Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sodium bicarbonate therapy for prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Optimal hydration measures to prevent contrast-induced nephropathy are controversial. STUDY DESIGN We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis using the MEDLINE database (1966 to January 2008), EMBASE (January 2008), and abstracts from conference proceedings. SETTING & POPULATION Adult patients undergoing contrast procedures. SELECTION CRITERIA FOR STUDIES Randomized controlled trials comparing intravenous hydration with sodium bicarbonate with hydration with intravenous normal saline for prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy. INTERVENTION Hydration with intravenous sodium bicarbonate with or without N-acetylcysteine versus hydration with normal saline with or without N-acetylcysteine. OUTCOMES Contrast-induced nephropathy, need for renal replacement therapy, and worsening of heart failure. RESULTS Twelve trials (1,854 participants) were included. Sodium bicarbonate significantly decreased the risk of contrast-induced nephropathy (12 trials, 1,652 patients; odds ratio [OR], 0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.26 to 0.82; I2 = 55.9%) without a significant difference in need for renal replacement therapy (9 trials, 1,215 patients; OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.16 to 1.53; I2 = 0%), in-hospital mortality (11 trials, 1,640 patients; OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.15 to 1.69), or congestive heart failure compared with controls. Similar results were seen for the risk of contrast-induced nephropathy when sodium bicarbonate was compared with normal saline alone (OR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.20 to 0.77), but not when sodium bicarbonate/N-acetylcysteine combination was compared with N-acetylcysteine/normal saline combination (OR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.34 to 1.37). A subgroup analysis limited to published trials showed similar results (OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.10 to 0.64; I2 = 63.3%), whereas unpublished studies showed a nonsignificant decrease (OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.46 to 1.57; I2 = 25.9%) in risk of contrast-induced nephropathy. LIMITATION Publication bias and heterogeneity. CONCLUSION Hydration with sodium bicarbonate decreases the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy in comparison to hydration with normal saline without a significant difference in need for renal replacement therapy and in-hospital mortality. Larger studies analyzing patient-centered outcomes are needed.
A New Noncanonical Anionic Peptide That Translocates a Cellular Blood–Brain Barrier Model

The capacity to transport therapeutic molecules across the blood–brain barrier (BBB) represents a breakthrough in the development of tools for the treatment of many central nervous system (CNS)-associated diseases. The BBB, while being protective against infectious agents, hinders the brain uptake of many drugs. Hence, finding safe shuttles able to overcome the BBB is of utmost importance. Herein, we identify a new BBB-translocating peptide with unique properties. For years it was thought that cationic sequences were mandatory for a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) to achieve cellular internalization. Despite being anionic at physiological pH, PepNeg (sequence (SGTQEEY) is an efficient BBB translocator that is able to carry a large cargo (27 kDa), while maintaining BBB integrity. In addition, PepNeg is able to use two distinct methods of translocation, energy-dependent and -independent, suggesting that direct penetration might occur when low concentrations of peptide are presented to cells. The discovery of this new anionic trans-BBB peptide allows the development of new delivery systems to the CNS and contributes to the need to rethink the role of electrostatic attraction in BBB-translocation.
Rigorous System-level Modeling and Performance Evaluation for Embedded System Design. (Modélisation et Évaluation de Performance pour la Conception des Systèmes Embarqués : Approche Rigoureuse au Niveau Système)

In the present work, we tackle the problem of modeling and evaluating performance in the context of embedded systems design. These have become essential for modern societies and experienced important evolution. Due to the growing demand on functionality and programmability, software solutions have gained in importance, although known to be less efficient than dedicated hardware. Consequently, considering performance has become a must, especially with the generalization of resource-constrained devices. We present a rigorous and integrated approach for system-level performance modeling and analysis. The proposed method enables faithful high-level modeling, encompassing both functional and performance aspects, and allows for rapid and accurate quantitative performance evaluation. The approach is model-based and relies on the $mathcal{S}$BIP formalism for stochastic component-based modeling and formal verification. We use statistical model checking for analyzing performance requirements and introduce a stochastic abstraction technique to enhance its scalability. Faithful high-level models are built by calibrating functional models with low-level performance information using automatic code generation and statistical inference. We provide a tool-flow that automates most of the steps of the proposed approach and illustrate its use on a real-life case study for image processing. We consider the design and mapping of a parallel version of the HMAX models algorithm for object recognition on the STHORM many-cores platform. We explored timing aspects and the obtained results show not only the usability of the approach but also its pertinence for taking well-founded decisions in the context of system-level design.
Inside the European Union: A Diagnosis of the Labour Market and Social Protection System in Romania at the Moment of Integration

In Romania, a combination of population decline, slow job creation and early retirement resulted in employment decreasing significantly in the 1990s, although the employment rate has stayed above average levels in the New Member States. Industrial restructuring and land restitution have induced a peculiar shift of less qualified and older-aged employment from industry to agriculture, which has represented a survival strategy for those with inadequate skills. Urban unemployment rates have been significantly above rural ones, since subsistence agriculture has absorbed a part of the jobless persons. The institutional structure of social protection is fragmented, with unclear delineation of responsibilities, especially between central and local levels. An excessively high number of central agencies makes the financing of many social protection programmes unclear. The health care system has generated some serious problems of access to medical services for low-income groups and limited coverage in rural areas and small towns. The pension system, although reformed in 2000, continues to have inequities in pension levels; a low number of contributors, reduced rate of pension coverage and insufficient resources. Social assistance has developed since 1990 to cope with crisis situations, and replaced in 2002 by the Minimum Guaranteed Income, partially funded by local budgets and partially by the state budget. Overall, public expenditures on social protection, education and health - as a percentage of GDP - have increased during the transition period, but remain among the lowest in Europe. The co-ordination of spending among various public institutions remains a weak point, negatively impacting its effectiveness.
Standard electrocardiographic criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy in Nigerian hypertensives.

OBJECTIVES Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Various electrocardiographic criteria for LVH have differing sensitivities and specificities. Most of the available electrocardiographic criteria for LVH have not been evaluated in the African populace. METHODS Electrocardiograms (ECGs) and echocardiograms were obtained from 100 hypertensive subjects and 60 controls. Electrocardiogram (ECG) LVH was determined by the Sokolow-Lyon, Sokolow-Lyon-Rappaport, Cornell voltage, Romhilt-Estes point score, and the Perugia score criteria. Echocardiographic LVH was defined by LV mass indexed for height at 97.5 percentile of the controls (126 g/m and 130 g/m in females and males respectively). RESULTS The prevalence of echocardiographic LVH indexed for height was 34% and 1.67% in the hypertensive patients and controls respectively. The prevalence of ECG LVH obtained in the hypertensive patients with the various ECG criteria were 56% for Sokolow-Lyon-Rappaport voltage, 48% for Sokolow-Lyon voltage, 41% for Perugia score, 22% for Cornell sex specific voltage, and 18% for Romhilt-Estes score. Sokolow-Lyon-Rappaport voltage criteria had the best sensitivity (80%) and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve while the Romhilt-Estes score had the best specificity (93%). CONCLUSION Sokolow-Lyon and Sokolow-Lyon-Rappaport voltage criteria combine the best sensitivity and specificity values and would seem better suited for the diagnosis of ECG LVH in Nigerians.
BRG1 Is Required for Formation of Senescence-Associated Heterochromatin Foci Induced by Oncogenic RAS or BRCA1 Loss

ABSTRACT Cellular senescence is an important tumor suppression mechanism. We have previously reported that both oncogene-induced dissociation of BRCA1 from chromatin and BRCA1 knockdown itself drive senescence by promoting formation of senescence-associated heterochromatin foci (SAHF). However, the molecular mechanism by which BRCA1 regulates SAHF formation and senescence is unclear. BRG1 is a chromatin-remodeling factor that interacts with BRCA1 and pRB. Here we show that BRG1 is required for SAHF formation and senescence induced by oncogenic RAS or BRCA1 loss. The interaction between BRG1 and BRCA1 is disrupted during senescence. This correlates with an increased level of chromatin-associated BRG1 in senescent cells. BRG1 knockdown suppresses the formation of SAHF and senescence, while it has no effect on BRCA1 chromatin dissociation induced by oncogenic RAS, indicating that BRG1 functions downstream of BRCA1 chromatin dissociation. Furthermore, BRG1 knockdown inhibits SAHF formation and senescence induced by BRCA1 knockdown. Conversely, BRG1 overexpression drives SAHF formation and senescence in a DNA damage-independent manner. This effect depends upon BRG1's chromatin-remodeling activity as well as the interaction between BRG1 and pRB. Indeed, the interaction between BRG1 and pRB is enhanced during senescence. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that BRG1's association with the human CDKN2A and CDKN1A gene promoters was enhanced during senescence induced by oncogenic RAS or BRCA1 knockdown. Consistently, knockdown of pRB, p21CIP1, and p16INK4a, but not p53, suppressed SAHF formation induced by BRG1. Together, these studies reveal the molecular underpinning by which BRG1 acts downstream of BRCA1 to promote SAHF formation and senescence.
Direct Costs of Surgical Clipping and Endovascular Coiling of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms

Background: Unruptured intracranial aneurysms can be preventively treated by surgical clipping or endovascular coiling. We determined in detail the costs of these treatments. Methods: We included patients who were treated for an unruptured aneurysm between 1997 and 2003. Patients coiled in this period were matched with clipped patients according to the year of treatment, age and gender. Considering clipping and coiling, we compared all pre-admission costs of diagnostic procedures, all costs of treatment, and costs during follow-up including standard angiographic control examinations at 6 and 18 months after coiling. Costs were calculated as the product of the used resources and the costs of these resources. Results: The mean price for clipping was EUR 8,865.42 and that for coiling EUR 10,370.29. The difference was mainly determined by the higher material costs of coiling (EUR 5,300) compared with clipping (EUR 690). Costs of clipping were mainly determined by the need for intensive care facilities (1.2 days after clipping and 0 days after coiling) and the length of hospital stay (10.5 days after clipping and 3.4 days after coiling). After bootstrapping the data, costs of coiling were on average EUR 1,553 (95% confidence interval: EUR 1,539–1,569) higher than those of clipping. Conclusions: For unruptured intracranial aneurysms, direct in-hospital costs of coiling are on average higher than those of clipping, mostly because of the more expensive coils.
Breast cancer risk in women with abnormal cytology in nipple aspirates of breast fluid.

BACKGROUND We previously showed that women with abnormal cytology in breast fluid obtained by nipple aspiration had an increased relative risk (RR) of breast cancer compared with women from whom fluid was not obtained and with women whose fluid had normal cytology. This study extends the follow-up in the original study group (n = 4046) and presents the first follow-up for a second group of women (n = 3627). METHODS We collected nipple aspirate fluid from women in the San Francisco Bay Area during the period from 1972 through 1991, classified the women according to the most severe epithelial cytology observed in fluid specimens, and determined breast cancer incidence through March 1999. We estimated RRs for breast cancer using Cox regressions, adjusting for age and year of study entry. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS For women in the first and second study groups, the median years of follow-up were 21 years and 9 years, respectively, and breast cancer incidences were 7.8% (285 cases in the 3633 women for whom breast cancer status could be determined) and 3.5% (115 of 3271), respectively. Compared with women from whom no fluid was obtained, whose incidences of breast cancer were 4.7% (39 of 825) and 3.3% (65 of 1950) for those in group 1 and group 2, respectively, incidences and adjusted RRs were 8.1% (34 of 422), with RR = 1.4 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.9 to 2.3), and 0% (0 of 31), respectively, for those with unsatisfactory aspirate specimens and 8.2% (148 of 1816), with RR = 1.6 (95% CI = 1.1 to 2.3), and 3.1% (25 of 811), with RR = 1.2 (95% CI = 0.8 to 2.0), respectively, for those with normal cytology in aspirates. Compared with women from whom no fluid was obtained, incidences and adjusted RRs for women in group 1 with epithelial hyperplasia and atypical hyperplasia in aspirates were 10.8% (52 of 483), with RR = 2.4 (95% CI = 1.6 to 3.7), and 13.8% (12 of 87), with RR = 2.8 (95% CI = 1.5 to 5.5), respectively, while those for women in group 2 were 5.5% (25 of 457) and 0% (0 of 22), respectively, with a combined RR = 2.0 (95% CI = 1.3 to 3.3). CONCLUSION The results obtained with the newly followed women independently confirmed previous findings that women with abnormal cytology in nipple aspirates of breast fluid have an increased risk of breast cancer.
Reflex-triode geometry of the virtual-cathode oscillator

An eight-stage four-hundred kilovolt Marx bank, in connection with a 60 nanosecond pulse-forming line, is constructed and utilized as a pulsed source to power a planar version of the virtual cathode oscillator (vircator). Eight . 1/spl mu/F capacitors, charged to 50 kV each, are switched in series by dry-air pressurized spark gaps. The energy from the bank charges a 23 ohm oil transmission line, breaking a peaking gap when the maximum voltage is reached, delivering a 60 ns-300 kV pulse to the diode. The design of the planar or reflex-triode geometry vircator is based upon claims of high efficiency by Didenko et al. A previously constructed TTU vircator includes a unique E-beam source, the brush cathode; in which a circular array of pins is used as an explosive field emission source to produce relatively high beam currents. The anode consists of a round wire mesh through which the E-beam passes, generating a dense cloud of negative charge known as a virtual cathode. This initial phase of testing is composed of basic operation of the entire system and baseline output power and efficiency measurements.
Needle aspiration cytology of pancreatic cystic lesions

Forty‐two histologically confirmed cases of pancreatic cystic lesions with cytologic evaluation by needle aspiration biopsy (NAB) were reviewed. There were 21 inflammatory pseudocysts (IPC), nine mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCN), six microcystic serous adenomas (MSA), one macrocystic serous adenoma, and five papillary solid and cystic neoplasms (PSCN). Correct cytodiagnosis was made in all cases of IPC and MCN. The contents of IPCs were characterized by turbid or blood‐tinged fluid containing cellular debris, numerous foamy macrophages, and other inflammatory cells. There were few or no epithelial lining cells. The aspirates from MCNs showed gelatinous mucoid material containing mucus‐secreting cells that were present singly, in clusters, or in sheets. Depending on the individual case, benign or malignant columnar cells, or an admixture of these cells, were present in a mucinous background. The preoperative needle aspirates of five MSAs were acellular. In one case of MSA and in one example of macrocystic serous adenoma, small monolayered sheets of benign cubic epithelial cells were seen in the needle aspirates. Similar cytologic findings were noted in the materials obtained by intraoperative NAB performed under direct vision of the aforementioned five MSAs. Difficulties were encountered in typing three PSCNs that yielded in NAB cells resembling those of an islet cell tumor. They were diagnosed as low‐grade neoplasms (PSCN vs. islet cell tumor). In two other patients, a cytodiagnosis of PSCN was correctly made as the NAB revealed monomorphic tumor cells wrapping around small capillary blood vessels. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1997;17:177–182. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Influence of Donor/Recipient Sex Matching on Outcome of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Aplastic Anemia

Background. Increased risk of transplant related mortality in male recipients of female hematopoietic stem cell grafts and in vitro reactivity of lymphocytes against H-Y encoded gene products in females with rejected male grafts have been documented. An increased rejection of male grafts in female recipients is not reported for solid organ or stem cell transplants and the role of H-Y as transplantation antigen has been controversial. Methods. Data from 1481 patients with a hematopoietic stem cell transplant for aplastic anemia reported from 154 centers in 28 countries were analyzed. Outcome was compared between patients with donors of the same or opposite sex. Results. Survival at 5 years was significantly better in patients with donors from the same sex: 68% vs. 60% (P=0.001). Male patients with female donors had a decreased survival (relative risk of death 1.52, P<0.001) and an increased risk of severe graft-versus-host disease (relative risk 1.33, P=0.03) compared to recipients of sex-matched grafts. Female patients with male donors had a decreased survival (relative risk of death 1.44, P=0.01) and an increased risk of rejection (relative risk 2.20, P=0.01) compared to recipients of sex-matched grafts. In a subgroup analysis, the negative effects of donor/recipient sex-mismatching appeared confined to patients receiving conditioning regimens not containing antithymocyte globulin. Conclusions. These data confirm H-Y as a clinically relevant transplantation antigen, in both the graft-versus-host and the host-versus-graft direction. Wherever possible, donor-recipient sex-matching should be integrated into donor selection algorithms.
The first case record of a female patient with bubonic lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), serovariant L2b

Since 2003, a lymphogranuloma venereum epidemic has been reported in The Netherlands and other European countries. This epidemic is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis serovariant L2b and has only been seen in men having sex with men. The authors investigated a woman presenting with a bubo in her right groin. The authors showed by real-time PCR that the woman was infected with C trachomatis, serovariant L2b. This is the first reported case study of a female patient with bubonic lymphogranuloma venereum caused by serovariant L2b, which was probably contracted via her bisexual male partner.
Can the Three Pore Model Correctly Describe Peritoneal Transport of Protein?

The three pore model (3PM) includes large pores for the description of protein leak to the peritoneal cavity during peritoneal dialysis. However, the reliability of this description has been not fully tested against clinical data yet. Peritoneal transport parameters were estimated using 3PM, extended 3p model (with estimation of fraction of large pores, ext3PM), ext3PM with modified size of pores and proteins (mext3PM), and simplified two pore (2PM, small and ultrasmall pores) models for 32 patients on peritoneal dialysis investigated using the sequential peritoneal equilibration test (consecutive peritoneal equilibration test [PET]: glucose 2.27%, 4 h, and miniPET: glucose 3.86%, 1 h). Urea, creatinine, glucose, sodium, phosphate, albumin, and IgM concentrations were measured in dialysis fluid and plasma. Ext3PM and mext3PM, with large pore fraction of about 0.14, provided a good description of fluid and small solute kinetics, but their predictions for albumin transport were less accurate. Two pore model precisely described the data on fluid and small solute transport. The 3p models could not describe the diffusive–convective transport of albumin as precisely as the transport of fluid, small solutes, and IgM. The 2p model (not applicable for proteins) was an efficient tool for modeling fluid and small solute transport.
Osseous abnormalities associated with collateral desmopathy of the distal interphalangeal joint: part 1.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY Osseous abnormalities associated with collateral ligament (CL) injury of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint have been documented using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) but there is currently limited information about the frequency of osseous pathology associated with CL injury. OBJECTIVES To determine the frequency of occurrence of osseous abnormality coexistent with CL injury of the DIP joint and describe the distribution and character of osseous lesions; and to establish if there was an association between osseous abnormality and increased radiopharmaceutical uptake (IRU). HYPOTHESES There would be a higher incidence of osseous abnormality at the insertion of an injured CL than at the origin; and a relationship between the presence of osseous abnormality and duration of lameness. MATERIALS AND METHODS Magnetic resonance images of 313 feet of 289 horses with foot pain and a definitive diagnosis of collateral desmopathy of the DIP joint were analysed retrospectively for presence and type of osseous abnormality in the middle and distal phalanges. Scintigraphic images were examined and the presence of IRU in the middle or distal phalanges recorded. RESULTS Osseous abnormalities were detected in 143 (45.7%) feet, 27 (18.8%) of which had osseous and CL injury alone, while the remaining 116 had CL related osseous injury and multiple injuries within the hoof capsule. Entheseous new bone and endosteal irregularity of the middle and distal phalanges were the most frequent types of osseous abnormality. There was a higher incidence of osseous abnormalities medially than laterally and at the ligament insertion than at the origin. There was a significant association between presence of IRU and osseous injury. CONCLUSIONS A variety of osseous lesions of differing severity are associated with CL injury. Normal radiopharmaceutical uptake does not preclude significant osseous pathology associated with CL injury. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Further studies are necessary in order to determine if osseous abnormalities associated with CL injury influence prognosis for return to performance.