Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anaphylactic reaction in a patient sensitized to coriander seed

Melkersson–Rosenthal syndrome (MRS) is a disorder of unknown etiology characterized by one or more of the following: episodic lip swelling which progresses to chronicity, facial swelling, intermittent facial nerve palsy, and fissured tongue. Granulomatous infiltration is seen on histopathologic examination of lip tissue (1, 2). The first case of MRS with a complement abnormality is reported below. A 6-year-old Caucasian boy presented with a history of hives as an infant and toddler, and three episodes of urticaria over the preceding 3 years. He was again seen at 13 years of age with the complaint of 6 months of severe lip swelling and additional history of anaphylaxis at 2 and 7 years of age, eczema, and penicillin allergy manifest by angioedema. Onphysical examination, therewas severe cheilitis with local angioedema, patches of eczema and lop ears having poorly developed antihelical folds. The cranial nerves were intact and the tongue appearednormal. Pertinent laboratory results were a total eosinophil count of 480 per mm (normal <400 per mm), immunoglobulin E (IgE) of 597 IU/ml (normal <200 IU/ml), angiotensin-converting enzyme of 87 U/l (normal 13–100 U/l) and normal chest X-ray. Positive prick/puncture immediate hypersensitivity skin tests were found to peanut, tree nuts, mustard, garlic and several seasonal pollens. A RAST test for latex IgE was negative. Complement evaluation showed a low C1q of 4.6 mg/dl (normal 5.0–8.6 mg/dl) and a C4 at the lowest limit of normal, 16 mg/dl (normal 16–47 mg/dl). Other complement test results were a total complement of 32 U/ml (normal 26–58 U/ml), C2 of 2.7 mg/dl (normal 1.6–3.5 mg/dl), C3 of 129 mg/dl (normal 90–180 mg/dl), chemical test for C1 INH of 16 mg/dl and a functional C1 INH of 87% (normal >68%). A lip biopsy showed granulomas with multinucleate giant cells. Stains for fungi and acid-fast bacilli were negative. This case is compatible with the monosymptomatic form of MRS, which is also termed cheilitis granulomatosa Miescher (3). Other diseases in the differential diagnosis of granulomatous cheilitis seem unlikely in this patient: sarcoidosis because of the normal angiotensin-converting enzyme level and absence of pulmonary, lymphatic, ocular and joint findings and Crohns disease because of the absence of other gastrointestinal signs or symptoms. The patient also has an allergic diathesis. The complement studies revealed a low C1q and a C4 at the lowest limits of normal. Total complement, C2, C3 and C1 INH were all normal, as has been reported previously in MRS (4). The pathogenesis of the complement abnormality reported here has not been explored, however it could simply be an increased utilization through the classical pathway. If this be the case, then an ongoing immunologic reaction may be a feature of MRS and this would be worth evaluating in additional cases.
Tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced pulmonary vascular endothelial injury

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) mediates components of the acute-phase response, stimulates granulocyte metabolism, and induces endothelial cell surface changes. We studied whether human recombinant TNF-alpha (rTNF-alpha) could increase pulmonary edema formation and pulmonary vascular permeability. Rabbits preinfused with 125I-albumin were administered rTNF-alpha or saline. Animals were sacrificed, and lung wet/dry weight ratios as well as bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and plasma 125I activities were determined. rTNF-alpha increased lung wet/dry weight ratios by 151% (P less than 0.02) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid/plasma 125I activity ratios by 376% (P less than 0.01) compared with values for saline controls. Electron microscopy of lung sections demonstrated endothelial injury, perivascular edema, and extravasation of an ultrastructural permeability tracer. To demonstrate that rTNF-alpha could directly increase pulmonary vascular endothelial permeability in vitro, we studied albumin transfer across cultured porcine pulmonary artery endothelial cell monolayers. rTNF-alpha induced time-dependent dose-response increments in transendothelial albumin flux in the absence of granulocyte effector cells. These observations suggest that rTNF-alpha can provoke acute pulmonary vascular endothelial injury in vivo as well as in vitro.
Experimental comparison of devices thermal cycling in direct matrix converters (DMC) and Indirect Matrix Converters (IMC) using SiC MOSFETs

This paper presents an experimental comparison between a Direct Matrix Converter and an Indirect Matrix Converter in terms of semiconductor devices thermal cycling. Both converters have been designed and built using SiC MOSFETs; the Indirect Matrix Converter has also been tested using a hybrid solution with Silicon IGBT on the input stage and SiC MOSFETs on the output stage.
Fixture Design System with Automatic Generation and Modification of Complementary Elements for Modular Fixtures

Modular fixtures are usually built from standard elements that can be found in the modular element set of a certain manufacturer. But in some cases the user besides using these elements modifies some semi-finished elements that can also be found in the modular element set, or even the user produces some brand new elements. The motivation behind this can be to simplify the fixture, or to make the locating or clamping of a workpiece possible or more precise. This paper presents the methods of automatic generation, and if required, automatic modification of such new or semi-finished elements.
Chemical dissection of protein translocation through the anthrax toxin pore.

Anthrax lethal toxin exemplifies one among many systems evolved by pathogenic bacteria for transporting proteins across membranes to the cytosol of mammalian cells. [1] The transported proteins so called effector proteins are enzymes that modify intracellular substrates, perturbing mammalian metabolism in ways that benefit the bacteria at the expense of the host. Anthrax lethal toxin is an ensemble of two large soluble proteins: the Lethal Factor (LF, 90 kDa), a zinc protease,[2] and Protective Antigen (PA; 83 kDa), a receptor-binding/pore-forming protein. [1] PA binds to receptors[3] on host cells and is cleaved by a furin-family protease[4] to an active 63 kDa form (PA63),[5] which self-assembles into ring-shaped heptameric[6] and octameric[7] oligomers, termed prepores. The prepores bind LF, forming complexes that are then endocytosed and delivered to the endosome. There, acidification induces the prepore moieties to undergo conformational rearrangement to membrane-spanning pores. [1] The pores then transport bound LF across the membrane to the cytosol, where it inactivates selected target proteins. [8] Edema Factor (EF), the enzymatic moiety of anthrax edema toxin,[9] is transported to the cytosol by a similar mechanism. [1]
Management of the Elderly Patient With Gynecologic Cancer: Report of the 2011 Workshop in Geriatric Gynecologic Oncology

Abstract Reflecting the worldwide aging trend and close association of aging with cancer, geriatric oncology is now growing beyond its pioneer years. Nevertheless, geriatric oncology in the gynecologic field is in the beginning stage; indeed, there is no geriatric specialist who is trained in this particular field of gynecologic oncology. Therefore, we held the first workshop in geriatric gynecologic oncology. In this review, we summarize what we discussed at the workshop and provide evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of gynecologic cancer in elderly individuals.
Identification of Random Resource Shares in Collective Households Without Preference Similarity Restrictions

Abstract Resource shares, defined as the fraction of total household spending going to each person in a household, are important for assessing individual material well-being, inequality, and poverty. They are difficult to identify because consumption is measured typically at the household level, and many goods are jointly consumed, so that individual level consumption in multi-person households is not directly observed. We consider random resource shares, which vary across observationally identical households. We provide theorems that identify the distribution of random resource shares across households, including children’s shares. We also provide a new method of identifying the level of fixed or random resource shares that does not require previously needed preference similarity restrictions or marriage market assumptions. Our results can be applied to data with or without price variation. We apply our results to households in Malawi, estimating the distributions of child and of female poverty across households.
Foster care: an update.

OBJECTIVE To inform child and adolescent psychiatrists about the almost 500,000 children now residing in the American foster care system. This overview surveys the pediatric, developmental, and psychiatric needs of these children. METHOD Child and adolescent psychiatrists, pediatricians, a child welfare researcher, a social worker, and a psychologist developed a consensus paper from their experience with child welfare and a review of the literature in their respective fields. RESULTS Being in foster care is a defining experience in these children's lives. They are at risk in myriad ways: for instance, being poor, having chronic health deficits, experiencing the trauma of abuse and neglect, and suffering from a gamut of emotional challenges. Evolutionary developments in foster care such as therapeutic foster homes, kinship care, and changes in Medicaid funding will continue to alter the system. CONCLUSIONS Foster children are a huge reservoir of unmet pediatric and psychiatric needs; research on them is spotty at best. It is hoped that child and adolescent psychiatrists will meet the challenges these youngsters present and will advocate for them.
Transcobalamin II deficiency associated with unusual bone marrow findings and chromosomal abnormalities

A female infant presented at seven weeks of age with failure to thrive, progressively severe pancytopenia, hypogammaglobulinemia and, mucosal ulceration. Bone marrow morphology showed severed megaloblastic changes in the myeloid series with a shift to the left and an increased number of blasts with abnormal morphology. Erythroid precursors and megakaryocytes were markedly decreased. Cytogenetic studies showed marked aneuploidy and increased chromosomal breakage. Treatment with high doses of vitamin B12 resulted in a dramatic clinical response with hematological values becoming normal. The patient's serum showed absence of transcobalamin II, and very little TC I and TC III binding. The patient's parents had only half the lower limits of normal transcobalamin II. QUSO G‐32 was used for separation of transcobalamins, and the results were confirmed by Sephacryl S‐300. This case illustrates the usefulness of QUSO in the rapid diagnosis of transcobalamin II deficiency.
Prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Background: Over the last years, increasing attention has been focused on the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Objective: To determine the prevalence of OSA in a group of patients diagnosed with IPF. Materials and Methods: Analytic retrospective study. Data were collected from the medical records of all patients diagnosed with IPF who had polysomnography requested as part of the study protocol in patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILD). Results: 36 patients were studied, 26 of who were male. The mean age was 67.55 ± 6.39 years old. Mean forced vital capacity (FVC) was 2.12 ± 0.76 liters. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 28.78 ± 4.24. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) average was 7.55 ± 5.01 and the mean apnea hypopnea index (AHI) was 12.69 ± 19.40. Of all the patients studied, 17 (47.22%) had OSA with an AHI ≥ 5. Of these, 9 (25%) had AHI ≥ 10. In the group of patients with OSA (n = 17), 9 (52.94%) had mild OSA (AHI between 5 and 15) and 8 (47.05%) moderate to severe OSA (AHI ≥ 15). Conclusions: In our series of 36 patients with IPF we found a prevalence of OSA of 47.22%. We found no correlation between ESS and the BMI with the presence of OSA in these patients, suggesting that these assessments may be less than optimal screening tools for OSA in IPF.
Multi-feature texture analysis for the classification of carotid plaques

We develop a computer aided system which will facilitate the automated characterisation of carotid plaques recorded from high resolution ultrasound images for the identification of individuals with asymptomatic carotid stenosis at risk of stroke. The plaques were classified into: symptomatic or asymptomatic. Ten different texture feature sets were extracted from the segmented plaque image. Although the statistics of all features extracted for the two classes indicated a high degree of overlap, a classification of the plaques was possible using the unsupervised self-organizing feature map (SOFM) classifier and combining techniques. The classification results of the different feature sets were combined using the majority voting and weighted averaging based on a confidence measure derived from the SOFM. Combining the classification results of the ten different feature sets improved significantly the classification results obtained by the individual feature sets, reaching an average diagnostic yield of 75%.
An assessment of the MTR aquatic plant bioindication system for determining the trophic status of Polish rivers

Mean Trophic Rank (MTR), a new British biological macrophyte-based method for assessing trophic status of rivers was applied in Poland in 2000-2001. The occurrence and abundance of 86 aquatic plant species was recorded at 48 sites on 19 rivers in the lowland part of Poland. Forty-six of these species are MTR scoring taxa used in the British system, but another 40 species were recorded of which 11 species were selected as potential scoring plants for use in Poland. The revision of MTR scoring plants used in Britain was performed and resulted in the proposed elimination of 24 taxa as scoring species for Poland. The habitat conditions of the selected river sites were assessed and their diversity was observed in terms of eutrophication level. The MTR score was evaluated and its correlation with water trophic level was shown. The environmental preferences of the individual plant species according to water chemistry were estimated to give proposals of the MTR scoring species in Poland and the indicated preference was analogous to the original Species Trophic Rank (STR) score used in the UK. The MTR system was recommended for use in biological monitoring programmes.
The underwater swimming manipulator - a bio-inspired AUV

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) have been used for environmental mapping and surveys of various kinds for some time. More recently, the AUVs have entered the domain of the remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to tackle some of the lighter subsea operations, such as inspection, maintenance, and repair (IMR) and light intervention tasks. The successful transition to AUVs for inspection of subsea infrastructure has pushed the technology towards AUVs equipped with robotic arms. Some AUVs with attached manipulator arms have demonstrated autonomous light intervention, but the majority of such tasks are still carried out using tethered and expensive ROVs with support vessels. The underwater swimming manipulator (USM) presented in this paper, is a snake-like bio-inspired AUV with exceptional accessibility and flexibility, due to its slender, multi-articulated structure. In this paper, we discuss why the USM is an appropriate system for certain tasks that are normally carried out by conventional ROVs and AUVs. Furthermore, we address the topic of kinematic control of the USM to utilize the inherent redundancy. Finally, we present and make use of a newly developed and versatile simulation environment for USMs to assert the applicability of the USM for performing subsea inspections and light intervention.
Ability of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography to determine clinical responses of breast cancer to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVE We aimed to determine whether contrast-enhanced ultrasonography can predict the effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on breast cancer. METHODS The clinical responses of 63 consecutive patients with breast cancer (T1-4, N0-1, M0) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy between October 2012 and May 2015 were assessed using contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography/computed tomography and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. Perfusion parameters for contrast-enhanced ultrasonography were created from time-intensity curves based on enhancement intensity and temporal changes to objectively evaluate contrast-enhanced ultrasonography findings. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography/computed tomography to predict a pathological complete response were compared after confirming the pathological findings of surgical specimens. RESULTS Twenty-three (36.5%) of the 63 patients achieved pathological complete response. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for predicting pathological complete response were 95.7% (82.5-99.2%), 77.5% (69.9-79.5%) and 84.1% (74.5-86.7%). The sensitivity of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography was significantly greater than that of magnetic resonance imaging (95.7 vs. 69.6%, P = 0.047). The specificity and accuracy were significantly greater and tended to be greater, respectively, for contrast-enhanced ultrasonography than positron emission tomography/computed tomography (specificity, 77.5 vs. 52.5%, P = 0.02; accuracy, 84.1 vs. 69.8%, P = 0.057). CONCLUSIONS Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography might serve as a new diagnostic modality when planning therapeutic strategies for patients with breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Advances in pathogenesis and therapy of hemolytic uremic syndrome caused by shiga toxin‐2

Shiga toxin (Stx) producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is responsible to bloody diarrhea (hemorrhagic colitis) and the hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). STEC strains carry inducible lambda phages integrated into their genomes that encode Stx 1 and/or 2, with several allelic variants each one. O157:H7 is the serotype that was documented in the vast majority of HUS cases although non‐O157 serotypes have been increasingly reported to account for HUS cases. However, the outbreak that occurred in central Europe during late spring of 2011 showed that the pathogen was E. coli O104:H4. More than 4,000 persons were infected mainly in Germany, and it produced more than 900 cases of HUS resulting in 54 deaths. E. coli O104:H4 is a hybrid organism that combines some of the virulence genes of STEC and enteroaggregative E. coli specially production of Stx2 and the adherence mechanisms to intestinal epithelium. The differences in the epidemiology and presentation of E. coli pathogen meant a challenge for public health and scientific research to increase the knowledge of HUS‐pathophysiology and to improve available therapies to treat HUS. © 2013 IUBMB Life, 65(10):827‐835, 2013
Cognitive behavior therapy in treatment-naive children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder : an open trial

This work aims is to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) in pediatric patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) who had not previously been treated with either pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy and who remained medication-free during CBT. Sixteen OCD outpatients, 8– 17 years of age, were treated in a 12-week open trial with manualized CBT. Target symptoms were rated at two-week intervals with the Children’s Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS), the National Institute of Mental Health Global Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (NIMH Global), the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI), and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (Ham-A). Statistical analyses showed a significant benefit for treatment. Ten patients experienced at least a 50% reduction in symptoms on the CY-BOCS; seven were asymptomatic on the NIMH Global. These results build on previous reports that CBT may be effective in the acute treatment of pediatric OCD. Further, the results of this study suggest that CBT can be efficacious in alleviating OCD symptoms in the absence of pharmacotherapy. These results must be considered preliminary, given the small sample size and open administration of treatment.  2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Stapled versus hand sewn anastomoses in patients with small bowel injury: a changing perspective.

INTRODUCTION Recent studies indicate that trauma patients with hollow viscus injuries requiring anastomosis who are managed with stapling have a higher rate of complications than do those in whom a hand-sewn anastomosis is used. We undertook this study to determine whether this finding applied to patients with small bowel trauma at our institution. METHODS Records of patients with small bowel injuries were retrospectively reviewed. Demographics, severity of injury, injury management, and outcome data were collected. RESULTS Patients who had their small bowel injuries managed by hand-sewn repair versus resection and stapled anastomosis demonstrated a nonsignificant decrease in overall complication rate (35% vs. 44%) and rate of intra-abdominal complication (10% vs. 18%). Yet the rate of intra-abdominal abscess formation was significantly lower with hand-sewn repair than with resection and stapled anastomosis (4% vs. 13%). However, when hand-sewn primary repairs were excluded from the analysis and injuries that required resection and either stapled or hand-sewn anastomosis were compared, there was a similar overall complication rate (41% vs. 41%) and rate of intra-abdominal complications (17% vs. 21%). CONCLUSION The rate of intra-abdominal complications did not differ significantly between patients requiring small bowel resection and reanastomosis managed by either a stapled or hand-sewn technique. In our experience, surgical stapling devices appear to be safe for use in repairing traumatic small bowel injury.
Pharmacology of Brain Na+/Ca2+ Exchanger: From Molecular Biology to Therapeutic Perspectives

In the last two decades, there has been a growing interest in unraveling the role that the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) plays in the function and regulation of several cellular activities. Molecular biology, electrophysiology, genetically modified mice, and molecular pharmacology have helped to delve deeper and more successfully into the physiological and pathophysiological role of this exchanger. In fact, this nine-transmembrane protein, widely distributed in the brain and in the heart, works in a bidirectional way. Specifically, when it operates in the forward mode of operation, it couples the extrusion of one Ca2+ ion with the influx of three Na+ ions. In contrast, when it operates in the reverse mode of operation, while three Na+ ions are extruded, one Ca2+ enters into the cells. Different isoforms of NCX, named NCX1, NCX2, and NCX3, have been described in the brain, whereas only one, NCX1, has been found in the heart. The hypothesis that NCX can play a relevant role in several pathophysiological conditions, including hypoxia-anoxia, white matter degeneration after spinal cord injury, brain trauma and optical nerve injury, neuronal apoptosis, brain aging, and Alzheimer's disease, stems from the observation that NCX, in parallel with selective ion channels and ATP-dependent pumps, is efficient at maintaining intracellular Ca2+ and Na+ homeostasis. In conclusion, although studies concerning the involvement of NCX in the pathological mechanisms underlying brain injury during neurodegenerative diseases started later than those related to heart disease, the availability of pharmacological agents able to selectively modulate each NCX subtype activity and antiporter mode of operation will provide a better understanding of its pathophysiological role and, consequently, more promising approaches to treat these neurological disorders.