Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association of thyroid function with estimated glomerular filtration rate in a population-based study: the HUNT study.

OBJECTIVE Low thyroid function may be associated with reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR). We therefore studied the association of thyroid function with estimated GFR (eGFR) in a population-based study. DESIGN A cross-sectional, population-based study of 29 480 individuals above 40 years of age, without previously known thyroid disease. METHODS We calculated geometric mean eGFR and odds ratio (OR) of chronic kidney disease (CKD; eGFR <60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2)) according to categories of thyroid function, using people with TSH in the lower third of the reference range (0.50-1.4 mU/l) as the comparison group. RESULTS TSH within the reference range (0.50-3.5 mU/l) was negatively associated with eGFR (P for trend <0.001). Compared with people with TSH in the lower third of the reference range (83.0 ml/min per 1.73 m(2)), eGFR was lower in people with TSH in the middle (81.6 ml/min per 1.73 m(2)) and highest third (80.3 ml/min per 1.73 m(2)) of the reference range, and in people with subclinical (79.3 ml/min per 1.73 m(2), P<0.001) or overt hypothyroidism (76.5 ml/min per 1.73 m(2), P<0.001). The prevalence of CKD was higher in people with TSH in the middle (OR 1.20, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-1.35) or highest third (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.13-1.52) of the reference range, compared with people in the reference group. Also, CKD was more common in people with subclinical (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.38-1.93) or overt (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.22-3.20) hypothyroidism. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that low thyroid function, also within the clinically normal range, is associated with reduced GFR.
Master-Slave Synchronization of Lur'e Systems Based on Time-Varying Delay Feedback Control

This paper deals with the master-slave synchronization problem of Lur'e systems based on time-varying delay feedback control. The time-varying delay is only assumed to be bounded. Delay-dependent conditions are derived such that the controlled slave system can track the master system. The synchronization criteria are expressed in terms of linear matrix inequality, which can be checked readily by using some standard numerical packages. A simulation example is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Surprisingly long-lived ascorbyl radicals in acetonitrile: concerted proton-electron transfer reactions and thermochemistry.

Proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactions and thermochemistry of 5,6-isopropylidene ascorbate (iAscH-) have been examined in acetonitrile solvent. iAscH- is oxidized by 2,4,6-tBu3C6H2O. and by excess TEMPO. to give the corresponding 5,6-isopropylidene ascorbyl radical anion (iAsc.-), which persists for hours at 298 K in dry MeCN solution. The stability of iAsc. - is surprising in light of the transience of the ascorbyl radical in aqueous solutions and is due to the lack of the protons needed for radical disproportionation. A concerted proton-electron transfer (CPET) mechanism is indicated for the reactions of iAscH-. Redox potential, pKa and equilibrium measurements define the thermochemical landscape for 5,6-isopropylidene ascorbic acid and its derivatives in MeCN. These measurements give an O-H bond dissociation free energy (BDFE) for iAscH- of 65.4 +/- 1.5 kcal mol-1 in MeCN. Similar studies on underivatized ascorbate indicate a BDFE of 67.8 +/- 1.2 kcal mol-1. These values are much lower than the aqueous BDFE for ascorbate of 74.0 +/- 1.5 kcal mol-1 derived from reported data.
Erupción pasiva alterada: Implicaciones estéticas y alternativas terapéuticas

La causa del exceso de encia al sonreir depende de multiples factores, como el exceso de dimension vertical del maxilar superior, las malposiciones dentarias debidas a una gran sobremordida o la presencia de una erupcion pasiva alterada. Esta ultima entidad clinica, que a menudo pasa inadvertida a pesar de su alta prevalencia, puede condicionar de forma importante la estetica de la sonrisa. En este articulo se analiza la forma de realizar un diagnostico correcto de esta alteracion, lo cual sera esencial para elegir la mejor correcion de cada caso en concreto, generalmente mediante tecnicas de cirugia periodontal. Se describen dichas opciones terapeticas y finalmente se incluyen unos casos clinicos a modo de ejemplo de tratamiento de dicho proceso en el que, aparte de existir implicaciones patologicas, la estetica juega un papel determinante.
ALOE VERA IN THE TREATMENT OF ROENTGEN ULCERS AND TELANGIECTASIS

The use of the fresh whole leaf of aloe vera in the treatment of roentgen dermatitis was suggested by C. E. and Creston Collins.1Early in 1935 they reported the case of a woman, aged 31, who had had a severe roentgen dermatitis of the left forehead following a depilating roentgen treatment. Various local treatments were tried without effect, and exfoliation and severe itching persisted at the treated site. The patient received a local application of the fresh whole leaf of aloe vera to allay the itching. Within twenty-four hours the sensation of itching and burning subsided and the condition progressively improved within the next five weeks and showed "complete regeneration of skin of the forehead and scalp, new hair growth, complete restoration of sensation, and absence of scars. " Radiation sequelae have been classified by Wise and Sulzberger2as "(1) pigmentation, (2) telangiectasis, (3) sclerosis, (4) keratoses, (5)
Enhancing Network Synchronization by Sparse Repulsive Couplings

In a small-world network of mainly attractively coupled nonidentical neurons, we show that a small fraction of phase-repulsive couplings is able to strongly improve synchronization for certain values of the link strength, and long-range connection probability. By means of a spectral analysis we relate the observed dynamical behavior with the structural properties of the network.
Association between serum TSH concentration within the normal range and adiposity.

BACKGROUND Overt hypothyroidism is clearly related to body weight gain and greater adiposity, but the range of hormonal change in serum TSH concentration associated with weight gain remains a focus of debate. AIM The aim of this review was to assess studies that evaluated the relationship between anthropometric measures and serum TSH concentration in euthyroid subjects. METHODS Studies held on the Ovid MEDLINE database were searched and original articles published from 2000 to 2010 were included. The literature search was restricted to studies conducted in humans aged 18 years or older and written in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. Studies that evaluated the association between anthropometric measures and serum TSH within the normal range as the primary objective, as well as additional analysis, were included. RESULTS A total of 29 studies met the inclusion criteria. Of the 29 studies, 18 showed a positive relationship between measures of adiposity and serum TSH. Despite the plausibility of this association, only two studies reported longitudinal findings. The influence of smoking on the association between serum TSH and anthropometric measures was evaluated in only three studies and remains unclear. CONCLUSION Thus, further longitudinal studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms by which TSH concentration might impact body weight.
Effect of somatostatin infusion on peptide YY secretion: studies in the acute and recovery phase of anorexia nervosa and in obesity.

OBJECTIVE Changes in many gastrointestinal peptides, including the anorexigenic peptide YY (PYY), which is produced by L cells, occur in both anorexia nervosa (AN) and obesity (OB). High PYY levels are present in AN, whereas in morbid OB fasting and postprandial PYY secretion is blunted. Somatostatin (somatotropin release-inhibiting factor (SRIF)) reportedly inhibits plasma PYY concentrations in animals and healthy humans, but the effect of a SRIF infusion on spontaneous PYY secretion in AN and OB is unknown. METHODS A total of 18 young women, seven with acute AN (A-AN), four with AN in the recovery phase (R-AN), and seven with morbid OB, were studied. All subjects underwent an infusion of SRIF (9 μg/kg i.v./h, over 60 min), with blood samples drawn before and at different time intervals after SRIF administration. Plasma PYY levels were measured at each time point. RESULTS SRIF significantly inhibited plasma PYY concentrations in R-AN and OB, without affecting PYY titers in A-AN. In OB, the inhibitory effect of SRIF also persisted at 90 min. Withdrawal of SRIF infusion in R-AN resulted in a prompt restoration of basal plasma PYY levels, whereas termination of SRIF infusion in OB was followed by a slower increase of PYY titers toward baseline levels. After infusion, PYY Δ area under the curve (ΔAUC) in R-AN was significantly higher than those in A-AN and OB patients. A significant difference in PYY ΔAUC between A-AN and OB was present. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest the existence of a hypo- and hyper-sensitivity of L cells to the inhibitory effect of SRIF in A-AN and OB respectively.
Hypogonadism as a risk factor for cardiovascular mortality in men: a meta-analytic study.

OBJECTIVE To verify whether hypogonadism represents a risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and to verify whether testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) improves CV parameters in subjects with known CV diseases (CVDs). DESIGN Meta-analysis. METHODS An extensive Medline search was performed using the following words 'testosterone, CVD, and males'. The search was restricted to data from January 1, 1969, up to January 1, 2011. RESULTS Of the 1178 retrieved articles, 70 were included in the study. Among cross-sectional studies, patients with CVD have significantly lower testosterone and higher 17-β estradiol (E(2)) levels. Conversely, no difference was observed for DHEAS. The association between low testosterone and high E(2) levels with CVD was confirmed in a logistic regression model, after adjusting for age and body mass index (hazard ratio (HR)=0.763 (0.744-0.783) and HR=1.015 (1.014-1.017), respectively, for each increment of total testosterone and E(2) levels; both P<0.0001). Longitudinal studies showed that baseline testosterone level was significantly lower among patients with incident overall- and CV-related mortality, in comparison with controls. Conversely, we did not observe any difference in the baseline testosterone and E(2) levels between case and controls for incident CVD. Finally, TRT was positively associated with a significant increase in treadmill test duration and time to 1 mm ST segment depression. CONCLUSIONS Lower testosterone and higher E(2) levels correlate with increased risk of CVD and CV mortality. TRT in hypogonadism moderates metabolic components associated with CV risk. Whether low testosterone is just an association with CV risk, or an actual cause-effect relationship, awaits further studies.
Editorial Comment—Funeral for a Friend

This editorial is not written by Elton John, and the funeral is not for Marilyn Monroe. We are neuroradiologists, and it is probably time to say farewell to diagnostic digital substraction angiography (DSA) in patients with carotid artery stenosis. Moniz,1 a Portuguese neurologist, brought cerebral angiography to life in 1927, and since then, techniques have improved continuously up to ultrasoft catheters and high-resolution biplane angiography equipment. However, despite all these improvements, it is still risky to inject a contrast agent into the cerebral circulation.2 We all are hopeful that visualization of supra-aortal vessels might be possible some day without any risk to the patient. Ultrasound with its variants was a major step forward toward noninvasive imaging of the carotid bifurcation.3,4 Depending on the person who did the examination, it became a perfect screening tool and replaced DSA for presurgical workup in those institutions in which experienced “ultrasounders” and vascular surgeons had the opportunity to work and learn together. However, it is highly observer dependent, and DSA remained the gold standard. As a consequence, we all …
Definition of Distance for Marked Point Process Data and its Application to Recurrence Plot-Based Analysis of Exchange Tick Data of Foreign Currencies

Recurrence plots are effective in analyzing nonstationary time series. Further, it is desirable to make the recurrence plot-based analysis applicable to marked point process data such as foreign exchange tick data. In this paper, we define a distance for marked point process data and establish the basis for further analyses. We also show that foreign exchange tick data have serial dependence using recurrence plots and the random shuffle surrogate method.
Explicit ODE Reduction of Memristive Systems

The recent discovery of a physical device behaving as a memristor has driven a lot of attention to memristive systems, which are likely to play a relevant role in electronics in the near future, especially at the nanometer scale. The derivation of explicit ODE models for these systems is important because it opens a way for the study of the dynamics of general memristive circuits, including e.g. stability aspects, oscillations, bifurcations or chaotic phenomena. We tackle this problem as a reduction of implicit ODE (differential-algebraic) models, and show how tree-based approaches can be adapted in order to accommodate memristors. Specifically, we prove that the derivation of a tree-based explicit ODE model is feasible for strictly passive memristive systems under broad coupling effects and without a priori current/voltage control assumptions on tree/cotree elements. Our framework applies in particular to topologically degenerate circuits and accommodates a wide class of controlled sources. We also discuss a quasilinear reduction of nonpassive problems, which do not admit an explicit ODE description in the presence of singularities; some related bifurcations are addressed in this context.
Awake Craniotomy: A New Airway Approach

Awake craniotomies have been performed regularly at the University of Pennsylvania since 2004. Varying approaches to airway management are described for this procedure, including intubation with an endotracheal tube and use of a laryngeal mask airway, simple facemask, or nasal cannula. In this case series, we describe the successful use (i.e., no need for endotracheal intubation related to inadequate gas exchange) of bilateral nasopharyngeal airways in 90 patients undergoing awake craniotomies. The use of nasopharyngeal airways can ease the transition between the asleep and awake phases of the craniotomy without the need to stimulate the airway. Our purpose was to describe our experience and report adverse events related to this technique.
The burden of Cushing's disease: clinical and health-related quality of life aspects.

OBJECTIVE Cushing's disease (CD) is a rare endocrine disorder characterized by excess secretion of ACTH due to a pituitary adenoma. Current treatment options are limited and may pose additional risks. A literature review was conducted to assess the holistic burden of CD. DESIGN Studies published in English were evaluated to address questions regarding the epidemiology of CD, time to diagnosis, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), treatment outcomes, mortality, prevalence of comorbidities at diagnosis, and reversibility of comorbidities following the treatment. METHODS a two-stage literature search was performed in Medline, EMBASE, and Science Citation Index, using keywords related to the epidemiology, treatment, and outcomes of CD: i) articles published from 2000 to 2012 were identified and ii) an additional hand search (all years) was conducted on the basis of bibliography of identified articles. RESULTS At the time of diagnosis, 58-85% of patients have hypertension, 32-41% are obese, 20-47% have diabetes mellitus, 50-81% have major depression, 31-50% have osteoporosis, and 38-71% have dyslipidemia. Remission rates following transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) are high when performed by expert pituitary surgeons (rates of 65-90%), but the potential for relapse remains (rates of 5-36%). Although some complications can be partially reversed, time to reversal can take years. The HRQoL of patients with CD also remains severely compromised after remission. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the significant burden associated with CD. As current treatment options may not fully reverse the burden of chronic hypercortisolism, there is a need for both improved diagnostic tools to reduce the time to diagnosis and effective therapy, particularly a targeted medical therapy.
Localized oscillations in Diffusively Coupled Cyclic Negative Feedback Systems

Oscillations in networks composed of Cyclic Negative Feedback systems (CNF systems) are widely used to mimic many periodic phenomena occurring in systems biology. In particular, the possible coexistence of different attractors permits to suitably describe the differentiating processes arising in living cells. The aim of the manuscript is to characterize, through a spectral based technique, the complex global dynamical behaviors emerging in arrays of diffusively coupled CNF systems.
When Disaster Strikes: How Individuals and Communities Cope With Catastrophe

There is a paradox about events of disastrous magnitude. While it is well known that calamities such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and raging fires can wreak immediate havoc, damaging life and property, it is less well recognized that mental trauma surfacing in some individuals after such incidents can have a long-lasting, pervasive effect. Disasters test individuals and communities far beyond their usual capabilities. Most often, rescuers rise to meet the need in valiant fashion, but the emotional aftermath in some individuals seems less heroic; these persons are left to battle it out alone and unnoticed. Minor everyday events can trigger reenactment of a brush with death in survivors, who may remain emotionally disabled long after the danger is past. Such morbidity is not usually calculated when statisticians tabulate the destructive effect of a disastrous event. Additionally, there may be unanticipated victims following a disaster. Behind the primary victims lies a whole
RE: OSTEOPOROSIS AND SPINAL FRACTURES IN MEN WITH PROSTATE CANCER: RISK FACTORS AND EFFECTS OF ANDROGEN DEPRIVATION THERAPY

ABSTRACT Purpose: We determined the risk factors for osteoporosis and spinal fractures in men with prostate cancer receiving androgen deprivation therapy. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 87 consecutive men with prostate cancer receiving androgen deprivation therapy referred for evaluation of osteoporosis. Data were comprised of lateral thoracolumbar radiographs, bone densitometry, serum biochemistry and a detailed assessment of osteoporotic risk factors. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the major risk factors for osteoporosis and spinal fractures. Results: There were 38 (44%) men who were 74.5 years old with radiographic evidence of spinal fractures. They had an initial mean prostate specific antigen of 52.8 ng/ml and had received androgen deprivation therapy for a mean of 39.6 months (95% confidence interval 28.7 to 50.4). Mean spinal (quantitative computerized tomography t-score −4.2) and femoral neck bone mineral densities (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry t-score −2.1) were significantly lower than in men without spinal fractures (p Conclusions: Prolonged androgen deprivation therapy, low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and a history of alcohol excess are important risk factors for osteoporosis and spinal fractures in men with prostate cancer.
Toxic cardiomyopathy leading to fatal acute cardiac failure related to vandetanib: a case report with histopathological analysis.

CONTEXT Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) accounts for 3-4% of all malignant thyroid neoplasias. Vandetanib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, epidermal growth factor receptor, and RET, has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic MTC. The heart seems to be particularly susceptible to adverse effects associated with TKI therapy, and virtually all TKIs have been associated with cardiovascular events. CLINICAL PRESENTATION We report the case of a patient with metastatic MTC who was enrolled in the Phase III clinical study (NCT00410761) and presented a favorable response to vandetanib therapy, displaying marked decrease in the level of serologic tumor markers and shrinkage of metastatic lesions. After 14 months of therapy, the patient developed a fatal cardiac failure. Myocardial infarction was excluded by serial measurements of specific cardiac markers (serial troponin-T measurements varied from 0.037 to 0.042 ng/ml) and serologic tests for Chaga's disease were negative. Postmortem examination of the heart revealed cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and marked myocyte degeneration in the subendocardial zones and papillary muscles of the myocardium. These pathological changes are similar to those observed in TKI-treated rats and are suggestive of drug-induced cardiotoxicity. CONCLUSION This case illustrates a previously unreported serious vandetanib-related adverse effect and highlights the need for close monitoring of patients under TKI therapy in order to identify early signs of congestive heart failure or myocardium damage.
Is Compliance With Surgical Care Improvement Project Cardiac (SCIP-Card-2) Measures for Perioperative &bgr;-Blockers Associated With Reduced Incidence of Mortality and Cardiovascular-Related Critical Quality Indicators After Noncardiac Surgery?

BACKGROUND: While continuation of &bgr;-blockers (BBs) perioperatively has become a national quality improvement measure, the relationship between BB withdrawal and mortality and cardiovascular-related critical quality indicators has not been studied in a contemporary cohort of patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. METHODS: For this retrospective study, the quality assurance database of a large community-based anesthesiology group practice was used to identify 410,288 surgical cases, 18 years of age or older, who underwent elective or emergent noncardiac surgical procedures between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2014. Each surgical case that was withdrawn from BBs perioperatively was propensity matched by clinical and surgical characteristics to 4 cases that continued BBs perioperatively. Subsequently, multivariable conditional logistic regression analyses were performed in the matched cohort to determine the extent to which withdrawal of perioperative BBs was independently associated with mortality as the primary outcome and cardiovascular-related critical quality indicators as the secondary outcome (need for vasopressor, electrocardiographic changes requiring treatment, unplanned admission to intensive care unit, postanesthesia care unit stay >2 hours, and a combination of cardiac arrest and myocardial infarction) within 48 hours postoperatively. RESULTS: Of the 66,755 (16%) cases in the cohort admitted on BB therapy, BBs were withdrawn in 3829 (6%) and continued in 62,926 (94%). Propensity score matching resulted in an analysis cohort of 19,145 cases. Withdrawal of perioperative BBs in the multivariable conditional logistic regression analysis was significantly associated with an increased risk for mortality (odds ratio [OR], 3.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.75–7.35; P = .0003), but a significantly decreased risk for need of blood pressure support requiring vasopressor initiation (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.76–0.92; P = .0003) and extended postanesthesia care unit stay (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.54–0.88; P = .004) within 48 hours after noncardiac surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative withdrawal of BBs was associated with increased risk for mortality within 48 hours after noncardiac surgery and with decreased risk for need of vasopressor during the early postoperative period and a shorter stay in the postanesthesia care unit.