Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Prehospital Transport Factors on Shock Index, Serum Lactate, and Mortality in Children with Septic Shock: A Prospective Observational Study

Context: Many children with septic shock either present late or are recognized late due to various reasons. Shock index (SI) is a valuable screening tool in dentifying high-risk septic patients in emergency department. Whether prehospital transport factors affect SI and clinical outcomes has not been evaluated. Aim: Our aim was to evaluate if prehospital transport-related factors such as mode of transport and referral from another hospital affect the admission SI and mortality in children with septic shock. Settings and Design: Prospective observational study conducted over 1-year period in the Pediatric Emergency and Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary care teaching hospital. Subjects and Methods: Children < 17 years of age were evaluated. Data collection included referral status, mode of transport, physiologic (SI and serum lactate), and clinical parameters. Statistical Analysis Used: Student's t-test was used for analyzing continuous variables. Chi-square/Fischer's exact test was used for analysis of categorical variables. P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Of 51 children, 21 (41%) were referred from other hospitals. Of these, less than half were transported by ambulance unaccompanied by any healthcare personnel. Twenty-six children (43%) died, of which 15 (71%) were referred. The median serum lactate, SI, and mortality were significantly higher in those referred. On multivariate analysis of factors associated with mortality, elevated SI and/or lactate >4 mmol/L and the “referral” status remained significant after adjusting for baseline variables and illness severity. Conclusions: Children with septic shock referred from other hospitals had higher SI, serum lactate, and mortality rates. Our study highlights the need for improving prehospital care and transportation in children with septic shock.
Differential Control of iNKT Cell Effector Lineage Differentiation by the Forkhead Box Protein O1 (Foxo1) Transcription Factor

The invariant NKT (iNKT) cells recognize glycolipid antigens presented by the non-classical MHC like molecule CD1d. They represent an innate T-cell lineage with the ability to rapidly produce a variety of cytokines in response to agonist stimulation to bridge innate and adaptive immunity. In thymus, most iNKT cells complete their maturation and differentiate to multiple effector lineages such as iNKT-1, iNKT-2, and iNKT-17 cells that possess the capability to produce IFNγ, IL-4, and IL-17A, respectively, and play distinct roles in immune responses and diseases. Mechanisms that control iNKT lineage fate decisions are still not well understood. Evidence has revealed critical roles of Foxo1 of the forkhead box O1 subfamily of transcription factors in the immune system. However, its role in iNKT cells has been unknown. In this report, we demonstrate that deletion of Foxo1 causes severe decreases of iNKT cell total numbers due to impairment of late but not early iNKT cell development. Deficiency of Foxo1 results in decreases of iNKT-1 but increases of iNKT-17 cells. Our data reveal that Foxo1 controls iNKT effector lineage fate decision by promoting iNKT-1 but suppressing iNKT-17 lineages.
Is Emergency Department Thoracotomy Effective in Trauma Resuscitation? The Retrospective Study of the Emergency Department Thoracotomy in Trauma Patients at Thammasat University Hospital, Thailand

Introduction: The survival rate after the emergency department thoracotomy (EDT) in trauma patients varies from the previous study as 1.6% in blunt injury and 11.2% in penetrating injury. Most of the data came from Europe, the US, South Africa, and Japan. This study aims to identify the success of EDT of trauma patients at Thammasat University Hospital, Thailand, and to evaluate the effectiveness of EDT. This study may be representative data for Southeast Asia. Materials and Methods: This retrospective review of 21 consecutive EDT cases which performed by our staffs and chief of general surgery residents between June 2009 and July 2016. Age, gender, injury mechanisms, injury sites, patient transport methods, initial vital signs, fluids and blood component requirements, resuscitation times, laboratory results, and injury severity scores were all analyzed. Results: Of the 21 EDT cases, one patient was excluded due to being a nontraumatic case. The remaining twenty patients were primarily young (mean 36.5 years), male (85%), suffering from blunt injuries (75%), of which 45% were predominantly thoracic injuries. Most of the patients presented without any sign of life (75%), and the total time for resuscitation was 43.5 ± 19.6 min. Seven patients (35%) had the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and were successful in being brought to the operating room. Unfortunately, all patients passed away within 24 h of the operation. Conclusions: The ROSC rate of EDT in this study was 35%, but with no survival benefit. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that EDT serves as an effective life-saving procedure. However, EDT may play a significant role in treating extremis injured patients.
Clinico-epidemiological analysis of scrub typhus in hospitalised patients presenting with acute undifferentiated febrile illness: A hospital-based study from Eastern India

Acute undifferentiated febrile illness (AUFI) constitutes the predominant cause of healthcare seeking in Odisha. This prospective study was conducted to analyse the clinical, epidemiological and laboratory profile of scrub typhus patients presenting with AUFI from January to December 2017. Four hundred and thirty-two samples were tested for dengue, malaria, scrub typhus and enteric fever. Scrub typhus was overall the most common cause of AUFI (26.3%, 114/432) followed by dengue (19.2%, 83/432). Eschar was seen in 6.1% of cases. Aetiologies of 38.6% of AUFI remained unidentified. In the present study, there was no mortality attributed to scrub typhus.
Sustain, Adapt, and Overcome—Hypoxia Associated Changes in the Progression of Lymphatic Neoplasia

Irregular perfusion and related tissue hypoxia is a common feature of solid tumors the role of which in the survival and progression cancer has been gradually recognized. Adaptation and selection mechanisms in hypoxic areas in solid tumors are regulated by Hypoxia Inducible transcriptional factor 1 (HIF1) and other hypoxia mediators and are associated with aggressive clinical behavior in a large spectrum of malignancies. Aggressive forms of lymphatic neoplasias present with solid tumor-like features, also including rapid cell growth, necrosis and angiogenesis, the clinical potential of which is still underestimated. While the role of regional hypoxia in normal B-cell maturation and malignant transformation is becoming evident, the impact of tissue hypoxia on their behavior is not well-understood. Compared to some of the common solid cancer types data for some of the key regulators, such as HIF1 and HIF2, and for their downstream effectors are available in a limited fashion. In the current review we aim to overview the physiological aspects of major hypoxia pathways during B-cell maturation and adaptation-related changes reported in lymphatic neoplasia covering important targets, such as carbonic anhydrases IX and XII (CAIX, CAXII), glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In conclusion, experimental and clinical results direct to important but currently unexploited role of hypoxia-driven resistance mechanisms especially in aggressive forms of B-cell neoplasia.
Bio-Heat Models Revisited: Concepts, Derivations, Nondimensalization and Fractionalization Approaches

The heat transfer in living tissues is an evergreen problem in mathematical modelling with great practical importance starting from the Pennes equation postulation. This study focuses on concept in model building, the correct scaling of the bio-heat equation (one-dimensional) by appropriate choice of time and length scales, and consequently order of magnitude analysis of effects, as well as fractionalization approaches. Fractionalization by different constitutive approaches, leading to application of different fractional differential operators, modelling the finite speed of the heat wave, is one of the principle problems discussed in the study. The correct choice of the damping (relaxation) function of the heat flux is of primarily importance in the formulation of the bio-heat equation with memory. Moreover, this affects the consequent scaling, order of magnitude analysis and solutions.
From the Vineyard to the Winery: How Microbial Ecology Drives Regional Distinctiveness of Wine

Wine production is a complex process from the vineyard to the winery. On this journey, microbes play a decisive role. From the environment where the vines grow, encompassing soil, topography, weather and climate through to management practices in vineyards, the microbes present can potentially change the composition of wine. Introduction of grapes into the winery and the start of winemaking processes modify microbial communities further. Recent advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology have progressed our understanding of microbial communities associated with grapes and fermentations. We now have a finer appreciation of microbial diversity across wine producing regions to begin to understand how diversity can contribute to wine quality and style characteristics. In this review, we highlight literature surrounding wine-related microorganisms and how these affect factors interact with and shape microbial communities and contribute to wine quality. By discussing the geography, climate and soil of environments and viticulture and winemaking practices, we claim microbial biogeography as a new perspective to impact wine quality and regionality. Depending on geospatial scales, habitats, and taxa, the microbial community respond to local conditions. We discuss the effect of a changing climate on local conditions and how this may alter microbial diversity and thus wine style. With increasing understanding of microbial diversity and their effects on wine fermentation, wine production can be optimised with enhancing the expression of regional characteristics by understanding and managing the microbes present.
Serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in acute leukemia: marked elevations in lymphoblastic leukemia

Serum total lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were examined in 42 patients with acute leukemia, 9 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, 6 of them in blastic crisis, and 53 patients with lymphoma and other lymphoproliferative disorders. The mean range of serum LDH leveles in Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was 402 +/- 210 IU/liter and 313 +/- 113 IU/liter, while that of patients with nonmalignant disorders was 308 +/- 74 IU/liter. In acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL), the range was 126-684 IU/liter (mean value 413 +/- 146 IU/liter). In 6 of the patients (11.3%) with lymphoma and in 6 cases (26.8%) with ANLL, the LDH levels were above 500 IU/liter. None of these patients had levels over 900 IU/liter. Patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) had a range of 402-3582 IU/liter (mean value of 1669 + 1038 IU/liter). In 15 of the 19 patients (78.9%) with ALL, serum LDH values were above 900 IU/liter. In addition, 3 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CLM) in blastic crisis had levels of 970-1940 IU/liter. One of these 3 patients had lymphoblastic crisis, while the second case responded clinically to vincristine and prednisone, but was not regarded as ALL. The differences in serum LDH levels between ALL and ANLL are statisticaly significant (p < 0.001). It appears that markedly elevated serum LDH levels in acute leukemia are suggestive of ALL, and that in individual patients, the LDH levels were correlated with the number of blasts during remission and relapse.
Effects and Moderators of Acute Aerobic Exercise on Subsequent Interference Control: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Acute aerobic exercise leads to positive physiological adaptations within the central nervous system. These findings inspired research on potential cognitive benefits following acute aerobic exercise. The effects of acute aerobic exercise on subsequent cognitive performance, by far, have been the most researched for interference control, a subcomponent of executive function. The results of primary studies on the effects of acute aerobic exercise on subsequent interference control performance are inconsistent. Therefore, we used meta-analytic methods to pool available effect sizes, and to identify covariates that determine the magnitude of exercise-induced interference control benefits. Methods: Medline, PsycINFO, and SPORTDiscus were searched for eligible records. Hedges' g corrected standardized mean difference values (SMDs) were used for analyses. Random-effects weights were used to pool effect sizes. Moderator analyses were conducted using meta-regressions and subgroups analyses. Covariates that were here tested for moderation included parameters of the applied exercise regimen (exercise intensity and exercise duration), characteristics of examined participants (age and fitness), and methodological features of existing research (type of control group, familiarization with test procedure, type of test variable, delay between exercise cessation, and testing). Results: Fifty studies, with data from 2,366 participants, were included in qualitative and quantitative synthesis. A small, significant beneficial effect of acute aerobic exercise on time-dependent measures of interference control was revealed (k = 49, Hedges' g = −0.26, 95%CI: −34 to −0.18). Effect sizes from time-dependent measures of interference control varied widely and heterogeneity reached statistical significance (T2 = 0.0557, I2 = 28.8%). Moderator analyses revealed that higher exercise intensities (vigorous intensity and high-intensity interval training), also participants at younger or older age, and participants who are familiar with the testing procedure prior to the experiment, benefitted most from acute aerobic exercise. However, noticeable heterogeneity remained unexplained within specific subgroups (high-intensity interval training, preadolescent children, and active and supervised control group). Conclusion: Acute aerobic exercise improves subsequent interference control performance. However, the covariates exercise intensity, participants' age, and familiarization with testing procedure determine the magnitude of that effect. Methodological features were not found to influence the magnitude of effects. This dismisses some doubts that exercise induced benefits for interference control performance are scientific artifacts. The fact that large heterogeneity remained unexplained in some subgroups indicates the need for further research on covariates within these subgroups. It should be noted that effect sizes for all analyses were small.
Anthropometric Study of the Cephalic and Nasal Indices of Ogu and Ikwerre People of Nigeria

The aim of this study is to provide a baseline data of cephalic and nasal index of Ogu and Ikwerre people of southern Nigeria. Cephalic index is used to measure the size of the head while nasal index is used to measure the size of the nose. A total number of one thousand subjects (1000) comprising five hundred (500) from each tribe were selected for this study. To obtain the nasal index, the nasal length was measured from the nasion to the point where the nasal septum merges with the skin of the upper lip (nasospinale), while the nasal breadth was measured from ala to ala using a vernier caliper. For the cephalic index to be obtained, the head length was measured from the glabella to the external occipital protuberance (opistocranium), while the head breadth was measured from the transverse diameter of the head (biparietal diameter) using a spreading caliper. The results obtained showed that the Ikwerre males and females have a mean nasal index of 93.8 and 95.8 and a cephalic index of 74.9 and 74.8, respectively while the Ogu males and females have a mean nasal index of 95.8 and 87.34 and a cephalic index of 74.83 and 74.8, There was a significant difference in the nasal index of both Ikwerre and Ogu males and females (p 0.05). This study has shown that the Ikwerre and Ogu people are both platyrrhines and their cephalic index indicated that they are dolicocephalic.
Down-regulation of L-selectin Expression in Neutrophils by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs: Role of Intracellular ATP Concentration

L-selectin is an adhesion molecule that plays an essential role in the early events of the inflammatory response. Our group has recently described that several nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are able to induce both in vivo and in vitro the shedding of L-selectin in neutrophils through an unknown mechanism. In this work, we have studied potential mechanisms involved in the shedding of L-selectin induced by NSAIDs. This effect of NSAIDs did not involve any detectable intracellular calcium flux. Pretreatment of neutrophils either with Ro 31-8220 and H7, 2 specific inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC), or with inhibitors of protein tyrosine kinases such as tyrphostin A25 or herbimycin A did not prevent the NSAID-mediated L-selectin shedding. However, the KD-IX-73-4, an inhibitor of L-selectin proteolysis was able to block the effect of NSAIDs on L-selectin expression. Remarkably, NSAIDs caused a variable reduction in the neutrophil intracellular ATP concentration that highly correlated with the differential ability of NSAIDs to trigger L-selectin shedding (r = 0.8, P <.01). In agreement with this finding, azide plus 2-deoxy-D-glucose, 2 metabolic blockers, also induced a rapid L-selectin shedding (65% +/- 8%) without affecting the neutrophil viability, activation, or expression level of other surface molecules with soluble isoforms such as CD16 and CD59. These data indicate that the maintenance of L-selectin on the neutrophil surface requires energy consumption, which suggests that L-selectin is shed in neutrophils by default. Interestingly, NSAIDs seem to cause the shedding of L-selectin, at least in part, through the reduction of the intracellular ATP concentration.
Low birth weight and associated maternal factors in an urban area.

The prevalence of low birth weight and its association with maternal factors was assessed in a 1994 study of 201 pregnant women from an urban area in Nagpur India. 61 women (30.3%) delivered a low-birth-weight infant. Multivariate analysis identified the following maternal risk factors for a low-birth-weight delivery: anemia (odds ratio [OR] 4.81) low socioeconomic status (OR 3.96) short birth interval (OR 3.84) tobacco exposure (OR 3.14) height (OR 2.78) maternal age (OR 2.68) body mass index (OR 2.02) and primiparity (OR 1.58). These findings suggest that a greater emphasis should be placed on encouraging adequate birth intervals weight gain during pregnancy avoidance of tobacco chewing and exposure to passive smoke and prevention of adolescent pregnancy.
Ethnic Armenian Adolescents in Lebanon Cultural Appropriateness of the Family Assessment Device (FAD) in the Case of

Background: The purpose of this study is to report on the cultural appropriateness of the 60-item Armenian version of the Family Assessment Device (FAD) among ethnic Armenian adolescents in the ethnically and religiously pluralist Lebanon. Method: A total of 558 Armenian adolescents in Grades 10, 11 and 12 completed the Armenian FAD scale and the Self-Family Closeness (SFC) scale in a randomized order. The internal consistencies and intercorrelations of the Armenian FAD domains were examined, as were their correlations with the SFC ratings. Results: The Armenian FAD and its General Functioning subscale showed excellent internal consistencies (α = 0.89 and α = 0.80, respectively), whereas the reliabilities were satisfactory for the family domains of Communication and Role functioning but less than satisfactory for the Affective Responsiveness, Problem Solving, Affective Involvement and Behaviour Control domains. The Armenian FAD scale and its subscales correlated with each other and with SFC ratings (r = –0.55 for Armenian FAD scale; r = –0.57 for General Functioning), and showed sensitivity to gender differences, females reporting better family functioning than males. Conclusions: Overall, the fi ndings support the cultural appropriateness of the 12-item Armenian FAD General Functioning subscale and its advantage over the 60-item scale. The fi ndings also suggest the need to rethink the items of the four Armenian FAD domains with low internal consistencies for their increased cultural relevance in the case of Armenian adolescents in Lebanon.
Relationship between tissue factor expression and deposition of fibrin, platelets, and leukocytes on cultured endothelial cells under venous blood flow conditions

Endothelial cell-mediated coagulation and leukocyte adhesion are processes that might be connected by the generation of thrombin. To examine the interaction of procoagulant and proadhesive activity, cultures of endothelial cells were stimulated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha, which resulted in the surface expression of tissue factor. Subsequent exposure to human nonanticoagulated blood at a shear rate of 100 s-1 in a parallel plate perfusion device led to the deposition of polymerized fibrin, which covered 63% of the endothelial surface. In addition, numerous platelet aggregates (71 per 10 mm cross- section) and leukocytes (53 +/- 6/mm2) were deposited on stimulated endothelial cells, whereas no fibrin and only a few platelet aggregates (4 +/- 1 per 10 mm cross-section) and leukocytes (6 +/- 1/mm2) were detected on control cells. A significant portion of the adherent leukocytes bound to fibrin and platelets. However, when the deposition of fibrin and platelet aggregates was inhibited with the anti-tissue factor antibody HTFI-7B8 by 100% and 86%, respectively, leukocyte adherence remained unchanged (68 +/- 6/mm2). This indicated that leukocytes could efficiently adhere to endothelial cells through direct cell-cell contact independent of both thrombin and deposited fibrin. Moreover, this direct adhesion of leukocytes to the endothelial surface was reduced twofold to threefold when fibrin deposition occurred. These data suggest a relationship between endothelial procoagulant and proadhesive properties in that tissue factor-initiated coagulation may contribute to leukocyte adhesion through the formation of an adhesive fibrin/platelet meshwork but concurrently prevents the adhesive endothelial surface to bind leukocytes at its full capacity.
Ferritin iron absorption in man

The iron absorption from ferritin and hemosiderin biosynthetically labeled with radioiron was studied in 108 subjects. The geometric mean absorption of ferritin iron in both normal and iron-deficient subjects was 1.9 percent. Its mean absorption ranged from 0.9 percent in normal subjects to 2.5 percent in subjects with moderate iron deficiency and 5.7 percent in subjects with marked iron deficiency. The administration of this iron compound with vegetals in a meal showed distinctly lower absorption values than the absorption from either maize, wheat, or soybean. Ferritin iron absorption was also different from that of ferric chloride when they were administered together as a drink or mixed with maize or liver. The iron absorption from ferritin was markedly increased when it was administered with either meat or liver, but it did not reach the absorption level of these foods. It is still to be elucidated whether the difference in iron absorption between ferritin and vegetable foods administered together reflect that this iron is incompletely miscible with a nonheme iron pool or that it really forms a third iron pool.