Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of rotary ultrasonic bone drilling on cutting force and temperature in the human bones

Efficacy and outcomes of osteosynthesis depend on various factors including types of injury and repair, host factors, characteristics of implant materials and type of implantation. One of the most important host factors appears to be the extent of bone damage due to the mechanical force and thermal injury which are produced at cutting site during bone drilling. The temperature above the critical temperature (47 °C) produces thermal osteonecrosis in the bones. In the present work, experimental investigations were performed to determine the effect of drilling parameters (rotational speed, feed rate and drill diameter) and techniques (conventional surgical bone drilling and rotary ultrasonic bone drilling) on cutting force and temperature generated during bone drilling. The drilling experiments were performed by a newly developed bone drilling machine on different types of human bones (femur, tibia and fibula) having different biological structure and mechanical behaviour. The bone samples were procured from male cadavers with the age of second to fourth decades. The results revealed that there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in cutting force and temperature rise for rotary ultrasonic bone drilling and conventional surgical bone drilling. The cutting force obtained in rotary ultrasonic bone drilling was 30%–40%, whereas temperature generated was 50%–55% lesser than conventional surgical bone drilling process for drilling in all types of bones. It was also found that the cutting force increased with increasing feed rate, drill diameter and decrease in rotational speed, whereas increasing rotational speed, drill diameter and feed rate resulted in higher heat generation during bone drilling. Both the techniques revealed that the axial cutting force and the temperature rise were significantly higher in femur and tibia compared with the fibula for all combinations of process parameters.
Review - current opinion in cardiology hypertension in chronic kidney disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular events, and progression to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The kidneys play a causative role in hypertension, but they are also organs vulnerable to hypertensive injury. Thus far, goals for optimal blood pressure in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and ESKD patients are not fully elucidated. Herein, we critically review the existing evidence. RECENT FINDINGS Large randomized controlled trials (RCTs) continue to be deemed as the best source of evidence to guide optimal blood pressure goals in CKD and ESKD patients. Despite recent advances, the growing body of literature does not permit drawing definitive conclusions. Few adequately powered RCTs have specifically assessed goals for treatment of hypertension in patients with CKD. The most recent large RCT in hypertension, the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial, included a subset of patients with CKD and provided some insights. For the ESKD population, trials to evaluate blood pressure goals are even more scarce. The Blood Pressure in Dialysis Trial was a relatively small pilot study that can be deemed as hypothesis generating. SUMMARY Management of hypertension in CKD is essential for optimization of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and renal outcomes. To date, the existing evidence does not fully clarify ideal targets for blood pressure control in this patient population.
Evaluation of hepatic fibrosis by elastography in patients with schistosomiasis mansoni.

BACKGROUND Periportal fibrosis is associated with the main complications of schistosomiasis mansoni. The usefulness of hepatic transient elastography (TE) in its evaluation remains to be clarified. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study of schistosomal patients, where the measurements obtained by FibroScan TE were correlated with the degree of liver fibrosis according to the Niamey sonographic protocol, adopted as the gold standard, and its performance was calculated as the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC). RESULTS A total of 117 of 141 adult schistosomiasis patients from endemic areas were selected between May and August 2015. Applying the Niamey protocol, the patients were regrouped into absent fibrosis (A; 34.2%), mild to moderate fibrosis (MM; 27.4%) and intense fibrosis (I; 38.5%). The median of the TE values in the patients of group A was 4.7 kPa, the group MM 9.3 kPa and the group I 10.3 kPa. There was a difference in the TE values between the group A and the groups MM and I (p < 0.05). The TE also presented strong and direct correlation with the clinical form (r ≥ 0.77). The AUROC value to define the presence of fibrosis was 0.92 and for significant fibrosis was 0.79, with cut-offs of 6.1 kPa and 8.9 kPa, respectively. CONCLUSIONS In this study, the TE was effective in the diagnosis of schistosomal fibrosis, being able to identify the advanced forms of the disease and thus predict the risk of clinical complications in endemic regions.
Pre-exposure of adolescent mice to morphine results in stronger sensitization and reinstatement of conditioned place preference than pre-exposure to hydrocodone

Background: Opioids are commonly prescribed to treat moderate-to-severe pain. However, their use can trigger the development of opioid use disorder. A major problem in treating opioid use disorder remains the high rate of relapse. Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are differences among opioids in their ability to trigger relapse after pre-exposure during adolescence. Methods: On postnatal day 33, mice were examined for the acute locomotor response to saline, morphine, or hydrocodone (5 mg/kg). They were administered with the corresponding opioid or saline during postnatal days 34–38 (20 mg/kg) and 40–44 (40 mg/kg). On postnatal day 45, they were recorded for the development of locomotor sensitization (5 mg/kg). Starting on postnatal day 55, mice were examined for the acquisition (1, 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg), extinction, and drug-induced reinstatement (1, 2.5, and 5 mg/kg) of conditioned place preference. Results: There were no significant differences in the acute locomotor response to morphine and hydrocodone. Morphine induced significantly stronger locomotor sensitization as compared to hydrocodone. Pre-exposure to morphine, but not hydrocodone, sensitized the acquisition of conditioned place preference. There were no significant differences in extinction rates. Mice pre-exposed to morphine reinstate conditioned place preference after priming with a 1 mg/kg dose. In contrast, higher priming doses were required for reinstatement in all other experimental groups. Conclusions: Adolescent mice administered with morphine develop greater sensitization to its effects and subsequently reinstate conditioned place preference more readily than mice administered with hydrocodone. This suggests higher risk for relapse after pre-exposure to morphine during adolescence as compared to hydrocodone.
Oral Plus Topical Administration of Enrofloxacin-Hydrochloride-Dihydrate for the Treatment of Unresponsive Canine Pyoderma. A Clinical Trial

Simple Summary This is the first report on the clinical use of a new derivative of enrofloxacin (enrofloxacin HCl-2H2O or enro-C) for the treatment of canine unresponsive deep-pyoderma (UDCP), utilizing a dual scheme, i.e., 10 mg/kg/day in capsules, plus the topical administration of enro-C, prepared as an 0.5% alginate gel, thrice per day. Fifty-five cases of UDCP were treated successfully in a one-year study. Mean days of treatment were 8 to 12, for either severe or very severe cases, respectively. Complete success was recorded and no recurrences after a two-month clinical follow up were registered. It is here proposed that the dual treatment, the potency of enro-C and the theoretically high concentrations of the active principle in the lesions may explain these findings. Further research is needed to define the bacteriological status of the pathogens found, and the impact of this treatment in bacterial resistance. Abstract An outpatient clinical trial on unresponsive deep-bacterial canine pyoderma (UDCP), without a control group, is presented. The chosen treatment was implemented with a new crystal-solvate of enrofloxacin (enrofloxacin HCl-2H2O or enro-C), in a dual scheme, i.e., 10 mg/kg/day PO, plus its topical administration, prepared as 0.5% in an alginate gel, thrice per day. Fifty-five cases that were unsuccessfully treated previously with another antibacterial drug, were selected and then classified as severe or very severe, according to a clinical score tailored for this trial. Aerobic bacteriological cultures of skin lesions and antibacterial sensitivity tests, were performed. Hematological status, liver, and kidney functions were determined before and after treatment. A complete success was obtained in 32 severe and 23 very severe, cases. The main bacterial isolates were: Staphylococcus intermedius (19/99), Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (16/99), Staphylococcus epidermidis (15/99), Staphylococcus pyogenes (14/99), Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Streptococcus sp. , and others including Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6/99). The average duration of treatment was 8.03 days ± 2.1 SD and 12.0 ± 2.4 days, for dogs with severe or very severe UDCP, respectively. The adverse effects caused by enro-C were inconsequential and the hematological tests showed no deviations from normality. The use of enro-C administered dually to treat UDCP, is considered safe and highly effective.
Fibroblasts as a Biological Marker for Curative Resection in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Achievement of microscopic tumor clearance (R0) after pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) surgery is determined by cancer biology rather than operative technique. Fibroblasts are known to play pro-cancer roles; however, a small subset was recently found to play anti-cancer roles. Therefore, we hypothesized that intratumor fibroblasts contribute to curative resection and a better survival of PDAC. Utilizing a large, publicly available PDAC cohort, we found that fibroblast composition was associated with R0 curative resection. A high amount of fibroblasts in PDACs was significantly associated with a higher amount of mature vessels, but not with blood angiogenesis. A high amount of fibroblasts was also associated with a higher infiltration of anti-cancer immune cells, such as CD8+ T-cells and dendritic cells, together with higher inflammatory signaling, including IL2/STAT5 and IL6/JAK/STAT3 signaling. Further, the fibroblast composition was inversely associated with cancer cell composition in the bulk tumor, along with an inverse association with proliferative characteristics, such as MYC signaling and glycolysis. The patients with high-fibroblast PDACs showed an improved prognosis. In conclusion, we found that PDACs with high fibroblasts were associated with a higher R0 resection rate, resulting in a better prognosis. These findings may be due to less aggressive biology with a higher vascularity and anti-cancer immunity, and a low cancer cell component.
Influence of tube voltage, tube current and newer iterative reconstruction algorithms in CT perfusion imaging in rabbit liver VX2 tumors.

PURPOSE We aimed to explore the influence of tube voltage, current and iterative reconstruction (IR) in computed tomography perfusion imaging (CTPI) and to compare CTPI parameters with microvessel density (MVD). METHODS Hepatic CTPI with three CTPI protocols (protocol A, tube voltage/current 80 kV/40 mAs; protocol B, tube voltage/current 80 kV/80 mAs; protocol C: tube voltage/current 100 kV/80 mAs) were performed in 25 rabbit liver VX2 tumor models, and filtered back projection (FBP) and IR were used for reconstruction of raw data. Hepatic arterial perfusion (HAP), hepatic portal perfusion (HPP), total perfusion (TP), hepatic arterial perfusion index (HPI), blood flow (BF) and blood volume (BV) of VX2 tumor and normal hepatic parenchyma were measured. Image noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were quantified and radiation dose was recorded. MVD was counted using CD34 stain and compared with CTPI parameters. RESULTS The highest radiation dose was found in protocol C, followed by protocols B and A. IR lowered image noise and improved SNR and CNR in all three protocols. There was no statistical difference between HAP, HPP, TP, HPI, BF and BV of VX2 tumor and normal hepatic parenchyma among the three protocols (P > 0.05) with FBP or IR reconstruction, and no statistical difference between IR and FBP reconstruction (P > 0.05) in either protocol. MVD had a positive linear correlation with HAP, TP, BF, with best correlation observed with HAP; MVD of VX2 tumor showed no or poor correlation with HPI and BV. CONCLUSION CTPI parameters are not affected by tube voltage, current or reconstruction algorithm; HAP can best reflect MVD, but no correlation exists between BV and MVD.
Infections of blackflies (Diptera : Simuliidae) with three types of zoonotic Onchocerca larvae in Oita, Japan

Wild female blackflies were collected at five cattle sheds in Oita, southern Japan, where a human zoonotic onchocerciasis had occurred. Among the eight Simulium species captured, S. bidentatum was predominant, followed by S. arakawae. Natural infections with filarial larvae were found in 10.5-20% of the parous S. bidentatum collected at three cattle sheds, and also in 6% of the parous S. arakawae captured at one cattle shed. Only one infected S. arakawae harbored two third-stage larvae in the thorax while the others had 1-4 either first-or second-stage larvae in the thorax. Third-stage larvae obtained from wild flies maintained alive for 6-9 days after being collected are distinguished into three types of Onchocerca : type I recovered from S. bidentatum, S. arakawae and S. aokii is probably new, having an elongated body length (1, 075-1, 380 pm), and types II and III, recovered from S. bidentatum and S. arakawae respectively, are each indistinguishable from O. gutturosa and O. lienalis. It is suggested that due to its anthropophily as well as zoophily S. bidentatum is the most probable vector of zoonotic Onchocerca (either type I or II) which may be acquired by humans in the western suburbs of Oita.
The Two-Photon Absorption Cross-Section Studies of CsPbX3 (X = I, Br, Cl) Nanocrystals

The CsPbX3 nanocrystals (NCs) with X = I, Br, Cl, or the mixture of Br:I and Br:Cl in a 1:1 ratio were synthesized and characterized by TEM, DLS, and XRD. Recrystallization of the small luminescent NCs in the metastable cubic phase into bigger orthorhombic nanocrystals was monitored by XRD and identified as the main cause of the nanocolloid coagulation. The recrystallization also leads to a decrease in the photoluminescence quantum yield (QY) of the colloidal solution and shortening of the emission lifetime. The two-photon absorption cross-section σ2 values calculated from femtosecond Z-scan measurements were compared with those obtained based on the two-photon excited emission technique. These two techniques were shown to be equivalent with the cross-section values calculated per molar mass of CsPbX3 perovskite being in the range of 10–200 GM depending on the halide anions X−. The σ2 values recalculated for the mole of the NCs were in the range of 104–105 GM, which is in good agreement with values previously reported elsewhere and the σ2/M parameter was in the range of 0.01 to 0.33. This study shows the perovskite NCs to be a good nonlinear material with the third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ(3) of the NCs on the order of 10−11 esu.
Dyed baits distribution in nests of Atta sexdens L. (Hym., Formicidae)

Dyed baits distribution in colonies of Atta sexdens was studied so as to test the hypothesis of uniform distribution. Three medium‐ to large‐size (34–90 m2) colonies were used for the experiment; coloured dyed baits material was made available at the foraging orifices, which had previously been mapped out and grouped into three hypothetical sectors. After 24 h the colonies were killed and the nests excavated; the fungus was removed from each of the chambers for observation of the presence or absence of dyed baits. It was shown that coloured material from each of the different sectors was found in all the fungus chambers, thus confirming the hypothesis.
Extração e determinação do alumínio trocável do solo

O presente trabalho relata: o estudo da determinacao do aluminio "trocavel" pelo metodo colorimetrico do "aluminon" (direto) e pelo metodo da acidez titulavel (indireto); a extracao do aluminio "trocavel" do solo, com solucao de KC1 1N, variando a proporcao entre o peso de solo e o volume de solucao, e o tempo de contato do solo com a solucao; e a extracao do aluminio do solo, com solucao de acetato de calcio 1N, ajustada a varios niveis de pH. Os resultados obtidos permitem concluir que os dois metodos de determinacao do aluminio "trocavel" (direto e indireto) apresentam uma precis,ao razoavel. Entretanto, a acidez titulavel pode apresentar valor mais elevado do que o do aluminio "trocavel", particularmente quando o teor deste ultimo e baixo nos solos. A variacao da relacao peso de solo: volume de solucao extratora de KC1 1N e a variacao do tempo de contato do solo com a mesma solucao extratora, afetam a quantidade de aluminio "trocavel" extraido. Por outro lado, a solucao de acetato de calcio 1N, com pH 7,00, nao extrai aluminio do solo. Porem, quando baixa o pH da mesma, quantidades crescentes de aluminio passam a ser extraidas.
Lipid Vesicles Loaded with an HIV-1 Fusion Inhibitor Peptide as a Potential Microbicide

The effective use of fusion inhibitor peptides against cervical and colorectal infections requires the development of sustained release formulations. In this work we comparatively study two different formulations based on polymeric nanoparticles and lipid vesicles to propose a suitable delivery nanosystem for releasing an HIV-1 fusion inhibitor peptide in vaginal mucosa. Polymeric nanoparticles of poly-d,l-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) and lipid large unilamellar vesicles loaded with the inhibitor peptide were prepared. Both formulations showed average sizes and polydispersity index values corresponding to monodisperse systems appropriate for vaginal permeation. High entrapment efficiency of the inhibitor peptide was achieved in lipid vesicles, which was probably due to the peptide’s hydrophobic nature. In addition, both nanocarriers remained stable after two weeks stored at 4 °C. While PLGA nanoparticles (NPs) did not show any delay in peptide release, lipid vesicles demonstrated favorably prolonged release of the peptide. Lipid vesicles were shown to improve the retention of the peptide on ex vivo vaginal tissue in a concentration sufficient to exert its pharmacological effect. Thus, the small size of lipid vesicles, their lipid-based composition as well as their ability to enhance peptide penetration on vaginal tissue led us to consider this formulation as a better nanosystem than polymeric nanoparticles for the sustained delivery of the HIV-1 fusion inhibitor peptide in vaginal tissues.
Autophagy in fibroblasts induced by cigarette smoke extract promotes invasion in lung cancer cells

We investigated the effects of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on lung fibroblasts and found that the invasiveness of lung cancer cells was facilitated by the conditioned medium from CSE‐treated fibroblasts. CSE induced autophagy in fibroblasts and increased the expression of autophagy‐related proteins, including optineurin and Ras‐related protein Rab1B. Afterward, the fibroblasts produced high levels of interleukin‐8 (IL‐8), which promoted cancer cell invasion. The inhibition of either optineurin or Rab1B abrogated a rise in microtubule‐associated protein 1 light chain 3 β and a decrease in p62 protein, as well as the production of IL‐8, in CSE‐treated fibroblasts. A three‐dimensional invasion assay using cancer cell spheroids revealed that the invasion of cancer cells alone and the fibroblast‐led cancer cell invasion were both enhanced by the conditioned media from CSE‐treated fibroblasts. These results suggest that cigarette smoke may induce autophagy and IL‐8 secretion in lung fibroblasts and modify the microenvironment to favor invasion of lung cancer cells.
Health literacy, mental disorders and fear of progression and their association with a need for psycho-oncological care over the course of a breast cancer treatment

ABSTRACT This studyinvestigates the need for psycho-oncological care over the course of a breast cancer treatment and possible associated factors to develop such a need. The PIAT-Study was a longitudinal postal survey study conducted in Germany (2013 to 2014) with breast cancer patients (BCPs). Patients received a questionnaire at three-time points (T1: few days after surgery, T2: after 10 weeks; T3: after 40 weeks). This study considers information about patients’ needs for psycho-oncological care, their breast cancer disease, social support, anxiety, health literacy (HL) and sociodemographic information. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics and logistic regression modelling to estimate the association between a need for psycho-oncological treatment and patient characteristics. N = 927 breast cancer patients reported their psycho-oncological need. 35.2% of patients report at least at one measuring point to be in need for psycho-oncological care. In a multiple logistic regression, noticeable determinants for developing such a need are an inadequateHL(OR = 1.97), fear of progression (FoP) (OR = 2.08) and psychological comorbidities (OR = 8.15) as well as certain age groups. BCPs with a low HL, suffering from a dysfunctional level of FoP or mental disorders are more likely to develop a need for psycho-oncological care.
Genetic population structure and dispersal in Atlantic Island caddisflies

SUMMARY 1. Population genetic structure of Wormaldia tagananana, a caddis with a narrow geographic range and endemic to the Canary Islands, was investigated by studying allozyme variation at 11 putative loci in five of the eight extant populations on Tenerife and La Gomera. Genetic variability, population structure and gene flow were compared with those reported previously in more widespread Trichoptera, particularly Canarian populations of the non-endemic limnephilid Mesophylax aspersus, to examine the hypothesis that the Wormaldia, with its restricted range, would exhibit relatively little genetic variability and gene flow. 2. Despite it being a narrow-range island endemic, genetic variability in populations of W. tagananana is broadly similar to values reported for more widespread caddis. 3. Significant genetic population structure was observed in W. tagananana (overall FST = 0.387), greater than that seen in M. aspersus and amongst the highest reported for lotic caddis to date. Several site- and island-specific alleles were reported, providing further evidence for the relative isolation of individual Wormaldia populations. 4. Significant deviations from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium were found in four of five populations (overall FIS = 0.675). This could result from within-locality population substructuring, or offspring within a reach being the product of a limited number of matings. 5. This genetic evidence supports the hypothesis that the restricted range of W. tagananana is, at least in part, because of limited dispersal ability.