Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The endocardial extent of reperfused first‐time myocardial infarction is more predictive of pathologic Q waves than is infarct transmurality: a magnetic resonance imaging study

Background Historically, Q‐wave myocardial infarction (MI) has been equated with transmural MI. This association have, however, recently been rejected. The endocardial extent of MI is another potential determinant of pathological Q waves, since the first part of the QRS complex where the Q wave appears reflects depolarization of subendocardial myocardium. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that endocardial extent of MI is more predictive of pathological Q waves than is MI transmurality and to investigate the relationship between QRS scoring of the ECG and MI characteristics.
Bacterial Populations Colonizing and Degrading Rice Straw in Anoxic Paddy Soil

ABSTRACT Rice straw is a major substrate for the production of methane, a greenhouse gas, in flooded rice fields. The bacterial community degrading rice straw under anoxic conditions was investigated with molecular methods. Rice straw was incubated in paddy soil anaerobically for 71 days. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of the amplified bacterial 16S rRNA genes showed that the composition of the bacterial community changed during the first 15 days but then was stable until the end of incubation. Fifteen DGGE bands with different signal intensities were excised, cloned, and sequenced. In addition, DNA was extracted from straw incubated for 1 and 29 days and the bacterial 16S rRNA genes were amplified and cloned. From these clone libraries 16 clones with different electrophoretic mobilities on a DGGE gel were sequenced. From a total of 31 clones, 20 belonged to different phylogenetic clusters of the clostridia, i.e., clostridial clusters I (14 clones), III (1 clone), IV (1 clone), and XIVa (4 clones). One clone fell also within the clostridia but could not be affiliated to one of the clostridial clusters. Ten clones grouped closely with the genera Bacillus (3 clones), Nitrosospira (1 clone), Fluoribacter (1 clones), andAcidobacterium (2 clones) and with clone sequences previously obtained from rice field soil (3 clones). The relative abundances of various phylogenetic groups in the rice straw-colonizing community were determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Bacteria were detached from the incubated rice straw with an efficiency of about 80 to 90%, as determined by dot blot hybridization of 16S rRNA in extract and residue. The number of active (i.e., a sufficient number of ribosomes) Bacteria detected with a general eubacterial probe (Eub338) after 8 days of incubation was 61% of the total cell counts. This percentage decreased to 17% after 29 days of incubation. Most (55%) of the active cells on day 8 belonged to the genus Clostridium, mainly to clostridial clusters I (24%), III (6%), and XIVa (24%). An additional 5% belonged to theCytophaga-Flavobacterium cluster of theCytophaga-Flavobacterium-Bacteroides phylum, 4% belonged to the α, β, and γ Proteobacteria, and 1.3% belonged to the Bacillus subbranch of the gram-positive bacteria with a low G+C content. The results show that the bacterial community colonizing and decomposing rice straw developed during the first 15 days of incubation and was dominated by members of different clostridial clusters, especially clusters I, III, and XIVa.
Effects of triceps stretch by ankle flexion on intact afferents and efferents of gastrocnemius in the decerebrate cat.

We describe the effects on group I and II afferents as well as alpha‐ and gamma‐efferents of gastrocnemius muscles elicited by stretch and release of the triceps surae muscle performed by a dorsiflexion movement, a maintained dorsiflexion and release of the ankle joint. The experiments were made in decerebrated cats in which the neural loops between the muscles and the spinal cord were intact. Multi‐unit discharges of each kind of fibre were obtained, electronically on‐line, from two monopolar electrodes 4 mm apart on a small branch of the gastrocnemius lateralis or medialis nerve. Sensory and motor impulses were separated according to the opposite directions of their propagation, then both groups were further subdivided according to conduction velocity. The stretch reflex induced by ankle flexion was associated in eighteen out of nineteen experiments with reflex changes in the activity of the gamma‐axon population of the gastrocnemius nerve branch. Facilitatory, depressor and biphasic (facilitatory‐depressor) effects were observed, the particular type seeming to depend on the level of gamma tone and gamma‐motoneurone size. Flexion release led to cessation of the alpha stretch reflex and to a rebound firing of the gamma‐axon population. The lengthening reaction and the clasp‐knife phenomenon occurred in certain preparations and were associated with reflex inhibition of the gamma‐motoneurones. The over‐all responses of group I fibres to triceps stretch showed dynamic and static components, whereas those of the group II fibres were, except in two examples, almost devoid of dynamic sensitivity. During release of stretch and as a result of the simultaneous rebound in gamma activity, the afferent discharges showed a very short pause, no pause, or even a rebound. The origins of the discharges of groups I and II muscle afferents and the factors (muscle length, active and passive muscle tension, reflex changes in fusimotor drive) influencing the activity of the receptors involved are considered as far as possible. Some aspects of the mechanisms of the fusimotor reflex are discussed.
One swallow does not a summer make but many swallows do: accumulating clinical evidence for nearly-eliminated peri-procedural and 30-day complications with mesh-covered stents transforms the carotid revascularisation field

Atherosclerotic carotid artery stenosis (CS) continues to be a common cause of acute ischaemic stroke. Optimised medical therapy (OMT), the first-line treatment modality in CS, may reduce or delay – but it does not abolish – CS-related strokes. As per current AHA/ASA and ESC/ESVS/ESO guidelines, carotid artery stenting (CAS) is a less-invasive alternative to carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for CS revascularisation in primary and secondary stroke prevention. Ten-year follow-up from the CREST trial in patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic CS confirmed equipoise of CAS and CEA in the primary endpoint. Nevertheless CAS – using a widely open-cell, first-generation stent and first-generation (distal/filter) neuroprotection – has been criticised for its relative excess of (mostly minor) strokes by 30 days, a significant proportion of which were post-procedural. Atherosclerotic plaque protrusion through conventional carotid stent struts, confirmed on intravascular imaging, has been implicated as a leading mechanism of the relative excess of strokes with CAS vs. CEA, including delayed strokes with CAS. Different designs of mesh-covered carotid stents have been developed to prevent plaque prolapse. Several multi-centre/multi-specialty clinical studies with CGurad MicroNet-Covered Embolic Prevention Stent System (EPS) and RoadSaver/Casper were recently published and included routine DW-MRI cerebral imaging peri-procedurally and at 30 days (CGuard EPS). Data from more than 550 patients in mesh-covered carotid stent clinical studies to-date show an overall 30-day complication rate of ~1% with near-elimination of post-procedural events. While more (and long-term) evidence is still anticipated, these results – taken together with optimised intra-procedural neuroprotection in CAS (increased use of proximal systems including trans-carotid dynamic flow reversal) and the positive 12-month mesh-covered stent data reports in 2017 – are transforming the carotid revascularisation field today. Establishing effective algorithms to identify the asymptomatic subjects at stroke risk despite OMT, and large-scale studies with mesh-covered stents including long-term clinical and duplex ultrasound outcomes, are the next major goals.
Sleep and well-being of ICU housestaff.

BACKGROUND Our understanding of the effect of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-mandated work-hour limitation on physicians' quality of life, sleepiness, and sleep-work habits is evolving. In this study, we sought to determine the effect of work-hour reduction on quality of life in residents and fellows (ICU housestaff) when subject to the ACGME-compliant schedule of one institution. To determine the effect of work-hour reduction on subjective and objective measures of sleepiness in ICU housestaff at a center. METHODS A single-center study of 34 residents and 10 fellows who were studied before and after the ACGME-mandated work-hour limitation went into effect in July 2003. RESULTS In a single center, after the work-hour reduction, residents reported statistically significant but minor improvements in sleep time, subjective sleepiness, and some aspects of quality of life (p < 0.05). Both before and after work-hour limitations, subjective sleepiness and quality-of-life indexes deteriorated during the course of the ICU rotation. Following work-hour reductions, subjective sleepiness improved (p < 0.05), but objective sleepiness was unchanged (p = 0.6). Moreover, after the implementation of work-hour reductions, 59%, 43%, and 25% of the ICU team had mean sleep latency < 10, 7, and 5 min, respectively, with 14% of the team manifesting sleep-onset rapid eye movement periods (signifying severe sleepiness) before beginning their extended work-hour period. CONCLUSIONS In ICU housestaff, at a single center, small benefits to quality of life and subjective sleepiness were realized by an ACGME-compliant work-hour schedule. Significant levels of objective sleepiness, however, remained. Further measures may need to be undertaken to address the persistence of sleepiness in ICU housestaff. These findings may not be generalized outside of the scheduling system studied.
Imbalance between excitation and inhibition among synaptic connections of CA3 pyramidal neurons in cultured hippocampal slices

A fundamental property of small neuronal ensembles is their ability to be selectively activated by distinct stimuli. One cellular mechanism by which neurons achieve this input selectivity is by modulating the temporal dynamics of excitation and inhibition. We explored the interplay of excitation and inhibition in synapses between pyramidal neurons of cornu ammonis field 3 of the hippocampal formation (CA3) in cultured rat hippocampal slices, where activation of a single excitatory cell can readily recruit local interneurons. Simultaneous whole‐cell recordings from pairs of CA3 pyramidal neurons revealed that the strength of connections was neither uniform nor balanced. Rather, stimulation of presynaptic neurons elicited distinct combinations of excitatory postsynaptic current–inhibitory postsynaptic current (EPSC–IPSC) amplitudes in the postsynaptic neurons. EPSC–IPSC sequences with small EPSCs had large IPSCs and sequences that contained large EPSCs had small IPSCs. In addition to differences in the amplitudes of the responses, the kinetics of the EPSCs were also different, creating distinct temporal dynamics of excitation and inhibition. Weaker EPSCs had significantly slower kinetics and were efficiently occluded by IPSCs, thereby further limiting their contribution to depolarizing the postsynaptic membrane. Our data suggest that hippocampal pyramidal cells may use an imbalance between excitation and inhibition as a filter to enhance selectivity toward preferential excitatory connections.
Bioinformatics analysis of gene expression profiles in childhood B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Abstract Objectives To explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of childhood B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) by bioinformatics analysis and find potential targets for childhood ALL diagnosis and treatment. Methods Gene expression profile GSE28460 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus, including 49 diagnostic and relapse bone marrow samples with childhood B-precursor ALL. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by paired t-test. Pathway enrichment analysis of DEGs and transcription factors (TFs) enrichment analysis were performed, followed by construction of co-expressed, DEGs, and susceptibility gene protein–protein interaction (PPI) network. Based on these three networks, relevant regulatory network modules and the important DEGs in the modules were identified. Results Total of 947 DEGs were identified. Up-regulated DEGs enriched 20 pathways including cell cycle, and down-regulated DEGs significantly enriched Jak-STAT signaling pathways. CDK1 and BRCA1 were found to have more hubs in both co-expressed network and PPI network. Besides, total of five modules in INTS10, MCM, BRCA1, GYPA, and VCAN1 families were identified and a pathway of INTS10-INTS6-POLR2A-MAGI2 was selected. Conclusion Cell cycle and Jak-STAT signaling pathway were closely associated with relapse of childhood B-precursor ALL. The DEGs, such as PTTG1, PIK3CA, CDK1, and BRCA1 may be the potential targets for childhood ALL diagnosis and treatment.
Alleviation of retching and feeding intolerance after fundoplication.

BACKGROUND Although surgical intervention for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in children offers the strongest control of GERD, these results are tempered by postoperative problems such as retching, bloat, dysphagia, dumping syndrome, and postprandial hypoglycemia. We created a specialty clinic and an algorithmic approach to ameliorating these problems. Here, we present our experience with the first 60 patients. METHODS Patients referred to the clinic for feeding problems after fundoplication were tracked as part of quality improvement monitoring. Patients were treated according to a heuristic algorithm intended to reduce iatrogenic causes of feeding intolerance and to identify medical and mechanical contributors to retching. These etiological factors were tracked, along with patient responses. RESULTS Of the 60 initial patients, 92% completed ≥4 visits. A heuristic algorithm produced near-complete or complete resolution in 97.5% of those patients. In most patients, multiple causes contributed to retching and were commonly iatrogenic (eg, very large boluses, overfeeding, polypharmacy). Surgical failure was a relatively uncommon contributor to intolerance. CONCLUSIONS Successful results after antireflux surgery depend both on surgical technique and on strategic postoperative feeding. The finding that there are multiple contributors to feeding problems supports a threshold hypothesis for retching and lends credibility to the maxim "retching is rarely reflux. " Heuristics that respect surgical constraints on gastric performance, physiological scaling, and the whole patient yield improved growth and tolerance even in complex patients.
Compensation method of arm current sensor scaling error in MMC system

The MMC is an emerging and highly attractive multilevel converter topology for medium and high voltage applications. Various modulation strategies are being used to control the MMC system. Balancing the cascaded submodule voltages and eliminating the second order circulating current in the leg of the MMC system are the main concerns of many researchers in the area of MMC system. Mostly, for circulating current suppression, a PI current controller in the double fundamental frequency rotating reference frame is adopted. Six current sensors are used to measure the six arm currents of the MMC system and the actual leg currents are calculated by taking the average value of the upper and lower arm currents of each leg. However, the scaling errors of the current sensors affect the operation of the circulating current suppressing controller and cause additional harmonic components in the leg currents. This paper proposes a scaling error compensation algorithm which can be easily implemented and eliminate the harmonics produced in the leg current due to the errors of the current sensors. The validity of the proposed algorithm is verified through both simulation and experimental results.
The Dilemma of Cosmetic Surgery and the Anxious Female Body

Cosmetic surgery has been a contested site among feminists.At the heart of the controversy,a key issue is: by undergoing cosmetic surgery,are women passive "cultural dopes" controlled by the conspiracy of capitalist market and the patriarchal system,or are they active "agent" who empower themselves through this personal body politics? Through reviewing different feminists' attitudes towards cosmetic surgery and using ethnographic data concerning Chinese women's involvement in cosmetic surgery,this paper explores the subjugation and the resistance,and the anxiety and the desire embodied in Chinese women's bodies during the dramatic and drastic Chinese social transition.It reveals the complex relationship between the body and the self,and that between the body and the society.
Exercise‐induced arterial hypoxaemia in healthy human subjects at sea level.

We determined the incidence of exercise‐induced arterial hypoxaemia and its determinants in sixteen highly trained, healthy runners who were capable of achieving and sustaining very high metabolic rates (maximal O2 uptake = 72 +/‐ 2 ml kg‐1 min‐1 or 4.81 +/‐ 0.13 l min‐1). Arterial blood gases and acid‐base status were determined at each load of a progressive short‐term exercise test and repeatedly during constant‐load treadmill running while breathing air and during inhalation of mildly hypoxic, hyperoxic, and helium‐enriched gases. Three types of responses to heavy and maximum exercise were evident and highly reproducible within subjects. Four runners maintained arterial PO2 (Pa, O2) within 10 mmHg of resting values, another four showed 10‐15 mmHg reductions in Pa, O2, and the remaining eight showed reductions of 21‐35 mmHg, i.e. in all cases to a Pa, O2 of less than 75 mmHg and to less than 60 mmHg in two cases. During constant‐load exercise, Pa, O2 was often maintained during the initial 30 s when hyperventilation was greatest; then hypoxaemia occurred and in most cases was either maintained or worsened over the ensuing 3‐4 min. The most severe hypoxaemia during heavy exercise was associated with no or little alveolar hyperventilation (Pa, CO2 greater than 35 mmHg and PA, O2 less than 110 mmHg) and an alveolar to arterial PO2 difference [(A‐a)DO2] in excess of 40 mmHg. During 3‐4 min of heavy exercise alveolar PO2 (PA, O2) decreased by 20 mmHg in mild hypoxia (0.17 FI, O2; inspired % O2) and increased by 20 mmHg during mild hyperoxia (0.24 FI, O2) and 10 mmHg during the hyperventilation which accompanied normoxic helium breathing. In all cases Pa, O2 changed in proportion to PA, O2 with no consistent change in the alveolar to arterial PO2 difference [(A‐a)DO2]. In view of the correction of hypoxaemia with mild hyperoxia and the very high ratios of alveolar ventilation to pulmonary blood flow (VA/QC = 4‐6) achieved during heavy exercise, we think it unlikely that non‐uniformity of the VA/QC distribution or veno‐arterial shunt could explain the hypoxaemia observed in most of our subjects. By exclusion, we suggest that hypoxaemia may be attributed to a diffusion limitation secondary to very short red cell transit times in at least a portion of the pulmonary circulation. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Do children’s intentions to risk take relate to actual risk taking?

Objectives: Concerns about safety and rigorous ethic standards can make it very difficult to study children’s risk taking. The goal of this study was to determine how closely intentions to risk take relate to actual risk taking among boys and girls 6–11 years of age. Methods: Children initially completed an “intentions to risk take” task. Following administration of several questionnaires they later participated in an actual risk taking task. Results: At all ages, for both boys and girls, intentions to risk take was highly positively correlated with actual risk taking. When discrepancies occurred these were usually of minimal magnitude. Conclusions: Tasks that tap children’s intentions to risk take can serve as proxy indicators of children’s actual risk taking.
Pediatric kidney transplantation is safe and available for patients with urological anomalies as well as those with primary renal diseases

Abstract: The aim of the current study was to evaluate long‐term outcomes of pediatric live kidney transplantation in patients with genitourinary anomalies relative to those with primary kidney diseases. The study included 35 pediatric patients who received a live kidney transplantation during the last 25 yr (28 males, six females). Median age at the time of transplantation was nine yr (range 1–15 yr), and the median follow‐up period was 151 months (range 6–239 month). The patients were divided into two groups. The urological group (n = 14) included patients with primary obstructive/reflux nephropathy. The renal group (n = 20) included patients with primary renal disorders. Differences between groups in graft survival, clinical course, and final graft function were evaluated. Original diseases represented in the urological group included five cases with primary VUR and eight cases with secondary VUR. Diseases in the renal group included eight cases with bilateral hypo‐dysplastic kidney, three cases with focal/segmental glomerular sclerosis, two cases with membranous proliferative glomerulonephritis, two cases with congenital nephrotic syndrome and five cases with other forms of chronic nephritis. Ten of 14 cases in the urological group, relative to six of 20 in the renal group, were preemptive. Median age at transplantation was 7.5 or 10 yr old, respectively, in the urological or renal group. Twelve kidney recipients in the urological group had also undergone other urinary surgeries, including upper urinary tract drainage, ureteroneocystostomy, augmentation cystoplasty, endoscopic incision of posterior‐urethral valve, urethroplasty, etc. Cumulative post‐operative complications occurred in nine or 16, respectively, in the urological or renal group. The acute rejection free and overall graft survival were similar in both groups. One patient in the urological group lost his graft while six patients in the renal group lost their grafts. Thus, the post‐transplant clinical outcome of pediatric transplantation in patients with urological anomalies is comparable to that of recipients with primary renal disease. Appropriate urinary tract reconstruction and management is essential to reduce the risk of graft dysfunction because of urinary problems.