Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transforming growth factor-beta 1 expression in the peri-implant soft tissues of healthy and failing dental implants.

BACKGROUND Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is composed of a family of multifunctional polypeptide growth factors involved in embryogenesis, inflammation, regulation of immune response, angiogenesis, wound healing, and extracellular matrix formation. TGF-beta1 is the most common isoform found in human tissues. A role of TGF-beta in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease has been suggested. The aim of the present study was a comparative immunohistochemical evaluation of TGF-beta1 in normal keratinized gingiva and in the peri-implant soft tissues surrounding failing non-submerged implants. METHODS Twenty patients participated in this study. Ten biopsies from healthy keratinized mucosa and 10 biopsies from peri-implant soft tissues surrounding failing implants were obtained (one biopsy per patient). The biopsies were obtained from different patients. RESULTS In 5 cases of healthy mucosa, the stromal cells were positive between 1 to 5. In 7 cases, the epithelial layers were positive, between 1 and 18 cells. The superficial epithelial layer was negative in all cases. In 9 cases, there was a positivity of the vascular component, between 2 and 16 vessels. In failing implants, the stromal cells were positive in 6 cases, between 1 and 4. In all cases, cells of the epithelial layers were positive, between 15 and 40. The vascular component was positive in all cases, between 12 and 30 vessels. The differences between TGF-beta1 expression in the epithelium around healthy and failing implants were statistically significant (P < 0.0001). The differences between TGF-beta1 expression in the blood vessels in the soft tissues around healthy and failing implants were also statistically significant (P < 0.0001). No statistically significant difference was observed between the 2 groups in the TGF-beta1 expression in the stromal cells (P = 0.88). CONCLUSION TGF-beta1 may be one of the most important factors in the regulation of the infiltrate, and in the production of tissue repair with a stimulation of fibroblasts and endothelial cells.
Evidence for an exercise induced increase of TNF‐α and IL‐6 in marathon runners

Regular physical activity of moderate intensity improves cardiovascular risk factors including low‐grade inflammation. However, acute vigorous exercise such as marathon running results in marked increases of circulating pro‐inflammatory markers. Up to now, the origin of this pro‐inflammatory boost is still debated equivocally. We analyzed the change of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), and leptin from pre‐ to immediately post‐race in 15 male runners (age 43 ± 10.9 years and body mass index 24.5 ± 2.7 kg/m2) both on the protein level in the plasma and on the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) level in blood mononuclear cells (BMNC).
ENDOTHELIN‐1 IMMUNOREACTIVITY AND mRNA IN THE TRANSPLANTED HUMAN HEART

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a 21-residue peptide produced by endothelial cells and possesses a wide range of biological activities, including vasoconstriction, mito-genesis, and inotropic effects on the heart. The aim of the present study was to determine the cellular localization of ET-1 immunoreactivity and mRNA in routine endomyocardial biopsy specimens of transplanted human hearts, and to correlate the findings with the associated histological changes. Multiplestep paraffin sections of 72 biopsy samples were immunostained with antiserum to ET-1 and von Willebrand factor (factor VIII) using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method. ET-1 immunoreactivity was localized to vascular and endocardial endothelial cells, as well as to cardiomyocytes. The pattern of endothelial cell immunostaining with the ET-1 antiserum was similar to that of factor VIII. Previous biopsy sites and areas of granulation tissue appeared to have greater ET-1 immunoreactivity, particularly in sections immunostained with the ET-1 antiserum. There was a significant correlation between the presence of ET-1 immunoreactivity and fibrosis or granulation tissue in the biopsy specimens (P<0.03). There was no correlation between ET-1 immunoreactivity and the presence of cellular infiltrate, definitive rejection, or Quilty effect. In situ hybridization with radiolabeled RNA probes revealed expression of ET-1 mRNA in endothelial cells and myocytes, also in association with granulation tissue and fibrosis. No cellular reactivity was present in control sections stained with the ET-1 antiserum preadsorped with its synthetic peptide. The findings suggests a possible role for ET-1 in vascular regeneration and angiogenesis following myocardial injury.
Efficacy and safety of acamprosate in the treatment of detoxified alcohol-dependent patients

Background Acamprosate is a newly registered drug that appears to reduce alcohol-drinking in both animal models and clinical conditions. Method In order to assess the efficacy and safety of the drug in the treatment of detoxified alcoholics, we performed a 90-day double-blind trial comparing two dosages of acamprosate (1332 mg/day and 1998 mg/day). Results For all efficacy parameters, acamprosate appeared to be significantly superior to placebo, with a trend towards a better effect at the higher dosage. Furthermore, acamprosate appeared to be extremely safe. Conclusion This study confirms that acamprosate could be an interesting adjuvant for maintaining abstinence in detoxified alcoholics.
Comparing the efficacy of mature mud pack and hot pack treatments for knee osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of mature mud pack and hot pack therapies on patients with knee osteoarthritis. DESIGN This study was designed as a prospective, randomized-controlled, and single-blinded clinical trial. Twenty-seven patients with clinical and radiologic evidence of knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned into two groups and were treated with mature mud packs (n 15) or hot packs (n=12). Patients were evaluated for pain [based on the visual analog scale (VAS)], function (WOMAC, 6 min walking distance), quality of life [Short Form-36 (SF-36)], and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) at baseline, post-treatment, and 3 and 6~months after treatment. RESULTS The mud pack group shows a significant improvement in VAS, pain, stifness, and physical function domains of WOMAC. The difference between groups of pain and physical activity domains is significant at post-treatment in favor of mud pack. For a 6 min walking distance, mud pack shows significant improvement, and the difference is significant between groups in favor of mud pack at post-treatment and 3 and 6 months after treatment. Mud pack shows significant improvement in the pain subscale of SF-36 at the third month continuing until the sixth month after the treatment. Significant improvements are found for the social function, vitality/energy, physical role disability, and general health subscales of SF-36 in favor of the mud pack compared with the hot pack group at post-treatment. A significant increase is detected for IGF-1 in the mud pack group 3 months after treatment compared with the baseline, and the difference is significant between groups 3 months after the treatment. CONCLUSION Mud pack is a favorable option compared with hotpack for pain relief and for the improvement of functional conditions in treating patients with knee osteoarthritis.
ZACD: A Retrograde Panoramic Analysis among Indian Population with New System of Classification.

INTRODUCTION Zygomatic Air Cell Defect (ZACD) has been considered as a normal radiographic variant with a spare knowledge. This should be judged before any surgical procedure of the temporal region as lack of which can lead to infections of cranium and may other complications. AIM The present study was undertaken to estimate the prevalence and characteristics of ZACD and to propose a classification for the same using digital panoramic radiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 6825 digital panoramic radiographs were evaluated retrospectively of subjects aged between 4-90 years from both genders. The radiographs were evaluated by 4 (four) oral radiologists and the ZACD was recorded only when the decision was indisputable. RESULTS Out of 6825 digital panoramic radiographs evaluated ZACD was noticed in 133 subjects with an overall prevalence of 1.94%. A male predilection was noted in the present study with the maximum prevalence during the second, third and fourth decade of life and as the age increases its prevalence decreases. Most commonly it was found to be unilateral and the unilocular presentation being more common. CONCLUSION Most of the finding of the present study is in acceptance with those conducted previously, but some of the finding contradicts those in the previous ones. It can be because of low sample size of the previous studies. Moreover this study gives a new system to classify these defects to help diagnose the nature of the defect.
The effect of psychological interventions on quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of psychological interventions in improving quality of life for head and neck cancer patients. Five databases were systematically searched in July 2016. Studies were included if they reported original empirical data from intervention studies utilising psychological approaches (excluding psychoeducational-only interventions) and provided data on quality of life outcomes. Six studies, involving 185 participants, fulfilled eligibility criteria. Study designs included a case study, single-group designs, non-randomised controlled trials and one randomised controlled trial. Meta-analysis of two studies did not provide support for the effectiveness of psychological intervention improving total quality of life scores (or subscales) compared to control groups at end of intervention. Intervention studies evaluating psychological interventions for patients with head and neck cancer have produced insufficient data to support their effectiveness for improving quality of life. This review further highlights the limited evidence base within this area. Existing studies are based on small samples and are inconsistent regarding: intervention type, duration and intensity; follow-up measurement periods; and methodological quality. Further research, addressing these limitations, is required for more definitive conclusions to be drawn about the effectiveness of psychological interventions with this population.
Increase in fasting insulin and glucose over seven years with increasing weight and inactivity of young adults. The CARDIA Study. Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults.

To characterize 7-year changes in fasting serum insulin and glucose concentrations, the authors analyzed population-based data on 3,095 nondiabetic black and white men and women who were initially aged 18-30 years in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study. Measurements were made of fasting insulin (by an assay with little cross-reactivity to proinsulin) and fasting glucose on frozen samples from baseline and Year 7 examinations. Over the 7-year period, mean fasting insulin increased 10-25%, mean fasting glucose increased 7-10%, and mean body mass increased 7-12% across the four race-, sex-groups. The strongest predictor of both insulin increase and glucose increase was an increase in body mass over the 7 years. Adjusted for age and examination time period in race-, sex-specific repeated measures analyses, fasting insulin increased longitudinally by approximately 5 microU/mL per 5 kg/m2 increase in body mass index (p < 0.05). Adjusted for age and time period, fasting insulin increased over the 7 years by approximately 2.5 microU/mL per 0.08 unit increase in waist/hip ratio (p < 0.05), although this association was much stronger cross-sectionally. In a similar model, each 100 unit decrease in physical activity longitudinally predicted a 0.1-0.2 microU/mL increase in fasting insulin (p < 0.05 in black men only); this association was stronger and statistically significant in all race-, sex-groups cross-sectionally. Fasting insulin was not associated with energy intake either cross-sectionally or longitudinally, but age- and time-adjusted associations of insulin change with change in several nutrients (e.g., energy from fat) were statistically significant in whites. The authors conclude that marked increased in weight in young adulthood adversely alters glucose and insulin metabolism, and that, if not reversed, this may lead to harmful health consequences in later life.
Estrogen and progesterone receptor status determined by the Ventana ES 320 automated immunohistochemical stainer and the CAS 200 image analyzer in 236 early‐stage breast carcinomas: Prognostic significance

The quantitation of estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER and PgR) has become the standard of care in the evaluation of patients with primary breast carcinoma. It has been demonstrated that ER and PgR detected by immunohistochemical methods in formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded tissue can be quantified by computerized image analysis. In this study, ER and PgR levels were determined by using an automated immunohistochemistry stainer (Ventana ES 320) and an image analyzer (CAS 200) in a series of 236 patients with stage I/II carcinoma of the breast. The degree of correlation of the ER and PgR levels determined by the dextran‐coated charcoal method (DCC) with image analysis quantitation was high (r = 0.75). The agreement between both methods was 77% for ER and 73% for PgR. Hormone receptor levels were correlated with prognosis as determined by overall survival. An ER level of 30 fmol/mg as determined by image analysis was established to stratify the patient population most effectively into favorable and unfavorable prognostic groups (P = 0.003). An ER level of 20 fmol/mg for prognostic stratification reached statistical significance (P = 0.03). The DCC method was not able to stratify the patients into prognostic groups at the traditionally accepted cutpoint of 10 fmol/mg (P = 0.52). We conclude that when used in combination, automated immunohistochemistry and quantitative image analysis offer a favorable alternative to the DCC method in assessment of ER and PgR status in human mammary carcinoma. In addition, quantitative immunocytochemistry techniques may prove superior to the DCC method in specimens in which there is limited tumor volume (including fine‐needle aspirates), stromarich tumors, and early‐stage lesions including intraductal carcinoma. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Isolation and functional analysis of circulating dendritic cells from hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA‐positive and HCV RNA‐negative patients with chronic hepatitis C: role of antiviral therapy

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA has been localized in antigen‐presenting dendritic cells (DCs) from patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). DCs from patients with CHC also exhibit impaired functional capacities. However, HCV RNA in DCs and functional impairment of DCs in CHC might be independent or interrelated events. Moreover, the impact of antiviral therapy on the functions of DCs in CHC is not well documented. In order to address these issues, we took advantage of antiviral therapy in these patients. Ten patients with CHC, expressing HCV RNA in circulating DCs, became negative for HCV RNA in circulating DCs after therapy with interferon‐α and ribavirin for 4 weeks. The functions of DCs from HCV RNA+ patients (isolated before antiviral therapy) and HCV RNA– patients (isolated 4 weeks after antiviral therapy) were compared in allogenic mixed leucocyte reactions. In comparison to circulating DCs from normal control subjects, DCs from HCV RNA+ patients had a significantly decreased capacity to stimulate allogenic T lymphocytes (P < 0·01) and produce interleukin‐12 (P < 0·05). However, the allostimulatory capacity of circulating DCs from HCV RNA– patients was several‐fold higher compared to that of HCV RNA+ DCs from the same patient. DC from HCV RNA– patients also produced significantly higher levels of interleukin‐12 compared to HCV RNA+ DCs from the same patient (P < 0·01). Taken together, this study is the first to provide experimental evidence regarding the impact of HCV RNA and antiviral therapy on the function of DCs in patients with CHC.
Comparison of ELISA and Microscopy for detection of Cryptosporidium in stool.

BACKGROUND Cryptosporidiosis, a diarrheal disease caused by the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium spp. has become recognized as one of the most common causes of water borne diseases in humans. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To compare the sensitivity of ELISA and Microscopy for detection of Cryptosporidium in stool samples Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology of PT. B.D. Sharma PGIMS Rohtak, between January 2011 to june 2011 on 50 stool samples, which were processed for detection of cryptosporidial antigen by ELISA and detection of cysts by microscopy (Modified Ziehl and Nelsen staining). STUDY AND DESIGN This was a prospective study conducted in the Department of Microbiology in PT. BD Sharma, PGIMS, Rohtak, India. RESULT Out of total, 50 stool samples eighteen (36%) samples were found positive for Cryptosporidium cysts by microscopy in comparison to 3(6%) stool samples which were found positive for cryptosporidial antigen by ELISA. Samples found positive with ELISA were also positive with microscopy. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for ELISA was 16.7%, 100%, 100% and 68% respectively. CONCLUSION The study concludes that stool microscopic Modified acid fast staining is more sensitive method than ELISA for detection of Cryptosporidium in stool samples but the specificity of ELISA was more than microscopy.
A wide spectrum of dengue IgM and PCR positivity post‐onset of illness found in a large dengue 3 outbreak in Pakistan

During a large outbreak of dengue serotype 3 in Pakistan in 2006, multiple serum samples were routinely collected for laboratory testing. Two hundred ninety‐seven samples were collected between August and November 2006. Serological testing for dengue IgM was performed in Pakistan and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for dengue RNA detection and serotyping were performed in Hong Kong. Dengue‐specific IgM was detectable as early as 1 day, and dengue RNA remained detectable for up to 14 days, post‐onset of illness. Further statistical analysis found that IgM status (positive, negative, or equivocal) was significantly correlated to clinical (duration of illness, severity of patient‐reported arthralgia pain, the presence of any evidence of bleeding, a positive tourniquet test, shock), and other laboratory (platelet and total white cell counts) parameters. In contrast, the qualitative dengue RNA status (PCR positive or negative) was not statistically significantly correlated with any of these other parameters. The results for this population during this outbreak, obtained from single acute samples, demonstrate a wide range of intervals post‐onset of illness during which dengue IgM and dengue RNA may be detected. Interestingly, in this study, the dengue IgM positivity correlates more closely with significant clinical illness than the dengue RNA positivity, which may be a feature specific to this particular outbreak. J. Med. Virol. 80:2113–2121, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The influence of 7-OH methotrexate metabolite on clinical relevance of methotrexate determination.

BACKGROUND A modified high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of methotrexate (MTX) and its main metabolite 7-hydroxymethotrexate (7-OHMTX) and compared to the immunochemical fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA2) determination of methotrexate. METHODS Methotrexate was determined by HPLC with UV detection at 303 nm after precipitation of proteins with trichloroacetic acid. Fluorescence polarization immunoassays (FPIA2) of methotrexate were performed on the TDx FLx Immunoassay Analyzer. RESULTS Our data indicate good correlation between methotrexate levels > 1 micromol/L determined by HPLC and FPIA2. (r = 0.94, Spearman correlation coefficient). However, concentrations of methotrexate < 1 micromol/L measured by fluorescence polarization immunoassay were overestimated. CONCLUSIONS The concentration of MTX < 1 micromol/L are overestimated due to the cross reactivity with metabolites 7-OHMTX and 2,4-diamino-N10-methylpteroic acid (DAMPA). The cross reaction may affect the therapy and lead to relapse in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Mimicking Full-Duplex Relaying Using Half-Duplex Relays With Buffers

We propose a new relaying scheme referred to as space full-duplex max-max relay selection (SFD-MMRS), which uses relay selection and half-duplex (HD) relays with buffers to mimic full-duplex (FD) relaying. SFD-MMRS allows the selection of different relays for reception and transmission, which, in turn, enables the relays selected for reception and transmission to simultaneously receive and transmit. With SFD-MMRS, the prelog factor 1/2 is removed from the capacity expression, and better performance in terms of both throughput and outage probability is achieved. We provide a comprehensive analysis of the capacity and outage probability of the proposed scheme for a decode-and-forward (DF) protocol in Rayleigh fading. This analysis reveals that the proposed scheme provides better performance, compared with HD MMRS and HD best relay selection (BRS). Moreover, our simulation results show that the capacity of the proposed scheme with HD relays exceeds twice the capacity of BRS with HD relays for any number of relays. Furthermore, the proposed scheme provides full diversity and large signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) gains, compared with competing schemes in the literature.