Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Apoptotic Genes are Differentially Expressed in Aged Gingival Tissue

Cellular and molecular changes of the periodontium associated with a higher prevalence of oral diseases (e.g., chronic periodontitis) in aged populations have received little attention. Since impaired apoptosis during aging appears to be related to chronic inflammatory disorders, we hypothesized that the expression of genes associated with apoptotic processes are altered in aged healthy and periodontitis-affected gingival tissue. Ontology analysis of 88 genes related to apoptotic pathways was performed in gingival biopsies of healthy and periodontitis sites from young, adult, and aged non-human primates (Macaca mulatta), using the GeneChip® Rhesus Macaque Genome Array. Lower expression of anti-apoptotic and higher expression of pro-apoptotic genes were associated with healthy gingival tissue from young compared with aged animals. Few differences in gene expression were observed in healthy gingival tissue between adult and aged animals. Comparison between healthy and periodontitis gingival tissues showed that the up- or down-regulated apoptotic genes in diseased gingival tissue are different in adults compared with aged animals. These results suggest that apoptotic events normally occurring in gingival tissues could be reduced in aging,and unique aspects of apoptotic pathways are potentially involved in the pathophysiology of perio-dontal disease in adult vs. aged gingival tissues.
Short-term Teriparatide Delivery and Osseointegration: a Clinical Feasibility Study

Teriparatide is an anabolic osteoporosis therapeutic agent that can improve healing after fractures and periodontal surgeries. Clinical studies investigating the effects of teriparatide on the osseointegration of titanium implants have not been performed. We conducted an open-label randomized controlled feasibility study and included 24 individuals with edentulous lower jaws. The participants received 2 study implants in the mandible during interforaminal dental implant surgery. They were randomly assigned to receive either 20 µg of teriparatide once daily for 28 days or no treatment. Study implants were retrieved from 23 participants after 9 weeks and were subjected to histomorphometric analyses. Endpoints were new bone-volume-per-tissue-volume (NBV/TV) and new bone-to-implant-contact (NBIC). We report here that median values of NBV/TV in the control and the teriparatide groups were 15.4% vs. 17.6% in the periosteal compartment, 11.3% vs. 16.5% in the cortical compartment, and 7.3% vs. 12.0% in the medullary compartment, respectively. NBIC median values in the control and the teriparatide groups were 3.3% vs. 4.1% in the periosteal compartment, 5.0% vs. 4.4% in the cortical compartment, and 0.3% vs. 1.4% in the medullary compartment, respectively. The results provide the first histological data on the osseointegration of titanium study implants in individuals treated with teriparatide. ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00089674. Abbreviations: NBV/ TV, new bone-volume per tissue volume; NBIC, new bone-to-implant contact; BV/TV, bone-volume per tissue volume; BIC, bone-to-implant contact; ROI, region of interest.
Carbodiimide Cross-linking Inactivates Soluble and Matrix-bound MMPs, in vitro

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) cause collagen degradation in hybrid layers created by dentin adhesives. This in vitro study evaluated the feasibility of using a cross-linking agent, 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC), to inactivate soluble rhMMP-9, as an example of dentin MMPs, and matrix-bound dentin proteases. The inhibitory effects of 5 EDC concentrations (0.01-0.3 M) and 5 incubation times (1-30 min) on soluble rhMMP-9 were screened with an MMP assay kit. The same EDC concentrations were used to evaluate their inhibitory effects on endogenous proteinases from completely demineralized dentin beams that were incubated in simulated body fluid for 30 days. Decreases in modulus of elasticity (E) and dry mass of the beams, and increases in hydroxyproline content of hydrolysates derived from the incubation medium were used as indirect measures of matrix collagen hydrolysis. All EDC concentrations and pre-treatment times inactivated MMP-9 by 98% to 100% (p < 0.05) compared with non-cross-linked controls. Dentin beams incubated in 0.3 M EDC showed only a 9% decrease in E (45% decrease in control), a 3.6% to 5% loss of dry mass (18% loss in control), and significantly less solubilized hydroxyproline when compared with the control without EDC cross-linking (p < 0.05). It is concluded that EDC application for 1 min may be a clinically relevant and effective means for inactivating soluble rhMMP-9 and matrix-bound dentin proteinases if further studies demonstrate that EDC is not toxic to pulpal tissues.
MicroRNAs in an Oral Cancer Context – from Basic Biology to Clinical Utility

Oral cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed malignancies worldwide. Its dismal five-year survival rate of ~50% has barely changed for decades. A better understanding of the molecular basis of tumorigenesis – with particular emphasis on disease initiation and progression – is needed to improve clinical outcomes, since this will facilitate the development of drugs and management strategies based on the specific genetic changes underpinning disease behaviors. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of short non-coding RNAs that down-regulate gene expression, have been demonstrated to play essential roles in human cancers. miRNA deregulation has been observed in many tumor types and is implicated in oncogenic cell processes, including proliferation, survival, apoptosis, metastasis, and chemoresistance. In addition, miRNA alterations have been associated with specific clinical phenotypes such as disease progression or recurrence, development of metastases, and post-operative survival. Recent studies have explored the utility of miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic tools and as potential therapeutic targets. Herein, we discuss miRNA biology and provide a summary of the key findings on the role of miRNAs in oral malignancies.
Early Restenosis After Carotid Endarterectomy with Vein Patch Angioplasty

Restenosis of the carotid artery after endarterectomy is of major concern, for it may increase the risk of cerebrovascular accidents to preoperative levels. The records of 173 consecutive carotid endarterectomy (CEA) cases were reviewed retrospectively, to assess the role of vein patch angioplasty in reducing the incidence of restenosis of the carotid artery after endarterectomy. All patients had patch angioplasty during CEA; 154 operations were done with autogenous vein patch and 19 with synthetic patches. One patient had postoperative carotid thrombosis. Evaluation of 134 carotid arteries with duplex ultrasonography at four to eight weeks postoperatively showed that 8 patients (6%) had recurrent stenosis of more than 40%. Six of these stenoses resolved by one year and one had improved from grade III to grade I stenosis. Of 107 patients followed up at one year, 7 (6.5%) had restenosis, all between 40-60%. In view of the low rate of recurrent stenosis and postoperative thrombosis, similar to that reported by other authors, the authors conclude that vein patch angioplasty should be done during CEA. It also seems that most of the early postoperative (four to eight weeks) duplex abnormalities will resolve over time and do not represent recurrent stenosis.
HIV and the Ramifications for Food Security and Child Health in Affected Communities

The first cases of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), were recognized in 1981. Today, an estimated 39 million people worldwide are infected with the virus. Sixty-four percent of these individuals currently live in the poverty of sub-Saharan Africa, but the pandemic is now spreading fastest in the largest nations of Asia. A state of food security is said to exist when all people, at all times, have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. A concern for food insecurity arose in the HIV/AIDS pandemic, based on the well-known principles of the interaction of malnutrition and infection; more poorly nourished individuals are more severely affected by infectious pathogens while the ravages of infection tend to deplete the nutritional reserves. The social and clinical consequences of HIV/AIDS endanger access to food in areas already stressed by poverty and environmental deterioration. Interventions related to agricultural productivity, income generation and food assistance, must each be crafted and adapted within the local, community contexts, and recognized as necessary to mitigate the adverse effect of HIV/AIDS on food security. UNICEF has made caring, defined as the provision in the household and the community of time, attention, and support to meet the physical, mental, and social needs of the growing child and other household members, into one of the components of its efforts to promote child survival. Its domain includes care for women, breastfeeding and child feeding practices, psychosocial care, food preparation, hygiene practices, and household health practices. The positive deviance approach, that of identifying household caring behaviors that have the best growth, health and development outcomes in children, is now being applied in the context of HIV-positive children. Stigma is a pervasive factor, which tends to isolate households affected with HIV-positive members, and complicates the social context in which food security and care-related interventions can be delivered. Outstanding gaps in our knowledge of food security–HIV/AIDS relationships have been identified. The research questions include the true effectiveness of food assistance to mitigate the effects of HIV and the interaction of food security status with the efficacy and safety of antiretroviral therapy. However, investigation is somewhat of a luxury within the allocation of scarce financial resources, placing a premium on gathering and codifying useful pragmatic experience for mitigating interventions from the valuable experience currently being gathered on the ground by field workers and communities themselves.
Remineralization Models

During the ICNARA 2 conference, a workshop was held on remineralization models. The group considered the role of remineralization models, whether there was one ideal in situ model design, what essential features should be incorporated into an in situ model, other alternative models, and what new methods for measuring remineralization were on the horizon. This paper summarizes the discussion. In situ and other caries models can be used as a surrogate for caries clinical trials but only when data exist to validate the model. In situ model design should be flexible to allow for investigation of different aspects of the caries process; however, several essential features were identified that should be incorporated into the study design. A range of other caries models was discussed, including the study of non-cavitated lesions, lesions post-orthodontic therapy, plaque retention models to form more standardized lesions, and the study of root caries lesions. Numerous new methods for quantifying remineralization were discussed, but it was considered that these require validation before they can be used in clinical trials.
Interpretation of Motion Trajectories using Focus of Expansion

The focus of expansion (FOE) of a group of motion trajectories is defined to be a point in the image plane at which the trajectories intersect when they are extended. The FOE observed over a time sequence defines the locus of the FOE. The authors present an analytical approach for the study of dynamic events as they project on the image plane by analyzing the locus of the FOE. They find that the locus of the FOE can be used to make qualitative assertions regarding the type of motion. Interesting behavior of the locus of the FOE for various types of motion is observed. The cases include a single point and a horizontal, a vertical, and a sloped straight line. It was also possible to determine whether the object has approaching or receding motion or when the object changes its direction of motion. This inference can be used in qualitative computer vision. >
Evc Regulates a Symmetrical Response to Shh Signaling in Molar Development

Tooth morphogenesis involves patterning through the activity of epithelial signaling centers that, among other molecules, secrete Sonic hedgehog (Shh). While it is known that Shh responding cells need intact primary cilia for signal transduction, the roles of individual cilia components for tooth morphogenesis are poorly understood. The clinical features of individuals with Ellis-van Creveld syndrome include various dental anomalies, and we show here that absence of the cilial protein Evc in mice causes various hypo- and hyperplasia defects during molar development. During first molar development, the response to Shh signaling is progressively lost in Evc-deficient embryos and, unexpectedly, the response consistently disappears in a buccal to lingual direction. The important role of Evc for establishing the buccal-lingual axis of the developing first molar is also supported by a displaced activity of the Wnt pathway in Evc mutants. The observed growth abnormalities eventually manifest in first molar microdontia, disruption of molar segmentation and symmetry, root fusions, and delayed differentiation. Analysis of our data indicates that both spatially and temporally disrupted activities of the Shh pathway are the primary cause for the variable dental anomalies seen in patients with Ellis-van Creveld syndrome or Weyers acrodental dysostosis.
Transfer-Printed PEDOT:PSS Electrodes Using Mild Acids for High Conductivity and Improved Stability with Application to Flexible Organic Solar Cells.

UNLABELLED Highly conductive, flexible, and transparent electrodes (FTEs) of PEDOT PSS films on plastic substrates have been achieved using strong acid treatments. However, it is rare to realize a performance attenuation of PEDOT PSS FTEs on plastic substrates and flexible optoelectronic devices because of strong acid residues in the PEDOT PSS matrix. Herein, we develop a feasible transfer-printing technique using mild acids. Because of a mild and weak property of these acids and less acid residues in PEDOT PSS matrix, the transferred PEDOT PSS FTEs exhibited a significant enhancement in stability, conductivity (3500 S cm(-1)), transparency, and mechanical flexibility on plastic substrates. Flexible organic solar cells with the FTEs also showed a remarkable enhancement in power conversion efficiency and stability in the ambient atmosphere. It is expected that the novel transfer-printing technique for making PEDOT PSS FTEs is also useful in many other types of flexible optoelectronic devices.
A New Classification (Grading System) of Debridement in Diabetic Lower Limbs – an Improvization and Standardization in Practice of Diabetic Lower Limb Salvage Around the World

Debridement is one of the most common and also a most underestimated surgical procedure performed by surgeons. For specialist like Podiatric surgeons and qualified wound care nurses, debridement of diabetic foot wounds has been an essential day to day common surgical practice. Inspite of being such a common procedure, there is no classification of debridement when it comes to diabetic limb salvage practice till date. The word debridement is used loosely and equally for all diabetic foot lesions without specification. The author, being one of the few handful specialist podiatric surgeons in India, proposes a new simple classification [grading system] for surgical debridement of diabetic lower limb wounds which could be used in day to day practice and which will help in standardizing the practice of diabetic lower limb salvage in developed, developing and underdeveloped countries and thus can form a language of medical communication in field of diabetic limb salvage. There is currently an urgent need for newer concepts, standardization and recent advances in diabetic foot practice in developing countries where this speciality is neglected. This new grading system is one such novel step by the author towards improvisation of diabetic foot practice.
A Non-Invasive Method for Estimating Cardiopulmonary Variables Using Breath-by-Breath Injection of Two Tracer Gases

Conventional methods for estimating cardiopulmonary variables usually require complex gas analyzers and the active co-operation of the patient. Therefore, they are not compatible with the crowded environment of the intensive care unit (ICU) or operating theatre, where patient co-operation is typically impossible. However, it is these patients that would benefit the most from accurate estimation of cardiopulmonary variables, because of their critical condition. This paper describes the results of a collaborative development between an anesthesiologists and biomedical engineers to create a compact and non-invasive system for the measurement of cardiopulmonary variables such as lung volume, airway dead space volume, and pulmonary blood flow. In contrast with conventional methods, the compact apparatus and non-invasive nature of the proposed method allow it to be used in the ICU, as well as in general clinical settings. We propose the use of a non-invasive method, in which tracer gases are injected into the patient's inspired breath, and the concentration of the tracer gases is subsequently measured. A novel breath-by-breath tidal ventilation model is then used to estimate the value of a patient's cardiopulmonary variables. Experimental results from an artificial lung demonstrate minimal error in the estimation of known parameters using the proposed method. Results from analysis of a cohort of 20 healthy volunteers (within the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust) show that the values of estimated cardiopulmonary variables from these subjects lies within the expected ranges. Advantages of this method are that it is non-invasive, compact, portable, and can perform analysis in real time with less than 1 min of acquired respiratory data.
STIM1 and SLC24A4 Are Critical for Enamel Maturation

Dental enamel formation depends upon the transcellular transport of Ca2+ by ameloblasts, but little is known about the molecular mechanism, or even if the same process is operative during the secretory and maturation stages of amelogenesis. Identifying mutations in genes involved in Ca2+ homeostasis that cause inherited enamel defects can provide insights into the molecular participants and potential mechanisms of Ca2+ handling by ameloblasts. Stromal Interaction Molecule 1 (STIM1) is an ER transmembrane protein that activates membrane-specific Ca2+ influx in response to the depletion of ER Ca2+ stores. Solute carrier family 24, member 4 (SLC24A4), is a Na+/K+/Ca2+ transporter that exchanges intracellular Ca2+ and K+ for extracellular Na+. We identified a proband with syndromic hypomaturation enamel defects caused by a homozygous C to T transition (g.232598C>T c.1276C>T p.Arg426Cys) in STIM1, and a proband with isolated hypomaturation enamel defects caused by a homozygous C to T transition (g.124552C>T; c.437C>T; p.Ala146Val) in SLC24A4. Immunohistochemistry of developing mouse molars and incisors showed positive STIM1 and SLC24A4 signal specifically in maturation-stage ameloblasts. We conclude that enamel maturation is dependent upon STIM1 and SLC24A4 function, and that there are important differences in the Ca2+ transcellular transport systems used by secretory- and maturation-stage ameloblasts.
Real-time global motion estimation for video stabilization

Digital video stabilization is a cost-effective way to reduce the effect of camera shake in handheld video cameras. We propose several enhancements for video stabilization based on integral projection matching,1 which is a simple and efficient global motion estimation technique for translational motion. One-dimensional intensity projections along the horizontal and vertical axes provide a signature of the image. Global motion estimation aims at finding the largest similarity between shifted intensity projections between consecutive frames. The obtained shifts provide information about the global inter-frame motion. Relying upon the estimated global motion an output frame of reduced size is determined deploying motion smoothing. We propose several enhancements of prior works to improve the stabilization performance and to reduce computational complexity and memory requirements. The main enhancement is a partitioning of the projection intensities to better cope with in-scene motion. Logarithmic search is deployed to seek for a minimum matching error for selected partitions in two subsequent frames. Furthermore we propose a novel motion smoothing approach we call center-attracted motion damping. We evaluate the performance of the enhancements under various imaging conditions using real video sequences as well as synthetic video sequences with provided ground-truth motion. The stabilization accuracy is sufficient under most imaging conditions so that the effect of camera shake is eliminated or significantly reduced in the stabilized video.
Regulation and standardization of data protection in cloud computing

Standards are often considered as an alternative form of regulation to legislative rule setting. However, standards also complement legislative acts, supporting their effective implementation and providing precise definitions for sometimes vague legal concepts. As we demonstrate, standards are not mere technical regulations but relate to sensitive political issues. The genesis and contents of ISO/IEC 27018 illustrate the interaction between both forms of regulation in the case of data protection in cloud computing. While the standard has been written with intensive consideration of the legal framework, we argue that the standard could reciprocally influence legal rule-making in the same domain.
Evaluating the effect of preoperative oral gabapentin on postoperative pain in patients receiving spinal anaesthesia for lower limb surgery

Abstract Background: Gabapentin has been used successfully as a non-opioid analgesic adjuvant for postoperative pain management. We hypothesised that gabapentin might be a useful adjuvant for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing lower extremity surgery under subarachnoid block. Method: Ninety male patients undergoing lower extremity surgery under subarachnoid block were randomly divided into three groups. Group I (n = 30) patients received oral gabapentin 1 200 mg one hour prior to surgery. Group II (n = 30) patients received oral gabapentin 600 mg one hour prior to surgery. Group III (n = 30) patients received an oral placebo one hour prior to surgery. Lumbar puncture was done with 23G Quincke's spinal needle and 2.5 mL of 0.5% heavy bupivacaine was administered intrathecally. Patients were monitored at 0, 1, 3, 5, 8, 12 and 24 hours for assessment of pain and side effects. Patients having pain scores > 5 received rescue analgesia in the form of intravenous tramadol 0.5 mg.kg−1. If the pain score persisted at > 5 after ten minutes, 0.25 mg.kg−1 tramadol was repeated. Results: Pain scores at zero hour were statistically significantly lower in patients receiving 1 200 mg of gabapentin (group I) when compared with the other two groups. The total rescue analgesia (tramadol) requirement over the study period was also at the minimum in patients receiving 1 200 mg of gabapentin as compared to patients receiving 600 mg of gabapentin or placebo. However, sedation scores were significantly higher in patients receiving gabapentin 1 200 mg or 600 mg than placebo. Conclusion: Preoperative gabapentin, when administered one hour prior to surgery in a dose of 1 200 mg, decreases postoperative pain scores at zero hour and the rescue analgesia requirement signifi cantly over a period of 24 hours in patients undergoing lower limb surgery under spinal anaesthesia.