Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aortic properties and atrial electrophysiology in the young and old football players.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences between P wave dispersion, aortic elastic properties and transthoracic echocardiographic findings in the young and old football players compared to control groups in order to asses the influence of regular sportive activity on aortic distensibility and its potential effect on atrial electrophysiology. METHODS We recruited 42 young football players with a training history of many years. The control group was formed by 27 healthy sedentary men. Twenty-three healthy retired football players of a professional football club aged over 50 years were included in the study as old group and 18 subjects over 50 year old who did not perform regular exercise when they were young were included in the control group of old subjects. RESULTS The heart rate and ejection fraction were decreased in the young football players. There were no significant differences in the aortic elastic parameters and P wave dispersion between young football players and control group. But in old subjects with sustained participation in regular sportive activity, the significant difference of left ventricular dimension, wall thickness and systolic functions detected in the young group disappeared while increase in the left atrial diameter became significant. CONCLUSION Potential effect of aortic elastic properties which changes with age, on atrial electrophysiology through increasing P wave dispersion was shown.
Mean platelet volume to platelet count ratio predicts in-hospital complications and long-term mortality in type A acute aortic dissection

Type A acute aortic dissection is a life-threatening vascular emergency because of its high morbidity and mortality. Platelet is a pivotal ingredient involved in the development of acute aortic dissection. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether mean platelet volume (MPV)/platelet count ratio predicts in-hospital complications and long-term mortality in type A acute aortic dissection. In this single-center and prospective cohort study, 106 consecutive patients with Stanford type A acute aortic dissection admitted to the hospital within 12 h after onset were recruited. The best cut-off value of MPV/platelet count ratio predicting all-cause mortality was determined by the receiver operator characteristic analysis. Patients were divided into high (H-MPV/platelet count) and low (L-MPV/platelet count) groups based on the cut-off value of 7.49 (102 fl/109/l). Patients were followed up for 3.5 years. Of the 106 acute aortic dissection patients, 71 (67.0%) died during the study period, with a median follow-up duration of 570 days. Compared to the L-MPV/platelet count group, patients with H-MPV/platelet count had a higher risk of in-hospital complications including hypotension, hypoxemia, myocardial ischemia/infarction, conscious disturbance, pericardial tamponade, paraplegia, and poor survival (all P < 0.05). In multivariable Cox regression models adjusted for potential confounders, MPV/platelet count ratio was positively associated with the hazard of all-cause mortality, irrespective of interventions either with medication only or urgent surgery, and the hazard ratios were 2.81 (95% confidence interval 1.28–4.48) for the H-MPV/platelet count group when taking L-MPV/platelet count group as the reference (P = 0.005). The MPV/platelet count ratio was a strong independent predictor for in-hospital complications and long-term mortality in patients with type A acute aortic dissection.
Normalisation of immune cell imbalance after pharmacological treatments of patients suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder

Abstract Recent data have shown the presence of immunological alterations in adult patients suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The objective of this study was to examine the possible effects of 12 months of treatment with different serotonergic drugs, such as clomipramine and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on peripheral immunological cells of 18 OCD patients. Both the absolute number and percent of CD4+, CD8+, CD3+, CD19+ and CD56+ cells were measured in peripheral blood before and after treatment by means of a Facstar Flow Sorter apparatus. At baseline, all patients showed a significant increase of CD8+ and decrease of CD4+ lymphocytes when compared with a similar group of healthy control subjects; after the treatment, CD8+ and CD4+ cells, respectively, decreased and increased significantly, and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio increased, when compared with baseline values, in parallel with the clinical improvement. These data suggest that the alterations of immune cells reported in patients with OCD at baseline may be reverted by treatment with SRIs and should be considered a state-dependent marker, perhaps related to a condition of stress.
Voluntary Audits Versus Mandatory Audits

ABSTRACT Exploiting a natural experiment in which voluntary audits replace mandatory audits for U.K. private companies, we analyze whether imposing audits suppresses valuable information about the types of companies that would voluntarily choose to be audited. We control for the assurance benefits of auditing to isolate the role signaling plays by focusing on companies that are audited under both regimes. These companies experience no change in audit assurance, although they can now reveal for the first time their desire to be audited. We find that these companies attract upgrades to their credit ratings because they send a positive signal by submitting to an audit when this is no longer legally required. In contrast, companies that dispense with being audited suffer downgrades to their ratings because avoiding an audit sends a negative signal and removes its assurance value. Data Availability: All data are available from public sources.
Clinical responses to atomoxetine in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: the Integrated Data Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) study.

OBJECTIVE Clinical experience suggests that some (but not all) patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are highly responsive to the nonstimulant atomoxetine. We conducted a retrospective analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to identify potential baseline (moderator) and on-treatment (mediator) predictors of responses. METHOD Data from 6 U.S. RCTs among patients aged 6 to 18 years were pooled (N = 1,069; subjects treated with atomoxetine, n = 618). Subjects were categorized as much improved (> or = 40% decrease in ADHD Rating Scale-IV-Parent Version: Investigator Administered and Scored total score), minimally improved (25%-< 40% decline), or nonresponders (< 25% decrease). Logistic regression, analyses of variance, and repeated-measures analyses were used to explore associations between baseline and on-treatment variables, achieving a much improved response at trial endpoint (6-9 weeks). RESULTS Forty-seven percent of patients showed a much improved clinical response, and 40% did not respond. Only 13% of the patients had a minimal response. No baseline characteristics predicted achieving a much improved clinical response; the only predictor of achieving this response was being at least minimally improved by treatment week 4 (sensitivity = 81%, specificity = 72%, positive predictive value = 75%, and negative predictive value = 79%). CONCLUSIONS Clinical response to atomoxetine was bimodal, with most subjects being either responders who were much improved or nonresponders. There were no demographic or clinical predictors of response. However, subjects who ultimately achieved a much improved response were likely to be at least minimal responders by week 4. The recommendation to consider either augmenting or switching treatment in patients who do not achieve at least this level of response to atomoxetine by 4 weeks offers a method for limiting the extended duration of titration to subjects who are most likely to benefit further, while minimizing the duration of exposure in those less likely to achieve an excellent response.
Phosphorus removal from synthetic and municipal wastewater using spent alum sludge.

In the present study, phosphorus removal was studied using as coagulant spent alum sludge from a water treatment plant of EYDAP (Athens Water Supply and Sewerage Company) and compared to alum (Al2(SO4)3.18H2O), iron chloride (FeCl3.7H2O), iron sulfate (Fe2(S04). 10H2O) and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) at a constant pH (equal to 6). The comparison was based on their efficiency to remove phosphorus in synthetic wastewater consisting of 10 mg/L P as potassium dihydrogen phosphate and 50 mg/L N as ammonium chloride, The experiments were carried out using a jar-test apparatus and the measurements were performed according to the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. Pure alum, iron chloride and iron sulfate were much more efficient in phosphorus removal than the spent alum sludge but in the case of calcium hydroxide, phosphorus removal was very low in pH = 6. Specifically, orthophosphate were totally removed by alum using 15 mg/L as Al, by alum sludge using 75 mg/L as Al and by FeCl3.7H2O or Fe2(SO4). 10H2O using 30 mg/L of Fe while in the case of calcium hydroxide P removal was actually zero. pH measurements showed that the uptake of phosphates is associated to the release of OH ions in the solution and that the end of P uptake is accompanied by the stabilization of pH. Finally this spent alum sludge was tested on municipal wastewater and proved to be effective as apart from phosphorus it was shown to remove turbidity and COD.
Residency hospital type and career paths in Japan: An analysis of physician registration cohorts

Background: In 2004, a new postgraduate medical training system was introduced in Japan and a shift of new graduates from university hospitals to other postgraduate education hospitals happened. Aim: The aim of this study is to analyse the past trends on postgraduate medical education choices and subsequent career options to discuss possible outcomes of the current shift and policy implications. Methods: Data from the national physician survey from 1976 to 2006 were analysed. The proportion change of physicians started their career in university hospitals was calculated. The career paths for physicians by different residency type were presented. Results: More than 90% of physicians experienced university hospital work at least once in their 20-year careers. In their first 10 years of their career, physicians who started their residency in a university hospital tended to spend more years working in university hospitals, and those who started in other post-graduate training hospitals tended to spend less in university hospitals. Then, these groups presented quite similar patterns in their career choices. Conclusions: University hospitals need to strengthen their function as continuing education and career development centres and to adopt a less paternalistic approach, as fewer residents start their career in university hospitals.
‘Just a little hint’: bisexual-specific microaggressions and their connection to epistemic injustices

A growing body of evidence indicates disproportionate rates of mental health disorders among bisexual women compared to both heterosexual and lesbian women. Such disparities are often attributed to stressors related to minority status, including experiences of prejudice and discrimination. Prior research has made little distinction between the prejudicial experiences of bisexual groups as compared to lesbian/gay groups. Based on qualitative data gathered in focus groups with 10, predominantly White, bisexual-identified women, which occurred in a large city in the USA, we posit that differences in prejudicial experiences do exist for bisexual groups, and that such differences reside in the realms of the epistemic, yet have very real implications for bisexual women's daily lived experiences. We discuss everyday slights and insults, also known as microaggressions, reported by the participants vis-à-vis their bisexual identity. These bisexual-specific microaggressions include hostility; denial/dismissal; unintelligibility; pressure to change; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender legitimacy; dating exclusion; and hypersexuality. We consider how such microaggressions may adversely impact mental health and well-being and may assist in explaining the mental health disparities among bisexual women.
Metabolomic signatures associated with disease severity in multiple sclerosis

Objective: To identify differences in the metabolomic profile in the serum of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) compared to controls and to identify biomarkers of disease severity. Methods: We studied 2 cohorts of patients with MS: a retrospective longitudinal cohort of 238 patients and 74 controls and a prospective cohort of 61 patients and 41 controls with serial serum samples. Patients were stratified into active or stable disease based on 2 years of prospective assessment accounting for presence of clinical relapses or changes in disability measured with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Metabolomic profiling (lipids and amino acids) was performed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry in serum samples. Data analysis was performed using parametric methods, principal component analysis, and partial least square discriminant analysis for assessing the differences between cases and controls and for subgroups based on disease severity. Results: We identified metabolomics signatures with high accuracy for classifying patients vs controls as well as for classifying patients with medium to high disability (EDSS >3.0). Among them, sphingomyelin and lysophosphatidylethanolamine were the metabolites that showed a more robust pattern in the time series analysis for discriminating between patients and controls. Moreover, levels of hydrocortisone, glutamic acid, tryptophan, eicosapentaenoic acid, 13S-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid, lysophosphatidylcholines, and lysophosphatidylethanolamines were associated with more severe disease (non-relapse-free or increase in EDSS). Conclusions: We identified metabolomic signatures composed of hormones, lipids, and amino acids associated with MS and with a more severe course.
Clinical Factors Associated with Lamina Cribrosa Thickness in Patients with Glaucoma, as Measured with Swept Source Optical Coherence Tomography

Purpose To investigate the influence of various risk factors on thinning of the lamina cribrosa (LC), as measured with swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT; Topcon). Methods This retrospective study comprised 150 eyes of 150 patients: 22 normal subjects, 28 preperimetric glaucoma (PPG) patients, and 100 open-angle glaucoma patients. Average LC thickness was determined in a 3 x 3 mm cube scan of the optic disc, over which a 4 x 4 grid of 16 points was superimposed (interpoint distance: 175 μm), centered on the circular Bruch’s membrane opening. The borders of the LC were defined as the visible limits of the LC pores. The correlation of LC thickness with Humphrey field analyzer-measured mean deviation (MD; SITA standard 24–2), circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (cpRNFLT), the vertical cup-to-disc (C/D) ratio, and tissue mean blur rate (MBR) was determined with Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. The relationship of LC thickness with age, axial length, intraocular pressure (IOP), MD, the vertical C/D ratio, central corneal thickness (CCT), and tissue MBR was determined with multiple regression analysis. Average LC thickness and the correlation between LC thickness and MD were compared in patients with the glaucomatous enlargement (GE) optic disc type and those with non-GE disc types, as classified with Nicolela’s method. Results We found that average LC thickness in the 16 grid points was significantly associated with overall LC thickness (r = 0.77, P < 0.001). The measurement time for this area was 12.4 ± 2.4 minutes. Average LC thickness in this area had a correlation coefficient of 0.57 with cpRNFLT (P < 0.001) and 0.46 (P < 0.001) with MD. Average LC thickness differed significantly between the groups (normal: 268 ± 23 μm, PPG: 248 ± 13 μm, OAG: 233 ± 20 μm). Multiple regression analysis showed that MD (β = 0.29, P = 0.013), vertical C/D ratio (β = -0.25, P = 0.020) and tissue MBR (β = 0.20, P = 0.034) were independent variables significantly affecting LC thickness, but age, axial length, IOP, and CCT were not. LC thickness was significantly lower in the GE patients (233.9 ± 17.3 μm) than the non-GE patients (243.6 ± 19.5 μm, P = 0.040). The correlation coefficient between MD and LC thickness was 0.58 (P < 0.001) in the GE patients and 0.39 (P = 0.013) in the non-GE patients. Conclusion Cupping formation and tissue blood flow were independently correlated to LC thinning. Glaucoma patients with the GE disc type, who predominantly have large cupping, had lower LC thickness even with similar glaucoma severity.
Effect of αGal on corneal xenotransplantation in a mouse model

Choi HJ, Kim MK, Lee HJ, Jeong SH, Kang HJ, Park C‐S, Park C‐G, Kim SJ, Wee WR. Effect of αGal on corneal xenotransplantation in a mouse model. Xenotransplantation 2011; 18: 176–182. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.
Role for PSF in Mediating Transcriptional Activator-Dependent Stimulation of Pre-mRNA Processing In Vivo

ABSTRACT In a recent study, we provided evidence that strong promoter-bound transcriptional activators result in higher levels of splicing and 3′-end cleavage of nascent pre-mRNA than do weak promoter-bound activators and that this effect of strong activators requires the carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II (pol II). In the present study, we have investigated the mechanism of activator- and CTD-mediated stimulation of pre-mRNA processing. Affinity chromatography experiments reveal that two factors previously implicated in the coupling of transcription and pre-mRNA processing, PSF and p54nrb/NonO, preferentially bind a strong rather than a weak activation domain. Elevated expression in human 293 cells of PSF bypasses the requirement for a strong activator to promote efficient splicing and 3′-end cleavage. Truncation of the pol II CTD, which consists of 52 repeats of the consensus heptapeptide sequence YSPTSPS, to 15 heptapeptide repeats prevents PSF-dependent stimulation of splicing and 3′-end cleavage. Moreover, PSF and p54nrb/NonO bind in vitro to the wild-type CTD but not to the truncated 15-repeat CTD, and domains in PSF that are required for binding to activators and to the CTD are also important for the stimulation of pre-mRNA processing. Interestingly, activator- and CTD-dependent stimulation of splicing mediated by PSF appears to primarily affect the removal of first introns. Collectively, these results suggest that the recruitment of PSF to activated promoters and the pol II CTD provides a mechanism by which transcription and pre-mRNA processing are coordinated within the cell.
Electroweak sphaleron for effective theory in the limit of large Higgs boson mass.

Theoretical arguments suggest that the Higgs sector of the standard model is an effective theory. We parametrize the new physics by means of an effective Lagrangian technique and study its effect on the energy of the electroweak sphaleron. We find that in the presence of a certain class of higher dimension operators the sphaleron energy becomes arbitrarily large as the Higgs boson mass {ital m}{sub {ital H}} increases. The physical meaning of this result and its implications to electroweak baryogenesis in the dynamical symmetry-breaking models are discussed.
THE L∞ VORONOI DIAGRAM OF SEGMENTS AND VLSI APPLICATIONS

In this paper we address the L∞ Voronoi diagram of polygonal objects and present application in VLSI layout and manufacturing. We show that L∞ Voronoi diagram of polygonal objects consists of straight line segments and thus it is much simpler to compute than its Euclidean counterpart; the degree of the computation is significantly lower. Moreover, it has a natural interpretation. In applications where Euclidean precision is not essential the L∞ Voronoi diagram can provide a better alternative. Using the L∞ Voronoi diagram of polygons we address the problem of calculating the critical area for shorts in a VLSI layout. The critical area computation is the main computational bottleneck in VLSI yield prediction.
The Effect of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Conditioned Media Topically Delivered in Fibrin Glue on Chronic Wound Healing in Rats

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) represent a modern approach for management of chronic skin injuries. In this work, we describe BM-MSCs application versus their conditioned media (CM) when delivered topically admixed with fibrin glue to enhance the healing of chronic excisional wounds in rats. Fifty-two adult male rats were classified into four groups after induction of large-sized full-thickness skin wound: control group (CG), fibrin only group (FG), fibrin + MSCs group (FG + SCs), and fibrin + CM group (FG + CM). Healing wounds were evaluated functionally and microscopically. Eight days after injury, number of CD68+ macrophages infiltrating granulation tissue was considerably higher in the latter two groups. Although—later—none of the groups depicted a substantially different healing rate, the quality of regenerated skin was significantly boosted by the application of either BM-MSCs or their CM both (1) structurally as demonstrated by the obviously increased mean area percent of collagen fibers in Masson's trichrome-stained skin biopsies and (2) functionally as supported by the interestingly improved epidermal barrier as well as dermal tensile strength. Thus, we conclude that topically applied BM-MSCs and their CM—via fibrin vehicle—could effectively improve the quality of healed skin in chronic excisional wounds in rats, albeit without true acceleration of wound closure.
Liposomal Alendronate Inhibits Systemic Innate Immunity and Reduces In-Stent Neointimal Hyperplasia in Rabbits

Background—Innate immunity is of major importance in vascular repair. The present study evaluated whether systemic and transient depletion of monocytes and macrophages with liposome-encapsulated bisphosphonates inhibits experimental in-stent neointimal formation. Methods and Results—Rabbits fed on a hypercholesterolemic diet underwent bilateral iliac artery balloon denudation and stent deployment. Liposomal alendronate (3 or 6 mg/kg) was given concurrently with stenting. Monocyte counts were reduced by >90% 24 to 48 hours after a single injection of liposomal alendronate, returning to basal levels at 6 days. This treatment significantly reduced intimal area at 28 days, from 3.88±0.93 to 2.08±0.58 and 2.16±0.62 mm2. Lumen area was increased from 2.87±0.44 to 3.57±0.65 and 3.45±0.58 mm2, and arterial stenosis was reduced from 58±11% to 37±8% and 38±7% in controls, rabbits treated with 3 mg/kg, and rabbits treated with 6 mg/kg, respectively (mean±SD, n=8 rabbits/group, P <0.01 for all 3 parameters). No drug-related adverse effects were observed. Reduction in neointimal formation was associated with reduced arterial macrophage infiltration and proliferation at 6 days and with an equal reduction in intimal macrophage and smooth muscle cell content at 28 days after injury. Conversely, drug regimens ineffective in reducing monocyte levels did not inhibit neointimal formation. Conclusions—Systemic transient depletion of monocytes and macrophages, by a single liposomal bisphosphonates injection concurrent with injury, reduces in-stent neointimal formation and arterial stenosis in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.