Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pulmonary involvement in systemic sclerosis: A clinical profile

Background: Systemic sclerosis is a generalized disorder of connective tissue affecting skin and internal organs. Lung involvement accounts for significant morbidity and is a leading cause of mortality in patients. Objectives: This study intends to study the frequency of occurrence of pulmonary involvement in progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) and to describe the clinical and radiological picture of pulmonary involvement in PSS. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. A detailed history, modified Rodnan score, clinical examination, routine investigation, antinuclear antibody, immuno biot, chest X-ray (CXR), pulmonary function test (PFT), and 6 min walk test (6MWT) were performed on all patients. High resolution computed tomography was done on those who consented. Results: Hundred subjects with PSS were included in the study; 90 were females and 10 were males. Common presenting complaints were skin thickening in 98% and Raynaud's phenomenon in 98%. Skin thickening of digits beyond metacarpo phalangeal was seen in 98%, face and neck in 92%, and hands in 92%. Chest wall thickening was seen in 40 subjects (40%). 90 (90%) of the studied subjects had pulmonary involvement, longer duration of disease was significantly associated with pulmonary involvement (P < 0.05). Dyspnea, cough, bilateral crepitations, CXR, Borg score, and Rodnan score was found to be significantly associated with severe pulmonary involvement (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of pulmonary involvement in this cohort study was 90%. Almost 1/3rd of patients, that is 29 (29%) were detected to have pulmonary involvement despite being asymptomatic for respiratory complaints, hence early screening and evaluation is recommended. PFT and 6MWT are noninvasive, cost-effective, and easily available screening tests which can be used in resource-limited settings.
School outcomes in children registered in the studies for pediatric liver transplant (SPLIT) consortium

School performance is an important aspect of functional outcomes for pediatric liver transplant (LT) recipients. This longitudinal analysis conducted through the Studies of Pediatric Liver Transplantation (SPLIT) research consortium examines several indicators of school function in these patients. A total of 39 centers participated in data collection using a semistructured questionnaire designed specifically for this study. The survey queried school attendance, performance and educational outcomes including the need for special educational services. Participants included 823 of 1133 (73%) eligible patients, mean age 11.34 ± 3.84 years, 53% female, median age at LT 4.6 (range 0.05‐17.8) years, and mean interval from transplant was 5.42 ± 2.79. Overall, 34% of patients were receiving special educational services and 20% had repeated a grade, with older participants more likely to have been held back (P = 0.0007). Missing more than 10 days of school per year was reported by one‐third of the group, with this level of absence being more common in older participants (P = 0.0024) and children with shorter intervals from LT (P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed the following factors were associated with the need for special educational services; type of immunosuppression at 6 months post‐LT, cyclosporine A (odds ratio [OR] = 1.8, confidence interval [CI] = 1.1‐3.1), or other (OR = 4.9, 95% CI = 1.4‐17.6) versus tacrolimus, symptomatic cytomegalovirus infection within 6 months of liver transplantation (OR = 3.1, CI = 1.6‐6.1), and pretransplant special educational services (OR = 22.5, CI = 8.6‐58.4). Liver Transpl 16:1041–1048, 2010. © 2010 AASLD.
Obesity and deep brain stimulation: an overview

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been employed to treat a variety of disorders such as Parkinson disease, dystonia, and essential tremor. Newer indications such as epilepsy and obsessive-compulsive disorder have been added to the armamentarium. In this review, we present an initial summary of current methods in the management of obesity and then explore efforts in neuromodulation and DBS as a novel modality in the treatment of obesity disorders.
Validation of Duruöz Hand Index for Diabetic Hand Dysfunction

Objectives Duruöz Hand Index (DHI) is a functional disability scale that can be used successfully to assess the functional disability with different hand arthropathies. The hands are frequently involved in diabetic patients. We aimed to examine the use of DHI for its accuracy and ease in assessing these patients. Methods Forty patients with diabetes mellitus were recruited in this study. Hand pain was assessed with the visual analog scale. Duruöz Hand Index and Hand Functional Index were applied to assess the disability of hand. We evaluated the grip strength and 3 types of pinch strength (tip pinch, lateral or key pinch, and chuck or 3-finger pinch) for the dominant (D) and nondominant (ND) hands of each patient by 2 different kinds of Jamar dynamometers (JA Preston Corp, Jackson, MI). Results The Jamar dynamometer scores were as follows (mean [SD]): grip strength-D (21.56 [5.86]), grip strength-ND (16.42 [4.26]), tip strength-D (5.14 [1.50]), tip strength-ND (5.13 [1.42]), lateral strength-D (5.15 [1.52]), lateral strength-ND (5.07 [1.19]), chuck strength-D (5.40 [1.40]), chuck strength-ND (5.33 [1.28]). There was a high correlation between DHI and Hand Functional Index (P < 0.001, ρ = 0.586) showing that DHI has good convergent validity. The DHI had significant correlation with nonfunctional parameters such as visual analog scale-pain (P < 0.001), restricted hand motion (P = 0.020), chuck strength-D (P = 0.006), pins test-D (P < 0.001), pins test-ND (P = 0.013), and assembly test (P = 0.025). Conclusions The DHI is a practical scale that is efficient in accurate assessment of hand dysfunction in diabetic patients.
Antibody Responses in Patients with Staphylococcal Septicemia against Two Staphylococcus aureus Fibrinogen Binding Proteins: Clumping Factor and an Extracellular Fibrinogen Binding Protein

ABSTRACT We analyzed the serum antibody responses against twoStaphylococcus aureus fibrinogen binding proteins, the cell-bound clumping factor (Clf) and an extracellular fibrinogen binding protein (Efb). The material consisted of 105 consecutive serum samples from 41 patients suffering from S. aureussepticemia and 72 serum samples from healthy individuals. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed. Healthy individuals showed variable levels of antibodies against the studied antigens, and cutoff levels (upper 95th percentile) against these antigens were determined. No correlation was seen between serum antibody levels against Clf and Efb. In acute-phase samples 27% of patients showed positive antibody levels against Clf and 10% showed positive levels against Efb, while in convalescent-phase samples 63% (26 of 41) showed a positive serology against Clf and 49% (20 of 41) showed a positive serology against Efb. Antibody levels against Efb were significantly lower in the acute-phase sera than in sera from healthy individuals (P = 0.002). An antibody response against Clf was most frequent in patients suffering from osteitis plus septic arthritis and from endocarditis (80% positive). The antibody response against Efb appeared to develop later in the course of disease. A possible biological effect of measured antibodies was demonstrated with the help of an inhibition ELISA, in which both high-titer and low-titer sera inhibited the binding of bacteria to fibrinogen. In conclusion, we have demonstrated in vivo production ofS. aureus fibrinogen binding proteins during deep S. aureus infections and a possible diagnostic and prophylactic role of the corresponding serum antibodies in such infections.
A traffic density model for radio overlapping in urban Vehicular Ad hoc Networks

Vehicular traffic density is a key factor in determining the behaviour of radio overlapping and thus impacts performance of data and safety message communication in Vehicular Ad hoc Networks (VANETs). In this paper, we propose a novel density model for urban traffic systems and employ this model for the purpose of spatial-temporal analysis of radio overlapping. To model traffic density, we consider a signalized junction and road segments linked to that junction as basic building blocks of urban traffic systems. The density model enables us to derive a framework to explain trends and critical regions of radio overlapping corresponding to VANET scenarios targeted for urban transportation systems, which cannot be derived from uniform density models widely used in existing literature. We apply the derived radio overlapping model to study channel load associated with periodic beaconing, a fundamental mechanism for safety message communication in VANETs. This study also provides a generic analytical framework to investigate other performance aspects of data and safety message communication in VANETs. Our experimental results using the proposed realistic density model demonstrate the need for an adaptive mechanism to adjust transmission power and data rate to reduce channel loads associated with dense traffic conditions.
Human Neuroscience

given cycle is not a constant fraction of all cells; rather, it was suggested that cells will fire if their level of excitation (above threshold) comes within E% of the excitation of the most excited cell. In this sense, gamma oscillations exert a strong selection, allowing only the most excited cells to fire at each cycle. This competitive aspect of gamma oscillations will play an important role in our paper. In this paper, we hypothesize an additional role for gamma oscillations: the segmentation of visual input into its constituent objects, over successive gamma cycles. More precisely, we suggest that, as a result of well-known connectivity patterns, distinct objects within the visual scene should be represented in neural firing at successive cycles of the gamma oscillation. Thus, the early visual cortex may spontaneously discretize the visual input into successive object-based time-slices, such that different objects within the scene will be represented in alternation over successive time-slices: at each time-slice, only the neurons representing one object (or a small number of objects) will fire. We call these successive, object-based firing epochs " perceptual cycles, " since they occur in a perceptual area, affect the perceptual input, and should have significant consequences on further processing by downstream areas of the perceptual system. We aim to demonstrate that this apparently complex process should emerge naturally from two well-documented components of the early visual system. The first component is rapid mutual inhibition among principal cells, mediated by highly coupled interneurons, and generating iterated competition in firing. This process is thought to give rise to gamma oscillations in response to stimulation (Bartos et al.
Linking risk conferring mutations in NCF4 to functional consequences in Crohn's disease

We read with interest the paper from Muise et al in which they describe a rare variant in the NCF2 gene, which demonstrates a diminished RAC2 binding capacity.1 The NCF2 encoded protein p67phox is one of the components of the NADPH oxidase complex which drives the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the bactericidal response of innate immune cells. Output of disturbed granulocytic ROS as a result of impaired functioning of this enzyme complex has been shown in a number of diseases, including myelodysplasia (MDS) and chronic granulomatous disease.2 3 As Muise and colleagues point out, these diseases have been linked to development of a colitis resembling that seen in Crohn's disease (CD), suggesting a potential role for impaired ROS production in CD pathology. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are a promising tool to identify genetic variants …
Granuloma Formation in Pulmonary Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disorder of unknown cause, affecting multiple organs, but mainly the lungs. The exact order of immunological events remains obscure. Reviewing current literature, combined with careful clinical observations, we propose a model for granuloma formation in pulmonary sarcoidosis. A tight collaboration between macrophages, dendritic cells, and lymphocyte subsets, initiates the first steps toward granuloma formation, orchestrated by cytokines and chemokines. In a substantial part of pulmonary sarcoidosis patients, granuloma formation becomes an on-going process, leading to debilitating disease, and sometimes death. The immunological response, determining granuloma sustainment is not well understood. An impaired immunosuppressive function of regulatory T cells has been suggested to contribute to the exaggerated response. Interestingly, therapeutical agents commonly used in sarcoidosis, such as glucocorticosteroids and anti-TNF agents, interfere with granuloma integrity and restore the immune homeostasis in autoimmune disorders. Increasing insight into their mechanisms of action may contribute to the search for new therapeutical targets in pulmonary sarcoidosis.
Modelling the Pioneer anomaly as modified inertia

This paper proposes an explanation for the Pioneer anomaly: an unexplained Sunward acceleration of 8.74 ± 1.33 × 10 −10 ms −2 seen in the behaviour of the Pioneer probes. Two hypotheses are made. (1) Inertia is a reaction to Unruh radiation and (2) this reaction is weaker for low accelerations because some wavelengths in the Unruh spectrum do not fit within a limiting scale (twice the Hubble distance) and are disallowed: a process similar to the Casimir effect. When these ideas are used to model the Pioneer crafts’ trajectories, there is a slight reduction in their inertial mass, causing an anomalous Sunward acceleration of 6.9 ± 3.5 × 10 −10 ms −2 which agrees within error bars with the observed Pioneer anomaly beyond 10 au from the Sun. This new scheme is appealingly simple and does not require adjustable parameters. However, it also predicts an anomaly within 10 au of the Sun, which has not been observed. Various observational tests for the idea are proposed.
Complex Atheromatosis of the Aortic Arch in Cerebral Infarction

In many stroke patients it is not possible to establish the etiology of stroke. However, in the last two decades, the use of transesophageal echocardiography in patients with stroke of uncertain etiology reveals atherosclerotic plaques in the aortic arch, which often protrude into the lumen and have mobile components in a high percentage of cases. Several autopsy series and retrospective studies of cases and controls have shown an association between aortic arch atheroma and arterial embolism, which was later confirmed by prospectively designed studies. The association with ischemic stroke was particularly strong when atheromas were located proximal to the ostium of the left subclavian artery, when the plaque was ≥ 4 mm thick and particularly when mobile components are present. In these cases, aspirin might not prevent adequately new arterial ischemic events especially stroke. Here we review the evidence of aortic arch atheroma as an independent risk factor for stroke and arterial embolism, including clinical and pathological data on atherosclerosis of the thoracic aorta as an embolic source. In addition, the impact of complex plaques (≥ 4 mm thick, or with mobile components) on increasing the risk of stroke is also reviewed. In non-randomized retrospective studies anticoagulation was superior to antiplatelet therapy in patients with stroke and aortic arch plaques with mobile components. In a retrospective case-control study, statins significantly reduced the relative risk of new vascular events. However, given the limited data available and its retrospective nature, randomized prospective studies are needed to establish the optimal secondary prevention therapeutic regimens in these high risk patients.
Interaction of proteins of epididymal origin with spermatozoa.

The present work was devoted to the study of certain aspects of the interaction of rat specific epididymal proteins (SEP) with spermatozoa. The amounts of SEP bound to ratsperm from severalregionsof the epididymis were quantified using a micro-complement fixation technique. Sperm from the caput, corpus, and cauda epididymidis contained increasing amounts of both total SEP and of protein D-E on theirsurface.Incubations,eitherinutero or invitroinconditions similarto those known to favorcapacitation,resulted in a substantial loss of SEP from spermatozoa. Exposure of corpus and caudal spermatozoa to solutions containing 0.2 to 0.25 M salt reduced the amount of bound SEP to the levelfound in caput sperm whereas thistreatment had no effecton SEP bound to caput spermatozoa.
Remarks on Plural Anaphora

The interpretation of plural anaphora often requires the construction of complex reference objects (RefOs) out of RefOs which were formerly introduced not by plural terms but by a number of singular terms only. Often, several complex RefOs can be constructed, but only one of them is the preferred referent for the plural anaphor in question. As a means of explanation for preferred and non-preferred interpretations of plural anaphora, the concept of a Common Association Basis (CAB) for the potential atomic parts of a complex object is introduced in the following. CABs pose conceptual constraints on the formation of complex RefOs in general. We argue that in cases where a suitable CAB for the atomic RefOs introduced in the text exists, the corresponding complex RefO is constructed as early as in the course of processing the antecedent sentence and put into the focus domain of the discourse model. Thus, the search for a referent for a plural anaphor is constrained to a limited domain of RefOs according to the general principles of focus theory in NLP. Further principles of interpretation are suggested which guide the resolution of plural anaphora in cases where more than one suitable complex RefO is in focus.
Long non-coding RNA NONMMUG014387 promotes Schwann cell proliferation after peripheral nerve injury

Schwann cells play a critical role in peripheral nerve regeneration through dedifferentiation and proliferation. In a previous study, we performed microarray analysis of the sciatic nerve after injury. Accordingly, we predicted that long non-coding RNA NONMMUG014387 may promote Schwann cell proliferation after peripheral nerve injury, as bioinformatic analysis revealed that the target gene of NONMMUG014387 was collagen triple helix repeat containing 1 (Cthrc1). Cthrc1 may promote cell proliferation in a variety of cells by activating Wnt/PCP signaling. Nonetheless, bioinformatic analysis still needs to be verified by biological experiment. In this study, the candidate long non-coding RNA, NONMMUG014387, was overexpressed in mouse Schwann cells by recombinant adenovirus transfection. Plasmid pHBAd-MCMV-GFP-NONMMUG014387 and pHBAd-MCMV-GFP were transfected into Schwann cells. Schwann cells were divided into three groups: control (Schwann cells without intervention), Ad-GFP (Schwann cells with GFP overexpression), and Ad-NONMMUGO148387 (Schwann cells with GFP and NONMMUGO148387 overexpression). Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was used to evaluate proliferative capability of mouse Schwann cells after NONMMUG014387 overexpression. Polymerase chain reaction and western blot assay were performed to investigate target genes and downstream pathways of NONMMUG014387. Cell proliferation was significantly increased in Schwann cells overexpressing lncRNA NONMMUG014387 compared with the other two groups. Further, compared with the control group, mRNA and protein levels of Cthrc1, Wnt5a, ROR2, RhoA, Rac1, JNK, and ROCK were visibly up-regulated in the Ad-NONMMUGO148387 group. Our findings confirm that long non-coding RNA NONMMUG014387 can promote proliferation of Schwann cells surrounding the injury site through targeting Cthrc1 and activating the Wnt/PCP pathway.
Scintigraphic assessment of gastrointestinal motility: a brief review of techniques and data interpretation

Gastrointestinal transit reflects overall gastrointestinal motor activity and is regulated by a complex interplay between neural and hormonal stimuli. Thus, transit measurements provide a measure of the combined effects of gastrointestinal muscular activity and feedback from the gut and brain. Dysmotility in the different major segments of the gastrointestinal tract may give rise to similar symptoms; hence, localizing transit abnormalities to a specific segment is a valuable element of diagnostic evaluation. Scintigraphy is an effective noninvasive tool to assess gastric emptying as well as small intestinal and colonic transit. This article reviews current imaging techniques, methods for data processing and principles for evaluating results when scintigraphy is used to assess gastrointestinal motility. Furthermore, clinical indications for performing scintigraphy are reviewed.
Effects of interactive visual feedback training on post-stroke pusher syndrome: a pilot randomized controlled study

Objective: We investigated the effects of a computer-generated interactive visual feedback training program on the recovery from pusher syndrome in stroke patients. Design: Assessor-blinded, pilot randomized controlled study. Participants: A total of 12 stroke patients with pusher syndrome were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (N = 7, computer-generated interactive visual feedback training) or control group (N = 5, mirror visual feedback training). Main outcome measures: The scale for contraversive pushing for severity of pusher syndrome, the Berg Balance Scale for balance performance, and the Fugl-Meyer assessment scale for motor control were the outcome measures. Patients were assessed pre- and posttraining. Results: A comparison of pre- and posttraining assessment results revealed that both training programs led to the following significant changes: decreased severity of pusher syndrome scores (decreases of 4.0 ±1.1 and 1.4 ±1.0 in the experimental and control groups, respectively); improved balance scores (increases of 14.7 ±4.3 and 7.2 ±1.6 in the experimental and control groups, respectively); and higher scores for lower extremity motor control (increases of 8.4 ±2.2 and 5.6 ±3.3 in the experimental and control groups, respectively). Furthermore, the computer-generated interactive visual feedback training program produced significantly better outcomes in the improvement of pusher syndrome (p < 0.01) and balance (p < 0.05) compared with the mirror visual feedback training program. Conclusions: Although both training programs were beneficial, the computer-generated interactive visual feedback training program more effectively aided recovery from pusher syndrome compared with mirror visual feedback training.