Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictive performance of 12 equations for estimating glomerular filtration rate in severely obese patients.

OBJECTIVE Considering that the Cockcroft-Gault formula and the equation of diet modification in renal disease are amply used in clinical practice to estimate the glomerular filtration rate, although they seem to have low accuracy in obese patients, the present study intends to evaluate the predictive performance of 12 equations used to estimate the glomerular filtration rate in obese patients. METHODS This is a cross-sectional retrospective study, conducted between 2007 and 2008 and carried out at a university, of 140 patients with severe obesity (mean body mass index 44 ± 4.4 kg/m2). The glomerular filtration rate was determined by means of 24-hour urine samples. Patients were classified into one or more of the four subgroups: impaired glucose tolerance (n = 43), diabetic (n = 24), metabolic syndrome (n = 76), and/or hypertension (n = 66). We used bias, precision, and accuracy to assess the predictive performance of each equation in the entire group and in the subgroups. RESULTS In renal disease, Cockcroft-Gault's formula and the diet modification equation are not precise in severely obese patients (precision: 40.9 and 33.4, respectively). Sobh's equation showed no bias in the general group or in two subgroups. Salazar-Corcoran's and Sobh's equations showed no bias for the entire group (Bias: -5.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -11.4, 1.0, and 6. 2; 95%CI = -0.3, 12.7, respectively). All the other equations were imprecise for the entire group. CONCLUSION Of the equations studied, those of Sobh and Salazar-Corcoran seem to be the best for estimating the glomerular filtration rate in severely obese patients analyzed in our study.
Short‐term homeostasis of REM sleep assessed in an intermittent REM sleep deprivation protocol in the rat

An intermittent rapid eye movement (REM) sleep deprivation protocol was applied to determine whether an increase in REM sleep propensity occurs throughout an interval without REM sleep comparable with the spontaneous sleep cycle of the rat. Seven chronically implanted rats under a 12 : 12 light–dark schedule were subjected to an intermittent REM sleep deprivation protocol that started at hour 6 after lights‐on and lasted for 3 h. It consisted of six instances of a 10‐min REM sleep permission window alternating with a 20‐min REM sleep deprivation window. REM sleep increased throughout the protocol, so that total REM sleep in the two REM sleep permission windows of the third hour became comparable with that expected in the corresponding baseline hour. Attempted REM sleep transitions were already increased in the second deprivation window. Attempted transitions to REM sleep were more frequent in the second than in the first half of any 20‐min deprivation window. From one deprivation window to the next, transitions to REM sleep changed in correspondence to the amount of REM sleep in the permission window in‐between. Our results suggest that: (i) REM sleep pressure increases throughout a time segment similar in duration to a spontaneous interval without REM sleep; (ii) it diminishes during REM sleep occurrence; and (iii) that drop is proportional to the intervening amount of REM sleep. These results are consistent with a homeostatic REM sleep regulatory mechanism that operates in the time scale of spontaneous sleep cycle.
Invasive group A streptococcal disease in North Queensland (1996 - 2001).

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES The incidence of group A streptococcal (GAS) invasive infections have been increasing worldwide. The aim of this study was to characterize clinical and microbiological features of isolates obtained from invasive GAS infections in North Queensland, Australia between 1996 and 2001. METHODS Clinical and demographic data were collected prospectively. Isolates were biotyped, emm sequenced, M typed and tested for antibiotic sensitivity using E-test. Detection of the presence of the streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin (spe) and fibronectin binding protein (prtF1) genes was also carried out. RESULTS There were 109 isolates from blood and sterile sites. All isolates were sensitive to penicillin. Tetracycline and erythromycin resistance was seen in 11 and 2.7 per cent of isolates respectively. The isolates were evenly distributed by age and sex. The overall mortality was 7 per cent and there were 18 cases of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) in which the mortality was 22 per cent. Indigenous patients had a crude incidence rate of 82.5 per 100,000 per year compared with 10.3 per 100,000 per year in the non-indigenous patients. There was no predominance of emm / M type or association of spe type with STSS. There was also no relationship between the presence of the prtF1 gene and invasive disease. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION Invasive group A streptococci from North Queensland are similar to those from the Northern Territory of Australia in that no single strain is predominant. The indigenous population is overrepresented. Invasiveness and the development of streptococcal toxic shock is not related to the presence of the prtF1 gene or spe a or c.
Anoxygenic Photosynthesis Controls Oxygenic Photosynthesis in a Cyanobacterium from a Sulfidic Spring

ABSTRACT Before the Earth's complete oxygenation (0.58 to 0.55 billion years [Ga] ago), the photic zone of the Proterozoic oceans was probably redox stratified, with a slightly aerobic, nutrient-limited upper layer above a light-limited layer that tended toward euxinia. In such oceans, cyanobacteria capable of both oxygenic and sulfide-driven anoxygenic photosynthesis played a fundamental role in the global carbon, oxygen, and sulfur cycle. We have isolated a cyanobacterium, Pseudanabaena strain FS39, in which this versatility is still conserved, and we show that the transition between the two photosynthetic modes follows a surprisingly simple kinetic regulation controlled by this organism's affinity for H2S. Specifically, oxygenic photosynthesis is performed in addition to anoxygenic photosynthesis only when H2S becomes limiting and its concentration decreases below a threshold that increases predictably with the available ambient light. The carbon-based growth rates during oxygenic and anoxygenic photosynthesis were similar. However, Pseudanabaena FS39 additionally assimilated NO3 − during anoxygenic photosynthesis. Thus, the transition between anoxygenic and oxygenic photosynthesis was accompanied by a shift of the C/N ratio of the total bulk biomass. These mechanisms offer new insights into the way in which, despite nutrient limitation in the oxic photic zone in the mid-Proterozoic oceans, versatile cyanobacteria might have promoted oxygenic photosynthesis and total primary productivity, a key step that enabled the complete oxygenation of our planet and the subsequent diversification of life.
Incorporating individual health-protective decisions into disease transmission models: a mathematical framework

It is anticipated that the next generation of computational epidemic models will simulate both infectious disease transmission and dynamic human behaviour change. Individual agents within a simulation will not only infect one another, but will also have situational awareness and a decision algorithm that enables them to modify their behaviour. This paper develops such a model of behavioural response, presenting a mathematical interpretation of a well-known psychological model of individual decision making, the health belief model, suitable for incorporation within an agent-based disease-transmission model. We formalize the health belief model and demonstrate its application in modelling the prevalence of facemask use observed over the course of the 2003 Hong Kong SARS epidemic, a well-documented example of behaviour change in response to a disease outbreak.
The increasing incidence of thromboembolic events among hospitalized patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Background We performed a national population-based study examining the incidence of both venous and arterial thromboembolic events in patients hospitalized with inflammatory bowel disease over the past decade. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional analysis using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample Database was performed. Patients hospitalized with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis were identified using ICD-9 codes. The incidence of clinically relevant venous thromboembolic events and arterial thromboembolic events including myocardial infarction, visceral ischemia, cerebrovascular accidents, and peripheral arterial events was examined. Results During the study period, 461,415 hospitalized inflammatory bowel disease patients were identified. Among these patients, 28,820 had a diagnosis of a thromboembolic event (overall prevalence of 6%). The incidence of thromboembolic events in patients with inflammatory bowel disease rose from 5.65% in 2000 to 7.17% by 2009. There were 18,270 (3.96%) patients who had an arterial thrombotic event, the most common being myocardial infarction (50%), followed by visceral ischemia (25%), and cerebrovascular incidents (22%). There were 11,083 (2.4%) patients identified to have had a venous thrombotic event, with the most common manifestation being deep vein thrombosis (77%), pulmonary embolism (32%), and portal vein thrombosis (3.9%). Conclusion An increasing incidence of thromboembolic event in patients with inflammatory bowel disease was observed over the past decade. Interestingly, there were more arterial thrombotic events in comparison to venous thrombotic events.
Transcription Factor Binding and Histone Modifications on the Integrated Proviral Promoter in Human T-cell Leukemia Virus-I-infected T-cells*

The human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV-I)-encoded Tax protein is a potent transcriptional activator that stimulates expression of the integrated provirus. Biochemical studies indicate that Tax, together with cellular transcription factors, interacts with viral cAMP-response element enhancer elements to recruit the pleiotropic coactivators CREB-binding protein and p300. Histone acetylation by these coactivators has been shown to play a major role in activating HTLV-I transcription from chromatin templates in vitro. However, the extent of histone modification and the precise identity of the cellular regulatory proteins bound at the HTLV-I promoter in vivo is not known. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis was used to investigate factor binding and histone modification at the integrated HTLV-I provirus in infected T-cells (SLB-1). These studies reveal the presence of Tax, a variety of ATF/CREB and AP-1 family members (CREB, CREB-2, ATF-1, ATF-2, c-Fos, and c-Jun), and both p300 and CREB-binding protein at the HTLV-I promoter. Consistent with the binding of these coactivators, we observed histone H3 and H4 acetylation at three regions within the proviral genome. Histone deacetylases were also present at the viral promoter and, following their inhibition, we observe an increase in histone H4 acetylation on the HTLV-I promoter and a concomitant increase in viral RNA. Together, these results suggest that a variety of transcriptional activators, coactivators, and histone deacetylases participate in the regulation of HTLV-I transcription in infected T-cells.
Glutamic acid decarboxylase and somatostatin immunoreactivities in rat visual cortex

Antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and somatostatin (SS) were used to determine the laminar distribution and morphology of GAD‐and SS‐immunoreactive neurons and terminals in rat visual cortex. The present study demonstrates that GAD‐immunoreactive neurons constitute several morphologically distinct subclasses of neurons in rat visual cortex. These subclasses of neurons can be distinguished by differences in soma size, soma shape, dendritic branching patterns, axonal arborizations, and location in the neuropil.
Relationship between articular cartilage damage and subchondral bone properties and meniscal ossification in the Dunkin Hartley guinea pig model of osteoarthritis

Objectives: To describe the age-related changes of articular cartilage, subchondral bone morphology, and stiffness. Furthermore, to investigate whether subchondral bone histological and mechanical properties and meniscal histological properties are related to articular cartilage damage in the Dunkin Hartley guinea pig model of osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: Forty male Dunkin Hartley guinea pigs aged 2, 6, 9, and 12 months were studied. The right stifle joints and the left menisci were embedded undecalcified and the tibial articular cartilage and subchondral bone and the menisci were examined using histology. The stiffness of the left tibial subchondral bone was determined with indentation testing. Results: The Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) grade of the osteoarthritic cartilage lesions of the medial (p < 0.001) and lateral (p < 0.001) condyle and the ossification of the medial (p < 0.001) and lateral (p < 0.001) meniscus increased significantly with age and was significantly more pronounced at the medial condyle than at the lateral condyle. The grade of the osteoarthritic cartilage lesions was significantly correlated (r = 0.78, p < 0.001) with the meniscal ossification, weakly correlated (r = 0.34, p < 0.007) with the subchondral bone plate thickness, and not correlated with the subchondral bone density (r = −0.010, p = 0.94) and the subchondral bone stiffness (r = −0.13, p = 0.30). Conclusion: The meniscal ossification observed in Dunkin Hartley guinea pigs may play an important role in the pathogenesis of OA in these animals.
Prostate cancer recurrence in radical surgery patients receiving autologous or homologous blood

An evaluation of the effects of blood transfusion on recurrence and survival after radical surgery for prostate cancer was performed. Between 1982 and 1986, 315 consecutive patients underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy by a single surgeon; of 309 patients for whom transfusion data were available, 94 received homologous blood (Group I) and 215 received autologous blood or no blood (Group II). At the time of surgery, there were no differences between Group I and Group II with respect to age, preoperative cancer stage, preoperative histologic grade (Gleason grade), prostatic acid phosphatase score, and preoperative potency. At discharge, the groups were similar in the status of neurovascular bundles, capsular involvement, seminal vesicle involvement, lymph node involvement, postoperative Gleason grade, and postoperative potency. No adjuvant hormone therapy or radiation therapy was administered until tumor recurrence. The patients were followed annually by physical examinations and measurements of prostate‐specific antigen. Cancer recurrence was detected in 23 (24.5%) Group I patients and 49 (22.7%) Group II patients. These proportions were not significantly different in univariate or multivariate analysis, and the time to recurrence curves overlapped. It is concluded that homologous blood transfusions are not associated with more rapid tumor recurrence or death after radical surgery for prostate cancer than is seen with autologous transfusions. These results differ from previous reports, which suggested that transfusions may cause recurrence of cancer in patients with colorectal or prostate cancer because of the immunosuppressive effects of blood transfusions.
HPLC conditions are critical for the detection of GABA by microdialysis

In microdialysis studies, neither exocytotic release of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), nor the presence of GABA type B (GABAB) autoreceptors, have been clearly established. It was investigated whether the chromatographic separation of GABA may have contributed to discrepancies in the literature. After extending the profile of the HPLC chromatogram to a retention time of 60 min, it was observed that various unknown compounds of biological origin co‐eluted near the GABA peak. The retention time of GABA appeared to be extremely sensitive to pH; even at a retention time of around 60 min there was only a small pH window (5.26 ± 0.01) where GABA was consistently well separated from co‐eluting compounds. GABA determined by the improved assay was sensitive to tetrodotoxin (TTX), calcium depletion and the GABAB autoreceptor agonist baclofen. The present results illustrate that if the proper analytical conditions are applied, extracellular GABA can be sampled and quantified by microdialysis in free‐moving animals. However, when the time‐curves are considered, there is a striking delay of about 15–30 min before the effects of TTX, calcium depletion or baclofen are observed, as compared to the reported response of neurotransmitters such as dopamine (less than 5 min). It is assumed that the glial cells serve as a buffer between the GABA synapse and the microdialysis probes. It is proposed that microdialysis samples measure synaptic GABA indirectly, through glial cells surrounding the synapses.
From parenteral to enteral nutrition: a nutrition-based approach for evaluating postnatal growth failure in preterm infants.

BACKGROUND Nutrition practices for preterm infants include phases of parenteral nutrition (PN), full enteral nutrition (EN), and the transitional phase in between. Our aim was to identify the nutrition phases during which infants are most likely to exhibit poor growth that would affect risk for growth failure (GF) at discharge and to examine factors associated with GF. METHODS A retrospective chart review was conducted on infants born <32 weeks' gestation. The neonatal intensive care unit stay was divided into 3 nutrition phases: (1) full PN, (2) transitional PN + EN, and (3) full EN. Weekly growth rates were calculated, and for each growth velocity <10 g/kg/d, the coinciding phase was recorded. GF was defined as a discharge weight below the 10th percentile. The nutrition phases during which growth inadequacy predicted GF at discharge were determined, correcting for other clinical factors associated with GF. RESULTS In total, 156 eligible infants were identified. Seventy-six infants (49%) were discharged with weights <10%. Incidence of poor growth was highest during the transitional phase (46%) and was predictive of GF when adjusted for gestational age, birth weight, and severity of illness. Although energy intakes during the transitional phase were comparable to baseline parenteral provision, protein intakes progressively decreased ( P < .0001), consistently providing 3 g/kg/d as PN was weaned. Serum urea nitrogen also declined and was correlated with protein intake (r = -0.32, P < .001). CONCLUSION Growth was compromised during the transitional phase, likely related to decreased protein intake. Optimizing protein provision while PN is weaned is an important strategy to prevent postnatal growth failure.
Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibition sensitizes renal cell carcinoma cells to the cytotoxic effects of bortezomib

In renal cell carcinoma (RCC) models, maximal cytotoxicity of the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib is dependent on efficient blockade of constitutive nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activity. Signaling through the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been shown to result in NF-κB activation. Thus, we sought to investigate whether inhibition of the EGFR sensitizes RCC cells to the cytotoxic effects of bortezomib. We first established that constitutive NF-κB activity is dependent on signaling through the EGFR in RCC cells. Indeed, blockade of EGFR signaling with an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resulted in inhibition of NF-κB activity. Using pharmacologic and genetic approaches, we also showed that EGFR-mediated NF-κB activation occurs through the phosphotidylinositol-3-OH kinase/AKT pathway. Combinations of the EGFR-TKI and bortezomib resulted in synergistic cytotoxic effects when RCC cells were pretreated with the EGFR-TKI, but an antagonistic interaction was observed with bortezomib pretreatment. Evaluation of the effects of drug sequencing on inhibition of NF-κB activity revealed that EGFR-TKI pretreatment markedly augmented the NF-κB inhibitory effect of bortezomib, whereas bortezomib preexposure resulted in suboptimal NF-κB blockade and thus provides a biochemical explanation for the drug interaction results. We conclude that the constitutive NF-κB activity observed in RCC cells is mediated, at least in part, through an EGFR/phosphotidylinositol-3-OH kinase/AKT signaling cascade. Pretreatment with an EGFR-TKI sensitizes to bortezomib-mediated cytotoxicity by inhibiting constitutive NF-κB activity. The combination of bortezomib and a currently approved EGFR inhibitor warrants clinical investigation. [Mol Cancer Ther 2007;6(1):61–9]
Short‐term and long‐term effects of a minimally invasive transilial vertebral blocking procedure on the lumbosacral morphometry in dogs measured by computed tomography

Objective: To determine the effects of a minimally invasive transilial vertebral (MTV) blocking procedure on the computed tomographic (CT) appearance of the lumbosacral (L7/S1) junction of dogs with degenerative lumbosacral stenosis (DLSS). Study design: Prospective study. Animals: 59 client‐owned dogs with DLSS. Methods: Lumbosacral CT images were acquired with hyperextended pelvic limbs before and after MTV in all dogs. Clinical follow‐up was obtained after 1 year, including a neurologic status classified in 4 grades, and if possible, CT. Morphometric measurements (Mean ± SEM) including foraminal area, endplate distance at L7/S1 and LS angle were obtained on sets of reformatted parasagittal and sagittal CT images. Results: The mean foraminal area (ForL) increased from 32.5 ± 1.7 mm2 to 59.7 ± 1.9 mm2 on the left and from 31.1 ± 1.4 mm2 to 59.1 ± 2.0 mm2 on the right (ForR) side after MTV. The mean endplate distance (EDmd) between L7/S1 increased from 3.7 ± 0.1 mm to 6.0 ± 0.1 mm, and mean lumbosacral angle (LSa) from 148.0 ± 1.1° to 170.0 ± 1.1° after MTV. CT measurements were available 1 year postoperatively in 12 cases: ForL: 41.2 ± 3.1 mm2; ForR: 37.9 ± 3.1 mm2; EDmd: 4.3 ± 0.4 mm, and LSa 157.6 ± 2.1° (values are mean and standard error of mean = SEM). All 39 dogs with long‐term follow‐up improved by at least 1 neurologic grade, 9/39 improving by 3 grades, 15/39 by 2 grades, and 15/39 by 1 grade. Conclusions: MTV results in clinical improvement and morphometric enlargement of the foraminal area in dogs with variable degrees of foraminal stenosis. Clinical relevance: MTV may be a valuable minimally invasive option for treatment of dogs with DLSS.
The gestational timing of pregnancy loss: Adaptive strategy?

This commentary links early pregnancy milestones (rescue of the corpus luteum, the luteal‐placental shift, and blocking of the spiral arteries) with the pattern of gestation‐specific pregnancy loss in humans. The objective is to describe the pattern and present an adaptive hypothesis: that high first trimester pregnancy loss results from selection to reduce the risk of maternal morbidity and mortality associated with human delivery. Specific questions within the broad framework of this hypothesis can be addressed with research in comparative physiology and endocrinology. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2009. Published 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.