Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Percutaneous aspiration and ethanolamine oleate sclerotherapy for sustained resolution of symptomatic polycystic liver disease: an initial experience.

OBJECTIVE Surgical therapy for symptomatic polycystic liver disease is effective but has substantial mortality and morbidity. Minimally invasive options such as percutaneous aspiration with or without ethanol sclerosis have had disappointing results. The purpose of this study was to evaluate percutaneous aspiration with ethanolamine oleate sclerosis in the management of symptomatic polycystic liver disease. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The study included 13 patients (11 with polycystic liver disease, two with simple cysts) with 17 cysts. All patients underwent percutaneous aspiration of the liver cyst under ultrasound guidance followed by insertion of a 7-French pigtail catheter, instillation of ethanolamine oleate (10% of cyst volume), and aspiration of the ethanolamine oleate. The catheter was kept in place for 24 hours of open drainage and then removed. RESULTS All but one of the cysts resolved with one instillation. The one cyst, in a patient with polycystic liver disease, required two instillations 3 months apart. The mean initial volume of cysts was 589.8 mL, and the mean reduction in volume was 88.8%. Both the simple cysts resolved completely. In the cases of polycystic disease, the volume of cysts larger than 10 cm in diameter was reduced by 92.8%. Cyst resolution was gradual, and clinically significant cyst reduction was achieved within 1 year of therapy. None of the patients needed surgery. The median follow-up period was 54 months (range, 1 week-95 months). There were no significant adverse effects, and all patients had relief of symptoms after therapy. CONCLUSION This initial experience with a single session of percutaneous aspiration and ethanolamine oleate sclerosis resulted in sustained resolution of symptomatic polycystic liver disease with minimal morbidity, avoidance of surgery, and improvement in quality of life.
The neural circuitry of pain as explored with functional MRI

Abstract Since the discovery in the early 1990s that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used for functional imaging of the human brain, the technique has been used to examine the contribution of thalamic and cortical areas to the human pain experience. In a series of studies in this laboratory, functional MRI (fMRI) of noxious heat-, cold-, and median nerve stimulation-evoked activations demonstrated the involvement of the thalamus and multiple cortical areas in pain. The cortical areas identified included the primary and secondary somatosensory cortex (SI, S2), the anterior insula and the anterior cingulate cortex. The data also revealed a significant intersubject variability in the activation of any one of these regions, particularly during heat- and cold-evoked pain. These findings revealed the widespread cortical regions that are recruited by a noxious stimulus and provide clues to the neural circuitry of pain that undoubtedly include sensory, motor and cognitive components. [Neurol Res 2000; 22: 313–317]
Maximalist vs. minimalist shoes: dose-effect response of elastic compression on muscular oscillations.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to establish whether maximalist shoes engender fewer muscular oscillations than minimalist shoes and determine to what extent these shoes, when combined with elastic compression (EC), help reduce muscle oscillations. For that purpose, we tested the effects of various levels of compression on the muscular oscillations in maximalist and minimalist footwear. METHODS Eleven volunteers executed 16 one-minute passages on a flat treadmill in a randomized order: maximalists or minimalists, walking (6 km/h) or running (10 km/h), without EC (control condition [CON]) or with EC applying different pressures (9.6 mmHg, 14.5 mmHg and 20.4 mmHg). The muscular oscillations were measured on both thighs, on the rectus femoris and on the vastus medialis with tri-axial accelerometers. RESULTS Muscular oscillations are lower in maximalist shoes than in minimalist shoes, for both walking to 6 km/h and running to 10 km/h (P<0.05). Oscillations are also reduced with EC (P<0.05). This decrease is most marked when the pressure exercised by the EC is increased. CONCLUSIONS Increased compression with minimalist shoes reduces muscular oscillations as much as maximalist shoes, when combined with lower compression.
An analysis of the association between the vitamin D pathway and serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D levels in a healthy Chinese population

Vitamin D deficiency has been recognized as a major public health issue worldwide. Recent studies have indicated that genetic factors might play an important role in determining serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in Caucasians and African Americans. However, the genes that contribute to the variation in serum 25(OH)D levels in Chinese are unknown. In this study, we screened 15 key genes within the vitamin D metabolic pathway using 96 single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in a group of 2897 unrelated healthy Chinese subjects. Significant confounding factors that may influence the variability in serum 25(OH)D levels were used as covariates for association analyses. An association test for quantitative traits was performed to evaluate the association between candidate genes and serum 25(OH)D levels. In the present study, variants and/or haplotypes in GC, CYP2R1, and DHCR7/NADSYN1 were identified as being associated with 25(OH)D levels. Participants with three or four risk alleles of the two variants (GC‐rs4588 and CYP2R1‐rs10766197) had an increased chance of presenting with a 25(OH)D concentration lower than 20 ng/mL (odds ratio 2.121, 95% confidence interval 1.586–2.836, p = 6.1 × 10−8) compared with those lacking the risk alleles. Each additional copy of a risk allele was significantly associated with a 0.12‐fold decrease in the log‐25(OH)D concentration (p = 3.7 × 10−12). Haplotype TGA of GC rs705117‐rs2282679‐rs1491710, haplotype GAGTAC of GC rs842999‐rs705120‐rs222040‐rs4588‐rs7041‐rs10488854, haplotype CA of GC rs1155563‐rs222029, and haplotype AAGA of CYP2R1 rs7936142‐rs12794714‐rs2060793‐rs16930609 were genetic risk factors toward a lower 25(OH)D concentration. In contrast, haplotype TGGGCCC of DHCR7/NADSYN1 rs1790349‐rs7122671‐rs1790329‐rs11606033‐rs2276360‐rs1629220‐rs2282618 were genetic protective factors. The results suggest that the GC, CYP2R1, and DHCR7/NADSYN1 genes might contribute to variability in the serum 25(OH)D levels in a healthy Chinese population in Shanghai. These markers could be used as tools in Mendelian randomization analyses of vitamin D, and they could potentially be drug targets in the Chinese population in Shanghai.
Metabolism of HCG in man.

ABSTRACT The metabolic clearance rate (MCR) of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) was determined in normal male and female subjects following the intravenous and intramuscular administration of 10,000 IU of HCG. The mean MCR (I/day) in the iv experiments was 3.38 for men and 3.86 for women. These values are approximately 1/10 of the MCR value reported for human luteinizing hormone. Following the iv administration, the plasma disappearance curve showed an initial fast component with a half-life of 5.1 and 5.6 hr for males and females, respectively, while the half-life for the second, slow component was 23.6 for males and 23.9 hr for females.
Comparison of Receptor Binding Characteristics of Commonly Used Muscarinic Antagonists in Human Bladder Detrusor and Mucosa

Recent studies have described muscarinic receptors on the mucosa and the detrusor of the human urinary bladder. Muscarinic receptor antagonists are effective in the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB), but their site(s) of action and actual therapeutic target are unclear. Our aim was to compare, in human bladder mucosa and detrusor, the radioligand binding characteristics of newer, clinically effective agents: darifenacin, its hydroxylated metabolite UK-148,993, fesoterodine, solifenacin, tolterodine, and trospium. Specimens were collected from asymptomatic patients (50-72 years old) undergoing open bladder surgery. Radioligand binding studies with the muscarinic antagonist [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) were performed separately on detrusor and mucosal membranes. All antagonists displayed high affinity when competing for [3H]QNB binding in both detrusor and mucosa. Inhibition constants were also obtained for all antagonists against individual muscarinic receptor subtypes expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Here, fesoterodine showed anomalous binding results, suggesting that some conversion to its metabolite had occurred. Global nonlinear regression analysis of bladder binding data with five antagonists demonstrated 82% low-affinity sites in mucosa and 78% low-affinity sites in detrusor, probably representing M2/M4 receptors. There was an excellent correlation (r2 = 0.99) of low-affinity global estimates between detrusor and mucosa, whereas the corresponding high-affinity estimates (∼20% of sites) were dissimilar. In conclusion, commonly used and clinically effective muscarinic receptor antagonists bind to receptors located on the bladder mucosa and the detrusor, providing support for the hypothesis that muscarinic receptors in the mucosa may represent an important site of action for these agents in OAB.
Evaluation of Amplitude of Accommodation in a Presbyopic Patient Undergoing Stimulation of Sizhukong Acupuncture Point (TH23) – Case Report

Submit Manuscript | http://medcraveonline.com but Helmholtz’s hypothesis [5,6] is one of the most accepted theories that try to explain it. According to the Helmholtz ́s model, the contraction of the ciliary muscle would allow relaxation of crystalline capsule, which, by elastic contraction, would deform the lens, increasing its thickness and, therefore, the optical power. When the ciliary muscle relaxes, the zonular tension will increase, tensioning the lens. This tension reduces its anteroposterior dimension and increases the focal distance.
A technique for the steady-State analysis of a grid-connected permanent-magnet induction Generator

This paper presents a technique by which the steady-state performance of a grid-connected permanent-magnet induction generator (PMIG) can be predicted more accurately. By applying the topological principle of duality, an equivalent circuit of the PMIG is derived that takes into consideration the core loss as well as the permanent-magnet (PM) excitation. The nonlinear parameters in the equivalent circuit are modeled using curve-fitting methods. Experimental results performed on a 2.2-kW prototype PMIG demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed technique.
The clinical pathology of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS): a report from China

In order to investigate the clinical pathology of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), the autopsies of three patients who died from SARS in Nan Fang Hospital Guangdong, China were studied retrospectively. Routine haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to study all of the tissues from the three cases. The lung tissue specimens were studied further with Macchiavello staining, viral inclusion body staining, reticulin staining, PAS staining, immunohistochemistry, ultrathin sectioning and staining, light microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The first symptom was hyperpyrexia in all three cases, followed by progressive dyspnoea and lung field shadowing. The pulmonary lesions included bilateral extensive consolidation, localized haemorrhage and necrosis, desquamative pulmonary alveolitis and bronchitis, proliferation and desquamation of alveolar epithelial cells, exudation of protein and monocytes, lymphocytes and plasma cells in alveoli, hyaline membrane formation, and viral inclusion bodies in alveolar epithelial cells. There was also massive necrosis of splenic lymphoid tissue and localized necrosis in lymph nodes. Systemic vasculitis included oedema, localized fibrinoid necrosis, and infiltration of monocytes, lymphocytes, and plasma cells into vessel walls in the heart, lung, liver, kidney, adrenal gland, and the stroma of striated muscles. Thrombosis was present in small veins. Systemic toxic changes included degeneration and necrosis of the parenchyma cells in the lung, liver, kidney, heart, and adrenal gland. Electron microscopy demonstrated clusters of viral particles, consistent with coronavirus, in lung tissue. SARS is a systemic disease that injures many organs. The lungs, immune organs, and systemic small vessels are the main targets of virus attack, so that extensive consolidation of the lung, diffuse alveolar damage with hyaline membrane formation, respiratory distress, and decreased immune function are the main causes of death. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
User Roles and Contributions in Innovation-Contest Communities

Organizations increasingly initiate Internet-based innovation-contest communities through which individuals can interact and contribute to the innovation process. To successfully manage these communities, organizations need to understand what roles members assume, how they communicate and vary in their contribution behavior. In this exploratory study, we investigate the heterogeneous roles of contest participants based on an international innovation-contest community. We identify six user types associated with various behavioral contribution patterns by using cluster and social network analysis. The six user types further differ in their communicative content and contribution quality. Our paper contributes to a better theoretical understanding of distinctive user types in innovation-contest communities, their role in the community, and their contribution to the success of innovation contests in the era of social software. From a managerial perspective, the study provides guidance for contest platform design and appropriate reward structures.
A primate model for Alzheimer's disease: Investigation of the apolipoprotein E profile of the vervet monkey of St. Kitts

The apolipoprotein E4 allele has been previously associated with late onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). The major neuropathology of AD, senile (amyloid) plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles, has been observed in the vervet monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops). To further assess the suitability of the vervet as a model for AD, we undertook to determine the sequence of the vervet apoE exon 4 and to genotype an unrelated group of 30 aged animals raging from 15 to 28 years of age. All 30 animals were homozygous for the E4 allele. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Role, Circulation and Molecular Characterization of Integrons and ICEs in Clinical and Environmental Vibrio

Mobile genetic elements are essential for the acquisition of new genetic information and genomic recombination. Among these, integrons and ICEs of the SXT/R391 family are involved primarily in antibiotic resistance diffusion and in other adaptive functions in Vibrio. Many studies indicate that mobile genetic elements are also important factors of genetic variability and suggest their role as potential vectors of cryptic functions. Resistance to drugs, molecular structure, geographic distribution and epidemiological relationship of these genetic elements circulating in Vibrio spp isolates from Africa and Vietnam (19852003) are described.
Measurable outcomes of quality improvement in the trauma intensive care unit: the impact of a daily quality rounding checklist.

OBJECTIVE The use of "care bundles" in the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and other intensive care unit (ICU) complications have been increasingly used in critical care practice. However, the effective implementation of these strategies represents a challenge in a busy Level I trauma ICU. We devised a daily "Quality Rounds Checklist" (QRC) tool for use in the ICU to increase compliance with these prophylactic measures and identify areas for improvement in quality of care. METHODS A prospective before-after design was used to examine the effectiveness of the QRC tool in promoting compliance with 16 prophylactic measures for VAP, deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, central line infection and other ICU complications. Compliance was assessed for 1 month before institution of the QRC. On daily analysis, the QRC was then applied by the ICU fellow to assess compliance. Any deficiencies were actively corrected in real time. Compliance was assessed by a multidisciplinary team for the next 3 months and compared with the pre-QRC compliance rates. RESULTS Implementation of the QRC tool facilitated improvement of all measures not already at >95% compliance. Compliance with VAP prevention measures of head of bed elevation >30 degrees (35.2% vs. 84.5%), sedation holiday (78.0% vs. 86.0%), and prophylaxis for both peptic ulcer disease (76.2% vs. 92.3%) and deep venous thrombosis (91.4% vs. 92.8%) were all increased. A decrease in central line duration >72 hours (62.4% vs. 52.8%) and ventilator duration >72 hours (74.0% vs. 61.7%) was also noted. Additionally, a decrease in mean monthly rates per 1,000 device days of VAP (16.3 vs. 8.9), central line infection (11.3 vs. 5.8) and self-extubation (7.8 vs. 2.2) was demonstrated. CONCLUSION Introducing a daily QRC tool facilitated improved compliance rates for 16 clinically significant prophylactic measures in a busy Level I trauma ICU. The daily use of this tool, requiring just a few minutes per patient to complete, results in a sustainable improvement in patient outcomes.
Alpha band frequency differences between low-trait and high-trait anxious individuals

Trait anxiety has been shown to cause significant impairments on attentional tasks. Current research has identified alpha band frequency differences between low-trait and high-trait anxious individuals. Here, we further investigated the underlying alpha band frequency differences between low-trait and high-trait anxious individuals during their resting state and the completion of an inhibition executive functioning task. Using human participants and quantitative electroencephalographic recordings, we measured alpha band frequency in individuals both high and low in trait anxiety during their resting state, and while they completed an Eriksen Flanker Task. Results indicated that high-trait anxious individuals exhibit a desynchronization in alpha band frequency from a resting state to when they complete the Eriksen Flanker Task. This suggests that high-trait anxious individuals maintain fewer attentional resources at rest and must martial resources for task performance as compared with low-trait anxious individuals, who appear to maintain stable cognitive resources between rest and task performance. These findings add to the cognitive neuroscience literature surrounding the role of alpha band frequency in low-trait and high-trait anxious individuals.
Lightning accidents in Uganda

This paper addresses the lightning safety environment in Uganda that requires urgent and serious attention of the international expert community. We present recent statistics of reported lightning incidents in Uganda which show that the number of injuries and deaths are overwhelmingly high during year 2011 thus the situation can be declared critical. During the five-year period from January 2007 to December 2011, there were 91 reported lightning accidents which accounted for a total number of 150 deaths and 584 cases of personal injuries to which the victims did not succumb. Out of 150 deaths 95 reported in 2011. The actual number in each case may be much higher as many deaths and injuries go unnoticed due to lack of communication between rural communities and government authorities or media sources. The detailed analysis of several incidents reveals that injuries and deaths are basically due to both lack of awareness and absence of proper protection and safety schemes. The decisive factors of the ill-effects of incidents are time of the day, month of the year, part of the country, location of the incident etc. Most of the accidents have occurred either in the afternoon or in the evening. A spread of incidents can be seen throughout the six month period from June to November with June as the month of highest reported deaths. The highest number of incidents has been reported in the Northern Province of the country. Interestingly, the highest number of incidents, deaths and injuries has occurred while the victims were inside permanent structures. After analyzing these incidents a stepwise procedure is proposed to curb such incidents in the future.
Drug-metabolizing enzyme, transporter, and nuclear receptor genetically modified mouse models

Determining the in vivo significance of a specific enzyme, transporter, or xenobiotic receptor in drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics may be hampered by gene multiplicity and complexity, levels of expression, and interaction between various components involved. The development of knockout (loss-of-function) and transgenic (gain-of-function) mouse models opens the door to the improved understanding of gene function in a whole-body system. There is also growing interest in the development of humanized mice to overcome species differences in drug metabolism and disposition. This review, therefore, aims to summarize and discuss some successful examples of drug-metabolizing enzyme, transporter, and nuclear-receptor genetically modified mouse models. These genetically modified mouse models have been proven as invaluable models for understanding in vivo function of drug-metabolizing enzymes, transporters, and xenobiotic receptors in drug metabolism and transport, as well as predicting potential drug-drug interaction and toxicity in humans. Nevertheless, concerns remain about interpretation of data obtained from such genetically modified mouse models, in which the expression of related genes is altered significantly.
Timing optimization of multi-phase sequential logic

An algorithm which improves the timing optimization of multiphase sequential logic is presented as a set of extensions to the combinational logic optimization tool, misII. The algorithms yield improvements that are 20% better than what is achievable using only combinational logic optimization tools that do not move logic across latches. Furthermore, 65% of the improvements possible are achieved in the most idealized case. Results on simple two-phase circuits show average input to output delay improvements of almost 20% with area penalties of less than 12%. For a four-phase controller used in a processor it yields an improvement in cycle time of 21% with an area penalty of 21%. <<ETX>>
Toronto experience.

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