Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Best evidence topic - Cardiac general Can the use of thromboelastography predict and decrease bleeding and blood and blood product requirements in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery?

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether use of thromboelastography could predict and decrease bleeding and blood and blood product requirements in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Altogether 170 papers were identified using the reported search strategy of which 14 represented the best evidence on the topic. The author, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study weaknesses were tabulated. We conclude that thromboelastography may be useful in predicting patients who are likely to bleed postoperatively but more importantly, it can guide transfusion therapy algorithms in the bleeding cardiac surgical patient resulting in significant decreases in blood and blood component transfusion requirements. However, the technique remains unvalidated in the eyes of many haematologists and further large studies involving them are required to fully validate its use and to define the ‘ideal’ treatment algorithm. 2005 Published by European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.
A study on microvascular abnormalities in capillaroscopy in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Background . Systemic vasculopathy is the most important complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). A damage to internal organs occurs through a widespread disorder of the microvasculature. The aim of this study was to investigate morphological abnormalities of nail fold capillaries in type 1 diabetic patients, their relationship with systemic organ involvement, and the impact of diabetes duration and metabolic control on these microvascular changes. Material and methods . The skin microcirculation was studied by nail fold capillaroscopy in 50 patients with type 1 diabetes and in 40 healthy controls. Results . The capillaroscopic feature in the control group showed hairpin capillaries in a parallel arrangement. An increased degree of capillary tortuosity, a reduction of capillary density and an enlargement of capillary loop was observed in diabetic patients as compared to the control group. In all diabetic patients with signs of systemic organ involvement severe or moderate changes in nail fold capillaroscopy were found. Patients with severe capillaroscopic abnormalities had a longer disease history and a higher frequency of systemic involvement than did those with mild changes. Moreover, all diabetic patients with bad metabolic control (HbA1c > 6.1 according to the criteria of Polish Diabetological Society), showed severe vascular changes in nail fold capillaroscopy, as compared to patients with good metabolic control (HbA1c = 6.1). Conclusions . These results indicate that capillaroscopic investigation is a useful noninvasive method for the routine diagnosis of microvascular abnormalities in diabetic patients. Moreover, our results confirmed an important role of the metabolic control in the pathogenesis of microvascular damage in the course of diabetes mellitus.
A CLINICAL PREDICTION RULE FOR CLASSIFYING POSTPARTUM SUBJECTS WITH LOW BACK AND PELVIC GIRDLE PAIN WHO DEMONSTRATE SHORT-TERM IMPROVEMENT WITH MOBILIZATION OF THE SACROILIAC JOINT

Objective: develop a Clinical Prediction Rule (CPR) for identifying postpartum women with Low Back (LBP) or Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) who demonstrate short-term improvement with Sacroiliac Joint (SIJ) mobilization. Significance: Development of a CPR for classifying subject's a-prior would improve the clinical decision-making process and research. Methods: a prospective cohort of 69 postpartum women was conducted at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Subjects were six weeks to one year postpartum and had a chief complaint of pain in the lower back, pelvic girdle, or thigh. Subjects completed several self-report measures, questionnaires and underwent a physical examination. Subjects then underwent a grade V mobilization to the SIJ. Success with treatment was determined using percent changes in disability scores after one mobilization and served as the reference standard for determining accuracy of the examination variables. Variables with univariate prediction of success and non-success were combined into multivariate CPR's. Results: Fifty-five subjects (80%) had success with the mobilization and 14 (20%) were categorized as non-success. A CPR for success with four variables (seated flexion test, prone knee bend test, negative posterior superior iliac spine symmetry test, and symptom location in the lower lumbar spine and/or SIJ areas only) was identified. The presence of 2/4 criteria (+LR=3.05) increased the probability of success with mobilization from 80% to 92%. A CPR for non-success with three variables (age > 35 years, visual analogue score-best > 3, and negative prone knee bend test) was identified. The presence of 2/3 criteria (+LR=11.79) increased the probability of non-success with the mobilization from 20% to 75%. Conclusion: In our sample, 80% of subjects were successful after one mobilization without an attempt at prediction. This success rate was higher than the success rate of the general LBP population of a previously developed CPR. There is a low risk accompanying this intervention, it does not take long and benefits would be experienced after one session. The broad inclusion criteria of women with LBP or PGP allows clinicians to include women without a traditional diagnosis. Clinicians may opt to try the mobilization; an alternate approach can be used if it fails.
Reasoning Methods in Fuzzy Rule-based Classification Systems for Big Data Problems

The analysis with a very high number of examples is a subject of growing interest that needs new algorithms and procedures. In this case, we study how the massive use of data affects the reasoning processes for classification problems that make use of fuzzy rule-based systems. First, we describe the standard reasoning model and the operations associated with its use, and once it is verified that these calculations may be inefficient in some cases we propose a new model to perform such calculations. Basically, the proposal eliminates the need to review all the rules in every inference process, generating the rule that best adapts to the particular example, which does not have to be part of the set of rules, and from it explore only the rules that have some effect on the example. We make an experimental study that shows the interest of the proposal presented.
Determinants of Fatal Outcome in Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Units With Influenza, European Union 2009–2017

Abstract Background Morbidity, severity, and mortality associated with annual influenza epidemics are of public health concern. We analyzed surveillance data on hospitalized laboratory-confirmed influenza cases admitted to intensive care units to identify common determinants for fatal outcome and inform and target public health prevention strategies, including risk communication. Methods We performed a descriptive analysis and used Poisson regression models with robust variance to estimate the association of age, sex, virus (sub)type, and underlying medical condition with fatal outcome using European Union data from 2009 to 2017. Results Of 13 368 cases included in the basic dataset, 2806 (21%) were fatal. Age ≥40 years and infection with influenza A virus were associated with fatal outcome. Of 5886 cases with known underlying medical conditions and virus A subtype included in a more detailed analysis, 1349 (23%) were fatal. Influenza virus A(H1N1)pdm09 or A(H3N2) infection, age ≥60 years, cancer, human immunodeficiency virus infection and/or other immune deficiency, and heart, kidney, and liver disease were associated with fatal outcome; the risk of death was lower for patients with chronic lung disease and for pregnant women. Conclusions This study re-emphasises the importance of preventing influenza in the elderly and tailoring strategies to risk groups with underlying medical conditions.
THE ACUTE EFFECT OF RUNNING EXERCISE ON LIVER ABCA1 GENE EXPRESSION IN MALE WISTAR RATS

Objectives. ATP-binding cassette transporters transfer a variety of substrates across the lipid bilayers in an energy-dependent manner. ABCA1 is a member of this family, which plays a crucial role in plasma HDL-C metabolism. On the other hand, the short-term effects of exercise training are less studied. The aim of this study was the effects of a single bout of exercise on liver ABCA1 gene expression in the male Wistar rats. Methods. Twenty four male Wistar rats were housed in a standard environment and randomly divided into two Control (n = 12) and Experimental (n = 12) groups. The exercise included running on a treadmill for 120 min (18 m/min). Immediately, 2 and 24 hours after exercise, rats were anesthetized, and samples were taken from the adipose tissue and liver. Liver ABCA1 was assessed by RT-PCR. Results. The results showed that liver ABCA1 gene expression had significant elevation immediately, 2 and 24 hours after exercise (p < 0.05). Conclusion. The findings of this study proved that acute exercise can increase liver ABCA1 gene expression.
The Epidemiology of Chicken Anaemia Virus, Fowl Adenovirus, and Infectious Bursal Disease Virus in Ontario Broiler Flocks

This project was supported by the 1) Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) / University of Guelph Partnership; 2) OMAFRA-University of Guelph Agreement through the Animal Health Strategic Investment (AHSI) fund managed by the Animal Health Laboratory of the University of Guelph; 3) Poultry Industry Council; and 4) Chicken Farmers of Ontario. 5)Stipend for Michael Eregae was provided via an OMAFRA Highly Qualified Personnel scholarship
Visual Debugging of Behavioural Models

In this paper, we present the CLEAR visualizer tool, which supports the debugging task of behavioural models being analyzed using model checking techniques. The tool provides visualization techniques for simplifying the comprehension of counterexamples by highlighting some specific states in the model where a choice is possible between executing a correct behaviour or falling into an erroneous part of the model. Our tool was applied successfully to many case studies and allowed us to visually identify several kinds of typical bugs. Video URL: https://youtu.be/nJLOnRaPe1A
Enhancing Dendritic Cell Migration to Drive Antitumor Responses

Enhancing Dendritic Cell Migration to Drive Antitumor Responses by Kristen A. Batich Department of Pathology Duke University Date:_______________________ Approved: ___________________________ John H. Sampson, Supervisor ___________________________ Michael D. Gunn ___________________________ Smita K. Nair ___________________________ Duane A. Mitchell An abstract of a dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Pathology in the Graduate School of Duke University 2015 Copyright by Kristen A. Batich 2015
Efficacy Of Apatinib In Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization (TACE) Refractory Intermediate And Advanced-Stage Hepatocellular carcinoma：A Propensity Score Matching Analysis

Purpose This research aimed to compare the efficacy of combination treatment of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) with apatinib versus TACE-alone for intermediate and advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases refractory to TACE. Patients and methods A total of 125 patients with TACE refractory intermediate or advanced-stage HCC were enrolled and classified as TACE-apatinib group and TACE-alone group. One-to-one matched pairs between two groups were generated using propensity score matching (PSM). Associations of treatment modality with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were determined by Cox regression. Adverse effects (AEs) were compared between two treatment groups to assess the safety of apatinib. Results Before PSM analysis, the median OS and PFS were 17.0 and 7.0 months in the TACE-apatinib group, while 8.5 and 2.5 months in the TACE-alone group (P<0.05). After PSM analysis, 29 pairs of patients were generated with no significant difference in baseline characteristics. The median OS and PFS were 17.0 and 7.0 months in the TACE-apatinib group, while 10.7 and 2.0 months in the TACE-alone group (P<0.001). Multivariate analyses showed that TACE-apatinib treatment was a positive prognostic factor of both OS (hazard ratio [HR]=0.280, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] =0.158–0.499; P<0.001) and PFS (HR=0.348, 95% CI=0.223–0.544; P<0.001). Tumor size≥5 cm (HR=1.732, 95% CI=1.086–2.760; P=0.021), presence of portal vein tumor thrombus (HR=2.297, 95% CI=1.379–3.827; P=0.001) and distant metastasis (HR=1.962, 95% CI=1.223–3.148; P=0.005) were independent hazard factors of OS. Three patients in TACE-apatinib group appeared grade 3/4 AEs while their symptoms could be alleviated by dosage reduction and symptomatic treatments. Conclusion TACE combined with apatinib demonstrated a superior therapeutic efficacy than TACE alone for improved OS and PFS toward the TACE refractory HCC. Apatinib could be recommended for HCC patients when TACE refractoriness occurs after further validation.
The Effect of Endurance Exercise Training on Vaspin, Lipid Profile, and Anthropometric Indices in Young People

Background: Exercise training affects the adipose tissue, which may lead to the secretion of adipokines. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of endurance exercise training on vaspin, lipid profiles, and some anthropometric indices among young people. Methods: The participants included 26 young men selected and categorized into the intervention and control groups randomly. The intervention group underwent the endurance activity (aerobic), while the control group had no exercises during the study. Anthropometric indices and dietary intakes were determined by standard and 48-hr recall methods, respectively. Before and after implementation of the exercise training, the participants' fasting blood samples were collected. Lipid profile (including cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, and HDL) and vaspin levels were determined. Results: A significant difference was observed in body fat percentage of the intervention group after exercise training (P = 0.009). However, no significant differences were observed based on the means of anthropometric indices, lipid profile, and daily energy intake between two groups. With regard to the vaspin levels, a significant difference was observed between the participants' scores before (P = 0.001) and after (P = 0.04) the exercise training in intervention compared to the control group. Conclusion: Endurance exercise program can lead to appropriate changes in some anthropometric indices, lipid profile, and vaspin adipokine in young people. So, exercise training can affect health promotion of people.
Ameliorating the effect of Zingiber officinale (ginger) hydroethanolic extract on scopolamine-induced memory impairment in adult male rats

Background and aims: The spice Zingiber officinale or ginger possesses antioxidant activity and neuroprotective effects. In this study we hypothesized that treatment with hydroethanolic extract of ginger (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o) would effect on the scopolamine-induced memory impairment in rats. Methods: In this experimental study, 64 male Wistar rats were divided into eight groups (8 rats in each group): normal saline, scopolamine (1 mg/kg), ginger extract (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg), or scopolamine (1 mg/kg) plus ginger extract (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg). Memory impairment was induced by a single injection of scopolamine (1 mg/kg, i.p). Cognitive functions were evaluated using passive avoidance learning (PAL) task. Retention test was carried out 24 h after training, and the latency of entering the dark compartment [step-through latency (STL)] and the total time in the dark compartment (TDC) were recorded. All statistical analysis was carried out at 5% level of significance using SPSS version 21. The data were analyzed by ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test. Results: The time latency in scopolamine-treated group was lower than control (P<0.001). Treatment of the animals by 100 and 200 mg/kg of ginger extract before the training trial increased the time latency at 24 h after the training trial (P<0.01). Administration of both 100 and 200 mg/kg doses of the extract in scopolamine received animal groups before retention trials also increased the time latency than the scopolamine-treated groups (P<0.001). Conclusion: The results revealed that the ginger hydroethanolic extract attenuated scopolamine-induced memory impairment.
Cerebral Cortical Changes in Adult Albino Rats Under the Effect of Tramadol and its Withdrawal: Histological and Morphometric Study

Introduction: Tramadol hydrochloride (opioid) is a synthetic centrally acting analgesic agent used for treating moderate to severe pain with fewer side effects than traditional opioid medications.Aim of the work: was to study the histological and morphometric changes of the cerebral cortex in adult albino rats after tramadol hydrochloride administration and the effect of its withdrawal.Materials and Methods: Twenty four adult male albino rats were used, divided into 3 groups: a control group (I): consisted of 8 rats were furtherly subdivided into two equal subgroups: a subgroup Ia, rats were kept without any medication for 4 weeks and subgroup Ib where rats received 0.5 ml saline daily by intraperitoneal injection for 4 weeks. Tramadol group (II), included 8 rats received 50 mg/kg/day of tramadol intraperitoneally for 4 weeks. Tramadol withdrawal group (III), included 8 rats received the same dose as tramadol group then kept for another 4 weeks without treatment to study the effect of its withdrawal. The obtained specimens were examined by both light and electron microscopy. Results: The tramadol group revealed loss of organization of cerebral cortex layers, some pyramidal cells exhibited pyknotic nuclei surrounded by haloes and granule cells showed karyolitic nuclei. Astrocytes showed hypertrophy of their cell bodies with increased thickness of their processes. Ultrastructurally, the pyramidal cells showed heterochromatic nuclei with marked indentations of their membranes and the myelinated axons showed splitting of myelin sheaths with swollen mitochondria in their axoplasm. Tramadol withdrawal group showed evidence of improvement as compared to the tramadol group. Conclusion: Using the therapeutic dose of tramadol hydrochloride (opioid analgesics) for a long time led to marked damaging effect on the cerebral cortex. However, its withdrawal resulted in an improvement of these hazardous effects to a lesser extent.
Improving quality-of-life questionnaires in head and neck cancer

ABSTRACT Questionnaires are an established means of quantifying health-related quality of life (HRQOL) following head and neck cancer. Questionnaires have evolved over many decades. Validated measures are now readily available to assess the physical/functional, emotional, and social impact of cancer and its treatment. The purpose of this article is to briefly reflect upon the current position and potential future improvements in questionnaire design and clinical utility. The basis for the observations stem from the literature between 1982 and 2014 as contained at the ‘Handle on QOL’ website. Advances over the next five years will relate to the how, when, where and frequency of questionnaire completion, in addition to improved sophistication of analysis and data presentation, underpinned by the improved use of information technology.
Avaliação longitudinal de pacientes com espondiloartrite indiferenciada: oito anos de seguimento

Introducao: Espondiloartrite indiferenciada (EI) refere-se ao quadro clinico apresentado por pacientes com sintomas e sinais sugestivos de espondiloartrite (EpA), mas que nao preenchem criterios para uma das doencas estabelecidas do grupo, ou seja, a espondilite anquilosante (EA), a artrite psoriasica (AP), a artrite reativa e a artrite das doencas inflamatorias intestinais. Sabe-se que a incidencia e o espectro de manifestacoes das EpA apresentam variacoes de acordo com o grupo etnico acometido. Os estudos brasileiros de pacientes com EI sao provenientes de um unico centro. Num pais de dimensoes continentais como o Brasil, considerando a intensa miscigenacao, e importante descrever as caracteristicas da EI em diferentes regioes, com subgrupos distintos de pacientes. Objetivos: Descrever as manifestacoes e a evolucao de pacientes brasileiros com EI, durante oito anos de seguimento. Metodos: Foram incluidos pacientes que preenchessem criterios para EpA, segundo o Grupo Europeu para Estudo das EpA, mas que nao preenchessem criterios para uma das doencas estabelecidas do grupo. Foram avaliados no momento basal, apos 2,5 anos e apos 7,7 anos de seguimento. Radiografias das articulacoes sacroiliacas foram realizadas em cada tempo de avaliacao. Resultados: Quarenta pacientes foram examinados no momento basal e 36 participaram do acompanhamento. Vinte e tres (58%) pacientes eram do sexo feminino, 16 (40%) eram brancos e 24 (60%) afro-brasileiros, sendo o HLA-B27 positivo em 18 (45%). A artrite periferica foi a manifestacao inicial mais frequente (20/55,6%), seguida da entesite de calcâneos (13/36,1%). Dor lombar inflamatoria (DLI) foi o primeiro sintoma em oito (22,2%) pacientes e dor na nadega em tres (8,3%). Apos o periodo do estudo, a entesite ocorreu em 34 (94,5%) pacientes, DLI em 26 (72,2%) e dor na nadega em 14 (39%). Os novos criterios de classificacao da Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) para EpA axial foram preenchidos por 77% dos pacientes e os criterios ASAS para EpA periferica foram preenchidos por 59%. Apos 2,5 anos, seis (16,7%) de 36 doentes preencheram os criterios modificados de Nova Iorque para EA e um (2,7%) para AP. Vinte e seis pacientes foram seguidos por 7,7 anos e houve tres novos casos de EA, totalizando 10 (27,8%) pacientes com EpA definida ao final dos oito anos. Seis (16,7%) doentes apresentaram remissao dos sintomas. Dor na nadega (p = 0,006, OR = 10,55; IC 95%: 2,00 65,90) e sacroiliite radiografica de baixo grau (p = 0,025, OR = 11,50; IC 95%: 1,33 83,39), no momento basal, associaram-se com EpA definida. Conclusao: Neste grupo pacientes com EI, em que se observou uma predominância de mulheres afro-brasileiras, sintomas perifericos iniciais foram seguidos por uma alta prevalencia de sintomas axiais durante o acompanhamento. A evidencia de sacroiliite clinica ou radiografica, no momento basal, associou-se com EpA definida.