Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimists vs pessimists: survival rate among medical patients over a 30-year period.

OBJECTIVE To examine explanatory style (how people explain life events) as a risk factor for early death, using scores from the Optimism-Pessimism scale of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). SUBJECTS AND METHODS A total of 839 patients completed the MMPI between 1962 and 1965 as self-referred general medical patients. Thirty years later, the vital status of each of these patients was ascertained. RESULTS Of the 839 patients, 124 were classified as optimistic, 518 as mixed, and 197 as pessimistic. Follow-up was available for 723 patients. Among these, a 10-point T-score increase on the Optimism-Pessimism scale (e.g., more pessimistic) was associated with a 19% increase in the risk of mortality. CONCLUSION A pessimistic explanatory style, as measured by the Optimism-Pessimism scale of the MMPI, is significantly associated with mortality.
Cloning of the Streptococcus gordonii PK488 gene, encoding an adhesin which mediates coaggregation with Actinomyces naeslundii PK606

Coaggregation between Streptococcus gordonii PK488 and Actinomyces naeslundii PK606 is mediated by a 38-kDa streptococcal protein, designated ScaA. The gene, scaA, which encodes this protein has been cloned into Escherichia coli. A genomic S. gordonii PK488 library (in Lambda ZAP II) was screened with anti-S. gordonii immunoglobulin G absorbed with S. gordonii PK1804, an isogenic coaggregation-defective mutant of strain PK488. A positive recombinant phage was isolated, and a phagemid designated pRA1 was obtained which contained a 6.6-kb insert. Expression of scaA from pRA1 and from a subcloned internal 2.1-kb fragment was observed. The absorbed antiserum cross-reacted with a 34.7-kDa protein, SsaB, from S. sanguis 12, also a coaggregation partner of A. naeslundii PK606. Absorbed antiserum to S. gordonii PK488 and antiserum to SsaB both reacted with 38-kDa proteins in supernatants from mildly sonicated preparations from 11 other coaggregation partners of A. naeslundii PK606. Putative adhesin genes were identified in each of these coaggregation partners by Southern analysis of their genomic DNA with the cloned 2.1-kb fragment as a probe. A 30-base oligonucleotide probe based on the sequence of ssaB of S. sanguis 12 hybridized in an identical manner. These data extend the notion that most of the viridans streptococci that coaggregate with actinomyces are capable of expressing ScaA-related proteins.
Gastrointestinal haemorrhage in atrial fibrillation patients: impact of quality of anticoagulation control.

AIMS Gastrointestinal haemorrhage is a common complication of antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of warfarin with different time in therapeutic ranges (TTRs) on the risk of major gastrointestinal haemorrhage in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients compared with aspirin. METHODS AND RESULTS In this observational study, 5426 Chinese AF patients (77.7 ± 10.7 years, female: 53.1%) with a CHA2DS2-VASc score of ≥1 were included in the final analysis: of which, 3832 patients (70.6%) were taking aspirin and 1594 patients (29.4%) were taking warfarin, whereas the remaining patients did not receive any anticoagulation. The mean baseline HAS-BLED score was 2.22 ± 0.93. Among those on warfarin, the median TTR was 39.2%. After a mean follow-up of 3.6 years (19 777 patient-years), 262 patients developed a gastrointestinal haemorrhage requiring transfusion (4.83%), with an annual incidence of 1.32%/year. Annual incidences of gastrointestinal haemorrhage requiring transfusion among patients on aspirin and warfarin were 1.53%/year and 1.00%/year, respectively. For patients on warfarin, the incidence of gastrointestinal haemorrhage increased progressively with higher HAS-BLED scores, from 0.93%/year for those with a HAS-BLED score of ≤1 to 1.68%/year for those with a HAS-BLED score of ≥3, and decreased progressively with an increasing TTR from 1.69%/year for patients in the lowest quartile of TTR to only 0.51%/year for those in the top quartile. CONCLUSION Aspirin is overall associated with a higher risk of gastrointestinal haemorrhage compared with warfarin, despite the suboptimal TTR in the study population. For patients on warfarin, a HAS-BLED score at baseline prior to commencing anticoagulation positively correlates with gastrointestinal haemorrhage. A poor TTR was associated with a higher risk of gastrointestinal haemorrhage.
Torque Density Elevation in Concentrated Winding Interior PM Synchronous Motor With Minimized Magnet Volume

Permanent magnet (PM) synchronous motors (PMSMs) have been used to drive a number of vehicles. They have high torque density, high efficiency, and a wide speed range. However, the high cost of PMs is disadvantageous. This paper presents a technique for increasing the torque density by modifying the shape of the PMs and minimizing the magnet volume. The PM characteristics such as flux density, demagnetizing force, PM energy product, and the air-gap flux density are represented by a lumped magnetic equivalent circuit when the thickness and width of the PM are increased for the same volume but with different shapes. The torque, torque ripple, core loss, magnet loss, and efficiency of three interior (IPMSM) models designed by the proposed method are compared by finite element analysis. In addition, the demagnetization of the PM due to high temperature, maximum torque load angle, and an adverse field is analyzed. Finally, the analysis result is compared with that of the experiment to verify the proposed model.
TrAcademic: Improving Participation and Engagement in CS1/CS2 with Gamified Practicals

Practice is an important part of introductory CS courses, and practical sessions are a student's best opportunity for hands-on experience with the material covered in the course in a supervised, supportive environment. However, finding a balance between challenging more experienced students and alienating newcomers can be difficult and frustrating. One possible solution is to let the students self-select the problems they wish to attempt. The difficulty then becomes one of motivation and administration. This paper details our experiences with implementing a gamified system for practicals whereby students in CS1 and CS2 level courses receive points for various activities, including attendance, attempting basic problems, completing challenge problems and aiding fellow students with their work. These points have no bearing on final grades, but are displayed on a public leaderboard. In our experience, this gamified system dramatically improved attendance at practical sessions, was well received by students and TAs alike, improved retention rates, and offered students the opportunity and motivation to overcome poor performance early in the course and improve their results.
The decline in coronary artery bypass graft surgery mortality in New York State. The role of surgeon volume.

OBJECTIVE To examine the longitudinal relationship between surgeon volume and in-hospital mortality for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in New York State and to explain changes in mortality that occurred over time. DESIGN Observation of clinically risk-adjusted operative mortality over time. SETTING All 30 New York State hospitals in which CABG surgery was performed for 1989 through 1992. PATIENTS All 57,187 patients undergoing isolated CABG surgery in New York State in 1989 through 1992 in the 30 hospitals. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Actual, expected, and risk-adjusted mortality. RESULTS Risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality decreased for all categories of surgeons. Low-volume surgeons (< or = 50 operations per year) experienced a 60% reduction in risk-adjusted mortality in the 4-year period, whereas the highest-volume surgeons (> 150 operations per year) experienced a 34% reduction. The percentage of patients undergoing CABG surgery by low-volume surgeons decreased from 7.6% in 1989 to 5.7% in 1992, a 25% decrease. CONCLUSIONS The overall decline in risk-adjusted mortality could not be explained by shifts in patients away from low-volume surgeons to high-volume surgeons. The proportionately larger decrease in risk-adjusted mortality for low-volume surgeons could not be explained by changes in patient case mix or by improvements in the performance of surgeons with persistently low volumes. Part of the decrease was a result of the exodus of low-volume surgeons with high risk-adjusted mortality (in all years studied), the markedly better performance of surgeons who were new to the system (especially in 1991 and 1992), and the performance of surgeons who were not consistently low-volume surgeons (especially in 1992).
The Medical Implications of Women On Submarines

Abstract : The review highlights traditionally important medical conditions for submariners along with the unique consequence of women's health care on the submarine. The information covered includes a review of the history of women in the military followed by a discussion of how women have been integrated into submarines in foreign navies and in space travel. The bulk of the document, then, consists of a literature review that examines gender differences in health care usage as well as in health problems that have traditionally been problematic for submarines including cardiac disease, anemia, asthma, headaches, peptic ulcer disease, orthopedic problems, and psychiatric disease. Gynecological and pregnancy related issues constitute the final area of review.
Efficacy trial of a brief cognitive-behavioral depression prevention program for high-risk adolescents: effects at 1- and 2-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of a brief group cognitive-behavioral (CB) depression prevention program for high-risk adolescents with elevated depressive symptoms at 1- and 2-year follow-up. METHOD In this indicated prevention trial, 341 at-risk youths were randomized to a group CB intervention, group supportive expressive intervention, CB bibliotherapy, or educational brochure control condition. RESULTS Significantly greater reductions in depressive symptoms were shown by group CB participants relative to brochure control participants by 1-year follow-up and bibliotherapy participants by 1- and 2-year follow-up but not relative to supportive expressive participants. Supportive expressive participants showed greater symptom reduction than CB bibliotherapy participants did at 2-year follow-up. Risk for onset of major or minor depression over the 2-year follow-up was significantly lower for group CB participants (14%; odds ratio = 2.2) and CB bibliotherapy participants (3%; odds ratio = 8.1) than for brochure controls (23%). CONCLUSIONS Results indicate that this group CB intervention reduces initial symptoms and risk for future depressive episodes, although both supportive expressive therapy and CB bibliotherapy also produce intervention effects that persist long term. Indeed, CB bibliotherapy emerged as the least expensive method of reducing risk for future episodes of depression.
Permanent Pacemaker Insertion Following Isolated Aortic Valve Replacement before and after the Introduction of TAVI

Permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation is required in 3–12% of all patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR). Our aim was to evaluate the contemporary incidence and impact of the introduction of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for PPM insertion after isolated AVR.
Metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer to the liver and pancreas.

METASTATIC NONSMALL CELL LUNG CANCER TO THE LIVER AND PANCREAS Laurie Matt, MD, MPH; Rajesh Sehgal, MD Author Affiliations: Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cabell Huntington Hospital, Huntington, WV; Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV Contact information: Laurie Matt, MD, MPH Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center Medical Oncology Department Huntington, WV 25701 Running title: Metastatic lung cancer to liver and pancreas asymptomatic on presentation Financial Disclosures: None. Conflicts of Interest: All authors have no conflicts of interest.
Interaction and association between genetic mutations and clinical risk factors in developing ischemic stroke in Moroccan population

In this paper, we focus on the importance of interaction between adverse genetic mutations, and clinical risk factors in the development of ischemic stroke, knowing that this disease is multifactorial common that is affected by a number genetic mutations and environmental factors.The apolipoprotein E4 allele (APO e4), Factor II G20210A prothrombin (blood clotting protein), and Factor V genotypes were examined in 165 patients with ischemic Stroke group and 165 Control group, at the Laboratory of Human Genetics and Molecular Pathology, University Hassan II- Faculty of Medicine in Casablanca and the department of neurology at the campus teaching hospital of Casablanca and Rabat. Logistics regression models and bivariate correlation analysis with Karl Pearson's method were used to estimate the role of co-occurrences of the clinical risk factors and genetic mutations in ischemic stroke. The presence of the APO e4 is dominant in Stroke group than Control group and its association with hypertension, smoking and cholesterol increases the risk of ischemic stroke. FV mutation in association with hypertension or diabetes mellitus reveals a strong correlation in ischemic stroke. We found no significant relationship between the ACE D / D, FII, MTHFR 677TT genotype and clinical factors. In some combinations, pairing of adverse genetic factors, which alone confer non-significant risk, with clinical risk factors can greatly increase the risk of having an ischemic stroke.
Free thyroxine levels in critically ill patients. A comparison of currently available assays.

Two indices of free thyroxine (T 4 ) and four methods of free T 4 measurement were compared in 85 patients with acute illness, hospitalized in intensive care units. All of the methods of free T 4 measurement in critical illness were nonspecific, and two of the methods failed to suggest hypothyroidism in two patients with primary hypothyroidism and another associated critical illness. Since the ideal screening test should be both sensitive and specific, all tests for free T4 used in this study should be interpreted with caution in severely ill patients. ( JAMA 1981;246:2702-2706)
Prediction of proapoptotic anticancer therapeutic response in vivo based on cell death visualization and TRAIL death ligand-receptor interaction

Tumor growth is often associated with insufficient apoptosis. The Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) and its proapoptotic receptors death receptor 4 (DR4) and DR5 agonistic monoclonal antibodies are being developed as targeted therapeutics because they kill cancer cells while sparing normal cells. A challenge to targeted therapeutics is the selection of patients who are most likely to benefit from targeted drugs because of the heterogeneity of cancer. Molecular imaging may be useful in targeted drug development by assessing the target expression and drug-target interaction, and for predicting therapeutic response. We hypothesized that the cell surface expression level of DR4/5 may predict the proapoptotic targeted therapeutic response if the signaling pathway downstream is intact. The goal of this proof-of-concept study was to develop a molecular imaging strategy to predict proapoptotic anti-cancer therapy response at an early stage of treatment. TRAIL and the DR5 agonistic monoclonal antibody HGS-ETR2 (Lexatumumab, TRM-2) were labeled with a near-infrared dye and these were used to image the TRAIL receptors on cultured TRAIL sensitive and TRAIL resistant human tumor cells as well as tumor xenografts. Imaging of cells and tumor-bearing animals was conducted with near infrared fluorescence imagers and apoptosis in cells was assessed by western blots of PARP-cleavage and flow cytometry of sub-G1 content. Apoptosis in tumors was evaluated by imaging near-infrared dye-labeled Annexin V and tumor tissue activated caspase-3 staining. Both in vitro and in vivo studies showed that imaging of death inducing ligand-receptor interaction was consistent with the apoptosis readout. Thus TRAIL sensitive tumors that express TRAIL receptors underwent cell death following treatment whereas tumors lacking TRAIL receptor expression were shown to be TRAIL resistant. In vivo molecular imaging of TRAIL receptor expression correlated with response to TRAIL therapy and an apoptotic response in vivo.
Pediatric surgical site and soft tissue infections

Objective: The purpose of this review is to provide background and a concise set of definitions for pediatric surgical site and wound infections. Design: The information discussed in this report is derived from a literature review and discussion at an international consensus conference on pediatric sepsis. Measurements and Main Results: There is a paucity of literature on pediatric surgical site and wound infection definitions. Excluding burn wounds, surgical site and wound infections rarely lead to overwhelming sepsis. Nevertheless, surgical site or wound infections including pressure ulcers can lead to significant morbidity in the pediatric critical care setting. Conclusions: Although surgical site and wound infections rarely lead to intensive care unit admissions, definitions are still valuable for stratifying potential candidates for sepsis trials.
Utilization of sunflower seed in laying hen rations

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effect of sunflower seed inclusion (0, 1.4, 2.8, 4.2 and 5.6%) in a laying hen diet containing corn, soybean meal, wheat meal and soybean oil as main ingredients on performance and egg quality. The evaluated variables were daily feed intake, average egg weight, feed conversion (kg.kg-1 and kg.dz-1), eggshell percentage, yolk color and Haugh unit. One hundred and sixty 25 week-old Lohmann laying hens were used in a completely randomized design with five treatments and four replications of eight birds per experimental unit. Four periods of 28 days were evaluated during 112 days. The inclusion of sunflower seed in the diet had no effect on production parameters during the experimental period. Thus, can be concluded that sunflower seed might be used at concentrations up to 5.6% in laying hen diets without affecting performance and egg quality.
Preferential Feeding by the Ciliates Chilodonella and Tetrahymena spp. and Effects of These Protozoa on Bacterial Biofilm Structure and Composition

ABSTRACT Protozoa are important components of microbial food webs, but protozoan feeding preferences and their effects in the context of bacterial biofilms are not well understood. The feeding interactions of two contrasting ciliates, the free-swimming filter feeder Tetrahymena sp. and the surface-associated predator Chilodonella sp. , were investigated using biofilm-forming bacteria genetically modified to express fluorescent proteins. According to microscopy, both ciliates readily consumed cells from both Pseudomonas costantinii and Serratia plymuthica biofilms. When offered a choice between spatially separated biofilms, each ciliate showed a preference for P. costantinii biofilms. Experiments with bacterial cell extracts indicated that both ciliates used dissolved chemical cues to locate biofilms. Chilodonella sp. evidently used bacterial chemical cues as a basis for preferential feeding decisions, but it was unclear whether Tetrahymena sp. did also. Confocal microscopy of live biofilms revealed that Tetrahymena sp. had a major impact on biofilm morphology, forming holes and channels throughout S. plymuthica biofilms and reducing P. costantinii biofilms to isolated, grazing-resistant microcolonies. Grazing by Chilodonella sp. resulted in the development of less-defined trails through S. plymuthica biofilms and caused P. costantinii biofilms to become homogeneous scatterings of cells. It was not clear whether the observed feeding preferences for spatially separated P. costantinii biofilms over S. plymuthica biofilms resulted in selective targeting of P. costantinii cells in mixed biofilms. Grazing of mixed biofilms resulted in the depletion of both types of bacteria, with Tetrahymena sp. having a larger impact than Chilodonella sp. , and effects similar to those seen in grazed single-species biofilms.
A torcular encephalocele with proatlas defect and os-terminale

Encephalocele means if meninges and brain tissue protrude out of the cranium. There are different types of encephalocele. The occipital encephaloceles are the most common type. Craniocervical junction and upper cervical spine abnormalities can rarely be associated with occipital encephalocele. We discuss this case because there is rare association between torcular encephalocele and proatlas anomalies.
Tumor Necrosis Factor Suppresses NR5A2 Activity and Intestinal Glucocorticoid Synthesis to Sustain Chronic Colitis

The proinflammatory cytokine TNF exacerbates intestinal inflammation by blocking the synthesis of anti-inflammatory steroid hormones. Cytokine Versus Hormones in the Gut Glucocorticoids (GCs) are a family of steroid hormones that suppress the immune response to resolve inflammatory conditions. In the intestine, enzymes required for GC synthesis are encoded by genes that depend on the transcription factor NR5A2 for their expression. The proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is the major immune factor implicated in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Huang et al. found that GC synthesis was suppressed in the late phase of colitis in a mouse model of IBD. TNF activated the transcription factors c-Jun and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), which interacted with NR5A2 to inhibit its expression of steroidogenic genes. Treating mice in the late phase of colitis with an inhibitor of soluble TNF restored GC synthesis and decreased disease severity. Together, these data suggest a potential mechanism by which TNF suppresses GC synthesis during chronic intestinal inflammation. Intestinal crypt epithelial cells synthesize glucocorticoids, steroid hormones that protect against inflammatory bowel disease. To investigate how intestinal glucocorticoids are regulated during chronic inflammation, we induced chronic colitis in mice by exposing them to the chemical dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). We found that intestinal glucocorticoid secretion and expression of the genes Cyp11a1 and Cyp11b1 (which encode enzymes that synthesize glucocorticoids) were initially stimulated, but declined during the chronic phase, whereas tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and inflammatory cytokines secreted by T helper type 1 (TH1) and TH17 cells continuously increased in abundance in the inflamed colon. This suggested that inadequate intestinal glucocorticoid synthesis is a feature of chronic intestinal inflammation. We screened for cytokines that regulated intestinal glucocorticoid synthesis and found that TNF suppressed corticosterone secretion and Cyp11a1 and Cyp11b1 expression in an intestinal crypt epithelial cell line. TNF suppressed steroidogenesis by activating the transcription factors c-Jun and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), which both interacted with the transcription factor NR5A2 and repressed Cyp11a1 reporter activity. This repression was relieved by expression of a dominant-negative form of c-Jun amino-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1), inhibitor of NF-κB, or by a JNK inhibitor. Furthermore, the dominant-negative TNF inhibitor XPro1595 inhibited c-Jun and NF-κB activation in mice, restored intestinal Cyp11a1 and Cyp11b1 expression, reduced colonic cell death, and rescued chronic colitis caused by DSS. Thus, during chronic colitis, TNF suppresses intestinal steroidogenic gene expression by inhibiting the activity of NR5A2, thus decreasing glucocorticoid synthesis and sustaining chronic inflammation.