Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Real-World Data: Ranibizumab Treatment For Retinal Vein Occlusion In The OCEAN Study

Purpose The non-interventional OCEAN study (NCT02194803) evaluated frequency and monitoring of ranibizumab injections for retinal vein occlusion (RVO) in routine practice in Germany. Methods RVO patients (including branch and central RVO (BRVO/CRVO)) receiving ranibizumab were included. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) testing, imaging and treatment were performed at the investigators’ discretion and documented over 24 months. Results Overall, 744 RVO patients (27% BRVO, 16% CRVO, remaining unspecified RVO) were included. For 74% of patients, data were available for the 12-month visit and for 56% for the 24-month visit. Mean baseline BCVA was 52.0 Early Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters (BRVO: 55.9, CRVO: 43.9). BCVA improved rapidly within the first 3 months, reaching 64.3 letters at 12 months and 64.7 at 24 months. CRVO patients showed less improvement than those with BRVO. Patients received a median of 4 (5) injections over 12 (24) months, with 100% of patients receiving injections at baseline, 70% at Month 1 and 81% at Month 2. Overall, 40% of patients demonstrated a ≥15 letter increase within the first 3 months (42% BRVO, 46% CRVO). Patients with low initial BCVA (<50 letters) showed greater improvement than patients with higher baseline BCVA. Due to considerable loss to follow-up, the number of injections and optical coherence tomography (OCT) examinations were not associated with the change in BCVA. Conclusion Patients with RVO in routine practice in Germany received fewer injections and fewer OCT examinations than in clinical trials. CRVO patients showed less and later improvement compared to BRVO patients.
Crustal seismic velocity responds to a magmatic intrusion and seasonal loading in Iceland’s Northern Volcanic Zone

Seismic velocity of the shallow crust changes after an intrusion of magma and seasonally due to environmental effects in Iceland. Seismic noise interferometry is an exciting technique for studying volcanoes, providing a continuous measurement of seismic velocity changes (dv/v), which are sensitive to magmatic processes that affect the surrounding crust. However, understanding the exact mechanisms causing changes in dv/v is often difficult. We present dv/v measurements over 10 years in central Iceland, measured using single-station cross-component correlation functions from 51 instruments across a range of frequency bands. We observe a linear correlation between changes in dv/v and volumetric strain at stations in regions of both compression and dilatation associated with the 2014 Bárðarbunga-Holuhraun dike intrusion. Furthermore, a clear seasonal cycle in dv/v is modeled as resulting from elastic and poroelastic responses to changing snow thickness, atmospheric pressure, and groundwater level. This study comprehensively explains variations in dv/v arising from diverse crustal stresses and highlights the importance of deformation modeling when interpreting dv/v, with implications for volcano and environmental monitoring worldwide.
The Role Of Adiponectin, TNF-α And Glutathione In The Pathogenesis And Evolution Of Type 1 Diabetes

Introduction Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) is a chronic autoimmune or idiopathic condition, featuring complex and unique interactions between proteins and enzyme systems. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the role of AdipoQ +276G>T, TNF-α-308G>A, GSTT1/GSTM1 polymorphic variants in the development of T1DM. Materials and methods The study is designed as a cross-sectional study, involving 72 diabetic cases and 90 controls. Genotyping was carried out according to specific protocols for the above-mentioned polymorphic variants. Results The G allele of AdipoQ was associated with the development of type 1 diabetes (OR 0.577, CI95% 0.336–0.802, p=0.001), similar to the GG and GA genotypes (OR 0.405, CI95% 0.156–0.654, p=0.001 and OR 0.623, CI95% 0.401–0.855, p=0.004). The G allele of TNF-α was marginally associated with the development of type 1 diabetes (OR 0.789, CI95% 0.579–0.956, p=0.005). The presence of the T1 genotype was a strong predictor for type 1 diabetes (OR 3.4, CI95% 1.433–6.243, p<0.001). Conclusion The results of our study suggest that G alleles of AdipoQ and TNFα act as a protective factor in T1DM, while the T1 allele for GST could be considered a risk factor for the development of Type 1 diabetes in our study group.
Strategies For Targeting Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia Stem Cells

: Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia is a myeloproliferative disorder driven by the t (9;22) chromosomal translocation coding for the chimeric protein BCR-ABL. CML treatment represents the paradigm of molecular therapy of cancer. Since the development of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor of the BCR-ABL kinase, the clinical approach to CML has dramatically changed, with a stunning improvement in the quality of life and response rates of patients. However, it remains clear that tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are unable to target the most immature cellular component of CML, the CML stem cell. This review summarizes new insights into the mechanisms of resistance to TKIs.
Effect Of Intracameral Phenylephrine And Ketorolac 1.0%/0.3% On Intraoperative Pain And Opioid Use During Cataract Surgery

Purpose To compare the effect of Omidria (phenylephrine and ketorolac 1.0%/0.3%) vs epinephrine on pain reduction and opioid usage during cataract surgery. Patients and methods Sixty patients at a single center underwent femtosecond laser (FLACS) or conventional phacoemulsification under topical lidocaine gel anesthesia and intracameral preservative-free lidocaine 1%. Eligible participants were prospectively assigned to receive either intracameral phenylephrine and ketorolac 1.0%/0.3% or intracameral epinephrine. All patients received standardized pre- and post-operative topical therapy. Intravenous (IV) fentanyl was administered for ocular discomfort in patients who complained of intraoperative pain. Outcome measures included both pain (measured by mean visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores from 0 (no pain) to 10 (extreme pain)) and the use of IV fentanyl during surgery. A composite endpoint identified “responders” as being patients who: (1) did not require fentanyl and (2) experienced no to minimal pain (VAS score ≤ 3). Results Forty-one patients were in the phenylephrine and ketorolac 1.0%/0.3% (study) group and 19 were in the epinephrine (control) group. Mean VAS pain scores were significantly (48.9%) lower in the study group than the control group (2.3 vs 4.5; P < 0.0001). The proportion of patients with VAS scores ≤ 3 was significantly greater in the study group (85.0%) than the control group (31.6%) (P < 0.0001). A smaller proportion of patients required intraoperative fentanyl in the study group compared to the control group (9.8% vs 42.1%; P = 0.006). For the composite endpoint, patients receiving phenylephrine and ketorolac 1.0%/0.3% were 94% less likely to require fentanyl or to have moderate-to-severe pain (pain VAS ≥ 4; OR, 0.06; 95% CI 0.02–0.24) than patients receiving epinephrine. Conclusion Our results suggest that the routine use of intracameral phenylephrine and ketorolac 1.0%/0.3% during cataract surgery can significantly reduce patient pain as well as the need for opioids.
A microfluidic platform for simultaneous quantification of oxygen-dependent viscosity and shear thinning in sickle cell blood

The pathology of sickle cell disease begins with the polymerization of intracellular hemoglobin under low oxygen tension, which leads to increased blood effective viscosity and vaso-occlusion. However, it has remained unclear how single-cell changes propagate up to the scale of bulk blood effective viscosity. Here, we use a custom microfluidic system to investigate how the increase in the stiffness of individual cells leads to an increase in the shear stress required for the same fluid strain in a suspension of softer cells. We characterize both the shear-rate dependence and the oxygen-tension dependence of the effective viscosity of sickle cell blood, and we assess the effect of the addition of increasing fractions of normal cells whose material properties are independent of oxygen tension, a scenario relevant to the treatment of sickle patients with blood transfusion. For untransfused sickle cell blood, we find an overall increase in effective viscosity at all oxygen tensions and shear rates along with an attenuation in the degree of shear-thinning achieved at the lowest oxygen tensions. We also find that in some cases, even a small fraction of transfused blood cells restores the shape of the shear-thinning relationship, though not the overall baseline effective viscosity. These results suggest that untransfused sickle cell blood will show the most extreme relative rheologic impairment in regions of high shear and that introducing even small fractions of normal blood cells may help retain some shear-thinning capability though without addressing a baseline relative increase in effective viscosity independent of shear.
Polyphenol-rich Trapa quadrispinosa pericarp extract ameliorates high-fat diet induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by regulating lipid metabolism and insulin resistance in mice

In China, Trapa quadrispinosa (also called water caltrop) has long been used as a function food and folk medicine to treat diabetes mellitus for years. In the present study, the extract of T. quadrispinosa pericarp (TQPE) which mainly contains hydrolysable tannins was prepared to investigate the potential therapeutic action in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) mice induced by high fat-diet (HFD). After the administration of TQPE (15, 30 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks, the increased weight of body and liver were significantly suppressed. TQPE also ameliorated liver lipid deposition and reduced lipids parameters of blood in mice. Moreover, TQPE attenuated oxidative stress and showed a hepatoprotective effect in mice. TQPE was also found to decrease the value of homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance. In addition, TQPE administration increased the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and inhibited sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) in the liver tissue. Meanwhile, TQPE elevated insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRs-1) and protein kinase B (Akt) phosphorylation. These results reflected that, as a nature product, TQPE is a potential agent for suppressing the process of NAFLD via regulation of the AMPK/SREBP/ACC and IRs-1/Akt pathways.
Inferior Alveolar Nerve Damage Related to Mandibular Advancement by Sagittal Split Osteotomy

Background and Objectives: Split sagittal osteotomy is a common operation that may induce inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) damage, potentially leading to sensory deficit, numbness, and pain. Investigations in Iran to evaluate the adverse effects of sagittal split osteotomy surgery are rare so questions have been raised about the success rate of operation and the frequency of unwilling outcome. To address these concerns, we conducted a prospective study evaluating the rate of IAN damage related to mandibular advancement by sagittal split osteotomy in Iranian population. Methods: In this prospective study, 66 patients including 30 men (45.4%) and 36 women (54.5%) with Class II malocclusion and mandibular retrognathism who were undergoing mandibular advancement surgery (SSO) were recruited during 2013-2015. All patients were followed for one year after surgery. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used to compare the categorical variables, and the numerical variables were compared by ttest. P < 0.05 was considered as the significance level. Findings: The study sample had a mean age 32.3 ± 12.04. The rate of nerve disturbance was 75.8%. Yet, 78.9% of the patients were satisfied with the results of the surgery. Conclusions: Our study indicated that IAN disturbance after split sagittal surgery is frequent in Iran. This situation indicates the need for caution on considering split sagittal surgery as a safe medical technique.
Changes in Depression Awareness and Attitudes in Australia: The Impact of Beyondblue: The National Depression Initiative

Objective: To assess changes in depression awareness and attitudes in Australia and the effect that beyondblue: the national depression initiative has had on these. Method: Data from national surveys of mental health literacy in 1995 and 2003–2004 were analysed to see if states and territories that funded beyondblue (the high-exposure states) had greater changes than those that did not (the low-exposure states). In both surveys, participants were shown a depression vignette and asked whether they themselves or family or friends had ever had a similar problem, whether they thought the person would be discriminated against, and questions about the likelihood of long-term positive and negative outcomes for the person. Participants were also assessed for symptoms of psychological distress in the past month. Results: There was an increase in the percentage of people who said that they or their family or friends had a problem like the person in the vignette. This increase was greater in the high-exposure states. However, therewas no change in reports of current psychological distress, suggesting that there is greater depression awareness or openness rather than a real increase in symptoms. People in the high-exposure states also showed an increase in the belief that discrimination would occur. There was little change in beliefs about longterm outcomes, apart from people in high-exposure states believing that a depressed person would be more understanding of other people's feelings. Conclusions: The data are consistent with beyondblue having had an effect on awareness of depression and of discrimination against depressed people.
EFFECTS OF A HYDROALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF WALNUT MALE FLOWERS ON DIABETIC RATS

Article history: Received: 10 July 2012 Accepted: 20 Nov 2012 Available online: 15 Jan 2013 ZJRMS 2013; 15(11): 55-58 Background: Diabetes is a metabolic disorder resulting from defects in insulin secretion and function. Walnut is used in traditional medicine to treat diabetes. In this study we evaluated the anti-diabetic effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of walnut male flowers in streptozocin diabetic rats and its probable side effects on the liver. Materials and Methods: Eighty adult male Wistar rats were randomly selected and divided into 4 subgroups including a control (N=8) with no intervention, witness group receiving normal saline and another 3 groups of rats each receiving either 2, 4, or 6 g/kg of the extract per day for 15 days. Diabetic groups of rats each treated with the above doses of the extract for the aforementioned period of time, and a group of 8 diabetic rats without any further treatment. Eight rats were also used to determine the LD50 of streptozotocin. Diabetes was induced in rats by injection of 60 mg/kg of streptozotocin. At the end of the experimental period, blood was taken from the experimental and control groups and the serum levels of insulin, glucose and liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP) were measured. Results: Results showed that the hydro-alcoholic extract of walnut male flowers increased the levels of insulin, decreased blood glucose, AST and ALP enzymes in the treated diabetic groups compared to the non-treated group (p<0.05). The anti-diabetic effects of the extract were not dose dependent. Conclusion: The effectiveness of the hydro-alcoholic extract of walnut male flowers in diabetic rats through prevention of liver damage and reduction of blood glucose. Copyright © 2013 Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.
Canal Number and Configurations of the Permanent Mandibular First Molar in a Tunisian Population.

Introduction: Canal morphology of the mandibular first molar is very complex and the knowledge of root canal anatomy plays an important role in the success of endodontic therapy. The purpose of this study is to determine the frequencies of root and canal morphologies of permanent mandibular first molar in a sample of 82 molars in Tunisia. Materials and methods: In this study, we used 82. Each tooth is macroscopically examined to determine the number of roots and then we grind progressively at the root surface to highlight the path of the root canals. Canal number and configurations of both mesial and distal roots are observed and analysed using buccolingual sections. Results: Our results showed that the first lower molar has in 90.2% of cases two roots and 3 roots in 9.7% of cases. We have not found cases with a single root. This study showed in the mesial root the predominance of the cases with two canals (91.9%) and rarely a single canal (4.1%) or 3 canals (4%). In the distal root, this study showed the presence of a single canal in 52.7% of cases and two canals in 47.3% of cases. Conclusion: The prevalence of three roots was 9.7%. The majority of mesial root had three . The most prevalent canal configuration in the mesial root of first and second molars was type IV (60.8%) and in distal root type I configuration (52.7%).
9. Radiolabeled antibody therapy of lymphoma

Impressive improvements have occurred over the past 20 years in the development of curative therapies for patients with newly presenting intermediate and high grade lymphomas, as documented in the preceding chapters. However, patients with low grade lymphomas or relapsed non-Hodgin's lymphomas of any grade are rarely cured with conventional doses of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. High-dose chemoradiotherapy in conjunction with bone marrow transplantation is capable of producing longterm disease-free survival in 20-S0% of such patients [1,2] but is associated with a 10-lS% chance of treatment-related mortality. Development of novel new treatment approaches with higher cure rates and less toxicity, therefore, remains a high priority in the field of oncology. Several investigators have explored the potential of monoclonal antibody (MoAb) serotherapy as one means of achieving this objective. Most early studies employed unmodified murine MoAbs targeting lymphocyte differentiation antigens, such as CDS [3], CD20 [4], or idiotypic surface immunoglobulin [S,6]. Transient, partial responses were observed in a minority of patients, but the impact of this approach on clinical practice has been minimal [reviewed in 7]. The limited efficacy of unmodified monoclonal antibodies has been attributed to the existence of antigen-negative tumor cell variants [8], the inadequacy of the host immune system for eradicating antibody-coated cells, the inability of MoAbs to penetrate sufficiently into tumor masses, the occurrence of antigenic modulation [9], and the formation of human anti-mouse antibodies (HAMA). Several innovative approaches have been pursued in an attempt to circumvent these obstacles. Chimeric and humanized monoclonal antibodies have been produced by molecular engineering techniques, resulting in molecules with human Fc receptors that are capable of interacting more effectively with human effector cells and complement, and that are less likely to provoke an antiglobulin (HAMA) response [10]. Other investigators have studied the utility of combining monoclonal antibody serotherapy with other therapeutic modalities (e.g.,
Motivation, Job Satisfaction and Service Delivery: The Case of Middle Level Staff in Kenneth Dike Library, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

This is a study on motivation and job satisfaction of middle level staff in Kenneth Dike Library (KDL), University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Survey method was adopted where responses were elicited through a questionnaire administered on the staff. Answers were sought to questions on staff welfare, satisfaction and productivity. The data collected was analyzed through frequencies, percentages and inferences. It is shown that the morale of staff in the target group was doused due to: frustration resulting from lack of involvement in decision making and inadequate tools and materials with which to work; over-centralization of authority; lack of proper incentives by way of welfare schemes and adequate remunerations. Suggestions are made on the adoption of genuine participatory management style, the introduction of welfare committees to handle staff welfare matters, stringent measures for disciplinary cases plus the fact that government should improve the working conditions of all employees to enhance their level of productivity.
Is There A Non-Essential Hospitalization Day In Inpatients With Diabetes Under Medical Insurance? Evidence From An Observational Study In China

Purpose Non-essential hospitalization day of inpatient diabetes threatens health seriously and contributes to great economic burden on individuals and the society. Studying the essential utilization of hospitalization services is conducive to the reduction in the burden of diabetes. The purpose of this study is to identify the existence of non-essential hospitalization days during hospitalization in diabetic patients through exploring the use of health care in different types of insured patients. Patients and methods A sample of 6731 admission records from 5929 hospitalized patients was studied. Binary logistic regression was performed to estimate the adjusted effects of health insurance status on readmission. Multiple stepwise linear regression was performed to estimate the adjusted effects of health insurance status on length of stay (LOS), direct medical expenses (DME), out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures, and percentage of individual payment after reimbursement (PIPAR). Adjusted odds ratios (with 95% CI) were reported as the results of logistic regression models and linear regression models, respectively. Results Adjusted 7-day readmission rate and 30-day readmission rate were not significantly different between urban and rural resident basic medical insurance (URRBMI) and urban employee basic medical insurance (UEBMI). Compared with inpatients under URRBMI, the adjusted LOS and DME were significantly higher for UEBMI inpatients (adjusted OR of 2.6, 95% CI=1.9–3.2, adjusted OR of 1870.85, 95% CI=1370.97–2370.73, respectively). Adjusted OOP and PIPAR were significantly lower for UEBMI inpatients (adjusted OR of－970.86, 95% CI =−1111.63–−830.10, adjusted OR of −0.19, 95% CI=−0.20–−0.18, respectively). Conclusion There was a non-essential hospitalization day existing in the treatment of diabetes. Moral hazard has been found in UEBMI which would trigger overtreatment in hospitalization of diabetics, and the lower PIPAR of UEBMI was one of the main causes of moral hazard.