Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Increased Mortality in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Call to Action

The mortality rate among patients with chronic kidney disease is much higher than among those without. As glomerular filtration rate declines and patients approach end-stage renal disease, the mortality rate increases and patients at this stage are more likely to die than receive renal replacement therapy. The higher mortality and its underlying causes among chronic kidney disease patients is a serious issue. Lack of physician awareness of chronic kidney disease and its association with excess mortality remains a problem. In this review of current literature, we aim to increase this awareness among health care professionals and the general public and to call for action to improve survival in chronic kidney disease patients. The data strongly suggest that advancing kidney dysfunction leads to increased mortality risk. Contributing to the mortality associated with chronic kidney disease are the comorbidities that accompany this disease state. For instance, patients with chronic kidney disease and comorbidities are at 1.3 to 3.6 times more risk than patients without chronic kidney disease. Further, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among chronic kidney disease patients. It appears that both traditional (such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and smoking) and nontraditional risk factors (C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels) present in the chronic kidney disease population promote the frequent development of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, therapies targeting both progression of chronic kidney disease and comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease are required to reduce mortality among these patients.
Molecular and biochemical mechanisms of perinatal brain injury.

Hypoxic-ischemic injury to the prenatal and perinatal brain is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality to infants, often leading to mental retardation, seizures, and cerebral palsy. The susceptibility of the immature CNS to hypoxia-ischemia is largely dependent on the temporal and regional status of critical developmental processes, as well as on the regulation of cerebral blood flow and metabolism. The molecular and biochemical mechanisms of acute injury to the neonatal brain in experimental rodent and murine models of hypoxic-ischemic and ischemic injury, including disturbances of intracellular homeostasis, role of glutamate receptors, free radicals and transitional ions, as well as the modifying role of gene expression to cell death/survival will be reviewed in this chapter.
Risk Factors for Falls among Hospitalized Trauma Patients

Inpatient falls lead to an injury in 30 per cent of cases and serious injury in 5 per cent. Increasing staffing and implementing fall prevention programs can be expensive and require a significant use of resources. We hypothesized that trauma patients have unique risk factors to sustain a fall while hospitalized. This is a retrospective cohort study from 2005 to 2010 of all trauma patients admitted to an urban Level I trauma center. Patients who fell while hospitalized were compared with patients who did not fall to identify risk factors for sustaining an inpatient fall. There were 16,540 trauma patients admitted during the study period and 128 (0.8%) fell while hospitalized. Independent risk factors for a trauma patient to fall while hospitalized included older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.02 [1.01 to 1.03], P < 0.001), male gender (OR, 1.6 [1.0 to 2.4], P = 0.03), blunt mechanism (OR, 5.1 [1.6 to 16.3], P = 0.006), Glasgow Coma Score at admission (OR, 0.59 [0.35 to 0.97], P = 0.04), intensive care unit admission (OR, 2.3 [1.4 to 3.7], P = 0.001), and need for mechanical ventilation (OR, 2.2 [1.2 to 3.9], P = 0.01). Trauma patients who fell while hospitalized sustained an injury in 17 per cent of cases and a serious injury in 5 per cent. Inpatient falls in hospitalized trauma patients are uncommon. Risk factors include older age, male gender, blunt mechanism, lower Glasgow Coma Score, and the need for intensive care unit admission or mechanical ventilation. Trauma patients with these risk factors may require higher staffing ratios and should be enrolled in a formal fall prevention program.
Tubular modular permanent-magnet machines equipped with quasi-Halbach magnetized magnets-part II: armature reaction and design optimization

Using the analytical formulas derived in Part I for predicting the magnetic field distribution, thrust force, and electromotive force of a three-phase tubular modular permanent-magnet machine equipped with quasi-Halbach magnetized magnets, this paper analyzes the armature reaction field, and addresses issues that are pertinent to the design optimization of the machine. It shows that optimal values of the ratio of the axial length of the radially magnetized magnets to the pole pitch exist for both maximum force capability and minimum force ripple. The utility and accuracy of the analytical predictions and design optimization technique are demonstrated on a 9-slot/10-pole machine.
A prospective multicenter evaluation of a new side‐port endoscopic ultrasound‐fine‐needle aspiration in solid upper gastrointestinal lesions

Background and Study Aims: Diagnostic yield of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)‐fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) varies depending on the equipment used and the site targeted. Multiple needle passes are usually required to obtain a diagnosis. A new needle incorporating a side‐port carries a theoretical advantage regarding acquisition of cytological material. The aim of the study was to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the Olympus side‐port needle in solid upper gastrointestinal indications.
Activated Human Neonatal CD8+ T Cells Are Subject to Immunomodulation by Direct TLR2 or TLR5 Stimulation1

In conditions of optimal priming, the neonate possess competency to mount quantitatively adult-like responses. Vaccine formulations containing sufficiently potent adjuvants may overcome the neonates’ natural tendency for immunosuppression and provoke a similarly robust immune response. TLR expression on T cells represents the possibility of directly enhancing T cell immunity. We examined the ex vivo responsiveness of highly purified human cord blood-derived CD8+ T cells to direct TLR ligation by a repertoire of TLR agonists. In concert with TCR stimulation, only Pam3Cys (palmitoyl-3-Cys-Ser-(Lys)4) and flagellin monomers significantly enhanced proliferation, CD25+ expression, IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and intracellular granzyme B expression. TLR2 and TLR5 mRNA was detected in the CD8+ T cells. Blocking studies confirmed that the increase in IFN-γ production was by the direct triggering of surface TLR2 or TLR5. The simultaneous exposure of CD8+ T cells to both TLR agonists had an additive effect on IFN-γ production. These data suggest that a combination of the two TLR ligands would be a potent T cell adjuvant. This may represent a new approach to TLR agonist-based adjuvant design for future human neonatal vaccination strategies requiring a CD8+ component.
Magnetic resonance imaging assessed inflammation in the wrist is associated with patient-reported physical impairment, global assessment of disease activity and pain in early rheumatoid arthritis: longitudinal results from two randomised controlled trials

Objectives To examine whether MRI assessed inflammation and damage in the wrist of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are associated with patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Methods Wrist and hand MRIs of 210 patients with early RA from two investigator-initiated, randomised controlled studies (CIMESTRA/OPERA) were assessed according to the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology RA MRI score (RAMRIS) for synovitis, tenosynovitis, osteitis, bone erosions and joint space narrowing (JSN) at baseline, 1 and 5 years follow-up. These features, and changes therein, were assessed for associations with health assessment questionnaires (HAQ), patient global visual analogue scales (VAS-PtGlobal) and VAS-pain using Spearman’s correlations, generalised estimating equations and univariate/multivariable linear regression analyses. MRI features were further tested for trends against specific hand-related HAQ items using Jonckheere trend tests. Results MRI inflammation, but not damage, showed statistically significant associations with HAQ, VAS-PtGlobal and VAS-pain for status and change scores, independently of C reactive protein and swollen joint count. MRI-assessed synovitis was most consistently associated with PROs, particularly VAS-PtGlobal and VAS-pain. MRI-assessed synovitis and tenosynovitis mean scores were positively associated with patient-reported difficulty to cut meat and open a milk carton (p<0.01), and similar patterns were seen for other hand-related HAQ items. Incorporating metacarpophalangeal joints in the analyses did not strengthen the associations between MRI pathology and PROs. Conclusions MRI-assessed inflammation, but not damage, in early RA wrists is associated with patient-reported physical impairment, global assessment of disease activity and pain and influences the physical function in the hand. Trial registration number NCT00660647.
How Sustainability Is Reflected in the S&P 500 Companies’ Strategic Documents

This study’s goal was to analyze the contents of the S&P 500 companies’ mission, vision, and values statements to measure the extent to which they reflect the concept of sustainability. Data were collected from public domains (reports and websites) between April and June, 2013. Using inductive methods, we assessed corporations to reflect sustainability when their stated goal was not only to generate profits but also to care about people and the planet. The theme “generating the profit” emerged in 69.2% of the companies, while other themes of “caring for the people” and “safeguarding the planet” appeared respectively in 34.0% and 14.8% of the companies. About 12.0% of the companies had the triple bottom line (profit, people, and planet themes) in their strategic documents. Logistic regressions showed a sectoral difference in the emergence of profit, people, and planet themes. These findings are expected to instigate a healthy debate on sustainability.
The nexus between military expenditures and economic growth in the BRICS and the US: an empirical note

This empirical note re-examines the causal linkages between military expenditures and economic growth for the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) and that for the USA during the period 1988–2012. Results of Granger causality tests show that military expenditures influence economic growth in the USA, economic growth influences military expenditures in both Brazil and India, a feedback between military expenditures and economic growth in Russia, and no causal relation exists between military expenditures and economic growth in China and South Africa. The findings of this study can provide important policy implications for the BRICS countries and also for the USA.
Mechanisms of Checkpoint Kinase Rad53 Inactivation after a Double-Strand Break in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

ABSTRACT In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, double-strand breaks (DSBs) activate DNA checkpoint pathways that trigger several responses including a strong G2/M arrest. We have previously provided evidence that the phosphatases Ptc2 and Ptc3 of the protein phosphatase 2C type are required for DNA checkpoint inactivation after a DSB and probably dephosphorylate the checkpoint kinase Rad53. In this article we have investigated further the interactions between Ptc2 and Rad53. We showed that forkhead-associated domain 1 (FHA1) of Rad53 interacts with a specific threonine of Ptc2, T376, located outside its catalytic domain in a TXXD motif which constitutes an optimal FHA1 binding sequence in vitro. Mutating T376 abolishes Ptc2 interaction with the Rad53 FHA1 domain and results in adaptation and recovery defects following a DSB. We found that Ckb1 and Ckb2, the regulatory subunits of the protein kinase CK2, are necessary for the in vivo interaction between Ptc2 and the Rad53 FHA1 domain, that Ckb1 binds Ptc2 in vitro and that ckb1Δ and ckb2Δ mutants are defective in adaptation and recovery after a DSB. Our data thus strongly suggest that CK2 is the kinase responsible for the in vivo phosphorylation of Ptc2 T376.
Interactions between sleep, movement and other non‐movement behaviours in the pathogenesis of childhood obesity

Research examining the health effects of physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep on different health outcomes has largely been conducted independently or in isolation of the other behaviours. However, the fact that time is finite (i.e. 24 h) suggests that the debate on whether or not the influence of a single behaviour is independent of another one is conceptually incorrect. Time spent in one behaviour should naturally depend on the composition of the rest of the day. Recent evidence using more appropriate analytical approaches to deal with this methodological issue shows that the combination of sleep, movement and non‐movement behaviours matters and all components of the 24‐h movement continuum should be targeted to enhance health and prevent childhood obesity. The objective of this review is to discuss research investigating how combinations of physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep are related to childhood obesity. Emerging statistical approaches (e.g. compositional data analysis) that can provide a good understanding of the best ‘cocktail’ of behaviours associated with lower adiposity and improved health are also discussed. Finally, future research directions are provided. Collectively, it becomes clearer that guidelines and public health interventions should target all movement behaviours synergistically to optimize health of children and youth around the world.
High-Throughput Testing of Urogenital and Extragenital Specimens for Detection of Chlamydia Trachomatis and Neisseria Gonorrhoeae with Cobas® CT/NG

We compared the analytical and clinical performance of cobas® CT/NG for use on the Cobas® 6800/8800 Systems with the Cobas® 4800 CT/NG Test from urogenital and extragenital specimens in over 12,000 specimens from both male and female subjects in Germany and the United States. The analytical sensitivity was ≤40 EB/ml for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and ≤1 CFU/ml for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG). Using clinical specimens, the overall percent agreement with the Cobas® 4800 CT/NG Test was >98.5%. Across urogenital specimens, there were 93 discrepant specimens; 76 (93.8%) of 81 CT discrepant specimens were 6800+/4800– and 10 (83.3%) of 12 NG discrepant specimens were 6800+/4800–. Sequencing verified CT results for 45 (61.6%) of 73 samples positive by 6800 and 1 (20%) of 5 positive by 4800. Similarly, 7 (70.0%) of 10 NG samples positive by 6800 and 1 of 2 positive by 4800 were confirmed by sequencing. Among discrepant extragenital specimens (all 6800+/4800–), 7 (50%) of 14 oropharyngeal and 23 (76.7%) of 30 anorectal CT discordant samples were confirmed as CT positive by sequencing; all 8 anorectal and 20 (90.9%) of 22 oropharyngeal NG discordant results were also confirmed as NG positive. In conclusion, Cobas® CT/NG for use on the Cobas® 6800/8800 Systems provides high-throughput automated solutions for sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening programs.
Radiostereometric migration analysis of the Lubinus SP II hip stem: 59 hips followed for 2 years

Abstract The aim of this prospective study was to analyze the migration pattern of the Lubinus SP II hip stem and to evaluate the clinical results. Fifty-nine patients were followed for 2 years. Translational and rotational micromotion of the implant was measured by radiostereometric analysis (RSA) and the Harris hip score (HHS), and the Charnley classification was used to assess the clinical outcome. Although there was a very small, but statistically significant, distal migration of 0.04±0.83 mm, the prosthesis was found stable at 2 years of follow-up. The main migration in this direction took place between 6 months and 1 year. Maximum total point motion (MTPM) showed a mean of 0.99±0.69 mm. Good clinical outcome with HHS results of 42±11 before and 79±16 at 2 years after surgery was observed. The Charnley classification showed increasing additional impairments in the 2-year interval, which is likely to influence the HHS results of future follow-ups. The migration values measured in the present study are far below the thresholds considered clinically relevant in literature. Thus, the conclusion can be drawn that the implant is not at risk for early aseptic loosening. Long-term RSA is required to assess possible late migration.
Non-fragile H∞ guaranteed cost control for uncertain singular systems with time-delay

This paper studies the problem of non-fragile H∞ guaranteed cost controller for a class of time-delay uncertain singular systems with both state and input delays. A linear quadratic cost function is considered as a performance measure. Suppose that the time-varying uncertain parameters are norm-bounded, but the matched conditions are not required to satisfy. A sufficient condition is given in terms of LMIs (linear matrix inequalities) for the existence of the non-fragile H∞ guaranteed cost controllers in cases of both additive and multiplicative perturbation. The controller guarantees the robust stability of the closed-loop system, and the upper bound of quadratic performance index satisfies the H∞ disturbance attenuation level. A numerical example for both cases is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the theory.
Second primary neoplasms in 633,964 cancer patients in Sweden, 1958–1996

The Swedish Family‐Cancer Database was used to analyze concordant (same site) and discordant (different site) second primary neoplasms in 633,964 cancer patients diagnosed from 1958 to 1996. Cases of second malignant neoplasms were extracted from the Database if the diagnosis date of the first and second cancer differed by at least 1 month. The expected numbers of cancers were obtained by applying site‐, sex‐, age‐, period‐, residence‐ and socioeconomic level‐specific rates in the corresponding population in the Database to the appropriate person‐years at risk. The standardized incidence ratio (SIRs) of a second cancer was taken to be the ratio of observed to expected numbers of second cancers. Of all cancers, 8.5% were subsequent neoplasms (8.4% for males and 8.7% for females). SIRs for both concordant and discordant subsequent cancer were elevated in patients with cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract, colon, nose, breast, other female genitals, testis, kidney, urinary, bladder, skin, nervous system, endocrine, bone, connective tissue, melanoma, lymphoma and leukemia. The risks at some concordant sites, such as nose, squamous cell skin, bone and connective tissue in both sexes, breast in males and upper aerodigestive tract and leukemia in females, were very high (>10). At discordant sites, SIRs were less than 2 but significantly increased after all but gastric and prostatic cancer. Compared with the general population, cancer patients were at a modestly increased risk for new primary cancer after cancers at many sites, calling for attention in treatment, management and prevention. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Flavobacterium luticocti sp. nov., isolated from wastewater.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped and non-motile bacterium, designated strain xz20T, was isolated from the wastewater of a municipal wastewater treatment plant in Xuzhou, China. The taxonomic status of strain xz20T was determined using a polyphasic approach. Growth occurred at 15-40 °C (optimum, 25-37 °C), at pH 6.0-8.5 (optimum, pH 7.0) and with 0-3 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 1-2 %). 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain xz20T was a member of the genus Flavobacterium and shared the highest similarity with Flavobacterium. dongtanense LW30T (95.85 %) and Flavobacterium. haoranii LQY-7T (95.20 %). The major respiratory quinone of strain xz20T was menaquinone 6 (MK-6), and the major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G and summed feature 9 (iso-C17 : 1ω9c and/or C16 : 0 10-methyl). The major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain xz20T was 32.9 mol%. Based on the phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain xz20T represents a novel species belonging to the genus Flavobacterium, for which the name Flavobacterium luticocti is proposed. The type strain is xz20T (=CCTCC AB 2015421T=JCM 31174T).
Modelling of a 2D photonic crystal waveguide pulse reshaper integrated with a SOA

In this paper, an arbitrary chirped pulse (ACP)-finite difference time domain (FDTD) method is developed where pulse data can be read in from a data file. This has allowed the FDTD code to be used in combination with a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) model to study 2R regeneration using 2D photonic crystal waveguide for sub-picosecond pulses
Solid tumor cells express functional "tethered ligand" thrombin receptor.

Previous work demonstrated that alpha-thrombin promoted tumor cell adhesion to endothelium and extracellular matrix as well as enhanced the metastatic capacity of tumor cells. This study was initiated to investigate whether the thrombin effect on tumor cells is mediated through the "tethered ligand" thrombin receptor. RT-PCR analysis using primers based on the human thrombin receptors detected mRNA in human colon adenocarcinoma cells (clone A), whose authenticity was confirmed by Southern hybridization. The presence of thrombin receptor mRNA in rat (W256 carcinosarcoma) and mouse (melanoma) tumor cells was demonstrated by RT-PCR/Southern blotting using species-specific PCR primers. Sequencing of the PCR fragment of clone A cells revealed complete homology with the reported human cDNA sequence. Subsequently, tumor cells derived from three species, i.e., human, rat, and mouse, were found to express the thrombin receptor protein as revealed by immunoblotting using ligand peptide-derived mAb ATAP138, whose reactivity towards the M(r) approximately 66,000, potential thrombin receptor was blocked by preincubating the antibody with the immunogen peptide SFLLRNPNDKYEPF (TRP 14). Finally, peptides TRP 14 and TRP 7 (SFLLRNP), but not TRP 5 (FLLRN), were found to mimic alpha-thrombin in stimulating tumor cell adhesion to fibronectin, suggesting that the thrombin receptors expressed on solid tumor cells are biologically functional.
RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS IN CYSTIC FIBROSIS PATIENTS CAUSED BY VIRUS, CHLAMYDIA AND MYCOPLASMA–POSSIBLE SYNERGISM WITH PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA

ABSTRACT. Petersen, N. T. , Høiby, N. , Mordhorst, C. H. , Lind, K. , Flensborg, E. W. and Bruun, B. (Paediatric Department TG, Rigshospitalet, and Statens Seruminstitut, Copenhagen, Denmark). Respiratory infections in cystic fibrosis patients caused by virus, chlamydia and mycoplasma–possible synergism with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.Acta Paediatr Scand, 70: 623,. –116 cystic fibrosis patients were observed, by monthly examinations over an eight‐month period, to investigate the importance of non‐bacterial respiratory infections (NBI) in exacerbations of the respiratory disease. Sputum was examined for bacteria, and serum investigated for antibody response against virus, mycoplasma and chlamydia and for antibodies against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.During this period each patient had, on an average, 2.9 exacerbations of which 76 % were associated with bacteria, most frequently P. aeruginosa(51 %), and 20 % with NBI, although bacteria were also present in most of these cases. No etiology was established in 18 % of the exacerbations. The NBI were caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (9 %), parainfluenza virus (5 %), influenza virus (3.6 %), adenovirus (2.4 %), mycoplasma (0.6 %) and chlamydia (0.6 %). The incidence of exacerbations was higher in patients with chronic P. aeruginosainfection. RSV infections were more common in patients who developed chronic P. aeruginosainfection during the study period, and RSV infections were frequently associated with a rise of P. aeruginosaantibodies in patients who harboured these bacteria. The important role of NBI as mediators of onset of chronic P. aeruginosainfections in cystic fibrosis patients is suggested.