Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TNFRSF1A polymorphisms rs1800693 and rs4149584 in patients with multiple sclerosis

Objectives: To investigate the roles of 2 polymorphisms of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily member 1A (TNFRSF1A) gene, rs1800693 (a common variant) and rs4149584 (a coding polymorphism that results in an amino acid substitution—R92Q), as genetic modifiers of multiple sclerosis (MS), and to evaluate their potential functional implications in the disease. Methods: The effects of rs1800693 and rs4149584 on 2 measures of disease severity, age at disease onset and Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score, were analyzed in 2,032 patients with MS. In a subgroup of patients, serum levels of the soluble form of TNF-R1 (sTNF-R1) were measured by ELISA; mRNA expression levels of the full-length TNF-R1 and Δ6-TNF-R1 isoform were investigated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by real-time PCR; cell surface expression of the TNF-R1 was determined in T cells by flow cytometry. Results: For rs4149584, R92Q carriers were younger at disease onset and progressed slower compared to noncarriers. However, no association with disease severity was observed for rs1800693. Serum levels of sTNF-R1 and mRNA expression levels of the full-length receptor were significantly increased in patients with MS carrying the R92Q mutation (p = 0.003 and p = 0.011, respectively), but similarly distributed among rs1800693 genotypes; cell surface TNF-R1 expression in T cells did not differ between rs4149584 and rs1800693 genotypes. The truncated soluble Δ6-TNF-R1 isoform was identified in PBMC from patients carrying the risk allele for rs1800693. Conclusions: These findings suggest that both rs1800693 and rs4149584 TNFRSF1A polymorphisms have functional consequences in the TNF-R1.
Kronik otitis media komplikasyonları: 1293 olgunun retrospektif analizi

Objective: To evaluate the clinical signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, outcomes, distribution and incidence of the complications of chronic otitis media (COM). Methods: This retrospective study analyzed the clinical and operative findings of 1293 patients with COM, including 39 patients with complications of COM. We compared the surgical techniques, incidence and management of complications and morbidity and mortality rates with those reported in the relevant literature. Results: Of the patients with complications, 23 were male and 16 were female. Eight patients (20.5%) had intracranial complications, while 31 (79.5%) had extracranial complications. Lateral sinus thrombophlebitis and labyrinthine fistula were the most common intra- and extracranial complication, respectively. Of the 39 patients with complications, 27 underwent radical mastoidectomy, including two patients who underwent simultaneous labyrinthectomy. Revision radical mastoidectomy, canal wall down tympanomastoidectomy and canal wall up tympanomastoidectomy were performed in one, six and five patients, respectively. All patients did well, and the mortality rate was 0% during a follow-up period of 46p22 months. Conclusion: Despite their reduced incidence, COM complications continue to pose a great, clinical challenge. A careful history, physical examination, effective use of imaging technology and most importantly, a greater awareness of COM complications will reduce their morbidity and mortality.
Increased suppression of serum ghrelin concentration by hyperinsulinemia in women with anorexia nervosa.

CONTEXT Ghrelin is a peptide secreted mainly by the stomach, which has the ability to stimulate appetite and food intake. Serum ghrelin concentration decreases rapidly after a meal, probably because of the concurrent increase in serum insulin. Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder, which is characterized by high serum ghrelin concentration; however, the regulation of circulating ghrelin by insulin in this disorder remains unclear. OBJECTIVE To estimate serum ghrelin concentration in the fasting state and after hyperinsulinemia in women with AN. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS We examined 19 women with AN, 26 lean healthy women, and 25 women who were overweight or obese. Serum ghrelin concentration was measured in the fasting state and after euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp. RESULTS Insulin sensitivity was similar in AN and normal-weight women, and was markedly decreased in the obese subjects. In the fasting state, serum ghrelin was higher in AN group than in other groups (normal-weight, P=0.017; obese, P=0.0001) and in normal-weight women than in obese women (P=0.044). Hyperinsulinemia resulted in a marked decrease in serum ghrelin in AN (P<0.0001) and normal-weight women (P=0.002). The fall in serum ghrelin was higher in AN group than in other groups (normal-weight, P=0.0008; obese, P=0.0001), and was related to insulin sensitivity (r=0.24, P<0.05). In multiple regression analysis, only fasting serum ghrelin and the presence of AN were independent predictors of this fall. CONCLUSIONS Women with AN have an increased suppression of serum ghrelin by hyperinsulinemia. This phenomenon might lead to an increased and more rapid feeling of satiety in AN.
Symmetric Periodic orbits and Global Dynamics of Tori in an O(2) Equivariant System: Two-Dimensional thermal convection

Numerical simulations of two-dimensional Boussinesq thermal convection in a long cylindrical annulus with radial gravity and heating are used to study the influence of the reflection and rotation symmetries of the system on the sequence of local and global bifurcations leading to complex time dependent behavior. From the results of the linear stability analysis of symmetric periodic orbits, it is shown how, via gluing bifurcations, some quasi-periodic flows recover, as sets, symmetries lost in previous bifurcations. It is also shown how the same mechanism gives rise to a temporal chaotic attractor consisting of random switches between the symmetry-conjugate quasi-periodic orbits. At higher Rayleigh numbers, a chaotic-drifting behavior is found when a circle of invariant tori loses stability. In addition, detailed information about the Floquet multipliers and eigenfunctions of the periodic orbits involved in this dynamics is supplied.
Change in Expiratory Flow Detects Partial Endotracheal Tube Obstruction in Pressure-Controlled Ventilation

Only extreme degrees of endotracheal tube (ETT) narrowing can be detected with monitoring of tidal volume (VT) during pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV). To assess the degree of ETT obstruction in PCV and to compare it to VT monitoring, we produced 3 levels of partial ETT obstruction in 11 healthy anesthetized piglets using ETTs of 4 different inner diameters (IDs 9.0, 8.0, 7.0, and 6.0 mm). An expiratory flow over volume (&OV0312;e–V) curve was plotted and the time constant (&tgr;e) at 15% of expiration time (Te) was calculated. We also calculated the fractional volume expired during the first 15% of Te (Vex fract,15) and compared those variables to full expiratory VT for each of the 3 obstructions. VT monitoring failed to detect ETT narrowing. By contrast, Vex fract,15 decreased and &tgr;e increased significantly with increasing ETT narrowing (for IDs 9.0, 8.0, 7.0, and 6.0, mean Vex fract,15 was 195, 180, 146, and 134 mL respectively and mean &tgr;e was 380, 491, 635, 794 ms for IDs 9.0, 8.0, 7.0, and 6.0 respectively). We conclude that when the elastic recoil that drives &OV0312;e is appropriately considered, analysis of &OV0312;e and Vex fract,15 detects partial ETT obstruction during PCV.
School nurses as health counsellors in Finnish ENHPS schools

Describes how school nurses estimated their goal attainment in view of the contents and methods of health counselling and their roles and possibilities as health promoters in the school community. Data were collected from the school nurses (n=31) of the Finnish European Network of Health‐Promoting schools, using a semi‐structured questionnaire specifically developed for the study. The response rate was 77 per cent (n=24). The results show that the traditional aspects of health counselling were mostly covered well. Counselling on sexual health was partly achieved well, but contraception and the prevention of sexually transmitted disease were less emphasised in school nurses' health counselling. To foster the empowerment of pupils, parents and teachers, there is a need for the school nurse to adopt a more active participatory role as a health promoter in the whole school community.
Universal screening detects two-times more thyroid disorders in early pregnancy than targeted high-risk case finding.

OBJECTIVE Screening of thyroid disorders in pregnancy has been controversial. Recent recommendations favour targeted high-risk case finding, though this approach may miss a significant number of those affected. We aimed to assess the prevalence of accepted high-risk criteria in women with autoimmune thyroiditis and/or hypothyroidism detected from universal screening in an iodine-sufficient population. DESIGN In 400 non-selected women in the 9-11th gestational week, thyroid-related tests were performed, and those with abnormalities were offered consultation. METHODS TSH was determined by IRMA, and the upper cut-off value for screening was set at 3.5 mIU/l. For free thyroxine (FT(4)) and thyroperoxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab), RIAs were used, with cut-offs of <10 pmol/l and >50 IU/ml respectively. Endocrinological consultation included Doppler ultrasonography and was aimed to confirm autoimmune thyroiditis and/or hypothyroidism. The prevalence of consensus high-risk criteria was assessed. RESULTS Among the 400 women, 65 (16.3%) had ≥1 abnormality: higher TSH was found in 10.3%, lower FT(4) in 2% and positive TPO-Ab in 8.3%. Fifty-one women were examined and followed up. Levo-T(4) treatment was initiated in 49 women for autoimmune thyroiditis (in 42), hypothyroidism (in 34) or both (in 27). Only 22 (45%) of 49 treated women fulfilled ≥1 high-risk criterion: most commonly family history (31%), history of miscarriage or preterm delivery (14%) and personal history (8%). CONCLUSIONS Over half (55%) of pregnant women with abnormalities suggestive of autoimmune thyroiditis and/or hypothyroidism would be missed if only those with high-risk criteria were examined. A more extensive screening of thyroid autoimmunity and dysfunction seems warranted.
A Gallery of Chua attractors: Part IV

The literature on Chua Oscillator includes more than a thousand papers, describing an astonishing variety of chaotic behavior. Gallery of Chua attractors, Part IV presents a collection of 101, previously unknown attractors, generated by a generalization of Chua circuit with a smooth nonlinear function. The gallery is the result of an extensive exploration of the parameter space for Chua cubic system, in which we used PCA and Hausdorf Distances to guide us. During this exploration we sensed the beauty of the chaotic patterns and recorded this beauty for the nonlinear community. The attractors we describe here represent only a small proportion of those we discovered during our exploration of phase space: much intensive research remains to be done. However, the very number of attractors we found suggests it might be possible not only to detect the morphogenetic processes which determine the points in phase space (“catastrophe points”) where a family of attractors disappears and another one comes to life, but to identify more general “laws of morphogenesis” governing the behavior of these systems. In this paper, we outline five such rules.
Association of serum IGF1 with endothelial function: results from the population-based study of health in Pomerania.

OBJECTIVE IGF1 mediates multiple physiological and pathophysiological responses in the cardiovascular system. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between serum IGF1 as well as IGF-binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) levels and endothelial function measured by flow-mediated dilation (FMD). DESIGN Cross-sectional population-based observational study. METHODS The study population comprised 1482 subjects (736 women) aged 25-85 years from the Study of Health in Pomerania. Serum IGF1 and IGFBP3 levels were determined by chemiluminescence immunoassays. FMD measurements were performed using standardized ultrasound techniques. FMD values below the sex-specific median were considered low. RESULTS In males, logistic regression analyses revealed an odds ratio (OR) of 1.27 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-1.51; P=0.008) for decreased FMD for each decrement of IGF1 s.d. after adjustment for major cardiovascular confounders. In females, no significant relationship between serum IGF1 and FMD was found (OR 0.88, CI 0.74-1.05; P=0.147). After exclusion of subjects with the current use of antihypertensive medication, these findings were similar (males: OR 1.40, CI 1.12-1.75; P=0.003; females: OR 0.95, CI 0.77-1.16; P=0.595). There was no association between serum IGFBP3 levels and FMD in both sexes. CONCLUSIONS Low serum IGF1 levels are associated with impaired endothelial function in males. In women, serum IGF1 is not associated with endothelial function.
'Let your fingers do the walking': The use of telephone helplines in career information and guidance

The UK Learndirect helpline, launched in February 1998, is the largest telephone helpline service in the guidance field so far developed in the world. By the end of 2000 it had responded to 2.4 million calls. The development of the helpline is placed in the context of the transformations in service delivery in other sectors, including the growth of callcentres and helplines. The use of the telephone in career guidance, both in the UK and elsewhere, is reviewed. The evolution of Learndirect is described, with particular attention to its policy context. The current operation of the service is outlined, including its extent, availability, staffing and users. Finally, a number of issues illuminated by the experiences of Learndirect are identified, including the place of in-depth guidance within helpline services, their relationship to wider guidance provision, their impartiality, their framing in relation to national/local, adult/all-age and learning/career dimensions, the synergy of helplines with other forms of technically mediated service delivery, and the implications of helpline work for the professional development of guidance staff.
The Actions of Sevoflurane and Desflurane on the &ggr;-Aminobutyric Acid Receptor Type A: Effects of TM2 Mutations in the &agr; and &bgr; Subunits

Background Previous studies have shown that specific amino acid residues in the putative second transmembrane segment (TM2) of the &ggr;-aminobutyric acid receptor type A (GABAA) receptor play a critical role in the enhancement of GABAA receptor function by halothane, enflurane, and isoflurane. However, very little is known about the actions of sevoflurane and desflurane on recombinant GABAA receptors. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of sevoflurane and desflurane on potentiation of GABA-induced responses in the wild-type GABAA receptor and in receptors mutated in TM2 of the &agr;1, &agr;2, or &bgr;2 subunits. Methods GABAA receptor &agr;1 or &agr;2, &bgr;2 or &bgr;3, and &ggr;2s subunit cDNAs were expressed for pharmacologic study by transfection of human embryonic kidney 293 cells and assayed using the whole cell voltage clamp technique. Concentration-response curves and EC50 values for agonist were determined in the wild-type &agr;1&bgr;2&ggr;2s and &agr;2&bgr;3&ggr;2s receptors, and in receptors harboring mutations in TM2, such as &agr;1(S270W)&bgr;2&ggr;2s, &agr;1&bgr;2(N265W)&ggr;2s, and &agr;2(S270I)&bgr;3&ggr;2s. The actions of clinically relevant concentration of volatile anesthetics (isoflurane, sevoflurane, and desflurane) on GABA activated Cl− currents were compared in the wild-type and mutant GABAA receptors. Results Both sevoflurane and desflurane potentiated submaximal GABA currents in the wild-type GABAA &agr;1&bgr;2&ggr;2s receptor and &agr;2&bgr;3&ggr;2s receptor. Substitution of Ser270 in TM2 of the &agr; subunit by a larger amino acid, tryptophan (W) or isoleucine (I), as in &agr;1(S270W)&bgr;2&ggr;2s and &agr;2(S270I)&bgr;3&ggr;2s, completely abolished the potentiation of GABA-induced currents by these anesthetic agents. In contrast, mutation of Asn265 in TM2 of the &bgr; subunit to tryptophan (W) did not prevent potentiation of GABA-induced responses. The actions of sevoflurane and desflurane in the wild-type receptor and in mutated receptors were qualitatively and quantitatively similar to those observed for isoflurane. Conclusions Positions Ser270 of the GABAA &agr;1 and &agr;2 subunits, but not Asn265 in the TM2 of the &bgr;2 subunit, are critical for regulation of the GABAA receptor by sevoflurane and desflurane, as well as isoflurane, consistent with the idea that these three volatile anesthetics share a common site of actions on the &agr; subunit of the GABAA receptor.
Nuclear Pharmacy in the Community Setting: An Assessment of Employment Conditions and Job Satisfaction

THE PRACTICE OF nuclear pharmacy has changed in the last 10 years from academic hospital bases to private community centralized service centers. ’,’ Some evidence exists that the establishment of these chain pharmacies has produced higher salaries and greater medical and nonmedical benefits for nuclear pharmacists working in these settings. ’,’ However, information about their employment conditions and levels of satisfaction is limited and has never
Substance use disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder comorbidity: Addiction and psychiatric treatment rates.

This study compares substance use disorder (SUD) patients with and without a comorbid diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on their use of addiction and psychiatric services over the 6-month period before an inpatient substance abuse admission. Compared with non-PTSD patients, PTSD patients had a greater number of hospital overnights for addiction treatment. Given no significant between-groups differences on any substance use indexes, PTSD patients apparently overuse costly inpatient addiction services. Despite their greater rates of psychiatric comorbidity, PTSD patients did not receive treatment for psychiatric problems at greater rates than did non-PTSD patients. Among PTSD patients, use of PTSD treatment was low. Assessment of psychiatric comorbidity and referral to treatment targeting co-occurring PTSD and other disorders are suggested as possible ways to reduce the high treatment costs associated with SUD-PTSD comorbidity.
Implementation of an Encrypted Wireless Communication System Using Nested Chaotic Maps

This paper proposes an implementation of a synchronization method for wireless communication systems using a pseudo-True Random Bit Generator (PTRBG) based on chaotic maps. Chaos is generated using Nested Piecewise Linear Maps (NPWLM) to improve the statistical degradation introduced due to finite word length processing. Synchronization of nested maps using the backward iteration algorithm is introduced. This algorithm uses a mathematically driven formula to determine the initial condition of the nested map at the receiver in order to synchronize with the map at the transmitter. The implementation test bed for the complete wireless communication system is based on a Chipcon wireless development kit [] and an assessment of the pseudo- true random bits generated is performed using the NIST statistical test suite.
Generalized fractional Order Bloch equation with Extended Delay

The fundamental description of relaxation (T1 and T2) in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is provided by the Bloch equation, an integer-order ordinary differential equation that interrelates precession of magnetization with time- and space-dependent relaxation. In this paper, we propose a fractional order Bloch equation that includes an extended model of time delays. The fractional time derivative embeds in the Bloch equation a fading power law form of system memory while the time delay averages the present value of magnetization with an earlier one. The analysis shows different patterns in the stability behavior for T1 and T2 relaxation. The T1 decay is stable for the range of delays tested (1 μsec to 200 μsec), while the T2 relaxation in this extended model exhibits a critical delay (typically 100 μsec to 200 μsec) above which the system is unstable. Delays arise in NMR in both the system model and in the signal excitation and detection processes. Therefore, by adding extended time delay to the fractional derivative model for the Bloch equation, we believe that we can develop a more appropriate model for NMR resonance and relaxation.
Evaluation of Volume and Total Nucleated Cell Count as Cord Blood Selection Parameters

To the Editor Jaime-Perez et al1 reported about the identification of a statistically proven and validated threshold of total nucleated cells (TNCs) to bank the cord blood units (CBUs) that have very high chance of containing 2 × 106 or more CD34+ hematopoietic progenitors (HPs). The validated TNC threshold coincided with the value of 8.32 × 108, and its routine application allowed Jaime-Perez et al1 to collect CBUs with the desired CD34+ HP content with a sensitivity of about 79%. Thus, these results seem to show a simple but robust approach to select and store HP-rich CBUs through a cheap, routine-based enrollment count, at the same time overcoming the criticisms that may arise from the approaches that take into account the sole TNC number to judge the hematopoietic properties of a collected CBU. On the other hand, if CD34+ cells become …
Bifurcation Analysis of the Propagating wave and the Switching solutions in a Ring of Six-Coupled Bistable oscillators - bifurcation Starting from Type 2 standing wave Solution

In this paper, we analyze the bifurcation of Type 2 periodic solution in a ring of six-coupled bistable oscillators. We show that pitchfork and heteroclinic bifurcations, which induce chaos, cause a change from periodic (standing wave) solution to quasi-periodic (propagating wave) solution or the inverse when the coupling strength is varied. We also explain the existence of the switching solution, and presume that the birth and death of this switching solution are due to a pitchfork bifurcation of a quasi-periodic solution.
Allogenic aortic graft as a surgical treatment of Aspergillus aneurysm: a case report in a kidney transplant recipient

Diagnosis and treatment of mycotic aneurysms in renal transplant recipients are extremely challenging. Choice of vascular prostheses, surgical techniques, diagnostic procedures, and medical treatment are still disputable. In this case report we present a recipient who developed an abdominal aortic aneurysm, infected with Aspergillus fumigatus , involving the major visceral arteries. In order to replace the aneurysmatic aorta and reconstruct the visceral arteries, the aneurysm was replaced surgically with a fresh AB0 compatible donor aortic graft together with donor iliac arteries. In addition to surgical treatment, this case highlights the diagnostic difficulties, modern anti-mycotic treatment, and underlying causes of this con-dition.
Homoclinic Interactions Near a Triple-Zero Degeneracy in Chua's equation

In this work, we consider some degeneracies of homoclinic and heteroclinic connections organized by the triple-zero degeneracy, in Chua's equation. This allows us to numerically study the homoclinic-heteroclinic transition exhibited by the curve of Takens–Bogdanov bifurcations as it passes through the triple-zero degeneracy. Several codimension-two degenerate homoclinic and heteroclinic connections organized by the triple-zero bifurcation are involved in this transitional homoclinic-heteroclinic mechanism. In particular, we point out that the existence of a curve of T-points and a curve of Belyakov points (its equilibrium passes from saddle to saddle-focus) is necessary for this process to occur. Closed curves of homoclinic connections with different pulses are also found.