Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cardiac-committed mouse ESC transplantation improves cardiac function in a sheep model of myocardial infarction

Evaluation of: Menard C, Hagege AA, Agbulut O et al.: Transplantation of cardiac-committed mouse embryonic stem cells to infarcted sheep myocardium: a preclinical study. Lancet 366, 1005–1012 (2005). Stem cell therapy has been shown to provide a potential therapeutic benefit in several animal models following myocardial infarction. Thus far, only bone marrow-derived stem cells have been assessed in clinical trials, but their cardiogenic potential has been challenged. Despite ethical controversy, embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have consistently been shown to possess the potential of cardiogenic differentiation, and therefore, increasing consideration has been given to these cells as a viable therapeutic option to cellular cardiomyoplasty. Recent studies have examined the efficacy of xenogenic cell transplantation using ESCs as a potential cell source. Menard and colleagues carried out experimental myocardial infarction in an ovine preclinical model and showed that precommitted mouse ESCs were able to renew th.
A Personal Ethics Responsibility Example: The Relationship Between Child Development and Drugs Taken by Pregnant Mother

Personal responsibility is an important ethical concept. The pregnant mother should regard this concept as of prime importance. The pregnant mother should take some precautions in order to protect her own health and that of her baby in order to provide for its normal development. In this communication, we address the general effects of medications or drugs ingested by a pregnant mother on the baby. Thus, we target refinement of the personal ethic responsibility of the mothers. Medications or drugs taken by the mother during pregnancy pass to the baby (fetus) from a structure called the placenta. The placenta is located inside the uterus with the baby. Under normal conditions, the clear arterial blood of the mother carries the necessary substances for normal growth and development. These are carried to the placenta. In the placenta, the arterial blood flow of the mother empties into several holes, called sinuses. These placental sinuses contain finger-like structures called villus (villi is plural in Latin). These villi take the necessary substances carried by the arterial blood from the mother, which then enter the blood circulation of the baby by the veins termed umbilical veins. Drugs taken by the mother during pregnancy can affect the baby in several ways. Some drugs are harmful directly to the developing baby and can cause the death of the child. The mother may have an abortion. Some drugs may affect specific parts of the body of the child. For example, the bones of the child may be affected and other organs may not. Bones may be very short, and because of this the ribs may be very small. When this occurs, the child can not breathe normally after birth due to inability of the lungs to expand. These breathing problems may cause death soon after birth. Sometimes severe heart, brain, lung, liver, and kidney diseases may occur. Heart abnormalities include occurrence of holes in the chambers of the heart, causing oxygenated blood to mix with venous blood. This condition affects every part of the body because the baby cannot get enough clear blood for the organs. Therefore, heart abnormalities are very important in that even normal organs at birth may later become diseased because of an abnormal heart. The face and the body of such children seem purple. Brain abnormalities are also very important. The brain is the main organ for mental development. Body movements such as walking, running, talking, and using the hands and other organs are all controlled by the brain. Sometimes very small changes in the brain may cause important mental and movement disorders. In some babies, the normal blood flow of the brain may be disturbed just before birth and can lead to very severe abnormalities. Some parts of the brain may be absent. There may be holes in the bones of the head. Brain tissue
Post-exposure prophylaxis following sexual exposure to HIV: a seven-year retrospective analysis in a regional centre

An audit of 72 patients presenting for post-exposure prophylaxis following sexual exposure (PEPSE) to HIV (68 genitourinary medicine and 4 accident & emergency) was conducted from 2003 to 2009. The principal indications for PEPSE included 27 (38%) unprotected intercourse (15/27 vaginal and 12/27 anal) with a known HIV-positive partner, 20 (28%) unprotected receptive anal sex with male partner of unknown status, 17 (24%) following sexual assault and three (4%) unprotected sex with a partner from an endemic country. Of those who commenced PEPSE, 92% did so within the recommended 72 hours. Concurrent sexually transmitted infection (STI) was diagnosed in 8.3% patients (6.9% non-gonococcal urethritis and 1.4% rectal chlamydia). Fifty (69%) patients attended for follow-up and only 8% of these did not complete treatment. Twenty-five (35%) patients attended for repeat serology at three months and 18 (25%) at six months. All of the patients followed up remained HIV-negative.
Sex differences in response to chronic heart failure therapies

Sex-related differences in clinical and laboratory characteristics, course and prognosis are well documented in patients with heart failure. However, most information regarding heart failure therapies has been obtained from studies conducted primarily in men. Reviewing the existing literature indicates that the recommendations regarding pharmacological and device therapies should apply similarly to men and women. One possible exception, however, is the possibility of more benefit derived from angiotensin receptor blockers in women, and from angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in men. Future clinical trials should be conducted either exclusively in women or have a larger representation of women to insure the adequate assessment of the potential benefit versus risk in women.
A comparative study of parametric coding and wavelet coding based feature extraction techniques in recognizing spoken words

Speech recognition is a fascinating application of digital signal processing offering unparalleled opportunities. In this paper, a comparative study of different feature extraction techniques like Linear Predictive Coding (LPC), Discrete Wavelet Transforms (DWT) and Wavelet packet Decomposition (WPD) are employed for recognizing speaker independent spoken isolated words. Voice signals are sampled directly from the microphone and then they are processed using these three techniques for extracting the features. Words from Malayalam, one of the four major Dravidian languages of southern India are chosen for recognition. Training, testing and pattern recognition are performed using Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). This work includes three speech recognition methods. First one is a hybrid approach with LPC and ANN, second method uses a combination of DWT and ANN and the third one utilizes a combination of WPD and ANN. Back propagation method is used to train the ANN. The proposed method is implemented for 50 speakers uttering 20 isolated words each. All the three methods produce good recognition accuracy. LPC based method produced an accuracy of 81.20%, DWT gave an accuracy of 90% and WPD produced a recognition accuracy of 87.50%. Thus wavelet based methods are found to be more suitable for recognizing speech because of their multi-resolution characteristics and efficient time frequency localizations. Moreover, wavelet methods have a better capability to model the unvoiced sound details.
The anaesthetist and the World Health Organization Surgical Safety Checklist

Correctly implemented, the World Health Organization Surgical Safety Checklist (WHO SSCL) may be a breakthrough in surgical patient care. The WHO SSCL was developed as part of the WHO’s World Alliance for Patient Safety Safe Surgery Saves Lives initiative. The project was led by Atul Gawande, a Boston-based endocrine surgeon, and developed over several months through discussions and meetings with surgeons, anaesthetists, operating nurses, and technical experts from around the world. It aims to reinforce accepted safety practices, and foster better communication and teamwork in theatres, thereby improving patient safety.
ULTRASONOGRAPHIC, GROSS, AND HISTOLOGIC EVALUATION OF A TENDINITIS DISEASE MODEL IN THE HORSE

Collagenase-induced lesions of the superficial digital flexor tendon were monitored using diagnostic ultrasound and subsequently compared with gross and microscopic findings. The postinjury sonograms demonstrated hypoechoic or anechoic areas corresponding to areas of hemorrhage and necrosis. The size of the lesion increased and the echogenicity decreased with increasing units of collagenase injected into the tendon. As postinjury time increased, echogenicity increased, which corresponded to fibrous-tissue invasion and collagen deposition. The extent of tendon injury produced correlated with the amount of collagenase injected into the tendon. Diagnostic ultrasound is useful in evaluating injury and healing in collagenase— induced tendinitis.
A solitary case: Swedish tobacco policy as harm reduction?

Purpose – This paper aims to analyse Swedish tobacco policy, especially in relation to EU tobacco regulation. The paper also seeks to review the arguments and the scientific support presented in the debate around Swedish snus, setting it in the context of future EU regulation on tobacco.Design/methodology/approach – The article draws on previous research, official documents and newspaper articles to examine tobacco policy development on a national and EU level.Findings – The paper shows that the so‐called Swedish experience has led to a somewhat ambivalent political attitude towards tobacco policy. The Swedish case of snus also demonstrates the EU as a political and regulatory force in national policymaking and how different economic and political interests are using scientifically based arguments to advance goals of their own. The paper argues that political measures are dictated by ideology and political considerations, which are themselves supported by ambiguous scientific results. Harm reduction is us.
Principles and Practice of Intensive Care Monitoring.

The past decade has seen multiple textbooks on monitoring, usually smallish volumes that provide detailed information on common monitoring procedures and their underlying technology. The new textbook, Principles and Practice of Intensive Care Monitoring, takes a much broader view of monitoring, including all forms of monitoring used in the intensive care unit and focusing on how physiologic data can be used to modify patient outcomes. The book contains detailed reviews of most of the available methods for obtaining physiologic data from patients in the intensive care unit. Many of these methods are in common use, whereas others are state-of-the-art procedures used in only a few specialized centers. Much attention is devoted to analyses examining the accuracy (and usefulness) of the data generated by these devices and to how physicians and other care givers can use this information to manage complex patients in the intensive care unit. Chapters are grouped together by organ system, with respiratory and cardiovascular monitors receiving the most attention. There are also chapters dealing with specific situations (e.g., transport) and technologies (e.g., molecular biologic tests). Topics range from the very technical (engineering data on alarms—their frequency, pitch, and intensity) to the purely clinical (indications for placing a pulmonary artery catheter). Taken as a whole, Tobin has created a unique book— one that redefines what monitoring is all about. The book is large and expansive and is aimed at the intensivist who wishes to use technology wisely and provide high-quality patient care. Although certain chapters can serve as reference standards (e.g., techniques to measure respiratory muscle strength), the book can also function as a series of interesting and useful reviews to be read at one’s leisure. The chapters addressing the potential utility of computers in medicine are particularly interesting, providing insight both into the potential offered by this technology and the daunting hurdles that must be circumvented to translate this potential into useful clinical tools. The authors are leaders in their fields. The overall quality of writing is high. All forms of monitoring modalities are covered. Although one can quibble that some topics are covered in excessive depth (in comparison to the whole) and a few chapters fail to deliver a clear message, the balance is excellent, and there is minimal overlap between chapters. In summary, this is an excellent textbook and well worth the price. Intensivists will find it both stimulating and useful. It belongs in the library of all major hospitals and medical schools.
Prevención primaria del cáncer cervicouterino

A ctualmente podemos prevenir el cáncer de cuello uterino con tres estrategias: la primera es abstinencia sexual; retrasar la vida sexual después de los 20 años, monogamia y el uso de condón; la segunda, a través de la prevención primaria (antes de la adquisición del virus del papiloma humano, vacunas profilácticas), en la etapa presexual y; la tercera, basada en la citología vaginal con tinción de Papanicolaou y pruebas de ADN. Para fines prácticos, la primera opción sólo la practica la minoría de la población, por lo tanto, carece de impacto significativo en la prevención del cáncer cervicouterino. A pesar de que la citología vaginal reduce tanto la tasa de incidencia y mortalidad del cáncer cervicouterino (70%), para alcanzar estos resultados debe repetirse con frecuencia, ya que su baja sensibilidad, entre 30 a 57%, y su elevada tasa de falsos negativos hace que esta estrategia sea menos costo-efectiva. El cáncer cervicouterino es causado por una infección por el virus del papiloma humano (VPH). Es necesaria la infección por VPH para que aparezcan el cáncer cervicouterino de células escamosas (y su lesión precursora, la neoplasia intraepitelial cervical o NIC de grados 1 y 2/3) y el adenocarcinoma cervicouterino (y su lesión precursora, el adenocarcinoma in situ [AIS]). El VPH también causa un subgrupo de cánceres vulvares y vaginales, así como sus lesiones precursoras, la neoplasia intraepitelial vulvar (NIV) y la neoplasia intraepitelial vaginal (NIVa). La infección por el VPH es muy común. A falta de vacunación, más de 50% de los adultos sexualmente activos se infectarán con el VPH a lo largo de la vida. La mayoría de las infecciones por VPH desaparecen sin secuelas, pero algunas avanzan hasta desembocar en cáncer cervicouterino. La infección por el VPH de los tipos 6, 11, 16 y 18 puede ocasionar resultados anormales en la citología vaginal y lesiones displásicas de grado leve (NIC 1, NIV 1 y NIVa 1). Las lesiones por el VPH de los tipos 6 y 11 tienen pocas probabilidades de progresar hasta el cáncer, pero son clínicamente indistinguibles de las lesiones premalignas causadas por el VPH de los tipos 16 y 18. Los VPH de los tipos 16 y 18 causan 70% de los cánceres de ano y de pene relacionados, así como sus lesiones precursoras. La infección por el VPH de los tipos 6 y 11 también causa verrugas genitales (condilomas acuminados), excrecencias que aparecen en la mucosa cervicovaginal, vulvar y perianal y en los genitales externos, que rara vez progresan hasta el cáncer. Se ha calculado que el riesgo de por vida de contraer verrugas genitales es superior al 10%. La incidencia de estas lesiones, por lo general, es comparable entre hombres y mujeres. El VPH de los tipos 6 y 11 también causa la papilomatosis respiratoria recurrente (PRR), una enfermedad de los lactantes y los adultos. La papilomatosis respiratoria recurrente se caracteriza por la aparición repetida de verrugas en las vías respiratorias. En Estados Unidos, cada año se diagnostican 5,900 casos, y el tratamiento requiere intervenciones quirúrgicas repetidas.
Predicate abstraction of Java programs with collections

Our goal is to develop precise and scalable verification techniques for Java programs that use collections and properties that depend on their content. We apply the popular approach of predicate abstraction to Java programs and collections. The main challenge in this context is precise and compact modeling of collections that enables practical verification. We define a predicate language for modeling the observable state of Java collections at the interface level. Changes of the state by API methods are captured by weakest preconditions. We adapt existing techniques for construction of abstract programs. Most notably, we designed optimizations based on specific features of the predicate language. We evaluated our approach on Java programs that use collections in advanced ways. Our results show that interesting properties, such as consistency between multiple collections, can be verified using our approach. The properties are specified using logic formulas that involve predicates introduced by our language.
HIV-1 genetic variation and drug resistance development

Up until 10 years ago, basic and clinical HIV-1 research was mainly performed on HIV-1 subtype B that predominated in resource-rich settings. Over the past decade, HIV-1 care and therapy has been scaled up substantially in Latin America, Africa and Asia. These regions are largely dominated by non-B subtype infections, and especially the African continent is affected by the HIV pandemic. Insight on the potency of antiviral drugs and regimens as well as on the emergence of drug resistance in non-B subtypes was lacking triggering research in this field, also partly driven by the introduction and spreading of HIV-1 non-B subtypes in Europe. The scope of this article was to review and discuss the state-of-the-art on the impact of HIV-1 genetic variation on the in vitro activity of antiviral drugs and in vivo response to antiviral therapy; as well as on the in vitro and in vivo emergence of drug resistance.
Treatment of cytomegalovirus infections beyond acute disease to improve human health

Human cytomegalovirus is a common virus that establishes latency and persistence after a primary infection in 50–90% of populations worldwide. In otherwise healthy persons, the infection is generally mild or asymptomatic, although it may cause mononucleosis, prolonged episodes of fever, and hepatitis. However, in AIDS patients and transplant recipients who are immunosuppressed, severe, life-threatening infections may develop. CMV is also the most common congenital infection and may cause birth defects and deafness. Emerging evidence shows a high prevalence of this virus in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases or tumours of different origin, such as breast, colon, and prostate cancer, neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma, and glioblastoma. Several drugs are available to treat CMV infections. This review will highlight the possibility of using anti-CMV therapy to improve outcome not only in patients with acute CMV infections but also in patients with inflammatory diseases and cancer.
Update of enterovirus 71 infection: epidemiology, pathogenesis and vaccine

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is a neurotropic human pathogen that is the causative agent of hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD), herpangina and brain stem encephalitis. Recurrent EV71 epidemics of various scales have occurred in the Asia-Pacific region. Several specific cell surface molecules serve as the receptors for EV71. Identification of the receptors is an important step to understand EV71 disease. Cytokines, lymphocytes and monocytes contribute significantly to EV71 pathogenesis. The interaction of EV71 and receptors may be associated with the cytokines immunopathogenesis. Some animal models have been established and aim to explore the pathogenesis of EV71 infections. EV71 antibodies can neutralize or enhance infection at subneutralizing levels. These results are important for EV71 vaccine and therapeutics design. Several clinical trials of human inactivated EV71 vaccine have recently been completed. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent discoveries about the epidemiology and pathogenesis of EV71 and provide insights into human vaccine development.
Preexposure to Amorphous Silica Particles Attenuates but also Enhances Allergic Reactions in Trimellitic Anhydride-Sensitized Brown Norway Rats

Irritant-induced inflammation of the airways may aggravate respiratory allergy induced by chemical respiratory allergens. Therefore, the effect of airway irritation by synthetic amorphous silica (SAS) on respiratory allergy to trimellitic anhydride (TMA) was studied. Brown Norway (BN) rats were topically sensitized on day 0 and on day 7, subsequently exposed for 6 h/day for 6 days to 27 mg/m3 SAS, and challenged by inhalation to a minimally irritating concentration of 12 mg/m3 TMA, 24 h after the last SAS exposure. An additional group was exposed to SAS before a second challenge to TMA. Control groups were treated with vehicle, and/or did not receive SAS exposure. Breathing parameters, cellular and biochemical changes in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, and histopathological airway changes 24 h after challenge were the main parameters studied. Exposure to SAS alone resulted in transient changes in breathing parameters during exposure, and in nasal and alveolar inflammation with neutrophils and macrophages. Exposure to SAS before a single TMA challenge resulted in a slightly irregular breathing pattern during TMA challenge. SAS also diminished the effect of TMA on tidal volume, laryngeal ulceration, laryngeal inflammation, and the number of BAL (lung) eosinophils in most animals, but aggravated laryngeal squamous metaplasia and inflammation in a single animal. The pulmonary eosinophilic infiltrate and edema induced by a second TMA challenge was diminished by the preceding SAS exposure, but the number of lymphocytes in BAL was increased. Thus, a respiratory particulate irritant like SAS can reduce as well as aggravate certain aspects of TMA-induced respiratory allergy.
Liquid oral suspension adefovir dipivoxil (GS-02-526): an update on treatments for hepatitis B infection

Though the global epidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection has declined due to effective immunization, chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains a serious public health problem and there is still a need for more treatment options that are efficient, safe and simple for different kinds of CHB patients. Adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) liquid suspension (GS-02-526), as a new form of oral ADV, not only has competent antiviral efficacy, but is also more convenient for patients with swallowing difficulties or patients with impaired renal function requiring dosage adjustment. The clinical data evaluating the safety, tolerability and antiviral activity of liquid suspension of ADV as well as its tablet are summarized in this article. The availability of liquid oral suspension of ADV would allow more patients to receive timely and reasonable antiviral treatments.
Tedizolid for treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections

Tedizolid is a newly approved drug of the oxazolidinone class. It has high in vitro activity against Gram-positive bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains. Peak plasma concentration of tedizolid is obtained within 3 h of oral dosing (PO), with high bioavailability. Tedizolid is mostly metabolized via the liver, and is excreted in feces in the form of a sulfate conjugate. Tedizolid 200 mg taken once daily demonstrated non-inferior efficacy and a good safety profile in patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections. Results of two pivotal Phase III clinical trials showed that 6 days of 200 mg tedizolid PO or sequential intravenous (IV)/PO once-daily treatment was non-inferior to 10 days of 600 mg linezolid PO or sequential IV/PO twice-daily treatment at 48–72 h (primary end point) and at the test-of-cure in patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections. The Phase II and Phase III trials also demonstrated that tedizolid was well tolerated.