Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Elevated fecal calprotectin associates with adverse outcomes from Clostridium difficile infection in older adults

Abstract Background: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) causes a mild to moderate colitis in most patients, but some, especially older adults, develop severe, adverse outcomes. Biomarkers predicting outcomes are needed to optimize treatments. This study tested whether fecal calprotectin associated with a composite primary outcome of complicated CDI (intensive care unit admission, colectomy, or death due to CDI within 30 days of diagnosis) and/or 8-week recurrence. Methods: Stool was collected in Cary-Blair media at the time of diagnosis from inpatients of age >60 years that tested positive for C. difficile (enzyme immunoassay [EIA] for toxin A/B or polymerase chain reaction for the tcdB gene). Fecal calprotectin was measured and normalized to solid stool weight. Analysis was performed using logistic regression. Variables were selected for the final model using likelihood ratio tests. Results: Fifty patients were included with a mean age 72.8 (± 7.5), and 13 (26%) developed the primary outcome. Clinical variables such as age, gender, and comorbid disease did not associate with complicated CDI/recurrence, nor did traditional biomarkers such as serum albumin or white blood cell count. A high normalized fecal calprotectin (>2000 μg/g) associated with the primary outcome in the final model after adjustment for gender and detectable fecal toxin(s) by EIA (OR 24.9, 95% CI 2.4–257.9, p = 0.007) with a specificity of 91.9%. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that fecal calprotectin level associates with complications from CDI in older adults. Further studies are required to validate these findings in larger cohorts and incorporate them into clinical prediction algorithms.
Sensation of Nasal Obstruction Compared to Rhinomanometry in Patients Referred for Septoplasty and in Patients with Chronic Rhinitis

Correlation between active anterior rhinomanometry and subjective sensation of nasal obstruction was studied in three groups of patients. Group A included patients with marked septal deviation causing high nasal resistance. Group B represented cases where there was minor septal deviation, but normal resistance. Group C consisted of cases with chronic rhinitis causing nasal stuffiness, but normal septum and normal decongestion resistance. The patient's response as to the more obstructed side of the nose was correlated with the rhinomanometrically recorded less patent nostril. The results show that the correlation was good in Group A, but did not exist in the other groups. The reason for this is that, when the side difference of resistance between the two nasal cavities was less than 60–70%, it was very difficult for the patient to estimate the more obstructed side. This was especially the case in Group C, where mucosal swelling often changes sides. The conclusion is that patients’ capability to detect a minor side difference is poorer than rhinomanometry's. Furthermore, if rhinomanometry and subjective sensation do not agree, the reason may be that the patient's nasal complaint is dominated by the mucosal disease, rather than by a structural deformity and therefore, treatment other than surgery may be preferred.
On the Prescribing Analyst

The value of medication for some patients in psychoanalysis serves to highlight the potential challenges of the medical analyst and invites exploration into possible motivations for assuming the prescribing role. Prescribing medication is one way in which the medical analyst integrates the dual identities of physician and analyst while dealing with significant cultural influences and intrapsychic tensions. Technical challenges posed by assuming the prescribing role are explored, as are the potential benefits of split treatment. The educational implications of this argument are discussed in relation to identity formation for candidates who are physicians.
Melanoma revives an embryonic migration program to promote plasticity and invasion

Cancer cells must regulate plasticity and invasion to survive and metastasize. However, the identification of targetable mechanisms to inhibit metastasis has been slow. Signaling programs that drive stem and progenitor cells during normal development offer an inroad to discover mechanisms common to metastasis. Using a chick embryo transplant model, we have compared molecular signaling programs of melanoma and their embryonic progenitors, the neural crest. We report that malignant melanoma cells hijack portions of the embryonic neural crest invasion program. Genes associated with neural crest induction, delamination, and migration are dynamically regulated by melanoma cells exposed to an embryonic neural crest microenvironment. Specifically, we demonstrate that metastatic melanoma cells exploit neural crest‐related receptor tyrosine kinases to increase plasticity and facilitate invasion while primary melanocytes may actively suppress these responses under the same microenvironmental conditions. We conclude that aberrant regulation of neural crest developmental genes promotes plasticity and invasiveness in malignant melanoma.
THRESHOLD CONCENTRATION OF NITROUS OXIDE AFFECTING PSYCHOMOTOR PERFORMANCE

Using audiovisual reaction times, no effects were found in 12 subjects exposed to 1, 2, 4, or 8% nitrous oxide. In subsequent studies on 30 subjects, a positive effect on performance was found at a concentration of between 8 and 12% nitrous oxide. In addition, there was no difference in mean reaction time in 12 subjects exposed to air or 8% nitrous oxide. It is concluded that the threshold concentration of nitrous oxide for an effect on psychomotor performance as assessed by choice reaction times probably lies between 8 and 12%.
Long‐term biomechanical properties of rabbit cornea after photodynamic collagen crosslinking

Purpose: Photodynamic riboflavin/ultraviolet‐A (UVA)‐induced collagen cross‐linking, which increases the biomechanical stiffness of the human cornea by about 300%, has been introduced recently as a possible treatment for progressive keratoconus. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the longterm biomechanical effects of this new cross‐linking treatment as a necessary prerequisite to its clinical success.
Pulmonary Infiltrates in HIV Patients in the Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Era

The lung is the most frequently affected organ in HIVinfected patients. Lung involvement usually appears as pulmonary infiltrates on chest radiographs and is frequently—although not always—associated with clinical respiratory symptoms. Pulmonary diseases represent one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in these patients and remain the first cause of hospital admission in the highly active antiretroviral therapy era. Since earlier studies, important changes in the epidemiology of HIVrelated pulmonary complications have occurred, mostly because of Pneumocystis jirovecii prophylaxis and the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy. Currently, the most frequent diagnosis is bacterial pneumonia, especially pneumococcal pneumonia; the second most frequent cause is Pneumocystis pneumonia; and the third cause is mycobacteriosis, particularly Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Infections are the most frequent cause of pulmonary complications in HIV patients, but noninfectious diseases must be also considered in the etiologic diagnosis of pulmonary infiltrates. Achieving an etiologic diagnosis of pulmonary infiltrates is important because of its prognostic consequences.
The Role of Occipital Artery Resection in the Surgical Treatment of Occipital Migraine Headaches

Background: This study was designed to compare the success of occipital migraine headache surgery with and without occipital artery ligation. Methods: The medical charts of 170 occipital migraine headache surgery recipients who fulfilled the study criteria were reviewed. Patients were divided into either the occipital artery resection group (one or both occipital arteries or its branches resected) or the control group (occipital arteries untouched). Preoperative and 12-month or more postoperative migraine frequency, duration, and intensity were analyzed. Results: Fifty-five of the 170 patients met the inclusion criteria for the resection group; the remaining 115 were included in the control group. Of the 55 occipital artery resection patients, 44 (80.0 percent) had successful outcomes (≥50 percent reduction in occipital migraine headaches), with 21 (38.2 percent) experiencing elimination of migraines. Of the 115 control patients, 105 (91.3 percent) experienced success, with 74 (64.3 percent) experiencing elimination of occipital migraine headache. The control group had significantly higher success (p = 0.047) and elimination rates (p = 0.002) compared with the resection group. The control group had significantly greater mean reduction in migraine duration compared with the resection group (p = 0.008). Conclusions: Occipital artery resection significantly lowered the success of occipital migraine headache surgery. Greater occipital nerve decompression alone, without ligation of the occipital artery, significantly improved or eliminated occipital migraine headache in most patients. This suggests that routine removal of the occipital artery or its branches may not be necessary. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.
Efficacy of olopatadine HCI 0.1%, ketotifen fumarate 0.025%, epinastine HCI 0.05%, emedastine 0.05% and fluorometholone acetate 0.1% ophthalmic solutions for seasonal allergic conjunctivitis: a placebo‐controlled environmental trial

Purpose: We aimed to compare the clinical efficacy and ocular surface variables of olopatadine, ketotifen fumarate, epinastine, emedastine and fluorometholone acetate ophthalmic solutions in preventing the signs and symptoms of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC).
Intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin®) for neovascular age‐related macular degeneration in treatment‐naive patients

Purpose: To report the effects of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin®) in treatment‐naive patients with exudative age‐related macular degeneration (ARMD) assessed by visual acuity (VA), optical coherence tomography (OCT) and contrast sensitivity.
The complete mitogenome of Achalarus lyciades (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae)

Abstract We obtained a complete mitochondrial genome of a skipper butterfly Achalarus lyciades (Hesperiidae, Eudaminae) from next generation sequencing reads. The 15,612 bp mitogenome covers 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs) and an A + T rich region. Its gene order is typical for mitogenomes of Lepidoptera. Phylogenetic analysis placed A. lyciades as a sister to Lobocla bifasciatus, the only other Eudaminae with available mitogenome.
The Impact of Acellular Dermal Matrix on Tissue Expander/Implant Loss in Breast Reconstruction: An Analysis of the Tracking Outcomes and Operations in Plastic Surgery Database

Background: Use of acellular dermal matrix in breast reconstruction has been associated with increased complications. However, existing studies are generally small, from single centers, and underpowered to control for confounding using regression techniques. Here, the Tracking Outcomes and Operations in Plastic Surgery database was used to examine the effect of acellular dermal matrix on expander/implant loss when controlling for other confounders. Methods: Analysis was limited to patients having tissue expander or implant-based breast reconstruction. Surgeon-reported data, International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition codes, and Current Procedural Terminology codes were used to identify independent variables. The dependent variable of interest was 30-day rates of tissue expander or implant loss. Bivariate statistics were performed. Multivariable logistic regression identified independent predictors of expander/implant loss when controlling for other confounders. Results: Data were available for 14,249 patients. The overall rate of expander/implant loss was 2.05 percent. Bivariate analysis demonstrated acellular dermal matrix was associated with an absolute increase in expander/implant loss of 0.7 percent (1.88 percent versus 2.58 percent, p = 0.012). The regression model demonstrated that rising body mass index, current smoking, and presence of diabetes were each independent predictors of expander/implant loss. When controlling for all other identified confounders, use of acellular dermal matrix was associated with a significant increase in expander/implant loss (odds ratio, 1.42; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.04 to 1.94; p = 0.026). Conclusions: Thirty-day risk for expander/implant loss after tissue expander or implant-based breast reconstruction was 2.05 percent. Use of acellular dermal matrix was associated with a 0.7 percent absolute risk increase for expander/implant loss. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, III.
Balkan brachicerous cattle – the first domesticated cattle in Europe

Abstract The present study aimed to compare mitochondrial diversity among Balkan Neolithic/Chalcolithic cattle and present day Shorthorn Rhodopean cattle (Busha) to throw a new insight into European cattle domestication. The results showed that both ancient- and present-day samples belonged to the macrohaplogroup T. From the 28 sequences (8 ancient and 20 modern), the T1 and T2 haplogroup represent about 3.6% (1/28; 1/28). The T3 haplogroup was with the highest frequency – 57% (16/28). Based on the SNPs on 16057A and 16133C, the new T6 haplogroup was proposed. This haplogroup represents 75% from the ancient and 20% from the present day Bulgarian brachicerous cattle population. The survey in GenBank data base did not find a similar motif, except for the recent Serbian Busha cattle. Overall, these results showed that: (i) The newly named T6 haplogroup is Balkan specific; (ii) The T6 haplogroup survives in present day Bulgarian rhodopean cattle; (iii) The Balkan brachicerous cattle is the oldest European cattle breed.
Genetic variations and population structure in three populations of beardless barb, Cyclocheilichthys apogon (Valenciennes, 1842) inferred from mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the relation of dispersal barrier and genetic diversity, population structure, and demographic history of 46 samples of beardless barb, Cyclocheilichthys apogon (Valenciennes, 1842) collected from three different locations in North-eastern Thailand. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) was employed in order to determine the genetic variability within and among populations of this fish. The neutrality tests and mismatch distribution analysis were additionally applied to assess the neutrality and demographic expansion of the populations, respectively. Contiguous sequences within range from 1100 to1140 bp were obtained with varying 16 different haplotypes with high-haplotype diversity (0.8773 ± 0.0327) and low-nucleotide diversity (0.00215 ± 0.00020). The variations within and among populations accounted for 98.98 and 1.02% of the total variation, respectively. The low level of pairwise Fst estimations indicated a possible gene flow among populations and a suggestion of genetic homogeneity at this geographical range. A supportive idea of having a single-maternal lineage and past demographic expansion or selection experiencing has distinctly appeared among these populations. The current data suggests that all three populations distinctly exist as a single stock unit and that is an important factor in identifying genetic variation of C. apogon in this geographical area to be used in establishing effective plans and strategies for a conservation and management.
Tonsillektomienachblutungen im Zeitraum von 1985 bis 2001 und Erfahrungen bei der Anwendung der Lasertonsillotomie bei Kleinkindern

Background: Tonsillectomy is one of the most often performed surgery in our specialty. But postoperative bleeding is not only a statistic risk, it can lead to a tragic end individually. In the future and according to the DRGs, a postoperative stay in hospital for more than 6 days will be difficult to realise. Methods: 10052 patients after tonsillectomy were measured, 7663 were performed in the ORL-Department of Wurzburg, 2389 in the ORL-Department of Augsburg. Further data was measured by questioning the parents of 65 young children after lasertonsillotomy. Patients: The patient group of the tonsillectomies included all ages, the group of the lasertonsillotomies included young children aged 1-6 years. Results: The first spike of bleedings of the ORL-Department in Wurzburg was found within the first 24 hours after surgery. A second spike showed between the 5 t h and 7 t h postoperative day, an other after the 8 t h and 15 t h postoperative day. In the ORL-Department Augsburg the main spike was found from the 7 t h until the 9 t h postoperative day. No postoperative bleedings were found in the lasertonsillotomies. Conclusions: A postoperative stay in hospital is sufficient for 3 days, but should vary individually. On young children with symptomatic hyperplasia of the tonsils a lasertonsillotomy should be performed.
In vitro gene expression analysis of hepatotoxic drugs in rat primary hepatocytes

The study examined the feasibility of screening for hepatotoxicity by an in vitro gene expression analysis using rat primary hepatocytes and Affymetrix Rat Toxicology U34 arrays. Hepatocytes were exposed for 6 or 24 h to eight drugs, with different mechanisms of hepatotoxicity, at one third of the cytotoxic concentration TC50, i.e. acetaminophen, cyclophosphamide, clofibrate, chlorpromazine, lithocholic acid, cisplatin, diclofenac and disulfiram. The types of transcriptional changes observed in this study were generally consistent with previously reported in vivo data, although there were some differences. In hierarchical cluster analysis, drugs formed clusters depending on their mode of toxicity against cells. The number of transcripts affected by the cholestatic hepatotoxicants (lithocholic acid and chlorpromazine) or the drugs that rarely cause of hepatotoxicity (cisplatin, diclofenac and disulfiram) were limited compared with the other drugs (acetaminophen, clobifibrate and cyclophosphamide), where they did not induce transcriptional changes apparently related to toxicity. It is concluded that in vitro gene expression analysis of hepatocytes using microarray is a useful tool for evaluating the toxicological profile of drugs and in screening for the direct toxicity of drugs against hepatocytes. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reactivity of white blood cell flux to hyperoxia in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus

Purpose: The aetiology of the apparently vasoocclusive phenomena in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐related retinopathy is not well understood. Several hypotheses, including infectious damage of the retinal vasculature and altered retinal haemodynamics, have been postulated. Direct measurement of oxygen tension in the retina is not possible in vivo and indirect methods have to be employed. The objective of this study was to investigate the retinal vascular response to 100% oxygen breathing in patients with HIV.
Preseason Performance Testing Battery for Men's Lacrosse

DESPITE THE INCREASED PARTICIPATION IN THE SPORT OF MEN'S LACROSSE, THERE REMAINS A PAUCITY OF PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOMECHANICAL STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING DATA REGARDING THE CORPOREAL DEMANDS OF THE SPORT. THE PURPOSE OF THIS ARTICLE WAS TO PRESENT A PRESEASON TESTING BATTERY IMPLEMENTED TO TAX THE SPORT-SPECIFIC PHYSICAL RIGORS OF MEN'S LACROSSE. THE TESTING BATTERY PRESENTED HAS BEEN EMPLOYED ON A NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION DIVISION III MEN'S LACROSSE TEAM AND INCORPORATES THE ASSESSMENTS OF SPEED, AGILITY, STRENGTH, ENDURANCE, AND BODY COMPOSITION.
HIV: facts, fiction, and the impact on behavior of students at an Historically Black College/University

The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge of HIV/AIDS among students at an Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to examine differences in knowledge of HIV/AIDS among undergraduates by gender, and to examine the relationship between knowledge of HIV/AIDS and related behavior. This was a cross-sectional survey-based study. Participants were drawn from a convenience sample of students who were enrolled in health classes at a Southeastern HBCU. Participants were 375 predominately African American students who were enrolled in health classes at a Southeastern HBCU. A questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge and behaviors regarding HIV/AIDS. The results confirmed that there were significant differences in knowledge about HIV/AIDS between males and females in the sample, and significant relationships between knowledge and behavior. We concluded that HIV/AIDS education programs may need to focus on understanding implication of risky behavior. They also need to be more culturally appropriate when addressing youth culture, media, and family.
Introduction to the Theoretical Basis of Nursing

We may not be able to make you love reading, but introduction to the theoretical basis of nursing will lead you to love reading starting from now. Book is the window to open the new world. The world that you want is in the better stage and level. World will always guide you to even the prestige stage of the life. You know, this is some of how reading will give you the kindness. In this case, more books you read more knowledge you know, but it can mean also the bore is full.
Developing an objective assessment of surgical performance from operating room video and surgical imagery

ABSTRACT An unbiased, repeatable process for assessing operating room performance is an important step toward quantifying the relationship between surgical training and performance. Hip fracture surgeries offer a promising first target in orthopedic trauma because they are common and they offer quantitative performance metrics that can be assessed from video recordings and intraoperative fluoroscopic images. Hip fracture repair surgeries were recorded using a head-mounted point-of-view camera. Intraoperative fluoroscopic images were also saved. The following performance metrics were analyzed: duration of wire navigation, number of fluoroscopic images collected, degree of intervention by the surgeon's supervisor, and the tip-apex distance (TAD). Two orthopedic traumatologists graded surgical performance in each video independently using an Skills (OSATS). Wire navigation duration correlated with weeks into residency and prior cases logged. TAD correlated with cases logged. There was no significant correlation between the OSATS total score and experience metrics. Total OSATS score correlated with duration and number of fluoroscopic images. Our results indicate that two metrics of hip fracture wire navigation performance—duration and TAD—significantly differentiate surgical experience. The methods presented have the potential to provide truly objective assessment of resident technical performance in the OR.