Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Infl ammatory mediators in chronic heart failure in North India

Introduction Recent evidence shows that pro-inflammatory cytokines may be important in the assessment of severity and prognosis in congestive heart failure (CHF). In the present study, we examine the association of cytokines with causes, grade and prognosis of CHF patients. Subjects and methods Of 127 patients with CHF, 11 were excluded and the remaining 116 patients with different aetiologies of CHF, and 250 age- and sex-matched control subjects, were evaluated in this case study. Severity of disease based on the New York Heart Association (NYHA) standards, fell within functional classes II to IV. The diagnosis of HF was based on clinical manifestations as well as on echocardiographic heart enlargement. Cytokines were measured by chemiluminescence. Causes of death were assessed based on death certificates. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors of heart failure. Results Echocardiographic ejection fraction was 39.1 ± 8.2% (mean ± SD) in the study group indicating class II-IV heart failure. Laboratory data showed increase in biomarkers of oxidative stress, among HF patients compared to healthy subjects. Pro-inflammatory cytokines; IL-6 and TNF-alpha were significantly higher among HF patients compared to healthy subjects. TNF-alpha and IL-6, showed significant increase among patients with CHF due to ischaemic heart disease and cardiomyopathy compared to levels among CHF patients with valvular heart disease and hypertensive heart diseases. The levels of the cytokines were significantly higher among patients with class III and IV heart failure and those who died, compared to patients with class II heart failure. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that CAD, cardiomyopathy, and IL-6 were strongly associated – and low ejection fraction and TNF-alpha – weakly associated with HF. Of 116 patients, 20 (17.2%) died during a follow-up of two years, and the deaths were mainly among NYHA class III and IV patients in whom the cause of CHF was CAD (10.9%) and cardiomyopathy (6.9%) which had greater levels of cytokines. Conclusions The findings indicated that pro-inflammatory cytokines may be important indicators of causes, severity of CHF and prognosis among these patients.
Low-cost and low-loss 3D silicon interposer for high bandwidth logic-to-memory interconnections without TSV in the logic IC

This paper presents the design, fabrication and electrical characterization of a low loss and low cost non-traditional silicon interposer, demonstrating the high bandwidth chip-to-chip interconnection capability of the 3D silicon interposer, with equivalent or better performance than 3D ICs with TSVs, at a much lower cost. This scalable approach uses thin polycrystalline silicon in wafer or panel form, forms lower cost through-package-vias (TPVs) at fine pitch by special high throughput laser processes. The electrical performance is improved by thick polymer liners within the TPVs. Double side package processes for TPV metallization and RDL layers using dry film polymers and plating leads to significant cost reduction compared to single side TSV and BEOL wafer processes. Combined loss of 3mm long CPW lines and two TPVs in the low loss silicon interposer was demonstrated at less than 1dB at 10GHz. The fine pitch TPV capability and low loss of this non-traditional silicon interposer leads to 3D interposers with double side chips interconnected at equivalent bandwidth to wide bus I/O 3D ICs at a much lower cost and with better testability, thermal management and scalability.
Tissue cultures of the brain. Intercellular granules

The presence of granules in the brain has been known f o r some time. A few of the workers in this field have studied the granules which are intracellular. Some of these workers believe that these granules are given off from the cells and thereafter exist as intercellular granules, either furnishing energy for the growth of the nerve fibers or taking part in synapses. There are other writers who do not distinguish between the intercellular and the intracellular granules of the brain. A few years ago we began the study of human brain cells in tissue cultures. The first thing to strike the eye in these cultures was the great mass of fine granules along the edges of the explanted tissue. Usually these granules are not seen in cultures of other tissues. Not all the edges of the transplanted brain had these granules, but many of them did. They were more noticeable in roller tube cultures than in hanging drop cultures. Indeed the granules were so conspicuous and so numerous that we began a study of them to see what we could find out about their origin, structure, function and fate, and which parts of the central nervous system contained them.
Susceptibilities of Neonatal Respiratory Isolates of Ureaplasma urealyticum to Antimicrobial Agents

ABSTRACT Twenty-one neonatal respiratory isolates of Ureaplasma urealyticum were serotyped, and their susceptibilities to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, azithromycin, and doxycycline were tested. Most patient strains were Ureaplasma urealyticum bv. parvum. Chloramphenicol, doxycycline, and azithromycin had the lowest MICs. This data may be useful when designing prophylactic or therapeutic trials of antibiotics for chronic lung disease of the newborn.
Effectiveness of Static Quadriceps Stretching in Individuals With Patellofemoral Joint Pain

Objective:To determine if a 3-week static stretching program would increase quadriceps muscle flexibility in patellofemoral joint pain syndrome (PJPS) individuals. Design:Pretest/posttest control group design. Setting:Institutional based clinical rehabilitation setting. Participants:Participants (n = 83) were between the ages of 18 and 45 years of age with no history of surgery or trauma to the hip, knee, or lower leg region. Intervention:Participants were sorted into normal and PJPS groups via orthopaedic assessment of knee pain and function, and their quadriceps flexibility was evaluated. All subjects completed a 3-week static quadriceps stretching program. Flexibility, knee pain, and function were then reassessed. Main Outcome Measurements:Parametric and nonparametric tests were used to compare the groups' pre and poststretching knee pain, function, and quadriceps flexibility scores. Results:Prestretching anthropometric and physical activity data illustrated that the groups were homogenous, with severity of knee pain, joint dysfunction, and quadriceps flexibility being the prime differences. Following the stretching program, a significant improvement in flexibility was detected for both groups, and the PJPS group reported a significant decrease in knee pain and improved joint function. However, Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients indicated that changes in quadriceps flexibility were poorly correlated with changes in knee pain and function. Conclusion:This study confirms the effectiveness of a 3-week static stretching regimen for enhancing quadriceps flexibility and knee joint function, but fails to demonstrate a statistical relationship between quadriceps flexibility and the severity of knee pain and joint dysfunction in a PJPS population.
Determining the Semantic Compositionality of Croatian Multiword Expressions

A distinguishing feature of many multiword expressions (MWEs) is their semantic non-compositionality. Being able to automatically determine the semantic (non-)compositionality of MWEs is important for many natural language processing tasks. We address the task of determining the semantic compositionality of Croatian MWEs. We adopt a composition-based approach within the distributional semantics framework. We build a small dataset of Croatian MWE with human-annotated semantic compositionality scores. We build and evaluate a model for predicting the semantic compositionality based on Latent Semantic Analysis. The predicted scores correlate well with human judgments (ρ=0.48). When compositionality detection is treated as a classification task, the model achieves an F1-score of 0.65. Določanje semantične kompozicionalnosti hrvaških večbesednih enot Pomembna lastnost številnih večbesednih enot je njihova semantična nekompozicionalnost. Zmožnost avtomatskega določevanja takšne (ne)kompozicionalnosti je pomembna za številne naloge pri obdelavi naravnega jezika. V prispevku obravnavamo določanje semantične kompozicionalnosti hrvaških večbesednih enot. Uporabimo metodo, ki temelji na kompozicionalnosti v okviru distribucijske semantike. Zgradimo majhno podatkovno množico hrvaških večbesednih enot z ročno določenimi vrednostmi njihove semantične kompozicionalnosti. Zgradimo in evalviramo model za napovedovanje semantične kompozicionalnosti, ki temelji na latentni semantični analizi. Napovedane vrednosti dobro korelirajo s človeškimi ocenami (ρ = 0,48). Če detektiranje kompozicionalnosti obravnavamo kot klasifikacijsko nalogo, doseže model za mero F1 vrednost 0,65.
Skeletal muscle glutathione is depleted in critically ill patients.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the concentrations of reduced and total glutathione in relation to the muscle free amino acid pattern in critically ill patients and matched healthy controls. DESIGN Prospective case control. SETTING University hospital intensive care unit (ICU). PATIENTS Eleven critically ill patients in the intensive care unit were studied after a stay of at least 4 days. Eleven age- and gender-matched metabolically healthy patients undergoing elective surgical procedures served as controls. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Reduced and total glutathione concentrations were determined in skeletal muscle, in plasma, and in whole blood, together with muscle free amino acid concentrations. In the ICU group, reduced and total glutathione values were 57% and 62%, respectively, of the values seen in the control group (p < .001). In addition, a decreased ratio between reduced and total glutathione compared with the controls was seen (0.80 as compared with 0.91, p < .001). The glutamine concentration in skeletal muscle in the ICU group was 72% lower compared with that value seen in healthy controls (p < .001). Correlations were found between the concentrations of glutamine and the total muscle glutathione (r2 = .46, p < .001), as well as between glutamine and the ratio of reduced and total glutathione (r2 = .45, p < .001) in skeletal muscle, suggesting that the redox status of glutathione and the glutamine status of the tissue are related. CONCLUSIONS Critical illness is associated with alterations in muscle glutathione metabolism. The muscle-reduced glutathione concentrations decrease and, in addition, the ratio between reduced and total glutathione decreases, indicating a situation of oxidative stress in this tissue. This decrease may impair the defense of muscle against oxygen free radicals and influence amino acid transport, thus contributing to the loss of balance between protein synthesis and protein degradation that is characteristic of protein catabolism.
Primary Malignant Melanoma of the Uterine Cervix: A Case Report

We report on a case of a malignant melanoma of the uterine cervix. Histological and immunohistological examinations of a postsurgical specimen revealed malignant melanoma. The junctional activities did not occur due to extensive superficial ulceration. Radical surgery was performed. The patient is doing well and free of symptoms at this time, 2 1/2 year later.
Secreted Proteoglycans Directly Mediate Human Embryonic Stem Cell‐Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 Interactions Critical for Proliferation

Human embryonic stem (ES) cells can be maintained in an undifferentiated state if the culture medium is first conditioned on a layer of mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) feeder cells. Here we show that human ES cell proliferation is coordinated by MEF‐secreted heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) in conditioned medium (CM). These HSPG and other heparinoids can stabilize basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) in unconditioned medium at levels comparable to those observed in CM. They also directly mediate binding of FGF2 to the human ES cell surface, and their removal from CM impairs proliferation. Finally, we have developed a purification scheme for MEF‐secreted HSPG in CM. Using column chromatography, immunoblotting, and mass spectrometry‐based proteomic analysis, we have identified multiple HSPG species in CM. The results demonstrate that HSPG are key signaling cofactors in CM‐based human ES cell culture.
Endovascular Revascularization of a Symptomatic Common Carotid Artery Occlusion

Abstract Although the common carotid artery is the second most common site for extracranial carotid artery stenosis, complete symptomatic occlusion in the absence of devastating stroke is rare. We present a case of complete common carotid artery occlusion failing medical management and requiring endovascular intervention. The clinical presentation, diagnostic investigations, and management of complete carotid artery occlusions are discussed. RÉSUMÉ Revascularisation endovasculaire à la suite de l’occlusion symptomatique de l’artère carotide commune. Bien que l’artère carotide commune soit le deuxième vaisseau de l’appareil circulatoire où se produit le plus fréquemment une sténose extracrânienne, une occlusion complète et symptomatique demeure rare en l’absence d’un AVC dévastateur. Nous voulons présenter un cas d’occlusion complète de l’artère carotide commune dont le traitement médical a échoué et qui a nécessité une intervention de nature endovasculaire. Nous entendons aussi présenter sur le plan clinique des cas d’occlusion complète de l’artère carotide mais aussi les examens diagnostic et les traitements s’y rapportant.
Recursive Algorithms for Real-Time Digital ${\rm CR}\!-\!({\rm RC})^{\rm n}$  Pulse Shaping

This paper reports on recursive algorithms for real-time implementation of CR-(RC)n filters in digital nuclear spectroscopy systems. The algorithms are derived by calculating the Z-transfer function of the filters for filter orders up to n=4 . The performances of the filters are compared with the performance of the conventional digital trapezoidal filter using a noise generator which separately generates pure series, 1/f and parallel noise. The results of our study enable one to select the optimum digital filter for different noise and rate conditions.
Connecting genetic variation to phenotypic clines

From early allozyme work to recent genome‐wide scans, many studies have reported associations between molecular markers and latitude. These geographic patterns are tantalizing because they hint at the possibility of identifying specific mutations responsible for climatic adaptation. Unfortunately, few studies have done so because these exciting first glances often prove extremely challenging to follow up. Many difficulties can hinder connecting genetic and phenotypic variation in this context, and without such links, distinguishing the action of spatially varying selection from the other evolutionary processes capable of generating these patterns can be quite thorny. Nevertheless, two papers in this issue report excellent progress in overcoming these obstacles and provide persuasive evidence supporting the involvement of specific natural variants in clinal adaptation of Drosophila melanogaster populations ( Fig. 1 ). In the first paper, Paaby et al. (2010) describe replicated allele frequency clines for a coding polymorphism in the Insulin‐like Receptor (InR) gene on two continents, findings that strongly point to selection acting at this locus and that likely reflect life history adaptation. McKechnie et al. (2010) report compelling functional evidence that cis‐regulatory variation in the Dca (drosophila cold acclimation) gene contributes to an adaptive cline in wing size. Notably, these papers employ largely alternative and complementary approaches, and together they exemplify how diverse strategies may be interwoven to draw convincing connections between genotype, phenotype, and evolutionary process.
Sentinel node localization in oral cavity and oropharynx squamous cell cancer.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the feasibility and predictive ability of the sentinel node localization technique for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity or oropharynx and clinically negative necks. DESIGN Prospective, efficacy study comparing the histopathologic status of the sentinel node with that of the remaining neck dissection specimen. SETTING Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS Patients with T1 or T2 disease and clinically negative necks were eligible for the study. Nine previously untreated patients with oral cavity or oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled in the study. INTERVENTIONS Unfiltered technetium Tc 99m sulfur colloid injections of the primary tumor and lymphoscintigraphy were performed on the day before surgery. Intraoperatively, the sentinel node(s) was localized with a gamma probe and removed after tumor resection and before neck dissection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the negative predictive value of the histopathologic status of the sentinel node for predicting cervical metastases. RESULTS Sentinel nodes were identified in 9 previously untreated patients. In 5 patients, there were no positive nodes. In 4 patients, the sentinel nodes were the only histopathologically positive nodes. In previously untreated patients, the sentinel node technique had a negative predictive value of 100% for cervical metastasis. CONCLUSIONS Our preliminary investigation shows that sentinel node localization is technically feasible in head and neck surgery and is predictive of cervical metastasis. The sentinel node technique has the potential to decrease the number of neck dissections performed in clinically negative necks, thus reducing the associated morbidity for patients in this group.
[Investigation of satisfactory rate in patients with body dysmorphic disorder after cosmetic surgery].

OBJECTIVE To explore the satisfactory rate in patients with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) after cosmetic surgery. METHODS We designed a questionnaire to investigate the postoperative satisfactory rate in patients with BDD and without BDD. RESULTS There was significant difference in postoperative satisfactory rate between patients with BDD and without BDD. CONCLUSION The patients with BDD have a lower satisfactory rate, which is even worse after repeated surgery.
Prognosis of hibernating myocardium is independent of recovery of function: evidence from a routine based follow-up study

Revascularization of hibernating segments improves both ventricular function (VF) and survival. In this study, we determined whether this relation is true in a routine based patients population with mildly reduced VF. Two to 6 years after undergoing 201Tl scintigraphy to detect hibernation, 153 patients were interviewed in order to collect medical information. This population was divided into four groups, according to the presence or absence of myocardial hibernation and of revascularization. Age, gender and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were similar in the four groups. Hard cardiac events (HEs) were noted in 14/33 (41%) patients with uncorrected hibernation, while in the other three groups HEs were recorded in fewer than 3% of patients. Univariate analysis indicated that the presence of hibernation, regardless of its extension, was the highest significant predictor of HEs. Multivariate analysis indicated that hibernation, stress ischaemia, age and absence of revascularization were significant predictors of HEs. These findings were not related to changes in LVEF or to New York Heart Association (NYHA) class during follow-up. In this routine based patient population, with mildly reduced VF, the rate of HEs seems to be related to uncorrected hibernation regardless of its extension. In these patients revascularization of hibernating segments is effective in reducing the risk of HEs while its role in improving VF or NYHA class is negligible.
[Variability of pollination and of pollen in Cypress].

La variabilite de la pollinisation et du pollen est evaluee au sein du genre Cupressus, afin d'estimer l'incidence potentielle des especes dans la production de pollen. Les specificites mises en evidence sont de nature a orienter le choix des especes de cypres.
Estabilização de imagens de videolaringoscopia

GUIMARÃES, V. F. , Image Stabilization for Videolaringoscopy. 2008. 48f. Programa de Pós-Graduação Interunidades em Bioengenharia EESC/FMRP/IQSC da Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, 2008. In this work, different computational techiniques were used and evaluated for image stabilization of videolaringoscopy scenes, so that the unwanted movements coming from cameraman and patient’s moviments can be removed, thus improving their quality. After stabilizing the video, we can get a kymography, an examination which allows us to visualize the the vibratory pattern of vocal fold, with a good quality. The techniques used were spatial correlation, phase correlation and Optical Flow. Key-words: Image stabilization, videolaringoscopy, kymography.
Rare cancer-specific mutations in PIK3CA show gain of function

Fifteen rare cancer-derived mutants of PIK3CA, the gene coding for the catalytic subunit p110α of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), were examined for their biological and biochemical properties. Fourteen of these mutants show a gain of function: they induce rapamycin-sensitive oncogenic transformation of chicken embryo fibroblasts, constitutively activate Akt and TOR-mediated signaling, and show enhanced lipid kinase activity. Mapping of these mutants on a partial structural model of p110α suggests three groups of mutants, defined by their location in distinct functional domains of the protein. We hypothesize that each of these three groups induces a gain of PI3K function by a different molecular mechanism. Mutants in the C2 domain increase the positive surface charge of this domain and therefore may enhance the recruitment of p110α to cellular membranes. Mutants in the helical domain map to a contiguous surface of the protein and may affect the interaction with other protein(s). Mutants in the kinase domain are located near the hinge of the activation loop. They may alter the position and mobility of the activation loop. Arbitrarily introduced mutations that have no detectable phenotype map either to the interior of the protein or are positioned on a surface region that lies opposite to the exposed surfaces containing gain-of-function mutants. Engineered mutants that exchange acidic or neutral residues for basic residues on the critical surfaces show a gain of function.
Troxacitabine-based therapy of refractory leukemia

Unique among currently approved or in-development nucleoside analogs, troxacitabine (Troxatyl™) is an L-nucleoside with significant cytotoxic activity. Its stereochemistry and cellular transport characteristics render it insensitive to some tumor cell mechanisms of resistance to D-nucleosides, such as cytarabine and fludarabine. Troxacitabine’s dose-limiting toxicities were mucositis and hand-foot syndrome in patients with refractory leukemia. Three complete and one partial remissions were observed in 30 patients with refractory acute myeloid leukemia on a Phase I study. Significant activity in blastic phase of chronic myeloid leukemia was seen on a Phase II study. Combinations of troxacitabine with ara-C, topotecan and idarubicin are active in patients with refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Phase II studies in patients with refractory lymphoproliferative diseases are ongoing. Troxacitabine merits further study in patients with hematological malignancies.