Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
What do American nephologists think about dialysis modality selection? .

In the United States, 87.3% of the patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis are treated with hemodialysis (HD) and 12.7% with peritoneal dialysis (PD). This represents a greater use of HD than in many other nations. We mailed a survey questionnaire to members of the National Kidney Foundation Council on Dialysis to better understand the attitudes of American nephrologists toward dialysis modality decisions. We received responses from 240 of 507 nephrologists (47.3%). The respondents were heavily involved in clinical dialysis work. Results showed that decisions regarding modality selection were strongly based on patient preference (4.54 on a scale of 1 to 5), quality of life (4.18), morbidity (4.02), and mortality (3.90), whereas the least important factors reported were facility reimbursement (2.09) and physician reimbursement (1.98). When asked about the current use of modalities, hospital-based HD and full-care HD were believed to be overused (2.63 for each on a scale of 1 [vastly overused] to 5 [vastly underused]), whereas home HD (4.29), continuous ambulatory PD (3.71), and cycler PD (3.59) were underused. A hypothetical question about optimal modality distribution to maximize survival or cost-effectiveness showed that HD should constitute 71% or 66% of dialysis (with 11% or 14% in the form of home HD, respectively). PD use would increase between two- and threefold over current practices. Our results suggest that American nephrologists believe home therapies are underused. Because modality distribution is an important determinant of costs and possibly outcomes in patients with ESRD, there is an urgent need for further research in this area.
Effect of charge, topology and orientation of the electric field on the interaction of peptides with the α‐hemolysin pore

Nanopore analysis is an emerging technique of structural biology which employs nanopores, such as the α‐hemolysin pore, as a biosensor. A voltage applied across a membrane containing a nanopore generates a current, which is partially blocked when a molecule interacts with the pore. The magnitude (I) and the duration (T) of the current blockade provide an event signature for that molecule. Two peptides, CY12(+)T1 and CY12(−)T1 with net charges + 2 and − 2, respectively, were analysed using different applied voltages and all four possible orientations of the electrodes and pore. The four orientations were vestibule downstream (VD), vestibule upstream (VU), stem downstream (SD) and stem upstream (SU) where vestibule and stem refer to the side of the pore on which the peptide was placed and downstream and upstream refer to the application of a positive or negative electrophoretic force, respectively. For CY12(+)T1, the effect of voltage on the event duration was consistent with translocation in the VD and SD configurations, but only intercalation events were observed in the VU and SU configurations. For CY12(−)T1, translocations were only observed in the VD and VU configurations. The results are interpreted in terms of two energy barriers on either side of the lumen of the pore. The difference in height of the barriers determines the preferred direction of exit. Electroosmotic flow and current rectification due to the pore as well as the dipole moment and charge of the peptide also play significant roles. Thus, factors other than simple electrophoresis are important for determining the interaction of small peptides with the pore. Copyright © 2011 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pregnancy-associated endometrial alpha 2-globulin, the major secretory protein of the luteal phase and first trimester pregnancy endometrium, is not glycosylated prolactin but related to beta-lactoglobulins.

We previously reported that the major secretory protein of the endometrium during the first trimester of pregnancy, pregnancy-associated endometrial alpha 2-globulin (alpha 2-PEG), also represented the major secretory protein during the mid- to late luteal phase. Recently, the major secretory endometrial protein during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle was identified as glycosylated PRL (G-PRL). Although certain properties of alpha 2-PEG resemble G-PRL, in this study G-PRL was demonstrated to be immunochemically distinct from alpha 2-PEG, and deglycosylation of alpha 2-PEG produced a protein unrelated to PRL. The sequence of the 38 N-terminal amnio acid residues of alpha 2-PEG was determined by a gas phase sequenator. A sequence of Met-Asp-Ileu-Pro-Gln-Thr-Lys-Gln-Asp-Leu-Glu-Leu-Pro-Lys-Leu-Ala-G ly-Lys-Trp- His-Ser-Met-Ala-Met-Ala-Thr-Asn-? -Ileu-Ser-Leu-Met-Ala-Thr-Leu-Lys -Ala-Pro was obtained which was unique and unrelated to that of PRL. However, sequence homology between alpha 2-PEG and the major milk whey protein beta-lactoglobulin of the horse was demonstrated. The data indicate that alpha 2-PEG is a unique protein and is a human homolog of the beta-lactoglobulin family.
Pseudo Label based Unsupervised Deep Discriminative Hashing for Image Retrieval

Hashing methods play an important role in large scale image retrieval. Traditional hashing methods use hand-crafted features to learn hash functions, which can not capture the high level semantic information. Deep hashing algorithms use deep neural networks to learn feature representation and hash functions simultaneously. Most of these algorithms exploit supervised information to train the deep network. However, supervised information is expensive to obtain. In this paper, we propose a pseudo label based unsupervised deep discriminative hashing algorithm. First, we cluster images via K-means and the cluster labels are treated as pseudo labels. Then we train a deep hashing network with pseudo labels by minimizing the classification loss and quantization loss. Experiments on two datasets demonstrate that our unsupervised deep discriminative hashing method outperforms the state-of-art unsupervised hashing methods.
Myocardial Perfusion and Adrenergic Innervation in Patients with RBBB and LAFB:

The aim of this study was to investigate myocardial perfusion and adrenergic innervation in patients with intraventricular conduction disturbances and to detect any changes caused by alteration of the ventricular activation sequence as a result of right ventricular apical pacing. We studied 15 patients with right bundle branch block (RBBB) and left anterior fascicular block (LAFB), while 15 healthy individuals served as controls. All patients underwent planar and single‐photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial imaging after intravenous infusion of 5mCi 123I‐metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I‐MIBG) and a SPECT thallium201 myocardial perfusion study before and 3 months after pacemaker implantation. The heart to mediastinum ratio was calculated during the 123I‐MIBG study in order to assess the global cardiac sympathetic activity and was significantly smaller in patients than in controls (P < 0.001). Patients with RBBB and LAFB revealed regional adrenergic innervation defects, mostly in the inferior and posterior walls. After a medium‐term pacing period, a redistribution of 123I‐MIBG uptake was detected, with aggravation of adrenergic innervation defects in the apical and posterior walls and amelioration in septal and anterior walls. Five patients showed perfusion defects that remained unchanged after pacing. Two others displayed mild myocardial perfusion defects that did not exist before pacing. In conclusion, patients with RBBB and LAFB reveal global and regional disturbances of myocardial adrenergic innervation, which shows redistribution as a result of the altered propagation of the ventricular electrical activation. To a smaller degree these patients reveal myocardial perfusion disturbances in which pacing has a limited medium‐term effect. (PACE 2003; 26:1202–1207)
Association of the Endosomal Sorting Complex ESCRT-II with the Vps20 Subunit of ESCRT-III Generates a Curvature-sensitive Complex Capable of Nucleating ESCRT-III Filaments*

Background: The ESCRT (endosomal sorting complex required for transport) machinery governs the formation of multivesicular endosomes. Results: A complex formed by ESCRT-II and Vps20 directs ESCRT-III polymerization specifically to membranes of elevated curvature. Conclusion: Curvature sensing by components of the ESCRT machinery spatially restricts the scission activity of ESCRT-III. Significance: These findings highlight a new regulatory mechanism that controls ESCRT function. The scission of membranes necessary for vesicle biogenesis and cytokinesis is mediated by cytoplasmic proteins, which include members of the ESCRT (endosomal sorting complex required for transport) machinery. During the formation of intralumenal vesicles that bud into multivesicular endosomes, the ESCRT-II complex initiates polymerization of ESCRT-III subunits essential for membrane fission. However, mechanisms underlying the spatial and temporal regulation of this process remain unclear. Here, we show that purified ESCRT-II binds to the ESCRT-III subunit Vps20 on chemically defined membranes in a curvature-dependent manner. Using a combination of liposome co-flotation assays, fluorescence-based liposome interaction studies, and high-resolution atomic force microscopy, we found that the interaction between ESCRT-II and Vps20 decreases the affinity of ESCRT-II for flat lipid bilayers. We additionally demonstrate that ESCRT-II and Vps20 nucleate flexible filaments of Vps32 that polymerize specifically along highly curved membranes as a single string of monomers. Strikingly, Vps32 filaments are shown to modulate membrane dynamics in vitro, a prerequisite for membrane scission events in cells. We propose that a curvature-dependent assembly pathway provides the spatial regulation of ESCRT-III to fuse juxtaposed bilayers of elevated curvature.
The Impact of a Military Air Disaster on The Health of Assistance Workers: A Prospective Study

The worst peacetime disaster in United States Army history occurred on December 12, 1985 in Gander, Newfoundland. A charter airline carrying 248 soldiers home from peacekeeping duties in the Sinai Desert crashed after a refueling stop, killing all on board. After the crash, Army family assistance workers were appointed to help the surviving family members of each dead soldier. While substantial attention has been paid to the impact of sudden disasters on survivors and bereaved relatives, little is known about the health risks to those who perform helper roles. This study aimed to: a) identify the major stress areas for disaster family assistance workers; b) examine the relation between degree of exposure to these stressors and health; and c) locate risk factors, or resistance resources that might modulate any ill effects of exposure. A survey instrument assessed duration and intensity of family-helping activities and psychological well-being, psychiatric symptoms, major illness indicators, and social and personality variables at 6 months after the crash and again at the 1-year point for 131 family assistance officers. Results indicate a dose-response effect between exposure measured at time 1 and well-being, symptoms, and illness at time 2. Analysis of covariance findings also show that social supports (work supervisors, family, and friends) modulate the effects of exposure on symptoms and well-being. Social supports and the personality style of hardiness (or dispositional resilience) interact to modulate the effects of exposure on illness. These results demonstrate: a) a delayed negative impact of helper stress on family assistance workers, and b) a protective function of social supports and personality hardiness. Further research in this area should thus consider the potential influence of social/situational variables and personality dispositions in coping with disaster helper stress.
On the ballistic transport in nanometer-scaled DG MOSFETs

The scattering effects are studied in nanometer-scaled double-gate MOSFET using Monte Carlo simulation. The nonequilibrium transport in the channel is analyzed with the help of the spectroscopy of the number of scatterings experienced by electrons. We show that the number of ballistic electrons at the drain-end, even in terms of flux, is not the only relevant characteristic of ballistic transport. Then, the drive current in the 15-nm-long channel transistor generations should be very close to the value obtained in the ballistic limit even if all electrons are not ballistic. Additionally, most back-scattering events, which deteriorate the on current, take place in the first half of the channel and, in particular, in the first low field region. However, the contribution of the second half of the channel cannot be considered as negligible in any studied case i.e., for a channel length below 25 nm. Furthermore, the contribution of the second half of the channel tends to be more important as the channel length is reduced. So, in ultrashort-channel transistors, it becomes very difficult to extract a region of the channel, which itself determine the drive current I/sub on/.
Tumor necrosis factor alpha blockade reduces the synovial cell infiltrate early after initiation of treatment, but apparently not by induction of apoptosis in synovial tissue.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether treatment with the chimeric anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha antibody infliximab could reduce cellularity by the induction of apoptosis in synovial tissue. METHODS Twenty-four rheumatoid arthritis patients with active disease were randomized to receive either infliximab (3 mg/kg) (n = 12) or placebo (n = 12) intravenously. All patients were subjected to arthroscopic synovial biopsy directly before initiation of treatment. A second arthroscopic synovial biopsy of the same index joint was performed 48 hours after the first arthroscopy. After the second arthroscopy, the patients who had initially received placebo were also treated with infliximab in an extension study. A third arthroscopy was performed in all patients on day 28. Immunohistologic analysis was performed to characterize the cell infiltrate. In situ detection of apoptotic cells was performed by TUNEL assay and electron microscopy. RESULTS At 48 hours after initiation of infliximab treatment, there was a significant reduction in the number of intimal macrophages; this was not observed in the placebo group. The number of sublining macrophages, T cells, and plasma cells also tended to be decreased in infliximab-treated patients, but not in the placebo group. Of interest, we did not detect any increase in the number of apoptotic cells after infliximab treatment. CONCLUSION Infliximab therapy may reduce the number of inflammatory cells in rheumatoid synovial tissue as soon as 48 hours after initiation of treatment, but apparently not by induction of apoptosis. Conceivably, decreased cell infiltration primarily results from early inhibition of cell migration.
Thyroid hypokalemic periodic paralysis

Abstract An unusual presentation of thyrotoxicosis resulting in hypokalemic periodic paralysis is reported here. The patients with this disorder have very low serum potassium levels during the active phase of the disease. Very often, several months pass before the diagnosis is made. Once recognized and the thyrotoxicosis is treated, the patient does well.
A new, broad‐spectrum azole antifungal: posaconazole – mechanisms of action and resistance, spectrum of activity

Posaconazole, a new triazole antifungal, exerts principally the same mechanism of action as the other azole derivatives, i.e. it inhibits the ergosterol production by binding and inhibiting the lanosterol‐14α‐demethylase which is present in almost all fungi except Pneumocystis and Pythium. Posaconazole has an exquisitely high affinity to this target. Since posaconazole has a chemical structure different from fluconazole and voriconazole, it can interact with an additional domain of the target so that it may inhibit even mutated strains resistant to fluconazole and voriconazole. In addition posaconazole is a bad substrate for efflux pumps in fungi, so it can stay active when other azoles are already inactive. Furthermore, the spectrum of posaconazole is rather large including also some zygomycetes resistant to other azoles. In conclusion, posaconazole is actually the most potent azole derivative used in medicine. A combination of posaconazole with other groups of antifungals may have a favourable effect. There are several methods to test the in vitro activities of posaconazole including the E‐test, though interpretive breakpoints are still lacking.
Effects of Angiotensin II Receptor Blockade with Valsartan on Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines in Patients with Essential Hypertension

Chronic inflammation is common in hypertension and acts as an independent determinant of arterial blood pressure. Hypertensive patients are reported to have high circulating levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Recently, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) have been shown to possess benefits in addition to their ability to lower blood pressure, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties within the vasculature. We evaluated the effects of the angiotensin II receptor blocker, valsartan, on these inflammatory cytokines. Thirty-nine patients with essential hypertension participated. These subjects received valsartan, 40 to 80 mg/day. Serum TNF-α, IL-6, CRP, and serum amyloid A (SAA) were measured before and after 3 months of treatment with valsartan. Valsartan significantly decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure (160 ± 16/92 ± 11 mm Hg to 147 ± 21/84 ± 11 mm Hg, P = 0.001/P = 0.001, respectively). Serum TNF-α (9.1 ± 8.6 pg/mL to 6.1 ± 1.0 pg/mL, P = 0.006) and IL-6 (9.3 ± 1.7 pg/mL to 8.9 ± 1.4 pg/mL, P = 0.005) were significantly reduced after treatment with valsartan. However, C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A did not change. The angiotensin II receptor blocker, valsartan, may inhibit the development of atherosclerosis by lowering serum pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Lower uterine blood supply: extrauterine anastomotic system and its application in surgical devascularization techniques

Background. To establish the arterial components that determine lower uterine blood supply, varieties and anastomoses that result in complications during selective devascularization procedures. Methods. Thirty‐nine female cadaveric pelvises with latex repletion in pelvic arteries were used. All the material was studied through direct dissection, and dissection enlarged with a 90‐diopter magnifying glass, establishing origin, course, and anastomoses of the genital arteries. Axial calibers of the uterine and the main vaginal arteries were compared. An anatomical and a historical compilation of the uterine artery was made, with special reference to anastomotic areas in the lower sector. Results. Three main pedicles were determined in the lower uterine blood supply: a cephalic one constituted by the uterine artery, a medial one made up by the cervical artery, and a distal one formed by the vaginal arteries. Different types of anastomoses were distinguished among the upper, middle, and lower pedicles. All types of anastomoses displayed similar features and were interconnected along the isthmic‐vaginal borders, or as an intramural anastomotic network. In many cases, a transmedial interuterine anastomosis of axial caliber equivalent to the uterine artery itself could be observed. The bibliography consulted provided neither detailed descriptions of the cervical‐segmental arterial system nor of the vaginal system or its anastomoses. In two cases, images were found in books that show this anastomotic system without further explanation. Conclusion. A not very well known anastomotic system was described between uterine and vaginal arteries. This system explains some reported failures, complications, and hemodynamic changes after uterine devascularization procedures.
The assessment of relations between main histologic type of ovarian cancer and some risk and prognostic factors.

UNLABELLED The authors have highlighted some aspects regarding the domestic risk and prognostic factors for different types of ovarian cancer. MATERIAL AND METHOD The study has included 249 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. RESULTS The assessment of age group distribution of patients with serous carcinoma (150 cases) underlying that the age group of 60-69 years was more frequent compared with the other age groups (OR = 0.20; IC 95% = 0.12-0.33; p < 0.01 x 10(-5)) and the mean of age was 61 years, 8 months, 19 days (DS = 11 years, 11 months, 22 days). The most frequent risk factor for serous type was the ovulation lifetime over 30 years (78.66%); followed by early menarche (under 12 years) (13.33%); smoking (12%); late menopause (over 52 years) (10%) and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) (2.67%), compared with mucinous carcinoma for which the most frequent was the ovulation lifetime over 30 years (65.21%); followed by early menarche (under 12 years) (34.78%); late menopause (over 52 years) (26.08%) and smoking (17.39%). CONCLUSIONS The ovulation lifetime over 30 years was identified as the main risk factor for both histological types, but it was significant more frequent among women with serous type. Smoking was more frequent among those who had mucinous carcinoma compared with serous type. No significant differences were identified among women with both histological types regarding the age at first menstrual bleeding and parity.
Elevated CO2 plus chronic warming reduce nitrogen uptake and levels or activities of nitrogen-uptake and -assimilatory proteins in tomato roots.

Atmospheric CO2 enrichment is expected to often benefit plant growth, despite causing global warming and nitrogen (N) dilution in plants. Most plants primarily procure N as inorganic nitrate (NO3- ) or ammonium (NH4+ ), using membrane-localized transport proteins in roots, which are key targets for improving N use. Although interactive effects of elevated CO2 , chronic warming and N form on N relations are expected, these have not been studied. In this study, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants were grown at two levels of CO2 (400 or 700 ppm) and two temperature regimes (30 or 37°C), with NO3- or NH4+ as the N source. Elevated CO2 plus chronic warming severely inhibited plant growth, regardless of N form, while individually they had smaller effects on growth. Although %N in roots was similar among all treatments, elevated CO2 plus warming decreased (1) N-uptake rate by roots, (2) total protein concentration in roots, indicating an inhibition of N assimilation and (3) shoot %N, indicating a potential inhibition of N translocation from roots to shoots. Under elevated CO2 plus warming, reduced NO3- -uptake rate per g root was correlated with a decrease in the concentration of NO3- -uptake proteins per g root, reduced NH4+ uptake was correlated with decreased activity of NH4+ -uptake proteins and reduced N assimilation was correlated with decreased concentration of N-assimilatory proteins. These results indicate that elevated CO2 and chronic warming can act synergistically to decrease plant N uptake and assimilation; hence, future global warming may decrease both plant growth and food quality (%N).