Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Geriatric‐Anesthesiologic Program To Reduce Acute Confusional States in Elderly Patients Treated for Femoral Neck Fractures

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a geriatrk‐anesthesiologic intervention program for the prevention and treatment of acute confusional states (ACS) in elderly patients treated for femoral neck fractures. The intervention program was based on the results of previous prospective studies in similar patient populations. The outcome of the intervention, comprising 103 patients, was compared with that of an earlier study comprising 111 patients. The intervention program consisted of pre‐ and post‐operative geriatric assessments, oxygen therapy, early surgery, prevention and treatment of peri‐operative blood pressure falls and treatment of post‐operative complications. The incidence of ACS was lower, 47.6%, in the intervention study compared with 61.3% (P < 0.05) in the control study. Furthermore, the ACS that occurred in the intervention study was less severe and of shorter duration than that in the control study. The incidence of post‐operative decubital ulcers, severe falls, and urinary retention was also lower. The mean duration of orthopedic ward stay was 17.4 days in the control study and 11.6 days in the intervention study (P < 0.001). It can be concluded that the intervention program reduced the incidence, severity, and duration of ACS which resulted in a shortened orthopedic ward stay.
Influence of Weather Conditions on the Onset of Spontaneous Pneumothorax in the Region of Sousse (Tunisia): Analysis of Time Series

Introduction Weather conditions were implicated in the onset of spontaneous pneumothorax (SP). Aim Investigate the influence of weather conditions on the onset of SP. Methods A total of 200 patients with SP in Sousse (Tunisia) were enrolled in the study between January 2010 and December 2014. An analysis of two time series (meteorological data and pneumothorax cases) was performed. Data on weather conditions were collected daily throughout the 5-year period. Results A comparison of the mean temperature between days with and without SP showed significantly higher temperatures during the days with SP. A decrease of 1% in the relative humidity one day lag (D-1) was associated with an increase in the risk of SP by 1.6% (p=0,02). The occurrence of clusters was associated significantly with higher temperature averages on the same days. This same observation was made regarding the mean duration of sunshine two days before the cluster onset (p = 0.05). The occurrence of storms two days before clusters was also significantly associated with a risk multiplied by 1.96. Conclusion There was a correlation between clusters of spontaneous pneumothorax and weather conditions in the region of Sousse-Tunisia.
Title-Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia Coli Urinary Isolates From Cases of UTI Dr .

Multiple resistance to antimicrobial drugs arising in Escherichia coli isolates may complicate therapeutic management of urinary tract infection (UTI). A study was undertaken to assess the multidrug resistance (MDR) among urinary E. coli isolates. We tested 12 antimicrobial drugs against 570 isolates from outpatients attening in a tertiary-care teaching hospital in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India. 66% (376/576) of the isolates were resistant to three or more different classes of agents, and were considered to present MDR. Among the isolates, 73.0%, 65.0%, 58.0%, 58.0% and 31.0% were resistant to tetracycline, ampicillin, cephalothin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) and norfloxacin, Aztreonam respectively. The predominant phenotype among the MDR isolates presented is ampicillin, TMP/SMX and tetracycline resistance. The high prevalence of drug resistance among patients with UTI calls for continuous surveillance to assure effective control of this infection.
p38/SAPK2 controls gap junction closure in astrocytes

Astrocyte gap junction communication (GJC) is thought to contribute to death signal propagation following central nervous system injury, noteworthy in some ischemia/anoxia models. The inhibition of p38/stress‐activated protein kinase 2 (p38/SAPK2) by a pyrimidyl imidazole derivative has been reported to reduce the extent of the lesion area after cerebral ischemia. Therefore, interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), which contributes to stroke‐induced brain injury and activates p38/SAPK2, and hyperosmolarity induced by sorbitol, a potent stimulus of p38/SAPK2 in non‐neuronal cells, were used to investigate a possible involvement of p38/SAPK2 in GJC modulation in mouse cultured astrocytes. Both stimuli inhibited dye coupling within minutes. The IL‐1β effect was transient, while that of sorbitol lasted up to 90 min. Both stimuli induced a rapid p38/SAPK2 activation, the kinetic of which matched that of induction of dye coupling inhibition. Immunocytochemical studies showed that IL‐1β and sorbitol induced a p38/SAPK2 translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. The pharmacological agent SB203580 specifically blocked p38/SAPK2 activation, cytoplasmic translocation and reversed the IL‐1β and sorbitol‐induced inhibition of GJC. Further characterization of the p38/SAPK2 mode of action on GJC, performed with sorbitol, revealed an increased phosphorylation of protein kinase C (PKC) substrates abolished by both PKC inhibitors and SB203580. Expression and serine phosphorylation of connexin 43, the main component of astrocyte gap junctions, were unchanged, suggesting the existence of additional intracellular signaling mechanisms modulating the channel gating. Altogether, these results demonstrate that p38/SAPK2 is a central mediator of IL‐1β and sorbitol inhibitory actions on GJC and establish PKC among the distal effectors of p38/SAPK2. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Methods for Measuring Clinical Pain in Humans

The concept of pain being a measurable phenomenon distinct from other sensations had its origins in the pioneering work of Weber and Fechner well over a century ago. However, though pain is virtually a universal experience of mankind, it is uncommonly difficult to define; and progress in expressing its dimensions in quantitative terms has been evident only in relatively recent years. The methods which have evolved have largely reflected the primary interests of the investigator, or therapist, and the clinical setting in which the studies have been made. Although it had long been recognized that pain consists of both cognitive and affective components, most of the earlier systematic investigations focused on measuring the sensory dimensions of pain under conditions which were meant to minimize the reaction component of pain. Large numbers of experimentally induced pain techniques were developed to measure pain thresholds and pain tolerance. Among the leading proponents of this approach were HARDY, WOLFF and GOODELL (HARDY et al. 1952) whose Do1 Scale of Pain Intensity was felt to confirm Fechner’s law. Many of these early studies formed the foundation for the later development of more highly sophisticated psychophysical techniques, but as diagnostic tools and measures of the effectiveness ofdrugs and other methods of controlling clinical pain, they had many shortcomings. Meanwhile, BEECHER (1959), who as an anesthesiologist was more concerned with the measurement ofpain in terms of its relief, questioned the assumption that pain is the same whatever its origin and that the only characteristics of interest are intensity and duration. Echoing WINKLER’S (1952) statement that “a ‘stimulus’ cannot be defined in terms of its own properties alone, since its capacity to evoke responses is determined in part by antecedent events, and by particular experimental arrangements”, BEECHER (1959) felt that conditioning and all the “elaborate mechanism of the reaction component” served to cast doubt that pain thresholds can ever be measures of pure pain perception. He felt that variations of great degree in the reaction part are determined by the significance of the cause of pain, and that the significance of pain controls the field of usefulness for the study of pain of a given origin. Beecher’s major contribution was in establishing scientifically acceptable principles for evaluating the effects of drugs to relieve pain, the emphasis being on achieving objectivity by appropriate experimental designs and controls in the clinical situation. While this approach has had less impact on modern psychometric techniques than have the experimentally induced pain methods, it has, by contrast, proved to be a more reliable means of detecting and assaying clinically effective analgesic drugs.
Comparison of optimum and sub-optimum turbo decoding schemes in 3rd generation cdma2000 mobile system

The performance of optimum and sub-optimum turbo decoding schemes in the 3rd generation cdma2000 mobile system is evaluated in this paper. The turbo code is recommended as a channel coding scheme in cdma2000 for data rates higher than 14.4 kbps due to its superior performance over the conventional convolutional code. We compare the performance of turbo codes using optimum log-MAP decoder and sub-optimum max-log-MAP and SOVA decoding schemes in direct spread forward link (from BS to MS). Different multipath channel environments are studied with Monte-Carlo simulations. The effect of channel estimation is also addressed. The performance of turbo codes is compared to conventional convolutional coding. It is shown that in practical system the performance of sub-optimum max-log-MAP decoder is comparable to log-MAP.
On the mechanism of accumulation of cholestanol in the brain of mice with a disruption of sterol 27-hydroxylase

The rare disease cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is due to a lack of sterol 27-hydroxylase (CYP27A1) and is characterized by cholestanol-containing xanthomas in brain and tendons. Mice with the same defect do not develop xanthomas. The driving force in the development of the xanthomas is likely to be conversion of a bile acid precursor into cholestanol. The mechanism behind the xanthomas in the brain has not been clarified. We demonstrate here that female cyp27a1−/− mice have an increase of cholestanol of about 2.5- fold in plasma, 6-fold in tendons, and 12-fold in brain. Treatment of cyp27a1−/− mice with 0.05% cholic acid normalized the cholestanol levels in tendons and plasma and reduced the content in the brain. The above changes occurred in parallel with changes in plasma levels of 7α-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one, a precursor both to bile acids and cholestanol. Injection of a cyp27a1−/− mouse with 2H7-labeled 7α-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one resulted in a significant incorporation of 2H7-cholestanol in the brain. The results are consistent with a concentration-dependent flux of 7α-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one across the blood-brain barrier in cyp27a1−/− mice and subsequent formation of cholestanol. It is suggested that the same mechanism is responsible for accumulation of cholestanol in the brain of patients with CTX.
Blood Leukocyte and Glutamine Fluctuations After Eccentric Exercise

Skeletal muscle, as a producer of glutamine, is important for lymphocytes, monocytes and macrophages. Exercise-induced muscle damage could burden the immune system by concurrently eliciting a local inflammatory response and decreasing glutamine availability. The aim of this study was to determine whether blood leukocyte and glutamine concentrations were affected in individuals with high serum creatine kinase (CK) activity (indirect indication of muscle damage) compared to those with no change in CK. Twelve females performed maximal eccentric resistance exercise using one arm and one leg. Blood leukocyte subsets and glutamine were measured at 24 and 0 h pre-exercise, and post-exercise at intervals up to 9 d post-exercise. Eleven subjects were placed in High (n = 6) and Low CK (n = 5) groups. Lymphocytes, (total, natural killer, and T), monocytes, and granulocytes did not change significantly in either group, at any time. Whole blood glutamine concentration decreased (p < 0.05) from 437 microM pre-exercise to 332 microM 3 d post-exercise in both groups. The decrease in glutamine suggests that the metabolism of the muscle may be affected by this exercise, however, the occurrence of this decrease in both groups suggests that this change was not a response to muscle damage.
Consequences of inappropriate initial empiric parenteral antibiotic therapy among patients with community-acquired intra-abdominal infections in Spain

To assess the association between inappropriate antibiotic therapy and clinical outcomes for complicated community-acquired intra-abdominal infections in Spain, patient records from October 1998 to August 2002 in 24 hospitals were reviewed. Initial empiric therapy was classified appropriate if all isolates were sensitive to at least 1 of the antibiotics administered. Multivariate analyses were performed to assess associations between appropriateness of therapy and patient outcomes. Healthcare resource use was measured as hospital length of stay (LOS) and d on intravenous antibiotic therapy. A total of 425 patients were included. Of these, 387 (91%) received appropriate initial empiric therapy. Patients on inappropriate therapy were less likely to have clinical success (79% vs 26%, p<0.001), more likely to require additional antibiotic therapy (40% vs 7%, p<0.01) and more likely to be re-hospitalized within 30 d of discharge (18% vs 3%, p<0.01). Multivariate analyses also showed that inappropriate therapy was associated with an almost 16% increase in LOS (p<0.05) and 26% in d of intravenous antibiotic therapy compared with appropriate therapy (p<0.05). Inappropriate initial antibiotic therapy was associated with a significantly higher proportion of unsuccessful patient outcomes (including death, re-operation, re-hospitalization or additional parental antibiotic therapies), increased length of stay and length on therapy.
ADRENAL GROWTH IS CONTROLLED BY EXPRESSION OF SPECIFIC PRO-OPIOMELANOCORTIN SERINE PROTEASE IN THE OUTER ADRENAL CORTEX

As previous work had shown that extreme N-terminal fragments of the ACTH precursor pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) not containing γ-melanotropin (γ-MSH) were active adrenal mitogens1 but an antiserum raised against γ-MSH paradoxically also inhibited adrenal growth we proposed that the adrenal mitogen is processed from pro-γ-MSH by a neurally controlled protease at the growing adrenal.2 To this end we have characterised a novel serine protease (named adrenal secretory protease (AsP) as Psort predicted a leader motif) which is expressed at the glomerulosa/fasciculata boundary where mitosis takes place.3 The expression of AsP was also found to be essential for mitosis of the adrenal cortical tumor Y1 cell-line in POMC containing media and 3D homology modeling revealed the presence of a catalytic pocket flanked by the classical His/Asp/Ser motifs. An usual feature of the model was a cluster of arginine residues on the underside of the protease suggesting that this basically charged face would tend to retain it on the cell surface on secretion-immunocytochemistry using an antiserum raised against a synthetic peptide spanning residues 1–25 of AsP showed that this was the case for Y1 cells. Specificity of AsP (affinity purified from Y1 media) was demonstrated by its inability to cleave model substrates for either trypsin or pro-hormone converting enzymes but was able to cleave an internally quenched POMC (44–55) model peptide. Interestingly mass spectral analysis of products of the latter predicts that the protease cleaves between the bond between Val52 and Met53 suggesting the natural adrenal mitogen is POMC (1–52).
The reliability of mire water pH measurements—A standard sampling protocol and implications to ecological theory

The frequency distributions of mire water pH are often bimodal in data sets covering the poorrich gradient in vegetation. Area-representative data sets of pH could indicate ecologically meaningful differences between regions, independent of differences in mire classification. Comparisons of pH results are, however, hindered by differences in water sampling methods. We conducted a field survey to assess variation of water pH related to the poor-rich gradient, the water-table-depth gradient, time of day, aeration of samples, and different methods of obtaining water samples. Considerable diurnal and fine-scale vertical and horizontal variation of pH was found in samples obtained by depressing from bryophyte capitula or directly from open water surfaces. A diurnal pattern of lower pH at night and higher at day was found, typically with a 0.5–1.0 pH unit range. Open surface-water samples showed a wide range of fine-scale horizontal variation (pH 4.6–8.0) inScorpidium-flarks, while pipe-well samples were less variable both in unaerated samples (pH 5.0–5.3) and in aerated samples (pH 6.6–7.3). The frequency distributions of pH of both unaerated and aerated pipe-well samples were bimodal in a data set covering the transition from rich to poor fen. The higher mode was located at pH 5.6 for unaerated samples and at pH 7.6 for aerated samples. The results conformed to the hypothesis of a bimodal frequency distribution of water pH along the poor-rich gradient. A combination of measurements from unaerated and aerated water samples obtained from pipe wells is suggested as a standard method for comparable pH measurements in mires.
Dense Dielectric Patch Array Antenna With Improved Radiation Characteristics Using EBG Ground Structure and Dielectric Superstrate for Future 5G Cellular Networks

In this paper, a new dense dielectric (DD) patch array antenna prototype operating at 28 GHz for future fifth generation (5G) cellular networks is presented. This array antenna is proposed and designed with a standard printed circuit board process to be suitable for integration with radio frequency/microwave circuitry. The proposed structure employs four circular-shaped DD patch radiator antenna elements fed by a 1-to-4 Wilkinson power divider. To improve the array radiation characteristics, a ground structure based on a compact uniplanar electromagnetic bandgap unit cell has been used. The DD patch shows better radiation and total efficiencies compared with the metallic patch radiator. For further gain improvement, a dielectric layer of a superstrate is applied above the array antenna. The measured impedance bandwidth of the proposed array antenna ranges from 27 to beyond 32 GHz for a reflection coefficient (S11) of less than -10 dB. The proposed design exhibits stable radiation patterns over the whole frequency band of interest, with a total realized gain more than 16 dBi. Due to the remarkable performance of the proposed array, it can be considered as a good candidate for 5G communication applications.
Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Complex 2 (mTORC2) Negatively Regulates Toll-like Receptor 4-mediated Inflammatory Response via FoxO1*

Activation of the PI3K pathway plays a pivotal role in regulating the inflammatory response. The loss of mTORC2 has been shown to abrogate the activation of Akt, a critical downstream component of PI3K signaling. However, the biological importance of mTORC2 in innate immunity is currently unknown. Here we demonstrate that rictor, a key component of mTORC2, plays a critical role in controlling the innate inflammatory response via its ability to regulate FoxO1. Upon LPS stimulation, both rictor-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and rictor knockdown dendritic cells exhibited a hyperinflammatory phenotype. The hyperinflammatory phenotype was due to a defective Akt signaling axis, because both rictor-deficient MEFs and rictor knockdown dendritic cells exhibited attenuated Akt phosphorylation and kinase activity. Analysis of downstream Akt targets revealed that phosphorylation of FoxO1 was impaired in rictor-deficient cells, resulting in elevated nuclear FoxO1 levels and diminished nuclear export of FoxO1 upon LPS stimulation. Knockdown of FoxO1 attenuated the hyperinflammatory phenotype exhibited by rictor-deficient MEFs. Moreover, FoxO1 deletion in dendritic cells attenuated the capacity of LPS to induce inflammatory cytokine expression. These findings identify a novel signaling pathway by which mTORC2 regulates the TLR-mediated inflammatory response through its ability to regulate FoxO1.
The Belle Gibson scandal: The rise of lifestyle gurus as micro-celebrities in low-trust societies

The Belle Gibson scandal that broke in 2015 is a testament to the growing phenomenon of lifestyle gurus in the 21st century. In this article, our aim is not to explain the psychology behind Gibson’s lies. Rather, we focus on the social, cultural and technological conditions that enabled Gibson’s persona to flourish and their impact on contemporary understandings of the self. Lifestyle gurus embody the para-social, trading off the appeal of intimacy, authenticity and integrity. We demonstrate how social media have increased the levels of emotional investment, trust and attention capital in para-social relationships by providing ubiquitous access to native experts and creating the platform to achieve influence and micro-celebrity status. Finally, we contend that the growing number of lifestyle gurus providing the public with health advice and scientific knowledge points to the need to examine critically the social and cultural landscape that enables micro-celebrities to emerge.
Effect of cement volume and placement on mechanical-property restoration resulting from vertebroplasty.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Concern exists that vertebral bodies augmented with cement placed laterally may be at risk of collapse on the nonaugmented side. The purpose of the current study was to determine if placing the cement laterally rather than centrally resulted in risk of collapse on the nonaugmented side. METHODS Vertebral bodies (L2-L5) were harvested from eight osteoporotic female cadaver spines. Simulated vertebral-body compression fractures were created and stabilized by injecting 3.5 or 7.0 mL of cement centrally or laterally. Vertebral bodies were recrushed to measure their augmented strength and stiffness. Anterior, posterior, left, and right lateral heights were measured initially, after augmentation, and after recompression. RESULTS Lateral and central 3.5-mL injections of cement restored strength, whereas 7.0-mL injections significantly increased strength compared with initial values. The stiffness of vertebral bodies receiving central 3.5-mL injections was significantly less than it was initially, although the stiffness of bodies receiving 3.5-mL laterally was not significantly different from initial values. Initial and posttreatment stiffness values did not significantly differ in vertebral bodies receiving 7.0-mL, lateral or central injections. Vertebral heights did not significantly differ between the augmented and the final compression states in any location. Height loss between central and lateral injections did not differ significantly. CONCLUSION Vertebral bodies in which cement is placed laterally do not appear to be at risk for collapse on the unaugmented side.