179–188. © 2012 American Cancer Society.
Co‐carcinogenic effect of cyclohexanol on the development of preneoplastic lesions in a rat hepatocarcinogenesis model

Cyclohexanol is a basic industrial chemical widely used because of its versatility as an industrial solvent. No studies have been conducted to evaluate the carcinogenic/co‐carcinogenic hazards associated with cyclohexanol exposure. In male Fisher 344 rats liver preneoplastic lesions were induced by N‐nitrosodiethylamine (150 mg/Kg) i.p., followed by the tumor promoter 2‐acetylaminofluorene (2‐AAF: 20 mg/kg) orally administered on three consecutive days before partial hepatectomy. The cyclohexanol administration in this hepatocarcinogenesis assay revealed that it has a strong tumor co‐promoter potential. There is clear evidence that oxidative stress and the CYP2E1 are components of carcinogenesis. Although no changes in the lipid peroxidation levels were observed between treated and untreated animals, a significant increase in CYP2E1 expression was observed when cyclohexanol was administered 24 h after the last 2‐AAF dose. On the other hand, levels of the proliferation markers PCNA and Ki‐67 were not increased after treatment with cyclohexanol, but a marked downregulation of the Bax proapoptotic protein was found exclusively in mitochondrial extracts of animals treated with cyclohexanol. This study represents the first report of the ability of cyclohexanol‐induced lesions, when administered simultaneously with 2‐AAF, to potentiate the development of preneoplastic liver. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.