Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Timing of neuroprognostication in postcardiac arrest therapeutic hypothermia*

Objective:Early assessment of neurologic recovery is often challenging in survivors of cardiac arrest. Further, little is known about when to assess neurologic status in comatose, postarrest patients receiving therapeutic hypothermia. We sought to evaluate timing of prognostication in cardiac arrest survivors who received therapeutic hypothermia. Design:A retrospective chart review of consecutive postarrest patients receiving therapeutic hypothermia (protocol: 24-hr maintenance at target temperature followed by rewarming over 8 hrs). Data were abstracted from the medical chart, including documentation during the first 96 hrs post arrest of “poor” prognosis, diagnostic tests for neuroprognostication, consultations used for determination of prognosis, and outcome at discharge. Setting:Two academic urban emergency departments. Patients:A total of 55 consecutive patients who underwent therapeutic hypothermia were reviewed between September 2005 and April 2009. Intervention:None. Results:Of our cohort of comatose postarrest patients, 59% (29 of 49) were male, and the mean age was 56 ± 16 yrs. Chart documentation of “poor” or “grave” prognosis occurred “early”: during induction, maintenance of cooling, rewarming, or within 15 hrs after normothermia in 57% (28 of 49) of cases. Of patients with early documentation of poor prognosis, 25% (seven of 28) had care withdrawn within 72 hrs post arrest, and 21% (six of 28) survived to discharge with favorable neurologic recovery. In the first 96 hrs post arrest: 88% (43 of 49) of patients received a head computed tomography, 90% (44 of 49) received electroencephalography, 2% (one of 49) received somatosensory evoked potential testing, and 71% (35 of 49) received neurology consultation. Conclusions:Documentation of “poor prognosis” occurred during therapeutic hypothermia in more than half of patients in our cohort. Premature documentation of poor prognosis may contribute to early decisions to withdraw care. Future guidelines should address when to best prognosticate in postarrest patients receiving therapeutic hypothermia.
Efficient tumor targeting by single‐domain antibody fragments of camels

The variable domain of functional heavy chain antibodies (VHH) devoid of light chains, found in camels, constitute the smallest intact antigen‐binding domain fragment. Two camel single‐domain fragments, cAb‐Lys2 and cAb‐Lys3, recognizing an overlapping epitope of lysozyme with a dissociation constant of 2 nM and 65 nM, respectively, and a bivalent cAb‐Lys3 were investigated for their ability to target transgenic tumors expressing lysozyme on their membrane. Biodistribution studies revealed that these non‐immunogenic monomeric and bivalent camel single‐domain antigen binders specifically target lysozyme‐expressing tumors and metastatic lesions. The excess of antibody is rapidly eliminated from the blood circulation and no cAb retention was observed in normal organs. The tumor to organ cAb‐ratios at 2 and 8 hr were in the (2.1–10.8):1 and (6.2–23.7):1 range, respectively. The degree and specificity of tumor retention is independent of the affinity of the recombinant camel single‐domain fragments for their antigen and from their univalent monomeric (15 kDa) or bivalent format (33 kDa). This study demonstrates the successful and specific in vivo targeting of tumors by camel single‐domain fragments. It may open perspectives for their future use as tumor‐targeting vehicle, due to their small size, soluble behaviour and because they are non‐immunogenic and interact with epitopes that are less antigenic for conventional antibodies. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Neoadjuvant Radiochemotherapy for Patients with Locally Advanced Esophagogastric Junction Adenocarcinoma.

SCOPE neoadjuvant RCT influence on early and long term postoperative outcomes in patients with locally advanced esophagogastric junction adenocarcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHOD Sixty two patients with locally advanced esophagogastric junction adenocarcinomas were treated at the Center of Excellence in Esophageal Surgery at St. Mary Hospital between 2010-2017. According to the Siewert classification, the group comprised of type I - 11 patients, type II - 18 patients and type III - 33 patients. Only 17 patients received preoperative RCT. The surgical treatment for the 62 resected patients was: abdominal extended gastrectomy - 40 patients, Ivor-Lewis - 13 patients, McKeown esophagogastrectomy (3 incisions) - 5 patients and transhiatal esophagectomy - 4 patients. Results: Postoperative morbidity was 46.77% and was mainly represented by fistulas in 17 patients and pulmonary complications such as pleurisy,pneumonia and ARDS in 12 patients. Fistula occurred in 15 cases: grade 1 - 2 patients, grade 2 - 10 patients, grade 3 - 5 patients. Postoperative mortality was 4.8% (p_value = 0.017980 Fisher's Exact Test). Downstaging was observed in 7 patients. I did not encounter statistically significant differences in long term survival. Conclusions: Neoadjuvant RCT had no impact on postoperative morbidity, but statistically influenced postoperative mortality.
Sense of Coherence and Physical Health. A Review of Previous Findings

The aim of this paper is to systematically review the available scientific publications published concerning the association between the sense of coherence (SOC), designed by Aaron Antonovsky (1923-1994), measured with the scales SOC-29 or SOC-13, and different aspects of health. The study is descriptive and integrates more than 50 scientific publications. The results are divided into the categories: Physical health; biological measures; psychological measures; health measures incorporating psychological aspects; stress; and behavioural aspects. The conclusion from this review is that SOC is highly associated with psychological aspects, including stress and behavioural aspects when SOC is operationalized with the prevailing scales. However, we were unable to show a strong association between SOC and physical health that Antonovsky had predicted. Therefore, we conclude that the SOC scale can only serve as a predictor for health that is measured by incorporating psychological aspects, while it is not capable of explaining physical health that is measured only by means of physical terms.
The occurrence of reactions and impairments in leprosy: experience in the leprosy control program of three provinces in northeastern Thailand, 1987-1995 [correction of 1978-1995]. I. Overview of the study.

AIM This paper is the first in a series of three reports on the occurrence of reactions and impairments in leprosy in Thailand. This first paper gives a general overview about the methodology of the study, some epidemiological observations, delay in detection, multidrug therapy (MDT) completion rates and relapses. The other two papers report on: II. Reactions and III. Neural and Other Impairments. This study was carried out from 1987 until 1995 in three neighboring provinces in northeastern Thailand. STUDY DESIGN A population-based, prospective cohort study. STUDY POPULATION All 640 newly diagnosed leprosy patients in the three provinces, registered between October 1987 and September 1990, were included [420 paucibacillary (PB) and 220 multibacillary (MB)]. This group was followed up (actively and passively) until the end of 1995. METHODS Patients were found by active and passive case finding. All new, untreated leprosy patients from the area were enrolled and started on the World Health Organization (WHO) MDT (WHO/MDT) regimen. A vertical control service was run by specialized leprosy workers. During treatment the patients received their monthly doses at home. During surveillance the patients were followed up once a year by a special team. Patients were questioned about delay in detection. Treatment completion rates were calculated. The occurrence of reactions and neural and other impairments at the beginning of, during and after treatment was ascertained. After treatment, the occurrence of late reactions and relapses was recorded. RESULTS A higher frequency of leprosy was found among the male patients, especially in the MB group. However, in the PB group a higher female/male ratio was found in the age group 55 years and older. There was an increase in the detection rate from the youngest age group to the age group 55 years and older, which showed the highest detection rate. Treatment completion rates were high, 95% in both in the PB and MB treatment groups. About 50% of the new cases reported a delay between onset and registration of 1 year or more. By 1995, 93% of the original patient group was still available for follow up. By the end of 1995, 8 PB and 2 MB relapses were recorded.
Assessment of battery energy storage systems for small-scale renewable energy integration

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) will most likely play an important role in enabling integration of small-scale renewable energy sources, from residential and smaller commercial enterprises, into the electricity networks. With benefits ranging from greater use of cleaner energy sources to potential cost savings, battery energy storage systems can ensure security and continuity of supply. This paper assesses battery storage technologies based on their technical capability and economic viability for effective renewable energy integration. An overview of current technologies and their performance characteristics is reviewed before modeling. Simulink models containing generic battery blocks and other standard blocks, form a basis of assessment for the technical capabilities. HOMER models for stand-alone photovoltaic systems with battery storage are evaluated for economic assessment.
REIT Leverage and Return Performance: Keep Your Eye on the Target

This paper examines U.S. REIT leverage decisions and their effects on risk and return. We find that REITs are highly levered relative to industrial firms, with an average market leverage of 46 percent over our 1990-2012 sample period. Using partial adjustment models, we further find that the speed of adjustment at which REITs close the gap between current debt levels and target leverage levels is 17 percent annually, with over-levered REITs tending to adjust more quickly to their target leverage ratios than under-levered REITs. We also find that REITs that are highly levered relative to the average REIT tend to underperform REITs with less debt in their capital structure. However, REITs that are highly levered relative to their target leverage tend to perform better on a risk-adjusted basis than under-levered REITs. Taken together, our results show that REIT leverage has significant return performance effects conditional on deviations from target leverage.
Micro-Parametric Variation and Negative Concord

0. Introduction The purpose of this chapter is to compare the properties of negative concord (NC) in various French-related dialects to analyze better the factors that condition and limit observed micro-parametric variations. We examine both synchronic and diachronic Standard French (SF) in relation to Quebec French (QF) and French-based Creoles (FBC). The French dialects in example (1) make use of apparently identical negative expressions (N-words, Laka 1991) and yet manifest strikingly different NC properties:
Exercise pathophysiology and sildenafil effects in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

Objectives Symptoms in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) predominantly occur during exercise, while haemodynamic assessment is generally performed at rest. We hypothesised that exercise imaging of RV function would better explain exercise limitation and the acute effects of pulmonary vasodilator administration than resting measurements. Methods Fourteen patients with CTEPH and seven healthy control subjects underwent cardiopulmonary testing to determine peak exercise oxygen consumption (VO2peak) and ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide (VE/VCO2) at the anaerobic threshold. Subsequently, cardiac MRI was performed at rest and during supine bicycle exercise with simultaneous invasive measurement of mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) before and after sildenafil. Results During exercise, patients with CTEPH had a greater increase in the ratio of mPAP relative to cardiac output (CO) than controls (6.7 (5.1–8.7) vs 0.94 (0.86–1.8) mm Hg/L/min; p<0.001). Stroke volume index (SVi) and RVEF increased during exercise in controls, but not in patients with CTEPH (interaction p<0.001). Sildenafil decreased the mPAP/CO slope and increased SVi and RVEF in patients with CTEPH (p<0.05) but not in controls. In patients with CTEPH, RVEF reserve correlated moderately with VO2peak (r=0.60; p=0.030) and VE/VCO2 (r=−0.67; p=0.012). By contrast, neither VO2peak nor VE/VCO2 correlated with resting RVEF. Conclusions Exercise measures of RV function explain much of the variance in the exercise capacity of patients with CTEPH while resting measures do not. Sildenafil increases SVi during exercise in patients with CTEPH, but not in healthy subjects.
Prism Adaptation Alters Electrophysiological Markers of Attentional Processes in the Healthy Brain

Neglect patients typically show a rightward attentional orienting bias and a strong disengagement deficit, such that they are especially slow in responding to left-sided targets after right-sided cues (Posner et al., 1984). Prism adaptation (PA) can reduce diverse debilitating neglect symptoms and it has been hypothesized that PA's effects are so generalized that they might be mediated by attentional mechanisms (Pisella et al., 2006; Redding and Wallace, 2006). In neglect patients, performance on spatial attention tasks improves after rightward-deviating PA (Jacquin-Courtois et al., 2013). In contrast, in healthy subjects, although there is evidence that leftward-deviating PA induces neglect-like performance on some visuospatial tasks, behavioral studies of spatial attention tasks have mostly yielded negative results (Morris et al., 2004; Bultitude et al., 2013). We hypothesized that these negative behavioral findings might reflect the limitations of behavioral measures in healthy subjects. Here we exploited the sensitivity of event-related potentials to test the hypothesis that electrophysiological markers of attentional processes in the healthy human brain are affected by PA. Leftward-deviating PA generated asymmetries in attentional orienting (reflected in the cue-locked N1) and in attentional disengagement for invalidly cued left targets (reflected in the target-locked P1). This is the first electrophysiological demonstration that leftward-deviating PA in healthy subjects mimics attentional patterns typically seen in neglect patients. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Prism adaptation (PA) is a promising tool for ameliorating many deficits in neglect patients and inducing neglect-like behavior in healthy subjects. The mechanisms underlying PA's effects are poorly understood but one hypothesis suggests that it acts by modulating attention. To date, however, there has been no successful demonstration of attentional modulation in healthy subjects. We provide the first electrophysiological evidence that PA acts on attention in healthy subjects by mimicking the attentional pattern typically reported in neglect patients: both a rightward attentional orienting bias (reflected in the cue-locked N1) and a deficit in attentional disengagement from the right hemispace (reflected in the target-locked P1). This study makes an important contribution to refining current models of the mechanisms underlying PA's cognitive effects.
In silico analysis of amino acid variation in human respiratory syncytial virus: insights into immunodiagnostics

BACKGROUND The highly contagious nature of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) and the gravity of its infection in newborns and vulnerable adults pose a serious public health problem. Thus, a rapid and sensitive diagnostic test for viral detection that can be implemented upon the first appearance of symptoms is needed. The genetic variation of the virus must be considered for immunodiagnostic purposes. OBJECTIVES To analyse HRSV genetic variation and discuss the possible consequences for capture immunoassay development. METHODS We performed a wide analysis of N, F and G protein variation based on the HRSV sequences currently available in the GenBank database. We also evaluated their similarity with homologous proteins from other viruses. FINDINGS The mean amino acid divergences for the N, F, and G proteins between HRSV-A and HRSV-B were determined to be approximately 4%, 10% and 47%, respectively. Due to their high conservation, assays based on the full-length N and F proteins may not distinguish HRSV from human metapneumovirus and other Mononegavirales viruses, and the full-length G protein would most likely produce false negative results due to its high divergence. MAIN CONCLUSIONS We have identified specific regions in each of these three proteins that have higher potential to produce specific results, and their combined utilisation should be considered for immunoassay development.
Academic self-concept of ability and cortisol reactivity

The present study aimed to clarify the relationship between a school-specific trait (academic self-concept of ability [ASCA]) and hormonal stress response by using a trait-compatible stressor (test). First, we determined 52 students' ASCA scores for biology and measured their salivary cortisol concentration before and after a biology test (experimental group, n = 28) or a free writing task (control group, n = 24). For participants who took the test, statistical analysis indicated a significant negative correlation between ASCA score and cortisol response. In contrast, the control group showed a decrease in cortisol concentrations between test times and no correlation between cortisol concentration and ASCA scores were found. These findings indicated an interaction between ASCA scores and hormonal stress response when an academic-related stressor is present. Furthermore, these variables might influence each other adversely: high cortisol concentrations during a test situation may lead to greater feelings of insecurity, resulting in low ASCA scores and awareness of these low scores may lead to a further increase in cortisol, creating a vicious cycle.
Differential Neuroprotection by Cyclosporin A and FK506 Following Ischemia Corresponds with Differing Abilities to Inhibit Calcineurin and the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition

Transient global or forebrain ischemia leads to severe brain damage following delayed neuronal cell death. We previously reported that cyclosporin A (CsA) provides near total suppression of brain damage in rat forebrain ischemia when allowed to pass the blood brain barrier, whereas Tacrolimus (FK506) is considerably less effective. We demonstrate herein that when administered prior to ischemic insult, both immunosuppressants equally block calcineurin, a type 2B Ser/Thr phosphatase, and efficiently inhibit dephosphorylation of pro-apoptotic protein Bad. CsA demonstrates more potent anti-ischemic effects than FK506, partially attributable to amelioration of mitochondrial damage as assayed in vivo and in vitro. These results suggest that pathways including calcineurin and cyclophilins, particularly mitochondrial cyclophilin D, play pivotal roles in ischemic brain damage. Since previous results have shown that CsA is efficacious also when administered after focal ischemia, the present findings give hints to clinical applications for new drugs for the treatment of ischemic damage in the brain as well as in the heart and liver.
Prosocial development.

The foregoing review has been organised in terms of five developmental hypotheses--let us now summarise the evidence bearing on each hypothesis. The first hypothesis, that a general prosocial impulse arises in the first year of life, is well-supported by the data. Some dispute remains about the point at which children are capable of responding sympathetically to companions in distress, with some investigators claiming that this takes place around the time of the second birthday (Kochanska, 1993), others placing this achievement earlier in development (Hoffman, 1975). The second, more controversial hypothesis, that the frequency of prosocial behaviour declines thereafter, is supported by cross-sectional data and by the burgeoning literature on the ways in which prosocial responding comes to be regulated cognitively and emotionally during the preschool years. Actual evidence for a decline and tests of hypotheses that the decline is associated with the acquisition of particular "display rules" and the regulation of empathic responding and guilt requires appropriately designed longitudinal studies. In general, our understanding of the normal course of prosocial development is limited due to the paucity of longitudinal data and the tendency of particular investigators to concentrate on single constructs--empathy, sharing, moral judgement or whatever--and not examine the interrelations of different types of prosocial behaviours in the same sample, tested under the same conditions. It is also not completely clear whether findings about empathic responding in experimental procedures (e.g. Miller et al., 1989) can be used to explain age changes in the selective display of prosocial behaviour under natural conditions. However, it is clear that future studies of prosocial development must examine the contributions of empathy, guilt and children's awareness of moral and conventional standards to children's overt prosocial actions with friends and family members. The contribution of children's close personal relationships, particularly their attachment relationships and close friendships, to prosocial behaviours, deserves increased attention. The third hypothesis was a claim that, during the childhood years, prosocial behaviour becomes differentiated in terms of gender, with females and males showing their prosocial tendencies in qualitatively different ways. Evidence bearing on this point is beset with measurement problems; it seems clear that girls report more empathy and are reputed by others to be more prosocial than boys, but direct observations do not always support such conclusions. Much more information is needed about ways in which boys in particular are prosocial--for example, co-operating with teammates whilst competing against other teams, in athletic contests. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Uterine Cervical Inflammatory Cytokines, Interleukin‐6 and ‐8, as Predictors of Miscarriage in Recurrent Cases

Inflammatory changes frequently occur in cases of second trimester miscarriage or pre‐term delivery, but little attention has been paid to this association with recurrent miscarriage. As interleukin‐6 and interleukin‐8 are inflammatory cytokines reported to be associated with bacterial vaginosis, intrauterine infections, and pre‐term delivery, we here investigated whether they might have predictive value for spontaneous abortion in recurrent cases.
Unique organization of Leptospira interrogans rRNA genes

We cloned Sau3AI fragments containing the rRNA genes for Leptospira interrogans serovar canicola strain Moulton in the BamHI site of lambda EMBL3 bacteriophage DNA. Physical maps of the fragments were constructed, and the locations of the rRNA genes were determined by Southern blot hybridization and S1 protection. Each fragment of the 23S or the 16S rRNA gene contained at least one copy of the 23S or the 16S sequence. Genomic hybridization showed that there were two genes for the 23S rRNA and the 16S rRNA but only one gene for the 5S rRNA on the chromosome of L. interrogans. The results revealed the important fact that each rRNA gene is located far from the other rRNA genes. Our findings, accordingly, also suggest that these rRNA genes are expressed independently in this organism.