Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Right ventricular diastolic dysfunction in heart failure.

BACKGROUND Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction is common in heart failure and is an important predictor of prognosis and mortality. Less attention has been paid to right ventricular (RV) diastolic function. In this study, we compared RV diastolic function in a large cohort of patients with heart failure (HF) with two groups: patients with pulmonary hypertension and normal LV function (the PHT group) and normal subjects. METHODS AND RESULTS Transtricuspid and pulmonary artery flow were assessed by two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography at maximum inspiration and expiration in 185 subjects: 114 symptomatic HF patients (ejection fraction < 0.5), 31 PHT patients (pulmonary artery systolic pressure > 40 mm Hg), and 40 normal subjects. A subset was matched for age and heart rate. The results showed a high prevalence of RV diastolic abnormalities: HF patients had lower tricuspid E-A ratios, lower peak E-wave velocity, and prolonged RV isovolumic relaxation time (all P< .0001). Tricuspid E-wave deceleration time was significantly shorter only in those who had an LV restrictive filling pattern. The PHT group had similar findings. Compared with a normal range, more than half of the patients had lower tricuspid E-A ratios (HF, 55%; PHT, 69%), and 61% of HF and 58% of PHT patients had a prolonged RV isovolumic relaxation time. In the PHT group, RV diastolic parameters (E-wave deceleration time, E-A ratio, and isovolumic relaxation time) correlated significantly with pulmonary artery systolic pressure (P< .05). In the HF group, however, only tricuspid E-wave deceleration time correlated significantly with pulmonary artery systolic pressure, and HF patients with normal pulmonary artery systolic pressures had significantly lower tricuspid E-A ratios and prolonged RV isovolumic relaxation times compared with normal subjects. A close correlation existed between individual RV and LV diastolic parameters, suggesting that LV diastolic dysfunction may directly affect RV function, but there was no relation between LV size or systolic function and RV diastolic dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS RV diastolic function is frequently abnormal in HF patients, and this is not related to elevated pulmonary artery systolic pressure alone, although high pulmonary artery pressure by itself also is associated with impaired RV diastolic function. Assessment of the role of right ventricular diastolic function in determining the symptoms and prognosis of heart failure is warranted.
PUVA bath photochemotherapy for localized scleroderma. Evaluation of 17 consecutive patients.

REPORT OF A CASE A 42-year-old woman who suffered for more than 2 years from disseminated localized scleroderma (LS) (Figure 1) markedly improved during treatment with psoralen with UV-A (PUVA) bath photochemotherapy with 8-methoxy-psoralen (8-MOP). 1The 8-MOP was applied to the skin during a warm water bath, which was immediately followed by UV-A exposure. Clinical, histological, and ultrasound indications of LS (Figure 2) regressed almost completely during PUVA bath photochemotherapy in this and 2 other patients, 1 with disseminated LS and 1 with contractures caused by linear LS of the dorsal aspects of the left thigh and entire left leg.1 THERAPEUTIC CHALLENGE No single therapy produces uniform disease remission in LS.2-6A safe and effective therapy associated with the least potential complications is required. SOLUTION Since clinical regression of sclerosis was confirmed by ultrasound and histological evaluations, we considered PUVA bath photochemotherapy a promising novel therapeutic approach
New developments in diagnosis and treatment update: Schizophrenia/first episode psychosis in children and adolescents

Childhood onset schizophrenia (COS) is diagnosed before the age of 13 years, and early onset schizophrenia (EOS) is diagnosed before the age of 18 years. EOS is considered extremely rare and its prevalence in comparison to the worldwide prevalence of schizophrenia (1%) has not adequately been studied. Patients who experience the first episode of psychosis need to be treated early and optimally to lessen the morbidity and improve the outcome of the illness. Treatment needs to be a combination of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological modalities. Pharmacological intervention is necessary for remission, improvement of positive symptoms and to aid with the efficacy of psychosocial interventions. There is a lack of efficacy and safety data of the use of antipsychotic medication in children, with most of the information available being extrapolations of adult data. An increased use of atypical antipsychotic drugs in the treatment of EOS has been accompanied by growing concern about the appropriate use and associated side effects in children and adolescents. This update highlights new developments, concepts and treatment trends in EOS.
Molecular mimicry in systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a multi-systemic autoimmune disease distinguished by the presence of various autoantibodies. Like most autoimmune diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus is believed to be induced by a combination of genetic, immunologic, and environmental factors, mainly infectious agents. Molecular mimicry between an infectious antigen and self-components is implicated as a pivotal mechanism by which autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus are triggered. Here we review the current evidence of molecular mimicry between different infectious agents and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Multilinear Supervised Neighborhood Embedding with Local Descriptor Tensor for Face Recognition

Subspace learning based face recognition methods have attracted considerable interest in recent years, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Independent Component Analysis (ICA), Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), and some extensions for 2D analysis. However, a disadvantage of all these approaches is that they perform subspace analysis directly on the reshaped vector or matrix of pixel-level intensity, which is usually unstable under illumination or pose variance. In this paper, we propose to represent a face image as a local descriptor tensor, which is a combination of the descriptor of local regions (K*K-pixel patch) in the image, and is more efficient than the popular Bag-Of-Feature (BOF) model for local descriptor combination. Furthermore, we propose to use a multilinear subspace learning algorithm (Supervised Neighborhood Embedding-SNE) for discriminant feature extraction from the local descriptor tensor of face images, which can preserve local sample structure in feature space. We validate our proposed algorithm on Benchmark database Yale and PIE, and experimental results show recognition rate with our method can be greatly improved compared conventional subspace analysis methods especially for small training sample number.
Detection by the fluorescence in situ hybridization technique of MYC translocations in paraffin‐embedded lymphoma biopsy samples

Summary. The detection of chromosomal translocations by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is widely performed, but very few studies have attempted to apply this technique to paraffin‐embedded routine biopsy samples. We report the analysis of paraffin sections from 36 B‐cell lymphoma biopsies for MYC translocation breakpoints by FISH. The probes consisted of multi‐YAC constructs that flanked the breakpoint region and that, therefore, separate upon a chromosomal translocation and generate split (or ‘segregated’) signals (rather than a more ambiguous ‘co‐localization’ pattern, obtained when the two partners in a hybrid gene are detected). The results were assessed by a simple approach that avoids the counting of signal numbers per nucleus and so is appropriate for use in routine practice. A total of 19 of the 36 lymphomas were scored as positive for MYC translocation and this included 16 of the 20 patients in whom classic cytogenetics had shown the presence of the (8;14) translocation (or one of its two variants). We conclude that this two‐colour ‘split‐signal’ technique based on breakpoint flanking probes can readily detect chromosomal translocations in paraffin sections. Furthermore, our results suggest that cases categorized as ‘atypical Burkitt’s/Burkitt‐like' lymphoma (at least for adult patients) are heterogeneous with respect to translocations involving the MYC oncogene, as well as immunophenotype and clinical features.
Damage to the left ventral, arcuate fasciculus and superior longitudinal fasciculus-related pathways induces deficits in object naming, phonological language function and writing, respectively

The anatomic localization of brain functions can be characterized via diffusion tensor imaging in patients with brain tumors and neurological symptoms. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the function of the ventral, arcuate fasciculus (AF) and the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF)-related language pathways using these techniques by analyzing 9 patients treated in our hospital between 2007 and 2011. In cases 1–3, the left ventral pathways, namely, the inferior longitudinal fasciculus, uncinate fasciculus or inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, were mainly damaged, and the common dysfunction experienced by these patients was a deficit in object naming. In cases 4–6, the left SLF was mainly damaged, and the common deficit was dysgraphia. In cases 7–9, the left AF was mainly damaged, and almost all language functions related to phonology were abnormal. These results suggest that the left ventral, AF and SLF-related pathways are closely related to visual, auditory and hand-related language function, respectively.
Diadenosine polyphosphates in tears of Sjogren syndrome patients.

PURPOSE To analyze the levels of diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap(4)A) and diadenosine pentaphosphate (Ap(5)A) in tears of subjects with Sjögren syndrome and to compare them with those in a control group. METHODS Twelve subjects with a diagnosis of Sjögren syndrome and 20 healthy control subjects were invited to participate in the present study. Schirmer strips were used to measure tear secretion (Schirmer I test) and to collect tears. Ap(4)A and Ap(5)A were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), and a dry eye questionnaire (DEQ) was used to evaluate dry eye symptomatology. RESULTS The mean concentrations of Ap(4)A and Ap(5)A in the Sjögren syndrome group were 2.54 ± 1.02 and 26.13 ± 6.95 μM, respectively. This group of patients was divided in two subgroups: four patients with normal tear production and eight patients with low tear production. Concentrations of Ap(4)A, and Ap(5)A in patients with normal tear production (Schirmer test result, 12.3 ± 1.2 mm) were 0.47 ± 0.20 and 8.03 ± 3.27 μM, respectively. In the patients with low tear production (Schirmer test result, 1.0 ± 0.3 mm), the concentrations were 4.09 ± 1.36 and 39.51 ± 8.46 μM, respectively and in the control group, 0.13 ± 0.03 and 0.04 ± 0.02 μM, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Patients with Sjögren syndrome have abnormally elevated concentrations of diadenosine polyphosphates, indicating that these compounds could be used in the diagnosis of this disease.
Specificity in Killing Pathogens Is Mediated by Distinct Repertoires of Human Neutrophil Peptides

Neutrophil-derived antimicrobial peptides and proteins (AMPs) play an important role in the defense against microbes. Absence of defense is illustrated by neutropenic patients with frequent bacterial and fungal infections. However, the specificity of the antimicrobial effects has not been adequately described. We set out to determine the specific antimicrobial pattern of polypeptides in neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes, PMNs) against 4 potential human pathogens: Moraxella catarrhalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae and Candida albicans. Protein extracts of human PMNs were separated using high-performance liquid chromatography and fractions were assayed for antimicrobial activity. Fractions displaying antimicrobial activity were separated on SDS-PAGE and characterized using MALDI-MS. Depletion experiments were utilized to determine the contribution of each AMP to the antimicrobial effect. Among the identified AMPs, α-defensins 1–3, azurocidin, LL-37, lysozyme, calprotectin and lactotransferrin were studied in detail. We found a divergent pattern of killing, that is, certain peptides and proteins exhibited selective activity against specific pathogens, while others displayed a broader antimicrobial activity. α-Defensins, LL-37 and calprotectin were active against all species, while lactotransferrin exclusively inhibited growth of S. aureus. Conversely, azurocidin was active against all species except S. aureus. Our observations may shed light on bacterial resistance to AMPs and on the elimination of specific bacterial communities on mucosal surfaces.
Immunohistochemical findings in vasculitic neuropathies

Fifteen sural nerve biopsies of vasculitic neuropathies have been compared with 11 cases of different non‐vasculitic neuropathies and normal nerves from brain‐dead organ donors. The APAAP (alkaline phosphatase monoclonal anti‐alkaline phosphatase) immunostaining method was applied to cryostat sections from unfixed snap‐frozen tissue samples. Immunoglobulins IgG, IgM, IgA, complement factors and light chains were reactive in biopsies of normal nerves as well as of vasculitic and nonvasculitic neuropathies. A strong reaction against IgE in the epineurial vessel walls was only seen in cases of Churg‐Strauss‐vasculitis. Antibodies against MHC class II (HLA DR) were positive in most of vasculitic infiltrates. Vascular endothelial cells were positive with anti MHC class I in all biopsies. A typical finding in all vasculitic neuropathies was the infiltration of epineurial vessels with CD4 positive and, to a lesser extent, CD8 positive lymphocytes. CD22 positive lymphocytes (B cells) have only been seen in about one third of vasculitic neuropathies. CD16 positive cells (NK‐cells or neutrophils) could be demonstrated only in two biopsies. CD68 positive cells (macrophages) are frequently seen in most cases of neuropathy regardless of their etiology. The results support the concept of a primary T‐cell mediated process against epineurial vessels as the most important mechanism in the pathogenesis of vasculitic neuropathies. In some cases with small epineurial infiltrates the vasculitic process can only be recognized with antiobodies against CD4 or CD8. Therefore, the immunohistochemical evaluation of sural nerve biopsies may be helpful for identifying cases with microvasculitis
Immunophenotype of conjunctival melanomas: comparisons with uveal and cutaneous melanomas.

OBJECTIVE To characterize the immunophenotypic expression pattern of conjunctival melanomas, with the use of standard melanoma markers as well as microphthalmia transcription factor and p75 neurotrophin receptor. DESIGN Eleven conjunctival melanomas, including 1 caruncular melanoma, were immunolabeled with a panel of antibodies that included S100, tyrosinase, melan-A, HMB-45 and HMB-50 combination, microphthalmia transcription factor, and p75 neurotrophin receptor. The results were tabulated on the basis of intensity and pervasiveness of labeling and compared with a previous study of uveal melanomas. RESULTS Immunolabeling with S100 was at significantly higher levels in conjunctival melanomas than in uveal melanomas. Tyrosinase, HMB-45 and HMB-50 combination, melan-A, and microphthalmia transcription factor were expressed at high levels in conjunctival melanomas, whereas p75 neurotrophin receptor was not expressed. CONCLUSIONS Melanomas of the conjunctiva, including the caruncle, expressed S100, tyrosinase, melan-A, HMB-45 and HMB-50 combination, and microphthalmia transcription factor at high levels, suggesting that these are good markers for this melanoma subtype. Expression of S100 was significantly higher in conjunctival melanomas than in uveal melanomas. The immunophenotypic pattern of conjunctival melanomas is most similar to the epithelioid subtype of cutaneous melanomas.
The relationship of energy expenditure and spontaneous activity to the aphagia of rats with lesions in the lateral hypothalamus

1. Lesions in the lateral hypothalamus of rats always produced an immediate increase in total energy expenditure. The increase was maintained for 24 hr or longer only in rats that became and remained aphagic. Rats that showed no recovery from the aphagia and were maintained by tube feeding showed a second, larger increase in metabolic rate after about 7 days.
Identification of glutathione S‐transferases in Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and evidence that GSTd7 helps explain the difference in insecticide susceptibility between B. tabaci Middle East‐Minor Asia 1 and Mediterranean

The Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera:Aleyrodidae) species complex includes invasive and destructive pests of field crops, and the sibling species MEAM1 and MED are its two most damaging members. Previous research indicated that the replacement of Middle East‐Minor Asia 1 (MEAM1) by Mediterranean (MED) as the dominant B. tabaci species in China can be mainly attributed to MED's greater tolerance to insecticides. Glutathione S‐transferases (GSTs) play important roles in the detoxification of hydrophobic toxic compounds. To increase our understanding of differences in insecticide resistance between B. tabaci MEAM1 and MED, we searched the genomic and transcriptomic databases and identified 23 putative GSTs in both B. tabaci MEAM1 and MED. Through measuring mRNA levels of 18 of the GSTs after B. tabaci MEAM1 and MED adults were exposed to the insecticide imidacloprid, we found that the expression levels were increased more in B. tabaci MED than in MEAM1 (in particular, the expression level of GST‐d7 was increased by 4.39‐fold relative to the control). Knockdown of GST‐d7 in B. tabaci MED but not in B. tabaci MEAM1 resulted in a substantial increase in the mortality of imidacloprid‐treated adults. These results indicate that differences in GST‐d7 may help explain why insecticide tolerance is greater in B. tabaci MED than in B. tabaci MEAM1.
The Performance Pay Premium: How Big is it and Does it Affect Wage Dispersion?

Using nationally representative linked employer-employee data we find one-quarter of employees in Britain are paid for performance. The log hourly wage gap between performance pay and fixed pay employees is . 36 points. This falls to . 15 log points after controlling for observable demographic, job and workplace characteristics. It falls still further to . 10 log points when comparing "like" employees in the same workplace, indicating that performance pay contracts are used in higher paying workplaces. The premium rises markedly as one moves up the wage distribution: it is seven times higher at the 90th percentile than it is at the 10th percentile in the wage distribution (.42 log points compared to .06 log points).
Messages from the German Multicentre Allergy Study

Several birth cohort studies have been initiated during the past two decades to study environmental and genetic risk factors for atopic dermatitis, asthma and allergic rhinitis. This article summarizes results from the German Multicentre Allergy Study (MAS), which has followed children (initially 1314) from birth (in 1990) to the present time. The effects of immunizations, allergen exposure, early sensitization patterns as well as upper airway infections on the subsequent development of asthma and atopy at school age are described. Furthermore, candidate gene studies of atopic dermatitis and increased total serum IgE levels on chromosomes 5q, 12q and 17q in MAS‐children and their parents are outlined.
Long‐term maintenance of lyophilized fungal cultures of the genera Epidermophyton, Microsporum, Paecilomyces and Trichophyton

Summary. Twenty‐six sporulating strains of lyophilized microscopic fungi of the genera Epidermophyton, Microsporum, Paecilomyces and Trichophyton have been maintained at 2–8 °C for 8–14 years. In 23 strains the number of viable particles reduced less than 10‐fold during this period compared with immediately after lyophilization. The viability of other three investigated strains ranged from 3.4% to 7.1% in comparison with the original values.
Inactivation of peroxynitrite in multiple sclerosis patients after oral administration of inosine may suggest possible approaches to therapy of the disease

Peroxynitrite has been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal model experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). Previously, we have shown that administration of uric acid (UA), a peroxynitrite scavenger, is therapeutic in EAE. We have also shown that MS patients have lower levels of serum uric acid than healthy individuals or those with other neurological diseases. The aim of this investigation was therefore to raise serum UA levels in MS patients. Oral administration of UA failed to increase low serum UA levels, evidently due to its degradation by gastrointestinal bacteria. However, serum UA could be raised and maintained at elevated levels for a year and more without reported side-effects by oral administration of its precursor inosine. Three of 11 patients given inosine showed some evidence of clinical improvement and there was no sign of disease progression in the remaining patients. Gadolinium-enhanced lesions, observed in two patients before receiving inosine, could not be detected after either 10 or 15 months inosine treatment. These data provide evidence that serum UA levels can be readily manipulated and that the benefit of higher levels to individuals with MS should be studied further in greater number of patients.
Formalized algebraic numbers: construction and first-order theory. (Formalisation des nombres algébriques : construction et théorie du premier ordre)

This thesis presents a formalization of algebraic numbers and their theory. It brings two new important contributions to the formalization of mathematical results in proof assistants, Coq in our case: the intuitionistic construction of real algebraic numbers together with the proof they form a real closed field, and the programming and certification of quantifier elimination procedures for the theories of algebraically closed fields and real closed fields. In order to reach those results, we brought multiple contributions to the toolboxes and formalization and proof methodologies in Coq. More particularly, we provide in Coq/SSReflect a framework to work with quotient types. We provide a complete library about ordered and normed number algebraic structures. We wrote a short implementation of Cauchy reals together with tactics to deal easily with reasoning using assertions of the form "let n be a big enough number", commonly used in mathematical paper proofs. We also developed a short library of real polynomial analysis. A big part of our contributions is useful for the formalization of the proof of Odd Order Theorem and they also aim at helping to prove and certify more efficient quantifier elimination procedures on reals.
A Compact Fractal Loop Rectenna for RF Energy Harvesting

This letter presents a compact fractal loop rectenna for RF energy harvesting at GSM1800 bands. First, a fractal loop antenna with novel in-loop ground-plane impedance matching is proposed for the rectenna design. Also, a high-efficiency rectifier is designed in the loop antenna to form a compact rectenna. Measured results show that an efficiency of 61% and an output dc voltage of 1.8 V have been achieved over 12-kΩ resistor for 10 μW/cm2 power density at 1.8 GHz. The rectenna is able to power up a battery-less LCD watch at a distance of 10 m from the cell tower. The proposed rectenna is compact, easy to fabricate, and useful for various energy harvesting applications.