Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vascular access survival and morbidity on daily dialysis: a comparative analysis of home and limited care haemodialysis.

BACKGROUND Concerns about vascular access failure may have limited the widespread use of daily haemodialysis (DHD). We assessed the incidence and type of vascular access complications during DHD and other schedules, both at home and on limited care haemodialysis. METHODS All patients were treated in a limited care and home haemodialysis unit with a stable caregiver team (November 1998-November 2002). Vascular access failure, surgical treatment, angioplasty and declotting were studied alone or in combination by univariate and multivariate models. We analysed the effects of age, sex, comorbidity, previous vascular events, schedule, setting of treatment (home, limited care), dialysis follow-up, vascular access (native vs prosthetic, first vs subsequent) and setting of vascular access creation. 'Intention to treat' and 'per protocol' analyses were performed. RESULTS In 2160 patient-months (home dialysis: DHD 400 months, non-DHD 655 months; limited care: DHD 208 months; non-DHD 897 months), 57 adverse events occurred (27 failures), in which 30 were at home (nine DHD) and 27 were in limited care (five DHD). The probability of remaining free from adverse events at 6 and 12 months was 89% and 80% on DHD and 79% and 76% on other schedules ('intention to treat'). Univariate analyses revealed a significant difference for the setting of the vascular access creation (lower risk of vascular access complications in our centre) and sex (male sex was protective). Logistic regression and Cox analyses confirmed the role for the setting of the vascular access creation. CONCLUSIONS Although DHD did not appear as a risk factor for vascular access morbidity or failure at home or in a limited care centre setting, the setting of vascular access creation may influence its success.
Evidence for the Sequential Formation of Two Complexes Between an Uptake Inhibitor, GBR 12783 [1‐[2‐(Diphenylmethoxy)ethyl]‐4‐(3‐Phenyl‐2‐Propenyl)piperazine], and the Neuronal Transporter of Dopamine

Abstract : Incubation of a crude synaptosomal fraction from rat striatum with GBR 12783 at 37°C produced an inhibition of the specific uptake of [3H]dopamine that increased with time. The inhibition increased when GBR 12783 was present during preincubation and incubation (IC50 = 1.85 ± 0.1 nM) instead of incubation alone (IC50 = 25 ± 3.5 nM). Time‐course studies of uptake inhibition demonstrated that a first collision transporter‐inhibitor complex (TI) was formed immediately after addition of GBR 12783 so that the initial uptake velocity (Vo) decreased for increasing concentrations of inhibitor (Ki≥ 20 nM). TI slowly isomerized to a more stable complex TI* (K*i≤ 5 nM) with a value of t1/2 = 20‐270 s. Fits of data to model 2 in which the steady‐state uptake (VS) is set to zero were generally preferred, suggesting that formation of TI* could tend to irreversibility, as a consequence of a very low reverse isomerization. As expected, k, Vo, and VS tended to steady‐state values in an asymptotic manner for high concentrations of GBR 12783. GBR 12783 at 2.5 nM produced a mixed inhibition of the uptake, with an increase in KM and a decrease in Vmax ; these effects were improved for 10 nM GBR 12783 and at 20°C. These results are discussed in relation to previous data concerning [3H]GBR 12783 binding. The present work gives the first experimental demonstration that dopamine uptake blockers can act according to a two‐step mechanism of inhibition ; this is of great interest, because these inhibitors can oppose the effects of cocaine or amphetamine on the transporter according to a reaction that is partly nondependent on the concentration of the abused agent.
Characterization of immunosuppressive functions of murine peritoneal macrophages induced with various agents

Murine peritoneal macrophages (Møs), induced with stimuli such as thioglycollate, zymosan A, OK‐432, bacille Calmette‐Guérin (BCG), or live Mycobacterium intracellulare, showed varying levels of inhibitory activity against the concanavalin A (Con A) blastogenic response of splenic T cells. All test Møs significantly inhibited the interleukin 2 (IL‐2)–producing ability of T cells but this inhibition was not enough to explain the observed reduction in T cell Con A mitogenesis. In contrast, they markedly inhibited IL‐2–reactive T cell generation, and the inhibition was sufficient to cause the reduction in T cell mitogenesis. A general relationship was observed between immunosuppressive activity of a given Mø and its active oxygen‐producing ability (measured in terms of chemiluminescence) in response to phorbol myristate acetate triggering (r = .84, P < .005). However, the suppressor activity of test Møs was not reduced by superoxide dismutase and catalase, indicating that active oxygen radicals themselves did not mediate the expression of the immunosuppressive activity of these Møs. On the other hand, indomethacin (an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis) caused a partial reduction in their immunosuppressive activity. The suppressor activity of Møs induced with intraperitoneal injection of recombinant interferon γ (IFN‐γ) was markedly reduced in the presence of myoglobin, a scavenger for nitric oxide radical (NO·). Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF α) failed to affect Con A mitogenesis of splenic T cells, even in combination with IFN‐γ. On the other hand, unsaturated long‐chain fatty acids including oleic, linoleic, linolenic, and arachidonic acids markedly reduced the T cell function. These findings suggest some important roles of prostaglandins, NO·, and long‐chain unsaturated fatty acids as mediators of the expression of immunosuppressive function of the peritoneal Møs.
Doses of Nearby Nature Simultaneously Associated with Multiple Health Benefits

Exposure to nature provides a wide range of health benefits. A significant proportion of these are delivered close to home, because this offers an immediate and easily accessible opportunity for people to experience nature. However, there is limited information to guide recommendations on its management and appropriate use. We apply a nature dose-response framework to quantify the simultaneous association between exposure to nearby nature and multiple health benefits. We surveyed ca. 1000 respondents in Southern England, UK, to determine relationships between (a) nature dose type, that is the frequency and duration (time spent in private green space) and intensity (quantity of neighbourhood vegetation cover) of nature exposure and (b) health outcomes, including mental, physical and social health, physical behaviour and nature orientation. We then modelled dose-response relationships between dose type and self-reported depression. We demonstrate positive relationships between nature dose and mental and social health, increased physical activity and nature orientation. Dose-response analysis showed that lower levels of depression were associated with minimum thresholds of weekly nature dose. Nearby nature is associated with quantifiable health benefits, with potential for lowering the human and financial costs of ill health. Dose-response analysis has the potential to guide minimum and optimum recommendations on the management and use of nearby nature for preventative healthcare.
Treatment of Isolated Systolic Hypertension: The SHELL Study Results

Objective: Our aim was to compare the effect of lacidipine and chlorthalidone on cardiovascular outcome as a primary parameter and blood pressure as a secondary in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension in a prospective study with an open design. Methods: 1882 males and females outpatients ≥60 years were randomly assigned to the administration of chlorthalidone 12.5 mg o.d. or lacidipine 4 mg o.d. Patients were recruited if sitting systolic blood pressure was ≥160 mmHg with a diastolic blood pressure equal or lower than 95 mmHg. Primary endpoint was a composite of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. Results: At randomization mean systolic blood pressure was 178.1 mmHg in the lacidipine and 178.2 mmHg in the chlorthalidone group, the corresponding mean diastolic values being 86.9 and 86.8 mmHg. In both lacidipine and chlorthalidone groups treatment caused a significant (p < 0.001) and marked systolic blood pressure reduction which was maintained throughout the treatment period with a significant (p < 0.001) and steady although less marked reduction in diastolic blood pressure as well. At the end of treatment period (median 32 months), the reduction was 36.8/8.1 mmHg (systolic/diastolic) in the chlorthalidone and 38.4/7.9 mmHg in the lacidipine group, the final on treatment blood pressures being 142.0/79.2 and 143.2/79.5 mmHg, respectively. Treatments were similarly effective in males and females and in age groups between 60 and 69 years (n = 763), 70 and 79 years (n = 744) and ≥80 years (n = 375). Similar reductions were obtained in a subgroup of patients (n = 209) followed in double-blind fashion for 1 year. The overall incidence of the primary endpoints was 9.3% with no significant between-group difference. Total mortality was also similar between groups. Conclusions: In elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension, administration of lacidipine or chlorthalidone markedly reduced systolic blood pressure with no difference in the incidence of cardiovascular events and total mortality.
Predictive value of repeated measurements of luteal progesterone and estradiol levels in patients with intrauterine insemination and controlled ovarian stimulation

Abstract Objective: The objective of this study is to assess if the difference of repeated measurements of estradiol and progesterone during luteal phase predict the outcome of intrauterine insemination. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Reproductive clinic. Patients: 126 patients with infertility. Intervention(s): Patients underwent controlled ovarian stimulation with recombinant FSH (50–150 IU/d). The day of IUI patients were given p.o natural micronized progesterone in a dose of 100 mg/tds. Results: The area under the receiver characteristic operating curve (ROC curve) in predicting clinical pregnancy for % change of estradiol level on days 6 and 10 was 0.892 with 95% CI: 0.82–0.94. A cutoff value of change > −29.5% had a sensitivity of 85.7 with a specificity of 90.2. The corresponding ROC curve for % change of progesterone level was 0.839 with 95% CI: 0.76–0.90. A cutoff value of change > −33% had a sensitivity of 85 with a specificity of 75. Conclusions: The % change of estradiol and progesterone between days 6 and 10 has a predictive ability of pregnancy after IUI with COS of 89.2% and 83.4%, respectively. The addition of % of progesterone to % change of estradiol does not improve the predictive ability of % estradiol and should not be used.
Missense mutations in the rod domain of the lamin A/C gene as causes of dilated cardiomyopathy and conduction-system disease.

BACKGROUND Inherited mutations cause approximately 35 percent of cases of dilated cardiomyopathy; however, few genes associated with this disease have been identified. Previously, we located a gene defect that was responsible for autosomal dominant dilated cardiomyopathy and conduction-system disease on chromosome 1p1-q21, where nuclear-envelope proteins lamin A and lamin C are encoded by the LMNA (lamin A/C) gene. Mutations in the head or tail domain of this gene cause Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, a childhood-onset disease characterized by joint contractures and in some cases by abnormalities of cardiac conduction during adulthood. METHODS We evaluated 11 families with autosomal dominant dilated cardiomyopathy and conduction-system disease. Sequences of the lamin A/C exons were determined in probands from each family, and variants were confirmed by restriction-enzyme digestion. The genotypes of the family members were ascertained. RESULTS Five novel missense mutations were identified: four in the alpha-helical-rod domain of the lamin A/C gene, and one in the lamin C tail domain. Each mutation caused heritable, progressive conduction-system disease (sinus bradycardia, atrioventricular conduction block, or atrial arrhythmias) and dilated cardiomyopathy. Heart failure and sudden death occurred frequently within these families. No family members with mutations had either joint contractures or skeletal myopathy. Serum creatine kinase levels were normal in family members with mutations of the lamin rod but mildly elevated in some family members with a defect in the tail domain of lamin C. CONCLUSIONS Genetic defects in distinct domains of the nuclear-envelope proteins lamin A and lamin C selectively cause dilated cardiomyopathy with conduction-system disease or autosomal dominant Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy. Missense mutations in the rod domain of the lamin A/C gene provide a genetic cause for dilated cardiomyopathy and indicate that this intermediate filament protein has an important role in cardiac conduction and contractility.
Unnamed News Sources: Their Impact on the Perceptions of Stories

Use of unnamed news sources has become commonplace in journalistic writing. Studies conducted in the mid1970s identified unnamed sources in 70% ofthe news stories in Newsweek, 75%of the stories in Time. ^ in 519( ofthe local, hard-news stories in the New York Times and Washington Post and in 19*? ̂ of such stories in six small Ohio daily newspapers. ' The practice received extensive scrutiny in 198 I after the Washington Post disclosed that a Pulit/erPri/e story about an 8-year-old heroin addict had been fabricated by Post reporter, Janet Cooke. In the weeks after that, the New York Daily News discovered that its columnist, Michael Daily, had used a fictitious name m a column and the Portland Or^^on/an admitted its associate editor, Wayne Thompson, had fabricated quotes attributed to the governor of Washington state. ^ Such e\ents led to intense soul searching and debate by journalists and the admission that unnamed sources were much overused. Prior to the e\ ents oi i 9S 1. Culbcrtson documented the widespread use o\ unnamed sources;-' and since 1981. Anderson ' and Wulfmeyer'^ have surveyed newspaper and broadcast journalists concerning the practice. This paper examines unnamed sources from the perspective of the users of the news media the readers, viewers and listeners. An experiment was conducted to address the questions: Do the users notice the presence or absence o\ attribution, or the kind of attribution'. ' And does the kind of attribution influence the users' evaluation of the news story*. ̂ Some 500 subjects evaluated two contrasting news stories, one primarily factual and the other primarily opinionated. Ihere were
Machine learning techniques for classification of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases

This paper presents the overview of machine learning techniques in classification of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) using Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and Bayesian Networks (BNs). The comparative analysis was performed on selected papers that are published in the period from 2008 to 2017. The most commonly used type of ANN in selected papers is multilayer feedforward neural network with Levenberg-Marquardt learning algorithm. On the other hand, the most commonly used type of BN is Na'ive Bayesian network which shown the highest accuracy values for classification of diabetes and CVD, 99.51% and 97.92% retrospectively. Moreover, the calculation of mean accuracy of observed networks has shown better results using ANN, which indicates that higher possibility to obtain more accurate results in diabetes and/or CVD classification is when it is applied to ANN.
Improvement in outflow facility by two novel microinvasive glaucoma surgery implants.

PURPOSE To determine improvement in outflow facility (C) in human anterior segments implanted with a novel Schlemm's canal scaffold or two trabecular micro-bypasses. METHODS Human anterior segments were isolated from 12 pairs of eyes from donors with no history of ocular disease and then perfused at 50, 40, 30, 20, and 10 mm Hg pressures for 10 minutes each. Baseline C was calculated from perfusion pressures and flow rates. The scaffold was implanted into Schlemm's canal of one anterior segment, and two micro-bypasses were implanted three clock-hours apart in the contralateral anterior segment. Outflow facility and resistance were compared at various standardized perfusion pressures and between each device. RESULTS Compared to baseline, C increased by 0.16 ± 0.12 μL/min/mm Hg (74%) with the scaffold, and 0.08 ± 0.12 μL/min/mm Hg (34%) with two micro-bypasses. The scaffold increased C at perfusion pressures of 50, 40, 30, and 20 mm Hg (P < 0.005). Two micro-bypasses increased C at a perfusion pressure of 40 mm Hg (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Both implants effectively increased C in human eyes ex vivo. The scaffold increased C by a greater percentage (73% vs. 34%) and at a greater range of perfusion pressures (20 to 50 mm Hg vs. 40 mm Hg) than the two micro-bypasses, suggesting that the 8-mm dilation of Schlemm's canal by the scaffold may have additional benefits in lowering the outflow resistance. The Hydrus Microstent scaffold may be an effective therapy for increasing outflow facility and thus reducing the IOP in patients with glaucoma.
Occupational contact dermatitis to nickel: experience of the British dermatologists (EPIDERM) and occupational physicians (OPRA) surveillance schemes

Aims: To examine, from occupational surveillance reporting data, whether scheme reporters considered nickel exposure to play a role in occupational contact dermatitis (OCD) in the UK. Methods: Data on occupational skin disease in the UK are collected by two occupational disease surveillance schemes, EPIDERM and OPRA. Cases of OCD believed to have relevant nickel exposure reported to EPIDERM or OPRA from February 1993 to January 1999 were studied. Results: An estimate of 1190 cases of occupational contact dermatitis thought to have relevant nickel exposure (12% of total estimated OCD) was derived from reports by dermatologists, an average of 198 per year. The highest incidence rates were seen in hairdressers (23.9/100 000 workers/year), bar staff (4.7), chefs and cooks (4.4), retail cash and checkout operators (2.8), and catering assistants (2.5). From May 1994 to January 1999, 158 cases of nickel associated dermatitis (1.9% of total OCD cases) were estimated; the most frequently reported occupations were electronic assemblers, nurses, sales assistants, and general assemblers. From July 1997 to January 1999, 547 positive patch tests to nickel were reported; in 195 cases (36%), nickel was felt to be a relevant occupational allergen (for example, coin handling). In hairdressers, nurses, cooks, and beauticians, nickel was usually considered, if relevant at all, to be only one of several causes of dermatitis. Conclusions: Up to 12% of total estimated cases of OCD were thought to be due in part to nickel. Results suggest that nickel hypersensitivity is one of several contributors to OCD in subjects with multiple occupational exposures. Coin handling may be a source of OCD to nickel.
Statherin and Histatin 1 Reduce Parotid Saliva-Promoted Streptococcus mutans Strain MT8148 Adhesion to Hydroxyapatite Surfaces

Small salivary phosphoproteins – statherin (ST) and histatin 1 (HT1) – are found in the acquired enamel pellicle which modulates Streptococcus mutans adhesion onto dental enamel. However, their roles in S. mutans adhesion onto enamel surfaces are still undefined. The aim of this study was to investigate whether and how ST and HT1 affect (i) S. mutans adhesion and (ii) the adsorption of S. mutans adhesion-promoting salivary proteins onto hydroxyapatite (HA) in vitro. We fractionated human parotid saliva by adsorption to HA and further by gel filtration chromatography. Adhesion of [3H]-labeled S. mutans strain MT8148 onto sintered HA plates was promoted significantly (>10-fold) by high-molecular weight glycoprotein fraction (HMWGP), but not by purified ST or HT1. More interestingly, promotion of S. mutans adhesion onto HA by HMWGP was significantly reduced by adding purified ST or HT1 to HMWGP. [3H]-labeled S. mutans adhesion on HA was positively correlated to the [14C]-labeled HMWGP adsorption onto HA, which was also reduced by the addition of purified ST and HT1. Synthetic peptides corresponding to ST and HT1 reduced the parotid saliva-promoted S. mutans adhesion. However, removal of the negative charges in the N-terminal domains of ST and HT1 diminished their inhibitory effects on S. mutans adhesion promoted by parotid saliva. We conclude that ST and HT1 competitively inhibit the adsorption of salivary HMWGP, and thereby reduce S. mutans adhesion onto HA surfaces.
Structural Equation Modeling: Reviewing the Basics and Moving Forward

This tutorial begins with an overview of structural equation modeling (SEM) that includes the purpose and goals of the statistical analysis as well as terminology unique to this technique. I will focus on confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), a special type of SEM. After a general introduction, CFA is differentiated from exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and the advantages of CFA techniques are discussed. Following a brief overview, the process of modeling will be discussed and illustrated with an example using data from a HIV risk behavior evaluation of homeless adults (Stein & Nyamathi, 2000). Techniques for analysis of nonnormally distributed data as well as strategies for model modification are shown. The empirical example examines the structure of drug and alcohol use problem scales. Although these scales are not specific personality constructs, the concepts illustrated in this article directly correspond to those found when analyzing personality scales and inventories. Computer program syntax and output for the empirical example from a popular SEM program (EQS 6.1; Bentler, 2001) are included.
Identification and characterization of iron-regulated Bordetella pertussis alcaligin siderophore biosynthesis genes

Bordetella bronchiseptica mutants BRM1, BRM6, and BRM9 fail to produce the native dihydroxamate siderophore alcaligin. A 4.5-kb BamHI-Smal Bordetella pertussis genomic DNA fragment carried multiple genes required to restore alcaligin production to these siderophore-deficient mutants. Phenotypic complementation analysis using subclones of the 4.5-kb genomic region demonstrated that the closely linked BRM1 and BRM9 mutations were genetically separable from the BRM6 mutation, and both insertions exerted strong polar effects on expression of the downstream gene defined by the BRM6 mutation, suggesting a polycistronic transcriptional organization of these alcaligin biosynthesis genes. Subcloning and complementation experiments localized the putative Bordetella promoter to a 0.7-kb BamHI-SphI subregion of the cloned genomic DNA fragment. Nucleotide sequencing, phenotypic analysis of mutants, and protein expression by the 4.5-kb DNA fragment in Escherichia coli suggested the presence of three alcaligin system genes, namely, alcA, alcB, and alcC. The deduced protein products of alcA, alcB, and alcC have significant primary amino acid sequence similarities with known microbial siderophore biosynthesis enzymes. Primer extension analysis mapped the transcriptional start site of the putative alcaligin biosynthesis operon containing alcABC to a promoter region overlapping a proposed Fur repressor-binding site and demonstrated iron regulation at the transcriptional level.