Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A study to determine which motor deficit has the strongest association with an improvement in functioning in activities of daily living in stroke patients

A RESEARCH REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES, SCHOOL OF THERAPEUTIC SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURG, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOHANNESBURG, APRIL 2015
Topographic changes simulating keratoconus in patients with irregular inferior epithelial thickening documented by anterior segment optical coherence tomography

Purpose To present six patients with keratoconus-like topographic changes due to inferior inhomogenous epithelial thickening, demonstrated by AS-OCT epithelium map. Patients and methods We present twelve eyes of six patients evaluated in the refractive surgery consultation with Pentacam® HR Scheimpflug rotating camera system, presenting topographical irregularities suggestive of keratoconus. Slit-lamp examination, best-corrected visual acuity, Scheimpflug tomography and anterior segment optical coherence tomography epithelium map (Optovue® ) were conducted and analyzed. Results The mean age was 42 years and the female:male ratio was 2:1. Mean Kmax was 45±2 D. The mean corneal thickness at apex was 560±33 µm and the mean thickness at the thinnest location was 555±34 µm. All patients had an abnormal index of height decentration (IHD) in at least one eye. In all cases, anterior segment OCT demonstrated relative epithelial thickening over the steep area measured by tomography. The mean thickness of the inferior epithelium over the suspicious area was 60±2 µm, whereas the mean thickness of the superior epithelium was 56±2 µm. Conclusion Epithelial irregularity, as measured by anterior segment OCT, should be considered as a possible contributing factor in the appearance of suspicious keratoconus-like topographies.
successfully applied the ethanol extract prepared from the calyx for the treatment of genital condylomata acuminate

Successfully Applied the Ethanol Extract Prepared from the Calyx for the Treatment of Condylomata Abstract We examined the clinical effects of the eggplant extract on condylomata acuminate. For those with an 80-90% reduction or the complete disappearance of condylomata acuminate, the result of treatment was determined to be effective. We confirmed the capability of eggplant extract to induce apoptosis in Caski and HeLa cells. Our current study showed the possibility of new therapeutic for condylomata acuminate.
Combating HIV/AIDS: biomedical approaches towards prevention

For over three decades, HIV/AIDS has had a deleterious impact on public health the world over. There is still no cure for the disease although preventive strategies have evolved over the years to reduce its impact. In addition to behavioural change approaches, biomedical interventions have played a major part in reduction of HIV transmission and subsequently the burden associated with the HIV/AIDS disease. Early biomedical approaches include physical barriers such as condoms, use of clean injection equipment for intravenous drug users, blood and blood product screening. More recently, medical male circumcision and use of anti-retroviral drugs for prevention have been introduced. While these interventions have had a fundamental impact in reducing HIV incidence, the burden in many populations remains. Therefore, there is need to develop new biomedical methods to augment existing efforts. Future biomedical approaches may for instance include use of compounds that modulate the body’s immune system, such as acetylsalicylic acid, to cause resistance to HIV infection. Such approaches could be added to the HIV prevention toolkit. Keywords: HIV/AIDS, biomedical, prevention, immune quiescence Afr. J. Biomed. Res . Vol. 22 (May, 2019); 105- 114
High Incidence Of Subsequent Pregnancy In Teens Tested For Stds In The Emergency Department

for interventions to prevent subsequent unwanted pregnancies. the risk of subsequent pregnancy and the time interval from ED visit to to a necessary to effective to to the of pregnancy and the Time to Conception in at-risk teenage an ED visit. were of were tested for Gonorrhea and Chlamydia the Subjects were if they were in the Primary at the affiliated academic institution. Subsequent pregnancies were determined from the Primary Clinic charts. The duration of follow-up was 4 years.
Physicians Treating Physicians at the End of Life: The Relational Advantage in Treatment Choice

This study examines the agency problems by estimating the informational and relational effects of physician-patients on their invasive end-of-lifetreatment. To address potential issues of patient selection, we compare treatment intensity between physician- versus nonphysician-patients attended by the same doctor in the same hospital, and control for patients previous choices of doctors. To identify the relational effect, we further compare the impacts of physician-patients specializing in the same area as their attending doctors versus those in different areas. Physician-patients receive more care than comparable nonphysician-patients, and the increased volume results mostly from physician-patients relational advantages, not from their information advantages.
Results and Predictive Factors of Surgery for Locally Recurrent Rectal Cancer

Purpose. This study aimed to evaluate surgical results for locally recurrent rectal cancer and to compare median post-operative survival and analyze predictive factors for achieving curative surgery. Methods. Thirty patients who received surgery between January 1994 and December 2005 for locally recurrent rectal cancer were enrolled. All patients had previously undergone radical surgical resection of primary rectal cancer. Age, gender, place of primary surgery, date and type of initial operation, stage of rectal cancer, and administration of adjuvant therapy were retrospectively analyzed. Date of detection, presenting symptoms and diagnostic work-up, location and fixity of recurrent tumor, type of surgery, and pre- and post-operative carcinoembryonic antigen levels were analyzed. Results. The median survival of the 30 included patients was 16.7 months. Curative surgery was achieved in 15 patients and palliative surgery was performed in 15. Median survival was 28.6 months after curative surgery and 11.9 months after palliative surgery (p=0.014). Data showed predictive factors of curative surgery to be rectal symptoms or asymptomatic patients (p=0.014), anastomosis location (p=0.001), and tumor fixity (p＜0.001). Conclusions. Curative surgery proved to be the only significant prognostic factor of survival. Predictive factors of curative surgery can therefore be used in the selection of surgical candidates and establishment of appropriate treatment plans.
Assessment and Treatment of Patients with Coexisting Mental Illness and Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 9

The opinions expressed herein are those of the consensus panel participants and do not reflect the official position of CSAT or any other part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). No official support or endorsement of CSAT or DHHS is intended or should be inferred. The guidelines proffered in this document should not be considered as substitutes for individualized patient care and treatment decisions.
Clinical Results of Ahmed Valve Implantation in the Aspects of Complications

Purpose: We retrospectively studied the clinical restults of Ahmed valve implantation in the aspects of complications in refractory glaucoma. Methods: One hundred fourteen eyes of 112 patients who had undergone Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation from February 1996 to April 2002 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients with less than 6 months of follow-up were excluded from the analysis. Etiology of glaucoma, change of intraocular pressure and visual acuity and the incidence of complications were evaluated. Results: Postoperative complications included persistent shallow ant.chamber with hypotony in 10 eyes, choroidal detachment in 11 eyes, hyphema in 16 eyes, vitreous hemorrhage in 3 eyes, suprachoroidal hemorrhage in 2 eyes, valve obstruction in 15 eyes (10 by fibrous membrane, 3 by vitreous, 1 by silicone oil and 1 by gas tamponade), valve malposition in 14 eyes (6 by corneal contact 4 by iris contact or incarceration, 1 by lens contact, 1 by intraocular lens contact and 2 by shortage of valve tip), scleral graft exposure in 2 eyes, conjunctival scarring in 2 eyes, encapsulated bleb in 2 eyes, EOM limitation due to giant bleb in 2 eyes, corneal graft rejection in 1 eye and phthisis bulbi in 10 eyes. Various kinds of complications were observed in 66 eyes of the total 114 eyes. Conclusions: Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation was effective in controlling intraocualr pressure and maintenance of visual acuity. However, Ahmed valve showed many kinds of complications in the follow-up periods.
The Neural Crest: Author Index

Foreword Lewis Wolpert Preface N. Le Douarin 1. Methods for identifying neural crest cells and their derivatives 2. The migration of neural crest cells 3. The neural crest: a source of mesenchymal cells 4. From the neural crest to the ganglia of the peripheral nervous system: the sensory ganglia 5. The autonomic nervous system and the endocrine cells of neural crest origin 6. The neural crest: source of pigment cells 7. Cell lineage segregation during neural crest ontogeny Concluding remarks and perspectives Index.
Retention of Guidewire: A Rare but Avoidable Complication of Central Venous Catheterization

Introduction: Retention of a guidewire is one of the rare but potentially serious complications of central venous catheterization (CVC). Case Presentation: An 11-year-old male presents with inadvertent retention of guidewire during CVC. Conclusions: The management was successful and this is an avoidable complication and several precautions are explained to avoid this.
Incubation parameters and compounds of meat type japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) eggs stored at low temperatures (7.5 ± 1 ºC)

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da estocagem em baixa temperatura (7,5±1 oC) sobre os parâmetros de incubacao e proporcao dos componentes de ovos de codornas japonesas para corte. Foram realizadas coletas de ovos de codornas japonesas ( Coturnix japonica ) durante 22 dias consecutivos, obtendo-se um total de 440 ovos. Estes foram identificados individualmente e pesados. Os ovos foram submetidos a diferentes periodos de estocagem, variando de zero ate vinte dias. Os ovos foram estocados em um refrigerador domestico (7,5±1 oC e 50% umidade relativa) apos a coleta diaria. Apos a estocagem, os ovos foram incubados a 37,5oC com 60%UR e viragem automatica a cada meia hora. Os pintinhos nascidos foram pesados individualmente. Os resultados demonstraram que a eclodibilidade foi satisfatoria em todos os grupos, sendo a eclodibilidade mais baixa nos ovos estocados por 20 dias (60%). A perda de peso dos ovos aumentou de acordo com o aumento dos dias de estocagem com valor maximo de 3,4% nos ovos do 20o dia. Nao foi encontrada relacao entre o tempo de estocagem e a perda de peso na incubacao.
Molecular basis for Glanzmann's thrombasthenia (GT) in a compound heterozygote with glycoprotein IIb gene: a proposal for the classification of GT based on the biosynthetic pathway of glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complex

The genetic basis for Glanzmann's thrombasthenia (GT) was elucidated on a compound heterozygote with glycoprotein (GP)IIb gene: an opal mutation at the end of exon 17 (CGA\---|-TGA) results in only a trace amount of GPIIb mRNA, and a splicing mutation at the acceptor site of exon 26 (CAG\---|-GAG) causes an in-frame, exon skipping process from exon 25 to 27. This aberrant transcript encodes a single-chain polypeptide characterized by a 42-amino acid deletion, which includes the proteolytic cleavage site(s) and a unique, proline-rich region at the location corresponding to the carboxyl-terminal of the normal GPIIb alpha-chain. These characteristics are shared by a previously reported defective GPIIb molecule, which is neither assembled with GPIIIa nor transported to the cellular surface. Despite its normal transcription level, expression of the present defective GPIIb molecule was significantly decreased (approximately 6% of the control level). Because the precursor GPIIb molecule is assembled with GPIIIa in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and its processing, as well as stability, is dependent on the GPIIIa subunit, the defective GPIIb molecule may be rapidly degraded by the intrinsic quality control system of the ER due to its inability to form a stable heterodimer complex as a consequence of its misfolded structure. Although we did not confirm that the GPIIIa genes of this individual were normal, GPIIIa may be secondarily decreased (approximately 11% of control), because a large part of it could not be complexed, making it vulnerable to proteolysis. To elucidate the molecular basis for GT, we propose here a classification of GT based on the biosynthetic pathway of the GPIIb-IIIa complex.
Expression of CD86 on Human Marrow CD34+ Cells Identifies Immunocompetent Committed Precursors of Macrophages and Dendritic Cells

Macrophages and dendritic cells derive from a hematopoietic stem cell and the existence of a common committed progenitor has been hypothesized. We have recently found in normal human marrow a subset of CD34+ cells that constitutively expresses HLA-DR and low levels of CD86, a natural ligand for the T cell costimulation receptor CD28. This CD34+ subset can elicit responses from allogeneic T cells. In this study, we show that CD34+/CD86+ cells can also present tetanus toxoid antigen to memory CD4+ T cells. CD86 is expressed at low levels in macrophages and high levels in dendritic cells. Therefore, we have tested the hypothesis that CD34+/CD86+ cells are the common precursors of both macrophages and dendritic cells. CD34+/CD86+ marrow cells cultured in granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)–generated macrophages. In contrast, CD34+/CD86− cells cultured in GM-CSF generated a predominant population of granulocytes. CD34+/CD86+ cells cultured in GM-CSF plus tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) generated almost exclusively CD1a+/CD83+ dendritic cells. In contrast, CD34+/CD86− cells cultured in GM-CSF plus TNF-α generated a variety of cell types, including a small population of dendritic cells. In addition, CD34+/CD86+ cells cultured in granulocyte colony-stimulating factor failed to generate CD15+granulocytes. Therefore, CD34+/CD86+ cells are committed precursors of both macrophages and dendritic cells. The ontogeny of dendritic cells was recapitulated by stimulation of CD34+/CD86− cells with TNF-α that induced expression of CD86. Subsequent costimulation of CD86+cells with GM-CSF plus TNF-α lead to expression of CD83 and produced terminal dendritic cell differentiation. Thus, expression of CD86 on hematopoietic progenitor cells is regulated by TNF-α and denotes differentiation towards the macrophage or dendritic cell lineages.
Human B-cell interleukin-10: B-cell lines derived from patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and Burkitt's lymphoma constitutively secrete large quantities of interleukin-10 [see comments]

A recent addition to the lymphokine network is human IL-10 (hIL-10). This novel lymphokine has striking homology to BCRF1 protein, the product of a previously uncharacterized open-reading frame in the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome. To date, IL-10 expression has been described in several T clones induced with anti-CD3 and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), in monocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and in murine B-cell lymphomas. We sought to determine whether human B cells express hIL-10 and, if so, its relationship to EBV and to other B-cell lymphokines. We studied 21 EBV- positive B-cell lines derived from patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and Burkitt9s lymphoma (n = 6), American Burkitt9s (n = 3), African Burkitt9s (n = 5), and normal lymphoblastoid cell lines (n = 7), in comparison with seven EBV- negative cell lines. All cell lines were activated with the tumor promoters PMA and teleocidin and were studied by Northern blot analysis, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA). We demonstrated that EBV- positive cell lines derived from patients with American Burkitt9s lymphoma, and especially those from patients with AIDS, constitutively express large quantities of hIL-10 by Northern blot analysis and ELISA (range, 3,101 to 25,915 pg/mL), and that both teleocidin and PMA induce hIL-10 in these cell lines. In contrast, six of seven EBV-negative cell lines did not express hIL-10 even by RT-PCR, and hIL-10 was not triggered by PMA or teleocidin. To assure that the 350 bp amplified by PCR was hIL-10 and not BCRF1, we used PCR primers, which do not amplify a fragment from plasmid templates containing BCRF1. Cloning and sequencing of the 350 bp product also demonstrated that B-cell IL-10 is identical to hIL-10 from the T-cell clone B21. Correlation of hIL-10 with other B-cell lymphokines secreted by these B-cell lines demonstrated that hIL-10 secretor cell lines also constitutively secrete or can be induced to secrete IL-6, although to a much lesser amount. Since both lymphokines influence B-cell growth and differentiation, we suggest that hIL-10 may contribute to the polyclonal B-cell activation and hyperglobulinemia seen in AIDS patients. Finally, several reports support the hypothesis that EBV is an important cofactor in the development of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-related B-cell lymphomas. Detection of large quantities of hIL-10 in B-cell lines derived from AIDS patients, the close association between EBV and hIL-10 shown in this report, and the ability of BCRF1 to capture hIL-10 activities, make hIL-10/BCRF1 an attractive candidate as a factor causing B-cell growth and immortalization in patients with AIDS and B-cell lymphomas.
Are there functional gap junctions or junctional hemichannels in macrophages

The existence of functional gap junctions in migratory cells of the immune system is a controversial issue. In this report, we have focused on one particular cell type, namely the macrophages, because connexin- 43, a protein that forms gap junctions, has been described in peritoneal macrophages and a macrophage cell line (J774), by Northern and Western blot analysis. To test whether these cell types expressed functional gap junctions, we assayed dye coupling by intracellular injection of Lucifer Yellow. We observed that nonstimulated macrophages are not coupled among themselves and did not form functional gap junctions with an epithelial cell line, which expresses functional gap junctions formed by connexin-43. Dye coupling was also not detected between macrophages previously activated by lipopolysaccharide or interferon-gamma. We further examined the presence of functional coupling using the more sensitive technique of dual whole cell patch- clamp, and again, did not find electrical coupling between macrophages, consistent with the dye microinjection data. We also examined the possible presence of hemigap junction channels activated by extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) using a dye uptake assay and the whole cell patch-clamp technique. Conditions expected to close gap junction hemichannels (exposure to octanol and low intracellular pH) did not decrease ATP-induced Lucifer Yellow uptake, whereas conditions expected to increase hemichannel opening either did not affect ATP permeabilization (dibutyryl adenosine monophosphate) or decreased it (zero extracellular CA+2). Finally, in experiments using resident macrophages derived from conexin-43 knockout mice, we observed ATP induced dye uptake. Our experimental data thus indicate that macrophages in vitro do not form functional gap junctions and that the permeability pathway activated by extracellular ATP is not formed by a hemigap junction channel.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A review of current treatment options

Once the diagnosis of OSA is confirmed and its severity determined, the results of all testing should be reviewed with the patient. The patient should be educated about the risk factors, natural history, and consequences of OSA [1]. In addition, the patient should be warned about the potential consequences of driving or operating other dangerous equipment while sleepy and counseled to avoid activities that require vigilance and alertness. Finally, it should be determined whether treatment is indicated and, if so, which therapy is most appropriate. The benefits of successfully treating OSA include clinical improvement (eg, less daytime sleepiness, better quality of life, improved hypertension), reduced health care utilization and costs, and, possibly, decreased mortality.
A clinical test for visual crowding

Crowding is a major limitation of visual perception. Because of crowding, a simple object, like a letter, can only be recognized if clutter is a certain critical spacing away. Crowding is only weakly associated with acuity. The critical spacing of crowding is lowest in the normal fovea, and grows with increasing eccentricity in peripheral vision. Foveal crowding is more prominent in certain patient groups, including those with strabismic amblyopia and apperceptive agnosia. Crowding may lessen with age during childhood as reading speed increases. The range of crowding predicts much of the slowness of reading in children with developmental dyslexia. There is tantalizing evidence suggesting that the critical spacing of crowding indicates neural density (participating neurons per square deg) in the visual cortex. Thus, for basic and applied reasons, it would be very interesting to measure foveal crowding clinically in children and adults with normal and impaired vision, and to track the development of crowding during childhood. While many labs routinely measure peripheral crowding as part of their basic research in visual perception, current tests are not well suited to routine clinical testing because they take too much time, require good fixation, and are mostly not applicable to foveal vision. Here we report a new test for clinical measurement of crowding in the fovea. It is quick and accurate, works well with children and adults, and we expect it to work well with dementia patients as well. The task is to identify a numerical digit, 1-9, using a new “Pelli” font that is identifiable at tiny width (0.02 deg, about 1 minarc, in normal adult fovea). This allows quick measurement of the very small (0.05 deg) critical spacing in the normal adult fovea, as well as with other groups that have higher critical spacing. Preliminary results from healthy adults and children are presented.
THE SEROPREVALENCE OF NEOSPORA CANINUM ANTIBODIES IN DAIRY CATTLE HERDS IN GOLESTAN PROVINCE, IRAN

A total of 800 sera collected from six herds of health and aborted cows in Golestan province in Iran (579 without abortion history, 221 with abortion history) were examined for presence of Neospora caninum antibodies by using commercial ELISA kit. The overall seroprevalence of Neospora caninum antibodies was 107 from 800 (13.37±2.36%, α=0.05). Comparison of Neospora caninum serological status in age groups (<2 years, 2-4 years, >4 years) showed no significant difference (p>0.05). The prevalence of Neospora caninum was higher in the aborted cows than in non aborted cows. This is the first study on Neospora caninum antibodies in dairy cattle herds in Golestan province in the north east of Iran. J. Vet. Microbiol. 7,1:60-64, 2011.