Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The evolution of multiple sclerosis lesions on serial MR.

PURPOSE To characterize temporal changes in signal intensity patterns of multiple sclerosis lesions on serial MR. METHODS T1-, T2-, proton density-, and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MR was performed on five patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis at least 22 times in the course of 1 year. RESULTS Forty-three enhancing lesions and 1 new lesion that never showed enhancement were detected and followed for periods ranging from approximately 4 weeks to 1 year (total of 702 time points). At first detection the center of new lesions was brighter than the periphery (20 of 24 new lesions on proton density-weighted and 19 of 23 new lesions on contrast-enhanced images). On contrast-enhanced images, ring hyperintensity was predominant at time points later than 29 days. As lesions aged, a residual rim of "nonenhancing" hyperintensity often was noted on contrast-enhanced images. Some older lesions (> 1 year) showed similar appearance on unenhanced T1-weighted images. On proton density-weighted images ring hyperintensity was most frequent 2 to 4 months after lesion detection. The estimated average duration of gadopentetate dimeglumine enhancement was 1 to 2 months. CONCLUSIONS A lesion evolution pattern relevant to MR was inferred. We believe that specific information about the histopathologic evolution of a lesion may be extracted not only from contrast-enhanced but also from nonenhanced serial MR. Assessment of drugs targeting specific phases of lesion evolution could benefit from quantitative pattern analysis of routine MR images.
Porphyria Cutanea Tarda and HIV/AIDS: A Review of Pathogenesis, Clinical Manifestations and Management

The porphyrias, a group of rare acquired or hereditary diseases, are due to abnormalities in the haeme biosynthesis pathway. Clinical manifestations vary with the de® cient enzyme. Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), the most common of the porphyrias, is the result of decreased function of the enzyme uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase. This is a de® ciency that is limited to the liver more commonly in the acquired form; and involves other tissues, including erythrocytes, in the hereditary form. Clinical manifestations in this type of porphyria are limited to the skin1,2. Porphyria cutanea tarda has been reported in association with HIV infection3± 39. Here we present 2 cases of PCT in HIV-infected patients; in addition, the clinical characteristics and the epidemiology of PCT in HIV/AIDS patients is reviewed, and controversies regarding pathogenesis are discussed.
An organic-inorganic perovskite ferroelectric with large piezoelectric response

Finding a more flexible mechanical sensor Piezoelectric materials allow conversion between electricity and mechanical stresses. The most efficient piezoelectric materials are ceramics such as BaTiO3 or PbZrO3, which are also extremely stiff. You et al. identified an organic perovskite structured piezoelectric material that is far more pliable yet has a piezoelectric response similar to that of traditional ceramics. This material may be a better option to use as a mechanical sensor for flexible devices, soft robotics, biomedical devices, and other micromechanical applications that benefit from a less stiff piezoelectric material. Science, this issue p. 306 Trimethylchloromethyl ammonium trichloromanganese(II) may be a flexible material competitive for piezoelectric applications. Molecular piezoelectrics are highly desirable for their easy and environment-friendly processing, light weight, low processing temperature, and mechanical flexibility. However, although 136 years have passed since the discovery in 1880 of the piezoelectric effect, molecular piezoelectrics with a piezoelectric coefficient d33 comparable with piezoceramics such as barium titanate (BTO; ~190 picocoulombs per newton) have not been found. We show that trimethylchloromethyl ammonium trichloromanganese(II), an organic-inorganic perovskite ferroelectric crystal processed from aqueous solution, has a large d33 of 185 picocoulombs per newton and a high phase-transition temperature of 406 kelvin (K) (16 K above that of BTO). This makes it a competitive candidate for medical, micromechanical, and biomechanical applications.
Cholesterol and cognitive performance among community volunteers from the Czech Republic

ABSTRACT Background: Research shows that lipid levels may be associated with cognitive function, particularly among women. We aimed to examine total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and HDL/LDL ratio in relation to cognitive performance, measured with six well-established cognitive domains and a composite cognitive score (CCS). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, biomarkers and neuropsychological assessment were available for 141 adults with MMSE scores ≥ 24 (mean age = 69 years, 47% female, mean education = 14.4 years) attending a neuropsychological evaluation. Ordinary least squares regressions were adjusted for age, gender, education, and depressive symptoms in Model 1 and also for apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) status in Model 2. Results: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was associated with better CCS (β = 0.24; p = 0.014). This association was significant among women (β = 0.30; p = 0.026) and not among men (β = 0.20; p = 0.124). HDL-C was also related to attention/working memory (β = 0.24; p = 0.021), again only among women (β = 0.37; p = 0.012) and not men (β = 0.15; p = 0.271). Adjusting for APOE4 yielded significance for high HDL-C and CCS (β = 0.24; p = 0.022). Conclusions: HDL-C was the main lipoprotein affecting cognitive function, with results somewhat more pronounced among women. Research should investigate the possibility of finding ways to boost HDL-C levels to potentially promote cognitive function.
The Effect of Psychiatric Interventions on Depression and Fertility in Infertile Patients with Polycystic Ovarian Disease

Background: Nowadays, about 12% of couples face infertility problems that overwhelm their personal and social life. Psychosocial problems reported in infertile patients include depression, aggression, anxiety, sexual dysfunction, incompatibility, lack of individual control and decreased self-esteem. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCO) is the most common endocrine disorder leading to infertility in women. Objective: This clinical trial study aimed to investigate the effect of psychiatric interventions on depression and fertility in infertile patients with polycystic ovarian in comparison with non-polycystic ovarian disease. Methods and Materials: This clinical trial study was carried out on 62 infertile women (41 cases with PCO and 31 cases without PCO) who had depression and referred to Valiasr hospital in Tehran during 2011-2012. All patients fulfilled the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28). Those who scored at least 21, fulfilled Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) to check depression and patients who scored at least 17, referred to a psychiatrist to be treated with Fluoxetine 20-60 mg/day or psychotherapy. Three months after the start of treatment, beck questionnaire was examined again and after four weeks after the start of the intervention, the fertility success rate was examined by β-hCG test. Unjustifiable infertile patients, infertility with mannish causes including oligospermia or azoospermia, having with moderate to severe endometriosis, infertile patients previously treated with Invitro- fertilization (IVF) or Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and patients with infertility longer than five years were excluded. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 statistical software. The relationship between variables was investigated using chi-square; t-test and ANOVA repeated measure. The significance level was considered <0.05. Results: Mean age of the patients in the intervention and control groups was 26.55 year and 26.08 years old, respectively. Both groups were homogeneous regarding age, education, occupation, type of infertility (primary or secondary), history of psychology disorder and duration of infertility (p>0.05). The fertility rate was significantly different in the two groups after the intervention (20 patients in the intervention group and only 3 in the control group) (p=0.0001). Among those who were pregnant after the intervention, 9 patients (64.2%) had PCO and 11 patients (64.7%) had no PCO (p=0.999). Mean score of Beck questionnaire in the intervention group changed from 25.48 to 13.12 (p=0.0001), but in the control group remained unchanged. Conclusion: Psychiatric interventions in infertile patients with depression, in addition to their positive effect on the improvement of their depression, increase their fertility success rate.
Effects of Dietary Non-Digestible Oligosaccharides on Microbial Characteristics of Ileal Chyme and Faeces in Weaner Pigs

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and transgalactooligosaccharides (TOS), which are non-digestible oligosaccharides (NDO), were included at 10 and 40g/kg in an NDO-free control diet at the expense of purified cellulose. Each of the 5 diets was fed to 4 weaner pigs and microbial characteristics of their ileal chyme and faeces were assessed. The NDO-pigs had lower ileal pH than the control pigs. Dietary NDO did not affect the ileal volatile fatty acid concentration, though FOS-pigs had a higher concentration of lactic acid and relatively more iso-valeric acid and less acetic acid than TOS-pigs. The NDO-pigs had lower ileal aerobic bacterial counts than the control pigs, whilst the FOS-pigs had a larger ileal anaerobic bacterial counts than the TOS-pigs. The NDO-pigs had an higher faecal pH and their faecal volatile fatty acid pool contained relatively more iso-butyric acid and iso-valeric acid than the control pigs. The TOS-pigs tended to have higher faecal anaerobic bacterial counts and had a smaller concentration of faecal volatile fatty acid than the FOS-pigs. We concluded that whilst effects at the faecal level may have been partly due to a reduced intake of cellulose, dietary NDO can exert precaecal prebiotic effects in weaner pigs.
The Kidney in Congestive Heart Failure: Renal Adverse Event Rate of Treatment

&NA; In this paper we review the effect of medical treatment on renal function in patients with congestive heart failure. We have examined data from the large‐scale heart failure studies with angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, calcium channel blockers, &bgr;‐receptor blockers, an aldosterone antagonist, and a vasopeptidase inhibitor. Renal outcome was reported in almost all of the studies with angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors. Despite concern about renal adverse events with drugs in this class, they seem to be safe in patients with congestive heart failure. In contrast, we did not find any report about renal function in patients treated with &bgr;‐receptor blockers for congestive heart failure.
Long‐term serologic follow‐up of blood donors with biologic false reactivity on an anti‐human T‐cell lymphotropic virus Types I and II chemiluminescent immunoassay and implications for donor management

BACKGROUND: This study reports the results of the long‐term serologic follow‐up of blood donors who gave an index biologic false‐reactive (BFR) result on an anti‐human T‐lymphotropic virus Types I and II (HTLV‐I and ‐II) chemiluminescent immunoassay (ChLIA).
Visfatin, resistin, hsCRP and insulin resistance in relation to abdominal obesity in women with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES The increasing incidence of overweight and obesity in modern societies, and the demonstration that adipose tissue produces numerous cytokines, increases interest of investigators in the associations between adipose tissue, adipokines, CRP and insulin resistance in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their possible role in the pathogenesis of this disease.The purpose of the study was to investigate serum levels of visfatin, resistin, hsCRP and insulin resistance in relation to abdominal obesity in patients with RA. METHODS Serum levels of visfatin, resistin, hsCRP and glucose metabolism parameters were measured in 46 women with RA - 22 without abdominal obesity and 24 with abdominal obesity. RESULTS Patients with RA and abdominal obesity showed significant lower visfatin levels (1.00+/-0.93 vs. 1.44+/-0.85 ng/ml; p<0.05) in comparison to those without abdominal obesity. We found significant correlations between levels of visfatin and resistin (r=0.41; p<0.01); and between resistin levels and hsCRP levels (r=0.41; p<0.01); resistin levels and leucocytes count (r=0.36; p<0.05); and resistin levels and ESR (r=0.30; p<0.05), in the whole investigated group. Visfatin as well as resistin did not correlate with anthropometric parameters or insulin resistance in whole patients with RA. CONCLUSIONS In patients with RA and abdominal obesity, in comparison to patients without abdominal obesity, significantly lower visfatin levels have been demonstrated. Resistin was associated with laboratory markers of inflammation. Positive correlation between levels of visfatin and resistin may suggest that visfatin plays a role in inflammation in RA.
SYNONYMY OF TWO ARBOREAL TERMITES (ISOPTERA: TERMITIDAE: NASUTITERMITINAE): NASUTITERMES CORNIGER FROM THE NEOTROPICS AND N. POLYGYNUS FROM NEW GUINEA

Abstract Morphological examination of soldiers and imagos assigned to Nasutitermes polygynus from New Guinea were determined to be conspecific with the neotropical species, N. corniger. A portion of the mtDNA 16S rRNA gene was sequenced from nine N. corniger samples and found to be congruent with that reported for N. polygynus. Complementary biological, behavioral, chemical, and reproductive ecology data further support this synonymy. Nasutitermes corniger was likely introduced to New Guinea as a result of accidental human transport.
Induction of the kynurenine pathway by neurotropic influenza a virus infection

Glutamatergic NMDA (N‐methyl D‐aspartate) receptors play a critical role in brain development and neurotransmission. Kynurenic acid, an end product of tryptophan degradation along the kynurenine pathway, is an endogenous NMDA receptor antagonist. In the present study, the effects of neurotropic influenza A virus infection on the kynurenine pathway were investigated in mouse brain primary cell cultures and in mouse brain after infection on day 3 of postnatal life. Altered levels of transcripts encoding several key enzymes of the kynurenine pathway were observed in infected neuron and glial cell cultures. In vivo, changes in the levels of such transcripts in brain were observed on postnatal days 7 and 13 but not on day 24. On postnatal day 13, infiltrating T lymphocytes and increased levels of kynurenic acid were observed in the brains of the infected animals. Taken together, the present results indicate that central nervous system infections during early life can activate the entire kynurenine pathway. Such activation is likely to result in the generation of several bioactive metabolites, as supported by our finding of a transient increase of kynurenic acid. In light of its antagonistic actions on the NMDA receptor, kynurenic acid can potentially link infections with glutamatergic signaling in the developing brain. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A comparative study of egg recognition signature mixtures in Formica ants

Processing of information from the environment, such as assessing group membership in social contexts, is a major determinant of inclusive fitness. For social insects, recognizing brood origin is crucial for inclusive fitness in many contexts, such as social parasitism and kin conflicts within colonies. Whether a recognition signature is informative in kin conflicts depends on the extent of a genetic contribution into the cues. We investigated colony‐ and matriline‐specific variation in egg surface hydrocarbons in seven species of Formica ants. We show that chemical variance is distributed similarly to genetic variation, suggesting a significant genetic contribution to eggs odors in the genus. Significant among matriline components, and significant correlations between chemical and genetic similarity among individuals also indicate kin informative egg odors in several species. We suggest that egg odor surface variation could play a large role in within colony conflicts, and that a comparative method can reveal novel insight into communication of identity.
CHROMOSOME CHANGES IN HUMAN NON HODGKINS LYMPHOMA (NHL)

Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) or Lymphoma is a cancer that affects the lymphocytes of the immune system and present as a solid of lymphoid cell mass. Genetic disorder is one of the important factors for development NHL . The present study of bone marrow sample includes 65 NHL patients (46 male and 19 female) Chromosome analysis demonstrated that about 73.84 % of metaphase plate of NHL patients showed numerical aberration, i.e Polyploidy observed in 26 cases and 22 cases showed hypoploidy. The high frequency of chromosomal aberration indicates chromosomal instability that invariable associated with malignancy. The results of the present preliminary investigation will provide a basis for future diagnosis, prognosis and curability of NHL.
P2X7R-Panx1 Complex Impairs Bone Mechanosignaling under High Glucose Levels Associated with Type-1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) causes a range of skeletal problems, including reduced bone density and increased risk for bone fractures. However, mechanisms underlying skeletal complications in diabetes are still not well understood. We hypothesize that high glucose levels in T1D alters expression and function of purinergic receptors (P2Rs) and pannexin 1 (Panx1) channels, and thereby impairs ATP signaling that is essential for proper bone response to mechanical loading and maintenance of skeletal integrity. We first established a key role for P2X7 receptor-Panx1 in osteocyte mechanosignaling by showing that these proteins are co-expressed to provide a major pathway for flow-induced ATP release. To simulate in vitro the glucose levels to which bone cells are exposed in healthy vs. diabetic bones, we cultured osteoblast and osteocyte cell lines for 10 days in medium containing 5.5 or 25 mM glucose. High glucose effects on expression and function of P2Rs and Panx1 channels were determined by Western Blot analysis, quantification of Ca2+ responses to P2R agonists and oscillatory fluid shear stress (± 10 dyne/cm2), and measurement of flow-induced ATP release. Diabetic C57BL/6J-Ins2Akita mice were used to evaluate in vivo effects of high glucose on P2R and Panx1. Western blotting indicated altered P2X7R, P2Y2R and P2Y4R expression in high glucose exposed bone cells, and in diabetic bone tissue. Moreover, high glucose blunted normal P2R- and flow-induced Ca2+ signaling and ATP release from osteocytes. These findings indicate that T1D impairs load-induced ATP signaling in osteocytes and affects osteoblast function, which are essential for maintaining bone health.
The role of tympanocentesis in the management of infants with sepsis

Tympanocentesis is a procedure that can identify pathogenic organisms in otitis media. However, the clinical value of this diagnostic method in the management of infants who have sepsis has not been previously reported. Although otitis media is a significant source of sepsis in infants, tympanocentesis is not routinely employed in the work‐up of infants with sepsis who have abnormal otoscopic findings.
Mobile privacy leakage detection and prevention: from technical solutions to user experience

Mobile apps feed on variety of users’ information to provide great services. Some of the features require more sensitive details such as contact list to connect with friends or a precise location to find a desired restaurant nearby. Handling per- sonal information is vital because the user would expect them to be processed in an appropriate manner. However, research has proven that some third-party apps accidentally or maliciously leak users’ personal details. Thus, researchers made huge effort to come up with tools that detect leakage attempts. In this thesis, we targeted several gaps to improve user experience with mobile privacy leakage prob- lem. Initially, we designed a system that evaluates mobile privacy protection tools. This system can be useful for developers to assess their tools, and users to evaluate offered solutions. 165 selected Android privacy protection apps have been tested using our system, and it was established that the most effective approach of mobile privacy protection requires modification on mobile operating system level in order to capture explicit and implicit leakages. That requirement makes it difficult to find “off-the-shelve” protection tool. Therefore, it was decided to assist the user in selecting safe apps as a precaution step before problems occur. To achieve that, it is important to understand how mobile users form their decision when selecting apps. 1,100 crowdsourcing participants have been recruited to study their perceived trust of subjective and objective ratings of mobile apps’ privacy. This experiment guided us to design new interfaces that could assist decision making towards more privacy-friendly mobile apps, which was our most recent work. A newly designed interface, which communicates objective privacy ratings to the user, has been pro- posed. We have also conducted several user-studies involving 300 participants to evaluate our proposed app’s efficiency, the result ultimately showed that users were more motivated to engage in privacy-related decisions.
Allen Cognitive Level Screen for the classification of subjects treated for addiction

Abstract Introduction The Cognitive Disabilities Model (CDM) is an occupational approach that can allow the classification of the functional-cognitive abilities of persons with addictions. The objective of the study was to explore the applicability of the ACLS-5 to assess a sample of persons undergoing addiction-rehabilitation treatment. Methods A sample of 232 participants was recruited from an outpatient treatment centre in Madrid (Spain). The ACLS-5, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and the Prefrontal Symptom Inventory (PSI) were administered. Sociodemographic and addiction-related data were also obtained. Results Half of the sample showed serious deficits in functional cognition, which ultimately could be related to problems in their daily performance. Scores of ACLS-5 showed significant correlations with the severity of addiction, with those obtained with the MoCA, and with attentional symptoms on the PSI scale. Conclusions The data suggest the applicability of the ACLS-5 in assessing the degree of functional cognition in subjects treated for addiction, providing evidence to support ecological validity and facilitating the development of well-targeted cognitive rehabilitation programmes from an occupational perspective. The use of occupational-based instruments to assess the functioning of those with addictions is a requirement of occupational therapy professionals working in this general area.