Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Automated Prostate Gland Segmentation Based on an Unsupervised Fuzzy C-Means Clustering Technique Using Multispectral T1w and T2w MR Imaging

Prostate imaging analysis is difficult in diagnosis, therapy, and staging of prostate cancer. In clinical practice, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is increasingly used thanks to its morphologic and functional capabilities. However, manual detection and delineation of prostate gland on multispectral MRI data is currently a time-expensive and operator-dependent procedure. Efficient computer-assisted segmentation approaches are not yet able to address these issues, but rather have the potential to do so. In this paper, a novel automatic prostate MR image segmentation method based on the Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) clustering algorithm, which enables multispectral T1-weighted (T1w) and T2-weighted (T2w) MRI anatomical data processing, is proposed. This approach, using an unsupervised Machine Learning technique, helps to segment the prostate gland effectively. A total of 21 patients with suspicion of prostate cancer were enrolled in this study. Volume-based metrics, spatial overlap-based metrics and spatial distance-based metrics were used to quantitatively evaluate the accuracy of the obtained segmentation results with respect to the gold-standard boundaries delineated manually by an expert radiologist. The proposed multispectral segmentation method was compared with the same processing pipeline applied on either T2w or T1w MR images alone. The multispectral approach considerably outperforms the monoparametric ones, achieving an average Dice Similarity Coefficient 90.77 ± 1.75, with respect to 81.90 ± 6.49 and 82.55 ± 4.93 by processing T2w and T1w imaging alone, respectively. Combining T2w and T1w MR image structural information significantly enhances prostate gland segmentation by exploiting the uniform gray appearance of the prostate on T1w MRI.
The relations among body consciousness, somatic symptom report, and information processing speed in chronic fatigue syndrome.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the potential influence of body consciousness and levels of somatic symptom report upon information processing speed in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). BACKGROUND According to a model of a fixed information processing capacity, it was predicted that in a group of patients with CFS, high body consciousness in combination with a high report of somatic symptoms would affect information-processing speed negatively. METHODS Information- and motor-processing speed were simultaneously measured with a simple- and a choice-reaction time task, whereas cognitive complaints were rated with two questionnaires. The hypothesized influence of private body consciousness and somatic symptom report upon information-processing speed was tested in a model. A symptom-validity test was used to screen for possible illness behavior. RESULTS Private body consciousness was directly related to information-processing speed and somatic symptom report. Somatic symptom report was related to both test performance and memory and concentration complaints. CONCLUSIONS Levels of private body consciousness directly affected somatic symptom report and information-processing speed. This finding supports the role of attentive processes in CFS, and offers, besides possible cerebral dysfunction, an alternative explanation for slowing of information processing in CFS.
Complement inhibition by soluble complement receptor type 1 improves microcirculation after rat liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND Recent observations provide evidence that complement is involved in the pathophysiology of ischemia/reperfusion injury. In this study, we assessed the impact of complement inhibition on hepatic microcirculation and graft function using a rat model of liver transplantation. METHODS Arterialized orthotopic liver transplantation was performed in Lewis rats after cold preservation (University of Wisconsin solution, 4 degrees C, 24 h). Eight animals received the physiological complement regulator soluble complement receptor type 1 (sCR1) intravenously 1 min before reperfusion. Controls received Ringer's solution (n=8). Microvascular perfusion, leukocyte adhesion, and Kupffer cell phagocytic activity were studied 30-100 min after reperfusion by in vivo microscopy. RESULTS Microvascular perfusion in hepatic sinusoids was improved in the sCR1 group (87+/-0.7% vs. 50+/-1%; P < 0.001). The number of adherent leukocytes was reduced in sinusoids (68.3+/-4.7 vs. 334.1+/-15.8 [adherent leukocytes per mm < or = liver surface]; P < 0.001) and in postsinusoidal venules after sCR1 treatment (306.6+/-21.8 vs. 931.6+/-55.9 [adherent leukocytes per mm < or = endothelial surface]; P < 0.001). Kupffer cell phagocytic activity was decreased in the sCR1 group compared to controls. Postischemic bile production reflecting hepatocellular function was increased by almost 200% (P = 0.004) after complement inhibition. Plasmatic liver enzyme activity was decreased significantly upon sCR1 treatment, indicating reduced parenchymal cell injury. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide further evidence that the complement system plays a decisive role in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury. We conclude that complement inhibition by sCR1 represents an effective treatment to prevent reperfusion injury in liver transplantation.
Synoptic climatological influences on the spatial and temporal variability of aerosols over North America

The spatial and temporal variability of atmospheric aerosols is not well understood, as most studies have been constrained to data sets that include few stations and are of short duration. Furthermore, all methods for quantifying atmospheric turbidity suffer from a major constraint in that they require cloudless sky conditions. This restriction produces gaps in the turbidity record and sampling bias, which has led to questionable inferences about the variability of aerosols.
Comparing diffusion weighted imaging with clinical and blood parameters, and with short tau inversion recovery sequence in detecting spinal and sacroiliac joint inflammation in axial spondyloarthritis.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the usefulness of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) by comparing with clinical features, blood parameters and traditional short tau inversion recovery (STIR) sequence in detecting spinal and sacroiliac (SI) joint inflammation in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) patients. METHODS One hundred and ten axSpA patients were recruited. Clinical, radiological and blood parameters were recorded. DWI and STIR MRI were performed simultaneously and results were scored according to the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) for comparison. Apparent diffusion coef cient (ADC) values were also calculated. RESULTS DWI did not correlate with clinical parameters or blood parameters. It also had lowered sensitivity. When compared with STIR sequence, it correlated well with STIR sequence at the SI joint level (CC 0.76, p<0.001), but weakly at the spinal level (CC 0.23, p=0.02). At the SI joint level, the presence of inflammation on both STIR sequence and DWI was associated with an increase in maximum (B=0.24, p=0.02 in STIR; B=0.37, p<0.001 in DWI) and mean ADC values (B=0.17, p=0.003 in STIR; B=0.15, p=0.01 in DWI). Maximum (B=0.19, p=0.04) and mean spinal ADC values (B=0.18, p=0.01) were also positively associated with DWI detected spinal inflammation. Presence of Modic lesions showed positive correlation with STIR sequence (B=7.12, p=0.01) but not spinal ADC values. CONCLUSIONS Despite DWI correlates with STIR sequence, it has lower sensitivity. However, ADC values appear to be independent of Modic lesions and may supplement STIR sequence to differentiate degeneration.
The effects of raising alveolar PCO2 and ventilation separately and together on the sensitivity and setting of the baroreceptor cardiodepressor reflex in man

1. The effects of changes in ventilation and/or alveolar PCO2 on the baroreflex control of heart rate have been studied in seven experiments on six young men and women who had been trained to control tidal volume and respiratory frequency at various levels independent of alveolar PCO2, during hyperoxia.
Association of Sp3 and estrogen receptor α with the transcriptionally active trefoil factor 1 promoter in MCF‐7 breast cancer cells

To further explore the role of Sp1 and Sp3 in the estrogen regulated TFF1 gene transcription, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay was used to determine the association of estrogen receptor α (ERα), Sp1 and Sp3 with the endogenous trefoil factor 1 (TFF1) gene promoter in MCF‐7 breast cancer cells. ERα and serine 5 phosphorylated RNA polymerase II, the form of RNA polymerase II associated with transcription initiation, were recruited to the TFF1 gene promoter following estrogen addition to MCF‐7 cells cultured under estrogen deplete conditions. Both Sp1 and Sp3 were bound to the TFF1 gene promoter before and after estrogen treatment. Using the re‐ChIP assay, we demonstrate that either Sp1 or Sp3 but not both bind to a TFF1 promoter. The co‐occupancy of ERα and Sp1 on TFF1 promoter remains at similar level with and without estrogen, while that of ERα and Sp3 increased in the presence of estrogen. Further, we observed increased co‐occupancy of Sp3 and serine 5 phosphorylated RNA polymerase II on the TFF1 promoter after estrogen treatment of cells. Taken together, these results provide evidence that Sp3 and ERα are involved in the estrogen induced transcription of the TFF1 gene. J. Cell. Biochem. 105: 365–369, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Self-reported neck and shoulder pain in adolescents is associated with episodic and chronic migraine

Aim The aim of this study was to verify the association between self-reported neck/shoulder pain and migraine and to compare findings of chronic and episodic migraine in adolescents. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 601 secondary-school students filled in questionnaires about headache appearance, type and frequency, neck and shoulder pain and lifestyle factors. Results The adjusted strength of the association between reported neck and shoulder pain and migraine (assessed in multinomial regression models) increased with the frequency of migraine: less than once a week (OR = 1.40; 95% CI = (0.85–2.30)), weekly (OR = 2.14; 95% CI = (1.42–3.24)), and at least 15 days/month (OR = 7.27; 95% CI = (3.42–15.44)). Conclusion In adolescents the association between self-reported neck and shoulder pain and migraine is most pronounced in migraine with a high attack frequency.
Study of behavioral problems in multi-transfused thalassemic children

Background: Beta-thalassemia major is a chronic disorder of blood, having an extensive impact on the affected child. It involves lifelong therapeutic regime, with repeated blood transfusions. With improved life expectancy, due to improved medical management psychosocial aspects of thalassemia are gaining importance. Objective: To assess the behavioral problems in multi-transfused thalassemic children and psychosocial factors affecting them. Setting: The study was conducted in a tertiary care level hospital and research institute catering mainly to a population of low socioeconomic status. Design: The study was a cross-sectional study involving 50 multi-transfused thalassemic children of age 5–10 years. Materials and Methods: Fifty multi-transfused thalassemic children, aged 5–10 years, not suffering from any other major medical illness, were included. Child Behavior Check List (Achenbach) (CBCL) was used to collect data from each parent regarding the child's behavior. Parental Attitude Scale (Rangaswamy 1989) was applied. Descriptive statistical analysis was used with analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Student's t test to find the significance of data. Results: The CBCL total scores were high in 32% patients, indicating the presence of behavioral problems. Higher CBCL scores were found in children of older age group, those with poor school performance, whose mothers’ education was more than eighth standard, had history of death of thalassemic relative in family, greater duration of diagnosed illness, poor pre-transfusion hemoglobin level, and who had longer periods of school absenteeism. Conclusions: Behavioral problems are common in multi-transfused thalassemic children. Early diagnosis and intervention of behavioral problems in these children would make them cope with thalassemia better.
Central venous catheter insertion by advanced practice nurses: another demonstrated competency*.

Critical Care Medicine www.ccmjournal. org 731 6. NQF Endorses Additional Infectious Disease Measures. Available at: http://www.qualityforum. org/News_And_Resources/Press_ Releases/2013/NQF_Endorses_Additional_Infectious_Disease_ Measures.aspx. Accessed September 20, 2013 7. Kumar A, Haery C, Paladugu B, et al: The duration of hypotension before the initiation of antibiotic treatment is a critical determinant of survival in a murine model of Escherichia coli septic shock: Association with serum lactate and inflammatory cytokine levels. J Infect Dis 2006; 193:251–258 8. Puskarich MA, Trzeciak S, Shapiro NI, et al; Emergency Medicine Shock Research Network (EMSHOCKNET): Association between timing of antibiotic administration and mortality from septic shock in patients treated with a quantitative resuscitation protocol. Crit Care Med 2011; 39:2066–2071 9. Gaieski DF, Mikkelsen ME, Band RA, et al: Impact of time to antibiotics on survival in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock in whom early goal-directed therapy was initiated in the emergency department. Crit Care Med 2010; 38:1045–1053 10. Drake DE, Cohen A, Cohn J: National hospital antibiotic timing measures for pneumonia and antibiotic overuse. Qual Manag Health Care 2007; 16:113–122 11. Kumar A, Roberts D, Wood KE, et al: Duration of hypotension before initiation of effective antimicrobial therapy is the critical determinant of survival in human septic shock. Crit Care Med 2006; 34:1589–1596 12. Rivers E, Nguyen B, Havstad S, et al; Early Goal-Directed Therapy Collaborative Group: Early goal-directed therapy in the treatment of severe sepsis and septic shock. N Engl J Med 2001; 345:1368–1377
Platelet-Rich Plasma for Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder: A Case Report

We report a 44-year-old woman with calcific tendinitis of the shoulder treated with platelet-rich plasma injection. Prior to this, she had no improvement of the symptoms after 6 weeks of ultrasound treatment, Codman exercises, and anti-inflammatory treatment. Platelet-rich plasma was injected into the subacromial area 3 times at 2-week intervals. She had progressive improvement of pain after 2 weeks, and was asymptomatic at week 6. The patient then underwent the previous protocol of rehabilitation. At the one-year follow-up, the patient was pain-free and had complete resolution of calcific tendinitis. The patient had regained full range of movement and had resumed all her activities.
Eligibility for and Outcome of Hepatitis C Treatment of HIV-Coinfected Individuals in Clinical Practice: The Swiss HIV Cohort Study

Background Morbidity and mortality of individuals co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) is often determined by the course of their HCV infection. Only a selected proportion of those in need of HCV treatment are studied in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We analysed the prevalence of HCV infection in a large cohort, the number of individuals requiring treatment, the eligibility for HCV treatment, and the outcome of the combination therapy with pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin in routine practice. Methods We analysed prescription patterns of HCV treatment and treatment outcomes among participants from the Swiss HIV Cohort Study with detectable hepatitis C viraemia (between January 2001 and October 2004). Efficacy was measured by the number of patients with undetectable HCV RNA at the end of therapy (EOTR) and at 6 months after treatment termination (SVR). Intention-to-continue-treatment principles were used. Results A total of 2,150 of 7,048 (30.5%) participants were coinfected with HCV; HCV RNA was detected in 60%, and not assessed in 26% of HCV-antibody-positive individuals. One hundred and sixty (12.5%) of HCV-RNA-positive patients started treatment. In patients infected with HCV genotypes 1/4 or 2/3, EOTR was achieved in 43.3% and 81.2% of patients, respectively, and SVR rates were 28.4% and 51.8%, respectively. More than 50% of the HCV-treated patients would have been excluded from two large published RCTs due to demographic, clinical and laboratory criteria. Conclusions Despite clinical and psychosocial obstacles encountered in clinical practice, HCV treatment in HIV-coinfected individuals is feasible with results similar to those obtained in RCTs.
Economic Stressors and Childhood Obesity: Differences by Child Age and Gender

Childhood obesity is a public health challenge in the United States (U.S.) and elsewhere in the world. Additionally, those who are obese are heavier than in the past (Anderson & Butcher, 2006). In the U.S., one in three children is overweight or obese (Ogden et al., 2010), a prevalence that has tripled since 1970 (Anderson & Butcher, 2006; Kumanayika & Grier, 2006; Wang & Zhang, 2006). In response to this public health issue, Healthy People 2010 (US/DHHS, 2000) and President Obama (US/Office of the President, 2010) have identified childhood obesity as a national health priority as it has immediate consequences for a child’s physical and psychological health (Puhl & Latner, 2007; Raman, 2002; Strauss, 1999; US/DHHS, 2000), as well as implications for future health (Freedman et al., 2007; Raman, 2002; Strauss, 1999; US/DHHS, 2000). Beyond negative health outcomes, there are also economic costs (e.g., greater need for health care) associated with childhood obesity (Marder & Chang 2006; Skinner et al., 2008). Thus, identifying factors related to childhood obesity not only has implications for the health and quality of life of children, but it also has important implications for family expenditures and health care costs.
Early effects of renal denervation in the anaesthetised rat: natriuresis and increased cortical blood flow

1 A novel method of renal denervation was developed based on electro‐coagulation of tissue containing most of the sympathetic fibres travelling towards the kidney. Kidney tissue noradrenaline was decreased to 4.7 % of the content measured in the contralateral innervated kidney when studied 3 days postdenervation. 2 The method was utilised in anaesthetised rats to examine the effects of denervation within the heretofore unexplored first 75 min period postdenervation. Sodium excretion (UNaV) increased significantly (+82 %, P < 0.03) over the 25‐50 min after denervation. In a parallel group, with a lower baseline UNaV, there was also a significant increase in UNaV (+54 %, P < 0.03) within the first 25 min. The renal perfusion pressure was maintained at a constant value and the glomerular filtration rate did not change after denervation. 3 Renal cortical and medullary blood flows (CBF, MBF) were estimated as laser Doppler flux and medullary tissue ion concentration was estimated as electrical admittance (Y). Following denervation, in both groups CBF increased significantly within the first 25 min (+12 %, P < 0.01 and +8 %, P < 0.05, respectively) while MBF did not change or decreased slightly; Y did not change. 4 The data document the development of natriuresis within the first 25‐50 min after denervation. The increase in CBF indicated that, prior to denervation, the cortical, but not medullary, circulation was under a tonic vasoconstrictor influence of the renal nerves. Such a dissociation of neural effects on the renal cortical vs. medullary vasculature has not been previously described.
Clinical Usefulness of Computed Tomography Study Without Contrast Injection in the Evaluation of Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Objective: To evaluate the percentage of cases in which emboli can be detected in unenhanced scans and to identify the cases in which they appear hyperattenuating or hypoattenuating in comparison to the circulating blood. Method: An angio-computed tomography (CT) scan was performed before and after contrast injection in 140 consecutive patients after clinical suspicion of pulmonary embolism. A radiologist analyzed the examination results thus obtained. The enhanced scan was analyzed first, and after detecting the thrombus, the unenhanced scan was evaluated. Results: Fifty-one examinations were positive for a pulmonary embolism; in 21 cases, it was possible to identify the embolus even in the unenhanced scans. In 10 cases, the clots were hyperattenuating in comparison to the circulating blood; in 5 cases, they were hypoattenuating; and in 6 cases, they were mixed hyper-hypoattenuating. Conclusion: In a relatively high percentage of cases, particularly those of central thromboembolism, it is possible to identify and characterize the clots even in unenhanced scans.
A Comprehensive Library of X-Ray Pulsars in the Small Magellanic Cloud: Time Evolution of Their Luminosities and Spin Periods

We have collected and analyzed the complete archive of XMM-Newton (116), Chandra (151), and RXTE (952) observations of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), spanning 1997–2014. The resulting observational library provides a comprehensive view of the physical, temporal, and statistical properties of the SMC pulsar population across the luminosity range of erg s−1. From a sample of 65 pulsars we report ∼1654 individual pulsar detections, yielding ∼1260 pulse-period measurements. Our pipeline generates a suite of products for each pulsar detection: spin period, flux, event list, high time-resolution light curve, pulse profile, periodogram, and spectrum. Combining all three satellites, we generated complete histories of the spin periods, pulse amplitudes, pulsed fractions, and X-ray luminosities. Some pulsars show variations in pulse period due to the combination of orbital motion and accretion torques. Long-term spin-up/spin-down trends are seen in 12/11 pulsars, respectively, pointing to sustained transfer of mass and angular momentum to the neutron star on decadal timescales. Of the sample, 30 pulsars have a relatively very small spin period derivative and may be close to equilibrium spin. The distributions of pulse detection and flux as functions of spin period provide interesting findings: mapping boundaries of accretion-driven X-ray luminosity and showing that fast pulsars (P < 10 s) are rarely detected, which as of yet are more prone to giant outbursts. Accompanying this paper is an initial public release of the library so that it can be used by other researchers. We intend the library to be useful in driving improved models of neutron star magnetospheres and accretion physics.
Sequence analysis of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacers region in spider mites (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae) occurring in citrus orchards in Eastern Spain: use for species discrimination

Tetranychus urticae is a polyphagous mite which is an important pest of citrus worldwide. This mite can be found feeding on many plant species occurring in the citrus agrosystem moving from weeds to trees. Because field samples consist of a mixture of different Tetranychidae species, as a first step necessary to further implement population characterisation of T. urticae, species-discriminating criteria based on molecular techniques are needed. In this study, the nucleotide variation of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) 1 and 2 and the intergenic 5.8S fragment of nuclear rDNA of T. urticae, Tetranychus turkestani, Tetranychus evansi, Tetranychus ludeni and Panonychus citri have been determined. Results demonstrate that for these species, the rDNA ITS2 regions are much more conserved than the corresponding rDNA ITS1. The high homogeneity of the ITS2 sequence observed among the specimens of T. urticae obtained from the same ecoregion makes this DNA sequence an excellent tool for species discrimination. ITS sequences differentiate not only species but also specimens from different geographical origin. Furthermore, polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the ITS2 proved adequate for a quick screening of high numbers of field samples.