Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Study of oxidative stress, homocysteine, copper & zinc in nephrotic syndrome: therapy with antioxidants, minerals and B-complex vitamins

Oxidative damage has been proposed as one of the possible mechanism involved in the nephrotic syndrome. Strengthening the defense system by antioxidants may provide protection against oxidative damage. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate oxidant and antioxidant status with copper, zinc and homocysteine in nephrotic syndrome patients and the effect of antioxidants, minerals and B-complex vitamins on oxidant and antioxidant status. The blood samples were analyzed for quantitation of malondialdehyde as index of lipid peroxide, vitamin C, total antioxidant capacity, copper, zinc, and homocysteine. Significantly increased levels of serum lipid peroxide, homocysteine and decreased levels of serum total antioxidant capacity, copper, zinc and plasma vitamin C were noticed in the patients with nephrotic syndrome as compared to control subjects. However, significant reduction in lipid peroxide, homocysteine and improvement in vitamin C, total antioxidant capacity, copper, and zinc activity were observed after treatment of antioxidants and minerals with Bcomplex vitamins. Keywords: Nephrotic syndrome (NS), Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), Homocysteine (HCY), Malondialdehyde (MDA), Vitamin C (Vit C), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn) Received: 26 July 2009 / Received in revised form: 23 August 2009, Accepted: 15 September 2009, Published online: 22 September 2009
Comparison of topical tacrolimus and clobetasol in the management of symptomatic oral lichen planus: A double‐blinded, randomized clinical trial in Sri Lanka

AIM Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a common, chronic inflammatory disease of the oral mucosa. Although several studies have shown the efficacy of different treatment modalities, a definitive cure has not yet been established. The present trial compares the effectiveness of topically-applied clobetasol and tacrolimus in the symptomatic management of OLP. METHODS A randomized, comparative, double-blind study with 68 patients (43 females, 25 males; mean age: 46.76 years) was undertaken. Patients were randomly divided into two groups of 34 patients each to receive topical tacrolimus 0.1% cream or clobetasol propionate 0.05% cream for 3 weeks. RESULTS After 3 weeks of treatment, the mean pain score dropped by 1.59 (right) and 1.53 (left) in the tacrolimus group, while in clobetasol group these values were 0.94 and 0.85, respectively. The mean scores for clinical appearance reduced by 1.18 (right) and 1.0 (left) in the tacrolimus group compared with a reduction of 0.5 and 0.26, respectively, in the clobetasol group. These reductions were statistically significant (P < .05). CONCLUSION The results suggest that tacrolimus 0.1% cream is an effective alternative to topical steroid and can be considered a first-line therapy in OLP. However, further studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of this treatment before it is recommended for use in clinical practice.
Postthrombolysis Intracranial Hemorrhage Risk of Cerebral Microbleeds in Acute Stroke Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

It has been questioned whether patients with cerebral microbleeds are at a greater risk for the development of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage following thrombolytic therapy in the management of acute ischemic stroke. Thus far, observational studies have not shown a statistically significant increased risk; however, these have been limited by small sample size. The aim is to better quantify the risk of postthrombolysis intracerebral hemorrhage in patients with acute ischemic stroke and cerebral microbleeds on magnetic resonance imaging. A systematic review of controlled studies investigating the presence of microbleeds on magnetic resonance imaging as a risk factor for intracerebral hemorrhage following thrombolysis in acute stroke patients was conducted. A random effects model meta-analysis was performed. In pooled analysis of five studies totaling 790 participants, the prevalence of microbleeds was 17%. The presence of microbleeds revealed a trend toward an increased risk of postthrombolysis symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage [odds ratio: 1·98 (95% confidence interval, 0·90 to 4·35; P = 0·09), I2 = 0%]. Adjusted analysis minimizing potential bias resulted in an increased absolute risk of 4·6% for the development of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage in patients with cerebral microbleeds [odds ratio: 2·29 (95% confidence interval, 1·01 to 5·17), I2 = 0%] reaching borderline significance (P = 0·05). A significant relationship between increasing microbleed burden and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (P = 0·0015) was observed. Isolated analysis of studies using exclusively intravenous tissue plasminogen activator was insignificant. Our data suggest that patients with cerebral microbleeds are at increased risk for symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage following thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke. However, current data are insufficient to justify withholding thrombolytic therapy from acute ischemic stroke patients solely of the basis of cerebral microbleed presence.
Circulating immune complexes and renal function in canine leishmaniasis.

A third component of complement (C3) capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the concentration of IgG circulating immune complexes (CIC) in 91 dogs with naturally acquired leishmania infection and in a control group of 24 healthy dogs. Results were expressed as a percentage of a reference standard. Mean concentrations of CIC were significantly (P < 0.001) higher in leishmania-infected dogs (228.725 +/- 14.283%) than in controls (74.542 +/- 12.614%). An increase in CIC concentration was found in 57.1% of the leishmania-infected dogs. No significant differences could be recorded in CIC levels between males and females in either group. Infected dogs showing hypercreatininemia rendered a statistically significant (P < 0.030) higher serum CIC concentration than sick dogs with normal creatininemia. When hypercreatininemia (> or = 1.30 mg/dl) was used as an indicator for CIC increase, the positive predictive value obtained was 0.9 indicating that renal function impairment was associated with high serum CIC concentration in 90% of the infected dogs.
Chiropractic care for nonmusculoskeletal conditions: a systematic review with implications for whole systems research.

OBJECTIVES (1) To evaluate the evidence on the effect of chiropractic care, rather than spinal manipulation only, on patients with nonmusculoskeletal conditions; and (2) to identify shortcomings in the evidence base on this topic, from a Whole Systems Research perspective. DESIGN Systematic review. METHODS Databases included were PubMed, Ovid, Mantis, Index to Chiropractic Literature, and CINAHL. Search restrictions were human subjects, peer-reviewed journal, English language, and publication before May 2005. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were evaluated using the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) and Jadad checklists; a checklist developed from the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) guidelines; and one developed by the authors to evaluate studies in terms of Whole Systems Research (WSR) considerations. RESULTS The search yielded 179 papers addressing 50 different nonmusculoskeletal conditions. There were 122 case reports or case series, 47 experimental designs, including 14 RCTs, 9 systematic reviews, and 1 a large cohort study. The 14 RCTs addressed 10 conditions. Six RCTs were rated "high" on the 3 conventional checklists; one of these 6 was rated "high" in terms of WSR considerations. CONCLUSIONS (1) Adverse effects should be routinely reported. For the few studies that did report, adverse effects of spinal manipulation for all ages and conditions were rare, transient, and not severe. (2) Evidence from controlled studies and usual practice supports chiropractic care (the entire clinical encounter) as providing benefit to patients with asthma, cervicogenic vertigo, and infantile colic. Evidence was promising for potential benefit of manual procedures for children with otitis media and elderly patients with pneumonia. (3) The RCT design is not necessarily incompatible with WSR. RCTs could improve generalizability by basing protocols on usual practice. (4) Case reports could contribute more to WSR by increasing their emphasis on patient characteristics and patient-based outcomes. (5) Chiropractic investigators, practitioners, and funding agencies should increase their attention to observational designs.
Membrane IgM-stimulated human B lymphocytes succumb to activation-related apoptosis at a G1-->S transition: influence of ligand affinity and valency.

Culture of human B lymphocytes with polyclonally activating surrogates for type II T-cell-independent antigen, i.e., anti-IgM mAb and anti-IgM:dextran, resulted in both membrane IgM (mIgM)-triggered S/G2/M entry and apoptosis. Although high ligand valency could compensate for low affinity, and high affinity could compensate for low valency, in achieving mIgM-triggered apoptosis, the phenomenon was most pronounced when the soluble "antigen" had both high binding site affinity and valency. Most of the mIgM-triggered apoptosis may represent B cells which progress into G1 but fail to receive a sufficient level of continuous mIgM-mediated signaling during G1 for passage through a G1 --> S phase restriction point(s). This was supported by the findings that (a) a lesser proportion of mIg-triggered cells enter S phase than G1; (b) maximal mIgM-triggered apoptosis was noted at 48-72 h of culture and surrounding activated cell clusters; (c) mIgM-triggered apoptosis was not inhibited by pharmacologic blockers of S phase; and (d) a high proportion of viable mIgM-triggered B cell blasts in G1 succumb to apoptosis rather than enter S phase, if high-affinity multivalent ligand is washed from the cultures. In addition to quantitative aspects of initial receptor engagement, the potential for a protracted period of recurrent mIgM signaling events may influence whether apoptosis or cell cycle progression is the functional outcome of B cell encounter with a multivalent antigen.
A HARD X-RAY POWER-LAW SPECTRAL CUTOFF IN CENTAURUS X-4

The low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) Cen X-4 is the brightest and closest (<1.2 kpc) quiescent neutron star transient. Previous 0.5–10 keV X-ray observations of Cen X-4 in quiescence identified two spectral components: soft thermal emission from the neutron star atmosphere and a hard power-law tail of unknown origin. We report here on a simultaneous observation of Cen X-4 with NuSTAR (3–79 keV) and XMM-Newton (0.3–10 keV) in 2013 January, providing the first sensitive hard X-ray spectrum of a quiescent neutron star transient. The 0.3–79 keV luminosity was erg s−1, with ≃60% in the thermal component. We clearly detect a cutoff of the hard spectral tail above 10 keV, the first time such a feature has been detected in this source class. We show that thermal Comptonization and synchrotron shock origins for the hard X-ray emission are ruled out on physical grounds. However, the hard X-ray spectrum is well fit by a thermal bremsstrahlung model with kTe = 18 keV, which can be understood as arising either in a hot layer above the neutron star atmosphere or in a radiatively inefficient accretion flow. The power-law cutoff energy may be set by the degree of Compton cooling of the bremsstrahlung electrons by thermal seed photons from the neutron star surface. Lower thermal luminosities should lead to higher (possibly undetectable) cutoff energies. We compare Cen X-4's behavior with PSR J1023+0038, IGR J18245−2452, and XSS J12270−4859, which have shown transitions between LMXB and radio pulsar modes at a similar X-ray luminosity.
A Randomized Prospective Trial Using Postoperative Adjuvant Chemotherapy (Adriamycin) in High‐Grade Extremity Soft‐Tissue Sarcoma

From March 1981 to December 1984 119 patients with primary grade III extremity soft-tissue sarcoma were randomized postoperatively to single agent Adriamycin (57) or to control, no adjuvant chemotherapy (62). Adjuvant therapy was begun within 6 weeks of surgery, and consisted of Adriamycin 90 mg/m2 given over 2 days, once a month for 5 months. All patients had received preoperative intraarterial Adriamycin, radiation therapy (1,750 cGy) and subsequent surgical excision. At a median follow-up of 28 months there was no difference between the two groups in overall survival (Adriamycin = 84%, control = 80%), local tumor recurrence, or in the disease-free survival (Adriamycin = 58%, control = 54%). This study indicates that the use of single-agent Adriamycin as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy has no significant clinical benefit in patients with high-grade extremity softtissue sarcoma treated with preoperative Adriamycin, radiation, and surgical excision. Although the Adriamycin postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy did not significantly benefit the experimental group relative to the control group, both groups of patients had an improved disease-free and overall survival rate compared to historical controls.
Does Size Matter? Bailouts with Large and Small Banks

We explore how large and small banks make funding decisions when the government provides system-wide bailouts to the financial sector. We show that bank size, purely on strategic grounds, is a key determinant of banks' leverage choices, even when bailout policies treat large and small banks symmetrically. Large banks always take on more leverage than small banks because they internalize that their decisions directly affect the government's optimal bailout policy. In equilibrium, small banks also choose strictly higher borrowing when large banks are present, since banks' leverage choices are strategic complements. Overall, the presence of large banks increases aggregate leverage and the magnitude of bailouts. The optimal ex-ante regulation features size-dependent policies that disproportionally restrict the leverage choices of large banks. A quantitative assessment of our model implies that an increase in the share of assets held by the five largest banks from 50% to 70% is associated with a 3.5 percentage point increase in aggregate debt-to-asset ratios (from 90.1% to 93.6%). Under the optimal policy, large banks face a “size tax” of 40 basis points (0.4%) per dollar of debt issued.
Independence complexes and incidence graphs

We show that the independence complex of the incidence graph of a hypergraph is homotopy equivalent to the combinatorial Alexander dual of the independence complex of the hypergraph, generalizing a result of Csorba. As an application, we refine and generalize a result of Kawamura on a relation between the homotopy types of the independence complex and the edge covering complex of a graph.
Immediate postextractive dental implant placement with immediate loading on four implants for mandibular-full-arch rehabilitation: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND To date, only few studies have reported on the clinical outcomes of immediate postextraction implant placement and immediate loading. PURPOSE The purpose of this retrospective study was to report the results of immediately loading four implants placed in fresh extraction sockets in the mandible after a follow-up of 24 months. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between January 2001 and January 2009, 50 patients (28 women and 22 men, average age 54 years), had 347 teeth extracted and a total of 200 dental implants placed in the mandible. The patients received a provisional fixed bridge the same day and a permanent one 3 months later. Clinical checkups were performed after 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Marginal bone measurements were made in intraoral radiographs taken 1 day after surgery and after 1 year. A questionnaire was used to evaluate self-perceived factors related to comfort, aesthetics, and function. RESULTS All bridges were stable and no implant failures were recorded during the follow-up, giving a survival rate of 100%, at 2 years. The marginal bone loss amounted to 1.33 ± 0.36 mm after 1 year and 1.48 ± 0.39 mm after 2 years. Ten patients showed prosthetic complications with the provisional bridge, but all the definitive prostheses remained stable throughout the study period without any complications. The patients reported satisfaction with the treatment. CONCLUSIONS The present retrospective study showed that immediate loading of four implants immediately placed in extraction sockets is a valid treatment modality for the totally edentulous mandible.
External frame distraction osteogenesis of the midface in the cleft patient

Distraction osteogenesis has established itself as an accepted form of treatment in the management of midface deficiency in cleft patients. However, it is well known that some amount of relapse is inevitable in patients who undergo this procedure. Like most surgical techniques, it has its specific indications, limitations, and complications. The problems are amplified in some patients because of severe fibrosis resulting from previous palate and lip operations. This article reviews treatment planning, pre- and postoperative orthodontic management, operative technique, and mechanics of distraction. It also discusses long-term changes following distraction and protocols to optimize the results and minimize complications.
Hybrid cellular and device-to-device communication power control: Nash bargaining game

The advent of Device-to-Device (D2D) communication provides the capability of direct connection between mobile devices. Consequently, the communication burden on base station (BS) is decreased and the capacity is improved. In the hybrid mode, one channel is allocated to two communications. First, between traditional cellular user and BS and second, between D2D mobile terminals. Therefore, each communication poses interference on the other one. To combat this problem, power control (PC) could be used. In this paper, game theory is utilized to perform PC. Two types of games are considered. Leader-Follower game as a non-cooperative game and Nash bargaining as a cooperative game are developed. These games are solved analytically and simulation results verify the superiority of Nash bargaining over leader-Follower game.
Antenna Pattern Verification System Based on a Micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

This letter presents a radiation pattern verification system for low-frequency antennas in their operative conditions, e.g., on the ground, next to other elements, etc. It is a far-field setup using a properly equipped micro unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as a test source. The micro UAV can perform an autonomous flight. Its absolute position is measured with a remote topographic instrument. By data processing, the received power pattern along the UAV flying path is reconstructed. The proposed setup has been validated on two standard wire antennas at 150 and 408 MHz with an estimated accuracy of 1 dB.
The Effect of Bilingualism on Cognition : Evidence from Early and Late Bilinguals

Previous research demonstrates that bilinguals have an advatange over monolinguals in several extra-linguistic domains. Using the Simon Task, which putatively measures inhibitory control, Bialystok, Craik, Klein, and Viswanathan (2004) illustrate that early bilinguals are faster and show less of a Simon effect than monolinguals, a disparity that becomes more pronounced in late adulthood. The posited mechanisms responsible for this advantage is enhanced inhibitory control and selective attention, due to life long daily use of two languages. However, there is some contention regarding both which cognitive functions are implicated in the Simon task and whether inhibitory control is the major mechanism underlying bilingual language processing. Previous studies have focused on highly proficient early bilinguals who may mobilize subtly different processes compared to other bilingual groups. The present study attempts to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for this bilingual cognitive advantage by comparing early and late bilinguals on both the Simon task and the Garner task, which measures selective attention, without requiring the inhibition of a response. In addition, results on the Simon task are reinterpreted to uncover an event file effect, a measure of cognitive flexibility (Hommel, 2004). Our question is: Can a second language learned in adulthood bestow the same cognitive advantage as one learned early in life? We predicted that bilinguals would demonstrate less of a Simon effect and of a Garner effect than monolinguals, with differential results for the two bilingual groups. We also expected that bilinguals would show less of an event file effect than monolinguals. We found main effects for age and congruency on the Simon task, an event file effect across all groups which interacted with age, and no Garner interference for any groups. Limitations of the present study are addressed. Further directions to reveal the dynamics of the bilingual mind are suggested.
The Avatar-Self Relationship: Enacting Presence in Second Life

Avatars are technological artifacts that provide communicators a body in virtual spaces. It is through this affordance of embodiment that people, places and things are made concrete, tangible, and present. Presence consists of two interrelated phenomena: (i) telepresence : the sense of being there, and (ii) social presence : the sense of being together with others. In the context of virtual worlds, telepresence or the degree of immersion and engagement in the computer-mediated space is achieved through communicators’ interaction with their avatar , and social presence through their interaction with others as an avatar. Building on this typology, we develop a multidimensional conceptual framework of the avatar-self relationship , that is, the interaction between a communicator and his/her virtual (re)presentation. Relying on data collected via photo-diary interviews from residents of Second Life, a virtual world, we then identify and empirically describe various enactments of the avatar-self relationship. Our results highlight that Second Life residents enacted multiple avatar-self relationships and cycled through them in quick succession, suggesting that these avatar-self relationships might be shaped and activated strategically in order to achieve the desired educational, commercial or therapeutic outcomes.
Regulation of human histone gene expression during the HeLa cell cycle requires protein synthesis

We have examined the effects of protein synthesis inhibition on histone gene expression during the HeLa cell cycle. Histone mRNAs, which normally are rapidly degraded in the absence of DNA synthesis, persist and increase in concentration when translation is inhibited before DNA replication is halted. This is not a function of polysomal shielding of these mRNAs from active degradation mechanisms since inhibitors of translation initiation alone effect stabilization and induction. The superinduction of histone mRNAs by protein synthesis inhibition is effective at the G1/S border, and in the S-phase and non-S-phase periods of the cell cycle. However, the relative increase in histone mRNA is greater when cells not synthesizing DNA are treated with a protein synthesis inhibitor than when S-phase cells are so treated. Non-histone mRNAs examined are not superinduced by translation inhibition. Transcription rates from both histone and non-histone genes increase after protein synthesis inhibition. Although the decrease in histone gene transcription associated with DNA synthesis inhibition is prevented and reversed by protein synthesis inhibition, we have no evidence that histone gene-specific transcriptional regulation is dependent on protein synthesis. Transcriptional increases may contribute to the superinduction effect but cannot explain its differential extent during the cell cycle, since these increases are similar when replicating or nonreplicating cells are treated with a protein synthesis inhibitor. We believe that changes in histone mRNA stability can account for much of the differential superinduction effect. Our results indicate a requirement for continuing protein synthesis in the cell cycle regulation of histone mRNAs.