Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Iron sucrose in hemodialysis patients: safety of replacement and maintenance regimens.

BACKGROUND Parenteral iron replacement and maintenance are frequently required in hemodialysis patients. However, serious adverse events have been reported after single doses of some intravenous iron products. This multicenter phase IV clinical trial examined the safety of iron sucrose for the treatment of iron deficiency and for the maintenance of iron sufficiency in hemodialysis patients. METHODS In this safety study, iron sucrose was given in two dosing regimens. Iron deficient patients were treated with intravenous iron sucrose, 100 mg, during 10 consecutive hemodialysis sessions (replacement regimen). Iron replete patients were given iron sucrose, 100 mg intravenous (iv) over 5 minutes, weekly for 10 weeks (maintenance regimen). At the end of each 10-dose cycle, iron status was reassessed, and dosing during the subsequent cycle was based on the adequacy of iron stores as per Dialysis Outcome Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) Guidelines. With each dosing regimen, adverse events, if any, were recorded and described. RESULTS Six hundred and sixty-five hemodialysis patients, including 80 who had experienced previous intolerance to other parenteral iron preparations, received a total of 8583 doses of iron sucrose. One hundred eighty-eight patients received more than one iv iron cycle (replacement, maintenance, or both). There were no serious or life-threatening drug-related adverse events. CONCLUSION Iron sucrose is safe when given as treatment for iron deficiency or for maintenance of iron stores.
‘A Geography of Racism’: Internal Orientalism and the Construction of American National Identity in the Film Mississippi Burning

This article examines the contribution of the film Mississippi Burning to the construction of American national identity within the context of the discourse of internal orientalism. This discourse consists of a tradition of representing the American South as fundamentally different from the rest of the United States, and an important strand of this tradition involves construing ‘the South’ as a region where racism, violence, intolerance, poverty and a group of other negative characteristics reign. In contrast, ‘America’ is understood as standing for the opposite of these vices. Mississippi Burning continues this tradition by creating a ‘geography of racism’, juxtaposing the brutality of white Southerners with the morality of two FBI agents sent to Mississippi to investigate the disappearance of three civil rights workers. A variety of the film's devices, including the comparison between the racist white Southerners and the FBI agents, reproduces an American national identity that stands for tolerance, justice and peace.
A modeled economic evaluation of sevelamer for treatment of hyperphosphatemia associated with chronic kidney disease among patients on dialysis in the United Kingdom

Abstract Objective: There is limited information regarding the cost-effectiveness of sevelamer for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients on dialysis in the UK. Using a UK National Health Service (NHS) perspective and final results of the Dialysis Clinical Outcomes Revisited (DCOR) study, an evaluation was performed to determine the cost-effectiveness of sevelamer compared to calcium-based phosphate binders for the first-line treatment of hyperphosphatemia in CKD patients on dialysis. Methods: A Markov model was developed to estimate life years, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), costs, incremental cost per life year (LY) gained, and QALY gained. Treatment-specific overall survival up to 44 months, hospitalizations, and resource utilization were derived from the DCOR study. Survival was extrapolated to a lifetime horizon using Weibull regression analysis. Unit costs and utility estimates specific to the UK were obtained from the published literature. Sub-group analyses were conducted based on data reported from the DCOR study for increasing age cut-points. Outcomes and costs were modeled for a lifetime horizon. Results: In the base case analysis, the use of sevelamer resulted in a gain of ∼0.73 LYs and 0.44 QALYs per patient (discounted at 3.5% per year). Total per-patient costs were higher for sevelamer, resulting in an incremental cost of £22,157 per QALY gained and £13,427 per LY gained (in £2009). Increasingly favorable cost per QALY ratios were observed with increasing age cut-points, ranging from £15,864 for patients ≥45 to £13,296 for patients ≥65 years of age. Results were most sensitive to assumptions regarding overall survival and the inclusion of dialysis costs. Key limitations of the analysis included the use of non-UK trial data for survival and hospitalizations, and the exclusion of quality-of-life impacts associated with hospitalization. Conclusions: In CKD patients receiving dialysis, treatment of hyperphosphatemia with sevelamer offers good value for money compared with calcium-based binders.
Synthesis of polysaccharide by yeast-like forms of Aureobasidium pullulans.

Estimation de la relation entre la proportion de formes levure et la production de polyoside en culture discontinue agitee, a l'aide d'une methode quantitative de separation et a differentes valeurs controlees de pH, en vue de modifier la proportion de formes levure dans la culture
GGE biplot analysis of adaptation in wheat substitution lines

In order to identify chromosomal location of QTLs controlling yield and yield stability, wheat substitution lines of Cheyenne (Donor) into the genetic background of Chinese Spring (Recipient) were tested in a randomized complete block design with three replications under rainfed and irrigated conditions across two years. The GGE [genotype main effect (G) and genotype by environment interaction (GE)] biplot graphical tool was applied to analyze multi-environment trials (MET) data. Combined analysis of variance showed significant differences for genotypes (G), environments (E) and GE interaction indicating variability between genotypes, environments and their effects in the GE interaction and possible chromosomal localization of the genes controlling yield and yield stability in wheat. Most of the variation in the GE interaction (7.49%) was attributed to environmental fluctuations (78.26%). The first two principal components (PC1 and PC2) of GGE analysis justified 86.6% of total variation in the data matrix. GGE biplot analysis indicated that most of the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) involved in controlling phenotypic stability and yield performance in wheat are located on the chromosomes 1D in D genome and 4B in B genome
Trunk neural crest origin of dermal denticles in a cartilaginous fish

Significance The earliest mineralized skeleton of vertebrates was the dermal skeleton: superficial armor of tooth-like skeletal units composed of dentine and basal bone of attachment. Remnants of this dentinous armor have been retained as teeth in the head of all jawed vertebrates and as dermal denticles in the skin of cartilaginous fishes (sharks and skates). Cranial neural crest cells (NCCs) give rise to dentine-secreting odontoblasts of teeth. However, trunk NCCs are regarded as nonskeletogenic, raising questions about the embryonic origin of postcranial denticles in cartilaginous fishes. Here, we show that trunk NCCs give rise to trunk denticle odontoblasts in the skate, Leucoraja erinacea. This finding expands the repertoire of trunk NCC fates, highlighting the primitive skeletogenic potential of this cell population. Cartilaginous fishes (e.g., sharks and skates) possess a postcranial dermal skeleton consisting of tooth-like “denticles” embedded within their skin. As with teeth, the principal skeletal tissue of dermal denticles is dentine. In the head, cranial neural crest cells give rise to the dentine-producing cells (odontoblasts) of teeth. However, trunk neural crest cells are generally regarded as nonskeletogenic, and so the embryonic origin of trunk denticle odontoblasts remains unresolved. Here, we use expression of FoxD3 to pinpoint the specification and emigration of trunk neural crest cells in embryos of a cartilaginous fish, the little skate (Leucoraja erinacea). Using cell lineage tracing, we further demonstrate that trunk neural crest cells do, in fact, give rise to odontoblasts of trunk dermal denticles. These findings expand the repertoire of vertebrate trunk neural crest cell fates during normal development, highlight the likely primitive skeletogenic potential of this cell population, and point to a neural crest origin of dentine throughout the ancestral vertebrate dermal skeleton.
Unfolding-based corrector estimates for a reaction–diffusion system predicting concrete corrosion

We use the periodic unfolding technique to derive corrector estimates for a reaction–diffusion system describing concrete corrosion penetration in the sewer pipes. The system, defined in a periodically perforated domain, is semi-linear, partially dissipative and coupled to a nonlinear ordinary differential equation posed on the solid–water interface at the pore level. After discussing the solvability of the pore scale model, we apply the periodic unfolding techniques (adapted to treat the presence of perforations) not only to derive macroscopic (upscaled) model equations, but also to prepare a proper framework for obtaining a convergence rate (corrector estimates) of the averaging procedure.
Minimally Invasive Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion: Clinical and Radiographic Outcome at a Minimum 2-year Follow-up

Study Design: Retrospective case series. Objective: To determine the clinical and radiographic outcomes of patients undergoing minimally invasive lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) with a minimum 2-year follow-up. Summary of Background Data: Minimally invasive LLIF is performed through a lateral, retroperitoneal, transpsoas approach. This procedure is characterized by the use of a tubular retractor to minimize tissue damage and real-time neuromonitoring to ensure safe passage through the psoas muscle. To date, advantages of minimal invasive LLIF, compared with open procedures, has been limited to early postoperative outcomes and complications, with the longest mean follow-up duration of 22 months. Methods: A total of 118 patients who underwent minimally invasive LLIF with a minimum of 2 years follow-up were included in this study. Clinical outcomes were determined by using Visual Analog Score for the degree of pain (trunk or lower extremity), and Oswestry Disability Index and Short Form-12 scoring methods for patient function. Radiographic evaluations included (i) disk height; (ii) segmental coronal angulation; (iii) segmental lordotic angulation; (iv) Cobb angle; (v) cage subsidence; and (vi) fusion status. Data were statistically tested using either paired Students t test or Wilcoxon matched-pair test. Significance level was set at P<0.05. Results: We found that (i) the Visual Analog Score for pain, Oswestry Disability Index, and the physical components summary, but not the mental components summary of Short Form-12 improved significantly at the follow-up; (ii) disk height, coronal angulation, and lordotic angulation at each level and the Cobb angle were restored at the statistically significant extent; (iii) successful fusion was achieved in 209 levels (88%); and (iv) transient thigh pain was the most frequent complication seen in 36% of the patients. Conclusions: Our results support the efficacy of minimally invasive LLIF in improvements of clinical and radiographic features.
Pain management guidelines for blunt thoracic trauma.

Pain Management Guidelines for Blunt Thoracic Trauma Bruce Simon;James Cushman;Robert Barraco;Vivian Lane;Fred Luchette;Maurizio Miglietta;David Roccaforte;Ruth Spector; The Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care
Comparative analysis of extra‐nodal NK/T‐cell lymphoma and peripheral T‐cell lymphoma: significant differences in clinical characteristics and prognosis

Aim: We aimed to compare the frequencies, clinical characteristics, and prognostic factors of peripheral T‐cell lymphoma (PTCL) vs. extra‐nodal natural killer (NK)/T‐cell lymphoma and to characterize the subtypes of extra‐nodal NK/T‐cell lymphoma. Methods: We reviewed 97 consecutive patients with PTCL and extra‐nodal NKT lymphoma from 2000 to 2006. During this period, a total of 780 patients with malignant lymphomas were treated in our center. The diagnostic criteria used were based on the WHO classification system of malignant lymphomas. Results: Extra‐nodal‐NK/T‐cell lymphoma and PTCL comprised 5.0% (39/780) and 7.4% (58/780) of all cases. Of the PTCL cases, histology was PTCL‐NOS in 25, anaplastic large cell in 11, angioimmunoblastic T cell in 18 and other subtypes in four patients. Compared with PTCL, extra‐nodal NK/T‐cell lymphoma was associated with a significantly inferior rates of complete remission (33% vs. 53%, P = 0.05) and 3 yr overall survival (29.5% vs. 47.5%, P = 0.003). On multivariate analysis, extra‐nodal NK/T‐cell histology was independently associated with decreased survival. Further analysis into this subtype showed the nasal variant (n = 25) differed significantly from extra‐nasal variant (n = 14) in terms of stage at presentation (stages III/IV, 36% vs. 79%), international prognostic index scores (high intermediate or high IPI scores, 24% vs. 64%), complete remission rates (48% vs. 7%), and median survival (10 months vs. 1 month, P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Extra‐nodal NK/T‐cell lymphoma was associated with a poorer prognosis compared with PTCL and is likely to comprise two distinct variants with different clinical behavior and prognosis.
Relationships between sex, race, and social class and social support networks in kidney, liver, and pancreas transplant recipients.

CONTEXT The contribution of social support networks to the recovery of transplant recipients is an important assessment in measuring improved physical and psychosocial well-being. Social support networks are described by structure, type, and function. OBJECTIVES (1) To describe the levels of structure (size, formal and informal support), type (concrete, emotional, and informational), and function (criticalness, direction, closeness, frequency, and duration) of the social support network and (2) to examine the relationships between individual characteristics of sex, race, and social class and social support networks. METHODS This exploratory-descriptive study was done in a Mid-south transplant center. A total of 258 kidney, liver, and pancreas transplant recipients participated, 61% of whom were less than 50-years-old. Instruments included a demographic questionnaire, the social support network pie chart, and the social support network grid. Descriptive statistics and analysis of variance were used with a . 05 significance level. RESULTS The social support network comprised extended family (67%), with a mean of 13.68 members. Emotional support was the most prevalent type of support reported. The mean (SD) duration of support was 7.9 (4.9) years. Sex, race, and social class had no main relationships with structure and type of support. However, women had a main effect with closeness (F = 4.98, P < .03) and African Americans had significantly higher levels of frequency of support (F = 7.51, P < .01) and longer duration of support (F = 9.07, P < .01) than did whites. Social and nursing intervention may improve the network closeness in males and may also augment support frequency and duration for whites.
ADH1B*1, ADH1C*2, DRD2 (-141C Ins), and 5-HTTLPR are associated with alcoholism in Mexican American men living in Los Angeles.

BACKGROUND The aim of the present study was to use a candidate gene approach to identify the genetic risk factors for alcoholism in Mexican Americans residing in the Los Angeles area. The genes selected include alcohol metabolizing genes and neurotransmitter genes, which have been shown in the literature to be associated with alcoholism in other ethnic groups. METHODS Thirteen allelic variants from seven genes were evaluated for their role in alcoholism using alcoholic (n = 200) and nonalcoholic (n = 251) Mexican Americans. Those polymorphic sites include alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH1B, ADH1C), aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2), cytochrome P-450 2E1 (CYP2E1) TaqI, DraI, RsaI, dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) TaqI A, B, intron 6, exon 7, -141C Ins/Del, serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR), and GABAA receptor beta3 subunit (GABRbeta3). RESULTS The results demonstrate that Mexican Americans have extremely low allele frequency for both ALDH2*2 and ADH1B*2 and a relatively high frequency of ADH1C*2 and CYP2E1 c2 alleles. ADH1B*1, ADH1C*2, DRD2 (-141C Ins), and 5-HTTLPR were associated with alcoholism in Mexican Americans (p < 0.05). DRD2 Ins was associated with alcoholism in those alcoholics who carried the ADH1B*2 or ADH1C*1 protective alleles (p = 0.032 in genotype level and p = 0.015 in allele level). DRD2 TaqI A and B alleles were associated with early age of onset for drinking (p = 0.016 for TaqI A1 and p = 0.049 for TaqI B1 allele). CONCLUSIONS Together, the data reveal unique genetic patterns in Mexican Americans that may be in part responsible for the heightened risk for alcoholism and alcohol-associated health problems in this population.
Glutathione Redox Potential Modulated by Reactive Oxygen Species Regulates Translation of Rubisco Large Subunit in the Chloroplast*

Previous work showed a transient but dramatic arrest in the synthesis of Rubisco large subunit (LSU) upon transfer ofChlamydomonas reinhardtii cells from low light (LL) to high light (HL). Using dichlorofluorescin, a short-term increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) was demonstrated, suggesting that their excessive formation could signal LSU down-regulation. A decrease in LSU synthesis occurred at LL in the presence of methyl viologen and was prevented at HL by ascorbate. Interfering with D1 function by mutations or by incubation with DCMU prevented the increase in ROS formation at HL and the concomitant down-regulation of LSU synthesis. If the electron transport was blocked further downstream, by mutation in the cytochromeb 6/f or by incubation with 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone, ROS formation increased, and LSU synthesis ceased. The elevation of ROS occurred concurrently with a change in the redox state of the glutathione pool, which shifted toward its oxidized form immediately after the transfer to HL and returned to its original value after 6 h. The decrease in the reduced/oxidized glutathione ratio at HL was prevented by ascorbate and could be induced at LL by methyl viologen. We suggest that excess ROS mediate a decrease in the reduced/oxidized glutathione ratio that in turn signals the translational arrest of the rbcL transcript.
Adherence to prescription opioid monitoring guidelines among residents and attending physicians in the primary care setting.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to compare adherence to opioid prescribing guidelines and potential opioid misuse in patients of resident vs attending physicians. DESIGN Retrospective cross-sectional study. SETTING Large primary care practice at a safety net hospital in New England. SUBJECTS Patients 18-89 years old, with at least one visit to the primary care clinic within the past year and were prescribed long-term opioid treatment for chronic noncancer pain. METHODS Data were abstracted from the electronic medical record by a trained data analyst through a clinical data warehouse. The primary outcomes were adherence to any one of two American Pain Society Guidelines: (1) documentation of at least one opioid agreement (contract) ever and (2) any urine drug testing in the past year, and evidence of potential prescription misuse defined as ≥2 early refills. We employed logistic regression analysis to assess whether patients' physician status predicts guideline adherence and/or potential opioid misuse. RESULTS Similar proportions of resident and attending patients had a controlled substance agreement (45.1% of resident patients vs. 42.4% of attending patient, P = 0.47) or urine drug testing (58.6% of resident patients vs. 63.6% of attending patients, P = 0.16). Resident patients were more likely to have two or more early refills in the past year relative to attending patients (42.8% vs. 32.5%; P = 0.004). In the adjusted regression analysis, resident patients were more likely to receive early refills (odds ratio 1.82, 95% confidence interval 1.26-2.62) than attending patients. CONCLUSIONS With some variability, residents and attending physicians were only partly compliant with national guidelines. Residents were more likely to manage patients with a higher likelihood of opioid misuse.
Prevalence and causes of visual impairment and blindness among adults with diabetes mellitus aged 40 years and older receiving treatment at government health facilities in the Mopani District, South Africa

This article presents part of the findings of a study conducted to assess the prevalence and causes of visual impairment (VI) and blindness among adults with diabetes mellitus (DM) receiving treatment at the government health facilities in the Mopani District, South Africa. This health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 225 Black South African diabetics (161 females and 64 males) aged 40-90 years (mean= 61.50 ± 10.49) years at seven different health care facilities. All the participants were examined for VI using an auto-refractor, pinhole disc, an ophthalmoscope, and a logMAR chart. Visual impairment was defined as visual acuity (VA) of worse than 6/9.5 but better and equal to 3/60, and blindness as VA of worse than 3/60 to no light perception. The prevalence of uncompensated VI and blindness in the right eyes was 70.6 and 3.6%, respectively. In the left eyes, the prevalence was 72 and 3.1% for VI and blindness respectively. The prevalence of blindness remained the same after optical compensation. The leading causes of uncompensated VI and blindness in both eyes were uncorrected refractive error (RE) (49.5%), cataract (24.7%), diabetic retinopathy (3.8%) and glaucoma (2.2%). Following optical compensation, the prevalence of compensated VI and blindness in the right eyes was 41.3 and 3.6%, respectively and in the left eyes, the prevalence was 42.2 and 3.1%, respectively. Uncompensated RE and cataract were the common causes of VI and blindness in this sample. The socio-economic status of this population might have contributed to these findings. These results indicate the need for affordable vision examination and spectacles provision as well as cataract surgery services in this population.
Neutrophil spontaneous death is mediated by down-regulation of autocrine signaling through GPCR, PI3Kγ, ROS, and actin

Neutrophil spontaneous apoptosis plays a crucial role in neutrophil homeostasis and the resolution of inflammation. We previously established Akt deactivation as a key mediator of this tightly regulated cellular death program. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms governing the diminished Akt activation were not characterized. Here, we report that Akt deactivation during the course of neutrophil spontaneous death was a result of reduced PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 level. The phosphatidylinositol lipid kinase activity of PI3Kγ, but not class IA PI3Ks, was significantly reduced during neutrophil death. The production of PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 in apoptotic neutrophils was mainly maintained by autocrinely released chemokines that elicited PI3Kγ activation via G protein–coupled receptors. Unlike in other cell types, serum-derived growth factors did not provide any survival advantage in neutrophils. PI3Kγ, but not class IA PI3Ks, was negatively regulated by gradually accumulated ROS in apoptotic neutrophils, which suppressed PI3Kγ activity by inhibiting an actin-mediated positive feedback loop. Taken together, these results provide insight into the mechanism of neutrophil spontaneous death and reveal a cellular pathway that regulates PtdIns(3,4,5)P3/Akt in neutrophils.