Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preoperative Factors Associated with Postoperative Change in Confusion Assessment Method Score in Hip Fracture Patients

Postoperative delirium is a major problem in elderly patients undergoing surgical repair of hip fracture. It is imperative to identify potentially treatable preoperative factors associated with the onset of postoperative delirium to optimize outcome. We sought to determine what preoperative variables are associated with postoperative delirium in geriatric patients undergoing surgical repair of hip fracture. In a prospective, IRB-approved study, patients admitted to the geriatric hip fracture service were examined daily in the hospital for the occurrence of postoperative delirium. All patients with a preoperative diagnosis of dementia or delirium were eliminated. A positive confusion assessment method score ([+]CAM) was used to determine the presence of postoperative delirium during the acute hospital stay. To determine the association between preoperative variables (demographics, laboratory values, and comorbidities) and postoperative (+)CAM scores, &khgr;2 and logistic regression analysis were performed with calculation for the odds ratios (OR). One-hundred-sixty-eight patients (72% women) were included in the analysis. Twenty-eight percent (n = 47) of patients had a (+)CAM score. Three variables were significant predictors of a (+)CAM score: (a) normal white blood cell count (OR, 2.2), (b) abnormal serum sodium (OR, 2.4); and (c) ASA physical status >II (OR, 11.3). The results suggest that preoperative medical conditions (abnormal serum sodium and ASA physical status >II) and an inability to mount a stress response (normal white blood cell count) may influence the patient’s postoperative mental status. In particular, two of the risk factors we identified may be amenable to therapy and are abnormal serum sodium and lack of an increase in white blood cell count during the stress of trauma and surgery.
Progressive ventricular enlargement in patients with clinically isolated syndromes is associated with the early development of multiple sclerosis

Background: In patients with clinically isolated syndromes (CIS) suggestive of multiple sclerosis (MS), the extent of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesion load influences the probability and time to development of clinically definite MS. Cerebral atrophy is recognised in established MS, but its time of onset and whether, in early disease, it is related to MRI lesion load or clinical outcome is less certain. Objectives: This study investigated ventricular enlargement over one year in CIS patients and explored its relation with lesion load and clinical outcome. Methods: A semi-automated thresholding technique for measuring ventricular volume (MIDAS) was applied to MRI scans in a cohort of 55 patients with CIS, recruited consecutively and imaged within three months of the onset of symptoms and again after one year. Results: Clinical MS had developed after one year in 16 of 40 patients with an abnormal baseline T2 scan and 2 of 15 with a normal scan. Significant ventricular enlargement was seen in 27 of 55 patients who fulfilled the new McDonald MRI criteria for MS using all available MRI at clinical follow up (median increase 0.3 cm3, p=0.005) Significant increase in ventricular volume was also seen in the 18 of 55 patients who developed clinical MS over the follow up period (median increase 0.5 cm3, p=0.006). There were significant but modest correlations between baseline lesion measures and subsequent ventricular enlargement. Conclusions: (1) Lesions and atrophy are both associated with early relapse leading to a diagnosis of clinical MS; (2) while lesions contribute to the development of atrophy, atrophy may also develop by other mechanisms. This suggests that MR measures have a complementary role in monitoring the course of MS, even from the earliest clinical stage.
Behavioral Thermoregulation of Brook and Rainbow Trout: Comparison of Summer Habitat Use in an Adirondack River, New York

Abstract The body temperatures of 15 hatchery-origin and two wild brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis and 11 hatchery-origin rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss were monitored with internally implanted, temperature-sensitive radio transmitters from June through September 1997 in a fifth-order Adirondack river (New York). The fish were released into a 12-km reach that during summer had maximum temperatures near those that are lethal for salmonids. Body temperatures were compared between species and with river temperatures. In 1997, the maximum river temperature was 26.4°C, and the highest average daily temperature was 25.0°C. The brook trout were usually cooler than the main river flow because they used two of five tributary confluences or groundwater discharge areas in two pools within the main river. The temperatures of the brook trout from June through September were an average of 2.3°C cooler than the main flow of the river and differed significantly (P = 0.002) from those of the rainbow trout, which were .
Lyn kinase controls TLR4-dependent IKK and MAPK activation modulating the activity of TRAF-6/TAK-1 protein complex in mast cells

Mast cells (MCs) control allergic reactions and contribute to protective innate immune responses through TLR4 activation. The tyrosine kinase Lyn is important to the high affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) signal transduction system in MCs, but its role on the TLR4 signalling cascade is still elusive. Here, we characterized several TLR4-triggered responses in bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) from wild-type (WT) and Lyn−/− mice. We found that Lyn−/− MCs secreted lower amounts of TNF-α after LPS challenge when compared with WT cells. Lyn−/− BMMCs showed less MAPK, IκB phosphorylation and NF-κB nuclear translocation after TLR-4 triggering than WT cells. LPS-induced MAPK and inhibitor of IκB kinase (IKK) phosphorylation were importantly reduced in the absence of Lyn. A constitutive interaction between TNF receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF-6) and phosphorylated TGF-β-activated kinase (TAK-1) was observed in Lyn−/− BMMCs and this complex was insensitive to LPS addition. Lyn kinase was activated and associated to TRAF-6 shortly after LPS addition in WT MCs. Analyzing two local MC-dependent innate immune responses in vivo, we found that Lyn positively controls early TNF-α production and immune cell recruitment after an intraperitoneal injection of LPS. Our results indicate that Lyn plays a positive role in TLR4-induced production of TNF-α in MCs controlling the activity of the TRAF-6/TAK-1 protein complex.
Correlation between vision‐ and health‐related quality of life scores

Purpose: To examine the correlation between health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) scores [assessed using the generic Short Form Health Survey (SF‐36) questionnaire] and vision‐related quality of life (VRQOL) scores [assessed using the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI‐VFQ25)].
Integrative Testimonial Therapy: An Internet-Based, Therapist-Assisted Therapy for German Elderly Survivors of the World War II With Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms

Abstract Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral treatments are known to be effective for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults. However, evidence for effective treatments for older persons with PTSD, particularly elderly war trauma survivors, is scarce. In an open trial, 30 survivors of World War II aged 65 to 85 years (mean, 71.73 years; SD, 4.8; n = 17 women) with PTSD symptoms were treated with a Web-based, therapist-assisted cognitive-behavioral/narrative therapy for 6 weeks. Intent-to-treat analyses revealed a significant decrease in PTSD severity scores (Cohen’s d = 0.43) and significant improvements on secondary clinical outcomes of quality of life, self-efficacy, and posttraumatic growth from pretreatment to posttreatment. All improvements were maintained at a 3-month follow-up. The attrition rate was low (13.3%), with participants who completed the trial reporting high working alliance and treatment satisfaction. Results of this study suggest that integrative testimonial therapy is a well accepted and potentially effective treatment for older war trauma survivors experiencing PTSD symptoms.
Epinephrine Contents of Sympathetic Ganglia and Brain Regions of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats of Different Ages 1

Summary The activity of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT), the enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of epinephrine from norepinephrine, was higher in a section of the medulla containing nucleus tractus solitarius from a genetic strain of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) than in appropriate Wistar Kyoto (WKY) control rats. The concentration of epinephrine, but not of other catecholamines, was higher in the hypothalamus of SHR. These differences appeared between the fourth and ninth week of life and continued into adulthood. The contents of norepinephrine, dopamine and epinephrine in the superior cervical ganglia of SHR were also higher than in WKY; these differences were first noted at 4 weeks of age. During the first 3 weeks of life, SHR were more sensitive to the dexamethasone-induced increases in both the PNMT activity of the brain and the epinephrine content of the ganglia.
The Effect of New Clinical Pathways on the Outcome of Vascular Access Surgery

Purpose Prior to 2007, the waiting time for vascular access surgery at our center was approximately 107 days compared to a UK average of 45 days. Two new pathways were developed; the rapid and super-rapid pathways incorporating an access liaison nurse who organized vessel mapping and referred patients for surgery. This audit was to determine whether the pathways were effective in reducing the waiting times and improving vascular accesses outcomes. Methods All 210 patients with established renal failure undergoing 232 vascular access procedures between January 2008 and March 2011 were studied. Detailed patient information including type of procedure and cause of access failure were stored in an Excel spreadsheet and analyzed using SPSS for Windows. Results One hundred and twenty patients had a brachiocephalic fistula, 61 a radiocephalic fistula, 39 an access using the basilic vein ± transposition, and 11 a transposition of the long saphenous vein and one a brachio-axillary graft. Overall median waiting time from referral to access surgery was 23 days. Patients were followed up for a median of 248 days after surgery. The overall primary failure rate was 9.1% and 25 of 27 accesses failed because of thrombosis. The overall cumulative survival probability of accesses at one year was 61.4% with a mean survival of 621.2 days (SEM = 34.8). Conclusion The clinical pathways have improved VA service to patients with a drastic reduction in waiting times, elimination of synthetic access, and maintenance of satisfactory results.
An expanding serpiginous plaque of the lower extremity.

46 DIAGNOSTIC DILEMMAS IN DERMATOLOGY Case Report A 51-year-old man with no past medical history presented to the outpatient dermatology clinic with a complaint of severe pruritus of his right lower leg for one week’s duration. He reported no history of any skin problems in the past, including any history of atopy. He denied any recent contacts, but admitted to recent travel to Mexico where he swam in ocean water and walked barefoot on the beach several times prior to experiencing any symptoms. The patient described the initial lesion as a “small pink bump” that continued to enlarge and become more itchy. He could not recall any “bites” or “stings,” and denied systemic symptoms, such as headache, fevers, or chills. Physical examination revealed an erythematous and scaly serpiginous plaque approximately 6cm in length on the right shin (Figure 1). A punch biopsy of the skin was sent for histological analysis (Figures 2 and 3). Special staining for CD30 was also performed (Figure 4).
Breast lymphedema after breast conserving treatment

The authors aimed to evaluate breast lymphedema after breast conserving therapy (BCT) and sentinel node biopsy (SNB) or axillary clearance (AC). Fifty-seven breast cancer patients with BCT underwent SNB only and 103 underwent AC (57 with tumor negative and 46 with positive axillary nodes). Clinical examination and breast ultrasonography (US) were performed one year after surgery. Clinical examination revealed breast edema in 48% of patients in the AC node positive group, in 35% in the AC node negative group, and in 23% in the SNB group (p<0.05 between SNB and AC node positive). US revealed subcutaneous edema in the operated breast in 69–70% of the patients in the AC groups and in 28% in the SNB group (p=0.001–0.0001 between the SNB and the AC groups). Breast lymphedema was less common one year after BCT in patients with SNB only than in those with more extensive axillary treatment.
Racial/Ethnic Differences in Cancer Prevention Beliefs: Applying the Health Belief Model Framework

Purpose. An understanding of each racial/ethnic group's beliefs about cancer prevention is important for designing/implementing interventions to reduce cancer-health disparities. The Health Belief Model was used to examine racial/ethnic differences in beliefs about cancer and cancer prevention. Design. The data were from the 2007 Health Information National Trends Survey, a biennial, cross-sectional survey using a random-digit-dial telephone frame and a mailing address frame. Setting. A weighted, nationally representative sample of American adults. Subjects. The sample consisted of 7452 individuals. Measures. Model construct variables (perceived susceptibility; perceived severity; perceived benefits; perceived barriers; cues to action; self-efficacy) and race/ethnicity were assessed. Analysis. The Rao-Scott χ2 test and multivariate logistic regression assessed racial/ethnic differences. Results. The constructs self-efficacy, perceived benefits, and perceived susceptibility were significantly associated with race/ethnicity. The remaining three constructs were not statistically significant. Multivariate analysis revealed Hispanics were less likely to believe they could lower their chances of getting cancer than did African-Americans and whites. Hispanics, Asians, and African-Americans were more likely to believe they had a lower chance of getting cancer in the future than did whites. Conclusion. Culturally relevant health education/promotion interventions need to be developed and tailored to (1) empower Hispanics regarding their ability to prevent cancer and (2) educate racial/ethnic minorities about their susceptibility and risk perception for cancer.
rOmpA is a critical protein for the adhesion of Rickettsia rickettsii to host cells.

rOmpA and rOmpB are immunodominant, surface-exposed proteins of Rickettsia rickettsii. Prior evidence suggests that adhesion of R. rickettsii to the host cell is mediated by a rickettsial protein. Five monoclonal antibodies to rOmpA, five to rOmpB, and one to the rickettsial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were tested for inhibition of rickettsial attachment. All the monoclonal antibodies to rOmpA inhibited adhesion of rickettsiae to the L-929 cells with some inhibition rates as high as 90%. In contrast, monoclonal antibodies to rOmpB and LPS did not block attachment. When Fab fragments of monoclonal antibodies against rOmpA and rOmpB were used, similar results were observed as for the intact monoclonals, non-adhesion and adhesion, respectively. Purified rOmpA showed a competitive inhibitive effect on the attachment of R. rickettsii to host cells. Trypsin completely digested rOmpA but not rOmpB from the surface of intact R. rickettsii, resulting in loss of the ability of the rickettsiae to attach to the host cell. rOmpA appears to play an important role in the initial adhesion of R. rickettsii to the host cell.
The effect of music on recall ability of words and digits

The aim of the current study is to investigate the effect of music on recall ability of words and digits. A PowerPoint slideshow of sequences of words and digits was presented to a sample of 84 DBS Undergraduate students. Participants were allocated to one of three conditions; silent, vocal/pop or instrumental. In the two music conditions background music was played for the duration of the experiment. Participants had to recall the presented stimuli onto a recall sheet. The findings suggest that music has a negative effect on the recall of words but it has no significant effect on the recall of digits. The participants recalled digits better than words, across all music conditions and there was no significant difference in gender recall ability.
The impacts of Wolbachia and the microbiome on mate choice in Drosophila melanogaster

Symbionts and parasites can manipulate their hosts’ reproduction to their own benefit, profoundly influencing patterns of mate choice and evolution of the host population. Wolbachia is one of the most widespread symbionts among arthropods, and one that alters its hosts’ reproduction in diverse and dramatic ways. While we are beginning to appreciate how Wolbachia's extreme manipulations of host reproduction can influence species diversification and reproductive isolation, we understand little about how symbionts and Wolbachia, in particular, may affect intrapopulation processes of mate choice. We hypothesized that the maternally transmitted Wolbachia would increase the attractiveness of its female hosts to further its own spread. We therefore tested the effects of Wolbachia removal and microbiome disruption on female attractiveness and male mate choice among ten isofemale lines of Drosophila melanogaster. We found variable effects of general microbiome disruption on female attractiveness, with indications that bacteria interact with hosts in a line‐specific manner to affect female attractiveness. However, we found no evidence that Wolbachia influence female attractiveness or male mate choice among these lines. Although the endosymbiont Wolbachia can greatly alter the reproduction of their hosts in many species, there is no indication that they alter mate choice behaviours in D. melanogaster.
Genetic Analysis of Several Disease Categories Using Test Day Threshold Models in German Holstein Cows

present study trajectories for the disease categories udder diseases, metabolic diseases, all diseases, fertility diseases, and ovarian problems, are described. Variance components were estimated where the considered period of lactation varies between 50 and 300 days. Furthermore, the impact of the number of daughters per sire was analysed with disease information from the first 50 days of lactation. In total 18 data sets were analysed with a test day threshold model. The average disease frequencies were between 6.5% and 2.7% for udder diseases and they were between 1.7% and 0.4%, and 15.3% and 6.0% for metabolic diseases and 'all diseases', respectively. For udder diseases the estimated heritabilities vary between 0.12 and 0.25 depending on lactation length and the number of daughters per sire. For metabolic disease heritabilities were estimated within the interval of 0.12 to 0.24. Depending on the lactation length the heritabilities of all diseases were fairly constant (0.03 to 0.04). The heritabilities of all diseases increased if fertility diseases were excluded. Those estimates vary between 0.15 to 0.19.
Average optimal DPOAE primary tone levels in normal-hearing adults

Abstract Objective: Despite great progress towards optimizing DPOAE primary tone characteristics, factors such as stimulus and intra-subject emission variability have not been addressed. The purpose of this study was to identify optimal primary tone level relationships when these sources of variability were acknowledged, and to identify any influences of test frequency. Design: Following coupler-based measurements assessing primary tone level stability, two experiments were conducted. In experiment 1, DPOAE test-retest reliability without probe replacement was measured for f2 = 1–6 kHz with L1 = L2 = 65 dB SPL. In experiment 2, optimal L1-L2 relationships were identified for f2 = 1–6 kHz. For 20 ≤ L2 ≤ 75 dB SPL, L1 was varied 15 dB SPL above and below the recommendation of L1 = 0.4 L2 + 39 [dB SPL]. Study sample: Eleven normal-hearing adults participated in experiment 1. Thirty normal-hearing adults participated in experiment 2. Results: Stimulus variability did not exceed 0.1 dB SPL. DPOAE reliability testing revealed an across-frequency mean standard error of measurement of 0.52 dB SPL. The average optimal L1-L2 relationship was described by L1 = 0.49 L2 + 41 [dB SPL]. A significant effect of frequency was identified for 6 kHz. Conclusion: Including relevant sources of variability improves internal validity of a primary tone level optimization formula.
Performances of a Capacitorless 1T-DRAM Using Polycrystalline Silicon Thin-Film Transistors With Trenched Body

Polycrystalline silicon thin-film transistors (TFTs) can be improved by integrating DRAM on chip. However, the TFT's poor capacitance means that traditional DRAMs are infeasible, because they require a capacitor. An alternative, the one-transistor DRAM (1T-DRAM), is promising because it avoids the capacitor by instead storing the logical value as holes trapped in the body region. This letter proposes the use of a trenched body in a TFT to construct a 1T-DRAM. Previously, we have shown that a trenched body reduces the leakage current of a TFT. In this letter, we now show that the trenched-body TFT also works well as a 1T-DRAM device. It has a strong back-gating effect and a programming window that is more than twice as large as that of the conventional TFT.
icsB: a Shigella flexneri virulence gene necessary for the lysis of protrusions during intercellular spread

Shigella flexneri causes bacillary dysentery by invading epithelial cells of the colonic mucosa. We have characterized the icsB gene which is located on the virulence plasmid pWR100. After inactivation of icsB, the mutant strain remained invasive, but formed abnormally small plaques on HeLa cell monolayers, colonized only the peripheral cells of Caco‐2 islets, and was unable to provoke a keratoconjunctivitis in guinea‐pigs. Examination of infected HeLa cells showed that the icsB mutant was able to lyse the phagocytic vacuole and to form protrusions at the surface of infected cells, but, unlike the wild type, remained trapped in protrusions surrounded by two membranes. These results indicate that IcsB is involved in the lysis of the protrusions, a step necessary for intercellular spread.
Enamel Subsurface Lesion Remineralisation with Casein Phosphopeptide Stabilised Solutions of Calcium, Phosphate and Fluoride

Casein phosphopeptide stabilised amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) and amorphous calcium fluoride phosphate (CPP-ACFP) solutions have been shown to remineralise enamel subsurface lesions. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of ion composition of CPP-ACP and CPP-ACFP solutions on enamel subsurface lesion remineralisation in vitro. CPP-bound and free calcium, phosphate and fluoride ion concentrations in the solutions were determined after ultrafiltration. The ion activities of the free ion species present were calculated using an iterative computational program. The mineral deposited in the subsurface lesions was analysed using transverse microradiography and electron microprobe. CPP was found to stabilise high concentrations of calcium, phosphate and fluoride ions at all pH values (7.0–4.5). Remineralisation of the subsurface lesions was observed at all pH values tested with a maximum at pH 5.5. The CPP-ACFP solutions produced greater remineralisation than the CPP-ACP solutions at pH 5.5 and below. The mineral formed in the subsurface lesions was consistent with hydroxyapatite and fluorapatite for remineralisation with CPP-ACP and CPP-ACFP, respectively. The activity gradient of the neutral ion pair CaHPO4⁰ into the lesion was significantly correlated with remineralisation and together with HF⁰ were identified as important species for diffusion.