Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prospective analysis of surgical outcomes in patients undergoing decompressive laminectomy and posterior instrumentation for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of wide surgical decompression and concomitant posterior instrumentation in patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis. METHODS Thirty-seven consecutive patients (14 men, 23 women; mean age 64 years; range 36 to 82 years) with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis were prospectively evaluated following surgical treatment with spinal decompression and concomitant instrumented posterior fusion. The mean duration of symptoms before surgery was 24 months (range 12 to 60 months). Preoperatively, six patients had degenerative spondylolisthesis (grade 1) and two patients had degenerative lumbar scoliosis. Decompression was performed at one level in four patients, at two levels in 16 patients, at three levels in 11 patients, and at four levels in six patients. Discectomy was also performed in seven patients. Preoperatively and postoperatively, the patients were assessed by the Oswestry Disability Index and a visual analog scale for overall pain (leg and low back pain). The satisfaction level of the patients for surgical outcome was also questioned. The mean follow-up period was 4.6 years (range 1 to 7 years). RESULTS Preoperatively, the mean Oswestry Disability Index score was 60.5% and the mean overall pain score was 7.5. Postoperatively, the Oswestry Disability Index score significantly decreased to 36.8% and the overall pain score significantly decreased to 3.5 (p<0.001). Preoperative and postoperative walking distances of the patients were as follows, respectively: more than 1,000 meters (6 and 14 patients), 500 to 1,000 meters (5 and 7 patients), less than 500 meters (26 and 16 patients). Twenty patients did not use any analgesics and eight patients used analgesics on a weekly basis. Twenty-six patients were satisfied with the surgical outcome, nine patients were somewhat satisfied, and two patients were dissatisfied. Overall, the outcomes were excellent to good in 22 patients (59.5%). None of the patients required revision surgery. CONCLUSION Most patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis benefit from decompressive surgery. Patients with long-standing preoperative symptoms and concomitant diseases often have poor results and are less satisfied with the postoperative outcome.
Activity of carbapenem BMS-181139 against Pseudomonas aeruginosa is not dependent on porin protein D2

The broad antipseudomonal spectrum of the carbapenem BMS-181139 includes clinical strains and laboratory mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa that are resistant to imipenem. Unlike other known carbapenems (meropenem, panipenem, biapenem, and BO-2727), which have reduced activity against imipenem-resistant strains of P. aeruginosa, BMS-181139 was equally active against imipenem-susceptible (D2-sufficient) and imipenem-resistant (D2-deficient) strains. Conversely, imipenem and meropenem activities were the same against the susceptible parental strains and their BMS-181139-resistant mutants. Whereas basic amino acids antagonized the antipseudomonal activities of imipenem and meropenem, they had no effect on the activity of BMS-181139. These results suggest that the uptake of BMS-181139 into pseudomonal cells occurs by a non-D2 pathway. Compared with imipenem and meropenem, BMS-181139 may have a slightly higher affinity for penicillin-binding protein 2 (PBP-2) of P. aeruginosa. The rates of resistance development to imipenem, meropenem, and BMS-181139 in P. aeruginosa strains were similar; resistance occurred at frequencies of approximately 10(-7) to 10(-8). Resistance to BMS-181139 in P. aeruginosa is presumed to be caused by its diminished permeability since no change in their penicillin-binding protein affinities or beta-lactamase levels could be detected. In summary, BMS-181139 is a new carbapenem which differs from other known carbapenems in its lack of cross-resistance with imipenem. This difference could be explained by the permeation of BMS-181139 through a non-D2 channel, compared to the preferential uptake of other carbapenems by the D2 porin.
Keeping Promises: Translating Basic Research Into New Spinal Cord Injury Therapies

Abstract Summary: Centuries of medical wisdom-namely that spinal cord injury (SCI) treatmentwas limited to caretaking until the patients inevitably succumbed to complications-has given way to tremendous medical and research advancements. The prognosis for survival after SCI improved significantly after World War II, leading to the largest population of people aging with chronic SCI in history. Despite the general Iack of optimism for functional recovery after SCI, the spinal cord has proven to be one of the most attractive systems for studying central nervaus system plasticity. Predictions of clinical applications derived from basic findings now routinely accompany reports of evidence for spinal axon regeneration. This has led to great debate in the SCI research community about the Ievei and quality of evidence needed to select truly promising candidate therapies. This article reviews the basis for optimism in the new understanding of the processes of degeneration after SCI and the mechanisms of regeneration. The emphasis is on neuroprotective and reparative strategies ernerging from the animal literature, and on the steps remaining to be taken to translate these into effective clinical trials of new therapies. Examples of the translational process in related areas of brain injury and strake are cited, as weil as the specific issues relating to the needs of individuals with SCI.
Specific 5' flanking sequences are required for faithful initiation of in vitro transcription of the ovalbumin gene.

An in vitro system [Weil, P. A. , Luse, D. S. , Segall, J. & Roeder, R. G. (1979) Cell 18, 469-484 and Manley, J. L. , Fire, A. , Cano, A. , Sharp, P. A. & Gefter, M. L. , (1980) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 77, 3855-3859] was adapted for studying initiation of transcription of the ovalbumin gene. The DNA template was a cloned ovalbumin gene fragment that contained 5' flanking sequences, the first structural sequence region, and a portion of the first intervening sequence. A HeLa cell crude extract was used as the source of RNA polymerase and initiation factors. Correct initiation was judged by the sizes of the transcription products generated from ovalbumin templates truncated at various positions before the 3' end of the gene. Transcription of the specific product was carried out by RNA polymerase II, as judged from alpha-amanitin sensitivity. A series of deletion mutants was constructed by trimming 5' flanking sequences of the ovalbumin DNA template by using exonuclease III. The DNAs generated were then cloned in pBR322 and used as templates to determine which sequences were necessary for initiation of transcription. Specific initiation of the ovalbumin gene was unaffected by deletion of all but 61 nucleotides of the 5' flanking sequence but completely abolished by deletion of all but 26 nucleotides of 5' flanking sequence. Thus, a region between 61 and 26 nucleotides upstream from the cap site, which includes the Hogness box (T-A-T-A-T-A-T) at position 32-26, is essential for the correct initiation of the ovalbumin gene. Nevertheless, natural DNA fragments containing false Hogness boxes (T-A-T-A-A-A-A and T-A-T-A-T-A-T) not normally located in the immediate 5' flanking region of an authentic gene did not serve as promoters for initiation of transcription. These results suggest that the Hogness box is essential, but not sufficient, for specific initiation of RNA synthesis.
Computed Tomographic Estimation of Relationship between Renal Volume and Body Weight of an Individual.

INTRODUCTION Knowledge of normal range of size and volume of abdominal organs plays a vital role in clinical practices as various medical conditions affects the abdominal organs causing alteration in their dimensions. AIM The present retrospective study was done to establish the normal range of renal volume in study population and to see the correlation between renal volume and body weight of an individual. MATERIALS AND METHODS Computed tomographic evaluations of kidneys were performed on 140 kidneys of 70 individuals who had undergone abdominal CT scan for indications other than renal disease. We also excluded the patients diagnosed to have renal cysts, hydronephrosis or other renal diseases on CT examination. Renal length, width and depth were measured. Renal volume of both the kidneys was calculated by formula Kidney Volume (KV) =Л/6 x Renal length (L) x Renal width (W) x Renal depth (D). Various body parameters like age, weight, sex were also recorded in the data sheet. RESULTS Mean renal volume for the right kidney was 83.26±18.33 cm3 for females (33 females out of 70) and 103.92±23.27 cm3 for males (37 males out of 70). However, mean renal volume for the left kidney was 89.17±19.41 cm3 in females and 106±26.79 cm3 in males. Left renal volume was apparently more than right renal volume, though statistically insignificant. In males, mean kidney volume was found to be 104.96 cm3 whereas in females, it was found to be 86.21 cm3. Kidney volume was found to be significantly greater in males than females among study population (t=3.79, p=0.0001). Renal volume significantly correlated with age and body weight of an individual. CONCLUSION This study is a sincere attempt to establish a normograms of renal volume in study population. For the clinical assessment of renal pathologies, knowledge of renal volume is a vital parameter. In study group, most significant parameter associated with renal volume is body weight which can be used as an adjunct while evaluating renal pathological conditions. Of all the radiological imaging techniques, abdominal coronal computed tomography scan provides most accurate renal measurements.
Polypharmacy with antipsychotic drugs in patients with schizophrenia: trends in multiple health care systems.

PURPOSE Patterns of pharmacologic treatment in U.S. outpatients with schizophrenia across multiple health care settings were investigated. METHODS Antipsychotic drug utilization by patients with schizophrenia and related disorders was analyzed using data on 119,662 patients served by the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system in fiscal years 2005-09, data on 5,440 enrollees in two health maintenance organizations (HMOs) in 2002-09, and National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) data reflecting the experience of 17.6 million U.S. residents seeking care outside federal systems during the same eight-year period. Polypharmacy was defined as the use of more than one antipsychotic agent during one year (in the VA sample) or one week (in the HMO and NAMCS samples). The association of polypharmacy with hospital admissions was assessed via multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS Rates of antipsychotic use in the VA sample ranged from 74% to 78%, with lower and more variable rates in the NAMCS sample (69-84%) and the HMO sample (22-67%). VA patients were found to have lower polypharmacy rates (20-22%) than patients in the HMO and NAMCS samples (19-31%). In all samples evaluated, polypharmacy was associated with an increased likelihood of hospital admission (odds ratio range, 1.4-2.4). CONCLUSION A multisystem study revealed that antipsychotic use among patients with schizophrenia varied substantially among health care systems and that nearly one fifth of patients with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders in most of the health care systems experienced antipsychotic polypharmacy.
Expression of HLA‐D sub‐region products on human colorectal carcinoma

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) status of normal, inflamed, pre‐malignant and malignant epithelia of the human gastrointestinal tract was investigated by immunocytochemical methods using monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against heavy (α)‐and light (β2m)‐chain Class‐I molecules and sub‐locus products (DP, DQ, DR) of the HLA‐D region. Class‐I expression on epithelial cells appeared to vary little with pathological status except in the case of 4/32 (13%) colorectal carcinomas in which the antigens were undetectable or scanty. The pattern of Class‐II expression was more complex. The antigens were readily detectable on normal stomach epithelium, in villous adenomas and in inflammatory bowel mucosa. In each of these situations DR was the predominant specificity, followed by DP and DQ. Expression on normal colonic epithelium was usually negative but, in the vicinity of a neoplasm or an area of marked leukocyte infiltration, Class‐II molecules (DR>DP>DQ) were detectable. A similar pattern of non‐coordinate expression was found on 23/32 (72%) colorectal carcinomas, but on the remaining 28% no Class‐II products were detectable, under conditions wherein stromal leukocytes were strongly stained. The data suggest that In a significant proportion (nearly 30%) of primary colorectal carcinomas, the capacity for Class‐II induction, a constitutive or acquired feature of normal colorectal epithelium, is either diminished or lost. Also, tumor Class‐II status is not correlated to Dukes' stage or differentiation.
Activity focused and goal directed therapy for children with cerebral palsy – Do goals make a difference?

Objective. To compare the effects of goal directed functional therapy (GDT) to activity focused therapy (AT) for preschool children with cerebral palsy (CP) on everyday activities and gross motor function. Another aim was to evaluate goal attainment in the GDT group. Methods. A prospective intervention study comparing two types of intervention carried out in ecological settings. Forty-four children with CP, (25 boys, 19 girls; mean age 4 year 1 month [SD 1 year 5 month]), Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) levels I–IV participated. Twenty-two children were recruited to the GDT group and 22 to the AT group. Outcome measures were the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI), and the Gross Motor Function Measure-66. Furthermore, goal attainment scaling (GAS) was used in the GDT group. The assessments were performed before and after an intervention period of 12 weeks. Results. The children in the GDT group improved more in most aspects of everyday activities measured by the PEDI than the children in the AT group (p < 0.001). Only functional skills in social function did not differ between the groups. Furthermore, gross motor function improved more in the GDT group than in the AT group (p < 0.001). Goal attainment to the expected level or higher was achieved in 93/110 goals in the GDT group. The variance of improvements in the different PEDI scales in the GDT group could not be explained by either age, sex, distribution of CP, GMFCS or MACS levels. Conclusion. GDT demonstrated clear gains for children with cerebral palsy in everyday activities and gross motor function in comparison to AT.
Antibody Recognition of Porcine Circovirus Type 2 Capsid Protein Epitopes after Vaccination, Infection, and Disease

ABSTRACT Open reading frame 2 (ORF2) of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) codes for the 233-amino-acid capsid protein (CP). Baculovirus-based vaccines that express only ORF2 are protective against clinical disease following experimental challenge or natural infection. The goal of this study was to identify regions in CP preferentially recognized by sera from experimentally infected and vaccinated pigs and to compare these responses to those of pigs diagnosed with porcine circovirus-associated disease (PCVAD), including porcine multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) and porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS). The approach was to react porcine sera with CP polypeptide fragments followed by finer mapping studies using overlapping oligopeptides that covered amino acids 141 to 200. The results showed that vaccinated pigs preferentially recognized only the largest polypeptide fragment, CP(43-233). A subset of experimentally infected pigs and pigs with PDNS showed strong reactivity against a CP oligopeptide, 169-STIDYFQPNNKR-180. Alanine scanning identified Y-173, F-174, Q-175, and K-179 as important for antibody recognition. The results from this study support the notion of PCV2 modulation of immunity, including antibody responses that may represent a precursor for disease. The recognition of CP(169-180) and other polypeptides provides opportunities to devise diagnostic tests for monitoring the immunological effectiveness of vaccination.
MoHTAM: A Technology Acceptance Model for Mobile Health Applications

In spite of the advancement and variety of available mobile based applications, there is an eminent need to investigate the current position of the acceptance of those mobile health applications that are tailored towards the patients' medical information management and access. This paper explores and analysis the technology acceptance of the use of smart mobile phones from users' perceptions, viewpoint, and experience. The paper will focus on studies of the factors affecting the intention to use the smart mobile phone in the medical domain. Our proposed Mobile Technology Acceptance Model (Mo-HTAM) assessed the significance of the correlation between technology design, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness as independent factors and the intention to use m-Health services as the dependent factor. The correlation coefficient analysis indicated that there is a significant relationship between the major constructs. Rigorous analytical testing confirmed that there is a direct relationship between social, cultural and technological constructs with intention to use m-Health applications. The model indicated that a well-informed technology design will increase the intention to use m-Health application, and perceived usefulness is more significant to the intention to use m-health applications than the perceived ease of use. These findings indicated that intention to use mobile health informatics is formed by the perceptions of the user of m-Health technology design approach, especially in relation to the navigation and the data presentation on the mobile device.
In Vivo Genetic Analysis Indicates That PhoP-PhoQ and the Salmonella Pathogenicity Island 2 Type III Secretion System Contribute Independently to Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Virulence

ABSTRACT Many virulence factors are required for Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium to replicate intracellularly and proliferate systemically within mice. In this work, we have carried out genetic analyses in vivo to determine the functional relationship between two major virulence factors necessary for systemic infection byS. enterica serovar Typhimurium: theSalmonella pathogenicity island 2 (SPI-2) type III secretion system (TTSS) and the PhoP-PhoQ two-component regulatory system. Although previous work suggested that PhoP-PhoQ regulates SPI-2 TTSS gene expression in vitro, in vivo competitive analysis of mutant strains indicates that these systems contribute independently toS. typhimurium virulence. Our results also suggest that mutation of phoP may compensate partially for defects in the SPI-2 TTSS by deregulating SPI-1 TTSS expression. These results provide an explanation for previous reports showing an apparent functional overlap between these two systems in vitro.
Differential regulation of subtypes m1-m5 of muscarinic receptors in forebrain by chronic atropine administration.

The regulation of individual muscarinic receptor subtypes in rat cerebral cortex/dorsal hippocampus was examined following 14-day administration of the nonselective antagonist atropine. Total muscarinic receptor density increased 24%, from 2196 fmol/mg to 2722 fmol/mg. The nature of this increase was examined using a panel of antisera selective for the m1 to m5 muscarinic receptors. Thus, 97% of all cortical/hippocampal receptors were accounted for by immunoprecipitation. Three subtypes were observed to increase significantly in density: m1 receptor from 824 to 982 fmol/mg (19%, P less than .05); m2 receptor from 476 to 519 fmol/mg (9%, N.S.); m3 receptor from 259 to 438 fmol/mg (69%, P less than .001); m4 receptor from 574 to 638 fmol/mg (11%, P less than .05); and the m5 receptor from 23 to 38 fmol/mg (65%, N.S.). Receptors coupled to the hydrolysis of phosphoinositides (m1, m3, m5) appeared to be preferentially up-regulated (32% over control levels, P less than .001) compared with those coupled to the inhibition of adenylyl cyclase (m2, m4; 10% over control levels, P less than .05). The absolute density of the molecularly defined m1 and m4 receptors, which reportedly possess the highest affinity for pirenzepine (M1), increased 16% (P less than .05), whereas the density of receptors having the lowest affinity for pirenzepine (m2, m3 and m5) increased 31% (P less than .001) with atropine treatment. When the increase in total receptor density was examined with [3H]pirenzepine, the 16% elevation in high-affinity (m1 and m4) sites was not detected. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Can MDM2 and CDK4 make the diagnosis of well differentiated/dedifferentiated liposarcoma? An immunohistochemical study on 129 soft tissue tumours

Background: Well differentiated liposarcomas (WDLPS) and dedifferentiated liposarcomas (DDLPS) have been shown to have supernumerary chromosomes with amplified sequences of the MDM2 and CDK4 genes. MDM2 and CDK4 protein overexpression have also been identified in these tumours. Aim: To investigate whether immunohistochemistry (IHC) for MDM2 and CDK4 can be used to diagnose WDLPS and DDLPS. Methods: IHC for MDM2/CDK4 was carried out on a series of 129 paraffin-embedded lipomatous and non-lipomatous soft tissue tumours. The cases were divided into four groups: WDLPS (n = 19), DDLPS (n = 10), benign adipocytic tumours (BAT) (n = 17), and other mesenquimal tumours (OMT) (n = 83). IHC results were compared in each group and the diagnostic efficacy of the test in identifying WDLPS and DDLPS among the other soft tissue tumours was determined. A percentage of tumour cell positivity was evaluated to better characterise the pattern of tumour immunostaining. Results: Sensitivity and specificity of positive MDM2 and CDK4 immunostainings to identify WDLPS among BAT was 100% and 58.8%, and 68.4% and 88.2%, respectively. When distinguishing DDLPS from OMT, sensitivity and specificity of MDM2 and CDK4 were 90% and 65%, and 70% and 96.3%, respectively. The highest specificity was achieved when a case was considered positive with strong and diffuse immunoreactivity in more than 30% of the neoplastic cells (94.1% and 100%, and 77.1% and 98.8%, respectively). Conclusion: Detection of MDM2/CDK4 protein overexpression by IHC can be used by pathologists to diagnose WDLPS and DDLPS. Considering a strong and diffuse immunostaining pattern in most of the neoplastic cells achieves the best results in identifying these tumours.
Proteolytic Cleavage of the p65-RelA Subunit of NF-κB during Poliovirus Infection*

Activation of NF-κB during viral infection is one of the critical elements in innate immune response. Several virus-specific factors, such as double-stranded RNA, can trigger host defense mechanisms by inducing NF-κB-mediated expression of cytokines and interferons. Early stages of poliovirus infection are also associated with degradation of IκBα and translocation of NF-κB into the nucleus. However, at later stages of poliovirus replication the p65-RelA component of the NF-κB complex undergoes a specific cleavage that coincides with the onset of intensive poliovirus protein synthesis and the appearance of the activity of poliovirus protease 3C. Indeed, the p65-RelA amino acid sequence contains the recognition site for 3C, and recombinant protein 3C was shown to be capable of proteolytic cleavage of p65-RelA, generating truncated product similar to that observed during poliovirus infection. Cleavage of p65-RelA occurs during replication of ECHO-1 and rhinovirus 14, suggesting that inactivation of NF-κB function by proteolytic cleavage of p65-RelA is the common mechanism by which picornaviruses suppress the innate immune response.