Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
White blood cell count and C-reactive protein together remain useful for diagnosis and staging of acute appendicitis in children.

BACKGROUND Acute appendicitis (AA) is the most common acute surgical condition of the abdomen, and the most commonly misdiagnosed. OBJECTIVE To analyse the white blood cell count (WBCC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) contribution to the diagnosis of AA in children. METHODS This was a retrospective study of 943 consecutive patients operated on with the preoperative diagnosis of AA, in whom preoperative WBCC and CRP had both been measured. Postoperatively, the patients were divided into three groups: normal appendix (no AA), simple AA and complicated AA. RESULTS Of the 943 patients, 616 (65.3%) had simple AA. The mean (standard deviation (SD)) age for this group was 9.8 (3.2) years (p<0.01 v. complicated AA), the mean WBCC was 16.5 (5.0) × 109/L (p<0.01 v. complicated AA and no AA), and the mean CRP level was 304.8 (409.5) nmol/L (p<0.01 v. complicated AA). The mean age of the patients with complicated AA (283/943, 30.0%) was 7.9 (3.7) years, the mean WBCC was 17.7 (6.2) × 109/L (p<0.01 v. no AA) and the mean CRP level was 1 076.2 (923.8) nmol/L (p<0.01 v. no AA). The mean age of the patients with no AA (44/943, 4.7%) was 8.8 (3.2) years, the mean WBCC was 13.1 (5.3) × 109/L and the mean CRP was 361.9 (447.6) nmol/L. The WBCC was normal in 113/899 patients with appendicitis (12.6%) and CRP in 139 (15.5%). Both the WBCC and CRP were normal in 17 patients with appendicitis (1.9%). The best receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was obtained for WBCC when comparing all AA with no AA: cut-off point 15.0 × 109/L, sensitivity 65%, specificity 68%, area under the curve 0.70. The best ROC curve for CRP was obtained when comparing simple AA with complicated AA: cut-off point 361.9 nmol/L, sensitivity 74%, specificity 74%, area under the curve 0.81. CONCLUSIONS The WBCC is helpful in diagnosing simple AA and CRP in diagnosing complicated AA. If both are normal, AA is very unlikely. Together the WBCC and CRP are useful tools in diagnosing and staging AA.
Is 8 Hours of Nightly Peritoneal Dialysis Enough?

Eight hours of nightly tidal peritoneal dialysis (TPD) theoretically can provide uremia control equal that of continuous cyclic peritoneal dialysis (CCPD). To assess the in vivo validity of this prediction, six patients underwent mass transfer area coefficient (MTaC) measurements and dialysis using CCPD and TPD. CCPD consisted of five nighttime exchanges of 40 ml/kg and a daytime exchange of 20 ml/kg. TPD used an initial fill of 40 ml/kg and hourly tidal flows of 30 or 50 ml/kg. The nocturnal portion of CCPD lasted 9.7 hr (range 9.5–10 hr). TPD lasted 8.5 hr (range 8–9 hr) and was devoid of daytime dialysis. The patients consumed a diet containing 1.2 ± 0.07 g protein/kg body weight (range 0.7–1.7 g/kg) and had a pre dialysis blood urea nitrogen concentration of 52 mg/dl (range 18–82 mg/dl). The dialysate clearances of urea and creatinine were indexed to patient size and extrapolated to weekly values. CCPD provided a weekly creatinine clearance of 50 L/1.73 m2 and a Kt/Vurea of 2.06. TDP with an hourly dialysate flow of 30 ml/kg achieved a weekly creatinine clearance of 42.8 L/1.73 m2 and a Kt/Vurea of 1.73. When the hourly dialysate flow was increased to 50 ml/kg, these values improved to 53.3 L/1.73 m2 and 2.15, respectively. Dialysis efficiency equal to that of CCPD can be obtained using 8 hr of TPD when membrane characteristics (mass transfer area coefficient) and dialysate flow rates are appropriate. Patients with normal or above normal mass transfer area coefficients can obtain a weekly Kt/Vurea exceeding 2.0 using nightly high flow TPD.
Recognition Memory for Emotional Words: An Event Related Potential Study

v Introduction 1 Emotion and Memory 2 ERPs and Emotion 6 ERPs Associated with Episodic Memory 7 Old/New Effects 7 ERPs, Emotion, and Recognition Memory 15 Purpose 20 Hypotheses and Predictions 22 Behavioral 22 Hypothesis 1 22 Hypothesis 2 22 Hypothesis 3 22 ERP 23 Hypothesis 4 23 Hypothesis 5 23 Method 24 Participants 24 Apparatus 24 Materials 25 Design and Procedure 26 Results 31 Data Diagnostics 31 Behavioral Analyses 31 Hypothesis 1 31 Hit Rate/False Alarm Rate 31 Sensitivity 33 Hypothesis 2 33 Response Bias 34 Reaction Times 34 ii Hypothesis 3 38 ERP Analyses 38 Hypothesis 4 38 Traditional Old/New Comparison 39 Objective Old/New Comparison 43 Subjective Old/New Comparison 45 Hypothesis 5 53 Discussion 54 Limitations and Directions for Future Research 61 References 63 Appendices 75 Appendix A: Word Lists 76 Appendix B: Signal Detection Formulas 79
How does male circumcision protect against HIV infection?

In his otherwise excellent review of the AIDS epidemic in the 21st century, Fauci presented no new strategies for preventing the spread of the disease.1 He made no mention of male circumcision, yet there is now compelling epidemiological evidence from over 40 studies which shows that male circumcision provides significant protection against HIV infection; circumcised males are two to eight times less likely to become infected with HIV.2 Furthermore, circumcision also protects against other sexually transmitted infections, such as syphilis and gonorrhoea,3 4 and since people who have a sexually transmitted infection are two to five times more likely to become infected with HIV,5 circumcision may be even more protective. The most dramatic evidence of the protective effect of circumcision comes from a new study of couples in Uganda who had discordant HIV status; in this study the woman was HIV positive and her male partner was not.6 No new infections occurred among any of the 50 circumcised men over 30 months, whereas 40 of 137 uncircumcised men became infected during this time. Both groups had been given free access to HIV testing, intensive instruction about preventing infection, and free condoms (which were continuously available), but 89% of the men never used condoms, and condom use did not seem to influence the rate of transmission of HIV. These findings should focus the spotlight of scientific attention onto the foreskin. Why does its removal reduce a man's susceptibility to HIV infection? #### Summary points The majority of men who are HIV positive have been infected through the penis There is conclusive epidemiological evidence to show that uncircumcised men are at a much greater risk of becoming infected with HIV than circumcised men The inner surface of the foreskin contains Langerhans' cells with HIV receptors; these cells are likely to …
Docosahexaenoic acid is more potent inhibitor of osteoclast differentiation in RAW 264.7 cells than eicosapentaenoic acid

Fish oil rich in n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) protects inflammation induced bone loss in chronic inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, periodontitis, and osteoporosis. EPA and DHA differentially regulate functional parameters and gene expression in different cell types. One of the risk factors for bone loss in inflammatory bone diseases is the elevation of bone‐resorbing osteoclasts and a very few studies so far have indicated that attenuation of osteoclastogenesis might be one of the mechanisms by which n−3 PUFA exert its effect on bone loss protection. However, the precise mechanism underlying this process remains unclear. Receptor activator of NF‐κB ligand (RANKL) is known to be the most critical mediator of osteoclastogenesis. Therefore, in this study, we examined the differential effect of EPA and DHA on RANKL‐stimulated osteoclastogenesis and RANKL signaling using a murine monocytic cell line RAW 264.7. DHA was found to inhibit osteoclast differentiation, activation and function more potently than EPA. The differential potential also closely correlated with the inhibition of osteoclast‐specific genes like tartrate resistant acid phosphatase, cathepsin K, calcitonin receptor, matrix metalloproteinase‐9 expression and osteoclast‐specific transcription factor, c‐Fos, as well as osteotropic proinflammatory cytokine, TNF‐α to a greater extent with DHA than EPA. Further, pretreatment of RAW 264.7 cells with DHA also showed significantly reduced activation of NF‐κB and p38MAPK than EPA. Our findings suggest that DHA may be much more effective than EPA in alleviating RANKL induced proinflammatory cytokine production, intracellular signaling activation, thereby decreasing osteoclast activation and bone resorption. J. Cell. Physiol. 214:201–209, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Inert Gas Diffusion Method for Measurement of Blood Flow: COMPARISON OF BOLUS INJECTION TO DIRECTLY MEASURED BLOOD FLOW IN THE ISOLATED GASTROCNEMIUS MUSCLE

The isolated cat gastrocnemius preparation was used to study the relation between the washout of 133 Xenon measured by external monitoring and blood flow measured directly by a dropcounter. The experimental possibility was thereby tested of recording the total tracer bolus and its subsequent washout by external monitoring, using the height H and the corresponding area A of the washout curve. The partition coefficient λ, and the amount of recirculation were evaluated in separate experiments. According to Zierler, the blood flow per gram of tissue should equal λ • H/A . This relation was verified experimentally. Exponential analysis was carried out but the results of it were not considered to support the hypothesis of a two compartment inparallel model in skeletal muscle. The shape of the washout curve did not suggest the existence of A-V shunts.
Autologous stem-cell transplantation can be performed safely without the use of blood-product support.

PURPOSE Autologous stem-cell transplantation has been shown to be a curative procedure for a variety of leukemias and lymphomas. Most transplants require RBC and platelet support. We report the ability to perform autologous transplantation without blood-product support. SUBJECTS AND METHODS In this study, we treated 26 patients with religious objection to blood products with autologous stem-cell support without the use of any blood products. Patients received a combination of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), erythropoietin, and interleukin-11 or G-CSF alone to mobilize stem cells. Post-transplant patients received intravenous iron, erythropoietin, G-CSF, and epsilon aminocaproic acid. RESULTS There were two major bleeding complications (8%), with two treatment-related deaths (8%). There were three minor bleeding complications (12%). The median fall in hemoglobin level was 4.7 g/dL; the median hemoglobin level 30 days after transplantation was 9.2 g/dL. The median total number of days with platelet count less than 10 x 10(9)/L was 4 days; the median days to platelet recovery greater than 20 x 10(9)/L was 12 days. CONCLUSION Autologous stem-cell transplantation can be performed safely without the use of any blood products.
Automated distributed electric vehicle controller for residential demand side management

Electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining more interest recently due to the various challenges and opportunities they can provide to the utility operator. For electric utilities that have demand side management (DSM) program, EVs can represent a burden or a help depending on the control strategy and the DSM program. In this paper, an automated fuzzy-based controller is proposed to successfully integrate and coordinate the EVs charging in a decentralized and fair way. The controller takes into consideration the owner requirements, the voltage at the point of connection and the pricing signal coming from the utility. The controller is tested under different DSM programs that exist in the literature and a new DSM program that is compatible with the current infrastructure is proposed to accommodate EVs as prosumers. The controller performance is validated through Matlab simulations. The results showed that the controller can successfully coordinate the charging of EVs in a fair manner, avoid under-voltages and shave the system peaks without any rebound effect.
Human lung carcinogen-DNA adduct levels mediated by genetic polymorphisms in vivo.

BACKGROUND Cancer risk from exposure to tobacco smoke varies widely from person to person, depending in part on the status of particular genes and acquired susceptibilities. Certain genes determine how cells activate and detoxify carcinogens. Activated carcinogen metabolites may bind to DNA and form DNA adducts (e.g., 7-methyl-2'-deoxyguanosine-3'-monophosphate [7-methyl-dGMP] and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-dGMP [PAHs-dGMP]), many of which can induce genetic mutations. Thus, if individuals have an increased capacity to activate carcinogens, they might form more carcinogen-DNA adducts and subsequently have an increased risk of cancer. PURPOSE Using DNA-adduct detection methods specific for 7-methyl-dGMP and PAH-dGMP, we sought to determine whether an inherited genetic susceptibility to cancer associated with certain carcinogen-metabolizing and detoxifying genes (e.g., cytochrome P450 and glutathione S-transferase) is related to DNA adduct formation in lung tissue. METHODS Human lung tissues were collected randomly from 90 autopsy donors who were free of cancer. Levels of 7-methyl-dGMP, a metabolic product of N-nitrosamines, and PAH-dGMP adducts were determined in lung tissue specimens by use of micropreparative DNA purification steps combined with a 32P-postlabeling assay. Genetic polymorphisms (the presence of different genes and/or alleles) were determined for the cytochrome P450 genes, CYP2D6, CYP2E1, and CYP1A1, as well as for glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1). Statistical differences among adduct levels for the study variables, including genotypes, were assessed by the two-sided Student's t test or the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS Higher 7-methyl-dGMP adduct levels were associated with CYP2D6 genotypes (P = .01), consistent with the reports of the increased risk of lung cancer associated with this genotype. Higher adduct levels were also associated with CYP2E1 minor alleles (P = .05). In both cases, the association was attributed mostly to individuals with low serum cotinine levels (P = .004 and P = .05, respectively), suggesting that the effect of the genotypes is mostly in nonsmokers exposed to either passive tobacco smoke or to N-nitrosamine exposures other than tobacco smoke or to N-nitrosamine exposures other than tobacco smoke. Separately, the presence of PAH-dGMP adducts was associated with the GSTM1 null genotype (absence of the gene) (odds ratio = 8.6; 95% confidence interval = 1.03-100). CONCLUSIONS This study finds that the levels of two different carcinogen-DNA adducts vary in lung tissue (an important target tissue) in association with three separate genetic polymorphisms (i.e., CYP2D6, CYP2E1, and GSTM1). CYP2D6 and CYP2E1 genotypes are associated with higher 7-methyl-dGMP levels, while the GSTM1 null genotype is associated with higher numbers of PAH-dGMP adducts. These findings suggest that genetic polymorphisms are predictive of carcinogen-DNA adduct levels and would thus be predictive of an individual's lifetime response to carcinogen exposure.
The oxygen supply to the retina. I. Effects of changes in intraocular and arterial blood pressures, and in arterial P O2 and P CO2 on the oxygen tension in the vitreous body of the cat.

The Po2 in the vitreous body close to the retina, PvrO2, was determined continuously with an O2 electrode. In cats with a mean arterial blood pressure of 176±7 cm H2O, a PaO2 of 98±2 mm Hg, a PaC02 of 27.0±1–2 mm Hg and a pH of 7.43±0.16 units the mean PVr02 was 18.9±1.5 mm Hg. Stepwise increments in the eye pressure had no effect on PVrO2 at perfusion pressures above 50–100 cm H2O. At lower perfusion pressures PvrO2 decreased. Changes in perfusion pressure caused by hemorrhage and retransfusion gave similar results. At low Paco2 levels PvrO2 decreased; at high PaCo2 levels values of 40–60 mm Hg were observed. Reductions in Pao2 decreased Pvro2, increments gave either no change or a rise in Pvr02- Hypercapnia combined with high Pao2 in several cases resulted in PVr02 values between 100 and 150 mm Hg. The results indicate that the blood flow through the retina is very efficiently autoregulated, that oxygen tends to induce vasoconstriction in the retinal blood vessels, that hypocapnia gives vasoconstriction and hypercapnia marked vasodilatation.
A review on antidepressant plants

Depression is a heterogeneous mood disorder that has been classified and treated in a variety of ways. Although a number of synthetic drugs are being used as standard treatment for clinically depressed patients, they have adverse effects that can compromise the therapeutic treatment. Thus, it is worthwhile to look for antidepressants from plants with proven advantage and favourable benefit-to-risk ratio. A number of medicinal plants per se and medicines derived from these plants have shown antidepressant properties by virtue of their medicinal constituents. The causes of depression are decreased brain levels of monoamines like noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin. Therefore, drugs restoring the reduced levels of these monoamines in the brain either by inhibiting monoamine oxidase or by inhibiting reuptake of these neurotransmitters might be fruitful in the treatment of depression. The present review is focused on the medicinal plants and plant-based formulations having antidepressant activity in animal studies and in humans.
A Symptom Profile of Patients with Multiple Personalities, Including MMPI Results

Patients with multiple personalities are excellent hypnotic subjects, a capability demonstrated both clinically and on a standard hypnotizability test. They tend to experience a plethora of symptoms associated with anxiety states, hysteria, obsessional neuroses, phobic states, depression and mania, schizophrenia, alcoholism, sociopathy, and hyperactivity—although there are exceptions to this profile. Both males and females suffer from this disability, and an MMPI profile for female multiples is described.
Dysfonction musculaire périphérique et réhabilitation respiratoire dans la BPCO : intérêt d’une supplémentation en antioxydants

La rehabilitation respiratoire tient une place importante dans la prise en charge des patients atteints de Broncho-pneumopathie chronique obstructive (BPCO) stables en induisant des benefices au niveau de la tolerance a l’effort, la fonction et la masse musculaire peripherique. La presence d’un stress oxydant eleve a l’etat basal, considere comme un des principaux facteurs impliques dans l’atteinte musculaire peripherique, est bien admise malgre les discordances rapportees dans la litterature notamment au niveau du systeme antioxydant. L’absence d’amelioration des marqueurs du stress oxydant au cours d’un programme de rehabilitation respiratoire constitue une limite probable aux adaptations musculaires escomptees. Cependant, meme si une supplementation en antioxydants semble etre une intervention adaptee permettant de reduire le stress oxydant et d’ameliorer l’atteinte musculaire peripherique, son efficacite reste toujours a prouver chez les patients BPCO.Ainsi, nos objectifs etaient de determiner et caracteriser l’heterogeneite des marqueurs du stress oxydant en vue d’etudier les effets d’une supplementation en antioxydants adaptee sur des marqueurs specifiques de l’atteinte musculaire peripherique des patients BPCO stables. A travers une analyse globale integrant toute la complexite du stress oxydant, ce travail de these a montre que les principaux deficits en antioxydants chez les patients BPCO stables se situent au niveau de l’equilibre vitamine C/E, du zinc et du selenium. De plus, nos resultats ont permis de determiner des profils de patients caracterises notamment par des sous-groupes de femmes ayant une majoration des taux de peroxydes lipidiques. Base sur les principaux deficits identifies et malgre l’importante heterogenite des reponses, nous avons montre qu’une supplementation en antioxydants permettait d’optimiser les benefices d’un programme de rehabilitation respiratoire en ameliorant la FMIV, la Vo2sl et la surface de section transversale (SSt) des fibres musculaires de patients BPCO stables. Ainsi, dans l’optique d’une approche par phenotypes, l’utilisation de valeurs de references de la SSt, comme etablies dans notre seconde etude, semble constituer un biomarqueur adapte mais celles-ci doivent etre optimisees afin d’etre applicable chez les patients BPCO. Pour conclure, outre l’interet pour l’utilisation d’une supplementation en antioxydants au cours d’un programme de rehabilitation respiratoire, nos resultats contribuent a ameliorer les connaissances sur le role du stress oxydant dans la physiopathologie de l’atteinte musculaire peripherique des patients BPCO. De plus, une meilleure comprehension et caracterisation de l’heterogeneite, a la fois du stress oxydant et de l’atteinte musculaire peripherique, ouvrent des perspectives de recherche prometteuses dans l’optique d’une adaptation de la prise en charge des patients BPCO.
The flowering hormone florigen functions as a general systemic regulator of growth and termination

The florigen paradigm implies a universal flowering-inducing hormone that is common to all flowering plants. Recent work identified FT orthologues as originators of florigen and their polypeptides as the likely systemic agent. However, the developmental processes targeted by florigen remained unknown. Here we identify local balances between SINGLE FLOWER TRUSS (SFT), the tomato precursor of florigen, and SELF-PRUNING (SP), a potent SFT-dependent SFT inhibitor as prime targets of mobile florigen. The graft-transmissible impacts of florigen on organ-specific traits in perennial tomato show that in addition to import by shoot apical meristems, florigen is imported by organs in which SFT is already expressed. By modulating local SFT/SP balances, florigen confers differential flowering responses of primary and secondary apical meristems, regulates the reiterative growth and termination cycles typical of perennial plants, accelerates leaf maturation, and influences the complexity of compound leaves, the growth of stems and the formation of abscission zones. Florigen is thus established as a plant protein functioning as a general growth hormone. Developmental interactions and a phylogenetic analysis suggest that the SFT/SP regulatory hierarchy is a recent evolutionary innovation unique to flowering plants.
Bioassay case study applying the maximin D‐optimal design algorithm to the four‐parameter logistic model

Cell‐based potency assays play an important role in the characterization of biopharmaceuticals but they can be challenging to develop in part because of greater inherent variability than other analytical methods. Our objective is to select concentrations on a dose–response curve that will enhance assay robustness. We apply the maximin D‐optimal design concept to the four‐parameter logistic (4PL) model and then derive and compute the maximin D‐optimal design for a challenging bioassay using curves representative of assay variation. The selected concentration points from this ‘best worst case’ design adequately fit a variety of 4PL shapes and demonstrate improved robustness. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.