Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Transfusion on Gastrointestinal Anastomotic Wound Healing and Leukocyte Function in Rats

Background: This study was done to investigate the effects of blood transfusion on gastrointestinal anastomotic wound healing and leukocyte function. Methods: Closed-colony male Wistar rats were divided into five groups in a group-mixed fashion and underwent laparotomy (the CONT and WB groups) or gastrectomy and gastroduodenostomy (the GAST, GAST/WB and GAST/LDRWB groups). Immediately, they received 3 ml of saline (the CONT and GAST groups) or blood from Wistar donors (the WB and GAST/WB groups, whole blood; the GAST/LDRWB group, a transfusion of irradiated and leukocyte-depleted whole blood). The animals were killed 7 days after surgery. Results: The GAST/WB group had a higher incidence of anastomotic abscess, a lower level of factor XIII and a lower maximum breaking strength than the GAST group. Gastrectomy decreased L-DCL (luminol-dependent chemiluminescence) more than whole-blood transfusion. In the GAST/WB group, L-DCL was severely reduced, while in the GAST/LDRWB group it was roughly equivalent to the level in the GAST group. Conclusions: Whole-blood transfusion increased the incidence of anastomotic abscess and impaired anastomotic wound healing, and these might relate to the reduction of L-DCL. Irradiated and leukocyte-depleted transfusion can improve these effects.
Long-Term Lamivudine Treatment is Associated with a Good Maintained Response in Severe Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Hbeag-Negative Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis B is difficult to treat and there is little long-term data for lamivudine treatment of severe acute exacerbation. We report a prospective, consecutive cohort of severe acute exacerbation of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients treated by lamivudine between 1999 and 2004. All patients had respectively increased alanine aminotransferase and serum bilirubin to at least 10 and 2 times the upper limit of laboratory normal. Thirty-two patients were treated with lamivudine for 130 ±58 (range 48–217) weeks. Five patients had evidence of virological breakthrough (HBV DNA >10,000 copies/ml) during lamivudine treatment. The cumulative probability of maintained response without any virological breakthrough was 94% (95% confidence interval [CI], 86–100%) at year 1, 94% (95% CI, 82–100%) at year 2 and 71% (95% CI, 41–100%) at year 3. At the last follow-up visit, 31 (97%) lamivudine patients had HBV DNA <10,000 copies/ml. The prevalence of lamivudine resistance mutation was 1 in 32 patients (3%; 95% CI, 0–9%) at year 1, 1 in 17 patients (6%; 95% CI, 0–17%) at year 2, 1 in 9 patients (11%, 95% CI, 0–32%) at year 3 and 1 in 4 patients (25%; 95% CI, 0–67%) at year 4 of lamivudine treatment. In conclusion, extended lamivudine treatment is associated with a high maintained virological response and a low rate of drug resistance in severe acute exacerbation of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B.
Moving horizon for friction state and parameter estimation

Efficient on-line state and parameter estimation is essential for model-based friction compensation in order to track changes of friction characteristics in time and space. This paper presents a moving horizon estimation (MHE) algorithm for on-line friction state and parameter estimation using a smoothed (analytic) version of the Generalized Maxwell-Slip (GMS) model, a multi-state friction model known to describe all essential friction characteristics in presliding and sliding motion. In contrast to the GMS model, which consists of a switching structure to accommodate for its hybrid nature, the Smoothed GMS (S-GMS) model consists of an analytic set of differential equations well suited for gradient-based state and parameter estimation, as in MHE or in extended Kalman filtering (EKF). Moreover, MHE is known to better handle model nonlinearities, disturbances and constraints than EKF. This paper discusses the implementation of an MHE algorithm for the S-GMS friction model and experimentally compares its performance to an EKF implementation for joint state and parameter estimation.
Validation of Arteriograph – A New Oscillometric Device to Measure Arterial Stiffness in Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis

Background: Measuring arterial stiffness (augmentation index (AI), aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV)) in hemodialysis (HD) patients has prognostic significance. To assess its validity, the new oscillometric Arteriograph device (AIA, PWVA) was compared to the validated PulsePen tonometer (AIP, PWVP). Methods: AI and PWV were measured in 98 patients with both devices before HD. Validity was evaluated by Pearson’s correlation, Bland-Altman analysis, and by assessing the prognostic value of AI and PWV to predict cardiovascular (CV) mortality over 29 months. Results: Correlation between AIP and AIA was significant (R = 0.527, p < 0.001). The mean difference of AI values obtained by the two devices was –20.6%, and 30% of the paired AI differences fall outside the ±1 SD boundary of the mean between-device difference. There was no significant correlation between the PWVP and PWVA readings (R = 0.173, p = 0.097). The average difference of PWV values by the two devices was –1.2 m/s, and 20.6% of the paired PWV differences fall outside the ±1 SD boundary. In survival analyses, only PWVP but not PWVA was significantly related to CV mortality. Conclusion: Lack of correlation between PWVP and PWVA and lack of prognostic significance of PWVA suggest limited validity of Arteriograph to determine PWV in patients on HD.
Translation Initiation Factor 4E Blocks Endoplasmic Reticulum-mediated Apoptosis*

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) is the mRNA cap-binding protein required for translation of cellular mRNAs utilizing the 5′ cap structure. The rate-limiting factor for mRNA recruitment to ribosomes, eIF4E is a major target for regulation of translation by growth factors, hormones, and other extracellular stimuli. When overexpressed, eIF4E exerts profound effects on cell growth and survival, leading to suppression of oncogene-dependent apoptosis, causing malignant transformation and conferring tumors with multiple drug resistance. We found previously that overexpressed eIF4E interdicts the apoptotic pathway induced by growth factor withdrawal and cytotoxic drugs by selectively activating the expression of Bcl-XL, thus preventing mitochondrial release of cytochrome c. In this study, we examined the impact of ectopic eIF4E expression on apoptosis mediated by the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Here we show that eIF4E rescued cells from the ER stressors brefeldin A, tunicamycin, thapsigargin, and the Ca2+ ionophore A23187. In addition, we found that cells rescued from Ca2+ ionophore-triggered apoptosis did not release calcium from their ER nor did they translocate caspase-12 from the ER to the cytoplasm. These data lend strong support to the concept that eIF4E functions as a pleiotropic regulator of cell viability and that integration of critical organelle-mediated checkpoints for apoptosis can be controlled by the cap-dependent translation apparatus.
Fascicle Preservation Surgery for Facial Nerve Neuromas Involving the Posterior Cranial Fossa

Objective To assess facial nerve function after fascicle preservation surgery in cases of facial nerve neuroma involving the cerebellopontine angle. Study Design Retrospective case series and literature review. Setting Tertiary referral center. Patients Seven patients with facial nerve neuroma involving the posterior cranial fossa were reviewed from a single neurotologist's practice and combined with a review of 648 cases reported in the literature. Interventions Translabyrinthine resection was used in all patients for complete tumor removal. Nerve reconstruction was accomplished with fascicle preservation (three cases), cable nerve interposition grafting (three cases, one of which involved using cranial nerve VIII as the graft), or direct anastomosis (one case). Main Outcome Measure Facial nerve function as measured by the House-Brackmann grading system. Results A postoperative facial nerve (House-Brackmann) grade of II/VI was obtained in two of our three patients who underwent fascicle preservation reconstruction and in two of eight cases reported by other authors. One case reported elsewhere resulted in grade I/VI, and four other cases reported elsewhere achieved grade III/VI; only two cases were grade V/VI. There were no tumor recurrences at 5 to 19 years of follow-up. Conclusion Most cases of facial nerve neuroma require facial nerve resection. In rare cases, these tumors can be dissected away from the nerve fascicles, allowing the surgeon to preserve the facial nerve. This method resulted in better long-term postoperative facial nerve function (House-Brackmann grade II/VI vs. grade III/VI) compared with other techniques for patients in this small series, and no tumor recurrence.
Local anaesthetic with vasoconstrictor combinations in septal surgery

Abstract Local anaesthetic with vasoconstrictor combinations are often used to reduce bleeding and hence improve the operating field in septal surgery. Two commonly used combinations are lignocaine with adrenaline and prilocaine with felypressin (citanest with octapressin). Most surgeons prefer to use lignocaine with adrenaline but because of the risks of cardiac dysrhythmias when used with halothane anaesthetists prefer prilocaine with felypressin. In a trial with lignocaine 2 per cent and adrenaline 1 in 200,000 against prilocaine 3 per cent and felypressin 0.03 international units/ml in 18 patients undergoing septal surgery with local anaesthesia alone there was significantly less blood loss in the lignocaine with adrenaline group, p>0.01. The mean blood loss in the adrenaline group was 7.5 ml. and 32.7 ml. with felypressin. Both combinations were equally effective in producing adequate local anaesthesia. It is concluded that lignocaine with adrenaline is superior to prilocaine with felypressin in achieving a dry operating field in septal surgery under local anaesthesia.
GPU-based acceleration of MPIE/MoM matrix calculation for the analysis of microstrip circuits

In this paper, we present a GPU-based algorithm which accelerates the MoM impedance matrix computation. Based on an efficient quasi-one-dimensional approximation of the reaction integrals, the MPIE formulation for the analysis of microstrip circuits is considered. We use NVIDIA CUDA as GPU development tool and choose an edge-connected line-fed patch antenna as reference problem. In order to demonstrate the validity of our work, we first show how the results provided by the GPU implementation, the corresponding CPU code and a well-known commercial simulator are indistinguishable. Second, we conduct a performance analysis that proves how the developed algorithm running on a cheap off-the-shelf GPU is about 17 times faster than the CPU code.
Online Learning for Aggregating Forecasts in Renewable Energy Systems

The presented research was motivated by the E+grid project which aims at building an energy-positive public lighting microgrid using photovoltaic panels, LED luminaries that regulate their lighting levels based on motion sensor signals, energy storage, various sensors and smart meters, wireless commination and a central controller (see Figure 1). A prototype system was developed by an industry-academy consortium formed by GE Hungary, the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, and two institutes of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MFA and SZTAKI). The physical prototype, containing 191 luminaries and 152 m2 of PV panels, is located in Budapest at the campus of the MFA Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences [1].
Identification of Virus-Encoded MicroRNAs

RNA silencing processes are guided by small RNAs that are derived from double-stranded RNA. To probe for function of RNA silencing during infection of human cells by a DNA virus, we recorded the small RNA profile of cells infected by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). We show that EBV expresses several microRNA (miRNA) genes. Given that miRNAs function in RNA silencing pathways either by targeting messenger RNAs for degradation or by repressing translation, we identified viral regulators of host and/or viral gene expression.
Ultrasonographic evaluation of femoral cartilage thickness in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

BACKGROUND Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a common form of arthritis that may vary from asymmetric oligoarthritis to symmetric polyarthritis and spondyloarthritis. OBJECTIVES To evaluate femoral cartilage thickness using ultrasonography in patients with PsA. METHODS Thirty-three patients (24 female, 9 male) with a diagnosis of PsA and 31 age-, sex- and body mass index-similar healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded, including disease duration, morning stiffness and medications. The femoral cartilage thicknesses of both knees (while held in maximum flexion) were measured with a 7-12 MHz linear probe. Three mid-point measurements were taken from both knees (at the lateral condyle, intercondylar area and medial condyle). RESULTS Cartilage thicknesses were similar between PsA patients and healthy control subjects. However, there were significant correlations between cartilage thickness and the Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score, Bath AS functional index and Bath AS disease activity index scores. CONCLUSION Femoral cartilage thickness is similar between PsA patients and healthy controls. The femoral cartilage thickness in PsA patients is associated with disease activity, functional inadequacy, and enthesopathy scores.
Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells increase dopamine synthesis in the injured striatum

Previous studies showed that tyrosine hydroxylase or neurturin gene-modified cells transplanted into rats with Parkinson’s disease significantly improved behavior and increased striatal dopamine content. In the present study, we transplanted tyrosine hydroxylase and neurturin gene-modified bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells into the damaged striatum of Parkinson’s disease model rats. Several weeks after cell transplantation, in addition to an improvement of motor function, tyrosine hydroxylase and neurturin proteins were up-regulated in the injured striatum, and importantly, levels of dopamine and its metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid increased significantly. Furthermore, the density of the D2 dopamine receptor in the postsynaptic membranes of dopaminergic neurons was decreased. These results indicate that transplantation of tyrosine hydroxylase and neurturin gene-modified bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells increases dopamine synthesis and significantly improves the behavior of rats with Parkinson’s disease.
Follow up with HPV test and cytology as test of cure, 6 months after conization, is reliable

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is an objective marker with a high sensitivity for finding cervical dysplasia. The objective of the current study is to investigate whether HPV testing, combined with liquid‐based cytology, is reliable as a test of cure after the loop electrical excision procedure (LEEP).
The Escherichia coli Toxin MqsR Destabilizes the Transcriptional Repression Complex Formed between the Antitoxin MqsA and the mqsRA Operon Promoter*

Background: MqsR, an endoribonuclease, and MqsA, a transcriptional regulator, form a unique toxin-antitoxin (TA) pair. Results: The high affinity, stable MqsR-MqsA complex is unable to bind DNA. Conclusion: MqsR is the only toxin shown to disrupt the antitoxin-DNA complex, which would promote transcription. Significance: The MqsR toxin may promote multidrug tolerance in E. coli by disrupting MqsA-mediated transcriptional repression of several genes related to persistence. Bacterial biofilms are complex communities of cells containing an increased prevalence of dormant cells known as persisters, which are characterized by an up-regulation of genes known as toxin-antitoxin (TA) modules. The association of toxins with their cognate antitoxins neutralizes toxin activity, allowing for normal cell growth. Additionally, protein antitoxins bind their own promoters and repress transcription, whereas the toxins serve as co-repressors. Recently, TA pairs have been shown to regulate their own transcription through a phenomenon known as conditional cooperativity, where the TA complexes bind operator DNA and repress transcription only when present in the proper stoichiometric amounts. The most differentially up-regulated gene in persister cells is mqsR, a gene that, with the antitoxin mqsA, constitutes a TA module. Here, we reveal that, unlike other TA systems, MqsR is not a transcription co-repressor but instead functions to destabilize the MqsA-DNA complex. We further show that DNA binding is not regulated by conditional cooperativity. Finally, using biophysical studies, we show that complex formation between MqsR and MqsA results in an exceptionally stable interaction, resulting in a subnanomolar dissociation constant that is similar to that observed between MqsA and DNA. In combination with crystallographic studies, this work reveals that MqsA binding to DNA and MqsR is mutually exclusive. To our knowledge, this is the first TA system in which the toxin does not function as a transcriptional co-repressor, but instead functions to destabilize the antitoxin-operator complex under all conditions, and thus defines another unique feature of the mqsRA TA module.
[Management of heart failure in Piedmont Region].

BACKGROUND Congestive heart failure (CHF) represents an emerging problem in industrialized countries: it continues to be diagnosed at high rates and has an decreased survival time, raising new problems, such as the need of an adequate medical service organization and resource expenditure. Aim of this analysis was a quantitative evaluation of diagnostic and therapeutic resource use for CHF in outpatient departments in Piedmont, Italy. METHODS We performed a cross-sectional observational study, based on a two-month data collection in 12 outpatient departments dedicated to congestive heart failure. Information was obtained on each patient using a specific anonymous data collection form. RESULTS We obtained and analyzed for the study 547forms. Mean patient age was 66.1 years, mean ejection fraction was 36.6%. Coronary artery disease accounted for 34.6% of congestive heart failure cases, followed by idiopathic etiology (26.4%). Main comorbidities were diabetes (22.3%) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (17.7%). Sixty-nine% of patients received a medical treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, 72.6% with beta-blockers, 48.8% with aldosterone antagonists. As far as diagnostic resource use during a six-month period preceeding observation, 46.8% of patients underwent echocardiographic examination, 9.9% Holter ECG, 6.0% coronary angiography. Therapy was more often increased in patients who underwent an instrumental evaluation during the preceeding six-month period. CONCLUSIONS Data suggests that in Piedmont outpatients with chronic heart failure receive a high drug prescription level and a small number of instrumental evaluations, as suggested in main international guidelines.
A robust method to extract the anterior pelvic plane from CT volume independent of pelvic pose

Abstract Purpose: The anterior pelvic plane (APP) is commonly used as a reference plane to assess acetabular orientation. However, conventional methods for determining the APP may not be accurate and are prone to user variability. To overcome these issues, we developed a robust method to accurately extract the APP independent of pelvic pose using three-dimensional pelvic computed tomography (CT). Materials and methods: Twenty-eight studies for suspected nonmusculoskeletal conditions were obtained. The APP was determined by four landmarks that were automatically extracted from user-defined regions of interest (ROIs) with compensation of pelvic pose. The APP defined from these landmarks was quantitatively compared to the APPs determined by an expert and an unskilled. Intraobserver reliability was measured to evaluate the time-interval variability. Finally, we evaluate the robustness of this method to patient posture using an arbitrarily rotated volume. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated to determine the interobserver and intraobserver reliabilities. Results: The ICC values for the four landmarks and the APP were similar between the semiautomated method and expert determination (ICC >0.937). The ICC values for intraobserver reliability over time for our method were all 1, demonstrating high reliability. Furthermore, agreement between the parameters determined from the original volume and the rotated volume was nearly perfect. Conclusions: Our method is a useful measurement tool for the APP as it is robust, and the results were similar to an experienced surgeon’s determination. Furthermore, it was independent to the direction of the CT slice and more robust than a measurement by an unskilled.
Betaglycan Expression Is Transcriptionally Up-regulated during Skeletal Muscle Differentiation

Betaglycan is a membrane-anchored proteoglycan co-receptor that binds transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) via its core protein and basic fibroblast growth factor through its glycosaminoglycan chains. In this study we evaluated the expression of betaglycan during the C2C12 skeletal muscle differentiation. Betaglycan expression, as determined by Northern and Western blot, was up-regulated during the conversion of myoblasts to myotubes. The mouse betaglycan gene promoter was cloned, and its sequence showed putative binding sites for SP1, Smad3, Smad4, muscle regulatory factor elements such as MyoD and MEF2, and retinoic acid receptor. Transcriptional activity of the mouse betaglycan promoter reporter was also up-regulated in differentiating C2C12 cells. We found that MyoD, but not myogenin, stimulated this transcriptional activity even in the presence of high serum. Betaglycan promoter activity was increased by RA and inhibited by the three isoforms of TGF-β. On the other hand, basic fibroblast growth factor, BMP-2, and hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor, which are inhibitors of myogenesis, had little effect. In myotubes, up-regulated betaglycan was also detectable by TGF-β affinity labeling and immunofluorescence microscopy studies. The latter indicated that betaglycan was localized both on the cell surface and in the ECM. Forced expression of betaglycan in C2C12 myoblasts increases their responsiveness to TGF-β2, suggesting that it performs a TGF-β presentation function in this cell lineage. These results indicate that betaglycan expression is up-regulated during myogenesis and that MyoD and RA modulate its expression by a mechanism that is independent of myogenin.