Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk Factors for the Development of Osteoporosis and Osteoporotic Fractures Among Older Men

Objective. Osteoporotic fractures are associated with significant morbidity and mortality particularly among older men. However, there is little information regarding risk factors among this population. The aims of our study were to determine risk factors for osteoporosis and fragility fractures and the predictive value of bone mineral density (BMD) measurements for development of fragility fractures in a cohort of elderly Caucasian and African American men. Methods. We evaluated 257 men aged 70 years or older for risk factors for osteoporosis and fragility fractures using a detailed questionnaire and BMD assessment. Exclusion criteria included conditions known to cause osteoporosis such as hypogonadism and chronic steroid use, current treatment with bisphosphonates, bilateral hip arthroplasties, and inability to ambulate independently. Results. Age, weight, weight loss, androgen deprivation treatment, duration of use of dairy products, exercise, and fracture within 10 years prior to study entry were associated with osteoporosis (p ≤ 0.05). Fragility fractures were associated with duration of use of dairy products, androgen deprivation treatment, osteoporosis, and history of fracture within 10 years prior to BMD assessment (p ≤ 0.05). There were some differences in risk factors between the Caucasian and African American populations, suggesting that risk factors may vary between ethnic groups. Conclusion. Although men with osteoporosis had a higher rate of fractures, the majority of fractures occurred in men with T-scores > −2.5 standard deviations below the mean, suggesting that factors other than BMD are also important in determining risk.
Systemic inflammation activates satellite glial cells in the mouse nodose ganglion and alters their functions

Satellite glial cell (SGCs) in trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia are altered structurally and functionally under pathological conditions associated with chronic pain. These changes include reactive gliosis, augmented coupling by gap junctions, and increased responses to ATP via purinergic P2 receptors. Similar information for nodose ganglia (NG), which receive sensory inputs from internal organs via the vagus nerves, is missing. Here, we investigated changes in SGCs in mouse NG after the intraperitoneal administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which induces systemic inflammation. Using calcium imaging we found that SGCs in intact, freshly isolated NG are sensitive to ATP, acting largely via purinergic P2 receptors (mixed P2X and P2Y), with threshold at 0.1 μM. A single systemic injection of LPS (2.5 mg/kg) induced a 6‐fold increase in the responses to ATP, largely by augmenting the sensitivity of P2X receptors. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that at 1–14 days post‐LPS injection the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein in SGCs was 2–3‐fold greater than controls. The expression of pannexin 1 channels increased 2‐fold at day 7 after LPS injection. Using intracellular labeling we examined dye coupling among SGCs around different neurons, and observed an over 2‐fold higher incidence of dye coupling after the induction of inflammation. Incubating the ganglia with ATP increased dye coupling by acting on neuronal P2X receptors, suggesting a role for ATP in the LPS‐induced changes. We conclude that inflammation induces prominent changes in SGCs of NG, which might have a role in vagal afferent functions, such as the inflammatory reflex. GLIA 2015;63:2121–2132
Breads Fortified with Freeze-Dried Vegetables: Quality and Nutritional Attributes. Part II: Breads Not Containing Oil as an Ingredient

The present article describes the second part of a study investigating the effect of adding vegetables on the nutritional, physico-chemical, and oxidative properties of wheat bread, and specifically focuses on bread that does not contain oil as an added ingredient. Wheat flour breads fortified with freeze-dried carrot, tomato, beetroot or broccoli were developed and assessed for their nutritional composition, antioxidant potential, oxidative stability, and storage properties. Using a simulated in vitro model, the study also examined the impact of vegetable addition on the oxidative stability of macronutrients during gastro-intestinal digestion. Adding vegetables improved the nutritional and functional attributes of the oil-free breads. However, they demonstrated a lower antioxidant potential compared to their oil-containing counterparts. Similarly, the textural and storage properties of the oil-free vegetable breads were poorer compared to the oil-containing breads. As expected, in the absence of oil the oil-free breads were associated with lower lipid oxidation both in their fresh form and during gastro-intestinal digestion. Adding vegetables reduced protein oxidation in the fresh oil-free breads but had no effect during gastro-intestinal digestion. The impact of vegetables on macronutrient oxidation in the oil-free breads during digestion appears to be vegetable-specific with broccoli exacerbating it and the others having no effect. Of the evaluated vegetables, beetroot showed the most promising nutritional and physico-chemical benefits when incorporated into bread that does not contain added oil.
Cerebral hypoperfusion after cardiac surgery and anesthetic strategies: a comparative study with high dose fentanyl and barbiturate anesthesia.

BACKGROUND Postoperative delirium is a common sequel of cardiopulmonary bypass that is hard to diagnose correctly, difficult to predict and almost impossible to prevent and to treat. The aim of this study is to evaluate the frequency of postoperative cognitive disorders and cerebral hypoperfusion in patients receiving either high dose fentanyl or thiopentone anesthesia in cardiac surgery. METHODS 50 unpremedicated patients, Class IIb-NYHA (25 patients in each group suffering from single critical LAD disease) undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting surgery were randomly allocated into two groups either to receive fentanyl 50 microg/kg with diazepam 0.1 mg/kg (Group 1) or thiopentone 7 mg/kg (Group 2) for the induction of anesthesia. Anesthesia was maintained with fentanyl 2 microg/kg/hr and diazepam 0.05 mg/kg/hr infusion in Group 1 throughout the procedure. In Group 2, it was maintained with enflurane 0.7-1.5% before and after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and with thiopentone 3 mg/kg/hr infusion during CPB. Neuropsychiatric evaluation (STAI-T, min mental state examination-MMSE and Zung tests), EEG and SPECT rCBF (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography Regional Cerebral Blood Flow) studies were performed preoperatively, early and late postoperatively. The patients that were diagnosed to have postoperative cerebral hypoperfusion also underwent computed tomography scanning postoperatively. RESULTS Eleven patients (9 from fentanyl and 2 from thiopentone group) were diagnosed to have cerebral hypoperfusion with respect to SPECT rCBF studies. Seven of these patients (5 from fentanyl and 2 from thiopentone) were diagnosed to be in a state of delirium clinically with MMSE tests. CONCLUSION High dose fentanyl anesthesia causes significant predisposition to postoperative cerebral hypoperfusion when compared with barbiturate anesthesia in cardiac surgery. Hypoperfusion as demonstrated by SPECT rCBF studies may play an important role in the pathophysiology of mental disorders, i.e., postoperative delirium.
Ability of baclofen in reducing alcohol craving and intake: II--Preliminary clinical evidence.

BACKGROUND Accumulating evidence shows the efficacy of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA(B)) receptor agonist baclofen in reducing alcohol intake in rats, but no studies have been performed in alcoholics. In the present preliminary study we investigated the effect of short-term baclofen administration on craving for alcohol, ethanol intake, and abstinence from alcohol in alcoholic individuals. METHODS Ten male current alcoholic individuals were admitted to the study. Baclofen was orally administered for 4 weeks, at a dose of 15 mg/day refracted in three times per day for the first 3 days, with the dose increased to 30 mg/day for the remaining 27 days. Each subject was checked as an outpatient every week for the 4 weeks; at each visit (T0-T4) craving level was evaluated by the Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS), and abstinence from alcohol was assessed based on the individual's self-evaluation, family member interview, and the main biological markers of alcohol abuse. A self-reported alcohol intake was recorded as the mean number of standard drinks consumed per day. RESULTS Nine subjects completed the study; of these, two subjects continued to drink alcohol although they substantially reduced their daily drinks in the first week of treatment, whereas seven maintained abstinence throughout the experimental period. Craving was significantly reduced from the first week of the drug administration (p < 0.01) and remained so throughout the entire treatment period. Participants also reported that obsessional thinking about alcohol disappeared. Values of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, alanine aminotransferase, and mean cellular volume significantly decreased by the end of the study. Tolerability was fair in all participants; headache, vertigo, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hypotension, increased sleepiness, and tiredness were present as side effects in the first stage of the treatment. No participants showed craving for the drug. CONCLUSIONS With the limitations of the low number of individuals evaluated and the open design, this preliminary clinical study supports the preclinical evidence on the effect of baclofen in reducing alcohol intake. The anticraving properties of the drug suggest a possible role of baclofen in the treatment of individuals with alcohol problems.
Surgical treatment of vulvar vestibulitis syndrome: outcome assessment derived from a postoperative questionnaire.

INTRODUCTION Vulvar vestibulitis syndrome (VVS) is the most common pathology in women with sexual pain. Surgery for VVS was first described in 1981. Despite apparently high surgical success rates, most review articles suggest that surgery should be used only "as a last resort. " Risks of complications such as bleeding, scarring, and recurrence of symptoms are often used to justify these cautionary statements. However, there are little data in the peer-reviewed literature to justify this cautionary statement. AIMS To determine patient satisfaction with vulvar vestibulectomy for VVS and the rate of complications with this procedure. METHODS Women who underwent a complete vulvar vestibulectomy with vaginal advancement by one of three different surgeons were contacted via telephone by an independent researcher between 12 and 72 months after surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome measurement of surgical success was overall patient satisfaction with surgery. Additional secondary outcome measurements included improvement in dyspareunia, changes in coital frequency, and occurrence of surgical complications. RESULTS In total, 134 women underwent surgery in a 5-year period. An independent research assistant was able to contact 106 women, and 104 agreed to participate in the study. Mean duration since surgery was 26 months. A total of 97 women (93%) were satisfied, or very satisfied, with the outcome of their surgery. Only three patients (3%) reported persistently worse symptoms after surgery and only seven (7%) reported permanent recurrence of any symptoms after surgery. Prior to surgery, 72% of the women were completely apareunic; however, after surgery, only 11% were unable to have intercourse. DISCUSSION In this cohort of patients, there was a high degree of satisfaction with surgery for VVS. In addition, the risks of complications with this procedure were low, and most complications were transient and the risk of recurrence after surgery was also found to be low.
Sodium Restriction Decreases AP-1 Activation after Nephron Reduction in the Rat: Role in the Progression of Renal Lesions

Renal hyperplasia and hypertrophy are early events after nephron reduction which precede progressive destruction of the remnant kidney. Restriction of dietary sodium content was shown to reduce renal lesions following nephron reduction. AP-1 is a transcription factor, resulting from heterodimerization of fos and jun proteins, which mediates the effects of mitogenic growth factors. To elucidate the role of AP-1 in growth processes involved in renal deterioration, we evaluated whether restriction of dietary sodium content (0.25 vs. 0.50% sodium w/w) affected AP-1-DNA binding and hyperplasia in the remnant kidney after nephron reduction (70% nephrectomy). Cell proliferation, evaluated by PCNA immunostaining, increased progressively from day 7 to day 60 in glomeruli, proximal and distal tubules and loops of Henle of nephrectomized (Nx) rats compared to control sham-operated (C) animals. AP-1-DNA binding activity increased 7 and 14 days after surgery, but it was reduced below C values at day 60. c-fos and c-jun expression were also reduced in Nx rats at day 60. Sodium restriction significantly reduced the number of PCNA-stained cells in glomeruli and tubules at days 14 and 60, but not at day 7, whereas it decreased AP-1 activation at all times of the study. This effect was associated to a marked reduction of renal lesions in Nx rats. In conclusion, we showed that, after nephron reduction, the beneficial effect of sodium restriction was associated with a reduction of hyperplasia and AP-1 activation, but that the latter did not parallel delayed cell proliferation rate in remaining nephrons. Thus, we propose that different transduction pathways are involved in cell proliferation after nephron reduction, according to the time of evolution of renal lesions.
Dynamin GTPase Domain Mutants That Differentially Affect GTP Binding, GTP Hydrolysis, and Clathrin-mediated Endocytosis*

The GTPase dynamin is essential for clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Unlike most GTPases, dynamin has a low affinity for nucleotide, a high rate of GTP hydrolysis, and can self-assemble, forming higher order structures such as rings and spirals that exhibit up to 100-fold stimulated GTPase activity. The role(s) of GTP binding and/or hydrolysis in endocytosis remain unclear because mutations in the GTPase domain so far studied impair both. We generated a new series of GTPase domain mutants to probe the mechanism of GTP hydrolysis and to further test the role of GTP binding and/or hydrolysis in endocytosis. Each of the mutations had parallel effects on assembly-stimulated and basal GTPase activities. In contrast to previous reports, we find that mutation of Thr-65 to Ala (or Asp or His) dramatically lowered both the rate of assembly-stimulated GTP hydrolysis and the affinity for GTP. The assemblystimulated rate of hydrolysis was lowered by the mutation of Ser-61 to Asp and increased by the mutation of Thr-141 to Ala without significantly altering the Km for GTP. For some mutants and to a lesser extent for WT dynamin, self-assembly dramatically altered the Km for GTP, suggesting that conformational changes in the active site accompany self-assembly. Analysis of transferrin endocytosis rates in cells overexpressing mutant dynamins revealed a stronger correlation with both the basal and assembly-stimulated rates of GTP hydrolysis than with the calculated ratio of dynamin-GTP/free dynamin, suggesting that GTP binding is not sufficient, and GTP hydrolysis is required for clathrin-mediated endocytosis in vivo.
Mouse tryptophan hydroxylase isoform 2 and the role of proline 447 in enzyme function

Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) is the rate‐limiting enzyme in the synthesis of the neurotransmitter serotonin (5‐HT). Once thought to be a single gene product, TPH is now known to exist in two isoforms. Isoform 1 (TPH1) is found in the pineal gland and gut, and isoform 2 (TPH2) is selectively expressed in brain. A single‐nucleotide polymorphism in TPH2 results in a proline‐to‐arginine mutation at residue 447 and substantially lowers catalytic activity. In view of the importance of TPH in determining brain 5‐HT function, we cloned TPH2 and produced the P447R mutant to assess the importance of this proline in enzyme function. Catalytically active TPH2 and the P447R mutant were expressed at the predicted subunit molecular mass of 56 kDa. The P447R mutant expressed less than 50% of the activity of TPH2. Mutation of this conserved proline in TPH1 (P403R) also resulted in an enzyme with significantly lower activity than the wild‐type enzyme. The P447R mutant had a Vmax 50% lower than that of TPH2. The P447R mutation did not alter the oligomeric assembly of the protein, nor change its responsiveness to cysteine modification. The P447R mutation did not alter enzyme substrate specificity or stability, but conferred slightly enhanced sensitivity to inhibition by dopamine and diminished sensitivity to iron in catalysis. The conserved proline in TPH (residue 447 in TPH2 and 403 in TPH1) plays an important role in enzyme function by regulating Vmax of the catalytic reaction.
Hearing impairment in Parkinson's disease: Expanding the nonmotor phenotype

The objective of this study was to evaluate hearing impairment in patients affected by Parkinson's disease compared with hearing scores observed in normal age‐ and sex‐matched controls. One hundred eighteen consecutive patients with a clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease were screened. Severity of motor symptoms and staging were measured with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (section III) and the Hoehn and Yahr scale. Audiometric evaluation consisted of a comprehensive audiologic case history and questionnaire, visual otoscopic examination, acoustic immittance measures (tympanogram and acoustic reflexes), pure tone audiometry, and measurement of brain stem auditory‐evoked potentials. Healthy age‐ and sex‐matched subjects were selected as the control group. One hundred six of 118 patients were enrolled. Pure tone audiometry revealed age‐dependent high‐frequency hearing loss in patients with Parkinson's disease compared with both normative values and values for healthy age‐ and sex‐matched controls (75/106 [71%], χ2 = 5.959, P = .02; 92/106 [86.8%] vs 60/106 [56.6%], χ2 = 23.804, P < .001, respectively). Pure tone audiometry scores correlated with Hoehn and Yahr scale scores (P < .05). Brain stem auditory‐evoked potentials were normal in all patients. Our patients with Parkinson's disease showed age‐dependent peripheral, unilateral, or bilateral hearing impairment. Whether these auditory deficits are intrinsic to Parkinson's disease or secondary to a more complex impaired processing of sensorial inputs occurring over the course of illness remains to be determined. Because α‐synuclein is located predominately in the efferent neuronal system within the inner ear, it could affect susceptibility to noise‐induced hearing loss or presbycusis. It is feasible that the natural aging process combined with neurodegenerative changes intrinsic to Parkinson's disease might interfere with cochlear transduction mechanisms, thus anticipating presbycusis. © 2012 Movement Disorder Society
A novel 3D model recognition approach using Pitman-Yor process mixtures of Beta-Liouville Distributions

In this paper, we formulate 3D model recognition as a statistical inference problem using a Pitman-Yor process mixture of Beta-Liouville Distributions. The proposed model is learned via a collapsed variational inference approach. Unlike classic variational Bayes, the collapsed approach does not make the non-realistic assumption that the model's parameters are independent from the assignment variables, which leads to better modelling and generalization capabilities. The merits and advantages of the proposed approach are shown via extensive experiments.
The prevalence of common and stress-related mental health disorders in healthcare workers based in pandemic-affected hospitals: a rapid systematic review and meta-analysis

ABSTRACT Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are considered at elevated risk of experiencing mental health disorders in working with patients with COVID-19. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of common mental health disorders in HCWs based in hospitals where pandemic-affected patients were treated. Method: Databases were searched for studies published before 30 March 2020. Quantitative synthesis was used to obtain estimates of the prevalence of mental health disorders in four time windows, determined a priori (the acute phase, i.e. during and up to 1.5 months post-pandemic; 1.5–5.9 months; 6–11.9 months; 12 months and later). Results: Nineteen studies met the review criteria. They predominantly addressed the acute phase of the SARS outbreak in Asia. The most studied outcomes were clinically significant post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and general psychiatric caseness. For clinically significant PTSS in the acute phase, the prevalence estimate was 23.4% (95% CI 16.3, 31.2; N = 4147; I2 = 96.2%); in the 12 months plus window, the estimate was 11.9% (8.4, 15.8; N = 1136; I2 = 74.3%). For general psychiatric caseness, prevalence estimates were acute phase, 34.1% (18.7, 51.4; N = 3971; I2 = 99.1%); 6–12 months, 17.9% (13.1, 23.2; N = 223; I2 = 0.0%); 12 months plus, 29.3% (6.0, 61.0; N = 710; I2 = 97.8%). No differences between doctors and nurses with respective to PTSS and general psychiatric caseness were apparent in the acute phase. Conclusions: Mental health disorders are particularly common in HCWs working with pandemic-afflicted patients immediately following a pandemic, but the course of disorders following this period is poorly understood. There was considerable heterogeneity between studies, likely linked to methodological differences. More extended follow up of HCWs is needed. HIGHLIGHTS: • Mental health difficulties, in particular post-traumatic stress, are common in healthcare workers working with patients infected during a pandemic. The long-term impact of working in such environments is poorly understood, however.
A Method of Numerical Design of Tunneladder Circuits for Millimeter-Wave Traveling-Wave Tubes

In this paper, we have developed an accurate and fast method of predicting the dispersion characteristics, interaction impedance, and attenuation of tunneladder slow-wave structure for millimeter-wave traveling-wave tubes, in which an equivalent circuit theory and the simulations of electromagnetic simulation software are incorporated. The discrepancy between the theoretical data by this approach and the experimental data is within 0.5% on dispersion characteristics. Furthermore, the cold results are used in the nonlinear beam-wave interaction simulation code LATTE to calculate the tube gain. The test results show good agreement with the computer simulated (LATTE) linear and saturated gains.
Elastically Deforming 3D Atlas to Match Anatomical Brain Images

To evaluate our system for elastically deforming a three-dimensional atlas to match anatomical brain images, six deformed versions of an atlas were generated. The deformed atlases were created by elastically mapping an anatomical brain atlas onto different MR brain image volumes. The mapping matches the edges of the ventricles and the surface of the brain; the resultant deformations are propagated through the atlas volume, deforming the remainder of the structures in the process. The atlas was then elastically matched to its deformed versions. The accuracy of the resultant matches was evaluated by determining the correspondence of 32 cortical and subcortical structures. The system on average matched the centroid of a structure to within 1 mm of its true position and fit a structure to within 11% of its true volume. The overlap between the matched and true structures, defined by the ratio between the volume of their intersection and the volume of their union, averaged 66%. When the gray-white interface was included for matching, the mean overlap improved to 78%; each structure was matched to within 0.6 mm of its true position and fit to within 6% of its true volume. Preliminary studies were also made to determine the effect of the compliance of the atlas on the resultant match.