Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The relationship between mouth opening and sleep stage-related sleep disordered breathing.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To evaluate mouth opening during sleep and the possible correlations between mouth opening and specific patient characteristics. METHODS A total of 55 patients consecutively referred to assess snoring and suspected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were included. Sensors to record mouth opening were attached to each patient's face and synchronized with a standard polysomnogram. Mouth opening data were evaluated for each sleep stage as a percentage of maximum mouth opening. The patients were divided into 2 groups: patients with REM apnea hypopnea index (AHI) > NREM AHI (REM-dependent group = RD group), and patients with NREM AHI > REM AHI (NREM-dependent group = ND group). RESULTS A total of 42 patients (male 69.0%, mean age 51.4 ± 12.9 years) underwent successful data collection. The amount of mouth opening during stage 1 (18.8% ± 14.6%) was significantly smaller than stage 2 (23.7% ± 16.4%, p < 0.01) and REM (29.2% ± 20.3%, p < 0.01). Age, body mass index (BMI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score, and AHI exhibited no correlation with mouth opening. The RD and the ND groups exhibited similar age, BMI, ESS, and AHI variables, but the ND group opened their mouths significantly more than the RD group during total sleep time (28.3% ± 13.6% vs 17.8% ± 17.3%, p < 0.01), stage 1 (23.2% ± 13.5% vs 12.9% ± 14.3%, p < 0.01), stage 2 (28.1% ± 17.9% vs 17.9% ± 17.4%, p < 0.01), and REM (34.7% ± 19.2% vs 21.9% ± 19.8%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The ND patients opened their mouths wider than the RD patients during most sleep stages. The relationship between REM-dependent AHI and the amount of mouth opening may be a factor in the pathogenesis of OSA.
Relationship of anterior and posterior subcutaneous abdominal fat to insulin sensitivity in nondiabetic men.

Recent studies from our reveal that adipose tissue (AT) in the subcutaneous abdominal region is the most important determinant of peripheral and hepatic insulin sensitivity. Because of different anatomic and physiologic characteristics of anterior and posterior subcutaneous abdominal AT, we investigated the relationship of the masses of each compartment, as determined by magnetic resonance imaging, to insulin sensitivity (using euglycemic hyperinsulinemic glucose clamp technique), and other anthropometric variables. Thirty-four healthy men with varying ranges of obesity were recruited for the study. The mass of posterior subcutaneous abdominal AT was approximately 1.6 times more than that of the anterior compartment, and these masses accounted for 12.9% and 8.2% of the total body fat mass, respectively. All anthropometric variables, including body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip circumference ratio (WHR), skin-fold thicknesses, and intraperitoneal AT mass were more significantly related to the posterior than the anterior subcutaneous abdominal AT mass. Compared to the anterior compartment mass, the posterior compartment mass displayed stronger relationship with insulin-mediated glucose disposal (Rd) (r = -0.44, p = 0.009, and r = -0.76, p = 0.0001, respectively) as well as with residual hepatic glucose output during the 40 mU.m-2.min-1 insulin infusion (r = 0.39, p = 0.02, and r = 0.53, p = 0.001, respectively). After adjusting for total body fat, the Rd values showed a significant partial correlation with the posterior subcutaneous abdominal AT mass (r = 0.52, p = 0.002). To conclude, posterior subcutaneous abdominal AT mass is more important determinant of peripheral and hepatic insulin sensitivity than the anterior subcutaneous abdominal AT.
A Case of Malignant Hemangioendothelioma of the Stomach

A case of malignant hemangioendothelioma of the stomach is reported. The patient was a 21-year-old female who developed bloody stool. Pathological studies on the stomach revealed a gastric submucosal tumor. This tumor was growing on the outside of the stomach wall and formed a large abdominal mass. Evidence of metastases was detected in the liver, omentum and parietovisceral peritoneum. Biopsies were taken of the gastric mucosa and the metastatic lesions of the liver and omentum, and histological studies on these specimens led to the diagnosis of malignant hemangioendothelioma. A laparoscopic examination yielded very interesting findings: the presence of small red tumors on the omentum and the parietovisceral peritoneum. The usefulness of laparoscopic examination in the diagnosis of malignant hemangioendothelioma of the stomach is stressed.
Phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (Gpx4) is highly regulated in male turkey poults and can be used to determine dietary selenium requirements

The dietary selenium recommendation for turkeys of 0.2 μg Se/g is higher than for many other species. Liver glutathione peroxidase-1 (Gpx1) activity levels determined using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in previous studies suggest that 0.2 μg Se/g may still be too low and that some of this Gpx1 activity might be due to phospholipid hydroperoxide Gpx (Gpx4). Thus we separated Gpx1 from Gpx4 by chromatography, demonstrated that 47% of the H2O2 activity in Se-adequate turkey liver was due to Gpx4, and determined a factor for calculation of each activity. Day-old male poults were fed an Se-deficient torula diet (0.007 μg Se/g) supplemented with graded levels of Se (0–0.5 μg Se/g) for 27 days. Final body weights indicated a minimum Se requirement for growth of 0.05 μg Se/g. The liver had the highest Gpx4 activity in Se-adequate poults, and Gpx4 activity in Se-deficient liver decreased to 5% of Se-adequate levels, with an Se requirement of 0.29 μg Se/g. Liver Gpx1, gizzard Gpx1 and gizzard Gpx4 activities also had Se requirements of 0.28–0.30 μg Se/g, collectively yielding an Se requirement of 0.3 μg Se/g, which is three times higher than the requirements found in comparable rodent studies. We also sequenced partial cDNA clones for turkey Gpx1 (GQ502186) and Gpx4 (GQ502187), and found >60% identity with rodents and humans and >90% identity with chickens. Ribonuclease protection analysis showed that Gpx4 mRNA levels decrease substantially in Se-deficient turkey liver, unlike in rodents. These underlying differences in selenoprotein molecular biology may explain the elevated dietary Se requirements of turkeys.
Promotion of Angiogenesis in Tissue Engineering: Developing Multicellular Matrices with Multiple Capacities

One of the aims of tissue engineering is to be able to develop multi-tissue organs in the future. This requires the optimization of conditions for the differentiation of multiple cell types and maintenance of the differentiated phenotype within complex engineered tissues. The goal of this study was to develop prototype tissue engineered matrices to support the simultaneous growth of different cell types with a particular focus on the angiogenic process. We examined two different matrix compositions for the promotion of blood vessel and tube formation. A fibrin-based matrix with the addition of a combination of growth factors supported vascular growth and the invasion of inflammatory cells. Using this fibrin matrix, in combination with a collagen-based hydrogel, a simple in vitro model of the cornea with adjacent sclera was developed that was complete with innervation and vascular structures. In addition, we showed that collagen-based matrices were effective in delivering mononuclear endothelial progenitor cells to ischemic tissue in vivo, and allowing these cells to incorporate into vascular structures. It is anticipated that with further development, these matrices have potential for use as delivery matrices for cell transplantation and for in vitro study purposes of multiple cell types.
Single treatment of non‐melanoma skin cancers using a pulsed‐dye laser with stacked pulses

Non‐melanoma skin cancers are the most common cause of cancer worldwide. Within this grouping, the most common skin cancer is basal cell carcinoma (BCC) followed by squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Recent evidence has shown that BCCs can be cleared by a pulsed‐dye laser after multiple treatments using a single pass setting. Given the necessity for multiple treatments in the prior studies, we sought to determine whether tumor clearance could instead be achieved using a single treatment of the pulsed‐dye laser in a stacked pulse setting.
A Gateway Cloning Vector Set for High-Throughput Functional Analysis of Genes in Planta[w]

The current challenge, now that two plant genomes have been sequenced, is to assign a function to the increasing number of predicted genes. In Arabidopsis, approximately 55% of genes can be assigned a putative function, however, less than 8% of these have been assigned a function by direct experimental evidence. To identify these functions, many genes will have to undergo comprehensive analyses, which will include the production of chimeric transgenes for constitutive or inducible ectopic expression, for antisense or dominant negative expression, for subcellular localization studies, for promoter analysis, and for gene complementation studies. The production of such transgenes is often hampered by laborious conventional cloning technology that relies on restriction digestion and ligation. With the aim of providing tools for high throughput gene analysis, we have produced a Gateway-compatible Agrobacterium sp. binary vector system that facilitates fast and reliable DNA cloning. This collection of vectors is freely available, for noncommercial purposes, and can be used for the ectopic expression of genes either constitutively or inducibly. The vectors can be used for the expression of protein fusions to the Aequorea victoria green fluorescent protein and to the β-glucuronidase protein so that the subcellular localization of a protein can be identified. They can also be used to generate promoter-reporter constructs and to facilitate efficient cloning of genomic DNA fragments for complementation experiments. All vectors were derived from pCambia T-DNA cloning vectors, with the exception of a chemically inducible vector, for Agrobacterium sp. -mediated transformation of a wide range of plant species.
Outcome after musculoskeletal trauma treated in a regional hospital.

BACKGROUND Trauma remains the leading cause of death and morbidity in the under-35-year-old population. The majority of reports assessing outcome after trauma emanate from North American Level I trauma centers. We sought to examine outcome after trauma treated in an Irish regional unit. METHODS All patients admitted over a 1-year period with an Injury Severity Score > or =9 were evaluated and 61 patients recruited to the study. Demographic data, medical history, and details of the mechanism and pattern of injury and treatment were collected. Patients' functional outcome was assessed using the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), duration of hospital stay, and return to work. RESULTS Significant residual disability was noted (mean SIP 13.63+/-14.60). Thirty-seven percent of patients had not returned to work despite a mean follow-up of 18.36 months. Factors associated with a poor outcome include increasing age, a blue-collar occupation, lower limb fractures, comorbid conditions, and the presence of complications. CONCLUSION Optimizing primary care of the trauma victim may help to minimize consequent morbidity. A small group of patients suffer permanent disability, and vocational retraining opportunities should be made available to them.
An analysis of the composition of gain and growth of primal cuts of Iberian pigs of 10 to 150 kg body weight as affected by the level of feeding and dietary protein concentration

A meta-analysis was made of data from a total of 211 growing-finishing Iberian (IB) pigs from four separate and independent sets of trials. Within each set of trials, a factorial arrangement of treatments was used, involving several concentrations of ideal protein in the diets and two or three levels of feed intake. Pigs were slaughtered at several stages of growth from 10 to 150 kg body weight (BW). The partition of dietary protein in the body of the pigs, the empty-body gain (EBG), the chemical composition of EBG, growth of primal cuts in the cold eviscerated carcass (without head, feet, and tail), and mass of dissected tissues in trimmed shoulder and ham were determined. Linear regression equations allowed estimating N requirements for maintenance as 175 mg/(kg BW 0.75 · kg dry-matter intake) · d -1 and an average value for the net efficiency of utilization of the dietary protein apparently absorbed of 0.386. In pigs offered adequate protein to energy diets, EBG was predicted as a function of average BW and feeding level ( p <0.001). Multiple regression equations were constructed, which derived nutrient (g kg -1 ) or energy (MJ kg -1 ) composition of EBG as a function of empty-body weight (EBW), dietary protein to energy ratio, and level of feeding ( p <0.001). These predictive equations, not applicable to pigs of lean and conventional genotypes, can contribute to the design of optimal feeding strategies to improve the efficiency of IB pig production systems and to achieve high quality standards in end products for the market.
Leads from xenobiotic metabolism genes for Parkinson’s disease among north Indians

Objective Pesticide/neurotoxin/free radical-induced oxidative stress leading to dopaminergic neuronal vulnerability is known to promote sporadic Parkinson’s disease (PD). This study investigated the contribution of polymorphisms in genes from drug-metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) and the oxidative stress pathway to PD susceptibility and severity among a north Indian cohort. Methods Three hundred and thirty-nine PD patients diagnosed using UK PD brain bank criteria and 344 age-, sex-, and ethnicity-matched controls were recruited. Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to test allelic, genotypic, and haplotypic associations, and gene–gene interactions were assessed for 18 polymorphisms from 13 genes. Disease severity was calculated on the basis of the Hoehn and Yahr (HY) scale and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale III scores and was compared among the genotypic categories of markers. Results An association of GSTO1-rs4925 (P=0.04) and NQO1-rs1800566 (P=0.02) in univariate and multivariate analysis (P=0.01 and P=0.03, respectively) with disease susceptibility was observed. Significant and novel association of PON2-rs7493 (P=0.00009 with UPDRS III, P=0.003 with HY) with disease severity was retained after Bonferroni correction. On categorizing the cohort into young-onset PD (YOPD, n=90 cases, 104 controls) and late-onset PD ( n=249 cases, 240 controls), the association of several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in DMEs was observed with YOPD. Conclusions The association of NQO1, PON2, and DME genes (this study) and NAT2 (previous study) with PD among Indians may point toward an inherent population-specific genetic predisposition. This, probably compounded by an increase in environmental toxins and the indiscriminate use of pesticides in our country in the last few decades, may suggest likely gene–environment interactions, which may explain the increasing incidence of YOPD among Indians.
Effect of pH control on lactic acid fermentation of starch by Lactobacillus manihotivorans LMG 18010T

J.P. GUYOT, M. CALDERON and J. MORLON‐GUYOT.2000. Lactic acid fermentation of starch by Lactobacillus manihotivorans LMG 18010T, a new amylolytic l(+) lactic acid producer, was investigated and compared with starch fermentation by Lact. plantarum A6. At non‐controlled pH, growth and lactic acid production from starch by Lact. manihotivorans LMG 18010T lasted 25 h. Specific growth and lactic acid production rates continuously decreased from the onset of the fermentation, unlike Lact. plantarum A6 which was able to grow and convert starch product hydrolysis into lactic acid more rapidly and efficiently at a constant rate up to pH 4·5. In spite of complete and rapid starch hydrolysis by Lact. manihotivorans LMG 18010T during the first 6 h, only 45% of starch hydrolysis products were converted to lactic acid. When pH was maintained at 6·0, lactic acid, amylase and final biomass production by Lact. manihotivorans LMG 18010T increased markedly and the fermentation time was reduced by half. Under the same conditions, an increase only in amylase production was observed with Lact. plantarum A6. When grown on glucose or starch at pH 6·0, Lact. manihotivorans LMG 18010T had an identical maximum specific growth rate (0·35 h−1), whereas the maximum rate of specific lactic acid production was three times higher with glucose as substrate. Lactobacillus manihotivorans LMG 18010T did not produce amylase when grown on glucose. Based on the differences in the physiology between the two species and other amylolytic lactic acid bacteria, different applications may be expected.
Comparison of Synthetic Hydroxyapatite and Porous Polyethylene Implants in Eviscerated Rabbit Eyes

Purpose Synthetic hydroxyapatite and porous polyethylene (Polipore) spheres were placed in rabbits’ eviscerated cavities to evaluate tissue reaction and volume maintenance. Methods Fifty-six Norfolk albino rabbits underwent unilateral evisceration and implantation of synthetic hydroxyapatite (H group, 28 animals) or porous polyethylene spheres (P group, 28 animals). Postoperative reactions, animal behavior, and socket conditions were monitored. Light microscopy and morphometric evaluation with statistical analysis of the exenterated orbits were performed at 7, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 days. Scanning electron microscopy was appraised 7, 60, and 180 days after surgery. Results Two animals from the H group and 1 from the P group had extrusion 7 days after surgery. Throughout the experimental period, the synthetic hydroxyapatite caused more inflammation than the porous polyethylene material. Ingrowth in the sphere occurred 7 to 15 days after the surgery in both groups, and the tissue reaction became denser at ≈60 to 90 days, when bony metaplasia began in the H group. Volume maintenance was better in the P group and with a smaller pseudocapsule surrounding the implanted sphere than in the H group. Conclusions Clinical findings demonstrated mild inflammation inside the sphere and in the pseudocapsule surrounding it and better cavity volume maintenance in the P group animals. The authors consider porous polyethylene a more suitable material than synthetic hydroxyapatite for use in anophthalmic cavity reconstruction.
Clinical microsystems and the NHS: a sustainable method for improvement?

PURPOSE The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the claims made for the clinical microsystems approach of healthcare improvement within an English NHS context. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH The research adopted a Realistic Evaluation approach to examine a series of pilot clinical microsystems sites to determine what worked for whom, when and within what circumstances. Interviews and group discussions were used to collect qualitative data, whist quantitative outcome data was also collected within each of the sites. Data was triangulated to produce case studies for each of the sites. FINDINGS The research concurred with many of the claims for clinical microsystems, particularly that democratic, consensual approaches to change and improvement can be better received than externally derived initiatives with imposed targets. The clinical microsystem approach emphasises identifying and nurturing strengths--of both teams and individuals--and this reinforced these positive aspects. The case study sites demonstrated higher staff morale, empowerment, commitment and clarity of purpose. To a lesser extent the research also indicated an enhanced predisposition towards improvement and innovation and a seemingly embedded sense of improvement as an ongoing (if essentially episodic) process. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS The evaluation was limited in terms of the numbers of case study sites that it was able to incorporate. This sample represented sites of different sizes, coverage of primary, secondary and tertiary care and those reporting more and less positive experiences of the clinical microsystems approach--but any findings may be limited in their generaliseability and further studies may be needed to test out the relevance of these findings in wider settings. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS Future microsystem programmes will need to address components of patient involvement and process/outcome monitoring if the broader legitimacy of the approach is to be cemented and enhanced. In particular, the importance of strong data collection in achieving "high performing" status is emphasised. ORIGINALITY/VALUE There is currently no other empirical studies within the academic literature which investigate the value of the clinical microsystems approach to an English NHS context.
New Approaches for Theoretical Estimation of Mass Transfer Parameters in Both Gas-Liquid and Slurry Bubble Columns

Bubble columns (with and without suspended solids) have been used widely as chemical reactors, bioreactors and equipment for waste water treatment. The key design parameters in bubble columns are: • gas holdup; • gas-liquid interfacial area; • volumetric liquid-phase mass transfer coefficient; • gas and liquid axial dispersion coefficients; Despite the large amount of studies devoted to hydrodynamics and mass transfer in bubble columns, these topics are still far from being exhausted. One of the essential reasons for hitherto unsuccessful modeling of hydrodynamics and mass transfer in bubble columns is the unfeasibility of a unified approach to different types of liquids. A diverse approach is thus advisable to different groups of gas-liquid systems according to the nature of liquid phase used (pure liquids, aqueous or non-aqueous solutions of organic or inorganic substances, non-Newtonian fluids and their solutions) and according to the extent of bubble coalescence in the respective classes of liquids. It is also necessary to distinguish consistently between the individual regimes of bubbling pertinent to a given gas-liquid system and to conditions of the reactor performance. The mechanism of mass transfer is quite complicated. Except for the standard air-water system, no hydrodynamic or mass transfer characteristics of bubble beds can be reliably predicted or correlated at the present time. Both the interfacial area a and the volumetric liquid-phase mass transfer coefficient kLa are considered the most important design parameters and bubble columns exhibit improved values of these parameters (Wilkinson et al., 1992). For the design of a bubble column as a reactor, accurate data about bubble size distribution and hydrodynamics in bubble columns, mechanism of bubble coalescence and breakup as well as mass transfer from individual bubbles are necessary. Due to the complex nature of gas-liquid dispersion systems, the relations between the phenomena of bubble coalescence and breakup in bubble swarms and pertinent fundamental hydrodynamic parameters of bubble beds are still not thoroughly understood. The amount of gas transferred from bubbles into the liquid phase is determined by the magnitude of kLa. This coefficient is an important parameter and its knowledge is essential