Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and predictive factors of comorbidity in rheumatoid arthritis patients monitored prospectively from disease onset up to 20 years: lack of association between inflammation and cardiovascular disease

Objectives: To study the prevalence of comorbid conditions at diagnosis and during follow-up in a cohort of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) followed prospectively over 20 years, and to identify possible early predictive factors for future comorbidities. Methods: A community-based cohort of 183 patients (mean age 52 years, 63% female) with early RA was recruited between 1985 and 1989. The presence of comorbidity at RA diagnosis and the occurrence of additional comorbidities were recorded continuously. Possible predictors of future comorbidities were analysed using the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: At RA diagnosis, at least one comorbid condition was present in 43% of the patients. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including hypertension (16% of patients) and malignancy (6% of patients), were most common. In total, 82% of patients developed additional comorbidities during follow-up. CVD and malignancies remained the most frequent comorbidities. Higher age [p < 0.001, odds ratio (OR) 1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.15] and the presence of any comorbidity at diagnosis (p = 0.02; OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.08–2.52) predicted future comorbidity. Measures of inflammation at diagnosis or during follow-up were not predictive for development of CVD. Conclusion: Comorbidity was present in a considerable proportion of patients in this cohort. More than 40% of patients had another disease at inclusion and during follow-up and > 80% developed additional conditions. The pattern of comorbidity remained unchanged, with CVD and malignancy being most common. Older age and the presence of comorbidity at RA diagnosis predicted the development of comorbidities. The degree of inflammation at any time point was not predictive of future CVD.
Production planning and coronal stop deletion in spontaneous speech

Many phonological processes can be affected by segmental context spanning word boundaries, which often lead to variable outcomes. This paper tests the idea that some of this variability can be explained by reference to production planning. We examine coronal stop deletion (CSD), a variable process conditioned by preceding and upcoming phonological context, in a corpus of spontaneous British English speech, as a means of investigating a number of variables associated with planning: Prosodic boundary strength, word frequency, conditional probability of the following word, and speech rate. From the perspective of production planning, (1) prosodic boundaries should affect deletion rate independently of following context; (2) given the locality of production planning, the effect of the following context should decrease at stronger prosodic boundaries; and (3) other factors affecting planning scope should modulate the effect of upcoming phonological material above and beyond the modulating effect of prosodic boundaries. We build a statistical model of CSD realization, using pause length as a quantitative proxy for boundary strength, and find support for these predictions. These findings are compatible with the hypothesis that the locality of production planning constrains variability in speech production, and have practical implications for work on CSD and other variable processes.
Simple EPR/Alanine Dosimeter for Medical Application

Linac x-ray and direct gamma irradiation sources were used in this study to irradiate simple polycrystalline alanine- in-glass (AiG) dosimeters with low-doses, typical for medical therapy, and high-doses, typical for syringes’ sterilization processe, respectively. The generated “stable” alanine radicals were quantitatively investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy in the presence of an external standard reference (Mn2+/MgO) to correct for spec- trometer sensitivity variation. The results indicated that the de-amination of L-alanine is the main reaction to form the “stable” radical and the AiG-dosimeter gives comparable sensitivity for both low and high radiation doses. Moreover, a linear EPR-radiation dose response is observed over a very wide range, from 0 to 50 kGy, which is contrary to what has been reported by Bruker BioSpin using alanine’s pellet. This linear response and the well-known doses’ cumulative characteristics of alanine are in favor of the use of this simple dosimeter in ample medical applications, particularly the conventional radiotherapy treatment per patient.
Implant-retained mandibular overdentures: 6-year results of a multicenter clinical trial on 3 different implant systems.

PURPOSE The goal of this multicenter prospective clinical trial was to compare clinical outcome and post-treatment care and patient satisfaction with different implant systems used for mandibular overdenture treatment during a 6-year follow-up period. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 87 edentulous patients with a severely resorbed mandible (bone height, 8 to 15 mm) received treatment involving either 2 Intra Mobiele Zylinder implants (IMZ group, n = 41) (Friedrichsfeld AG, Mannheim, Germany), 2 Brånemark implants (Brå group, n = 17) (Nobel Biocare AB, Gothenburg, Sweden) or a Transmandibular Implant (TMI; Krijnen Medical, Beesd, The Netherlands) (TMI group, n = 29). The evaluation involved clinical parameters, radiographs, surgical and prosthetic post-treatment care, clinical implant performance (CIP scale), and patient satisfaction. RESULTS After 6 years, there was a significant difference in the mean plaque index:the mean plaque index of the TMI group was significantly higher than that of the IMZ and Brå groups. Other clinical parameters showed no significant differences. The implant survival rate of 97.5% was noted in the IMZ group, 97.1% in the Brå group, and 72.0% in the TMI group. The CIP scale were significantly worse for the TMI group. CONCLUSION It was concluded that the IMZ and the Brånemark implant systems have a better survival rate and clinical implant performance than the TMI system. Based on these data, these systems should be the choice for the edentulous mandible with a height between 8 and 15 mm.
Fluid challenge revisited

Objective:To discuss the rationale, technique, and clinical application of the fluid challenge. Data Source:Relevant literature from MEDLINE and authors’ personal databases. Study Selection:Studies on fluid challenge in the acutely ill. Data Extraction:Based largely on clinical experience and assessment of the relevant published literature, we propose that the protocol should include four variables, namely 1) the type of fluid administered, 2) the rate of fluid administration, 3) the critical end points, and 4) the safety limits. Conclusions:A protocol for routine fluid challenge is proposed with defined rules and based on the patient’s response to the volumes infused. The technique allows for prompt correction of fluid deficits yet minimizes the risks of fluid overload. LEARNING OBJECTIVESOn completion of this article, the reader should be able to: Explain the signs of hypovolemia. Describe how to administer a fluid challenge. Use this information in a clinical setting. Both authors have disclosed that they have no financial relationships with or interests in any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity. Lippincott CME Institute, Inc., has identified and resolved all faculty conflicts of interest regarding this educational activity. Visit the Critical Care Medicine Web site (www.ccmjournal.org) for information on obtaining continuing medical education credit.
A qualitative investigation of the impact of asthma and self-management strategies among older adults

ABSTRACT Objective: We sought feedback from elderly patients living with asthma to understand their experience with assuming self-management roles for their asthma in order to inform the design and implementation of a primary care-based strategy that could best support their asthma control. Methods: We held six focus groups with a total of 31 English- and Spanish-speaking older adults with a current diagnosis of asthma. Focus groups addressed the effect of asthma on patients' lives and self-management strategies. Transcripts were analyzed using constant comparative techniques. Results: Asthma exerted a consistent effect on patients' physical and psychological well-being. Common barriers to self-care included misuse of controller medications and uncertainty whether shortness of breath, fatigue, and cough were due to their asthma or some other chronic illness. Patients developed coping strategies to continue with daily activities even when experiencing symptoms, but did not recognize attainable asthma quality of life. Conclusions: Asthma had a distinct impact on elderly adults' quality of life; due to their longstanding history with this condition, many patients had accepted these symptoms as a “new normal. ” Developing strategies to reorient patients' perceptions of the possibilities for managing their illness will be critical to the success of asthma self-management support programs specific to older adults.
Production of hyaluronan and chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans from human arterial smooth muscle--the effect of glucose, insulin, IGF-I or growth hormone.

BACKGROUND Although it is recognized that the extracellular matrix is important for cell proliferation, migration and metabolism of growth factors, the regulation of the synthesis of hyaluronan and chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan (CSPG) in the vessel wall is poorly understood. OBJECTIVE To examine the role of glucose, insulin, IGF-I and human growth hormone (hGH) on the accumulation of hyaluronan and CSPG using cultures of human aortic smooth muscle cells. METHODS The cultures were exposed for 36 h. The CSPG content in the incubation medium was measured by a combination of digestion with testicular hyaluronidase and precipitation of [35SO4(2-)]-labelled material with ethanol and trichloroacetic acid. Hyaluronan was estimated using a radiometric assay. RESULTS Glucose and insulin reduced the amount of synthesized hyaluronan (2P<0.01). Stimulation of synthesis was seen with hGH (2P<0.01), whereas no effect was observed with IGF-I. The production of CSPG was increased with glucose and hGH (2P<0.01), but showed no change with insulin. CONCLUSIONS The present data obtained with human arterial smooth muscle cells in vitro showed that glucose, insulin and hGH can influence the accumulation of hyaluronan and CSPG. These observations may be relevant for an understanding of diabetic macroangiopathy.
Rice Crop Monitoring in South China With RADARSAT-2 Quad-Polarization SAR Data

This letter presents preliminary results of an attempt to monitor rice crop growth using RADARSAT-2 quad polarization synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data. Three RADARSAT-2 quad-polarization SAR images are collected from transplanting to rice crop harvesting. Ground truth data, such as rice height and biomass, are measured during RADARSAT-2 data acquisition in Hainan Province, South China. The correlation between backscattering coefficient and rice growth parameters is analyzed, and then, a rice field mapping method with quad polarization SAR image is developed. Experiments show that an HV or VH image backscattering coefficient exhibits the best correlation with rice age after transplantation. Furthermore, the HV or VH image is also more suitable for retrieving rice growth parameters, such as rice height and dry biomass, for FQ4 RADARSAT-2 SAR data. The ratio image of HH/VV possesses high separability required to distinguish rice crop from banana, forest, and river. Results indicate that RADARSAT-2 quad polarization SAR data presented enormous potential for monitoring rice crop growth.
Human Papillomavirus Detection in Urine Samples: An Alternative Screening Method

Objectives. To investigate the usefulness of human papillomavirus detection in the urine of women with poor gynecologic attention. Materials and Methods. Fifty urine and 50 cervical samples from 50 women were analyzed. Polymerase chain reaction was performed on these 100 samples using consensus primers and a low-density microarray-based method for human papillomavirus typing. Results. The concordance of the results between both sample groups was 80%. In the urine samples, the sensitivity of polymerase chain reaction for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion was 100%, the specificity was 80%, the positive predictive value was 91%, and the negative predictive value was 100%. Conclusions. Human papillomavirus detection in urine samples may be used as an alternative screening method for women with poor gynecologic attention.
Experimental test of the mechanism underlying sexual segregation at communal roosts of harvestmen (Prionostemma spp.)

Author(s): Harvey, BD; Vanni, KN; Shier, DM; Grether, GF | Abstract: © 2017 Blackwell Verlag GmbH Closely related, ecologically similar species often roost in distinctly different habitats, and roosting patterns also vary within species in relation to sex, age and season. The causes of such variation are not well understood at either a proximate or ultimate level. We studied communal roosting in two congeneric species of Prionostemma harvestmen at a rainforest site in Nicaragua. Previous research showed that Prionostemma sp. 1 forms male-biased communal roosts in tree-root cavities, while Prionostemma sp. 2 forms communal roosts of variable but temporally stable sex ratios on spiny palms. Here, we investigate potential mechanisms underlying variation in roosting site choice between and within these syntopic species. First, we present the results of a field experiment designed to probe the mechanism underlying skewed roost sex ratios in Prionostemma sp. 2. Previous studies have suggested that these harvestmen use conspecific scent to locate communal roosts and that new roosts can be established via group translocation. Therefore, to test the hypothesis that skewed roost sex ratios in this species arise from sex differences in scent marks, we translocated single-sex groups of ca. 30 individuals to each of 20 previously unoccupied spiny palms. Female release sites attracted new recruits of both sexes, while male release sites attracted almost exclusively males. We infer that Prionostemma sp. 2 females preferentially roost in sites scent-marked by females and that this mechanism is sufficient to explain the skewed roost ratios. Further adding to knowledge of Prionostemma roosting behavior, we show that Prionostemma sp. 1 forms female-biased communal roosts on spiny palms, that some roosts contain both species, and that the species composition is stable on a time scale of at least 2 weeks. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first experimental test of mechanisms underlying sexual segregation at communal roosts in any taxon.
Balancing platform control and external contribution in third‐party development: the boundary resources model

Prior research documents the significance of using platform boundary resources (e.g. application programming interfaces) for cultivating platform ecosystems through third‐party development. However, there are few, if any, theoretical accounts of this relationship. To this end, this paper proposes a theoretical model that centres on two drivers behind boundary resources design and use – resourcing and securing – and how these drivers interact in third‐party development. We apply the model to a detailed case study of Apple's iPhone platform. Our application of the model not only serves as an illustration of its plausibility but also generates insights about the conflicting goals of third‐party development: the maintenance of platform control and the transfer of design capability to third‐party developers. We generate four specialised constructs for understanding the actions taken by stakeholders in third‐party development: self‐resourcing, regulation‐based securing, diversity resourcing and sovereignty securing. Our research extends and complements existing platform literature and contributes new knowledge about an alternative form of system development.
Minimization of Immunosuppressive Therapy After Renal Transplantation: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Modern immunosuppressive regimens reduce the acute rejection rate by combining a cornerstone immunosuppressant like tacrolimus or cyclosporine with adjunctive agents like corticosteroids, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or azathioprine, often associated with untoward side effects.
The Endothelial-mesenchymal Transition in Systemic Sclerosis Is Induced by Endothelin-1 and Transforming Growth Factor-β and May Be Blocked by Macitentan, a Dual Endothelin-1 Receptor Antagonist

Objective. High endothelin-1 (ET-1) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) levels may induce in healthy endothelial cells (EC) an endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT). The same cytokines are associated with fibrosis development in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Although EndMT has not been definitively shown in SSc, this process, potentially induced by a stimulatory loop involving these 2 cytokines, overexpressed in this disease might contribute to fibroblast accumulation in affected tissues. Macitentan (MAC), an ET-1 receptor antagonist interfering with this loop, might prevent EndMT and fibroblast accumulation. Methods. EC, isolated from healthy controls (HC) and patients with SSc, were treated with ET-1 and TGF-β and successively analyzed for gene and protein expressions of endothelial and mesenchymal markers, and for Sma- and Mad-related (SMAD) phosphorylation. Further, in the supernatants, we evaluated ET-1 and TGF-β production by ELISA assay. In each assay we evaluated the ability of MAC to inhibit both the TGF-β and ET-1 effects. Results. We showed that both TGF-β and ET-1 treatments induced an activation of the EndMT process in SSc-EC as reported in HC cells. The ELISA assays showed a mutual TGF-β and ET-1 induction in both SSc-EC and HC-EC. A statistically significant increase of SMAD phosphorylation after treatment was observed in SSc-EC. In each assay, MAC inhibited both TGF-β and ET-1 effects. Conclusion. Our work is the first demonstration in literature that SSc-EC, under the synergistic effect of TGF-β and ET-1, may transdifferentiate toward myofibroblasts, thus contributing to fibroblast accumulation. MAC, interfering with this process in vitro, may offer a new potential therapeutic strategy against fibrosis.
Vortex reconnection in superfluid helium.

A useful physical model for superfluid turbulence considers the flow to consist of a dense tangle of vortex lines which evolve and interact. It has been suggested that these vortex lines can dynamically reconnect upon close approach. Here, we consider the nonlinear Schrodinger equation model of superfluid quantum mechanics, and use numerical simulation to study this topology changing core-scale process. Our results support the idea that vortex reconnection will occur whenever filaments come within a few core lengths of one another
Cytokine expression by cultured osteoblasts from patients with osteoporotic fractures

Human osteoblasts were derived in culture from explants of bone from patients who had recently suffered osteoporotic fractures and from patients with no evidence of osteoporosis. The expression of cytokine mRNA in these osteoblasts was subsequently determined by reverse transcriptase‐linked polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). We have detected mRNA for IL‐1β, IL‐3, IL‐6, IL‐8, TNF‐α and ‐β, and the three TGF‐β isoforms in the cells. The profile of cytokines expressed by osteoblasts derived from patients with osteoporotic fractures was consistent with profiles observed in osteoblasts derived from patients with no evidence of reduced bone mass — the latter included children undergoing corrective surgery and adult subjects ranging from 31 to 80 years undergoing elective surgery for osteoarthritis and other bone pathologies.
Bereavement or depression? The impact of the loss of a friend to suicide.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether the depressive reactions experienced by youth exposed to suicide were uncomplicated bereavement or bona fide major depression. METHOD In a sample of 146 friends and acquaintances of 26 adolescent suicide victims, 43 (29%) developed a depressive episode subsequent to exposure to suicide, 18 were depressed before exposure, and 85 were never depressed. The three groups were compared. RESULTS Those who became depressed after exposure were similar to those who were depressed before exposure. Both depressed groups differed from the nondepressed exposed group with respect to functional impairment, depressive symptom pattern and severity, convergent validity with other measures of depression, personal and family history of depression, and stressful life events. Previous depressives showed greater comorbidity with nonaffective disorders than those who became depressed after exposure. Those who became depressed after exposure compared with both the previous and nondepressive had a closer relationship with the suicide victims, showed more severe grief, and showed more intense exposure to the suicide. CONCLUSIONS Depressive reactions occurring after exposure to suicide appear to be bona fide major depression, occurring as a complication of bereavement. Youth exposed to suicide should be carefully screened and followed up. Should a symptomatic picture of depression and functional impairment ensue, such exposed youth should be treated accordingly for a major depressive episode.
The relation between nutritional state and quality of life in surgical patients.

OBJECTIVE To explore the relationship between nutritional status and quality of life in a group of patients in a surgical department. DESIGN Prospective open study. SETTINGS Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden. SUBJECTS The patients (n = 199) included 89 females and 110 males, mean age 59 years. INTERVENTIONS The nutritional status was assessed by the percentage weight loss (% WL), weight index (WI), arm muscle circumference (AMC), triceps skin fold thickness (TSF), serum-albumin (Alb) and serum-prealbumin (p-Alb) concentration. Malnutrition was classified as three or more abnormal values and the overall frequency was 35%. The quality of life was assessed by a self-administered rating form with a life-domain rating part and a well-being rating part. In the current statistical analysis, the nutritional status and its different nutritional markers were tested for significant associations with the life-domain ratings (n = 7) and wellbeing scales (n = 11). RESULTS There were significant relations between malnutrition according to nutritional assessment (p < 0.001), % WL (p < 0.005-0.001), Alb (p < 0.05-0.001), p-Alb (p < 0.01-0.001) and quality of life in all life domains except for the social network sphere. The anthropometric variables AMC and TSF showed no association with life domain ratings. As to the wellbeing ratings, an even stronger and more consistent relation were seen between a malnourished state (p < 0.01-0.001), % WL (p < 0.01-0.001), WI (p < 0.01-0.001), Alb (p < 0.01-0.001) and p-Alb (p < 0.05-0.001). AMC and TSF were not linked to the wellbeing ratings. CONCLUSIONS In summary, there was a close association between malnutrition and impaired quality of life.
Loop Diuretics Increase Bone Turnover and Decrease BMD in Osteopenic Postmenopausal Women: Results From a Randomized Controlled Study With Bumetanide

To study effects of loop diuretics on bone, 87 women were randomized to 1 year of treatment with bumetanide or placebo. Compared with placebo, bumetanide decreased BMD by 2% at the total hip and by 1.4% at the whole body. Levels of biochemical bone markers were lower in the placebo than in the bumetanide group. Thus, treatment with loop diuretics affects bone metabolism.