Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of Neuroimaging in Evaluating Patients Affected by Creutzfeldt–Jakob Disease: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Diagnosis of Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease during life can be challenging since the huge variability of the symptoms which can be observed, especially in its early stages, may simulate other common forms of dementia. In latest years, noninvasive techniques such as magnetic resonance, positron emission tomography, and single‐photon emission tomography have been evaluated to help clinical neurologists to provide a definite diagnosis.
An Observational Cohort Study of Chlamydia trachomatis Treatment in Pregnancy

Background and Objectives: Currently, azithromycin is not considered a first-line treatment for Chlamydia trachomatis in pregnant women. We evaluated the use, efficacy, and safety of azithromycin compared with erythromycin and amoxicillin in the treatment of genital chlamydial infection during pregnancy. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of pregnant women with genital chlamydial infection. Data on antibiotics prescribed, test-of-cure (TOC) results, and maternal and infant complications were collected from medical records. Results: Of the 277 women in the study sample, 69% were initially prescribed azithromycin, 9% amoxicillin, and 19% erythromycin. Eight-one percent of subjects had a TOC 7 or more days after diagnosis and before delivery. Treatment efficacy, as defined by a negative TOC, was 97% (95% confidence interval [CI], 92.9–99.2) for azithromycin, 95% (95% CI, 76.2–99.9) for amoxicillin, and 64% (95% CI, 44.1–81.4) for erythromycin. The efficacy of azithromycin was significantly higher than erythromycin (P <0.0001). There were no significant differences in efficacy by age, race/ethnicity, concurrent sexually transmitted disease diagnosis, partner treatment, or substance use. Furthermore, there was no difference in complications for women or infants exposed to azithromycin compared with those treated with other regimens. Conclusion: Clinical outcome data from this study population of women and infants support both efficacy and safety of azithromycin for treatment of C. trachomatis in pregnancy.
COMP‐Ang1 promotes chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells through the Ang1/Tie2 signaling pathway

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are pleiotrophic cells that differentiate to chondrocytes, osteoblasts, or adipocytes, as a result of crosstalk by specific signaling pathways including MAPK pathway. Recently cartilage oligomeric matrix protein angiopoietin1 (COMP‐Ang1), an Ang1 variant which is more potent than native Ang1 in phosphorylating Tie2 receptor was developed. The Ang1/Tie2 signaling system not only plays a pivotal role in vessel growth, remodeling, and maturation, but also protective and recruit effect on MSCs. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the differentiate effect of Ang1/Tie2 signaling on MSCs in the presence of chondrogenic, osteogenic and adipogenic induction medium, and to determine the possible mechanisms. Our results clearly demonstrated that MSCs cultured in each induction medium with COMP‐Ang1 revealed strongly chondrogenic and osteogenic morphological change (3.5‐ and 2‐fold, respectively) as well as up‐regulate each gene, except for adipogenic differentiation. Accordingly, we found that phosphorylation of Tie2 expression lead to phosphorylation of p38 and AKT and then accelerating each differentiation of MSCs to chondrocytes and osteoblasts. Therefore, our findings suggest that COMP‐Ang1 present a portal to promote MSCs differentiation to chondrocytes and osteoblasts through Ang1/Tie2 signaling pathway and provide insights into novel therapies for bone diseases. © 2013 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 31:1920–1928, 2013
Barriers to cervical cancer screening among lesbians.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate cervical cancer screening practices and barriers to screening in a sample of lesbians. METHODS Cross-sectional survey data were collected from 225 self-identified lesbians who completed an online questionnaire. RESULTS Of the respondents, 71% reported receiving a Pap screening test in the past 24 months (routine screeners), and 29% reported receiving a Pap screening test >24 months ago or never (nonroutine screeners). Routine screeners were more likely to be older (p < 0.01), white (p = 0.04), and college graduates (p < 0.01) than nonroutine screeners. Nonroutine screeners were more likely to delay seeking healthcare because of fear of discrimination (p < 0.01) and were less likely than routine screeners to disclose orientation to their primary care physician (p < 0.01). After adjusting for age, race, and education, nonroutine screeners perceived fewer benefits from (p < 0.01) and more barriers (p < 0.01) to Pap screening tests and were less knowledgeable about screening guidelines (p < 0.01) than routine screeners, but there was no difference in perceived susceptibility (p = 0.68), perceived seriousness (p = 0.68), or risk factor knowledge (p = 0.35) of cervical cancer. CONCLUSIONS Many lesbians do not screen for cervical cancer at recommended rates. Nonroutine screeners perceive fewer benefits, more barriers, and more discrimination and are less knowledgeable about screening guidelines than routine screeners.
Developmental changes in EPSC quantal size and quantal content at a central glutamatergic synapse in rat

1 Developmental changes in amplitude and time course of single‐fibre‐evoked and spontaneous EPSCs mediated by AMPA and NMDA receptors at the endbulb‐bushy cell synapse of rats from 4 to 22 days of age were recorded using whole‐cell patch‐clamp methods in in vitro slices of cochlear nucleus. 2 The mean conductance of the AMPA component of evoked EPSCs increased by 66 %, while that of the NMDA component decreased by 61 %, for 12‐ to 18‐day‐old rats cf. 4‐ to 11‐day‐old rats. 3 The mean AMPA spontaneous EPSC conductance increased by 54 %, while mean NMDA spontaneous EPSC conductance decreased by 83 %, for 12‐ to 22‐day‐old rats cf. 4‐ to 11‐day‐old rats. The mean number of quanta contributing to peak evoked AMPA conductance also increased by 78 % in the older age group, after correction for the asynchrony of evoked quantal release. 4 The decay time constant of spontaneous AMPA EPSCs showed a small decrease in older animals, while the decay time constant of spontaneous NMDA EPSCs was markedly decreased in older animals. The decay time constants of evoked NMDA EPSCs showed a quantitatively similar decrease to that of spontaneous NMDA EPSCs. This suggests that AMPA receptor subunit composition is unlikely to undergo developmental change, while NMDA receptor subunit composition may be substantially altered during synaptic maturation. 5 These data are consistent with a developmentally increased efficacy of AMPA receptor‐mediated synaptic transmission at the endbulb‐bushy cell synapse, due to an increase in underlying AMPA‐mediated quantal size and content during the same period as a transient co‐localization of NMDA receptors.
Expression of Chemokine Receptors CCR1 and CCR5 Reflects Differential Activation of Mononuclear Phagocytes in Pattern II and Pattern III Multiple Sclerosis Lesions

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the CNS. A recent study identified 4 patterns of demyelination in active MS lesions. The characteristics of pattern II lesions suggested a primary inflammatory mechanism of myelin injury, while pattern III lesions showed features consistent with dying-back oligodendrogliopathy. The recruitment, differentiation, and activation of mononuclear phagocytes are dependent on the expression of chemokine receptors. Using immunohistochemistry we quantified cellular expression of CCR1 and CCR5 in pattern II (n = 21) and pattern III (n = 17) lesion areas of differing demyelinating activity. Infiltrating monocytes in both lesion patterns co-expressed CCR1 and CCR5, suggesting conserved mechanisms of monocyte recruitment into the CNS. In pattern II lesions, the number of cells expressing CCR1 significantly decreased while CCR5 increased in late active compared with early active demyelinating regions. In striking contrast, numbers of cells expressing CCR1 and CCR5 were equal in all regions of pattern III lesions. As hypoxia-like mechanisms may play a role in pattern III lesions, we extended these studies to white matter infarcts (n = 7) in which the expression of CCR1 better resembled pattern III than pattern II lesions. As judged by mononuclear phagocyte chemokine receptor expression, there appear to be distinct tissue environments in pattern II and III MS lesions.
The Human Antimicrobial Peptide LL-37 Is a Multifunctional Modulator of Innate Immune Responses1

The role of LL-37, a human cationic antimicrobial peptide, in the immune system is not yet clearly understood. It is a widely expressed peptide that can be up-regulated during an immune response. In this report, we demonstrate that LL-37 is a potent antisepsis agent with the ability to inhibit macrophage stimulation by bacterial components such as LPS, lipoteichoic acid, and noncapped lipoarabinomannan. We also demonstrate that LL-37 protects mice against lethal endotoxemia. In addition to preventing macrophage activation by bacterial components, we hypothesized the LL-37 may also have direct effects on macrophage function. We therefore used gene expression profiling to identify macrophage functions that might be modulated by LL-37. These studies revealed that LL-37 directly up-regulates 29 genes and down-regulated another 20 genes. Among the genes predicted to be up-regulated by LL-37 were those encoding chemokines and chemokine receptors. Consistent with this, LL-37 up-regulated the expression of chemokines in macrophages and the mouse lung (monocyte chemoattractant protein 1), human A549 epithelial cells (IL-8), and whole human blood (monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 and IL-8), without stimulating the proinflammatory cytokine, TNFα. LL-37 also up-regulated the chemokine receptors CXCR-4, CCR2, and IL-8RB. These findings indicate that LL-37 may contribute to the immune response by limiting the damage caused by bacterial products and by recruiting immune cells to the site of infection so that they can clear the infection.
Spatial analysis of colorectal cancer cases in Kuala Lumpur.

BACKGROUND In Malaysia, data from the Malaysian Health Ministry showed colorectal cancer (CRC) to be the second most common type of cancer in 2007-2009, after breast cancer. The same was apparent after looking at males and females cases separately. In the present study, the Geographic Information System (GIS) was employed to describe the distribution of CRC cases in Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia, according to socio-demographic factors (age, gender, ethnicity and district). MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective review concerned data for patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the years 1995 to 2011 collected from the Wilayah Persekutuan Health Office, taken from the cancer notification form (NCR-2), and patient medical records from the Surgical Department, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). A total of 146 cases were analyzed. All the data collected were analysed using ArcGIS version 10.0 and SPSS version 19.0. RESULTS Patients aged 60 to 69 years accounted for the highest proportion of cases (34.2%) and males slightly predominated 76 (52.1%), Chinese had the highest number of registered cases at 108 (74.0%) and staging revealed most cases in the 3rd and 4th stages. Kernel density analysis showed more cases are concentrated up in the northern area of Petaling and Kuala Lumpur subdistricts. Spatial global pattern analysis by average nearest neighbour resulted in nearest neighbour ratio of 0.75, with Z-score of -5.59, p value of <0.01 and the z-score of -5.59. Spatial autocorrelation (Moran's I) showed clustering significant with p<0.01, Z score 3.14 and Moran's Index of 0.007. When mapping clusters with hotspot analysis (Getis-Ord Gi), hot and cold spots were identified. Hot spot areas fell on the northeast side of KL. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated significant spatial patterns of cancer incidence in KL. Knowledge about these spatial patterns can provide useful information to policymakers in the planning of screening of CRC in the targeted population and improvement of healthcare facilities to provide better treatment for CRC patients.
Transcriptional Suppression of In Vitro-Integrated Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Does Not Correlate with Proviral DNA Methylation

ABSTRACT Persistence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) constitutes a major obstacle in the control of HIV-1 infection. Here we investigated whether the CpG methylation of the HIV-1 promoter can directly influence the expression of the HIV-1 genome and thereby contribute to the persistence and latency of HIV-1. The levels of CpG methylation in the promoter of HIV-1 were studied after bisulfite-induced modification of DNA in five Jurkat clonal cell lines transduced by an HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR)-driven retroviral vector and expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP) and in primary resting memory T cells challenged with HIV-1 or with an HIV-1-derived retroviral vector. Basal HIV-1 promoter activities were low or undetectable in three tested HIV-1 LTR-GFP clones, one of which encoded the Tat protein, and they reached medium or high levels in two other clones. The CpG dinucleotide that occurred in a latently infected clonal cell line 240 nucleotides upstream of the transcription start remained methylated after reactivation of HIV-1 transcription with 10 nM phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate. In two clones showing a medium promoter activity and in resting memory T cells, the HIV-1 LTR was generally not methylated. Our results show that the methylation profiles of the HIV-1 LTR, including those present in latently infected cells, are low and do not correlate with the transcriptional activity. We suggest that, in a noncloned cellular population in which the HIV-1 proviruses are randomly integrated in the human genome, HIV-1 latency is imperfectly controlled by CpG methylation and is inherently accompanied by residual replication.
Hand tracking in time-varying illumination

Tracking hand using a Webcam in daily environment always suffers from limited dynamic range and changing light conditions. This work presents a novel approach to generate steady hand segmentation from the videos captured by a Webcam in the time-varying illumination. Our approach consists of two parts: automatic gain control (AGC) during capture and motion of skin distribution estimating. A Markov model is exploited to estimate and predict the skin color distribution and camera parameters. We show that examples of segmented hand in a variety of lighting conditions. This method is used in our augmented reality map navigation system for bare hand control. The experiment shows this process can run in real time and the error rate is acceptable.
Age‐related deficits in long‐term potentiation are insensitive to hydrogen peroxide: Coincidence with enhanced autophosphorylation of Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can have deleterious effects for both normal aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD). We examined the hypothesis that synapses undergoing long‐term potentiation (LTP) are preferentially at risk for ROS‐mediated oxidative stress during aging. We observed age‐dependent deficits in LTP induced by a high‐frequency stimulation (HFS) protocol in the CA1 region of hippocampus from C57BL/6 mice. There was a significant difference between LTP measured over 60 min in young (1–2 months) and old (23–26 months) mice. In oxidative stress studies, exogenous H2O2 (580 μM) significantly inhibited LTP in young mice; a similar dose of H2O2 failed to inhibit LTP in slices from adult (2–4 months) or from old mice. The results show that there are significant deficits in LTP in aging mice, but such deficits are insensitive to H2O2. Western immunoblotting studies in young mice show that the relative levels of autophosphorylated α‐Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) are unchanged in hippocampal CA1 treated with H2O2 relative to untreated controls. However with aging, there is a significant enhancement in the levels of autophosphorylated CaMKII in H2O2‐treated CA1 of older mice. Phosphorylation of RC3/neurogranin (Ng) by protein kinase C (PKC) is decreased in CA1 in response to H2O2 treatment, irrespective of age. We propose that, during aging, enhanced local release of H2O2 from mitocohondria may induce a compensatory “ceiling” effect at synapses, so that the levels of autophosphorylated αCaMKII are aberrantly saturated, leading to alterations in synaptic plasticity. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Managing hospitalized hemodialysis patients: A guide for the non-nephrologist

Abstract In-hospital care of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, on hemodialysis, is different from the general population in various aspects. Non-nephrologists do not typically receive specialized training to take care of these patients. However, in most circumstances, they serve as the primary attending for these patients in the hospital setting. There is paucity of the literature guiding non-nephrologists on this important issue. This article highlights the key management aspects of in-hospital care of these patients that all the non-nephrologists should know.
Enteral nutrition during acute pancreatitis: feasibility study of a self-propeeling spiral distal end jejunal tube.

OBJECTIVE The aim of our study was to evaluate the feasibility of enteral jejunal nutrition for acute pancreatitis using a self-propelling spiral distal end jejunal tube. METHODS Sixteen consecutive patients with acute pancreatitis in whom Flocare tubes were placed for enteral nutrition were included in this open prospective study. All of them had pancreatic and/or peripancreatic necrosis (Balthazar >=D). The median computed topography index was 5 (range 3-10) and the median Ranson score was 2 (range 0-5). The nasoenteric Flocare tube (spiral distal end) was inserted in the stomach at the bedside. Self progression into the jejunum was assessed by X-ray at 1, 7 and 12 hours and then every 24 hours for 4 days. The rate of successful tube self-placement in the jejunum and the time to successful placement were noted. RESULTS Insertion was successful in 12 of 16 patients (75%). Treitz's ligament was reached in a median of 12 hours (range 1-96 hours). For the remaining patients, the tube was successfully repositioned under fluoroscopic guidance in 2 and withdrawn in 2, one for oral renutrition and one to change to a weighted jejunal tube. No tube dysfunction or recurrence of pancreatitis occurred during the entire period of enteral nutrition. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that the nasoenteric Flocare tube can be used effectively and safely in early enteral jejunal nutrition for severe acute pancreatitis, without endoscopic or radiological manipulation.
Interrelationships Between Anxiety, Lifestyle Self-reports and Fitness in a Sample of Hong Kong University Students

Although anxiety in university students has been well documented, the influence of lifestyle and fitness status in relation to anxiety has not been investigated from a cultural perspective previously. To make recommendations regarding the avoidance or management of anxiety in this anxiety-prone cohort that are rationally based, this preliminary investigation examined the interrelationship between anxiety, lifestyle self-reports and aerobic fitness in Hong Kong Chinese University students. The State Trait Anxiety Inventory (Form Y-2) and a lifestyle questionnaire were completed by 213 students. Female students were more anxious than male students. Subjects with high anxiety reported more deleterious lifestyle behaviours including higher salt consumption and lower levels of exercise; in addition to more frequent symptoms of anxiety such as headaches and daytime somnolence. The extremes of this sample were stratified into a low anxiety group ( n =17) and a high anxiety group ( n =14) to compare their fitness status. Although both groups had below normal aerobic capacity, the higher systolic blood pressure observed for the high anxiety group is consistent with signs of anxiety, or greater deconditioning in this group or both. The results of this study have highlighted anxiety as a concern in Hong Kong University students and identified some lifestyle and fitness correlates. Understanding lifestyle and pathophysiological correlates of anxiety in Hong Kong University students that may have a cultural basis, is a crucial step toward averting or managing anxiety when these students are studying either in Hong Kong or abroad.
Safety concerns regarding 5&agr; reductase inhibitors for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia

Purpose of reviewTo examine the clinical and basic studies regarding persistent adverse effects associated with 5&agr; reductase inhibitor treatment for androgenetic alopecia. Recent findingsRecent postmarketing reports and a US Food and Drug Administration analysis have documented uncommon persistent sexual and nonsexual side-effects in a subset of younger men who have taken finasteride 1 mg for androgenic alopecia. While the mechanisms of the sexual side-effects in humans is incompletely understood, one study found lower cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of dihydrotestosterone, progesterone, dihydroprogesterone and allopregnanolone, and higher levels of testosterone, 5&agr;-androstane-3&agr;,17&bgr;-diol and pregnenolone. Another study found up-regulation of the androgen receptor in the human foreskin with a mean of 5 years after finasteride discontinuation. Studies of erectile dysfunction in finasteride-treated rats showed fewer autophagosomes in smooth muscle on transmission electron microscopy, increased apoptosis, decreased smooth muscle, increased collagen deposition and decreased endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Finally, 5&agr; reductase inhibitors have also been found to alter semen parameters in healthy men. SummaryMultiple animal studies provide a biological basis for many of the persistent effects seen in humans such as erectile dysfunction, depression and decreased alcohol consumption. Prescribers of 5&agr; reductase inhibitors should discuss the potential risks with their patients seeking treatment for androgenetic alopecia.
Economical Regulation Power Through Load Shifting With Smart Energy Appliances

This paper considers the technical and economical feasibility of the introduction of automated demand response from domestic smart appliances in a European setting as a means to create a significant amount of regulating power. Simplified power-time flexibility models for appliances are introduced on which generic economic simulations can be based. These simulations permit a good indication of the economic value that can be attained as a function of model parameters. This shows that classical load shifting of washing appliances creates sufficient value in the day-ahead market to justify investments in smart energy control services. Cooling appliances create significant value on the balance market and while full scale deployment would lead to significant price erosion in today's market, it could accommodate additional unbalance caused future sustainable generation. The scale of domestic demand response resources can be quantified in two simple parameters: regulation power and storage capacity. For the Dutch situation these are 700 MW, equivalent to 5% of average national power consumption and 5 GWh storage: around 20 minutes of average national power consumption. Smart appliances can deliver a 100% efficient and CO2 friendly complement to the unpredictability of e.g., large scale wind power as planned in large parts of Europe in 10 to 15 years.