Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
INR derivation with the PT/INR Line simplified using a spreadsheet from the world wide web

Background The prothrombin time/international normalised ratio (PT/INR) Line method to derive INR, based on only five European Concerted Action on Anticoagulation (ECAA) certified plasmas, is shown to be reliable in previous ECAA studies. A simpler method not requiring linear regression calculation would be an advantage. Method After determining the local PT/INR Line, local INRs have been obtained using a readily available spreadsheet on the internet which laboratories can use without performing any additional calculations. Results Examples of INR derivation have been obtained from results at 16 centres using a range of local coagulometers with human thromboplastin international reference preparations (IRPs). The procedure does not require manual PT testing, local international sensitivity index calibration, availability of thromboplastin IRPs or local mean normal prothrombin time. Conclusions From the PT/INR Line, INR values for local PT results are easily obtained using an Excel spreadsheet from our website (http://www.anticoagulants.co.uk/) which does not require the complex linear regression analysis to derive INR.
Tetracycline-reversible silencing of eukaryotic promoters

A tetracycline-controlled transrepressor protein has been engineered to silence transcriptional activities of eukaryotic promoters that are stably integrated into the chromatin of human cells. By fusing the KRAB domain of human Kox1 to the Tet repressor derived from Tn10 of Escherichia coli, a tetracycline-controlled hybrid protein (TetR-KRAB) was generated and constitutively expressed in HeLa cells. The TetR-KRAB protein binds to tet operator (tetO) sequences in the absence but not in the presence of tetracycline. When TetR-KRAB bound to tetO sequences upstream of the immediate-early promoter-enhancer of human cytomegalovirus (CMV), the expression of a CMV-driven luciferase reporter construct (ptetO7-CMV-L) was repressed in transient transfection experiments. This silencing was found to operate on different promoters and from tetO sequences placed more than 3 kb from the transcriptional start site. We constructed a stable, doubly transfected cell line (TIS-10) carrying a chromosomally integrated ptetO7-CMV-L reporter construct and expressing the TetR-KRAB protein. Upon addition of tetracycline, luciferase expression was induced more than 50-fold above the baseline level, with half-maximal induction by 2 days. Furthermore, a protein of around 110 kDa was found to coimmunoprecipitate with the TetR-KRAB fusion protein. This protein might play a role as an adaptor protein mediating the silencing exerted by the TetR-KRAB protein. The TetR-KRAB silencing system should be useful as a genetic switch for regulating the expression of chromosomally integrated heterologous and endogenous genes present in mammalian genomes.
Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery

Purpose of review In 2010, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared femtosecond laser systems for cataract surgery. Available in 2011, this technology has the potential to significantly impact cataract surgery. Recent findings Femtosecond lasers offer surgeons the ability to make very precise cuts in a targeted area without damaging the surrounding tissues. This technology has already dramatically changed refractive surgery and is poised to do the same for cataract surgery. Three companies, OptiMedica, LenSx (acquired by Alcon in September 2010), and LensAR, in different stages of FDA clearance, are developing femtosecond laser systems for cataract surgery. These systems will create the initial corneal incisions, capsulotomy, and also fragment the lens. Summary This article outlines the advantages of femtosecond laser cataract surgery and provides an initial comparison of the LensAR, LenSx/Alcon, and OptiMedica systems and early clinical results.
Identification in chickens of an evolutionarily conserved cellular ets‐2 gene (c‐ets‐2) encoding nuclear proteins related to the products of the c‐ets proto‐oncogene.

In chicken cells, we previously identified a set of proteins (p58‐64) structurally related to, but distinct from, the products encoded by the c‐ets proto‐oncogene. We report here the isolation and nucleotide sequence of a cDNA encoding nuclear products of mol. wt 58, 60, 62 and 64 kd, indistinguishable from those detected in chicken cells. The p60 and p64 species appear to represent phosphorylated versions on serine and threonine residues of p58 and p62. The homology of p58‐64 to other ets‐related proteins, including the v‐ets encoded domain of the transforming protein of avian leukemia virus E26 and p54c‐ets, the translation product of the chicken (Ck) c‐ets gene, is confined to two regions of 175 and 96 amino acid residues localized respectively at the carboxy‐terminal domain and close to the amino‐terminal domain of these molecules. This cDNA corresponds to a gene localized in a locus distinct from that of c‐ets which is transcribed as a 4.0‐kb RNA species in most chicken tissues. We also identified the human (Hu) c‐ets‐2‐encoded products as two proteins of 60 and 62 kd, highly related to chicken p58‐64. This, together with the fact that the amino acid sequence of the cDNA encoding p58‐64 is 95% identical to the reported partial sequence of a Hu‐c‐ets‐2 cDNA, indicates that p58‐64 are the translation products of the Ck‐c‐ets‐2 gene.
Burch Retropubic Urethropexy Compared With Midurethral Sling With Concurrent Sacrocolpopexy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: To compare efficacy and safety of retropubic Burch urethropexy and a midurethral sling in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) undergoing concomitant pelvic floor repair with sacrocolpopexy. METHODS: Women were randomly assigned to Burch retropubic urethropexy (n=56) or retropubic midurethral sling (n=57) through dynamic allocation balancing age, body mass index, history of prior incontinence surgery, intrinsic sphincter deficiency, preoperative incontinence diagnosis, and prolapse stage. Overall and stress-specific continence primary outcomes were ascertained with validated questionnaires and a blinded cough stress test. RESULTS: Enrollment was June 1, 2009, through August 31, 2013. At 6 months, no difference was found in overall (29 midurethral sling [51%] compared with 23 Burch [41%]; P=.30) (odds ratio [OR] 1.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.71–3.13) or stress-specific continence rates (42 midurethral sling [74%] compared with 32 Burch [57%]; P=.06) (OR 2.10, 95% CI 0.95–4.64) between groups. However, the midurethral sling group reported greater satisfaction (78% compared with 57%; P=.04) and were more likely to report successful surgery for SUI (71% compared with 50%; P=.04) and to resolve pre-existing urgency incontinence (72% compared with 41%; P=.03). No difference was found in patient global impression of severity or symptom improvement, complication rates, or mesh exposures. CONCLUSION: There was no difference in overall or stress-specific continence rates between midurethral sling and Burch urethropexy groups at 6 months. However, the midurethral sling group reported better patient-centered secondary outcomes.
Effects of the prolonged thoracic epidural analgesia on ventilation function and complication rate after the lung cancer surgery.

UNLABELLED Thoracic epidural analgesia has been considered to have a good anesthetic efficacy and to decrease the postoperative complication rate, while its effect upon the ventilation function is still the topic of many clinical studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the course of early postoperative period using thoracic epidural analgesia. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 453 patients undergoing the operation due to the non-small cell carcinoma were selected and examined. Their postoperative complications and mortality rate were evaluated. In 79 patients, arterial oxygen saturation (SaO(2)), forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in the first second, and the efficacy of analgesia were analyzed within the first 7 days after the operation. These patients were divided into subgroups according to the type of the operation--lobectomy or pneumonectomy--and the type of analgesia--thoracic epidural analgesia or opiates administered intramuscularly (control group). RESULTS A better statistically significant efficacy of analgesia was observed in thoracic epidural analgesia group than in the control group (visual analog pain scale score 2.5 versus 5.3, P<0.01). There was also a statistically significant lower incidence of postoperative complications (20.5% versus 38.8%, respectively). Thoracic epidural analgesia is a factor decreasing the relative risk of complications (RR=0.53, 95% CI 0.28-0.99, P=0.0233). In the lobectomy group, 24 hours after the surgery, forced vital capacity was 61+/-12% in the group receiving thoracic epidural analgesia and 45+/-13% in the control group (P=0.0152); forced expiratory volume in the first second was 56+/-17% and 41+/-11%, respectively (P=0.0308). In the pneumonectomy group, 24 hours after the surgery, forced vital capacity was 47+/-16% in the group receiving thoracic epidural analgesia, 35+/-8% in the control group (P=0.080). Forced expiratory volume in the first second was 47+/-15% and 36+/-7%, respectively (P=0.0449). CONCLUSION We conclude that analgesia with intramuscularly administered opioids provides unsatisfactory analgesia, especially in the first days after the operation. Thoracic epidural analgesia is a safe method, which provides a better quality of life for the patient, decreases the postoperative complication rate, and improves the ventilation function after the lung operations.
Racial differences in the association of pentraxin-3 with kidney dysfunction: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND Pentraxin-3 (PTX3), an inflammatory marker thought to be related to vascular inflammation, is elevated in advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). Whether PTX3 is associated with mild to moderate kidney dysfunction is unknown. METHODS We tested associations of proteins in the pentraxin family [PTX3, C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid protein (SAP)] with estimated glomerular filtration rate by cystatin C (eGFRcys) and microalbuminuria among 2824 participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Associations were tested using multivariable linear regression with adjustment for demographics (age, gender, annual income), comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, smoking, body mass index, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, ACE inhibitor and statin use) and systemic inflammation [interleukin-6 (IL-6)]. RESULTS Among the 2824 participants, mean age was 62 years and mean eGFRcys was 94 mL/min/1.73 m(2); 25% were white, 25% Chinese, 25% African-American and 25% Hispanic. Among all participants after full adjustment, higher PTX3 was associated with lower eGFRcys independently of IL-6 (β - 3.0 mL/min/1.73 m(2) per unit increase in lnPTX3, P < 0.001). In contrast, CRP and SAP were associated with eGFRcys in demographic adjusted models, but these associations were attenuated after adjustment for comorbidities and IL-6 (lnCRP β - 0.06, P = 0.9; lnSAP β - 0.35, P = 0.7). There was a significant interaction with race/ethnicity (P < 0.001) in the association of PTX3 and eGFRcys. After adjustment for demographics, comorbidities and IL-6, this association was significant in blacks (β - 5.7 mL/min/1.73 m(2) per unit increase in lnPTX3, P = 0.002) but not in Hispanics (β - 2.4, P = 0.1), Chinese (β - 0.91, P = 0.5) or whites (β - 0.26, P = 0.9). PTX3 and CRP, but not SAP, had correlations with microalbuminuria in unadjusted models (Spearman coefficients PTX3 0.05, P = 0.005; CRP 0.07, P < 0.001; SAP 0.013, P = 0.5), but these were attenuated after full adjustment. CONCLUSIONS Endovascular inflammation may be an important mechanism associated with early kidney dysfunction, particularly among blacks. This mechanism appears to be independent of IL-6-regulated pathways.
Assessment of lung inflammation with 18F-FDG PET during acute lung injury.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this review is to describe the current experimental and clinical data regarding the fundamentals and applications of (18)F-FDG PET during acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). CONCLUSION Lung inflammation is a key feature of ALI. During ALI, FDG PET can be used to monitor lung neutrophils, which are essential cells in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of ALI. Pulmonary FDG kinetics are altered during experimental and human ALI and are associated with regional lung dysfunction, histologic abnormalities, and prognosis. FDG PET may be a valuable noninvasive method for gaining comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of ALI/ARDS and for evaluating therapeutic interventions.
Detection of Herpes Simplex Virus DNA by Real-Time PCR

ABSTRACT Molecular detection of herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNA is recognized as the reference standard assay method for the sensitive and specific diagnosis of central nervous system infections caused by HSV. In this study, a molecular assay based on real-time PCR on the LightCycler (LC) instrument was evaluated and compared with a home-brew molecular assay. The detection limit of the LC assay was determined with 10-fold dilutions of plasmid pS4 with the SalI restriction fragment of the DNA polymerase gene and with the First European Union Concerted Action HSV Proficiency Panel. A total of 59 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens were investigated for the comparative study. With plasmid pS4, the detection limit of the LC assay was found to be 104 copies per ml, i.e., 12.5 copies per run. When samples of the First European Union Concerted Action HSV Proficiency Panel were tested, 2 × 103 to 5 × 103 HSV type 1 genome equivalents (GE) per ml, i.e., 2.5 to 6.3 GE per run, could consistently be detected. There was a correlation between the LC assay and the home-brew assay in 55 of 59 specimens. In conclusion, the LC assay allows very rapid detection of HSV DNA in CSF. It was found to be laborsaving and showed sufficient sensitivity.
Phenylalanine kinetics in human adipose tissue.

Very little is known about the regulation of protein metabolism in adipose tissue. In this study systemic, adipose tissue, and forearm phenylalanine kinetics were determined in healthy postabsorptive volunteers before and during a 2-h glucose infusion (7 mg.kg-1.min-1). [3H]Phenylalanine was infused and blood was sampled from a radial artery, a subcutaneous abdominal vein, and a deep forearm vein. Adipose tissue and forearm blood flow were measured with 133Xe and plethysmography, respectively, and body fat mass was determined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. During glucose infusion, glucose concentration increased from 86 +/- 2 to 228 +/- 13 mg/dl and insulin concentration increased from 6.6 +/- 0.6 to 35.0 +/- 3.9 mU/liter, both P < 0.001. Systemic phenylalanine appearance decreased from 40.3 +/- 1.9 to 37.0 +/- 1.6 mumol/min during glucose infusion (P < 0.05). Baseline whole body adipose tissue phenylalanine release (5.2 +/- 1.4 mumol/min) was approximately 12% of systemic phenylalanine appearance and decreased (P < 0.05) to 2.3 +/- 0.9 mumol/min during glucose infusion. In contrast, phenylalanine release from the forearm did not change during glucose infusion. These results indicate that adipose tissue is a small but significant contributor to systemic phenylalanine appearance. Phenylalanine release from adipose tissue like lipolysis, is relatively sensitive to hyperinsulinemia.
The level of physical exercise is associated with self-reported health status (EQ-5D) in adults with congenital heart disease

Background The prognosis in adults with congenital aortic valve disease is usually favourable; nevertheless, a number of medical and social factors might hamper long-term prognosis and quality of life. With a focus on physical exercise level, data from the Swedish National Registry on Congenital Heart Disease (SWEDCON) were analysed and variables associated with health-related quality of life in adults with congenital aortic valve disease were identified. Methods In this registry study, SWEDCON was searched for adult patients with isolated congenital aortic valve disease and valid EuroQol-5Dimensions health questionnaire (EQ-5D) data. Results This study identified 315 patients. The majority (n = 202, 64%) reported best possible health status (EQ-5Dindex = 1) whereas 113 (35%) reported some impairment (EQ-5Dindex < 1) with mean EQ-5Dindex 0.73 ± 0.17. In a multivariate logistic regression model, self-reported physical exercise > 3 h/week was independently associated with best possible health status (EQ-5Dindex = 1; p = 0.013). Moreover presence of cardiovascular symptoms (p < 0.001), active smoking (p = 0.002), history of valve surgery (p = 0.017), low educational level (p = 0.022), and higher systolic blood pressure (p = 0.029) were independently associated with impaired health status (EQ-5Dindex < 1). Conclusions Physical exercise >3 h/week was, as a single variable, associated with best possible health status in adults with congenital aortic valve disease. In contrast, a number of medical and social factors are associated with worse self-reported health status. Among these, symptoms, smoking, and educational level are potential targets for modification and intervention. There is a need for studies investigating the effect of increased level of physical exercise in patients with congenital aortic valve disease.
Ultra-High Sensitivity to Low Hydrogen Gas Concentration With Pd-Decorated IGZO Film

To enhance the performance of semiconducting metal oxides, as hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) sensor, we introduced a high carrier concentration (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${N}_{d}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) metal oxide, indium-gallium–zinc oxide (IGZO), combined with palladium (Pd) catalysis. This allowed the detection of low concentrations of H<sub>2</sub> at room temperature. The base current level was linearly increased with the Pd thickness. As a result, a high sensor sensitivity of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$6.1 \times 10^{6}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>% at 5% H<sub>2</sub> concentration was obtained using a 1-nm-thick Pd-decorated IGZO film. Comparative studies with a zinc oxide (ZnO) counterpart showed that the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${N}_{d}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> of IGZO (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$8 \times 10^{18}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> cm<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{-3}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) is significantly higher than that of ZnO (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$2 \times 10^{16}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> cm<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{-3}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>), indicating a closer location for the Fermi level of IGZO to the conduction band. Therefore, a relatively small amount of electron-donating H<sub>2</sub> was required to overcome the energy barrier in IGZO. Consequently, the 1-nm-thick Pd-decorated IGZO sensor responded to a gas level as low as 0.01% (100 ppm) and demonstrated a 70-fold higher sensitivity compared with ZnO sensor at all H<sub>2</sub> concentrations.
Expanding the clinical use of standard OGTT: the percentage increment of 2 h with respect to fasting glucose as an index of β‐cell dysfunction

Since glucose levels during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) are determined both by insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion, we investigated whether the percentage increment (PG%) of 2‐h plasma glucose (2hPG) over fasting plasma glucose (FPG) is related to validated indexes of insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion.
Developmental neuronal death is not a universal phenomenon among cell types in the chick embryo retina

The goal of this study was to investigate whether all the cell types present in the chick embryo retina undergo developmental neuronal death. Apoptosis was investigated in retinal sections at different developmental stages, processed either with propidium iodide, which stains pyknotic nuclei intensely, or with terminal transferase‐mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate (d‐UTP)‐biotin nick‐end labeling (TUNEL). Internucleosomal DNA fragmentation was investigated in tissue extracts by agarose gel electrophoresis. TUNEL‐positive (T+) cells and pyknotic nuclei were first detectable in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) around embryonic day (ED) 8 and peaked at ED 10. In the inner nuclear layer (INL), T+ and pyknotic cells first appeared on ED 8, reached maximum frequency on ED 11, and were largely absent after ED 14. DNA ladders were observed at all the stages, when T+ and pyknotic cells were abundant, but not on ED 4, when only scattered dead cells were observed histologically. Dying cells were virtually never detected in the outer nuclear layer (ONL) from ED 4 to postnatal day 2. After unilateral midbrain ablation on ED 5, there was a striking increase in the number of pyknotic and T+ cells in both the GCL and in the INL of the contralateral eye but not in the ONL. The absence of apoptotic cell death in the ONL during normal development and after tectal ablation shows that developmental death is not universal among the various cell populations present in the chick embryo retina and raises questions regarding mechanisms controlling both photoreceptor survival and the matching of pre‐ and postsynaptic elements in the outer plexiform layer of this species. J. Comp. Neurol. 396:12–19, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Phylogenomic Reconstruction of Sportive Lemurs (genus Lepilemur) Recovered from Mitogenomes with Inferences for Madagascar Biogeography.

The family Lepilemuridae includes 26 species of sportive lemurs, most of which were recently described. The cryptic morphological differences confounded taxonomy until recent molecular studies; however, some species' boundaries remain uncertain. To better understand the genus Lepilemur, we analyzed 35 complete mitochondrial genomes representing all recognized 26 sportive lemur taxa and estimated divergence dates. With our dataset we recovered 25 reciprocally monophyletic lineages, as well as an admixed clade containing Lepilemur mittermeieri and Lepilemur dorsalis Using modern distribution data, an ancestral area reconstruction and an ecological vicariance analysis were performed to trace the history of diversification and to test biogeographic hypotheses. We estimated the initial split between the eastern and western Lepilemur clades to have occurred in the Miocene. Divergence of most species occurred from the Pliocene to the Pleistocene. The biogeographic patterns recovered in this study were better addressed with a combinatorial approach including climate, watersheds, and rivers. Generally, current climate and watershed hypotheses performed better for western and eastern clades, while speciation of northern clades was not adequately supported using the ecological factors incorporated in this study. Thus, multiple mechanisms likely contributed to the speciation and distribution patterns in Lepilemur.
A high efficiency hybrid 7-level inverter with single DC source

A high efficiency 3-phase hybrid 7-level inverter is presented in this paper. Compared with traditional hybrid 7-level converters, the proposed topology and its T-type cell have lower power loss and simple configuration. It can be easily implemented and applied in renewable energy areas. In the paper, power loss of proposed T-type cell is analyzed, by which conduction loss of T-type cell is proved to be lower than commonly used H-bridge. Therefore, it can be considered to replace H-bridge as a higher efficiency approach in many multi-level topologies. Due to single DC source proposed, DC voltage control scheme for auxiliary inverters is also discussed and presented. A comparison study is carried out by MATLAB + PLECS simulation platform in a grid-connected system.