Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy due to diabetes mellitus: clinical manifestations, consequences, and treatment.

CONTEXT The aim of this article was to review the importance of the clinical identification of persons with cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) and discuss potential treatment interventions. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION A MEDLINE search was conducted for articles published during the last 20 yr. In addition, subsequent references of retrieved articles were reviewed. Search strategies included using key terms such as CAN, heart rate variability, orthostatic hypotension, and diabetes mellitus. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS CAN is a common form of diabetic autonomic neuropathy and causes abnormalities in heart rate control as well as central and peripheral vascular dynamics. The clinical manifestations of CAN include exercise intolerance, intraoperative cardiovascular lability, orthostatic hypotension, painless myocardial ischemia, and increased risk of mortality. CAN contributes to morbidity, mortality, and reduced quality of life for persons with diabetes. The American Diabetes Association has recently published a statement that provides guidelines for prevention, detection, and management of neuropathy, including CAN, for healthcare providers who care for patients with diabetes. Algorithms for the evaluation and treatment of the patient with CAN, even if the patient is asymptomatic, are provided in this review. CONCLUSIONS Once CAN is identified in a patient with diabetes, healthcare providers may consider altering the prescribed exercise regimen, increasing surveillance for cardiac ischemia, carefully reexamining the list of prescribed medications, and aggressively treating cardiovascular risk factors (e.g. hypertension) that may be associated with the development of CAN.
Serum Antibodies in First-Degree Relatives of Patients with IBD: A Marker of Disease Susceptibility? A Follow-Up Pilot-Study after 7 Years

Introduction: Various disease-specific serum antibodies were described in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and their yet healthy first-degree relatives. In the latter, serum antibodies are commonly regarded as potential markers of disease susceptibility. The present long-term follow-up study evaluated the fate of antibody-positive first-degree relatives. Patients and Methods: 25 patients with Crohn’s disease, 19 patients with ulcerative colitis and 102 first-degree relatives in whom presence of ASCA, pANCA, pancreatic- and goblet-cell antibodies had been assessed were enrolled. The number of incident cases with inflammatory bowel disease was compared between antibody-positive and antibody-negative first-degree relatives 7 years after storage of serum samples. Results: 34 of 102 (33%) first-degree relatives were positive for at least one of the studied serum antibodies. In the group of first-degree relatives, one case of Crohn’s disease and one case of ulcerative colitis were diagnosed during the follow-up period. However, both relatives did not display any of the investigated serum antibodies (p = 1). Discussion: The findings of our pilot study argue against a role of serum antibodies as a marker of disease susceptibility in first-degree relatives of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. However, these data have to await confirmation in larger ideally prospective multicenter studies before definite conclusions can be drawn.
Molecular pathways in renal cell carcinoma: recent advances in genetics and molecular biology

Purpose of review Advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains a largely incurable disease with a grave prognosis despite the availability of a multiplicity of systemic therapies targeted against vascular endothelial growth factor, its receptors, and the mammalian target of rapamycin. Although immune ‘checkpoint inhibitors’ appear to have activity in clear cell RCC based on recent early phase trials, the true magnitude of the benefit conferred by these agents remains to be fully understood. Given the limitations of existing treatment paradigms, ongoing research into new targetable pathways is critical. This review will highlight some of the more promising avenues of investigation into the molecular biology of RCC. Recent findings The hypoxia-inducible factor and mammalian target of rapamycin pathways remain critical targets in clear cell RCC. In addition, genes involved in chromatin remodeling such as polybromo 1 (PBRM1), SET domain containing 2 (SETD2), and BRCA-1-associated protein-1 (BAP1) have been shown to influence tumor biology and predict survival. MET alterations and the Krebs cycle enzyme fumarate hydratase are associated with familial type 1 and type 2 papillary RCC (PRCC), respectively. Alterations in nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2, Kelch-like erythroid-derived cap-n-collar homology-associated protein 1, and cullin 3, components of an oxidative stress response pathway, have been recently recognized in some sporadic papillary tumors as well as in fumarate hydratase-deficient tumor and may serve as additional therapeutic targets. In addition, whole-genome sequencing and integrated genomic analysis strategies are beginning to uncover unique molecular signatures associated with distinct subtypes of RCC, laying the foundation for a molecular classification of RCC and more precise, mechanism-based therapeutic intervention. Summary The complex molecular changes underlying individual RCC variants are yet to be fully elucidated and remain the subject of ongoing investigation. The findings summarized here further exemplify the diversity of RCC and the need to tailor our therapeutic approaches to the unique genetic alterations specific to individual subtypes of RCC.
Cortical 3D Face and Object Recognition Using 2D Projections

Empirical studies concerning face recognition suggest that faces may be stored in memory by a few canonical representations. In cortical area V1 exist double-opponent colour blobs, also simple, complex and end-stopped cells which provide input for a multiscale line/edge representation, keypoints for dynamic feature routing, and saliency maps for Focus-of-Attention. All these combined allow faces to be segregated. Events of different facial views are stored in memory and combined to identify the view and recognise a face, including its expression. In this paper, the authors show that with five 2D views and their cortical representations it is possible to determine the left-right and frontal-lateral-profile views, achieving a view-invariant recognition rate of 91%. The authors also show that the same principle with eight views can be applied to 3D object recognition when they are mainly rotated about the vertical axis.
Changes of telomere length with aging

We reviewed our methodology and results of telomere measurements, with reference to telomere length and aging. Human tissues always showed telomere shortening with age, except for the brain and myocardium. Yearly rates of telomere length reduction in various tissues were mostly within the range 20–60 bp, and thus compatible with that expected from only one round of mitosis. It was suggested that when telomeres were found to be longer in any specific organ in a given individual, then the other organs in that individual would also have longer telomeres. Using the quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization (Q‐FISH) method for telomere measurement, we were able to measure the telomere lengths of various cell types within tissues. Here we summarize the results obtained for various cell types in the stomach, tongue and breast. Our Q‐FISH method using our original software program “Tissue Telo” is excellent for measuring telomere lengths using tissue sections and PNA probes. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2010; 10 (Suppl. 1): S197–S206.
Age-related differences in social economic decision making: the ultimatum game.

OBJECTIVES Despite recognition of the increasing influence of emotion on decision making with age, there are few studies that have assessed older adults' financial choices in a socioemotional context. Thus, social economic decision making between same- versus other-aged partners was assessed. METHOD Young (n = 35) and older (n = 34) adults participated in two Ultimatum Games. In the first, they proposed divisions of money between themselves and future young and older participants. In the second, they accepted or rejected fair and unfair divisions of money proposed by past young and older participants. Lastly, participants reported their anger in response to the offers that were proposed to them in the second game. RESULTS In the first game, older participants divided the money more generously than did young participants. In the second game, young, but not older, participants rejected more unfair offers proposed by young relative to older adults. However, both participant age groups reported being angrier at unfair offers proposed by young adults compared with when receiving the same offer from an older adult. DISCUSSION These findings are discussed in the context of evidence for improved anger regulation and increased prosocial behavior with age.
Multiobjective genetic fuzzy rule selection with fuzzy relational rules

Genetic fuzzy rule selection has been frequently used for fuzzy rule-based classifier design. A number of its variants have also been proposed in the literature. In many studies on genetic fuzzy rule selection, each antecedent condition in fuzzy rules is given for a single input variable such as “x<sub>1</sub> is small” and “x<sub>2</sub> is large”. As a result, each antecedent fuzzy set is defined on a single input variable. In this paper, we examine the use of fuzzy relational conditions with respect to the relation between two input variables such as “x<sub>1</sub> is approximately equal to x<sub>2</sub>” and “x<sub>3</sub> is approximately larger than x<sub>4</sub>”. Such a fuzzy relational condition is defined by a fuzzy set on a pair of input variables. We examine the effect of using fuzzy rules with fuzzy relational conditions on the performance of fuzzy rule-based classifiers designed by multiobjective genetic fuzzy rule selection.
Anti‐platelet and anti‐thrombotic approaches in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Over the past three decades, there has been a tremendous increase in the use of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) for the treatment of patients with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. However, PCI causes disruption of atherosclerotic plaque and denudation of the endothelium, leading to stimulation of platelet aggregation and activation of the coagulation cascade. Therefore, anti‐platelet and anti‐thrombotic agents have a pivotal role as adjuncts before, during and after PCI, in order to minimize the risk of procedural ischemic complications, such as myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, and various degrees of myonecrosis. The current article presents a comprehensive review of the evolution of current anti‐platelet and anticoagulation regimens used in the setting of PCI. It starts with a summary of the current perspective of the coagulation process along with platelet activation and aggregation. The review then focuses specifically on individual anti‐platelet and anti‐thrombotic drugs including their mechanism of action and the scientific evidence which led to their use in PCI. Finally, we present summary recommendations from the AHA/ACC guidelines for individual anticoagulant and anti‐platelet regimens given peri‐PCI. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Safety of gadolinium‐DTPA: Extended clinical experience

This review reports data on the general and renal tolerance of the paramagnetic contrast agent Gd‐DTPA after intravenous administration. Gd‐DTPA was administered usually at a dose level of 0.1‐0.2 mmol/kg body wt (range: 0.005‐0.25 mmol/kg body wt) in cranial, spinal and body MR indications. In phase I‐IIIa studies a total of 2154 healthy volunteers and patients were investigated, usually at a dose of 0.1 mmol/kg body wt. From the obtained results it was concluded that adverse events (AEs) may be expected in the order of magnitude of 1%. In phase IIIb‐IV studies 13,439 patients were investigated at 0.1 or 0.2 mmol/kg body wt. Tolerance data were collected according to a standardized protocol and metaanalysis of obtained data was performed. AEs, irrespective of their drug relationship, were observed in 1.15% of the patients. The observed AEs were comparable to those after intravenous administration of iodinated nonionic X‐ray contrast media. There was no correlation between patient age and the incidence of AEs. In patients with a known history of allergy the incidence of AEs increased to 2.6%. In pediatric use no added risk was observed in a total of 826 neonates, children, and adolescents up to 18 years of age. Gd‐DTPA showed good renal tolerance in patients with and without preexisting impairment of renal function. A prospective open safety and pharmacokinetic study was conducted in patients with hemodialysis. Gd‐DTPA was shown to be eliminated completely by hemodialysis. Fast bolus injections were tolerated without added risk. Presented data from postmarketing surveillance (up to March 31, 1991) cover an estimated total of more than 2,000,000 applications. In conclusion, Gd‐DTPA showed an excellent safety profile after intravenous administration of diagnostic doses to patients of all age groups, irrespective of the injection speed and preexisting renal impairment. The overall incidence of AEs after intravenous injection of 0.1 or 0.2 mmol Gd‐DTPA/kg body wt was found to be 1–2%. © 1991 Academic Press, Inc.
Oral probiotic treatment of Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lcr35® prevents visceral hypersensitivity to a colonic inflammation and an acute psychological stress

This study evaluated the efficacy of a repeated oral treatment with two active pharmaceutical ingredients (Lcr Lenio® and Lcr Restituo®) derivated from the probiotic bacterial strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lcr35® in two animal models mimicking different features of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS is characterized by visceral pain associated with alteration of bowel transit. IBS patients present visceral hypersensitivity with peripheral and central origins.
Utilization of Somatosensory Evoked Cortical Potentials in Spinal Cord Injury: Prognostic Limitations

The prognostic value of somatosensory evoked cortical potentials (SECP) for clinical recovery was studied in 71 patients with complete (28) and incomplete (43) spinal injuries. While the absence of an SECP was associated with no clinical recovery, the presence of an SECP was of little value in predicting the clinical state at the time of examination or the potential for recovery
Design of fault tolerant majority voter for TMR circuit in QCA

The majority voter plays the core role in the Triple-modular redundancy (TMR) based fault tolerant scheme. This work targets to implement a novel fault tolerant structure of the majority voter for the implementation of TMR using Quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA), a viable alternative nanotechnology to current CMOS VLSI. The proposed fault-tolerant voter circuit itself can tolerate a fault and give error free output by improving the overall system's reliability.
Impact of functional training on cardiac autonomic modulation, cardiopulmonary parameters and quality of life in healthy women

Functional training (FT) promotes benefits in various physical abilities; however, its effect on autonomic modulation, cardiorespiratory parameters and quality of life in the healthy adult population is unknown, and thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of FT on these variables in healthy young women. The study consisted of 29 women, distributed into two groups: the FT Group (FTG; n = 13; 23 ± 2·51 years; 21·90 ± 2·82 kg m−²) and the Control Group (CG; n = 16; 20·56 ± 1·03 years; 22·12 ± 3·86 kg m−²). The FTG performed periodized FT for 12 weeks, three times a week. The following were evaluated: autonomic modulation (heart rate variability), cardiorespiratory parameters and quality of life (SF‐36 Questionnaire). The Student's t‐test for unpaired data or the Mann–Whitney test was used to compare the differences obtained between the final moment and the initial moment of the studied groups (P<0·05). The FTG demonstrated significant improvements in quality of life and autonomic modulation (P<0·05), but not in the cardiorespiratory parameters. Functional training was able to produce improvements in autonomic modulation and quality of life.
Aromatase Inhibitors for Ovulation Induction

Context: For the last 40 yr, the first line of treatment for anovulation in infertile women has been clomiphene citrate (CC). CC is a safe, effective oral agent but is known to have relatively common antiestrogenic endometrial and cervical mucous side effects that could prevent pregnancy in the face of successful ovulation. In addition, there is a significant risk of multiple pregnancy with CC, compared with natural cycles. Because of these problems, we proposed the concept of aromatase inhibition as a new method of ovulation induction that could avoid many of the adverse effects of CC. The objective of this review was to describe the different physiological mechanisms of action for CC and aromatase inhibitors (AIs) and compare studies of efficacy for both agents for ovulation induction. Evidence Acquisition: We conducted a systematic review of all the published studies, both controlled and noncontrolled, comparing CC and AI treatment, either alone or in combination with gonadotropins, for ovulation induc.
Depression as an antecedent to heart disease among women and men in the NHANES I study. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

BACKGROUND Depression predicts morbidity and mortality among individuals who have coronary heart disease (CHD), and there is increasing evidence that depression may also act as an antecedent to CHD. The studies that have reported a relationship between depression and CHD incidence or mortality either were restricted to men only or analyzed women and men together. The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the differential effect depression may have on CHD incidence and mortality in women and men. RESEARCH METHODS We analyzed data from 5007 women and 2886 men enrolled in the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I) who were free of CHD at the 1982-1984 interview and who had completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Participants were evaluated from the 1982 interview date either until the end of the study (1992 interview date) or until the occurrence of a CHD event. Using CHD incidence and CHD mortality (International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision, codes 410-414) as the outcome variables, Cox proportional hazards regression models were developed to evaluate the relative risk (RR) of CHD incidence and mortality in the depressed women and men separately, controlling for standard CHD risk factors. RESULTS The women experienced 187 nonfatal and 137 fatal events, compared with 187 nonfatal and 129 fatal events among the men. The adjusted RR of CHD incidence among depressed women was 1.73 (95% confidence internal [CI], 1.11-2.68) compared with nondepressed women. Depression had no effect on CHD mortality in the women (RR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.40-1.48). The adjusted RR of CHD incidence among depressed men was 1.71 (95% CI, 1.14-2.56) compared with nondepressed men. Depressed men also had an increased risk of CHD mortality compared with their nondepressed counterparts, with an adjusted RR of 2.34 (95% CI, 1.54-3.56). CONCLUSIONS In this sample, while controlling for possible confounding factors, depression was associated with an increased risk of CHD incidence in both men and women, as well as CHD mortality in men. Depression had no effect on CHD mortality in women.
Strengthening the quality of longitudinal research into cognitive-communication recovery after traumatic brain injury: A systematic review

Abstract Purpose: (i) To systematically review longitudinal and prognostic studies relating to the trajectory of cognitive-communication recovery after TBI and (ii) to provide recommendations to strengthen future research. Method: Thirteen health literature databases were accessed up until July 2014. Main measures: Articles were screened systematically against pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Quality reviews were performed on the selected articles using a modified Downs & Black Rating Scale. Two independent reviewers performed the reviews. Result: Sixteen longitudinal and prognostic articles met the inclusion criteria. There was evidence of either maintenance or improvement of cognitive-communication skills during the first 3 years post-injury. However, the studies did not provide detailed recovery trajectories, by failing to evaluate numerous data points over time. No studies evaluated recovery beyond 3 years post-injury. Injury severity, lesion location, brain volume loss and conversation skills may predict specific cognitive-communication outcomes. There was high variability in study characteristics and measures. Conclusion: There is currently scarce evidence regarding cognitive-communication recovery and prognosis. People with TBI may recover or maintain pre-morbid cognitive-communication skills during the early rehabilitation stage. Further research detailing the recovery trajectory with a view to evaluating predictive factors is strongly indicated. Guidelines for future research are provided.
W-Band CMOS 4-Bit Phase Shifter for High Power and Phase Compression Points

A CMOS 4-bit phase shifter is designed for W-band applications using a 65-nm CMOS process. Switched-delay-type 90°, 45°, and 22.5° 1-bit phase shifters are designed to have high power-handling capability using a signal line bias voltage. The power and phase compression of 90°, 45°, and 22.5° phase shifters are analyzed, and the phase shifters are optimally cascaded for high power and phase compression points. The measured insertion loss of the 4-bit phase shifter is -25 ± 2.1 dB, and the root mean square (RMS) gain error of the 16 different phase states is 1.1 dB at 77 GHz. An input and output return loss is less than -8 dB at 70-85 GHz. The phase shifter has the RMS phase error of 7.20 at 77 GHz and is less than 11.25° at 75-85 GHz. The measured minimum 1-dB power compression point of 16 different phase states is 15.0 dBm. The high input power also compresses the phase adjustment range and increases the phase error, which is limited to 11.25° up to the input power of 21 dBm. The phase shifter consumes no dc current and occupies a small chip area of 0.122 mm2, excluding pads.
Successful correction of depressed scars of the forehead secondary to trauma and morphea en coup de sabre by en bloc autologous dermal fat graft.

BACKGROUND Atrophic scars of the forehead can result from various pathologic processes including morphea en coup de sabre as well as trauma. A variety of surgical techniques can be used to correct these atrophic scars. OBJECTIVE Soft tissue augmentation for correction of atrophic scars of the forehead using en bloc autologous dermal fat graft. METHODS Use of en bloc autologous dermal fat graft harvested from the hip and inserted into a pocket created under the atrophic scar in two patients with depressed scars of the forehead. RESULTS Overcorrection of the scars with en bloc autologous dermal fat grafts resulted in the treated areas becoming level with the adjacent skin within 3 months. Follow-up for a period of 12 months showed a perfectly level and stable graft with no further resorption. CONCLUSION En bloc autologous dermal fat grafting appears to be a safe technique that provides excellent cosmetic results for the correction of small to medium depressed scars of the forehead.