Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Treatment of primary Sjögren's syndrome with hydroxychloroquine: a retrospective, open-label study

Objectives To determine whether patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), diagnosed according to San Diego criteria, had improvement in their laboratory or clinical features during treatment with hydroxychloroquine (6–7 mg/kg/day) for at least two years. , Methods: The study population included 50 consecutive patients with primary SS who were diagnosed according to San Diego criteria, and in whom hydroxychloroquine was suggested as treatment. This group included 10 patients who were early dropouts (side effects or desire not to take antimalarial drugs) and 40 patients who received drugs for at least two years (range 24-48 months). In a subset of SS patients, values for ESR (westergren) and quantitative immunoglobulins were available for comparison. Improvement with therapy was defined as: (a) ≥20% improvement in variables of tear flow (Schirmer's test I) or corneal integrity (rose Bengal): (b) ≥20% salivary function (flow rate); and (c) improvement in at least two of the following measures: physicians assessment of global disease activity by ≥ 20%, patient assessment of improvement in pain or fatigue by ≥20%, and ESR improved by ≥20mm/ hr. Results In a retrospective study of SS patients who completed the trial, a significant improvement was noted in ocular symptoms (pain and dryness) in patients (55 and 57%) and improved corneal integrity (rose Bengal straining) in 53% of patients. The Schirmer's test was improved by ≥ 2 mm/5 minutes in 50% in patients. Improvement was noted in oral symptoms (pain and dryness) in patients (57 and 60%) and salivary flow rate was increased in 82% of patients. In a subset of SS patients evaluated, the ESR improved by ≥20mm/hr in 17/32 patients (53%) and quantitative IgG level by ≥20% in 8/13 patients (61%). Physician global assessment of overall patient status and patient assessment of overall status indicated improvement in over 62% of patients. Conclusion In a retrospective study of patients fulfilling San Diego Criteria for SS, we found: (a) sustained improvement of local symptoms (painful eyes, painful mouth) and improvement of systemic manifestations (arthralgias and myalgias) after treatment with hydroxychloroquine 6-7 mg/kg/day over mean three-year follow-up; (b) laboratory analysis showed a significant improvement in their ESR and their quantitative IgG levels; (c) no significant late toxicity was observed in this study cohort. A prospective study of hydroxychloroquine in patients fulfilling San Diego criteria for SS is indicated.
Changing Trend in Topography of Peptic Ulcer Perforation

OBJECTIVE: To find out the changing trends in topography of peptic ulcer perforation. DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: Department of Surgery, Unit II Chandka Medical College Teaching Hospital Larkana DURATION: From July 2004 to June 2007 (3 years). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The age, sex, clinical presentations, treatment options and operative findings of patients, who presented with perforated peptic ulcer were studied from their case files, and data were analysed. RESULTS: Out of 86 patients, 81 were males and 5 were females with a male to female ratio of 16.2:1. The prevalence of perforation was highest in patients of 40-59 years of age. Seventy-six patients underwent emergency explorative laparotomy. Among these, 70 patients had gastric and 6 had duodenal ulcer perforation, resulting in duodenal to gastric ulcer ratio of 1:11.5. Repair with Omentopexy was the procedure employed. CONCLUSIONS: Peptic ulcer perforation is most common in the stomach of middle aged man.
Tyrosine cross-links in plant cell wall glycoprotein

1 ABBREVIATIONS 2 INTRODUCTION Cell wall components 4 Classes of HRGP 5 Structure and properties of extensin 7 Interaction of extensin with other cell wall components 12 Possible roles of an extensin network 16 Cleavage of an extensin network 20 Aims of the project 21 MATERIALS 23 METHODS Cell suspension cultures 25 Cell wall isolation 25 Stains 26 Assays 27 Hydrolysis 27 Deglycosylation using TFMS acid 29 High voltage paper electrophoresis 29 Paper chromatography 30 Thin layer chromatography 30 Scintillation counting 31 Autoradiography 31 High performance liquid chromatography 31 Ion chromatography 34 Recrystallisation of sodium chlorite 34
Palliative and Terminal Care

As disease and the degenerative effects of aging progress, control of symptoms becomes more difficult as the neurobehavioural results of MS and more physical problems merge. Patients may be given less specialist neurological help as the terminal phase of their illness progresses. This may encompass physical disabilities of access, but in others it can reflect &dquo;doctor’s distress&dquo; at the inevitable progress of the disease.
Different Effects Of Amniotic Membrane Homogenate On The Growth Of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus And Serratia marcescens

Purpose Due to the emergence and spread of bacterial strains resistant to antibiotics, the development of new antimicrobials is imperative. The antimicrobial effect of the amniotic membrane (AM) has been explored to a limited extent so far. Materials and methods We collected 12 biological samples of AM homogenates and tested their antimicrobial effect on 4 pathogens, including the clinical strain of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), the wild-type strain of Staphylococcus aureus, and the wild-type strain and a clinical strain of Serratia marcescens. To quantify the antibacterial effect of AM, we monitored the effect of AM homogenate on bacterial growth using plate count method and agar diffusion method. Additionally, minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for AM homogenate dilutions were determined and S. marcescens growth in AM homogenate alone was evaluated. Results Our results demonstrated that AM homogenate had a bacteriostatic effect on studied UPEC and S. aureus. Interestingly, when used in lower concentrations, the AM homogenate had a bactericidal effect on both strains. In contrast, S. marcescens was completely resistant to the growth-inhibitory substances of AM homogenate. Its growth was slightly accelerated in liquid culture medium in the presence of AM homogenate and the strain was able to grow in undiluted, 2-fold and 4-fold diluted AM homogenate. Conclusion Obtained results illustrated that AM homogenate could be a candidate for treatments and prevention of UPEC and S. aureus infections, but not that of S. marcescens, whose growth is enhanced by AM homogenate. Moreover, the established liquid culture medium assay can be used as a time- and cost-effective method for a personalized evaluation of drug effect on the growth of chosen bacterial strains with parallel testing of resistance or susceptibility to multiple drugs. The susceptibility of bacteria to AM homogenate in solid and liquid culture media is encouraging for its use in biomedical applications.
miR- 26a Sensitizes Melanoma Cells To Dabrafenib Via Targeting HMGB1-Dependent Autophagy Pathways

Background Melanoma is known as the most aggressive and lethal type of cutaneous cancer due to its rapid development of drug resistance to chemotherapy drugs. Methods In our study, we conducted a variety of studies, including quantitative PCR, Western blot, and autophagy and apoptosis assays to investigate the involvement of miR-26a and HMGB1 in modulation of dabrafenib sensitivity in human melanoma cell lines. Results Our studies revealed that the expressions of miR-26a and HMGB1 were altered in two melanoma cell lines after dabrafenib treatment. Additionally, dabrafenib caused autophagy in melanoma and this autophagic process was regulated by miR-26a via modifying HMGB1 expression. Furthermore, silencing HMGB1-inhibited autophagy induced by dabrafenib in melanoma cells. Last, we verified that treatment with a miR-26a mimic and HMGB1 shRNA could increase the efficacy of dabrafenib in melanoma cells. Conclusion Taken together, we showed that miR-26a is involved in the regulation of dabrafenib efficacy via a HMGB1-dependent autophagy pathway in melanoma cells. These results shed light on a novel treatment for conventional dabrafenib-based chemotherapy for melanoma.
Proposal for a gingival shade guide based on in vivo spectrophotometric measurements

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to propose and assess a shade guide for pink gingival aesthetics using a Spanish population sample. MATERIALS AND METHODS The L*, C*, h, a* and b* coordinates of 259 participants were measured using a spectrophotometer in 3 standardized points along the attached gingiva of the maxillary central incisors. A hierarchical clustering analysis was applied to obtain separate solutions regarding the number of shade tabs. For each of the solutions obtained, color differences (ΔE*) were calculated using the CIELab and CIEDE2000 formulas, and the proposed shade guide was selected considering (1) the color differences between tabs and (2) the coverage error of each of the solutions. RESULTS The proposed shade guide consisted of 8 gingival shade tabs and achieved CIELab and CIEDE2000 coverage errors of less than the respective 50:50% acceptability thresholds (ΔE*=4.6 units and ΔE00=4.1). The coordinates for the various gingival shade tabs were as follows: Tab 1: L*43.3, a*21.9, b*12.3 (1.6); Tab 2: L*42.9, a*34.1, b*19.1; Tab 3: L*46.5, a*25.8, b*10.9; Tab 4: L*46.5, a*27.3, b*15.1; Tab 5: L*49.6, a*23.5, b*16.8; Tab 6: L*51.5, a*19.7, b*13.6; Tab 7: L*55.9, a*22.0, b* 15.0; and Tab 8: L*56.0, a*19.9, b*18.8. CONCLUSION The CIELab and CIEDE2000 coverage errors for the 8 shade tabs of the proposed gingival shade guide were significantly lower than those of other guides. Therefore, despite the limitations of this study, the proposed guide is more appropriate for matching gingival shade in the Spanish general population.
A new species of the genus Acanthosaura from Yunnan, China (Squamata, Agamidae)

Abstract A new species of Acanthosaura from Yunnan, China is described based on unique morphometric and meristic external characters and a very distinctive color pattern. The fourteenth species recorded of this genus, Acanthosaura tongbiguanensissp. nov., was previously considered A. lepidogaster although it more closely resembles A. crucigera. It can be separated from all other species of the genus by having different numbers of subdigital lamellae on the fourth finger and toe, and a different shape of the black eye patch. The new species differs genetically from investigated congeners by percentage distance of 14.46% to 23.27% (cytochrome b gene).
Effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on acute postoperative pain intensity and mobility after hip fracture: A double-blinded, randomized trial

Background Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a noninvasive modality which may be used to reduce acute postoperative pain. Intense perioperative pain within the first few days after hip fracture surgery is common and is related to negative consequences such as restricted and delayed ambulation. Objective The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of incorporating TENS treatment on pain intensity, and mobility, with standard rehabilitation care during the acute post-operative phase following Gamma-nail surgical fixation of extracapsular hip fractures. Materials and methods Forty-one patients were randomly assigned to a supplement of 30 mins of active TENS or sham TENS. The standard rehabilitation care included five daily 30 mins physical therapy treatments beginning 24 hrs after surgery. Outcome measures were: pain intensity at rest, at night and during ambulation (assessed with the Numeric Rating Scale; Functional Ambulation Classification instrument; time to complete five sit-to-stand tests; and two-minute walk test). Data were analyzed with Wilcoxon score rank tests. Significance was set at p≤0.05. Results Significantly greater pain reduction during walking was noted in the active TENS group compared to sham TENS group (differences between the fifth and the second days: 2.55±1.37 vs 1.06± 1.11, respectively; p=0.0011). Additionally, advantage of active TENS was demonstrated in greater increase in walking distance on the fifth day and higher level of mobility compared to the sham TENS group. No additional effects of active TENS were noted on pain intensity at rest and at night and on five times sit-to-stand performance. Conclusion Addition of TENS to the standard care of elderly patients in the early days following Gamma nail surgical fixation of extracapsular hip fracture is recommended for pain management while walking and functional gait recovery. The effect of TENS on long-term functional outcomes should be explored in future studies. Trial registration The trial was registered at the ISRCTN registry: ID ISRCTN32476360.
Reflections on a Voice-Centred Relational Method of Data Analysis : Analysing Maternal and Domestic Voices , in

In this chapter we discuss the issue of qualitative data analysis by drawing and reflecting upon our respective doctoral research projects: a study of women’s experiences of motherhood and postnatal depression (Mauthner, 1994) and a study of heterosexual couples attempting to share housework and child care (Doucet, 1995a). The question of data analysis has been of great interest to us because it is a relatively neglected area of the literature on qualitative research both in terms of general research texts and also within research accounts of specific studies. Yet the processes through which we transform respondents’ private lives into public theories are clearly critical to assessing the validity and status of these theories. The particular issue which strikes us as central, yet overlooked, in qualitative data analysis processes and accounts is that of how to keep respondents’ voices and perspectives alive, while at the same time recognising the researcher’s role in shaping the research process and product. In this chapter, we discuss our own attempts to tackle this issue and the questions and dilemmas we have faced in doing so. We detail the ‘nitty-gritty’ of how we analysed the interview transcripts gathered in the course of our doctoral work; and four years on, we also reflect back on our data analysis processes casting a more critical gaze on some of the beliefs and assumptions underlying the methods we used at that time. Thus, the chapter traces, but is also part of, an ongoing research journey as we continue to reflect on the ways in which we conduct qualitative research. We are writing this chapter together because we worked closely at the time of our doctoral studies, and have continued to do so despite now being separated by the Atlantic Ocean.
On the Nature of β-Amyloid at Synapses

Alzheimer’s disease is an aging related disorder of the mind, accountable for 60-80 percent of all cases of dementia. With its insidious progression and the decline of cognitive abilities, this disease is a major challenge for our society as a whole. This is because of the growing proportion of people living to advanced age and our current lack of capacity to prevent or even give effective symptomatic treatments to the disorder. At the advanced stages of the disease the patient is more or less completely dependent upon help from caregivers and family placing a huge stress on both society and the patient’s next of kin.Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by two cardinal pathological lesions. First, the senile plaques, consisting of β-amyloid, and second, the neurofibrillary tangles consisting of Tau. While most Alzheimer’s disease cases have an unknown etiology there are cases of familial Alzheimer’s disease, where a single mutated gene gives rise to the disease, typically with an early onset of symptoms. These disease related mutations all point to a critical role of the peptide β-amyloid and the processing of its precursor protein, the amyloid precursor protein (APP). While β-amyloid and APP have been studied extensively for almost three decades, we still require more knowledge of their normal roles in the brain.Multiple lines of evidence implicates synapses as early and critical sites of β-amyloid and APP function and dysfunction. The loss of synaptic terminals remainsthe best pathological correlate of the cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease.In this thesis, on the nature of β-amyloid, we set out to investigate some of the roles β-amyloid and APP play at synapses, both in normal physiology and disease. We found that depletion of APP leads to alterations in synaptic composition andneuronal morphology. We showed that β-amyloid aggregates even before theappearance of plaques and that this concurs with the disappearance of a 20 kDputative tetramer in brains of Alzheimer’s disease model transgenic mice.Moreover, we investigated the effects of two familial Alzheimer’s disease mutations on synaptic proteins in hippocampal spheroids generated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from patients and healthy gender matched controls. We found that many of the changes between Alzheimer’s disease hippocampal spheroids and normal samples were in synaptic proteins. The final study focuses on the effects of β-amyloid on neuronal hyper-excitability, an increasingly highlighted early feature in Alzheimer’s disease that is also recapitulated in animal models of the disease. We describe specific effects of β-amyloid on cortical CaMKII positive neurons, increasing both firing frequency and amplitude of these cells, highlighting that β-amyloid targeting of CaMKII positive synapses might contribute to the hyperexcitability that is increasingly viewed as an early feature in Alzheimer’s disease.Taken together this work describes and attempts to explain important roles that β-amyloid and APP play at synapses, with implications both for health and disease.
Health Seeking Behaviors and Utilization of Healthc are Services among Rural Dwellers in Under-Resourced Communities in Ghana

Background: The health seeking behavior of a community, group o f e ple or individuals describes the actions taken in a bid to prevent, minimize or cure a disea se condition as well as maintain good health status . The ways in which communities and individuals seek healthcar e fo their ailments determines the utilization of healthcare services. This contributes greatly to the overall h ealth status of the community. It is against this b ackground that this study was conducted to determine and assess th health seeking behaviors of rural dwellers in und erresourced communities. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a semitructured questionnaire administered to assess the utilization of healthcare services among rural dwellers in poorly resourced communities in the Bon go district. Multistage and simple random sampling pro cedures were employed to recruit participants for t he study. Thirty (30) communities and two hundred and fifteen (215) houses were sampled. Overall, a sample size of four hundred and four (404) participants was interviewed . Results: The study showed the health seeking behaviors of t he participants. These included the treatment choices to healthcare, challenges faced in utilizin g healthcare facilities, and the frequency of healt hc re visitations among participants. About 44% of the re spondents had an average household income less than US $400. The distance to the nearest healthcare facili ty was varied due to the scattered nature of their settlements. The choice of treatment method for ailments was fou nd to be significantly associated (p < 0.05) with t he household income, distance to healthcare center, oc cupation, and educational status. About 59% of male s had attended healthcare facilities between one (1) to t hree (3) times within a year. The frequency of visi ts to healthcare facilities for care was found to be sign ificantly associated (p < 0.05) with age, occupatio n, healthcare facility distance, income, and educational status o f respondents. Majority (32%) of the respondents in dicated the cost of services at the healthcare facilities as th e major obstacle. Conclusion and Recommendation: This study sought to bring out the health seeking behaviors of rural dwellers to trigger discussions and re-evaluation o f health promotion and education policies and progr ammes to bring about improvement in health seeking among rur al dwellers. It is imperative for duty-bearers to e ngage key stakeholders in rural communities in the design and implementation of healthcare programmes. The full utilization of the modern healthcare services by re source-poor communities requires a change in primit ive health seeking behaviors. This demands a multifaceted appr o ch in planning, stakeholder engagement, as well a s the implementation of health education and behavior cha nge interventions.
THESIS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY TRANSPORT AND CONTAINMENT CHEMISTRY OF RUTHENIUM UNDER SEVERE ACCIDENT CONDITIONS IN A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

During a severe nuclear accident volatile elements and elements readily forming volatile compounds are the main concern regarding the release of radioactive material to the environment. As ruthenium is prone to form volatile oxides under severe nuclear accident conditions as well as having radiotoxic isotopes, it is one of the more important elements during such an accident. In this work the chemical behavior of ruthenium during the transport in the reactor cooling system and the chemistry of ruthenium within the containment was studied. Studies on ruthenium transport included the effect of temperature, air-radiolysis products and aerosols on the quantity and chemical form of transported ruthenium during an accident. During the experiments the temperature had significant effect both release and transport of ruthenium. Different air radiolysis products affected both quantity and physical form of the transported ruthenium. The other part of the studies was focused on the chemistry of ruthenium within the containment. These experiments aimed at the interaction of ruthenium tetroxide with metallic (Al, Cu, Zn) and epoxy paint covered surfaces within the containment. Ruthenium had great affinity towards these surfaces that led to the formation of ruthenium rich deposits and thus a clear retention. Chemical characterization as well as quantification of these deposits was obtained. The effect of gamma radiation on the formed ruthenium deposits was shown and revolatilized fractions of ruthenium under different atmospheres and received doses were determined decreasing the retention significantly. Studies focused on interaction of ruthenium tetroxide with iodine-covered surfaces showed its ability to oxidize iodine deposit and re-volatilize iodine from the aluminum and zinc metals. Iodine covered surfaces were also proved to be an effective trap of ruthenium within the containment. Data obtained from these studies can be utilized for the better understanding of severe accident phenomenology and behavior of radionuclides during an accident.