Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
User Experience, Actual Use, and Effectiveness of an Information Communication Technology-Supported Home Exercise Program for Pre-Frail Older Adults

Objective The main objective of this study was to investigate the use and user experience of an Information Communication Technology-supported home exercise program when offered for independent use to pre-frail older adults. Our secondary aim was to explore whether the program improved quality of life and health status compared to a control group. Methods A cohort multiple randomized controlled trail is being performed. Physically pre-frail older adults (65–75 years) living independently at home were included and randomly assigned to a control group or an intervention group. The intervention group received a home exercise program (strength, balance, and flexibility exercises) for a minimal duration of 12 weeks. The control group received usual care. Primary outcomes were: use of the intervention (frequency and duration), adherence to a 3-day exercise protocol and user experience [System Usability Scale (SUS); rating 1–10]. Secondary outcomes were quality of life measured with the SF12 (Physical Component Scale and Mental Component Scale) and health status (EQ-5D), assessed before the study starts and after 12 weeks of exercising. Results Thirty-seven independently living older adults participated in the study. Sixteen participants were allocated to the intervention group and 21 to the control group. The average score on the SUS was 84.2 (±13.3), almost reaching an excellent score. Participants rated the intervention with an 8.5. Eighty percent of the participants finished the 12 week exercise protocol. The adherence to the 3-day exercise protocol was 68%. Participants in the intervention group trained on average 2.2 times (±1.3) each week. The mean duration of login for each exercise session was 24 min. The Mental Component Scale of the SF12 was significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the control group. A trend was seen in the change over time in the health status between groups. Conclusions This study provides evidence that a home-based exercise program is easy to use and has potential in improving quality of life and health status of pre-frail older adults who live at home. However, further refinement of the program is required to improve adherence and maximize the benefits and potential of exercising in the home environment. Trial Registration Unique Identifier: NTR5304. URL: http://www.trialregister. nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp? TC=5304.
Evaluation of the effects of dexketoprofen trometamol on knee joınt: an in vivo & in vitro study

Background & objectives: Intra-articular (ia) injections of local anaesthetics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID's) are simple and efficient to ensure post-operative analgesia but some of these have toxic effects on the synovium and cartilage. Dexketoprofen is recently introduced S-enantiomer of ketoprofen with a better analgesic and side effect profile. This study was done to evaluate the possible toxic effects of dexketoprofen trometamol on knee joint cartilage and symovium in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Forty one Sprague-Dawley rats were anaesthetized by ketamine. Dexketoprofen trometamol (0.25 ml) was injected into the right knee joint of the 35 rats and 0.25 ml serum physiologic into the left knee joint of the same animals. Six rats were sham operated. Thirty five animals were randomly divided into five equal groups. Seven animals were sacrified at 24th, 48th hours and 7th, 14th, and 21st days of the injections. Haematoxylin eosin stained sections from the knee joints were evaluated for the signs of inflammation according to five point scale. Primary chondrocytes were isolated from the articular cartilages of rats for in vitro studies. Cells were exposed to 0.25 ml dexketoprofen trometamol or 0.25 ml dexketoprofen medium mixture at 1:1 ratio for 15, 30, 45 and 60 min. Cell viability was determined by 3-(4, 5- dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2.5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, 24, 48 and 72 h after drug treatment. Results: No significant histopathologic differences were found between dexketoprofen trometamol and physiologic serum (control) applied joints at all time intervals in in vivo study. Cell proliferation in dexketoprofen trometamol treated chondrocytes was inhibited for all time intervals compared to control. In dexketoprofen-medium mixture groups significant differences were only seen 24 h after the 30 and 45 min application of medium: drug mixture. Interpretation & conclusions: Intra-articular application of dexketoprofen trometamol into the rat knee joints did not cause significant histopathological changes, but its in vitro application in primary chondrocyte culture caused significant cytotoxicity. The effects of dexketoprofen at different concentrations need to be further investigated in culture of rat and human chondrocytes.
[Correlation of 53BP1 and p53 polymorphisms to susceptibility to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and gastric cardiac adenocarcinoma].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE 53BP1 is one of p53-binding proteins, which can enhance the transcriptional activation of p53 and plays a key role in tumor suppression. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) T885G has been found in the promoter of 53BP1. This study was to investigate the correlation of 53BP1 and p53 SNPs to susceptibility to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and gastric cardiac adenocarcinoma (GCA) in a high incidence area of Hebei Province in China. METHODS Genotypes of 53BP1 T885G and p53 Arg72Pro in 349 ESCC patients, 275 GCA patients, and 635 healthy subjects were detected by primer-introduced restriction analysis-polymerase chain reaction (PIRA-PCR). RESULTS The overall distribution of 53BP1 T885G was not significantly different between ESCC patients, GCA patients and healthy subjects (P>0.05). When stratified by smoking status and family history of upper gastrointestinal cancer (UGIC), the distribution of 53BP1 T885G was not significantly different between ESCC patients, GCA patients and healthy subjects. Compared with p53 Arg72Pro Arg/Arg genotype, Pro/Pro genotype decreased the susceptibility to GCA [the age, sex, smoking status, and family history adjusted odds ratio (OR)=0.79, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.64-0.98]. Stratification analysis showed that Pro/Pro genotype decreased the susceptibility to GCA among non-smokers (adjusted OR=0.72, 95% CI=0.54-0.97), but p53 Arg72Pro had no influence on the susceptibility to ESCC. Stratified by p53 Arg72Pro genotype, 53BP1 T885G G/G genotype reduced the susceptibility to GCA among the individuals with Pro allele (Arg/Pro and Pro/Pro genotypes) (adjusted OR=0.74, 95% CI=0.57-0.95). CONCLUSION 53BP1 T885G may not be correlated to the susceptibility to ESCC and GCA in the high incidence area of Hebei Province in China; p53 Arg72Pro Pro/Pro genotype could decrease the susceptibility to GCA; 53BP1 T885G G/G genotype could reduce the susceptibility to GCA among the individuals with p53 Pro allele.
Application of Calorimetric Method for Loss Measurement of a SynRM Drive System

Synchronous reluctance motors (SynRMs) are gaining in popularity in industrial drives due to their permanent magnet-free, competitive performance, and robust features. This paper studies the power losses in a 90-kW converter-fed SynRM drive by a calorimetric method in comparison of the traditional input-output method. After the converter and the motor were measured simultaneously in separate chambers, the converter was installed inside the large-size chamber next to the motor and the total drive system losses were obtained using one chamber. The uncertainty of both measurement methods is analyzed and discussed.
Clinical characteristics, treatment and outcome of children with Lyme arthritis in Nova Scotia.

BACKGROUND Lyme disease is an emerging problem in Nova Scotia. Lyme arthritis is a late manifestation of Lyme disease. OBJECTIVE To describe the demographic characteristics, referral patterns and clinical course of children diagnosed with Lyme arthritis in a tertiary care pediatric rheumatology clinic in Nova Scotia. METHODS In the present retrospective chart review, subjects diagnosed with Lyme arthritis between 2006 and 2013 were identified through the clinic database. Demographic variables, referral patterns, clinical presentation and information regarding treatment course and outcome were collected. RESULTS Seventeen patients were identified; 76% presented in 2012 and 2013. In 37.5% of cases, the referring physician suspected Lyme disease. Most patients presented with one or more painful and/or swollen joints; 94% had knee involvement. Only three of 17 patients had a history of erythema migrans and four of 17 recalled a tick bite. Five patients had a history of neurological manifestations consistent with Lyme disease, although, none had a diagnosis made at the time. Arthritis usually resolved after treatment with standard antibiotics; however, at last follow-up, two patients had antibiotic refractory Lyme arthritis, with one having joint damage despite aggressive arthritis treatment. CONCLUSION A significant increase in cases of Lyme arthritis has recently been recognized in a pediatric rheumatology clinic in Nova Scotia. A history of a tick bite or erythema migrans were not sensitive markers of Lyme arthritis, and this diagnosis was often not considered by the referring physician. Educational initiatives should be undertaken to increase local awareness of this treatable cause of arthritis in children.
Description of a Novel Probiotic Concept: Implications for the Modulation of the Immune System

It is estimated that the first processed food products consumed by humans pertained to the category of fermented foods and beverages such as beer, wine, sauerkraut, fermented sausage as well as fermented milk derivatives such as yogurt and kefir. Thus, fermented foods are endowed with undisputed healthy properties due to the presence of probiotic microbes that not only help supporting the healthy human microbiota, but also produce bioactive or bio-available metabolites that contribute to the host's wellbeing. It is widely acknowledged that modulation of the immune system is one of the beneficial effects associated with consuming fermented food products rich in live probiotics and this effect is being exploited in the field of natural immunotherapy. Here we describe the genesis and development of a novel, non-dairy product that may represent a novelty in the field of probiotic drinks since it combines the healthy properties of dairy-based products with the properties of non-dairy probiotic drinks. The major improvements over the existing non-dairy probiotic drinks consist in the number and diversity of probiotic strains endowed with health-promoting properties and in the presence of a glycosaminoglycan, chondroitin sulfate, that is, at the same time, a newly identified prebiotic and a supplement known to modulate the immune system.
PERMANENT GENETIC RESOURCES: Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci in common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis)

We developed nine polymorphic microsatellite loci for evening primrose (Oenothera biennis). These loci have two to 18 alleles per locus and observed heterozygosities ranging from 0 to 0.879 in a sample of 34 individuals. In a pattern consistent with the functionally asexual reproductive system of this species, 17/36 pairs of loci revealed significant linkage disequilibrium and three loci showed significant deviations from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. The loci will be informative in identifying genotypes in multigenerational field studies to assess changes in genotype frequencies.
Role of tension receptors in dyspeptic patients with hypersensitivity to gastric distention.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Studies in health have shown that tension-sensitive mechanoreceptors mediate sensitivity to gastric distention. A role for these mechanoreceptors in perception or symptoms in hypersensitive functional dyspepsia (FD) has not been established. Tension-sensitive mechanoreceptors are activated during phasic contractions and inactivated during gastric relaxation. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether hypersensitive FD patients perceive spontaneous changes in fundic wall tension and whether fundus-relaxing drugs decrease sensitivity to gastric distention and meal-related symptoms. METHODS Fifty patients were selected after a barostat study established gastric hypersensitivity. In 12 patients, an intragastric balloon was inflated with a fixed volume just below perception thresholds and patients were asked to indicate changes in perception on a keypad, and the relationship between perception and contractions was analyzed. In 20 patients, we studied the influence of the fundus-relaxing drug sumatriptan on sensitivity to gastric distention. In, respectively, 10 and 8 patients, we studied the influence of the fundus-relaxing drugs sumatriptan and clonidine on meal-related symptoms. RESULTS The majority of patients had a statistically significant association between perception and phasic isovolumetric contractions. Pretreatment with sumatriptan increased both pressures and volumes needed to induce first perception and discomfort. Pretreatment with sumatriptan and clonidine both significantly decreased meal-induced symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Patients with hypersensitivity to gastric distention perceive isovolumetric phasic contractions of the proximal stomach. Fundus-relaxing drugs decrease sensitivity to gastric distention and decrease meal-induced symptoms in these patients. The findings are compatible with involvement of tension mechanoreceptors in symptom generation in hypersensitive FD.
Right Ventricular Protein Expression Profile in End-Stage Heart Failure

Little is known about the right ventricular (RV) proteome in human heart failure (HF), including possible differences compared to the left ventricular (LV) proteome. We used 2-dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis (pH: 4–7, 10–150 kDa), followed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, to compare the RV and LV proteomes in 12 explanted human hearts. We used Western blotting and multiple-reaction monitoring for protein verification and RNA sequencing for messenger RNA and protein expression correlation. In all 12 hearts, the right ventricles (RVs) demonstrated differential expression of 11 proteins relative to the left ventricles (LVs), including lesser expression of CRYM, TPM1, CLU, TXNL1, and COQ9 and greater expression of TNNI3, SAAI, ERP29, ACTN2, HSPB2, and NDUFS3. Principal-components analysis did not suggest RV-versus-LV proteome partitioning. In the nonischemic RVs (n = 6), 7 proteins were differentially expressed relative to the ischemic RVs (n = 6), including increased expression of CRYM, B7Z964, desmin, ANXA5, and MIME and decreased expression of SERPINA1 and ANT3. Principal-components analysis demonstrated partitioning of the nonischemic and ischemic RV proteomes, and gene ontology analysis identified differences in hemostasis and atherosclerosis-associated networks. There were no proteomic differences between RVs with echocardiographic dysfunction (n = 8) and those with normal function (n = 4). Messenger RNA and protein expression did not correlate consistently, suggesting a major role for RV posttranscriptional protein expression regulation. Differences in contractile, cytoskeletal, metabolic, signaling, and survival pathways exist between the RV and the LV in HF and may be related to the underlying HF etiology and differential posttranscriptional regulation.
Emotion Regulation Is Associated With PTSD and Depression Among Female Adolescent Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Objective: Sexual abuse experienced in childhood and adolescence is associated with severity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depressive symptoms, and emotion regulation difficulties. The current study examined the relationships among these factors in a sample of adolescents with sexual abuse-related PTSD. It was hypothesized that (a) self-perceived emotion regulation difficulties would predict severity of PTSD and depressive symptoms, and that (b) depressive symptoms would mediate the relationship between emotion regulation difficulties and PTSD. Method: Ninety treatment-seeking female adolescents with a history of sexual abuse were evaluated using the Child PTSD Symptom Scale-Interview and completed the Negative Mood Regulation Questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory as part of a baseline evaluation. Results: Greater emotion regulation difficulties were associated with greater severity of PTSD and depressive symptoms. In addition, the relationship between emotion regulation difficulties and PTSD severity was mediated by depressive symptoms. However, the reverse was also true: the relationship between emotion regulation difficulties and depressive symptoms was mediated by PTSD symptoms. Conclusions: Mediation analyses showed that emotion regulation difficulties were associated with both PTSD and depressive symptoms rather than fitting a unidirectional model. These findings are consistent with and extend previous research and highlight the importance of emotion regulation in adolescent survivors of sexual abuse.
Phase II study of rituximab plus three cycles of CHOP and involved-field radiotherapy for patients with limited-stage aggressive B-cell lymphoma: Southwest Oncology Group study 0014.

PURPOSE To evaluate the effect of rituximab in limited-stage diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), we conducted a multicenter phase II trial combining rituximab with three cycles of CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone; R-CHOP) followed by involved-field radiation therapy (IFRT). PATIENTS AND METHODS Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) study S0014 enrolled patients with newly diagnosed, aggressive, CD20-expressing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Patients had limited-stage disease and at least one adverse risk factor as defined by the stage-modified International Prognostic Index (nonbulky stage II disease, age > 60 years, WHO performance status of 2, or elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase). Four doses of rituximab were infused on days -7, 1, 22, and 43, and CHOP was administered on days 3, 24, and 45, followed 3 weeks later by 40 to 46 Gy of IFRT. RESULTS Sixty patients with aggressive NHL were eligible. With the median follow-up of 5.3 years, treatment resulted in a progression-free survival (PFS) of 93% at 2 years and 88% at 4 years. Overall survival (OS) was 95% at 2 years and 92% at 4 years. These results were compared with those from a historic group of patients treated without rituximab on S8736, demonstrating PFS of 78% and OS of 88% at 4 years. CONCLUSION In limited-stage DLBCL, the addition of rituximab to three cycles of CHOP plus IFRT met prespecified study criteria of efficacy, with 2-year PFS of at least 84%, meriting further investigation. There is a pattern of continuing relapse with modest survival gains. We hypothesize that such a pattern may be the result of biologic differences between limited- and advanced-stage lymphoma.
Listericidal and nonlistericidal mouse macrophages differ in complement receptor type 3‐mediated phagocytosis of L. monocytogenes and in preventing escape of the bacteria into the cytoplasm

Listeria monocytogenes is a facultative intracellular bacterium that escapes phagocytic vesicles and replicates in the cytoplasm, where it becomes coated with F‐actin. Macrophages, important anti‐Listeria effector cells, are heterogeneous in their ability to kill Listeria. Complement receptor type 3 (CR3) mediates most phagocytosis of Listeria by listericidal macrophages. Experiments described here tested whether nonlistericidal macrophages also phagocytosed Listeria through CR3 and whether the ability of Listeria to escape into the cytoplasm correlated with lack of listericidal activity. We show here that CR3 mediated an average of 66% of the phagocytosis of serum‐opsonized Listeria by listericidal peptone‐elicited macrophages but only 35% by nonlistericidal thioglycolate‐elicited macrophages. In thioglycolate‐elicited macrophages, most Listeria were cytoplasmic and actin coated, whereas in peptone‐elicited macrophages most were retained in the phagosome. These results indicate that listericidal and nonlistericidal macrophages phagocytose Listeria through different receptors and that nonlistericidal macrophages allow Listeria to escape into the cytoplasm.
Does fetal gender affect cytotrophoblast cell activity in the human term placenta? Correlation with maternal hCG levels

Background. Pregnant women with female fetuses have higher maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels than pregnant women with male fetuses. Ki‐67, a cell proliferation and activity marker, is confined mostly in the nuclei of villous cytotrophoblasts of the human placenta. In this study, we examined the effect of fetal gender on the cytotrophoblast cell activity in human term placenta, with special regard to maternal serum and cord blood hCG levels.
A functional genomic analysis of type 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae virulence

Streptococcus pneumoniae remains a serious cause of morbidity and mortality in humans, but relatively little is known about the molecular basis of its pathogenesis. We used signature‐tagged mutagenesis together with an analysis of S. pneumoniae genome sequence to identify and characterize genes required for pathogenesis. A library of signature‐tagged mutants was created by insertion–duplication mutagenesis, and 1786 strains were analysed for their inability to survive and replicate in murine models of pneumonia and bacteraemia. One hundred and eighty‐six mutant strains were identified as attenuated, and 56 were selected for further genetic characterization based on their ability to excise the integrated plasmid spontaneously. The genomic DNA inserts of the plasmids were cloned in Escherichia coli and sequenced. These sequences were subjected to database searches, including the S. pneumoniae genome sequence, which allowed us to examine the chromosomal regions flanking these genes. Most of the insertions were in probable operons, but no pathogenicity islands were found. Forty‐two novel virulence loci were identified. Five strains mutated in genes involved in gene regulation, cation transport or stress tolerance were shown to be highly attenuated when tested individually in a murine respiratory tract infection model. Additional experiments also suggest that induction of competence for genetic transformation has a role in virulence.