Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Case of Anaphylactoid Reaction to Gadolinium Contrast Media and Propranolol Complicated with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) - A Case Report -

Anaphylaxis/anaphylactoid reaction is a medical emergency. In rare cases, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) can complicate this disorder. This is a case report of an anaphylactoid reaction complicated with ARDS that was successfully treated using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). A 52-year-old female patient developed sudden dyspnea immediately after she received gadolinium contrast injection and 80 mg of oral propranolol. She progressed rapidly to a state of shock and her chest radiograph showed pulmonary edema. The shock and pulmonary edema did not respond to epinephrine or steroid injection. On the next day, the permeability edema worsened and laboratory test revealed extreme hemoconcentration. The oxygenation goal was not achieved with mechanical ventilation alone, thus ECMO was applied as well. The patient showed clinical improvements on the 3 rd day and was weaned from ECMO on the 4 th day. She was completely recovered from shock and respiratory distress by day 5. The patient was discharged from hospital without further complications.
Femur Rotation Increases Patella Cartilage Stress in Females with Patellofemoral Pain.

PURPOSE This study aimed to test the hypothesis that internal rotation of the femur increases patellofemoral joint stress in persons with patellofemoral pain (PFP). METHODS Patella cartilage stress profiles of nine female participants with PFP were obtained during squatting using subject-specific finite element (FE) models of the patellofemoral joint (15° and 45° of knee flexion). Input parameters for the FE model included joint geometry, quadriceps muscle forces during squatting, and weight-bearing patellofemoral joint kinematics. The femur of each model was then internally rotated 5° and 10° along its long axis beyond that of the natural degree of rotation. Using a nonlinear FE solver, quasistatic loading simulations were performed to quantify patellofemoral joint stress. RESULTS Compared with those at the natural position of the femur, mean hydrostatic pressure and mean octahedral shear stress were significantly higher when the femur was internally rotated 5° and 10°. No significant differences in stress variables were observed when the femur was rotated from 5° to 10°. These findings were consistent across both knee flexion angles (15° and 45°). CONCLUSIONS The finding of elevated hydrostatic pressure and octahedral shear stress with internal rotation of the femur supports the premise that females with PFP who exhibit abnormal hip kinematics may be exposed to elevated patellofemoral joint stress.
Gait Characteristics of People with Lateral Knee Osteoarthritis after ACL Reconstruction.

PURPOSE Lateral knee osteoarthritis (OA) is common after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), yet gait characteristics associated with lateral knee OA after ACLR are not well understood. This cross-sectional study aimed to compare knee, trunk, pelvis, hip, and ankle kinematics and moments between people with predominant lateral knee OA after ACLR and healthy controls. METHODS Nineteen post-ACLR people with lateral knee OA and 25 healthy controls were recruited. Quantitative gait analysis was conducted during walking, and knee pain, confidence, and kinesiophobia were assessed. Between-group differences in peak kinematics and moments were evaluated, and Pearson correlations evaluated relations between biomechanical and patient-reported measures (P < 0.05). RESULTS Participants with lateral knee OA after ACLR had greater peak knee flexion (mean difference, 3.5°; 95% confidence interval, 0.9-6.1) and lower knee internal rotation angles (-3.3°; -6.2 to -0.5) than the controls. Those with lateral knee OA also had greater peak pelvic anterior tilt (3.1°, 0.4-5.9), hip flexion angles (5.1°, 1.9-8.3), and peak ankle dorsiflexion moment (0.1 N·m·kg(-1), 0.0-0.2). In the lateral knee OA group, worse knee confidence and kinesiophobia were significantly correlated with greater peak trunk flexion angle (r = 0.654 and r = 0.535, respectively) and greater knee pain was significantly correlated with greater peak knee flexion angle (r = 0.535). CONCLUSIONS Gait characteristics associated with lateral knee OA after ACLR differ from those in healthy individuals, predominantly in the sagittal plane. Increased sagittal plane knee and trunk kinematics seem to be related to worse knee pain, confidence, and kinesiophobia. These findings will assist the development of compartment-specific interventions for individuals with posttraumatic lateral knee OA.
L-arginine alters myogenic genes expression but does not affect breast muscle characteristics by in ovo feeding technique in slow-growing chickens

In ovo feeding (IOF) of nutrients is a viable method for increasing muscle mass through hyperplasia and hypertrophy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of IOF of L-arginine (Arg) on breast muscle weight, muscle morphology, amino acid profile, and gene expression of muscle development in slow-growing chickens. Four hundred eighty fertilized eggs were randomly divided into two groups: the first group was the non-injected control group, and the second group was the Arg group, injected with 1% Arg (0.5 mL) into the amnion on day 18 of incubation. After hatching, 160 birds from each group were randomly divided into four replicates of 40 birds each. This experiment lasted for 63 days. The results showed that IOF of Arg did not affect (P > 0.05) breast muscle weight, muscle morphology, and mRNA expression of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway in slow-growing chickens. However, the amino acid profile of breast muscle was altered (P < 0.05) on the day of hatching (DOH), day 21 (D21), and day 42 (D42) post-hatch, respectively. Myogenic factor 5 (Myf5) mRNA expression was upregulated (P < 0.05) on D21 post-hatch. Myogenic regulator 4 (MRF4) mRNA expression was increased (P < 0.05) on DOH. And myogenin (MyoG) was increased (P < 0.05) on DOH and D21 post-hatch, in the Arg group compared to the control group. Overall, IOF of 1% Arg improved the expression of myogenic genes but did not influence muscle morphology and BMW. These results indicate that in ovo Arg dosage (0.5 mL/egg) has no adverse effect on breast muscle development of slow-growing chickens.
Applications of positron emission tomography in neurosurgery: past, present, and future

Any novel technological innovation is dependent more on the ingenuity of its users than its inherent properties and potential flaws. Positron emission tomography (PET) is unique in this regard because the limitations of this modality are defined by the ability of its users to identify tracers that will aid in the diagnosis of intracerebral processes. The limitations of PET scanning lay in the extent of tissue resolution and in the currently relatively small number centers equipped to perform PET scanning. In this issue of Neurosurgical Focus, various applications of PET scanning are detailed. The traditional use of this technology in neurosurgery has been to determine the metabolic nature of cerebral neoplastic lesions so as to help differentiate neoplastic from benign or infectious processes. This determination, however, has not been foolproof, and the technique has been further refined to maximize diagnostic yield. Nonetheless, the utility of PET scanning continues to grow. New applications have allowed for the precise measurements of cerebral blood flow, helping the neuroscientist understand the functional organization of cortex, the pathophysiology of normal-pressure hydrocephalus, and changes in cerebral blood flow following traumatic injury. Other radiotracers such as fluorodopa allow assessment of the metabolic state of cerebral tissue transplants in restorative neurosurgical procedures. In this introduction, all of these issues will be considered, and a historical perspective and the potential future uses of this technology will be provided. Technology moves so quickly that new instruments are routinely introduced. The authors will try to assess what properties, in the 25-year history of PET scanning, will need to be improved to keep it as a cutting-edge technology and expand its clinical role.
The role of endogenous opioid neuropeptides in neurostimulation-driven analgesia

Due to the prevalence of chronic pain worldwide, there is an urgent need to improve pain management strategies. While opioid drugs have long been used to treat chronic pain, their use is severely limited by adverse effects and abuse liability. Neurostimulation techniques have emerged as a promising option for chronic pain that is refractory to other treatments. While different neurostimulation strategies have been applied to many neural structures implicated in pain processing, there is variability in efficacy between patients, underscoring the need to optimize neurostimulation techniques for use in pain management. This optimization requires a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying neurostimulation-induced pain relief. Here, we discuss the most commonly used neurostimulation techniques for treating chronic pain. We present evidence that neurostimulation-induced analgesia is in part driven by the release of endogenous opioids and that this endogenous opioid release is a common endpoint between different methods of neurostimulation. Finally, we introduce technological and clinical innovations that are being explored to optimize neurostimulation techniques for the treatment of pain, including multidisciplinary efforts between neuroscience research and clinical treatment that may refine the efficacy of neurostimulation based on its underlying mechanisms.
Treatment of Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction: Current Update

The prevalence of heart failure (HF) has been steadily increasing and it now creates an enormous social and economic burden. HF is a syndrome characterized by a high mortality rate, frequent hospitalization, a reduced quality of life, and a complex therapeutic regimen. In the last three decades, major progress in both the diagnosis and management of HF has taken place, and the pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic advances have led to a significant improvement in survival and symptoms in HF patients. After an accurate diagnosis, a proper HF management plan requires a multi-level team approach comprised of the correct combination of drug therapy, device therapy, and surgery, including heart transplantation. In this review, we focused on the pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment strategies for HF with reduced ejection fraction. The goal was to develop treatment guidelines based on significant evidence derived from large clinical trials. (Korean J Med 2015;88:127-134)
Cardiovascular Drift during Training for Fitness in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

Purpose The health benefits of a training program are largely influenced by the exercise dose and intensity. We sought to determine whether during a training bout of continuous versus interval exercise the workload needs to be reduced to maintain the prescribed target heart rate (HR). Methods Fourteen obese (31 ± 4 kg·m−2) middle-age (57 ± 8 yr) individuals with metabolic syndrome, underwent two exercise training bouts matched by energy expenditure (i.e., 70 ± 5 min of continuous exercise [CE] or 45 min of interval exercise, high-intensity interval training [HIIT]). All subjects completed both trials in a randomized order. HR, power output (W), percent dehydration, intestinal and skin temperature (TINT and TSK), mean arterial pressure, cardiac output (CO), stroke volume (SV), and blood lactate concentration (La−) were measured at the initial and latter stages of each trial to assess time-dependent drift. Results During the HIIT trial, power output was lowered by 30 ± 16 W to maintain the target HR, whereas a 10 ± 11 W reduction was needed in the CE trial (P < 0.05). Energy expenditure, CO, and SV declined with exercise time only in the HIIT trial (15%, 10%, and 13%, respectively). During HIIT, percent dehydration, TINT, and TSK increased more than during the CE trial (all P = 0.001). Mean arterial pressure and La− were higher in HIIT without time drift in any trial. Conclusion Our findings suggests that while CE results in mild power output reductions to maintain target HR, the increasingly popular HIIT results in marked reductions in power output, energy expenditure, and CO (21%, 15%, and 10%, respectively). HIIT based on target HR may result in lower than expected training adaptations because of workload adjustments to avoid HR drift.
Targeting Growth Factors in Arthritis: A Rational for Restoring the IGF-I Response in Chondrocytes

The role of growth factors in the pathogenesis of arthritis has received considerably less attention as compared to proinflammatory cytokines in recent years. This is understandable as it is evident that current anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) therapy is efficacious in at least in 60% of the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and when given in combination with methotrexate stops radiological progression of bone erosion. Other proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-17 have also been implicated in the dysregulation of bone and cartilage remodelling characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and/or osteoarthritis (OA). The direct effects of anti-cytokine treatment on cartilage pathology are not that easy to determine in humans and it remains to be seen if amelioration of cartilage destruction or better cartilage repair has been accomplished with anti-TNF therapy. A complicating factor is that chondrocytes in RA and OA become non-responsive to insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). IGF-I is the main growth factor for stimulation of chondrocyte proteoglycan and collagen type II synthesis in order to maintain the cartilage matrix integrity. This article reviews our current understanding of the role of IGF-I on cartilage extracellular matrix production and the mechanisms underlying the cause of IGF-I non-responsiveness, and in particular the inhibition of IGF-receptor signalling by suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS) proteins. The epigenetic and cytokine-dependent regulation of SOCS expression may give an explanation for the loss of IGF-I signalling in chondrocytes in ageing-related diseases such as OA and RA. Whether IGF-1 is replaceable by other growth factors to maintain the cartilage extracellular matrix will be discussed. It is concluded that in addition to the current use of anti-cytokine therapy in arthritis the IGF-I response of chondrocytes must be restored in order to achieve cartilage matrix repair.
A toolkit for plant lipid engineering: Surveying the efficacies of lipogenic factors for accumulating specialty lipids

Plants produce energy-dense lipids from carbohydrates using energy acquired via photosynthesis, making plant oils an economically and sustainably attractive feedstock for conversion to biofuels and value-added bioproducts. A growing number of strategies have been developed and optimized in model plants, oilseed crops and high-biomass crops to enhance the accumulation of storage lipids (mostly triacylglycerols, TAGs) for bioenergy applications and to produce specialty lipids with increased uses and value for chemical feedstock and nutritional applications. Most successful metabolic engineering strategies involve heterologous expression of lipogenic factors that outperform those from other sources or exhibit specialized functionality. In this review, we summarize recent progress in engineering the accumulation of triacylglycerols containing - specialized fatty acids in various plant species and tissues. We also provide an inventory of specific lipogenic factors (including accession numbers) derived from a wide variety of organisms, along with their reported efficacy in supporting the accumulation of desired lipids. A review of previously obtained results serves as a foundation to guide future efforts to optimize combinations of factors to achieve further enhancements to the production and accumulation of desired lipids in a variety of plant tissues and species.
Physical Activity Domains/Recommendations and Leukocyte Telomere Length in U.S. Adults

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between different physical activity (PA) domains, PA recommendations, and leukocyte telomere length (LTL) using data from a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2002. Methods A total of 6933 U.S. adults (3402 men, 3531 women; age range: 20–84 yr) who completed demographic, general health and PA questionnaires and provided a blood sample were included in the analyses. Multivariable-adjusted linear regression models were used to determine associations between PA (domain-specific PA [household/yard work PA, transportation PA, moderate leisure time PA (LTPA), and vigorous LTPA], total moderate PA and PA recommendation groups), and log-transformed LTL adjusting for age, gender, education, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and body mass index. Results On average, an increase of 1 h·wk−1 of vigorous LTPA was associated with a 0.31% (P < 0.001) longer LTL, and an increase of 1 h·wk−1 of household/yard work PA was associated with a 0.21% (P = 0.03) shorter LTL while adjusted for sociodemographic and health behavior covariates. Neither transportation PA nor moderate LTPA was significantly associated with LTL. In addition, compared with not meeting the PA recommendation (<150 min·wk−1), exceeding the recommended PA levels (≥300 min·wk−1) was positively associated with longer LTL (P = 0.04), whereas there was no difference in telomere length between those not meeting versus those meeting the PA recommendation (150–299 min·wk−1). Conclusion Greater engagement in vigorous LTPA and exceeding the PA recommendation may have a protective effect against telomere shortening. Future studies should examine the association between PA and LTL by exploring potential mediators such as sedentary behavior, genetics, nutrition, and chronic diseases.
An experiment about static and dynamic type systems: doubts about the positive impact of static type systems on development time

Although static type systems are an essential part in teach-ing and research in software engineering and computer science, there is hardly any knowledge about what the impact of static type systems on the development time or the resulting quality for a piece of software is. On the one hand there are authors that state that static type systems decrease an application's complexity and hence its development time (which means that the quality must be improved since developers have more time left in their projects). On the other hand there are authors that argue that static type systems increase development time (and hence decrease the code quality) since they restrict developers to express themselves in a desired way. This paper presents an empirical study with 49 subjects that studies the impact of a static type system for the development of a parser over 27 hours working time. In the experiments the existence of the static type system has neither a positive nor a negative impact on an application's development time (under the conditions of the experiment).
Infection as a risk factor for stroke

Persisting disability requiring professional healthcare or help in daily life activities can be expected in a third to a half of all stroke survivors. It is mainly the elderly that are affected. For the increasingly aging population of Western societies, stroke represents an increasing social and economic burden. Besides the existing therapeutic options, additional treatment and prevention strategies are needed. Traditional risk factors do not explain all clinical and epidemiological features of stroke. Recently, the association between infectious and inflammatory processes and the occurrence of vascular disease has been established. This review summarizes the current evidence of infections as stroke risk factors and of potential anti-infective strategies as future methods of stroke prevention.
QUADRICEPS STRENGTH, KNEE PAIN AND FUNCTIONAL PERFORMANCE WITH PATELLAR TAPING IN KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS

Background: Patellar taping has long been reported to be effective in relieving pain in patients with patello-femoral pain syndrome (PFPS). Yet, there is lack of knowledge that supports its use in knee osteoarthritis (OA) management. Purpose: This study examined the effect of therapeutic patellar taping on concentric and eccentric quadriceps muscle peak torques, VAS pain scores, 6-minute walking distance and stair climbing time in patients with knee OA. Methods: A total of 30 female patients with symptomatic knee OA with mean age 51.8 ± 6.3 years and BMI 32.56 ± 3.26 m2/kg participated in the study. They were tested under three taping conditions that were tested randomly; therapeutic, placebo and no-tape. Results: Repeated measure MANOVA revealed that the quadriceps muscle peak torques and 6-minute walking distance increased significantly (p 0.05) in between for the 6-minute walking distance and stair climbing time. Conclusion: The findings indicate that therapeutic patellar taping is effective in improving quadriceps strength and functional performance and reducing pain in patients with knee OA.
Military fitness of young South African adults : Does it comply with requirements ?

The fitness of today's young people is reported to be at a very low level, and this is disconcerting considering that some are needed as military recruits but will not be accepted if they do not pass the military fitness tests. The aims of this study were to investigate the pass rate of young adults (n=41) in the standard South African National Defence Force (SANDF) fitness test, and to establish whether the pass rate of the male (n=31) and female (n=10) participants differed significantly. A cross-sectional case report design was used as the research method. All participants aged 18.0 to 22.9 years underwent tests for body composition, handgrip strength, vertical jump and multistage shuttle run. After a 48-hour rest period the SANDF tests were carried out. For analysis the descriptive statistics and the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U-Test were used. The p-value was set at 0.05. The following results were obtained: 85.4% of the cohort failed the test, of that 90.6% of the males (m) failed and 60.0% of the females (f) failed. Significant differences (p<0,01) were found between the male and female participants in their height (m=171.9 m; f=164.2 m); weight (m=76.9 kg; f=63.6 kg); percentage body fat (m=19,2%; f=28.0%); explosive power (m= 1254.5 watt; f=947.1 watt); handgrip dynamometer strength (m=99.4 kg; f=67.9 kg); and SANDF passing scores (p≤0.05) (m=2 006; f=2 567). No significant differences were observed on the indirect relative Vo2max reading (m=41.7 ml/kg/min; f=38.2 ml/kg/min); body mass index (m=24.3 kg/m2; f=23.5 kg/m2); and the sit-and-reach test (m=33.6 cm; f=36.5 cm). It was concluded that female participants performed better than their male counterparts but that all the young people tested did not comply with the fitness requirements of the SANDF. As the majority of the cohort complied with the normal limits set for the general fitness tests, it was concluded that the level of fitness needed to pass the SANDF fitness test was higher than the level of fitness prescribed for the general population.