Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The importance of reporting disease activity states in rheumatoid arthritis clinical trials.

OBJECTIVE To compare the value of reporting treatment effects in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as relative change from baseline (e.g., American College of Rheumatology [ACR] responder status) with the value of evaluating absolute disease activity states (e.g., remission). METHODS We pooled data from several recent RA clinical trials and evaluated patients who had completed a 1-year treatment period (n = 629). We compared levels of functional impairment and radiographic progression among patients meeting the ACR 50% or 70% improvement criteria (ACR50 and ACR70 responders, respectively) who attained remission of disease, low disease activity, or moderate disease activity after 1 year, as assessed by the Simplified Disease Activity Index and the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints. RESULTS Within the ACR50 and ACR70 responder groups, functional disability and radiographic progression were lowest in patients who had attained disease remission at 1 year, compared with those who had attained low or moderate disease activity. When patients attained the same disease activity category, physical function and radiographic progression did not differ significantly with different response states. CONCLUSION Functional and radiographic outcomes are different in patients depending on the disease activity category they attain, even if the same level of response (change from baseline) is achieved. Among patients who attain the same disease activity category, the degree of response they experience does not seem to matter. Assessing actual disease activity as well as disease activity states should constitute an integral part of clinical trial data reporting.
Adaptive consensus of wireless sensor networks under local measurement by a sink node

In this paper, consensus problem is investigated for a class of discrete-time wireless sensor networks, with which the topologies are connected. Each sensor updates its state that is based on the states of itself and its neighbours, the information that each sensor received is corrupted by additive noise, and data can be gotten by a sink node directly or indirectly. Based on the local measurement among the sink node and its neighbours, an expected state is provided. According to errors among the expected state and the states of all sensors, the adaptive consensus protocols are provided. By Gershgorin's theorem and the Lyapunov functional method, a sufficient condition has been derived to ensure system to achieve the expected value. Simulation results are provided to verify the reliability of the proposed methods.
Changes in the characteristics of patients prescribed selective cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitors after the 2004 withdrawal of rofecoxib.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of rofecoxib withdrawal on the characteristics of patients prescribed selective cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibitors. METHODS The General Practice Research Database was used to identify patients age > or =18 years who were prescribed a selective COX-2 inhibitor. Various patient characteristics were noted at the start of therapy: age, sex, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug-related risk factors for upper gastrointestinal (GI) events, and the Framingham risk score for cardiovascular disease. Logistic regression was used to compare patients using selective COX-2 inhibitors before and after September 2004. RESULT The study population included 171,645 patients receiving selective COX-2 inhibitors. The number of users substantially increased over time until September 2004 and sharply declined thereafter. Approximately 80% stopped selective COX-2 inhibitor therapy within 6 months. Patients receiving selective COX-2 inhibitors after September 2004 were younger and included more men compared with those receiving therapy before September 2004. There was no change before and after September 2004 in the proportion of patients with GI risk factors or high Framingham risk scores, after adjustment for age and sex. A correlation was found between presence of GI risk factors and high Framingham risk scores. Only 20% of patients receiving selective COX-2 inhibitors had GI risk factors but low Framingham risk score, which did not change after September 2004. CONCLUSION There was no channeling in the usage of selective COX-2 inhibitors toward patients with a high risk of GI and low risk of cardiovascular disease following the withdrawal of rofecoxib.
Induction of an osteoarthritis-like phenotype and degradation of phosphorylated Smad3 by Smurf2 in transgenic mice.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether Smurf2, an E3 ubiquitin ligase known to inhibit transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) signaling, is expressed in human osteoarthritic (OA) cartilage and can initiate OA in mice. METHODS Human OA cartilage was obtained from patients undergoing knee arthroplasty. Samples were graded histologically using the Mankin scale and were examined immunohistochemically for Smurf2 expression. A transgene driven by the collagen 2alpha1 promoter was used to overexpress Smurf2 in mice. Smurf2 overexpression in mouse sternal chondrocytes was confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Changes in articular cartilage area, chondrocyte number, and chondrocyte diameter were assessed histomorphometrically using OsteoMeasure software. Alterations in type X collagen and matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13) in articular chondrocytes were examined by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Joint bone phenotypes were evaluated by microfocal computed tomography. The effects of Smurf2 overexpression on TGFbeta signaling were examined using a luciferase-based reporter and immunoprecipitation/Western blotting. RESULTS Human OA cartilage strongly expressed Smurf2 as compared with nonarthritic human cartilage. By 8 months of age, Smurf2-transgenic mice exhibited decreased articular cartilage area, fibrillation, clefting, eburnation, subchondral sclerosis, and osteophytes. Increased expression of type X collagen and MMP-13 were also detected in articular cartilage from transgenic mice. Transgenic sternal chondrocytes showed reduced TGFbeta signaling as well as decreased expression and increased ubiquitination of pSmad3. CONCLUSION Smurf2 is up-regulated during OA in humans, and Smurf2-transgenic mice spontaneously develop an OA-like phenotype that correlates with decreased TGFbeta signaling and increased pSmad3 degradation. Overall, these results suggest a role of Smurf2 in the pathogenesis of OA.
26. ATHEROSCLEROTIC CHANGES OF THE ILIAC ARTERIES IN CHILDREN WITH A SINGLE UMBILICAL ARTERY — THE EARLIEST FORM OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN HUMANS

made systematic studies comparing different methods for maturity estimation. The methods earlier studied were anthropometric measurements, external characteristics, neurological tests, examination of epiphyseal centers, motor conduction velocity and sensory conduction velocity (1, 2). The best methods were those based on external characteristics and neurological tests, the former being the most suitable for routine work. We now present results from the work with two additional methods for maturity estimation, fetal hemoglobin and a-fetoprotein in cord blood, both of which have been claimed to be of value in this respect (3,4). 60 infants have been examined so far. The two methods have been compared with birth weight and external characteristics. Fetal hemoglobin is the best of these two methods, the correlation coefficient being only slightly lower than that for external characteristics. a-fetoprotein correlates less well with gestational age than does birth weight in this study.
American College of Rheumatology quality indicators for rheumatoid arthritis: benchmarking, variability, and opportunities to improve quality of care using the electronic health record.

OBJECTIVE To measure how rheumatologists across our health system performed with the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) quality indicators (QIs) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and methotrexate (MTX) drug safety, and to develop opportunities for improvement. METHODS An electronic health record (EHR) review of 1,062 unique RA patients seen by 15 rheumatologists in a 1-year period was performed. Percentage of each QI met, reasons why the metric was not met, and performance of rheumatologists based on years of experience were evaluated. RESULTS The percentage met was high for QI-2 (RA disease-modifying antirheumatic drug use; 94%), QI-3 (intervention if RA worse; 85%), and QI-4 (MTX risks discussion; 87%). Percentage met was lower for QI-1 (RA core data set; 69%), QI-5 (MTX baseline studies; 41%), and QI-6 (MTX followup studies; 46%). QI-1 and QI-5 were low due to most physicians missing a single test, and QI-6 was low because of few physicians driving the percentage down. Better QI performance was seen in rheumatologists with <or=10 years versus >10 years of experience for QI-1 (90% versus 64%; odds ratio [OR] 4.21, P = 0.004) and QI-3 (96% versus 82%; OR 4.47, P = 0.019). EHR chart review for this population required 179.3 hours. CONCLUSION Measurement allows us to better understand the quality of care that we deliver. In this systematic benchmarking of the ACR QIs in a large RA cohort, performance was excellent in RA treatment-related QIs. Significant variability was noted in RA and MTX monitoring measures, which can be addressed using process redesign techniques.
Principles and Practice of Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology

VOLUME 1 GENERAL PRINCIPLES: General Philosophy and Principles of Surgical and Cytopathology. Quality Control, Assurance, And Improvement in Anatomic Pathology. Medicolegal Principles and Problems /Cell and Tissue Straining Methods. Immunohistochemical Techniques. Molecular Diagnostic Techniques. Flow and Image Cytometry. Computers in Surgical and Cytopathology. Electron Microscopy. Fine Needle Aspiration CONDITIONS INVOLVING MULTIPLE ORGANS: Infectious Diseases. Immunologically Mediated Diseases. Transplant Pathology. Iatrogenic Lesions. Differential Diagnosis of Metastatic Tumors SKIN, SOFT TISSUE and BREAST PATHOLOGY: Inflammatory Diseases of the Skin. Tumors of the Skin. Soft Tissue Tumors. The Breast HEMATOPOIETIC SYSTEM: Lymph Nodes and Spleen. Bone Marrow MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM: Non-Neoplastic Diseases of Bones and Joints. Neoplasms and Tumor-Like Lesions of Bone. Skeletal Muscle VOLUME 2 HEAD and NECK and UPPER RESPIRATORY PATHOLOGY: Head and Neck Cytology. The Nasal Cavity, Paranasal Sinuses, And Nasopharynx. Larynx and Trachea PULMONARY and CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS and RELATED SEROSAL MEMBRANES: Diffuse Diseases of the Lung. Localized Diseases of the Bronchi and Lungs. Pleura, Pericardium and Peritoneum. The Cardiovascular System UPPER DIGESTIVE SYSTEM: the Oral Cavity. Major Salivary Glands MEDIASTINUM and THYMUS: the Mediastinum GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM: Gastrointestinal Cytology. The Esophagus. The Stomach. Non-Neoplastic Diseases of the Small and Large Bowel HEPATOBILIARY SYSTEM and PANCREAS: Neoplastic Diseases of the Small and Large Intestine. Medical Diseases of the Liver. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Liver and Pancreas. Surgical Diseases of the Liver. The Pancreas and Extrahepatic Biliary System GENITOURINARY SYSTEM: Medical Diseasesof the Kidneys. Surgical Diseases of the Kidneys. The Renal Pelvis, Ureter, Urinary Bladder, And Urethra. The Testis, Paratesticular Structures and Male External Genita Lia /The Prostate Gland VOLUME 3 FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM: the Uterine Cervix. Pathology of the Vulva and Vagina. The Uterine Corpus. The Ovary and Fallopian Tube. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of the Pelvis. The Placenta and Products of Conception ENDOCRINE SYSTEM: The Pituitary Gland. The Thyroid Gland. The Parathyroid Gland. The Adrenal Gland PERIPHERAL and CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEMS: Pathology of Peripheral Nerves and Paragangliomas. The Ear. The Eye. The Central Nervous System
State transformation-based dynamic visual servoing for an unmanned aerial vehicle

abstract In this paper, we propose a visual servoing control for a quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which is based on a state transformation technique. The UAV is equipped with a single downwards facing camera, and the motion control objective is the regulation of relative displacement and yaw to a stationary visual target located on the ground. The state transformation is defined by a system of partial differential equations (PDEs) which eliminate roll and pitch rate dependence in the transformed image feature kinematics. A method for computing the general solutions of these PDEs is given, and we show a particular solution reduces to an established virtual camera approach. We treat point and line cases and introduce image moment features defined in the virtual camera image plane. Robustness of the control design is improved by accounting for attitude measurement bias, and uncertainty in thrust gain, mass, and image feature depth. The asymptotic stability of the closed-loop is proven. The method is based on a simple proportional-integral-derivative (PID) structure which can be readily implemented on-board. Experimental results show improved performance relative to previous work.
Cognitive and neurologic status in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus without major neuropsychiatric syndromes.

OBJECTIVE To examine neuropsychological and neurologic functioning in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients without histories of overt neuropsychiatric disorders (non-NPSLE patients). METHODS Sixty-seven non-NPSLE patients and 29 healthy controls were administered a standardized neurologic examination and measures of cognition, depression, and self-reported cognitive functioning. RESULTS Non-NPSLE patients scored lower than controls on the total score of the neurologic examination (P < 0.0001). Item analysis indicated that the physician's description of mentation and mood was the only item that differed significantly between patients with SLE and controls (P = 0.004). Compared with controls, non-NPSLE patients had significantly higher rates of impairment on logical reasoning (P = 0.012) and verbal memory (P = 0.03), and trends toward greater impairment on visual attention (P = 0.06) and working memory (P = 0.098). There were no significant differences between non-NPSLE patients and controls on a cognitive impairment index (CII): 20.9% of non-NPSLE patients and 13.8% of controls were impaired. Patients with SLE scored higher on depressive symptoms (P < 0.0001) and perceived cognitive difficulties (P = 0.001) compared with controls. CONCLUSION The utility of a standardized neurologic examination in SLE for excluding overt neurologic dysfunction and assuring a non-NPSLE group selection was demonstrated. In contrast to our earlier study, we did not find differences between non-NPSLE patients and controls on the CII. Slightly lower CII scores in non-NPSLE patients and higher CII scores in controls may have reduced cognitive differences between these groups. Non-NPSLE patients demonstrate specific decline in the areas of attention, memory, and reasoning; continued studies of associated brain regions are warranted.
Skeletal Muscle in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects millions of people worldwide and is predicted to become the fourth leading cause of death by 2030. The importance of systemic effects of the disease is increasingly recognized, in particular loss of skeletal muscle bulk and skeletal muscle weakness. Both fat-free mass depletion and skeletal muscle weakness are predictors of mortality in COPD and also impact exercise capacity and quality of life. Potential mechanisms of muscle weakness include systemic factors such as inflammation and hypoxia, as well as local factors such as patterns of muscle loading and disuse. Genetic factors also likely influence susceptibility. Currently, exercise is the best way of reversing muscle weakness when delivered as part of a pulmonary rehabilitation program. There is an association between loss of skeletal muscle and COPD exacerbations, so strategies to prevent exacerbations or attenuate muscle wasting in this context are needed. Other therapeutic options, which have been investigated, include repetitive electrical stimulation of the quadriceps muscle as an adjunctive therapy to exercise, nutritional supplementation, testosterone replacement in men, and growth hormone, but there is limited evidence of benefit at this time. Further research is required to clarify causative factors and investigate other potential therapeutic options.
Avaliação postural, dor e aptidão física de praticantes de hidroginástica

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hydrogymnastics may be practiced by people of different ages because it provides low impact, being an alternative to improve quality of life and health of people unable to practice impact activities. This study aimed at analyzing the effects of 12 weeks of hydrogymnastics on subjective pain perception and their influence on daily life activities, in addition to evaluating posture and fitness of hydrogymnastics practitioners. METHOD: Participated in this study 20 females aged from 30 to 50 years who went through a baseline evaluation to measure flexibility and localized muscle resistance. Anthropometric measures were body mass, height, waist and hip circumference to estimate body mass index (BMI) and waist / hip ratio (WHR). In addition, they have answered two questionnaires to evaluate pain. Twelve weeks after the pre-test, final evaluation was performed. RESULTS: There has been statistical difference in waist circumference and WHR, in addition to decreased subjective pain sensation on face and left foot. Pain started to interfere less with general activities, mood and sleep. With regard to posture, there has been no change between the beginning and the end of the study. CONCLUSION: Hydrogymnastics for 12 weeks was effective to improve some fitness items and to decrease pain; however it has not changed posture of females practicing such modality.
Impacts of obesity on maternal and fetal outcomes in women with singleton pregnancy at a Nigerian clinical setting.

Background: Obesity, an emerging public health concern in maternity care with increasing prevalence even in developing countries is associated with maternal and perinatal complications. This study sought to evaluate the impact of maternal obesity on pregnancy outcomes in a cohort of Nigerian women. Study Design: A prospective cohort study. Methodology: A study of matched 324 Conclusion: Maternal obesity is associated with elevated risk of hypertensive disorders, caesarean delivery and fetal macrosomia. It is imperative to implement a policy of identifying these women as high risk group at this clinical setting so as to institute appropriate materno-fetal surveillance and management strategies aim at enhancing their pregnancy outcomes.
Health-related quality of life of patients with juvenile dermatomyositis: results from the Pediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organisation multinational quality of life cohort study.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) change over time, as measured by the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ), and its determinants in patients with active juvenile dermatomyositis (DM). METHODS We assessed patients with juvenile DM at both baseline and 6 months of followup, and healthy children age < or =18 years. Potential determinants of poor HRQOL included demographic data, physician's and parent's global assessments, muscle strength, functional ability as measured by the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (C-HAQ), global disease activity assessments, and laboratory markers. RESULTS A total of 272 children with juvenile DM and 2,288 healthy children were enrolled from 37 countries. The mean +/- SD CHQ physical and psychosocial summary scores were significantly lower in children with juvenile DM (33.7 +/- 11.7 versus 54.6 +/- 4.1) than in healthy children (45.1 +/- 9.0 versus 52 +/- 7.2), with physical well-being domains being the most impaired. HRQOL improved over time in responders to treatment and remained unchanged or worsened in nonresponders. Both physical and psychosocial summary scores decreased with increasing levels of disease activity, muscle strength, and parent's evaluation of the child's overall well-being. A C-HAQ score >1.6 (odds ratio [OR] 5.06, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.03-12.59), child's overall well-being score >6.2 (OR 5.24, 95% CI 2.27-12.10), and to a lesser extent muscle strength and alanine aminotransferase level were the strongest determinants of poor physical well-being at baseline. Baseline disability and longer disease duration were the major determinants for poor physical well-being at followup. CONCLUSION We found that patients with juvenile DM have a significant impairment in their HRQOL compared with healthy peers, particularly in the physical domain. Physical well-being was mostly affected by the level of functional impairment.
Differential proteomic response to heat stress in thermal Agrostis scabra and heat-sensitive Agrostis stolonifera.

Knowledge of heat-responsive proteins is critical for further understanding of the molecular mechanisms of heat tolerance. The objective of this study was to compare proteins differentially expressed in two C(3) grass species contrasting in heat tolerance, heat-tolerant thermal Agrostis scabra and heat-sensitive Agrostis stolonifera L. , and to identify heat-responsive proteins for short- and long-term responses. Plants were exposed to 20/15 degrees C (day/night, control) or 40/35 degrees C (day/night, heat stress) in growth chambers. Leaves were harvested at 2 and 10 days after temperature treatment. Proteins were extracted and separated by fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE). Thermal A. scabra had superior heat tolerance than A. stolonifera, as indicated by the maintenance of higher chlorophyll content and photochemical efficiency under heat stress. The two-dimensional difference electrophoresis detected 68 heat-responsive proteins in the two species. Thermal A. scabra had more protein spots either down- or up-regulated at 2 days of heat stress, but fewer protein spots were altered at 10 days of heat stress compared with A. stolonifera. Many protein spots exhibited transient down-regulation in thermal A. scabra (only at 2 days of heat treatment), whereas down-regulation of many proteins was also found at 10 days of heat treatment in A. stolonifera, which suggested that protein metabolism in thermal A. scabra might acclimate to heat stress more rapidly than those in A. stolonifera. The sequences of 56 differentially expressed protein spots were identified using mass spectrometry. The results suggest that the maintenance or less severe down-regulation of proteins during long-term (10 days) heat stress may contribute to the superior heat tolerance in thermal A. scabra, including those involved in photosynthesis [RuBisCo, RuBisCo activase, chloroplastic glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), chloroplastic aldolase, oxygen-evolving complex, photosystem I subunits], dark respiration (cytosolic GAPDH, cytoplasmic aldolase, malate dehydrogenase, hydroxypyruvate reductase, sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase), photorespiration [(hydroxypyruvate reductase, alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT), hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT), glycine decarboxylase (GDC)], as well as heat and oxidative stress protection [heat shock cognate (HSC) 70 and FtsH-like protein].