Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Myocardial inflammatory responses to sepsis complicated by previous burn injury.

BACKGROUND It is generally accepted that an initial injury such as burn trauma alters immune function such that a second insult increases the morbidity and mortality over that observed with each individual insult. We have shown previously that either burn trauma or sepsis promotes cardiomyocyte secretion of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta, cytokines that have been shown to produce myocardial contractile dysfunction. This study determined whether a previous burn injury (given eight days prior to sepsis) (1) provides a preconditioning phenomenon, decreasing inflammatory responses to a second insult or (2) exacerbates inflammatory response observed with either injury alone. METHODS Anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats were given either burn injury over 40% total body surface area, sepsis alone (intratracheal S. pneumoniae, 4 x 10(6) colony forming units) or sepsis eight days after burn; all rats received lactated Ringer's solution. Hearts harvested 24 h after onset of sepsis alone or sepsis plus eight-day burn were used to (1) isolate cardiomyocytes (collagenase) or (2) assess contractile function (Langendorff). Cardiomyocytes loaded with 2 microg/mL Fura-2AM or sodium-binding benzofuran isophthalate were used to measure intracellular calcium and sodium concentrations (Nikon inverted microscope, Grooney optics, InCyt Im2 Fluorescence Imaging System). Additional cardiomyocytes were used to measure myocyte-secreted TNFalpha, IL-1, IL-6, IL-10 (pg/ml, ELISA). RESULTS Either burn trauma alone or sepsis alone promoted TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, nitric oxide, IL6 and IL-10 secretion by cardiomyocytes (p < 0.05). Producing aspiration-related pneumonia eight days postburn produced myocardial pro- and anti-inflammatory responses and increased myocyte Ca2+/Na+ concentrations to a significantly greater degree than the responses observed after either insult alone. CONCLUSIONS A previous burn injury alters myocardial inflammatory responses, predisposing the burn-injured subject to exaggerated inflammation, which correlates with greater myocardial dysfunction.
Cytokine Response in Cerebrospinal Fluid after Birth Asphyxia

Experimental studies suggest that cytokine-mediated inflammatory reactions are important in the cascade leading to hypoxicischemic brain injury. The purpose was to study the content of pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of asphyxiated and control infants. Samples of CSF were obtained from 20 infants who fulfilled the criteria of birth asphyxia and from seven newborn control subjects. The concentrations of IL-1β, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and granulocyte/monocyte colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were determined with ELISA and of IL-6 using a bioassay. The concentration of IL-6 (pg/mL) was higher in asphyxiated(250, 35-543; median, interquartile range) than in control (0, 0-18) infants(p = 0.001). There was also a significant relationship between IL-6 and the degree of HIE, and between IL-6 and outcome. In addition, the content of IL-8 (pg/mL) was higher (p = 0.009) in the asphyxia group (170, 70-1440), than in the the control group (10, 0-30) and there was an association between IL-8 and degree of HIE. The levels of IL-10, TNF-α, GM-CSF, and IL-1β did not differ between groups. In conclusion, the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 were markedly elevated in CSF of asphyxiated infants, and the intrathecal levels of these cytokines corresponded to the degree of HIE.
Long-Term Results of Plastipore Prostheses in Reconstruction of the Middle Ear Ossicular Chain

Purpose: To examine the acoustic results over a long period of time, in patients who underwent ossiculoplasty with Plastipore, and to report the percentage of prosthesis extrusion and factors related to the prognosis. Procedures: Forty-two patients, who underwent ossiculoplasty with Plastipore, were studied. Patients were followed up for the next 14 years. The surgical procedures were classified as: tympanoplasty, tympanoplasty with mastoidectomy with canal wall up, and tympanoplasty with mastoidectomy with canal wall down. A successful hearing result was defined as a postoperative air-bone gap (ABG) of 20 dB or less. Results: Successful results were seen in 65% of our patients, 68.8% with a partial ossicular replacement prosthesis (PORP) and a 62.5% success rate with a total ossicular replacement prosthesis (TORP). The mean value for ABG improvement was 25.5 dB. Prosthesis extrusion occurred in 4.7%. Conclusions: The ossiculoplasty-Plastipore technique leads to good hearing results and a low percentage of prosthesis extrusion in long-term follow-ups.
Comparison of different cutaneous carotenoid sensors and influence of age, skin type, and kinetic changes subsequent to intake of a vegetable extract

Abstract. In the last decade, cutaneous carotenoid measurements have become increasingly popular, as carotenoids were found to be a biomarker of nutrition rich in fruits and vegetables, permitting monitoring of the influence of various stress factors. For such measurements, in addition to the specific and selective resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS), newly developed low expensive small and mobile sensors that are based on spatially resolved reflectance spectroscopy (SRRS) are used for cutaneous carotenoid measurements. Human volunteers of different age exhibiting skin types I to III were investigated using RRS and two SRRS-based sensors to determine the influence of these parameters on the measuring results. In two studies on volunteers of either the same age or skin type, however, the respective other parameter being varied and no significant influences of age or skin type could be detected. Furthermore, the kinetic changes resulting from the intake and discontinued intake of a vegetable extract rich in carotenoids showed a good correlation among the three sensors and with the detected blood carotenoids. This illustrates that the SRRS-based sensors and RRS device provide reliable cutaneous carotenoid values independent of age and skin types I to III of the volunteers.
Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

The diagnostic and therapeutic landscape of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has changed dramatically in the past 50 years since the Surgeon General's report on smoking and lung cancer. Early detection is now a reality for lung cancer. The use of low-dose computed tomography scans for early detection decreases mortality and is beginning to be used in routine clinical practice. Technological advances such as positron emission tomography and endobronchial ultrasound have improved the accuracy of NSCLC staging. The cure rate for early-stage NSCLC has improved as a result of multimodality treatment approaches. The role of systemic therapy has also expanded to earlier stages of the disease. In recent years, the initial steps toward personalized medicine by utilization of targeted treatments based on tumor genotype have been undertaken. Emerging technological advances and greater insights into tumor biology are poised to greatly reduce the burden of lung cancer in the years to come. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(3); 557–64. ©2014 AACR.
Correcting calcium nutritional deficiency prevents spine fractures in elderly women

We tested the spine antifracture and bone sparing efficacy of 1.2 g/day of oral calcium as carbonate in two groups of elderly women, one with prevalent fractures (PF, n = 94) on entry and the other without (NPF, n = 103). It was a prospective randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial in mostly rural communities in women over age 60 who were living independently and were consuming <1 g/day of calcium. We obtained annual lateral spine radiographs and semiannual forearm bone density over 4.3 + 1.1 years and determined vertebral fractures by radiographic morphometry augmented by physician assessment. In the PF group, 15 of 53 subjects on calcium had incident fractures, compared with 21 of 41 on placebo (p = 0.023, cH2). Calcium did not reduce the rate of incident fractures in the NPF group. Those with a prevalent fracture on entry and not treated with calcium were 2.8 times more likely to experience an incident fracture than all others. Change in the forearm bone mass on placebo in the PF group was −1.24 + 2.41%/year compared with +0.31 + 1.80%/year on calcium (p < 0.001). In the NPF group, the difference was less: −0.39 + 2.08%/year versus 0.00 + 1.64%/year (p = 0.2). We conclude that in elderly postmenopausal women with spine fractures and selfselected calcium intakes of <1 g/day, a calcium supplement of 1.2 g/day reduces the incidence of spine fractures and halts measurable bone loss.
Adaptive Backstepping Stabilization of Nonlinear Uncertain Systems With Quantized Input Signal

In this paper, we study a general class of strict feedback nonlinear systems, where the input signal takes quantized values. We consider a stabilization problem for nonlinear uncertain systems via adaptive backstepping approach. The control design is achieved by introducing a hysteretic quantizer to avoid chattering and using backstepping technique. A guideline is derived to select the parameters of the quantizer. The designed controller together with the quantizer ensures the stability of the closed-loop system in the sense of signal boundedness.
Non‐T cell activation linker (NTAL) proteolytic cleavage as a terminator of activatory intracellular signals

Non‐T cell activation linker is an adaptor protein that is tyrosine phosphorylated upon cross‐linking of immune receptors expressed on B lymphocytes, NK cells, macrophages, basophils, or mast cells, allowing the recruitment of cytosolic mediators for downstream signaling pathways. Fas receptor acts mainly as a death receptor, and when cross‐linked with Fas ligand, many proteins are proteolytically cleaved, including several signaling molecules in T and B cells. Fas receptor triggering also interferes with TCR intracellular signals, probably by means of proteolytic cleavage of several adaptor proteins. We have previously found that the adaptor linker for activation of T cells, evolutionarily related to non‐T cell activation linker, is cleaved upon proapoptotic stimuli in T lymphocytes and thymocytes, in a tyrosine phosphorylation‐dependent fashion. Here, we describe non‐T cell activation linker proteolytic cleavage triggered in human B cells and monocytes by Fas cross‐linking and staurosporine treatment. Non‐T cell activation linker is cleaved, producing an N‐terminal fragment of ∼22 kDa, and such cleavage is abrogated in the presence of caspase 8/granzyme B and caspase 3 inhibitors. Moreover, we have identified an aspartic acid residue at which non‐T cell activation linker is cleaved, which similar to linker for activation of T cells, this aspartic acid residue is located close to tyrosine and serine residues, suggesting an interdependence of phosphorylation and proteolytic cleavage. Consistently, induction of non‐T cell activation linker phosphorylation by pervanadate inhibits its cleavage. Interestingly, the truncated isoform of non‐T cell activation linker, generated after cleavage, has a decreased signaling ability when compared with the full‐length molecule. Altogether, our results suggest that cleavage of transmembrane adaptors constitutes a general mechanism for signal termination of immune receptors.
Tumor promoter TPA stimulates MMP-9 secretion from human keratinocytes by activation of superoxide-producing NADPH oxidase

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is involved in physiological tissue remodelling processes as well as in tumor invasion and metastasis. The tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) increases MMP-9 secretion from normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) in vivo and in vitro. Here we show that the flavoprotein inhibitor diphenyleneiodinium (DPI) and the NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin block TPA-induced MMP-9 secretion of NHEK in vitro. Furthermore, N-acetyl-L-cysteine and L-cysteine lowered TPA-induced MMP-9 secretion, suggesting an involvement of reactive oxygen species(ROS). TPA exerts its effect on MMP-9 gene expression and secretion via the superoxide-producing enzyme NADPH oxidase: TPA rapidly stimulates generation of superoxide anion as well as gene expression of two cytosolic NADPH oxidase subunits (p47-phox and p67-phox) after 2 h, which is followed by induction of MMP-9 gene expression after 4 h. Taken together, the novel finding herein is the TPA-induced MMP-9 secretion from normal human epidermal keratinocytes through a NADPH oxidase dependent pathway.
Day treatment for disruptive behaviour disorders: can a short-term program be effective?

OBJECTIVE The present study investigates the effectiveness of a short-term day treatment program for children with a primary diagnosis of a Disruptive Behaviour Disorder (DBD) using best-practice treatment strategies. This study, using a wait list control, compared children's admission and discharge test scores on standardized measures of behaviour and functioning, as rated by parents. METHOD A repeated measures MANOVA was used to evaluate symptom change. RESULTS The treatment group was found to have improved significantly more than the waitlist group on parent reports of externalizing behaviour, aggression, social problems, hyperactivity and parent stress. CONCLUSIONS Children with DBD who attended a short-term day treatment program using best-practice treatment strategies showed significant improvement in their behaviour at home. The current study lends support to the idea that severe DBD can be treated using multi-modal, intensive and evidence-based treatment techniques.
Some Concepts For Inventory Control Under Substitutable Demand

AbstractThis paper investigates the effects of substitutable demand on stocking control rules and the associated inventory/shortage costs. Results, developed for the limiting case in which all of the substitutable items have the same unit variable cost and shortage penalty, indicate that transferred demand will be of little consequence where both (i) the number of substitutable items stocked is low (say 2 or 3), and (ii) the probabilities that customers will accept substitutes are small. On the other hand, the potential dollar savings in accounting for substitutable demand rise quickly with the number of items stocked; moreover even in the two-item case, when one of the probabilities of the transfer of unmet demand is close to 1.0, the optimal stocking rule is substantially different from the case where the items are treated independently, and substantial savings are possible. Finally, for the case of two items having substitutable demand a reasonable heuristic approach for establishing the values of the .
Is Transcranial Doppler Effective in Avoiding the Hazards of Carotid Surgery?

The middle cerebral artery flow velocities were measured to test the hypothesis that transcranial Doppler is a useful technique for intraoperative monitoring in 50 consecutive carotid endarterectomies which were performed under local anaesthesia. The patients' neurological status was continuously monitored. The peak middle cerebral artery velocities were measured before clamping, during clamping and after restoration of flow, and again 24 h and 4 weeks later. Clamping produced a decrease in the velocity of the middle cerebral artery, from 97 to 45 cm/s (P< 0.001). Neurological manifestations occurred in eight patients; one patient lost consciousness, and seven experienced transient focal deficits during the procedure. Another three (6%) developed minor strokes postoperatively. The velocity changes were similar in those who developed complications to those who did not. These results do not support the view that transcranial Doppler monitoring is helpful in deciding whether to use a shunt during carotid endarterectomy. Further data are needed to evaluate the importance of transcranial Doppler monitoring during carotid surgery. Copyright © 1996 The International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery.
Hepatic granulomatous response to Schistosoma mansoni eggs in BALB/c mice and olive baboons (Papio cynocephalus anubis).

Hepatic granulomatous inflammation is one of the key pathological lesions of a patent Schistosoma mansoni infection. This study was concerned with the sequential induction, formation and eventual modulation of the schistosome egg granuloma in the mouse, which develops schistosome-induced hepatic fibrosis, and the olive baboon, which usually does not. Six baboons were each infected with 1500 S. mansoni cercariae and liver biopsies were collected at weeks 6, 9, 13 and 17 post-infection (p.i.). The mice (n=25) were each infected with 100 cercariae and killed in groups of five at weeks 6, 9, 12, 18 and 21 p.i. Peak granuloma size was observed at week 6 p.i. in baboons (mean 355 +/- 65.6 microm) but at week 12 p.i. in mice (299 +/- 40.5 microm). Eosinophils were more abundant in the baboon (60.6 +/- 8.9%) than in the mouse (41.2 +/- 8.4%) at the time of maximal granuloma size (P < 0.01). Neutrophils formed 21.1 +/- 6.3% of peak mouse granulomata but were virtually absent in baboon granulomata. A feature of the modulating baboon granulomata was the emergence of multinucleated giant cells (MGCs); modulating mouse granulomata, on the other hand, were characterized by infiltration of fibroblasts and collagen deposition. Thus, by week 21 p.i. mouse granulomata were 92 +/- 16.0 microm in diameter and well delineated by concentric layers of fibrous tissue. Granulomata, however, were present in only two of the baboons at week 17 p.i. (44 +/- 61.2 microm in diameter). The other four had peri-portal cellular infiltration without granuloma formation, implying that baboon granulomata resolve spontaneously. These data suggest that high tissue eosinophilia and MGC formation are particularly efficient in bringing about the destruction of schistosome eggs and subsequent resolution of the egg granuloma without fibrosis. In conclusion, the baboon model more closely mimics the pathogenesis observed in man than does the mouse model.
Low-level laser therapy: A novel therapeutic approach to temporomandibular disorder – A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial

Aims and Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT)/low intensity laser therapy (LILT) in the management of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain in a random and double-blind research design. Materials and Methods: TMJ pain patients, randomly assigned into two groups: Group 1 (n = 20) and Group 2 (n = 20), received 2–3 treatments per week for 8 sessions of active LILT with diode laser (gallium aluminum arsenide, 810 nm, 0.1 W). Measures of TMJ pain during function were evaluated at baseline, after completion of 8 sessions of laser treatment, and 30 days after the final laser therapy. Results: At the final treatment point, within-group, pain reduction was observed in both active LLLT and placebo groups at day 0 (P = 0.000), 8th session (P = 0.000), and 1 month (P = 0.001). Between the groups, there is no significant difference at day 0 (P = 0.214), 8th session (P = 0.806), and 1 month (P = 0.230). Significant increased mouth opening was observed in both Group 1 and Group 2 (P = 0.006 and P = 0.021, respectively) after treatment. However, no significant difference was found between the two groups (P = 0.330). Furthermore, significant improvement in clicking was recorded before and after treatment both in Group 1 (P = 0.000) and Group 2 (P = 0.001). Conclusion: The study suggests that LLLT is not better than placebo at reducing TMJ pain during function. It may be assumed that a more tailored application of LLLT should be developed to take into account the multifactorial aspect of the disorder.
Toward semantic interoperability of energy using and producing appliances in residential environments

About two thirds of the energy consumed in buildings originates household appliances. Nowadays, appliances are often intelligent and networked devices that form complete energy consuming, producing, and managing systems. Reducing energy is therefore a matter of managing and optimizing the energy utilization on a system level. These systems need standardized interfaces on a sensor and device level to enable further extensions. Many of the required standards already exist, but a common architecture does not, resulting in a market which is too fragmented and powerless. We are therefore designing a reference ontology for these appliances, and in this paper we present our initial results. We have identified 48 different semantic assets that describe various properties of smart appliances in residential environments. After translating 19 of these assets into Web Ontology Language (OWL), we identified 20 recurring concepts that will be the initial building blocks of the reference ontology.
Psoriatic arthritis: state of the art review

ABSTRACT Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) accounts for around 20% of referrals to the early arthritis clinic and presents a significant diagnostic and management challenge. Early diagnosis is important to prevent long term functional disability and to ensure optimal management of arthritis and key comorbidities. From the rheumatologist’s perspective, the differential diagnosis includes rheumatoid arthritis, gout and other inflammatory arthritides. Once diagnosed, it is essential to assess the disease fully, including arthritis, enthesitis, dactylitis, skin/nail disease and axial involvement. Using this information, appropriate treatment can be planned using therapies that are effective at treating the relevant domains of disease. Despite poor data, traditional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs are commonly used and have been effective in observational studies. Following tumour necrosis factor inhibitors, which have proven excellent efficacy in multiple domains of PsA, new biologics are available or in development and will improve treatment options for people with refractory PsA.
Myorhythmia: Phenomenology, etiology, and treatment

Myorhythmia is defined as repetitive, rhythmic, slow (1‐4 Hz) movement affecting chiefly cranial and limb muscles. When occurring in the limbs it may be oscillatory and jerky, whereas oculo‐masticatory myorhythmia, typically associated with Whipple's disease, is a slow, repetitive, often asymmetrical, facial and ocular movement. Thus, myorhythmia overlaps phenomenologically with tremor and segmental myoclonus. Although often present at rest, it must be differentiated from parkinsonian or dystonic tremor. Recognition of this movement disorder is important because it is usually associated with lesions involving the brainstem, thalamus, or other diencephalic structures with potentially treatable etiologies. In addition to Whipple's disease, myorhythmia has been described in patients with cerebrovascular disease, listeria encephalitis, anti‐N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor encephalitis, steroid‐responsive encephalopathy associated with autoimmune thyroiditis, multiple sclerosis, and other disorders. In addition to our own experience, we have systematically reviewed the medical literature, focusing on the phenomenology, pathophysiology, and etiology of this poorly recognized movement disorder. In this review, we aim to highlight the clinical features that differentiate myorhythmia from other movement disorders. Treatment should be directed against the underlying etiology. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society