Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mortality and mortality-related factors after hospitalization for acute exacerbation of COPD.

BACKGROUND Acute exacerbations form a major component of the socioeconomic burden of COPD. As yet, little information is available about the long-term outcome of patients who have been hospitalized with acute exacerbations, although high mortality rates have been reported. STUDY OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate prospectively the outcome for all patients admitted to the hospital with acute exacerbations of COPD during hospital admission and after 1-year of follow-up. Furthermore, patient characteristics related to increased mortality rate were analyzed. DESIGN We investigated prospectively the 1-year mortality rate and potential determinants of mortality for all patients admitted to the hospital with an acute exacerbation between January 1 and December 31, 1999. RESULTS A total of 171 patients were included in the study. The mortality rate during hospital stay was 8%, increasing to 23% after 1 year of follow-up. Despite a comparable in-hospital mortality rate (6%), the 1-year mortality rate was significantly higher for patients admitted to the ICU for respiratory failure (35%). The multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine independent predictors of survival. Variables included in the regression model were age, sex, FEV(1), PaO(2), PaCO(2), body mass index, long-term use of oral corticosteroids, comorbidity index, and hospital readmissions. The maintenance use of oral glucocorticosteroids (relative risk [RR], 5.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.03 to 12.64), PaCO(2) (RR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.38), and age (RR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.12) were independently related to mortality. CONCLUSION We conclude that the prognosis for patients who have been admitted to the hospital for acute exacerbation of COPD is poor. Long-term use of oral corticosteroids, higher PaCO(2), and older age could be identified as risk factors associated with higher mortality.
Age-Related Alterations in Superoxide Dismutase and Catalase Activities in Rat Brain

Active oxygen species have been proposed to be involved in the aging process of the brain, therefore alterations in the activities of enzymes involved in the defense system against free radicals and other active species could substantially influence the aging process. This study is planned to determine the brain superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities which defend the components of brain cells against active oxygen species, in order to evaluate whether they play a role in the aging process. The activities of SOD and catalase were measured in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum of Swiss male albino rats aged either 2 months (n=11) or 16 months (n=14). Tissue SOD activities were determined by Misra and Fridovich's method while catalase activities were measued by a modified method of Luck and Aebi. When the results of this study were evaluated regardless of age, it is observed that catalase activity is higher in the cerebellum than the cerebral cortex. Whereas the cerebral cortex showed age-dependent decreases in both SOD (6.01 ± 0.94 vs 4.47 ± 0.34 U/mg protein, p<0.05) and catalase (0.235 ± 0.02 vs 0.145 ± 0.02 U/mg protein, p<0.01) activities, cerebellum showed a decrease only in the catalase activity (0.367 ± 0.05 vs 0.199 ± 0.04 U/mg protein, p<0.01). Due to the fact that SOD and catalase have an important role in free radical detoxification of the brain, the age-related decrease in the expression of these enzymes might predispose this tissue to increased free radical damage.
Incorporating prior maps with Bathymetric Distributed Particle SLAM for improved AUV navigation and mapping

We propose a method to improve the geo-referenced accuracy and self-consistency of bathymetric maps generated by Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), where the navigation solution is prone to drift when GPS or other methods of absolute positioning are unavailable. This is accomplished using a non-feature based approach to Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) that utilizes a 2D grid structure to represent the map and a Distributed Particle Filter to track the uncertainty in the vehicle state. Our method does not need to explicitly identify features in the surrounding environment or apply complicated matching algorithms to our bathymetry, as is commonly done when performing terrain aided navigation. In this work we demonstrate how a prior low-resolution map generated by a surface vessel in a standard gridded form can be readily integrated into our approach to bathymetric SLAM to additionally enforce consistency between the prior map and the AUV bathymetry. We illustrate the proposed approach using data from recent survey work undertaken off the coast of the Tasman Peninsula in South Eastern Tasmania, Australia. The results achieved by the Bathymetric distributed Particle SLAM (BPSLAM) filter are shown to improve the maps and trajectories when compared to dead reckoning fused with USBL observations.
The Balm of Gilead: Is the Provision of Treatment to Those Who Seroconvert in HIV Prevention Trials a Matter of Moral Obligation or Moral Negotiation?

Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered? (Jeremiah 8:22) In July of 2004, Cambodian sex workers staged a protest of an HIV prevention trial set to enroll 900 sex workers in Phnom Penh, charging the study planners with exploitation. The Cambodian study was one of a series of international clinical trials sponsored by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Gates Foundation) testing the safety and efficacy of tenofovir (Viread), an antiretroviral drug produced by Gilead Sciences, Inc., to prevent HIV transmission. To date, two of these international studies have been closed and one is suspended, prompting calls for re-examination of the ethics of HIV prevention trials.
Glioma cancer stem cells secrete Gremlin1 to promote their maintenance within the tumor hierarchy

In glioblastomas, cancer stem cells (CSCs) reside in functional niches that provide essential cues to maintain the cellular hierarchy. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are proposed as anti-CSC therapies to induce differentiation, but, paradoxically, tumors express high levels of BMPs. Yan et al. demonstrate that the BMP antagonist Gremlin1 is specifically expressed by CSCs as protection from endogenous BMPs. Gremlin1-overexpressing cells display increased growth and tumor formation, while targeting Gremlin1 in CSCs impairs growth and self-renewal associated with inhibition of p21WAF1/CIP1, a key CSC signaling node.
The N-glycan of the SCR 2 region is essential for membrane cofactor protein (CD46) to function as a measles virus receptor

Membrane cofactor protein (MCP) (CD46), a complement-regulatory protein, serves as a cellular receptor for measles virus. Its amino-terminal portion is composed of four short consensus repeats (SCR), three of which (SCR1, SCR2, and SCR4) carry an N-linked oligosaccharide. In order to determine the importance of the three N-glycans for the function of MCP as a measles virus receptor, we established Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines that stably express mutant MCPs lacking one of the three motifs for N glycosylation (NQ1, NQ2, and NQ4). In an additional mutant (NQ1-2), two glycosylation motifs were altered, allowing the addition of an N-linked oligosaccharide only in SCR4. The abilities of the mutant MCPs to function as measles virus receptors were analyzed with three different assays: (i) binding of measles virus hemagglutinin to MCP immobilized on nitrocellulose; (ii) binding of measles virus to CHO cells expressing wild-type or mutant MCP; and (iii) infection of the transfected CHO cells by measles virus. In all three assays, the abilities of the NQ2 and NQ1-2 mutants to serve as measles virus receptors were drastically impaired. The NQ1 and NQ4 mutants were recognized by measles virus almost as efficiently as the wild-type protein. These results indicate that the N-glycan attached to SCR2 is essential for MCP to serve as a measles virus receptor, while the oligosaccharides attached to SCR1 and SCR4 are of only minor importance.
Management of psychosis and schizophrenia in adults: summary of updated NICE guidance

Psychosis is relatively common, with schizophrenia being the most prevalent form of psychotic disorder, affecting about seven in 1000 adults, with onset typically occurring between the ages of 15 and 35.1 These disorders, which are characterised by distressing hallucinations and delusions, disturbed behaviour, and memory and motivation problems, present a major personal,2 social,3 clinical,4 and financial5 challenge. Moreover, poor physical health is strongly associated with schizophrenia, with men dying 20 years earlier than the general population and women dying 15 years earlier,6 7 mainly from illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, HIV infection, hepatitis C, and tuberculosis.8 Difficulties in people with severe mental illness accessing general medical services in primary and secondary care contribute to reduced life expectancy.9 Although many people with psychosis and schizophrenia respond to antipsychotic drugs initially, around 80% relapse within five years, partly because they discontinue medication,10 which for many people has unacceptable side effects. However, although around 75% of people with schizophrenia recurrently relapse and have continued disability,10 there is a moderately good long term global outcome in over half.11 This article summarises the most recent recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on managing psychosis and schizophrenia in adults.12 NICE recommendations are based on systematic reviews of best available evidence and explicit consideration of cost effectiveness. When minimal evidence is available, recommendations are based on the Guideline Development Group’s experience and opinion of what constitutes good practice. Evidence levels for the recommendations are given in italic in square brackets. ### Care across all phases—physical health
Prognostic Factors Associated with Resectable Adenocarcinoma of the Head of the Pancreas

A retrospective study of patients with surgically resectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head was undertaken to determine which prognostic factors are independently associated with improved survival. Thirty-four men and 41 women (mean age, 61.9 years) had resection for adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head between 1980 and 1997 at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center. Surgical resections included 15 total pancreatectomies, 43 pyloric-preserving procedures, and 17 standard Whipple procedures. Thirty-six patients received adjuvant radiation and/or chemotherapy. Overall median survival was 13 months, with a 5-year survival of 17 per cent. Thirty-day surgical mortality was 1.3 per cent. Significant factors that negatively influenced survival using univariate Kaplan-Meier analysis were: positive resection margin (P = 0.01), intraoperative blood transfusion (P = 0.01), and lymph node metastases (P = 0.01). Presenting signs and symptoms, patient demographics, operative procedure, tumor size, histologic differentiation, and adjuvant therapy did not have a significant impact on survival. Using multivariate Cox regression analysis, the only significant independent factors improving survival were the absence of intraoperative blood transfusion (P = 0.02) and a negative resection margin (P = 0.04). Performing pancreaticoduodenectomy for adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas with negative microscopic margins of resection and without intraoperative transfusion significantly improves survival.
Genetic Prevalence and Characteristics in Children With Recurrent Pancreatitis

Aims: The causes of chronic (CP) and recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP) in children include anatomic abnormalities and hereditary, metabolic, and autoimmune disorders, with a significant proportion of cases being labeled as idiopathic. Genetic pancreatitis (GP) is associated with mutations of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductor regulator gene (CFTR), cationic trypsinogen (PRSS1) gene, and serine protease inhibitor Kazal type 1 (SPINK1). There literature is sparse regarding the clinical profile of GP in children. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence and describe the clinical characteristics and outcome of genetic pancreatitis. Methods: We reviewed the charts of children ages 18 years or younger with RAP or CP diagnosed from 2000 to 2009 at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Twenty-nine patients with RAP or CP were identified, of whom 23 (79%) were positive for mutations in ≥1 of the above-mentioned genes, and were included for review. Results: The median age of symptom onset was 5 years (range 9 months–15 years) with diagnosis at 6.5 years (range 1–16 years). Twenty-one were white; 14 were girls. The most common presenting symptoms were abdominal pain and vomiting. Patients with RAP had 2 to 8 episodes of pancreatitis during 3.6-year average follow-up. Family history was positive in 5 of 29 of gene-tested patients. CFTR, SPINK1, or PRSS1 mutations were seen in 14 (48%), 8 (27%), and 7 (24%) patients, respectively. Two patients were homozygous for CFTR mutations, 6 heterozygote and 4 patients had 5 T variants. Two other patients had double heterozygous mutations in F508 del/2789 + 5G > A and F508 del/5T variant. Six patients with CP had a combination of CFTR and SPINK1 or PRSS1 mutations. Eleven of 29 (38%) patients met radiological criteria for CP. All of the heterozygote patients with a combination of CFTR and SPINK1 or PRSS1 mutations had CP. Eight patients developed a chronic pain syndrome and 2 developed exocrine pancreatic insufficiency during follow-up. Conclusions: We found a high prevalence of genetic mutations in patients without anatomic or metabolic abnormalities known to be associated with pancreatitis. Studies are needed to ascertain the genetic causes of RAP and CP and examine the relation between single CFTR mutations and single mutations in the PRSS1 and SPINK1 genes.
Methodology for estimating wave power potential in places with scarce instrumentation in the Caribbean Sea

There are great difficulties in properly evaluating the power present in the waves in the Caribbean due to of the scarcity of marine instrumentation and the reduced length of the existing records. This research aims to design a new methodology for estimating wave power potential in places lacking instrumentation by using reanalysis winds and wave generation models to generate hourly synthetic wave information (maps and wave series), which is later compared and corrected with nearby buoy measurements. Nested runs of the models permit to downscale the results and to create detailed wave power maps, used to identify the best sites for a wave farm. These maps are built from propagation of characteristic sea-states of the synthetic series, and are chosen using joint probability, power percentiles and clustering algorithms. New series are generated in the chosen places and they are processed to determine the wave power potential in different time scales.
Gonadal Differentiation in Reptiles Exhibiting Environmental Sex Determination

As temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) and homozygote or heterozygote genetic sex determination (GSD) exist in multiple reptilian taxa, they represent sex determination systems that have emerged de novo. Current investigations have revealed that the genetic mechanisms used by various reptilian species are similar to those used by other vertebrates. However, the recent completion or near completion of various reptilian genome projects suggests that new studies examining related species with and without TSD could begin to provide additional insight into the evolution of TSD and GSD in vertebrate ancestors. Major questions still remain concerning germ cell migration and specification, the differentiation of gonadal accessory cells, such as the Sertoli cells and granulosa cells of the developing testis and ovary, respectively, and the mechanisms by which gene expression is regulated during TSD events. Further, reptilian sentinels and their mechanisms of gonadogenesis will likely remain important indicator species for environmental health. Thus, ongoing and new investigations need to tie molecular information to gonadal morphogenesis and function in reptiles. Such data will not only provide important information for an understanding of the evolution of these phenomena in vertebrates, but could also provide an important understanding of the health of the environment around us.
Response of resident murine peritoneal macrophages to in vivo administration of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

The effect of s.c. inoculation of purified recombinant derived granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-CSF on resident murine peritoneal macrophages was assessed in this study. From 18 to 24 h after s.c. administration of GM-CSF to normal mice, the resident peritoneal macrophages were harvested and the levels of membrane-bound IL-1, FcR, Mac-1 cell-surface Ag, and class II MHC expression were assessed. Peritoneal cells from GM-CSF-inoculated mice had significantly greater levels of membrane-bound IL-1 than did control mice. In addition when resident peritoneal macrophages from normal mice were purified by adherence and grown in the presence of GM-CSF, they produced greater levels of both membrane-bound and secreted IL-1. The peritoneal cells from GM-CSF-inoculated mice did not differ from controls in the expression of class II MHC-encoded Ag. This observation was confirmed by the finding that GM-CSF was unable to induce class II MHC expression on P388D1 cells, whereas a secondary mixed leukocyte culture supernatant was. Peritoneal cells from GM-CSF-inoculated mice also exhibited greater levels of expression of FcR and the Mac-1 cell-surface Ag. This resulted in an increase in their ability to phagocytose opsonized SRBC in vitro.
Brain Morphological Changes and Early Marijuana Use

Abstract Background: The focus of this report is on the possible role that the age of first use of marijuana may play on brain morphology and function. Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) were utilized to study 57 subjects. Brain volume measures (whole brain, gray matter, white matter and lateral ventricle volumes), global cerebral blood flow (CBF) and body size were evaluated. Results: There are three primary findings related to age of first use of marijuana. Subjects who started using marijuana before age 17, compared to those who started later, had smaller whole brain and percent cortical gray matter and larger percent white matter volumes. Functionally, males who started using marijuana before 17 had significantly higher CBF than other males. Both males and females who started younger were physically smaller in height and weight, with the effects being greater in males. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the age at which exposure to marijuana begins is important. Early adolescence may be a critical period for effects that are not present when exposure begins later. These results are discussed in light of reported effects of marijuana on gonadal and pituitary hormones.
Multisystem neuronal involvement and sicca complex: broadening the spectrum of complications

We report two patients with multisystem neuronal involvement associated with sicca complex. One had a lower motor neuron syndrome combined with a flaccid bladder and rectum. The second patient had unilateral hearing loss, sensory neuronopathy, Adie's pupils, upper motor neuron signs, and autopsy‐proven anterior horn cell degeneration. Our cases lead us to propose that the spectrum of neuronal involvement occurring with sicca syndrome may be wider than is currently appreciated. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 22: 404–407, 1999
[Analgesic effect on primary dysmenorrheal treated with conventional and sham acupuncture at San-yinjiao (SP 6)].

OBJECTIVE To observe the difference in the analgesic effect on primary dysmenorrheal between acupuncture and sham acupuncture at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) during menstrual pain and evaluate the impact of psychological effect on acupuncture analgesia. METHODS Sixty subjects were randomized into an acupuncture group and a sham acupuncture group, 30 cases in each one. The conventional acupuncture and sham acupuncture were applied to Sanyinjiao (SP 6) on bilateral sides when menstrual pain began to attack and needles were retained for 30 min each time. Three menstrual cycles were required. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was adopted to determine the scores before and 0. 5 h, 1 h, 3 h, 6 h and 12 h after acupuncture during menstrual pain in each cycle separately. RESULTS In the acupuncture group, VAS score at each time point after acupuncture was reduced as compared with that at the previous one during menstrual pain in each menstrual cycle, indicating the significant difference (all P<0. 05). In the sham acupuncture group, the scores in 6 h and 12 h of acupuncture were reduced as compared with the previous one, indicating the significant difference (all P<0. 05). After acupuncture, VAS score at each time point in the acupuncture group was lower than that in the sham acupuncture group (all P<0. 05). CONCLUSION The conventional acupuncture at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) achieves the significant analgesic effect on primary dysmenorrheal. The psychological placebo effect of sham acupuncture has no obvious impact on acupuncture analgesia.
Nd:YAG Laser Treatment for Extranasal Telangiectasias: A Retrospective Analysis of 38 Patients with Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia and Review of the Literature

Background/Aims: Extranasal telangiectasias are common amongst hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) patients. Telangiectasias can be found at sites like the external nose, lips, oral cavity and fingers. Although not life threatening, they can be annoying for patients and lead to bleeding in some cases, necessitating treatment. Methods: The data of 38 HHT patients treated for extranasal telangiectasias during a period of 10 years by means of Nd:YAG laser were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The telangiectasias treated affected predominantly the tongue, facial skin and lips. During a minimum follow-up of 3 years, only 7 patients required a revision of surgery. Conclusion: This study shows that Nd:YAG laser constitutes a fast, safe and efficient therapeutic modality for the treatment of extranasal telangiectasias.