Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Altered processing of emotional stimuli in migraine: An event-related potential study

Background: Migraine patients report psychosocial stress to be among the major triggers for their migraine attacks. The mechanisms underlying the onset of migraine attacks are not yet fully understood. Neuroimaging studies have shown changes in the cortical excitability of migraine patients. Here, we investigated cortical activation related to processing of emotional stimuli in individuals with migraine. Method: Twenty-four participants suffering from migraine attacks and 25 healthy volunteers had to passively observe pictures of emotional facial expressions (angry, happy and neutral). Electro-cortical activity was continuously recorded by means of an electroencephalogram (EEG), and ratings of valence (unpleasant vs. pleasant) and arousal (calm vs. exciting) were collected. Results: The migraine and control group did not differ in their ratings of valence and arousal of the visual stimuli. However, participants with migraine, in contrast to healthy controls, showed larger N170 amplitudes toward angry facial expressions compared to neutral ones. Discussion: Individuals with migraine may have an altered cortical activity linked to the processing of emotional information. Thus, these individuals may process high arousing and threatening events preferentially, and this facilitated processing may be related to their already high cortical excitability.
Unintentional, nonfatal firearm-related injuries. A preventable public health burden.

OBJECTIVE To describe the magnitude and characteristics of unintentional, nonfatal firearm-related injuries treated in US hospital emergency departments. DESIGN Data were obtained from medical records for all firearm-related injury cases identified using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) from June 1, 1992, through May 31, 1994. We report on cases classified as unintentional gunshot wounds. SETTING NEISS comprises 91 hospitals that are a stratified probability sample of all hospitals in the United States and its territories that have at least 6 beds and provide 24-hour emergency service. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Number of and population rates for unintentional, nonfatal firearm-related injuries. RESULTS An estimated 34 485 (95% confidence interval [CI], 25 225-43 745) persons (6.7 per 100 000 population; 95% CI, 4.9-8.5) were treated for unintentional, nonfatal firearm-related injuries in US emergency departments during the 2-year study period. The majority of patients were male (87%) and aged 15 to 34 years (61%); 38% required hospitalization. Injuries were most often to an extremity (73%), were self-inflicted (70%), involved a handgun (57%), and resulted during common gun-related activities. CONCLUSIONS Further development of effective interventions are needed to reduce the risk of injury from unintentional discharge of a firearm during routine gun-handling practices by those who own and use firearms. These injuries often occur during common gun-related activities such as gun cleaning, loading/unloading, hunting, target shooting, and showing, handling, or carrying. Studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of existing gun safety training courses and assess the potential role of various gun safety devices (eg, trigger locks and loading indicators) in future prevention strategies.
Effects of gender and depressive symptoms on quality of life among colorectal and lung cancer patients and their family caregivers

Cancer patients and their family caregivers often report elevated levels of depressive symptoms, along with poorer mental and physical health (quality of life: QOL). Although the mutuality in distress between patients and their caregivers is relatively well known, unknown are the degree to which caregivers' depressive symptoms independently predict their patient's QOL and vice versa, and whether the relations vary by cancer type or gender.
An enormously active and selective azapeptide inhibitor of cathepsin B

The peptidomimetic Z‐Arg‐Leu‐Arg‐Agly‐Ile‐Val‐OMe (where Agly means α‐aza‐glycyl, ‐NHNHCO‐) is the strongest (Ki = 480 pM) and the most selective inhibitor of cathepsin B to date, being ∼2310 times as active to cathepsin B as to cathepsin K. In this paper we introduce the peptide and seek to rationalize its structure‐activity relationships using molecular dynamics (MD) and NMR. It is shown that the ‐Agly‐moiety restrains the peptide backbone to a bent shape, contrary to its parent peptide (with Gly in position 4), having its backbone extended and flexible. This fold is maintained in the plug covalently bound to the cathepsin B Cys29, in compliance with similar bends already observed in two other azapeptides attached to the active sites of cathepsin B. The MD simulation of the Z‐Arg‐Leu‐Arg‐Agly ∼ cathepsin B complex suggests that, contrary to other potent inhibitors of cathepsin B, the current double Arg1/Arg3 inhibitor, while maintaining the fold is able to form a unique ion cluster involving both Arg residues on the inhibitor part and two acidic Glu171 and Glu245 on the cathepsin B part, thus enhancing the affinity and subsequently the inhibiting power and selectivity of Z‐Arg‐Leu‐Arg‐Agly‐Ile‐Val‐OMe to the observed extreme extent. Copyright © 2007 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dementia Developing in Late-onset and Treatment-refractory Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

BackgroundAlthough several studies have been conducted in an attempt to characterize the phenotype and underlying pathophysiology of individuals with early-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), the literature on patients who develop OCD later in life remains sparse. ObjectiveTo describe clinical outcomes in the 7-year follow-up of a patient with late-onset OCD. MethodSingle case report. ResultsA 64-year-old woman exhibiting a 7-year history of treatment-refractory late-onset OCD developed significant cognitive deterioration. We suggest that the association between late-onset treatment refractory OCD and dementia may stem from at least 3 different scenarios. First, dementia may be an inexorable end-point of some forms of malignant, primary, and late-onset obsessional illness. Second, late-onset OCD and dementia may result from a common pathophysiologic basis, such as in fronto-temporal dementia. Finally, the association between both conditions may result by the interaction between vulnerability toward OCD-type symptoms and the nonspecific effects of a neurodegenerative process. In our case, although subclinical OCD was likely to be “unmasked” by cognitive decline and/or bilateral caudate vascular lesions, ensuing cognitive deterioration could be ascribed to development of Alzheimer dementia. ConclusionOur observation suggests that treatment refractoriness in an individual with late-onset OCD may indicate underlining organicity.
Decreased incidence of venous thromboembolism after spine surgery with early multimodal prophylaxis: Clinical article.

OBJECT Venous thromboembolism (VTE) represents a significant complication after spine surgery, with reported rates as high as 2%-4%. Published institutional practices for VTE prophylaxis are highly variable. In 2008, the authors implemented a departmental protocol for early VTE prophylaxis consisting of combined compressive devices and subcutaneous heparin initiated either preoperatively or on the same day of surgery. In this study, the authors compared the incidence of VTE in spine surgery patients before and after implementing this protocol. METHODS An institutional review board-approved retrospective review of outcomes in patients undergoing spine surgery 2 years before protocol implementation (representing the preprotocol group) and of outcomes in patients treated 2 years thereafter (the postprotocol group) was conducted. Inclusion criteria were that patients were 18 years or older and had been admitted for 1 or more days. Before 2008 (preprotocol), VTE prophylaxis was variable and provider dependent without any uniform protocol. Since 2008 (postprotocol), a new VTE-prophylaxis protocol was administered, starting either preoperatively or on the same day of surgery and continuing throughout hospitalization. The new protocol consisted of 5000 U heparin administered subcutaneously 3 times daily, except in patients older than 75 years or weighing less than 50 kg, who received this dose twice daily. All patients also received sequential compression devices (SCDs). The incidence of VTE in the 2 protocol phases was identified by codes of the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolus (PE). Bleeding complications arising from anticoagulation treatments were evaluated by the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code for postoperative epidural hematoma (EDH) requiring evacuation. RESULTS In total, 941 patients in the preprotocol group met the inclusion criteria: 25 had DVT (2.7%), 6 had PE (0.6%), and 6 had postoperative EDH (0.6%). In the postprotocol group, 992 patients met the criteria: 10 had DVT (1.0%), 5 had PE (0.5%), and 4 had postoperative EDH (0.4%). This reduction in DVT after the protocol's implementation was statistically significant (p = 0.009). Despite early aggressive prophylaxis, the incidence of postoperative EDH did not increase and compared favorably to the published literature. CONCLUSIONS At a high-volume tertiary center, an aggressive protocol for early VTE prophylaxis after spine surgery decreases VTE incidence without increasing morbidity.
The Quality of Diabetes Care following Hospitalization for Ischemic Stroke

Background: Follow-up is critically important for stroke survivors with diabetes, yet there is limited research about the quality of diabetes care that these patients receive. We investigated performance on diabetes quality of care indicators for stroke survivors overall and by race. Methods: Claims data was extracted for 1,460 Medicare beneficiaries with preexisting diabetes who survived hospitalization for acute ischemic stroke in 2000. Adjusted probabilities of receiving HbA1c, LDL and dilated eye exams were estimated using logistic regression. Results: 53% had a dilated eye exam, 60% received an LDL check, 73% percent had their HbA1c checked at least once and only 51% received two or more HbA1c checks. In the unadjusted results, blacks were significantly less likely than whites to receive these tests. Conclusions:Care of stroke survivors, particularly blacks, shows gaps according to guidelines.
Anatomical localization of the motor entry point in the thyroarytenoid muscle

Introduction: The aim of this study was to localize the motor entry point (MEP) of the thyroarytenoid muscle. Methods: Eight cadaver larynges were dissected. A virtual plane was used to represent the MEP in a coordinate (X/Y/Z) system. The inferior border of the thyroid cartilage was linked to the center of the anterior arc of the cricoid cartilage (the Y‐axis). The X‐axis was set perpendicular to the Y‐axis; the Z‐axis passed through the posterior border of the thyroid lamina from the height of the insertion point. Results: The mean X, Y, and Z coordinates were 6.2 mm, 9.1 mm, and 11.0 mm, respectively. The calculated angles of the lateral and superior deflections were 29.4° and 35.8°, respectively. The calculated insertion depth, that is, the distance from the insertion point to the MEP, was 15.6 mm. Conclusions: These results may help to improve the accuracy of needle insertion during diagnostic laryngeal electromyography or laryngeal electromyography‐guided injections. Muscle Nerve 51: 72–75, 2015
Bone Targeted Therapies in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

AbstractProstate cancer is the most common male cancer. About 90% of metastatic patients will develop bone metastases. Bone disease is responsible of pain, deterioration of quality of life and serious bone complications. Proliferation of prostate cancer cells in the bone marrow induces osteoclast activation and osteolysis. Targeting the bone microenvironment reduces morbidity. Relevant preclinical and clinical studies of bone-targeted therapies in castration-resistant prostate cancer were identified in PubMed and clinical trial databases. Different drugs are available or in development that target bone resorption (bisphosphonates, RANK ligand inhibitors), bone formation (endothelin 1 inhibitors), cancer cell migration (SRC-family kinase inhibitors, vascular endothelial growth factor–MET inhibitors), and survival (radiopharmaceuticals). In phase III trials, zoledronic acid, denosumab, and radium-223 were shown to significantly delay skeletal-related events. Radium-223 was also shown to improve overall survival. Biomarkers of bone resorption (urinary N-telopeptide) and bone making (alkaline phosphatase) have an independent prognostic impact. Targeting the bone microenvironment is an important component of castration-resistant prostate cancer management to reduce bone complications and improve overall survival. Biomarkers of bone turnover have an independent prognostic impact.
Validation of commercial ELISAs for quantifying anabolic growth factors and cytokines in canine ACD-A anticoagulated plasma

Platelet-rich plasma has been studied extensively in dogs, but validation of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for quantifying anabolic growth factors and inflammatory cytokines in canine plasma prepared with citrate-based anticoagulants is not available. We performed a validation of commercial ELISAs for transforming growth factor–beta 1 (TGF-β1), platelet-derived growth factor–BB (PDGF-BB), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), tumor necrosis factor–alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin–1 beta (IL-1β) for use with canine plasma prepared with acid–citrate–dextrose, solution A (ACD-A). Platelet-poor plasma (PPP) anticoagulated with ACD-A as well as PPP anticoagulated with ACD-A and spiked with the relevant canine recombinant proteins were evaluated with each ELISA to calculate the efficiency of spike recovery. Replicates of the spiked PPP were also assessed in 2 additional assays to quantify intra-assay and interassay precision. The efficiency of spike recovery was within 75–125% of the expected concentration for the TGF-β1, PDGF-BB, and VEGF ELISAs. The intra- and interassay variability were <25% for the TGF-β1, PDGF-BB, VEGF, and TNF-α ELISAs. The TGF-β1, PDGF-BB, and VEGF ELISAs demonstrate acceptable efficiency of spike recovery and intra- and interassay variability, whereas the TNF-α and IL-1β ELISAs did not meet industry standards of performance with ACD-A anticoagulated canine plasma.
Dental implants placement in conjunction with osteotome sinus floor elevation: a 12-year life-table analysis from a prospective study on 588 ITI implants.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the clinical success of placing ITI dental implants in the posterior maxilla using the osteotome technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS All implants were placed following a one-stage protocol (elevating the sinus floor and placing the implant at the same time). Five hundred and eighty-eight implants were placed in 323 consecutive patients with a residual vertical height of bone under the sinus ranging from 6 to 9 mm. The mean observation follow-up period was 59.7 months (with a range of 12-144 months). This prospective study not only calculated the 12-year cumulative survival and success rates for 588 implants by life-table analysis but also the cumulative success rates for implant subgroups divided per implant length and the percentage of sinus membrane perforation were evaluated. RESULTS The 12-year cumulative survival and success rates were 94.8% and 90.8%, respectively. The analysis of implant subgroups showed slightly more favourable cumulative success rates for 12 mm long implants (93.4%) compared with 10 and 8 mm long implants (90.5% and 88.9%, respectively). During the study period, only 13 perforations of the Schneiderian membrane were detected with a perforation rate of 2.2% (13 perforations/601 treated sites). Ten perforations out of 13 were caused during the first half of the study period and of these, seven were detected during the first 3 years of this prospective study. CONCLUSION Based on the results and within the limits of the present study, it can be concluded that ITI implant placement in conjunction with osteotome sinus floor elevation represents a safe modality of treating the posterior maxilla in areas with reduced bone height subjacent to the sinus as survival and success rates were maintained above 90% for a mean observation period of approximately 60 months. Shorter implants (8 mm implants) did not significantly fail more than longer ones (10 and 12 mm implants): the differences were small compared with the number of events; hence, no statistical conclusion could be drawn. But, from the clinical point of view, the predictable use of short implants in conjunction with osteotome sinus floor elevation may reduce the indication for complex invasive procedures like sinus lift and bone grafting procedures.
Primary care provider and imaging technician satisfaction with a teledermatology project in rural Veterans Health Administration clinics.

OBJECTIVE Assessment of a multisite rural teledermatology project between 2009 and 2012 in four Pacific Northwest states that trained primary care providers and imaging technicians in state-of-the-art techniques of telemedicine. MATERIALS AND METHODS In 2012, we assessed provider and imaging technician acceptability and satisfaction with a 32-item survey instrument based on the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire developed by Ware et al. (Eval Program Plann 1983;6:247-63) and modified for telemedicine by Kraai et al. (J Card Fail 2011;17:684-690). Survey questions covered eight satisfaction domains: interpersonal manner, technical quality, accessibility, finances, efficacy, continuity, physical environment, and availability. RESULTS Overall, 71% of the primary care providers and 94% of the imaging technicians reported being satisfied or extremely satisfied with the teledermatology project. Most (95%) providers found the continuing education classes on dermatology diagnosis and treatment topics useful, and 86% reported teledermatology was a good addition to regular patient services. Most (97%) of the imaging technicians were satisfied with the ability of teledermatology to improve the description of dermatology conditions using images of the lesions or rashes, and 91% were satisfied with the convenience of teledermatology. Challenges reported by both providers and imaging technicians include an increase in workload due to more patient visits related to dermatology care and limited information technology support. CONCLUSIONS Given the Veterans Health Administration's initiatives to promote accessible health care to underserved Veterans using telehealth, these findings can inform future program designs for teledermatology.
Intraperitoneal pre-insufflation of 0.125% bupivaciane with tramadol for postoperative pain relief following laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Background and Aims: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with a fairly high incidence of postoperative discomfort which is more of visceral origin than somatic. Studies have concluded that the instillation of local anesthetic with opioid around gall bladder bed provides more effective analgesia than either local anesthetic or opioid alone. Material and Methods: The study included 90 American Society of Anesthesiologists I-II patients of age 16-65 years scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia. The patients received the study drugs at the initiation of insufflation of CO2 in the intraperitoneal space by the operating surgeon under laparoscopic camera guidance over the gallbladder bed. Patients in Group T received tramadol 2 mg/kg in 30 ml normal saline, in Group B received bupivacaine 30 ml of 0.125% and in Group BT received tramadol 2 mg/kg in 30 ml of 0.125% bupivacaine intraperitoneally. Postoperative pain assessment was done at different time intervals in the first 24 h using Visual Analog Scale of 0-10 (0 = No pain, 10 = Worst pain imagined). Time to first dose of rescue analgesic and total analgesics required in the first 24 h postoperatively were also recorded. The incidence of side effects during the postoperative period was recorded. Results: Reduction in postoperative pain was elicited, at 4 and 8 h postoperatively when Group BT (bupivacaine-tramadol group) was compared with Group T (tramadol group) or Group B (bupivacaine group) (P < 0.01). There was a significantly lower requirement of analgesics during first 24 h postoperatively in Group BT compared to Group B or T but no significant difference in the intake of analgesics was noted between Groups B Group T. Time to first dose of rescue analgesic was also significantly prolonged in Group BT compared to Group B or T. The incidence of nausea and vomiting was comparable in all the study groups. Conclusions: Intraperitoneal application of bupivacaine with tramadol was a more effective method for postoperative pain control after laparoscopic cholecystectomy compared to intraperitoneal bupivacaine or tramadol alone.
Global analysis of transcription kinetics during competence development in Streptococcus pneumoniae using high density DNA arrays

The kinetics of global changes in transcription patterns during competence development in Streptococcus pneumoniae was analysed with high‐density arrays. Four thousand three hundred and one clones of a S. pneumoniae library, covering almost the entire genome, were amplified by PCR and gridded at high density onto nylon membranes. Competence was induced by the addition of CSP (competence stimulating peptide) to S. pneumoniae cultures grown to the early exponential phase. RNA was extracted from samples at 5 min intervals (for a period of 30 min) after the addition of CSP. Radiolabelled cDNA was generated from isolated total RNA by random priming and the probes were hybridized to identical high‐density arrays. Genes whose transcription was induced or repressed during competence were identified. Most of the genes previously known to be competence induced were detected together with several novel genes that all displayed the characteristic transient kinetics of competence‐induced genes. Among the newly identified genes many have suggested functions compatible with roles in genetic transformation. Some of them may represent new members of the early or late competence regulons showing competence specific consensus sequences in their promoter regions. Northern experiments and mutational analysis were used to confirm some of the results.