Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dimethylglycine supplementation in horses performing incremental treadmill exercise

Our objective was to verify the effect of the period of dimethylglycine (DMG) supplementation in horses subjected to incremental treadmill exercise, on the metabolic and physiologic variables and indices related to physical performance. Four adult Arabian horses with a mean age of 8±1.5 years and a mean body weight of 340±10.8 kg were used. The utilised experimental design was the 4×4 Latin square, constituted by four periods of four weeks of evaluation, intercalated with four weeks of wash-out periods. The treatments consisted of periods of DMG (30 g of commercial product) administration: without supplementation, and with supplementation for 10, 20 and 30 days. There was a significant effect of the DMG supplementation given during 30 days over the reduction in the lactate concentration after the test exercise. Alterations of V200 (speed in which the horse reaches 200 heart beats/min) and VL4 (speed which corresponds to a blood lactate of 4 mmol/l) were not observed (P>0.05), however there was a travelled.
The Relationship between Isokinetic Open and Closed Chain Lower Extremity Strength and Functional Performance

Objectives: To determine (1) correlations between isokinetic lower extremity strength and functional performance and (2) correlations among different modes of isokinetic testing. Design and Setting: A correlational design with 6 measures. A series of strength, power, and agility tests was performed at a hospital-based outpatient physical therapy clinic. Participants: A volunteer sample of 29 male and 31 female, college-age subjects participated. Measurements: All subjects were tested in the following isokinetic tests: reciprocal leg press, single-leg squat, and knee extension. Performance tests included single-leg hop and vertical jump and a speed/agility test. Results: Analysis showed isokinetic knee extension, leg press, and single-leg squat strength significantly correlated to all functional tests. There were significant correlations among the 3 different isokinetic strength measures, as well. Conclusions: These results suggest a significant relationship between lower extremity open and closed chain is.
A causal role for TRESK loss of function in migraine mechanisms

The two-pore potassium channel TRESK is a potential drug target in pain and migraine. Pettingill et al. show that the F139WfsX2 mutation causes TRESK loss of function and hyperexcitability in nociceptors derived from iPSCs of patients with migraine. Cloxyquin, a TRESK activator, reverses migraine-relevant phenotypes in vitro and in vivo.
Compensatory Mutations in GI and ZTL May Modulate Temperature Compensation in the Circadian Clock1[OPEN]

The physical interaction between naturally occurring mutant variants of Arabidopsis circadian clock components contributes to temperature compensation in the Cape Verde Islands. Circadian systems share the three properties of entrainment, free-running period, and temperature compensation (TC). TC ensures nearly the same period over a broad range of physiologically relevant temperatures; however, the mechanisms behind TC remain poorly understood. Here, we identify single point mutations in two key elements of the Arabidopsis circadian clock, GIGANTEA (GI) and ZEITLUPE (ZTL), which likely act as compensatory substitutions to establish a remarkably constant free-running period over a wide range of temperatures. Using near-isogenic lines generated from the introgression of the Cape Verde Islands (Cvi) alleles of GI and ZTL into the Landsberg erecta (Ler) background, we show how longer periods in the Cvi background at higher temperatures correlate with a difference in strength of the GI/ZTL interaction. Pairwise interaction testing of all GI/ZTL allelic combinations shows similar affinities for isogenic alleles at 22°C, but very poor interaction between GI (Cvi) and ZTL (Cvi) at higher temperature. In vivo, this would result in lower ZTL levels at high temperatures leading to longer periods in the Cvi background. Mismatched allelic combinations result in extremely strong or weak GI/ZTL interactions, indicating how the corresponding natural variants likely became fixed through epistatic selection. Additionally, molecular characterization of GI (Cvi) reveals a novel functional motif that can modulate the GI/ZTL interaction as well as nucleocytoplasmic partitioning. Taken together, these results identify a plausible temperature-dependent molecular mechanism, which contributes to the robustness of TC through natural variation in GI and ZTL alleles found on the Cape Verde Islands.
Identification of novel BRCA1 large genomic rearrangements by a computational algorithm of amplicon-based Next-Generation Sequencing data

Background Genetic testing for BRCA1/2 germline mutations in hereditary breast/ovarian cancer patients requires screening for single nucleotide variants, small insertions/deletions and large genomic rearrangements (LGRs). These studies have long been run by Sanger sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA). The recent introduction of next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms dramatically improved the speed and the efficiency of DNA testing for nucleotide variants, while the possibility to correctly detect LGRs by this mean is still debated. The purpose of this study was to establish whether and to which extent the development of an analytical algorithm could help us translating NGS sequencing via an Ion Torrent PGM platform into a tool suitable to identify LGRs in hereditary breast-ovarian cancer patients. Methods We first used NGS data of a group of three patients (training set), previously screened in our laboratory by conventional methods, to develop an algorithm for the calculation of the dosage quotient (DQ) to be compared with the Ion Reporter (IR) analysis. Then, we tested the optimized pipeline with a consecutive cohort of 85 uncharacterized probands (validation set) also subjected to MLPA analysis. Characterization of the breakpoints of three novel BRCA1 LGRs was obtained via long-range PCR and direct sequencing of the DNA products. Results In our cohort, the newly defined DQ-based algorithm detected 3/3 BRCA1 LGRs, demonstrating 100% sensitivity and 100% negative predictive value (NPV) (95% CI [87.6–99.9]) compared to 2/3 cases detected by IR (66.7% sensitivity and 98.2% NPV (95% CI [85.6–99.9])). Interestingly, DQ and IR shared 12 positive results, but exons deletion calls matched only in five cases, two of which confirmed by MLPA. The breakpoints of the 3 novel BRCA1 deletions, involving exons 16–17, 21–22 and 20, have been characterized. Conclusions Our study defined a DQ-based algorithm to identify BRCA1 LGRs using NGS data. Whether confirmed on larger data sets, this tool could guide the selection of samples to be subjected to MLPA analysis, leading to significant savings in time and money.
Improving the Efficiency of an Emergency Department Based on Activity-Relationship Diagram and Radio Frequency Identification Technology

Emergency department crowding has been one of the main issues in the health system in Taiwan. Previous studies have usually targeted the process improvement of patient treatment flow due to the difficulty of collecting Emergency Department (ED) staff data. In this study, we have proposed a hybrid model with Discrete Event Simulation, radio frequency identification applications, and activity-relationship diagrams to simulate the nurse movement flows and identify the relationship between different treatment sections. We used the results to formulate four facility layouts. Through comparing four scenarios, the simulation results indicated that 2.2 km of traveling distance or 140 min of traveling time reduction per nurse could be achieved from the best scenario.
Biofilms of Mycobacterium abscessus Complex Can Be Sensitized to Antibiotics by Disaggregation and Oxygenation

Pulmonary infection with the multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium abscessus complex (MABSC) is difficult to treat in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). MABSC grows as biofilm aggregates in CF patient lungs, which are known to have anaerobic niches. How aggregation and anoxic conditions affect antibiotic tolerance is not well understood. We sought to determine whether disaggregation and oxygen availability sensitize MABSC isolates to recommended antibiotics. ABSTRACT Pulmonary infection with the multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium abscessus complex (MABSC) is difficult to treat in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). MABSC grows as biofilm aggregates in CF patient lungs, which are known to have anaerobic niches. How aggregation and anoxic conditions affect antibiotic tolerance is not well understood. We sought to determine whether disaggregation and oxygen availability sensitize MABSC isolates to recommended antibiotics. We tested the susceptibilities of 33 isolates from 22 CF patients with MABSC infection and a reference strain to the following antibiotics: amikacin, azithromycin, cefoxitin, ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, imipenem, kanamycin, linezolid, moxifloxacin, rifampin, tigecycline, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. Isolates were grown in Mueller-Hinton broth with and without the disaggregating detergent Tween 80 (5%). Time-kill curves at days 1 and 3 were generated for oxic and anoxic amikacin treatment in 4-fold dilutions ranging from 2 to 512 mg liter−1. Scanning electron microscopy was used to visualize the aggregation patterns, while confocal laser scanning microscopy and microrespirometry were used to visualize biofilm growth patterns. Disruption of MABSC aggregates increased susceptibility to amikacin, tigecycline, kanamycin, azithromycin, imipenem, cefoxitin, and clarithromycin (P < 0.05, n = 29 to 31). Oxygenation enhanced the killing of disaggregated MABSC isolates by amikacin (P < 0.05) by 1 to 6 log units when 2 to 512 mg liter−1 of amikacin was used. This study explains why current drug susceptibility testing results correlate poorly with treatment outcomes. The conditions achieved by oxic culturing of planktonic isolates in vitro do not resemble the hypoxic conditions in CF patient lungs. Biofilm disruption and increased O2 availability during antibiotic therapy may be new therapeutic strategies for chronic MABSC infection.
Infective endocarditis and diabetes mellitus: Results from a single-center study from 1994 to 2017

Background To evaluate the prognostic impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) in patients with Infective Endocarditis (IE). Methods and results 375 patients with diagnosis of IE referred to our Hospital between 1994–2017 were retrospectively included; diabetes was reported in 129 (34.4%). Diabetic patients were older than non-diabetic (66±1 vs. 57±2 years, p<0.001) and showed a higher prevalence of comorbidities such as hypertension (75 vs. 54%, p<0.001), coronary artery disease (30 vs. 12%, p<0.001) and history of heart failure (HF; 24 vs. 13%, p = 0.021). Echocardiography showed a higher incidence of paravalvular complications (82 vs. 64%, p<0.001) and a lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF; 52±11 vs. 55±10%, p = 0.001) in diabetic than in non-diabetic patients. In-hospital mortality was higher in diabetic patients (83 vs. 74%; p = 0.030). At logistic regression, history of HF (OR = 3.1, 95%CI: 1.87–5.29, p<0.001) resulted an independent predictor of in-hospital death. At long-term follow-up [median 24(7–84) months], the Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a significantly lower survival free from all-cause death in the group with diabetes (Log-rank<0.001). At the propensity score adjusted Cox multivariable analysis, DM (HR = 1.76, 95%CI: 1.18–2.6, p = 0.005), age (HR = 1.03, 95%CI: 1.02–1.05, p<0.001), intravenous drug users (HR = 5.42, 95%CI: 2.55–11.51, p<0.001) and low LVEF (HR = 0.98, 95%CI: 0.96–0.99, p = 0.013) were independently associated to a higher mortality. Conclusion In patients with IE, DM is associated to a higher prevalence of anatomic complications and a more impaired LVEF. Diabetic patients show a significantly lower survival both in hospital and during follow-up compared to the non-diabetic ones.
Predictors of the Number of Installs in Psychiatry Smartphone Apps: Systematic Search on App Stores and Content Analysis

Background Mental health is integral to our salubrity, but mental disorders are very debilitating and common. Therefore, it is critical to provide accessible, timely, and inexpensive mental care. This can be done through mobile health (mHealth), namely, mobile medical apps, which are gaining popularity among clinicians and patients. mHealth is a fast-paced field, and there is significant variation in the number of installs among psychiatry apps. However, the factors that influence psychiatry app installs have yet to be studied. Objective This study aimed to identify predictors of the number of app installs in psychiatry. Methods A literature review identified which factors influence app installs. Psychiatry apps available in the Google Play Store were reviewed, and publicly available data were collected. A multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of said factors on the number of installs. Results Our search identified 128 psychiatry apps: 2.3% (3/128) had never been installed, approximately half (53.1%, 68/128) had less than 500 installs, and only 0.8% (1/128) had over 10,000,000 installs. A multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that apps with a lower price (P<.001), a higher rating (P<.001), optional in-app purchases (P<.001), and age restriction (P=.04) had a higher number of installs. The involvement of a psychiatrist or other health care professional (HCP) had no statistically significant influence on the number of installs. Only data from the Google Play Store and the developers’ websites were available for analysis, and the depth of involvement of HCPs was impossible to document. Conclusions Psychiatry apps with a lower price, optional in-app purchases, age restriction, and a higher rating are expected to have a higher number of installs. Unlike other medical fields, in this study, the explicit participation of psychiatrists in app development was not a significant predictor of the number of installs. Research is needed to identify other factors that may influence the number of installs, as that can help mHealth app development.
Special Balance Developer Training Applications on Young Males’ Static and Dynamic Balance Performance

Abstract The propose of the present research was to determine the static and dynamic balance performance of eleven year old young males and examine the effect of special balance trainings on balance performance. The sample of the research included 75 young males - 25 athletes, 25 sedentary and 25 control groups. At the beginning of the study, a balance developer was applied to athletes and sedentary group for two months (8 weeks) after the results of pre-test balance measurements were taken. At the end of the special training program, the balance development level was determined by post-test application. Research findings showed that balance development in special training program provided developments for athletes and sedentary groups compared with control groups (P<0.05). Finally, it was thought that special balance education program can improve athletes’ and sedentarys’ balance capability by participating at sports clubs’ substructure education and primary schools’ physical education lesson curriculums.
Successful bacteriophage treatment of infection involving cardiac implantable electronic device and aortic graft: a Trojan horse concept.

Vasileios Exarchos , Tamta Tkhilaishvili , Evgenij Potapov , Christoph Starck , Andrej Trampuz , and Felix Schoenrath * Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, German Heart Center Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Charité—Universit€atsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universit€at Berlin, Humboldt-Universit€at zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Berlin, Germany; Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies, Charité—Universit€atsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; and German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Defect engineered electroforming-free analog HfOx memristor and its application to the neural network.

The thin film growth conditions in a plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition for the (3.0 - 4.5) nm thick HfO2 film were optimized to use the film as the resistive switching element in a neuromorphic circuit. The film was intended to be used as a feasible synapse with analog-type conductance tuning capability. The 4.5 nm thick HfO2 films on both conventional TiN and new RuO2 bottom electrode required electroforming process for them to operate as a feasible resistive switching memory, which was the primary source of the undesirable characteristics as the synapse. Therefore, electroforming-free performance, was necessary, which could be accomplished by thinning the HfO2 film down to 3.0 nm. However, the device with only RuO2 bottom electrode offered the desired functionality without involving too high leakage or shorting problems, which are due to the recovery of the stoichiometric composition of the HfO2 near the RuO2 layer. In conjunction with the Ta top electrode, which provided the necessary oxygen vacancies to the HfO2 layer, the high functionality of the RuO2 as the scavenger of excessive incorporated oxygen vacancies, which appeared to be inevitable during the repeated switching operation, the Ta/3.0 nm HfO2/RuO2 provided a highly useful synaptic device component in the neuromorphic hardware system.
Atypical presentation of herpes simplex virus type 1 infection in paediatric burns patients in a large tertiary hospital, South Africa

Introduction Herpes simplex virus has been reported in the literature to commonly complicate burn wounds. However, there is paucity of such data in the South African setting. Case presentation Eight paediatric burns patients with ages ranging between 10 months and 5 years presented with a febrile maculopapular rash illness in a paediatric ward of a large South African tertiary hospital. The rash became vesicular in three cases, involving the limbs and face. Varicella was suspected. Management and outcome Medical records of suspected cases were reviewed. Blood, vesicular fluid and scab samples were collected. Electron microscopy of vesicular fluid revealed herpes virus particles. Laboratory testing confirmed herpes simplex virus type 1. Conclusion Herpes simplex virus type 1 infection can present atypically in burns patients.
Dimer D - diagnostyczny i rokowniczy marker żylnej choroby zakrzepowo-zatorowej

W zylnej chorobie zakrzepowo-zatorowej (VTE) stwierdza sie podwyzszenie stezenia dimerow D - koncowego produktu degradacji fibryny przez plazmine. Nie jest on markerem swoistym dla VTE, poniewaz jego zwiekszone stezenie wystepuje w wielu chorobach. Natomiast, ze wzgledu na duzą czulośc testu, prawidlowe stezenia dimerow D pozwalają wykluczyc rozpoznanie VTE i zatorowości plucnej u osob, u ktorych prawdopodobienstwo kliniczne tych rozpoznan jest male. W niedawnych publikacjach wskazuje sie, ze badanie stezenia dimerow D moze byc pomocne w kwalifikacji pacjentow do grup wysokiego lub niskiego ryzyka nawrotu VTE po przerwaniu leczenia antykoagulacyjnego. Dostepnych jest wiele testow sluzących do oznaczenia dimeru D, rozniących sie czulością i swoistością dla rozpoznania VTE. Glownym ograniczeniem przydatności klinicznej tego badania jest zmniejszenie swoistości testu w poszczegolnych grupach pacjentow i sytuacjach klinicznych, co dotyczy przede wszystkim osob starszych, chorych na nowotwory, pacjentow po zabiegach operacyjnych i po przebytej VTE oraz kobiet w ciązy i pologu.
Japanese Encephalitis Virus: Common Cause of Viral Encephalitis in Paediatric Age Group in Bellary, Karnataka, India

Background: A study was conducted in VIMS hospital at Bellary during the epidemic of August 2004 to July 2005. Objectives: To know the hospital based incidence of J.E and to study the age and sex pattern of the infection in the paediatric age group. Materials and Methods: 82 children admitted to the Paedi­ atric ward, VIMS, Bellary with clinical diagnosis of acute viral encephalitis, during the epidemic of August 2004 to July 2005 were studied. After pooling the samples, they were subjected to J.E. MAC ELISA. Results: Out of 82 patients tested by J.E. MAC ELISA, 19 (24%) were positive for J.E. and 12 (14.63%) were positive for flaviviral infection. CSF was positive in all 19 cases with 100% positivity. Serum was positive in 10 cases with 15.87% positivity. This indicates that there are significant number of J.E. cases in Bellary emphasising the rampant nature and stressing the measures to be taken to overwhelm this devastating disease. Conclusion: The hospital based incidence of J.E. was found to be significant in the area of the study. The paediatric age group, between 4to 6 years was found to be most predisposed to J.E. , probably because of low immunity in the age group. Male predominance was seen with male to female ratio of 1.42:1. Illiteracy, low socio economic status and living in unhygienic conditions near rice fields contributed to the high incidence of J.E. in and around Bellary. The serological results clearly establish the etiology. Isolation of JEV from specimens would have strengthened the diagnosis.
Wybrane zagadnienia dotyczące wpływu wysiłku fizycznego na organizm człowieka=Selected issues concerning the impact of physical exercise on the human organism

fizycznego na organizm czlowieka=Selected issues concerning the impact of physical exercise on the human organism. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. 2015;5(9):350-372. ISSN 2391-8306. DOI http://dx.doi. org/10.5281/zenodo.44392 http://ojs.ukw. edu.pl/index.php/johs/article/view/2015%3B5%2810%29%3A350-372 https://pbn.nauka. gov.pl/works/688676 Formerly Journal of Health Sciences. ISSN 1429-9623 / 2300-665X. Archives 2011–2014 http://journal.rsw. edu.pl/index.php/JHS/issue/archive
Age dependency of the tonal properties of left ventricular myocardium in normal subjects assessed by the gray level histogram of 2D echocardiograms

Quantitative analysis of two dimensional echocardiographic images by the assessment of the gray level distribution can provide objective information on the underlying structures. Since the process of aging at myocardial level is characterized by increase in collagen content and myocellular hypertrophy, this study was aimed to assess whether age affects the tonal properties of LV myocardium in a normal population. A significant positive relation was found between age and mean and age and entropy; a negative relation was observed for age and uniformity. Thus, the tonal properties of the myocardium assessed on conventional 2D echocardiograms change with age, being characterized by an increased overall brightness and a progressive lack of homogeneity, possibly ascribed to the normal histologic changes which occur with age.