Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and bone density measurement

Osteoporosis is a serious condition that can lead to fractures and longstanding pain problems. Plain radiography is a poor method for visualizing the early stages of osteoporosis. It is only when the osteoporosis is severe or has led to fractures that the diagnosis is obvious. The two most popular methods for diagnosing osteoporoses are dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and quantitative computed tomography (QCT). The advantage of QCT is that it measures the bone mineral density (BMD) of the trabecular bone of the vertebral bodies. Other sources of failure such as calcifications in the abdomen or osteophytes of the vertebral bodies are not included in the measurement. The drawback is that it has a relatively high patient radiation dose. DXA has been the most frequently used method for the estimation of osteoporosis. Its advantage is that the entire body is included in the examination. The drawback is of course the radiation dose that is given to patients, but also that it cannot exclude outside sources that can influence the measurement of density of the vertebral bodies, such as vascular calcifications, large osteophytes, and other factors. Bone size also influences measurements, and the method cannot correct for anteroposterior depth. In this issue of Acta Radiologica, DONESCU et al. (1) present an article that again questions the accuracy of DXA measurements of BMD. Most patients that are subjected to bone density measurement are middle aged or elderly. DONESCU and coworkers have shown that age, fatty infiltration, and even small osteophytes and endplate sclerosis and concavity found with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) influence DXA measurements, and that such factors may explain 20% of variance in spine BMD. The conclusion is that DXA is not such an accurate tool for measuring BMD as has previously been thought, and the method may have to be adjusted for the factors mentioned above. MRI with measurement of T1 relaxation time seems to be relevant in the measurement of bone mass. With MRI, external factors such extraosseous calcifications, osteophytes, and deformity of the vertebral bodies are avoided. A definite advantage of MRI is the lack of unwanted radiation, but the drawback at present is the high cost of an MRI examination of the spine. It is likely that the future will provide fast, inexpensive MRI units specially designed for spine examinations to estimate BMD in an accurate way. The article raises one more point, and that is to always question the methods and findings that we take for granted. By doing so, research will create more accurate methods. It is by means of curiosity and questioning that medicine develops.
Persistent bacteremia and outcome in late onset infection among infants in a neonatal intensive care unit

Background. Persistent bacteremia despite antibiotic therapy has been correlated with adverse outcomes, including focal suppurative complications and death. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CONS) are the most common cause of nosocomial infection in infants requiring neonatal intensive care and might yield more substantial pathology if infection were persistent. Methods. To compare the severity and features of persistent infection by CONS with those of other bacteria, we reviewed infants admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit from 1990 through 2001 who developed bacteremia at >5 days of age with recovery of the same bacterial species from blood for >24 h after initiation of antibiotic therapy to which the organism was susceptible. Cases were excluded if a focal complication was already present with the initial positive culture or if the medical record was unavailable. Outcomes of interest included focal suppurative complications, death attributable to infection and duration of hospitalization among survivors. Results. We identified 62 infants with sustained infection, caused by CONS in 30 and by other organisms in 32 [10 Gram-negative, 22 Gram-positive (16 Staphylococcus aureus)]. Infants with persistent CONS had significantly lower birth weight and gestational age, but no difference was found for multiple other clinical and demographic risk factors. Indwelling vascular catheters were present at diagnosis in 85% of the infants (CONS 26 of 30, non-CONS 27 of 32). Responses of bacteremia to catheter removal vs. in situ treatment did not differ between the groups. No differences were observed for death from all causes (27 vs. 34%), death attributable to infection (6 vs. 12%) or duration of hospitalization among survivors [median (interquartile range): 102 (73 to 167) vs. 107.5 (89 to 130) days]. Focal suppurative complications were significantly more frequent in infants persistently infected with non-CONS (28 vs. 3%;P = 0.01). Duration of persistence correlated with focal complication in non-CONS infants (r = 0.988;P < 0.001). Conclusions. Although persistent infection with CONS occurs in significantly smaller and less mature infants than with non-CONS, death is no more frequent and focal complications are significantly less frequent. Infants with persistent infection should undergo aggressive evaluation for focal complications, with the yield expected to be higher in those with non-CONS.
A Controlled Examination of Medical and Psychosocial Factors Associated With Low Back Pain in Combination With Widespread Musculoskeletal Pain

Background: Little is known about chronic low back pain (CLBP) in combination with widespread musculoskeletal pain (WMP). Objective: This study examined factors that may be common to these conditions, with the objective of detecting factors that could improve the course of these diseases. Design: This was a prospective case control study. Patients and Intervention: A group of patients with CLBP and WMP (CLBP+WMP group, n=97) was compared with a group of individuals who were pain-free and without a history of musculoskeletal problems (control group, n=97) and with a group of patients with CLBP but without WMP (CLBP-only group, n=52). The mean age of the participants was 42.9 years (SD=8.74); 76% were women, and 24% were men. Measurements: A total of 74 variables were measured, including sociodemographic, physical, and psychosocial variables. After univariate examination for group differences and analyses of variables available for all 3 groups, logistic regression on selected factors was performed. The α level was set at . 05, but was adjusted to avoid randomly significant results. Results: For a number of variables, significant differences among the 3 groups were observed. For regression model 1 for the CLBP+WMP and control groups, 4 out of 9 variables showed significant likelihood tests: income (lower in the WMP group), depression, anxiety, and fear-avoidance behavior. For regression model 2, 2 out of 13 variables showed significant likelihood tests: endurance capacity (more in the CLBP+WMP group) and balance capability (worse in the CLBP+WMP group). The models predicted at least 91.2% of all cases to the correct group. The regression analysis regarding the CLBP+WMP and CLBP-only groups predicted 86.7% of all cases to the correct group. Three out of 10 variables showed significant likelihood tests: high disability, fear-avoidance behavior, and number of treatments. Limitations: Some variables in testing the patients with WMP and the individuals who were pain-free were not used with the patients with CLBP only. Conclusions: Patients with CLBP and WMP should be examined for indicated physical and psychosocial factors. Therapeutic management should consider them in the early stage of the disease. These findings also might apply to patients with fibromyalgia or myofascial pain.
The effect of metal ions on free radical formation and reactions in irradiated proteins.

SummaryThe effect of different metal ions on free radical formation and reactions in gamma-irradiated bovine serum albumin and trypsin in the solid state has been studied using electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The metal ions lowered the radical concentration as observed at 77°k, and markedly reduced the concentration of —CH2–S· radicals formed at room temperature. The results have been interpreted in terms of the reaction of radiation-produced electrons with the metal ions, and they confirm the postulate that, at 77°k, electrons are trapped on cystine residues in proteins and that the resultant cystine anion reacts at higher temperatures to give the —CH2–S· radical. The E.S. R. results have been correlated with the results of Butler and Robins, who found that metal ions protected trypsin against high-energy radiation.
Chemotherapy with gemcitabine plus cisplatin in patients with advanced biliary tract carcinoma at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND A gemcitabine-cisplatin combination is a standard treatment option for patients with advanced biliary tract carcinoma (BTC). We assessed the efficacy and safety of this regimen at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. METHODS Between April 2009 and December 2010, 30 chemotherapy-naïve patients (13 men and 17 women; median age: 61.5 years) with advanced BTC were retrospectively analyzed. Treatment consisted of gemcitabine (Gemmis(®); TTY, Taipei, Taiwan) 1000 mg/m(2), followed by cisplatin 30 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks. Tumor response was evaluated using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria every 2-3 cycles. The toxicity was assessed by the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, Version 3. RESULTS At the end of July, 2011, 27 patients were evaluated using the RECIST criteria. According to the intent to treat analysis of response, 5 patients (16.7%) had a partial response, 10 patients (33.3%) had stable disease and 12 patients (40.0%) had progressive disease. The median time to progression (TTP) and median overall survival (OS) of the 30 patients were 4.8 months and 13.4 months, respectively. The patients with biliary obstruction requiring drainage before treatment had a significantly shorter OS than those without biliary obstruction (p = 0.02) even though the TTP showed no statistically significant difference (p = 0.69) between groups. The major grade III/IV adverse events in the 30 patients included infection (n = 8, 26.7%), anemia (n = 5, 16.7%), neutropenia (n = 4, 13.3%), and elevated alanine aminotransferase (n = 2, 6.7%). There were no treatment-related deaths. CONCLUSIONS Gemcitabine plus cisplatin is a feasible chemotherapy regimen with manageable toxicity in patients with advanced BTC. Maintaining good biliary drainage is essential for these patients.
P067 Molecular profiling of early Crohn's disease reveals a prominent role for WNT5A.

[Verstockt, S. ; Cleynen, I. ] Katholieke Univ Leuven, Dept Human Genet, Leuven, Belgium. [Van der Goten, J.; Vancamelbeke, M. ; Verstockt, B. ; Rutgeerts, P.; Ferrante, M. ; Vermeire, S. ; Arijs, I. ] Katholieke Univ Leuven, Dept Clin & Expt Med, Translat Res Ctr Gastrointestinal Disorders, Leuven, Belgium. [Van Lommel, L. ; Schuit, F. ] Katholieke Univ Leuven, Dept Cellular & Mol Med, Gene Express Unit, Leuven, Belgium. [Arijs, I. ] Hasselt Univ, Fac Med & Life Sci, Hasselt, Belgium. [Arijs, I. ] Jessa Hosp, Hasselt, Belgium.
Virtual nursing grand rounds: Improving practice overseas.

NURSING GRAND ROUNDS (NGRs) are educational presentations designed for sharing nursing knowledge by focusing on a particular patient case or a group of similar cases. During NGRs, nurses can gain new knowledge, learn new skills, and improve their practice. NGRs promote professional development using the bestavailable evidence to solve nursing practice problems, identify real and potential barriers to effective care, and provide a forum for nurses to share clinical expertise and best practices to improve patient outcomes. Because of advances in technology and increasing use of the Internet, live and interactive point-to-point NGRs can be delivered to larger audiences, almost anywhere in the world. This article describes a virtual NGR collaboration involving American and Vietnamese clinicians with a focus on implementing an evidence-based oral care protocol for nurses caring for patients requiring mechanical ventilation.
The significance of organellar proteomics for the nervous system

Organellar proteomics is a useful tool for gaining biological insights about structures in the cell. Here, we discuss the tools used in organellar proteomics and the impact of this technique in understanding nervous system function. We will review insights gained from the proteomes of nervous system‐specific organelles such as synaptic vesicles and the postsynaptic density. Moreover, we will show how comparison of proteomes between organelles isolated from the nervous system and from other tissues highlight nervous system‐specific functions using the examples of clathrin‐coated vesicles and RNA granules.
Confronting the barriers to develop novel vaccines against brucellosis

Brucellosis is an important zoonotic disease of nearly worldwide distribution. This pathogen causes abortion in domestic animals and undulant fever, arthritis, endocarditis and meningitis in humans. Currently, there is no vaccine licensed for brucellosis in humans. Furthermore, control of brucellosis in the human population relies on the control of animal disease. Available animal vaccines may cause disease and in some cases have limited efficacy. This article discusses recent studies in the development of recombinant protein, DNA and live-attenuated vaccines against brucellosis. Furthermore, we call the attention of the scientific community, government and industry professionals to the fact that for these novel vaccine initiatives to become licensed products they need to be effective in natural hosts and bypass the regulatory barriers present in several countries.
Identification of factor VIII gene mutations in 101 patients with haemophilia A: mutation analysis by inversion screening and multiplex PCR and CSGE and molecular modelling of 10 novel missense substitutions

Summary. Haemophilia A (HA) is an X‐linked bleeding disorder caused by diverse mutations in the human coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) gene. We have analysed DNA from 109 unrelated Indian patients with HA for their FVIII gene defects. Among these patients 89 (82%) had severe (FVIII:C <1%) HA, 11 (10%) had moderate (FVIII:C 1–5%) HA and nine (8%) had mild (FVIII:C 5–30%) HA. These patients were first screened for the common intron 22 and intron 1 inversions. Inversion negative samples were screened for point mutations by a multiplex PCR and conformation sensitive gel electrophoresis strategy. Mutations were identified in 101 of the 109 patients. These included two (2%) intron 1 and 51 (51%) intron 22 inversions, four (4%) gross deletions and 44 (43%) point mutations. Twenty‐nine novel causative mutations, including 11 missense, seven frameshift, five nonsense mutations, three splice site defects and three gross deletions were detected. Ten of the novel missense mutations were studied by molecular modelling. Two different (Thr2253Pro and Pro1392fs) mutations were seen in four unrelated families and FVIII gene haplotyping suggested a common founder effect. Seven of these 109 patients had inhibitors. Among them, four had intron 22 inversions, one had a novel gross deletion (delexon 2–9) and one a nonsense mutation (Trp1535Stop). In one of these patients, no mutation could be identified in the FVIII gene. A Thr2253Pro novel mutation and an intron 22 inversion were identified in two female haemophiliacs. The data from this study suggests that the spectrum of gene defects in Indian patients with HA is as heterogeneous as reported in other populations.
Single QTL effects, epistasis, and pleiotropy account for two-thirds of the phenotypic F(2) variance of growth and obesity in DU6i x DBA/2 mice.

Genes influencing body weight and composition and serum concentrations of leptin, insulin, and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in nonfasting animals were mapped in an intercross of the extreme high-growth mouse line DU6i and the inbred line DBA/2. Significant loci with major effects (F > 7.07) for body weight, obesity, and muscle weight were found on chromosomes 1, 4, 5, 7, 11, 12, 13, and 17, for leptin on chromosome 14, for insulin on chromosome 4, and for IGF-I on chromosome 10 at the Igf1 gene locus itself and on chromosome 18. Significant interaction between different quantitative trait loci (QTL) positions was observed (P < 0.01). Evidence was found that loci having small direct effect on growth or obesity contribute to the obese phenotype by gene-gene interaction. The effects of QTLs, epistasis, and pleiotropy account for 64% and 63% of the phenotypic variance of body weight and fat accumulation and for over 32% of muscle weight and serum concentrations of leptin, and IGF-I in the F(2) population of DU6i x DBA/2 mice. [The quantitative trait loci described in this paper have been submitted to the Mouse Genome Database. ]
Female gender as a risk factor for torsades de pointes associated with cardiovascular drugs.

OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that female prevalence is greater than expected among reported cases of torsades de pointes associated with cardiovascular drugs that prolong cardiac repolarization. DATA SOURCES A MEDLINE search of the English-language literature for the period of 1980 through 1992, using the terms torsade de pointes, polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, atypical ventricular tachycardia, proarrhythmia, and drug-induced ventricular tachycardia, supplemented by pertinent references (dating back to 1964) from the reviewed articles and by personal communications with researchers involved in this field. STUDY SELECTION Ninety-three articles were identified describing at least one case of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (with gender specified) associated with quinidine, procainamide hydrochloride, disopyramide, amiodarone, sotalol hydrochloride, bepridil hydrochloride, or prenylamine. A total of 332 patients were included in the analysis following application of prospectively defined criteria (eg, corrected QT [QTc] interval of 0.45 second or greater while receiving drug). DATA EXTRACTION Clinical and electrocardiographic descriptors were extracted for analysis. Expected female prevalence for torsades de pointes associated with quinidine, procainamide, disopyramide, and aminodarone was conservatively estimated from gender-specific data reported for antiarrhythmic drug prescriptions in 1986, as derived from the National Disease and Therapeutic Index, a large pharmaceutical database; expected female prevalence for torsades de pointes associated with sotalol, bepridil, and prenylamine was assumed to be 50% or less since these agents are prescribed for male-predominant cardiovascular conditions. RESULTS Women made up 70% (95% confidence interval, 64% to 75%) of the 332 reported cases of cardiovascular-drug-related torsades de pointes, and a female prevalence exceeding 50% was observed in 20 (83%) of 24 studies having at least four included cases. When analyzed according to various descriptors, women still constituted the majority (range, 51% to 94% of torsades de pointes cases), irrespective of the presence or absence of underlying coronary artery or rheumatic heart disease, left ventricular dysfunction, type of underlying arrhythmia, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, bradycardia, concomitant digoxin treatment, or level of QTc at baseline or while receiving drug. When cases of torsades de pointes were analyzed by individual drug, observed female prevalence was always greater than expected, representing a statistically significant difference (P < .05) for all agents except procainamide. CONCLUSIONS These findings strongly suggest that women are more prone than men to develop torsades de pointes during administration of cardiovascular drugs that prolong cardiac repolarization. The pathophysiological basis for, and therapeutic implications of, this gender disparity should be further investigated.
Origins of halophilic microorganisms in ancient salt deposits.

Terry J. McGenity,* Renia T. Gemmell, William D. Grant and Helga Stan-Lotter Department of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex CO4 3SQ, UK. Agrol Ltd, Agrol House, Woodbridge Meadows, Guildford, Surrey GU1 1BA, UK. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Leicester, PO Box 138, Leicester LE1 9HN, UK. Institute of Genetics and General Biology, Hellbrunnerstr. 34, A-5020, Salzburg. Austria.
A Systematic Uncertainty Analysis of an Evaluative Fate and Exposure Model

Multimedia fate and exposure models are widely used to regulate the release of toxic chemicals, to set cleanup standards for contaminated sites, and to evaluate emissions in life‐cycle assessment. CalTOX, one of these models, is used to calculate the potential dose, an outcome that is combined with the toxicity of the chemical to determine the Human Toxicity Potential (HTP), used to aggregate and compare emissions. The comprehensive assessment of the uncertainty in the potential dose calculation in this article serves to provide the information necessary to evaluate the reliability of decisions based on the HTP. A framework for uncertainty analysis in multimedia risk assessment is proposed and evaluated with four types of uncertainty. Parameter uncertainty is assessed through Monte Carlo analysis. The variability in landscape parameters is assessed through a comparison of potential dose calculations for different regions in the United States. Decision rule uncertainty is explored through a comparison of the HTP values under open and closed system boundaries. Model uncertainty is evaluated through two case studies, one using alternative formulations for calculating the plant concentration and the other testing the steady state assumption for wet deposition. This investigation shows that steady state conditions for the removal of chemicals from the atmosphere are not appropriate and result in an underestimate of the potential dose for 25% of the 336 chemicals evaluated.
Bayesian selection of grammar productions for the language of thought

Probabilistic proposals of Language of Thoughts (LoTs) can explain learning across different domains as statistical inference over a compositionally structured hypothesis space. While frameworks may differ on how a LoT may be implemented computationally, they all share the property that they are built from a set of atomic symbols and rules by which these symbols can be combined. In this work we show how the set of productions of a LoT grammar can be effectively selected from a broad repertoire of possible productions by an inferential process starting from experimental data. We then test this method in the language of geometry, a specific LoT model (Amalric et al., 2017). Finally, despite the fact of the geometrical LoT not being a universal (i.e. Turing-complete) language, we show an empirical relation between a sequence’s probability and its complexity consistent with the theoretical relationship for universal languages described by Levin’s Coding Theorem.
On the Degree of Mixed Polynomial Matrices

The mixed polynomial matrix, introduced as a convenient mathematical tool for the description of physical/engineering dynamical systems, is a polynomial matrix of which the coefficients are classified into fixed constants and independent parameters. The valuated matroid, invented by Dress and Wenzel [ Appl. Math. Lett. , 3 (1990), pp. 33--35], is a combinatorial abstraction of the degree of minors (subdeterminants) of a polynomial matrix. We discuss a number of implications of the recent developments in the theory of valuated matroids in the context of polynomial matrix theory. In particular, we apply the valuated matroid intersection theorem to the analysis of the degree of the determinant of a mixed polynomial matrix to obtain a novel duality identity together with an efficient algorithm.