Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential Effect of Long‐Term Systemic Exposure of TNFα on Health of the Annulus Fibrosus and Nucleus Pulposus of the Intervertebral Disc

The inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) is considered to play a key role in the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc disease. To evaluate the importance of this cytokine we examined the inflammatory environment and spinal phenotype of 9‐month‐old human TNFα overexpressing transgenic (hTNFα‐TG) mice. The mice evidenced increased circulating levels of interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), IL‐2, keratinocyte chemoattractant/human growth‐regulated oncogene (KC/GRO), and monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1) along with thinning of the cortical and trabecular vertebral bone. Surprisingly, although the nucleus pulposus (NP) of these mice was intact and healthy, the caudal annulus fibrosus (AF) evidenced robust cell death and immune cell infiltration. Despite these differences, there were no obvious alterations in the collagen or aggrecan content in the NP and AF. However, there was a reduction in cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), suggesting destabilization of the AF matrix. Microarray analysis of the NP from hTNFα‐TG mice cells revealed minimal changes in global gene expression. These findings lend support to the notion that NP tissue is isolated from systemic inflammation. In contrast, the severe AF phenotype suggests that systemic inflammation interferes with AF health, predisposing discs to herniation as opposed to directly causing NP degeneration. © 2020 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
A retrospective observational study

To determine the frequency of medication errors in prehospital care and to investigate the influencing factors – diagnostic agreement (DA), the medical educational status, the specialty, the approval for emergency medicine of the prehospital emergency physician, the patient age and sex and the time of deployment. We retrospectively reviewed 708 patients from 2013 to 2015, treated by the prehospital emergency physicians of the emergency medical service center Bad Belzig, Germany. The medication appropriateness was determined by a systematic comparison of the administered medication in prehospital deployments with the discharge diagnosis, according to current guidelines. The influencing factorswereexaminedbyunivariate analysis ofmedicationappropriateness (MA), using thex, theMann–WhtineyUand theWelch tests. We calculated a cut-off value with the Youden index to predict absent MA, according to patients age. The significance level was P= . 05. MA was absent in 220 of 708 patients (31.1%). In the case of present DA, MA was absent in 103 of 491 patients (20.9%). In the case of absent DA, MA was absent in 117 of 217 patients (53.9%) (P= .01). MA was absent in 82 of 227 patients (36.1%), treated by specialist and in 138 of 481 patients (28.7%), treated by resident physicians (P= .04). The calculated cut-off value to predict absent MA was 75.5 years. MA was absent in 100 of 375 patients (26.7%) of the younger patient age group ( 75.5 years), MA was absent 120 of 333 patients (36.0%) of the older patient age group (>75.5 years) (P= .01). Absent MA showed peak values (46.7%–60%) at night from 3 to 6 AM (P= .01) The other investigated factors had no influence on MA. The correctness of medication as a quality feature in prehospital care shows a necessity for improvement with a proportion of 31.1% medication errors. The correct diagnosis by the prehospital emergency physician and his rapid accumulation of experience had an impact on the correctness of medication in prehospital care. Elderly patients (75+ years) and nighttime prehospital deployments (3–6 AM) were identified as high risk for medication errors by the emergency physicians. Abbreviations: BfArM = Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, DA = diagnostic agreement, DIVI = Deutsche interdisziplinäre Vereinigung für Intensivund Notfallmedizin, ED = emergency department, IBM SPSS = International Business Machines Corporation Statistical Package for the Social Science, ICD= International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, MA = medication appropriateness, NCC MERP = National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention, SAP = systeme, anwendungen und produkte in der Datenverarbeitung.
Bis(tetraphenylarsonium) hexafluoridotechnetate(IV) dihydrate: preparation, structure and spectroscopic analysis.

Reports of quadrivalent transition-metal fluoride salts containing bulky organic cations are limited. In this context, we prepared the bis(tetraphenylarsonium) hexafluoridotechnetate(IV) dihydrate salt, (C24H20As)2[TcF6]·2H2O, by a cation metathesis reaction of (NH4)2[TcF6] in water. This is the first report of an arsonium salt of the hexafluoridotechnetate(IV) dianion. (AsPh4)2[TcF6]·2H2O crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1. The [TcF6]2- anion adopts a slightly distorted octahedral geometry with an average Tc-F bond length of 1.933 Å. The cyclic voltammogram of (AsPh4)2[TcF6]·2H2O in CH3CN shows a one-electron reversible oxidation wave at 1.496 V.
Evaluation of cytopathology in diagnosing breast cancer in Khartoum

Objectives: To study the accuracy of cytopathology in the diagnosis of breast cancer and to evaluate it as a diagnostic pathological tool in breast diseases. Method: This was a descriptive prospective study which included all patients presenting with breast lumps or nipple discharge during the period between Jan 2006 & Feb 2008 to the Centre of Medical & Health Services of the University of Khartoum. Each patient was assessed clinically and by using cytopathology & histopathology. Data was analysed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were calculated. Results: The total number of patients was 271. The overall mean age was 41.0+ 15.3 (ranging from 14 to 80) years; each patient had cytopathology & histopathology reports. The overall sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of cytopathology were 56.1, 80.9 and 63.8% respectively while those of histopathology were 93.5, 83.5 and 89.7% respectively. Conclusion: FNAC in Khartoum has low sensitivity, specificity & accuracy. *Corresponding author: Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, randazaki@hotmail.com
The Effect of Increasing Inclusion Levels of a Fucoidan-Rich Extract Derived from Ascophyllum nodosum on Growth Performance and Aspects of Intestinal Health of Pigs Post-Weaning

This study examines the effects of increasing dietary inclusion levels of fucoidan, from a 44% fucoidan extract on the growth performance and intestinal health of pigs post-weaning (PW). Seventy-two newly weaned pigs (8.4 kg (SD 1.06)) were assigned to: (T1) basal diet (BD); (T2) BD + 125 ppm fucoidan; (T3) BD + 250 ppm fucoidan (8 pens/treatment). The appropriate quantity of a 44% fucoidan extract was included to achieve these inclusion levels. Faecal scores were recorded daily. On d15 PW, samples were collected from the intestinal tract from 1 pig/pen from the BD and BD + 250 ppm fucoidan groups. Pigs supplemented with 250 ppm fucoidan had improved faecal scores and increased concentrations of total volatile fatty acids and propionate in the colon (p < 0.05). The fucoidan-rich extract reduced the expression of CLDN5 (duodenum), SCL5A1/SGLT1 and SI (jejunum) and TJP1, FABP2, and SLC5A1 (ileum) (p < 0.05). The extract reduced the relative abundance of Prevotella and Lachnospiraceae (p < 0.05) and increased the abundance of Helicobacter (p < 0.01) in the caecum. However, no negative impact on growth performance or small intestinal morphology was observed. Thus, the inclusion of 250 ppm fucoidan improves faecal consistency without affecting growth performance and therefore warrants further investigation as a supplement for the prevention of PW diarrhoea under more challenging commercial conditions.
Functional and anatomic results of up to 24 months aflibercept treatment for diabetic macular edema in real-life setting.

PURPOSE Treatment with intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors, like aflibercept, has revolutionized the management of diabetic macular edema. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the 2-year results of treatment with aflibercept in newly diagnosed, treatment-naive patients with diabetic macular edema in a real-life setting in a tertiary hospital of Southwestern Greece. METHODS In this retrospective, real-life, single-center, cohort study the records of diabetic patients were reviewed. In the study we included treatment naive eyes that started treatment with intravitreal injections of aflibercept in the Department of Ophthalmology of the University Hospital of Patras. The scheduled treatment regimen of aflibercept was based on the Summary of Product Characteristics of the product and included a loading dose of 5 monthly aflibercept injections followed by bimonthly treatment until the completion of the first year. During the second year a treat and extend treatment regimen was applied. We recorded data such as age, gender, number of visits and injections, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) as it was evaluated by a spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). RESULTS Thirty treatment-naive eyes of 22 patients (14 male, 8 female) received treatment with aflibercept for at least 1 year during the period between January 2017 and August 2019. The mean age of the patients was 68.64±7.35 years. Ninety percent of the patients suffered from type-II diabetes and 9% from type-I. The median time between the diagnosis of diabetic macular edema and initiation of treatment with intravitreal injections of aflibercept was 0.5 months (range 0-3 months). Median baseline logMAR BCVA was 0.398 (range 0.046-1.301). The mean CMT at baseline was 388.0±162. 94μm. Over a period of 12 months, and after a mean number of 7.5±2.3 visits, patients received a mean number of 7±1.12 intravitreal injections of aflibercept. Eighteen eyes (60%) received an induction phase with 5 monthly injections according to aflibercept SPC. After 12 months the median BCVA (0.324, range 0.0-1.3) was statistically significantly better compared to baseline (p=0.024) and the CMT (295.67±70.99) was significantly lower compared to baseline (p=0.017). Eighteen eyes (60%) completed 2 years of treatment with aflibercept. Over the 2-year period patients made a mean number of 12.7±3.08 visits and received a mean number of 10.2±1.64 intravitreal injections of aflibercept. The median logMAR BCVA at 2 years (0.301, range 0-0.52) was statistically significantly better compared to baseline (p=0.013) and the CMT (293.53±65.93) was significantly lower compared to baseline (p=0.01). No serious adverse events were recorded during this period. CONCLUSION Aflibercept resulted in significant functional and anatomic improvement after 12- and 24-month treatment in diabetic macular edema eyes in a real-life setting. The majority of the eyes completed the 2-year treatment regimen of aflibercept.
Development and psychometric testing of an instrument to assess psychosocial determinants of sleep hygiene practice

This study examined the psychometric properties of a newly developed instrument to assess psychosocial determinants of sleep hygiene. Baseline data (n = 160) from an m-health physical activity and sleep intervention were analyzed to examine scale validity. Additional participants (n = 20) were recruited to compute test–retest reliability. Four of seven constructs correlated significantly with sleep hygiene practice (r = −0.17 to −0.36). The scales generally displayed unidimensional component structures. Internal consistency was good to excellent (α = 0.76–0.92). Test–retest reliability was good to excellent (ICC = 0.61–0.84). Though satisfactory, these findings warrant replication in larger samples.
Comparative Study of Implantable Collamer Lens Implantation in Treating Four Degrees of Myopia: Six-Month Observation of Visual Results, Higher-Order Aberrations, and Amplitude of Accommodation

ABSTRACT Purpose To compare the visual and refractive outcomes, higher-order aberrations (HOAs), and amplitude of accommodation (AA) after implantable collamer lens (ICL) model V4c implantation in four degrees of myopia. Methods One hundred and thirty-seven myopic eyes (137 patients) undergoing ICL implantation were included and divided into four groups: Group 1 with spherical equivalent (SE) ≤−6.0D, Group 2 with SE from −6.13D to −9.0D, Group 3 with SE from −9.13D to −12.0D, and Group 4 with SE from −12.13D to −18.0D. The postoperative visits were scheduled at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. Visual and refractive outcomes, HOAs and AA were observed and compared. Results At 6 months postoperatively, the uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) in Group 4 was worse than the values in the other groups (all p < .05). Meanwhile, Group 4 had more eyes with corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) improvement than the other groups. Furthermore, 96%, 100%, 100%, and 81% of eyes had an SE within ±0.5D in Group 1, Group 2, Group 3, and Group 4 (p < .05 between Group 4 and the other groups), respectively. The postoperative UDVA and SE remained stable in all groups. No significant change in total HOAs was found between preoperative and postoperative values for each group. However, quatrefoil increased in each group, whereas trefoil was induced in all groups except for Group 1. Negative spherical aberration was induced in Group 3 and Group 4. AA significantly decreased 1 week postoperatively and gradually improved in each group. Although AA improved to the preoperative level in Group 1 at 3 months postoperatively, it was still lower than the preoperative level in the other groups. Conclusions In treating different degrees of myopia with ICL implantation, differences were observed in terms of CDVA improvement, SE predictability, HOAs induction, and accommodation recovery.
Influence of Feeding Substrates on the Presence of Toxic Metals (Cd, Pb, Ni, As, Hg) in Larvae of Tenebrio molitor: Risk Assessment for Human Consumption

Larvae of Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) are particularly suitable as novel food for the human consumption; nevertheless, there are some potential safety risks linked with insect consumption. In this study we investigated the presence of Cd, Pb, Ni, As, Hg in new feeding substrates coming from solid residues generated by olive fruits processing, called olive-pomace, and their influence on the metal content in larvae of T. molitor. Morover, bioaccumulation factor and the mercury-selenium balance were evaluated. Analyses were carried out via graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry for Cd, Pb, Ni, As and Se, and via Direct Mercury Analyzer for Hg. All metal concentrations found in feeding substrates were below the legal limit of undesirable substances in animal feed (2002/32/EC). Concentrations in larvae were in the range (mg kg−1 wet weight): Cd 0.008–0.016, Pb 0.063–0.079, Ni 0.03–0.63, As 0.021–0.023, Hg 0.12 × 10−3–0.49 × 10−3, and Se 0.057–0.085. Statistically significant correlation between metal content in feeding substrates and in larvae was evidenced only for Hg, which bioaccumulates. Se protects from mercury toxicity, with a Selenium Health Benefit Value (HVBSe) of > 0. Overall, our results indicate that the risk of exposure to metals from consumption of mealworm larvae is relatively low and in compliance with European Union regulations.
Libidibia ferrea (jucá), a Traditional Anti-Inflammatory: A Study of Acute Toxicity in Adult and Embryos Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

The plant species Libidibia ferrea (Mart. ex Tul.) LP Queiroz var. ferrea basionym of Caesalpinia ferrea (Mart. ex Tul.) is used in various regions of Brazil in folk medicine in the treatment of several health problems, especially in acute and chronic inflammatory processes. Most of the preparations employed are alcoholic. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the acute toxicity of the hydroethanolic extract of fruits of Libidibia ferrea (EHEFLf) in zebrafish, emphasizing the possible changes in the organic-cellular level of the gills, liver, kidneys, and intestine and on embryos. The result obtained by LC-M/MS from EHEFLf indicated a high concentration of possible polyhydroxylated substances. EHEFLf, at a dose of 2 g/kg orally, produced non-significant alterations of the analyzed organs. However, for embryos, the treatment with different concentrations demonstrated heart toxicity that was concentration-dependent. There is no evidence of a correlation of the observed effects with the phytochemical composition, and considering the species of animal used, it can be suggested that the oral use of L. ferrea hydroethanolic extract has an acceptable degree of safety for use as an oral medicinal product. and embryo results have shown significant affinity to the heart; however, it is perceived to be related to the concentrations used.
Superior Long-term Survival for Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation as Renal Replacement Therapy: 30-Year Follow-up of a Nationwide Cohort

OBJECTIVE In patients with type 1 diabetes and end-stage renal disease, it is controversial whether a simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplantation improves survival compared with kidney transplantation alone. We compared long-term survival in SPK and living- or deceased-donor kidney transplant recipients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We included all 2,796 patients with type 1 diabetes in the Netherlands who started renal replacement therapy between 1986 and 2016. We used multivariable Cox regression analyses adjusted for recipient age and sex, dialysis modality and vintage, transplantation era, and donor age to compare all-cause mortality between deceased- or living-donor kidney and SPK transplant recipients. Separately, we analyzed mortality between regions where SPK transplant was the preferred intervention (80% SPK) versus regions where a kidney transplant alone was favored (30% SPK). RESULTS Of 996 transplanted patients, 42%, 16%, and 42% received a deceased- or living-donor kidney or SPK transplant, respectively. Mean (SD) age at transplantation was 50 (11), 48 (11), and 42 (8) years, respectively. Median (95% CI) survival time was 7.3 (6.2; 8.3), 10.5 (7.2; 13.7), and 16.5 (15.1; 17.9) years, respectively. SPK recipients with a functioning pancreas graft at 1 year (91%) had the highest survival (median 17.4 years). Compared with deceased-donor kidney transplant recipients, adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) for 10- and 20-year all-cause mortality were 0.79 (0.49; 1.29) and 0.98 (0.69; 1.39) for living-donor kidney and 0.67 (0.46; 0.98) and 0.79 (0.60; 1.05) for SPK recipients, respectively. A treatment strategy favoring SPK over kidney transplantation alone showed 10- and 20-year mortality hazard ratios of 0.56 (0.40; 0.78) and 0.69 (0.52; 0.90), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Compared with living- or deceased-donor kidney transplantation, SPK transplant was associated with improved patient survival, especially in recipients with a long-term functioning pancreatic graft, and resulted in an almost twofold lower 10-year mortality rate.
Blood Biochemical Parameters after Intravenous Administration of Enrofloxacin in Yak

The blood biochemical parameters were investigated in a yak (Bos grunniens L) after intravenous administration of 5 mg/kg enrofloxacin. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein daily for 5 days after the drug administration. Heparinized bloods were collected for mean corpuscular volume (MCV), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), hemoglubin (Hb) estimation and serum was collected for estimation of total protein, albumin, globulin, urea and blood glucose. Results of hematological and blood chemistry profile revealed that enrofloxacin did not change these parameters significantly. Therefore, the drug might be used safely in the yaks.
Resolving Infeasibility of Linear Systems: A Parameterized Approach

Deciding feasibility of large systems of linear equations and inequalities is one of the most fundamental algorithmic tasks. However, due to data inaccuracies or modeling errors, in practical applications one often faces linear systems that are infeasible. Extensive theoretical and practical methods have been proposed for post-infeasibility analysis of linear systems. This generally amounts to detecting a feasibility blocker of small size $k$, which is a set of equations and inequalities whose removal or perturbation from the large system of size $m$ yields a feasible system. This motivates a parameterized approach towards post-infeasibility analysis, where we aim to find a feasibility blocker of size at most $k$ in fixed-parameter time $f(k) \cdot m^{O(1)}$. We establish parameterized intractability ($W[1]$- and $NP$-hardness) results already in very restricted settings for different choices of the parameters maximum size of a deletion set, number of positive/negative right-hand sides, treewidth, pathwidth and treedepth. Additionally, we rule out a polynomial compression for MinFB parameterized by the size of a deletion set and the number of negative right-hand sides. Furthermore, we develop fixed-parameter algorithms parameterized by various combinations of these parameters when every row of the system corresponds to a difference constraint. Our algorithms capture the case of Directed Feedback Arc Set, a fundamental parameterized problem whose fixed-parameter tractability was shown by Chen et al. (STOC 2008).
About Face: Seeing the Talker Improves Spoken Word Recognition but Increases Listening Effort

It is widely accepted that seeing a talker improves a listener’s ability to understand what a talker is saying in background noise (e.g., Erber, 1969; Sumby & Pollack, 1954). The literature is mixed, however, regarding the influence of the visual modality on the listening effort required to recognize speech (e.g., Fraser, Gagné, Alepins, & Dubois, 2010; Sommers & Phelps, 2016). Here, we present data showing that even when the visual modality robustly benefits recognition, processing audiovisual speech can still result in greater cognitive load than processing speech in the auditory modality alone. We show using a dual-task paradigm that the costs associated with audiovisual speech processing are more pronounced in easy listening conditions, in which speech can be recognized at high rates in the auditory modality alone—indeed, effort did not differ between audiovisual and audio-only conditions when the background noise was presented at a more difficult level. Further, we show that though these effects replicate with different stimuli and participants, they do not emerge when effort is assessed with a recall paradigm rather than a dual-task paradigm. Together, these results suggest that the widely cited audiovisual recognition benefit may come at a cost under more favorable listening conditions, and add to the growing body of research suggesting that various measures of effort may not be tapping into the same underlying construct (Strand et al., 2018).