Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Benefits of a Prehospital Stroke Code System

Background and Objectives: Hospital admission delay is a main limiting factor for effective thrombolytic therapy in stroke patients. We developed a stroke code system for rapid request of emergency transportation to the hospital and a priority availability of the attending neurologist on the patient’s arrival at the Emergency Department (ED). Methods: Over a 1-year period, a 24-hour telephone hotline between the attending neurologist and the Barcelona public emergency coordination service was established. Priority 1 (P1) was defined as a patient with symptoms suggestive of acute stroke with onset of less than 3 h, in which case immediate transportation service and rapid ED reception was organized. Data from patients in the P1 group (n = 39) and patients without activation of the stroke code (P0) (n = 181) were compared. Results: There were significant differences between P1 and P0 groups in mean time from ED arrival to request for neurologic assessment (4.4 ± 19.5 vs. 194.7 ± 244.9 min, p < 0.001), from arrival to neurologic examination (12.6 ± 21.1 vs. 225.3 ± 258.2 min, p < 0.005), and from arrival to performance of brain CT scan (35.5 ± 34.9 vs.120.3 ± 143.2 min, p < 0.001), and also in the number of patients treated with thrombolytic agents (19 vs. 4.5%, p < 0.003). There were no differences between groups in the time elapsed from stroke onset to ED arrival. Conclusions: Activation of the stroke code was effective in increasing the percentage of patients treated with thrombolytic drugs and also in shortening the delay from ED arrival until neurologic assessment and from ED arrival until brain CT.
Sexually transmitted infections case notification rates in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2005-2012.

INTRODUCTION Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are major public health concerns around the world. This study describes the epidemiology of reported STI cases from 2005 to 2012 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. METHODOLOGY The annual registry was the main source of data as reported by healthcare providers. Case definitions were based on positive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies detectable by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and confirmed by western blot test for HIV cases. The definitions of other STIs were based on published Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) definitions. RESULTS During the study period, 68,886 new cases were reported, with nongonococcal urethritis being the highest STI (25.4) per 100,000 population (25.4), followed by trichomoniasis (9.1), HIV (7), human papillomavirus (HPV) infection (2.9), and syphilis (1.3). The cases included nongonococcal urethritis (n = 35,613; 51.7%), trichomoniasis (n = 12,679; 18.4%), gonococcal urethritis (n = 3,006; 4.4%), syphilis (n = 1,769; 2.6%), HIV (n = 9,843; 14.3%), genital warts (n = 4,018; 5.8%), genital herpes (n = 1,508; 2.2%), and chancroid (n = 450; 0.7%). Saudi contribution to HIV cases increased from 28.9% in the preceding decade to 43.5% in the current study. CONCLUSIONS Nongonococcal urethritis, trichomoniasis, and HIV were the most commonly reported STIs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Evidence for a Porcine Respiratory Coronavirus, Antigenically Similar to Transmissible Gastroenteritis Virus, in the United States

A respiratory variant of transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), designated PRCV-Ind/89, was isolated from a swine breeding stock herd in Indiana. The virus was readily isolated from nasal swabs of pigs of different ages and induced cytopathology on primary porcine kidney cells and on a swine testicular (ST) cell line. An 8-week-old pig infected oral/nasally with the respiratory variant and a contact pig showed no signs of respiratory or enteric disease. These pigs did not shed virus in feces but did shed the agent from the upper respiratory tract for approximately 2 weeks. Baby pigs from 2 separate litters (2 and 3 days old) also showed no clinical signs following oral/nasal inoculation with PRCV-Ind/89. In a third litter, 5 of 7 piglets (5 days old) infected either oral/nasally or by stomach tube developed a transient mild diarrhea with villous atrophy. However, virus was not isolated from rectal swabs or ileal homogenates of these piglets, and viral antigen was not detected in the ileum by fluorescent antibody staining even though the virus was easily recovered from nasal swabs and lung tissue homogenates. Swine antisera produced against PRCV-Ind/89 or enteric TGEV cross-neutralized either virus. In addition, an anti-peplomer monoclonal antibody, 4F6, that neutralizes TGEV also neutralized the PRCV-Ind/89 isolate. Radioimmunoassays with a panel of monoclonal antibodies indicated that the Indiana respiratory variant and the European PRCV are antigenically similar.
Factors to consider when applying transcranial magnetic stimulation of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex when resting motor threshold is asymmetric: A case study

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an increasingly popular tool in treating psychiatric conditions. The dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is typically targeted for stimulation, with magnetic field intensity being calibrated by establishing resting motor threshold (RMT) at hand region of primary motor cortex (M1 hand). This presumes that scalp‐to‐cortex distance (SCD) and cortical thickness is similar at both sites. We present data from a patient who had very asymmetrical RMTs (47 and 78). We investigated SCDs in this patient at the M1 hand and DLPFC, and the M1 hand cortical thickness. We also investigated TMS electric field distribution. The M1 hand SCD and cortical thickness of the M1 hand was larger on the side with higher RMT. Electric field finite element modelling demonstrated the focal point did not effectively reach the M1 hand with higher RMT as the postcentral gyrus was shunting it. Hence, successful DLPFC treatment was based upon the side with lower RMT. This study highlights the importance of tailoring DLPFC treatment intensity not only based on RMT at the M1 hand, and upon the degree to which SCD distance differs between sites, but also based upon size, shape, and density of M1 hand, as well as electric field distribution. Bioelectromagnetics. 37:130–135, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Detection of the DNA point mutation of colorectal cancer cells isolated from feces stored under different conditions.

BACKGROUND We reported on a novel diagnostic method for colorectal cancer (CRC) using a DNA-based analysis of isolated colonocytes from feces. The aim of the present study was to investigate with real-time PCR and direct sequencing analysis whether the cancer cells could be detected in feces stored under different conditions after evacuation. METHODS Feces were collected from patients with CRC. Feces were divided into 21 pieces and each piece was manipulated at time after arrival (zero time) and after storage of 24, 48 and 72 h at 4 or 37 degrees C. Colonocytes were isolated from each separate fecal sample, and DNA and RNA were extracted from the colonocytes. We investigated the relationship between storage conditions and content of extracted DNA or RNA with real-time PCR. We also clarified the gene alterations regarding APC and p53 genes under different storage conditions with direct sequence analysis. RESULTS Though the amount of genomic DNA and total RNA recovered from colonocytes isolated from each fecal piece decreased significantly at 37 degrees C at any storage time compared with 0 h, the gene alterations were detected independent of any storage conditions. CONCLUSIONS The colonocytes recovery rate from feces was unchanging for 3 days as long as the feces were kept at 4 degrees C. However, the identical point mutation to one obtained in cancer tissue was detected in the corresponding exfoliated colonocytes even after storage for 72 h at 37 degrees C, which suggests that exfoliated CRC cells maintain their configuration in feces at least 3 days after evacuation.
Association between satisfaction and participation in everyday occupations after stroke

Abstract Background: Within occupational therapy, it is assumed that individuals are satisfied when participating in everyday occupations that they want to do. However, there is little empirical evidence to show this. Aims: The aim of this study is to explore and describe the relation between satisfaction and participation in everyday occupations in a Swedish cohort, 5 years post stroke. Methods: Sixty-nine persons responded to the Occupational Gaps Questionnaire (OGQ). The questionnaire measures subjective restrictions in participation, i.e. the discrepancy between doing and wanting to do 30 different occupations in everyday life, and satisfaction per activity. Results were analysed with McNemar/chi-square. Results: Seventy percent of the persons perceived participation restrictions. Individuals that did not perceive restrictions in their participation had a significantly higher level of satisfaction (p = .002) compared to those that had restrictions. Participants that performed activities that they wanted to do report between 79 and 100% satisfaction per activity. Conclusion: In this cohort, there was a significant association between satisfaction and participating in everyday occupations one wants to do, showing that satisfaction is an important aspect of participation and substantiates a basic assumption within occupational therapy. The complexity of measuring satisfaction and participation in everyday occupations is discussed.
Nucleoside Uptake by Slices of Mouse Brain

: The properties of the uptake of nucleosides and nucleotides by brain cells were examined in slices of mouse brain. Of the compounds tested, adenine and adenosine had the most rapid uptake and reached the highest levels. Uptake was mediated, as shown by saturability and strong inhibition, by low temperature, or by cyanide, and was only partially sodium‐ or calcium‐dependent. The inhibition pattern by analogues indicated the presence of several uptake systems (possibly four), as shown by differences between adenine and guanine uptake, between adenine and adenosine uptake, and between adenosine and cytidine uptake. The properties of uptake systems for nucleotides and nucleosides were somewhat different from those for amino acids.
A Potential Role of an Intracellular Signaling Defect in Neutrophil Functional Abnormalities and Promotion of Tissue Damage in Patients with Localized Juvenile Periodontitis

Abstract Localized juvenile periodontitis is a destructive form of periodontal inflammatory disease which has its onset at puberty. The etiopathology of the disease is still unclear but neutrophils have been suggested to play a major role both in the production and development of the disorder. About 70 % of the patients with localized juvenile periodontitis exhibit neutrophil functional abnormalities, such as decreased chemotaxis and phagocytosis. Interestingly, it has been frequently reported that the same hypoactive cells show an enhanced respiratory burst response and increased adhesion. Several possible mechanisms explaining neutrophil anomalies in localized juvenile periodontitis have been proposed. These include the presence of soluble serum factors capable of modulating neutrophil function, altered cell-surface receptor expression and/or function, and a change in the post-receptor signaling events. Recently, a growing evidence has accumulated showing that the diacylglycerol metabolism could be altered in neutrophils from patients with localized juvenile periodontitis. This change, which may be due to a defect in a major diacylglycerol metabolizing enzyme, diacylglycerol kinase, results in enhanced accumulation of diacylglycerol in activated cells. Because diacylglycerol is an endogenous activator of protein kinase C, the increased and prolonged generation of diacylglycerol could lead to abnormal pattern of protein kinase C-regulated neutrophil functions, explaining the parallel hypo- and hyperactivities.
A Two-Stage Data Preprocessing Approach for Software Fault Prediction

Software fault prediction is valuable in predicting fault proneness of software modules and then limited test resources can be effectively allocated for software quality assurance. Researchers have proved that either feature selection or instance reduction can improve the performance of classification models used for fault prediction. However, to the best of our knowledge, few researchers have combined them to study the effects on classification models. Therefore we propose a novel two-stage data preprocessing approach, which incorporates both feature selection and instance reduction. In particular, in the feature selection stage, we propose a new algorithm using both feature selection and threshold-based clustering which contains both relevance analysis and redundancy control. Then in the instance reduction stage, we apply random sampling to keep the balance between the faulty and non-faulty classes. In empirical studies, we implemented five different data preprocessing schemes based on our proposed approach, and performed a comparative study on the prediction performance of the commonly used classification models. The final results demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach and further provide a guideline for achieving cost-effective data preprocessing when using our approach.
Cyclosporine A withdrawal during follow‐up after pediatric liver transplantation

It is unclear whether cyclosporine A (CsA) can be withdrawn safely during follow‐up after pediatric liver transplantation. In our transplant program we have been using a strict protocol to withdraw CsA. The aim of this study was to retrospectively assess the effects of CsA withdrawal after pediatric liver transplantation on the incidence of rejection and renal function. Between 1986 and 2001, 91 children received CsA for at least 2 yr after liver transplantation. Specific criteria for eligibility to withdraw CsA were set. In 53 of the 91 children CsA was withdrawn. In 35 patients (66%) withdrawal of CsA did not cause rejection. In these patients the renal function improved compared with baseline values (glomerular filtration rate (GFR) at 1 yr, +16 mL/minute/1.73 m3, P < 0.001; at 2 yr, +10 mL/minute/1.73 m3, P < 0.05). After CsA withdrawal, 18 patients developed rejection (34%), which could be effectively treated by methylprednisolone and restarting CsA. Failure to withdraw CsA was not associated with increased incidence of graft loss. A body weight below 10 kg at the time of transplantation correlated significantly with successful withdrawal of CsA (<10 kg, 85% vs. > 10 kg, 60%; P < 0.05). In conclusion CsA can successfully be withdrawn in a major proportion of selected pediatric liver transplantation patients during follow‐up. The success rate is the highest in children with a body weight below 10 kg at the time of transplantation. Successful withdrawal improves renal function, whereas failure to withdraw is not associated with graft loss or persisting morbidity. Liver Transpl 12:240–246, 2006. © 2006 AASLD.
Pain: Its Mediators and Associated Morbidity in Critically I11 Cardiovascular Surgical Patients

This study was conducted to determine the effects of age, sex, personality adjustment, and analgesic administration on the magnitude of pain experienced by 74 cardiac and abdominal vascular surgical patients during their first few postoperative days. The relationship of pain magnitude to postoperative complications was also examined. Pain intensity was moderate and did not diminish over the first few postoperative days. Physical sensations and emotional tension associated with pain caused little distress. The primary consistent mediator of pain magnitude after surgery was the amount of analgesics administered to patients, although they received small amounts. Neither age nor personality adjustment influenced the magnitude of any pain dimension. However, women and patients having abdominal vascular surgery reported more disturbing physical sensations associated with their pain. Patients with greater pain intensity had a significantly greater incidence of atelectasis as a postoperative complication.
Binding of Levosimendan, a Calcium Sensitizer, to Cardiac Troponin C*

Levosimendan is an inodilatory drug that mediates its cardiac effect by the calcium sensitization of contractile proteins. The target protein of levosimendan is cardiac troponin C (cTnC). In the current work, we have studied the interaction of levosimendan with Ca2+-saturated cTnC by heteronuclear NMR and small angle x-ray scattering. A specific interaction between levosimendan and the Ca2+-loaded regulatory domain of recombinant cTnCC35S was observed. The changes in the NMR spectra of the N-domain of full-length cTnCC35S, due to the binding of levosimendan to the primary site, were indicative of a slow conformational exchange. In contrast, no binding of levosimendan to the regulatory domain of cTnCA-Cys, where all the cysteine residues are mutated to serine, was detected. Moreover, it was shown that levosimendan was in fast exchange on the NMR time scale with a secondary binding site in the C-domain of both cTnCC35S and cTnCA-Cys. The small angle x-ray scattering experiments confirm the binding of levosimendan to Ca2+-saturated cTnC but show no domain-domain closure. The experiments were run in the absence of the reducing agent dithiothreitol and the preservative sodium azide (NaN3), since we found that levosimendan reacts with these chemicals, commonly used for preparation of NMR protein samples.
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome in Texas: 1993–2006

Background: Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a rare cardiopulmonary disease that was first described after a 1993 epidemic in the southwestern United States. This study reviewed all cases reported in Texas to date. Methods: We reviewed case report forms submitted to the Texas Department of State Health Services and medical records (when available) to determine demographic and clinical features of Texas HPS cases. Conclusions: Middle-aged adults were more commonly affected. Respiratory symptoms were often accompanied by fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, and headache. Hypoxemia was observed in all cases. Common laboratory features included thrombocytopenia (92% of patients), elevated creatinine (61% of patients), increased polymorphonuclear leukocyte band forms (52% of patients), and hematocrit more than 55% (32% of patients). Most cases were associated with seeing rodents or rodent excreta at home. HPS was frequently misdiagnosed on initial presentation. Mortality was over 46%, higher for infection with the Sin Nombre virus (50%) than with the Bayou virus (0%). In Texas, the distribution of HPS is mainly along the coast and in west Texas.
Effect of a UK Pay-for-Performance Program on Ethnic Disparities in Diabetes Outcomes: Interrupted Time Series Analysis

PURPOSE We wanted to examine the long-term effects of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), a major pay-for-performance program in the United Kingdom, on ethnic disparities in diabetes outcomes. METHODS We undertook an interrupted time series analysis of electronic medical record data of diabetes patients registered with 29 family practices in South West London, United Kingdom. Main outcome measures were mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), total cholesterol, and blood pressure. RESULTS The introduction of QOF was associated with initial accelerated improvements in systolic blood pressure in white and black patients, but these improvements were sustained only in black patients (annual decrease: −1.68 mm Hg; 95% CI, −2.41 to −0.95 mm Hg). Initial improvements in diastolic blood pressure in white patients (−1.01 mm Hg; 95% CI, −1.79 to −0.24 mm Hg) and in cholesterol in white (−0.13 mmol/L; 95% CI, −0.21 to −0.05 mmol/L) and black (−0.10 mmol/L; 95% CI, −0.20 to −0.01 mmol/L) patients were not sustained in the post-QOF period. There was no beneficial impact of QOF on HbA1c in any ethnic group. Existing disparities in risk factor control remained largely intact (for example; mean HbA1c: white 7.5%, black 7.8%, south Asian 7.8%; P <.05) at the end of the study period. CONCLUSION A universal pay-for-performance scheme did not appear to address important disparities in chronic disease management over time. Targeted quality improvement strategies may be required to improve health care in vulnerable populations.
L'alimentation artificielle d'un silure africain, heterobranchus longifilis (teleostei : clariidae): incidence du mode d'alimentation et premiere estimation des besoins nutritionnels

Les conditions optimales d'alimentation et les besoins nutritionnels d'un silure africain, heterobranchus longifilis (teleostei: clariidae), correspondant aux differents stades de l'elevage ont ete etudies. Les essais comparatifs de l'alimentation larvaire ont montre que l'utilisation des proies planctoniques (moina, notamment) ou d'un aliment compose a base de levure et de foie de buf comme aliment de depart permet d'obtenir une survie aussi elevee qu'avec l'artemia, mais avec une croissance plus faible au cours des deux premieres semaines d'elevage. Une amelioration de la croissance est observee lorsque les poissons recoivent des aliments composes supplementes en huile de palme ou avec un melange d'huiles de palme et de foie de morue. La zone favorable pour la couverture des besoins des larves en acides gras (ag) parait se situer entre 0,5 et 1,0% d'ag n-3 dans le regime avec un rapport entre ag n-3 et ag n-6 compris entre 0,2 et 0,5. Les etudes realisees sur les modalites de presentation et de distribution des aliments des juveniles ont montre qu'une distribution des aliments sous forme de granule permet d'obtenir une meilleure croissance et un meilleur indice de consommation que lorsque les memes aliments sont distribues sous forme pulverulente. Une nette amelioration de la croissance et des indices de consommation est egalement observee lorsque les poissons sont nourris en continu plutot qu'en repas fractionne. Une distribution durant la nuit conduit aussi a de meilleures performances que lorsque les poissons sont nourris durant le jour. Sur le plan nutritionnel, les besoins en proteines des juveniles semblent eleves (42%) et paraissent pouvoir etre mis en relation avec le regime alimentaire naturel, omnivore a forte tendance carnassiere. En amont d'etudes experimentales (digestibilite, notamment), une approche methodologique sur l'adaptation des poissons a l'elevage en bacs de volume restreint montre que les fortes densites (333 ou 555 individus par m#3) permettent de limiter l'expression de l'agressivite et la mortalite qui en resulte