Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PET/MRI: a novel hybrid imaging technique. Major clinical indications and preliminary experience in Brazil

ABSTRACT In recent years, medical imaging with hybrid techniques has widely accepted and employed in clinical routine. PET/MRI offers significant advantages, including excellent contrast and resolution and reduced ionizing radiation, as compared to well-established PET/CT. Therefore, PET/MRI is a promising modality for oncologic imaging of some regions, such as brain, head and neck, liver and pelvis. This article set out to analyze clinical conditions that could benefit from PET/MRI imaging based on our caseload. The potential of PET/MRI to become the imaging modality of choice for assessment of neurologic and oncologic conditions associated with soft tissues is highlighted. Clinical aspects of PET/MRI and its application to clinical cases are illustrated with examples extracted from the authors’ preliminary experience.
Nutrition support in the critical care setting: current practice in canadian ICUs--opportunities for improvement?

BACKGROUND The purpose of this project was to describe current nutrition support practice in the critical care setting and to identify interventions to target for quality improvement initiatives. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional national survey of dietitians working in intensive care units (ICUs) across Canada to document various aspects of nutrition support practice. RESULTS Of the 79 dietitians sent study materials, 66 responded (83%). Sixteen of 66 sites (24.2%) reported the presence of a nutrition support team, and 35 of 66 (53%) used a standard enteral feeding protocol. Dietitians retrospectively abstracted data from charts of all patients in the ICU on April 18, 2001. Of 702 patients, 313 (44.6%) received enteral nutrition only, 50 (7.1%) received parenteral nutrition only, 60 (8.5%) received both, and 279 (39.7%) received no form of nutrition support. Enteral nutrition was initiated on 1.6 days (median) after admission to ICU; 10.7% of patients were initiated on day 1. Of those receiving any form of nutrition support, on average, patients received 58% of their prescribed amounts of calories and protein over the first 12 days in the ICU. Of all days on enteral feeds, patients received feeds into the small bowel on 381 of 2321 (16.4%) days. The mean head of the bed elevation for all patients was 30 degrees. Controlling for differences in patient characteristics, site factors contributing the most successful application of nutrition support included the amount of funded dietitians per ICU bed, size of ICU, and the fact that the ICU was located in an academic setting. CONCLUSIONS A significant number of critically ill patients did not receive any form of nutrition support for the study period. Those that did receive nutrition support did not meet their prescribed energy or protein needs, especially earlier in the course of their illness. Significant opportunities to improve provision of nutrition support to critically ill patients exist.
Dietary lectins can induce in vitro release of IL‐4 and IL‐13 from human basophils

Dietary lectins, present in beans and other edible plant products, pose a potential threat to consumers due to their capacity to induce histamine release from basophils. In this study, we analyzed the capacity of 16 common, in particular dietary, lectins to induce human basophils to secrete IL‐4 and IL‐13, the key promoters of Th2 responses and IgE synthesis. Several of the lectins, especially concanavalin A, lentil lectin, phytohemagglutinin, Pisum sativum agglutinin and Sambucus nigra agglutinin, triggered basophils to release IL‐4 at concentrations of up to 1 ng / 106 basophils. Lectins with high IL‐4‐inducing capacity also stimulated the release of IL‐13 and histamine. Lectin‐induced IL‐4 and IL‐13 release reached a maximum after 4 – 6 h and more than 18 h, respectively. Affinoblotting revealed that lectins with the capacity to induce mediator release bind to IgE, suggesting IgE binding as initial step of signal generation. In conclusion, several dietary lectins can trigger human basophils to release IL‐4 and IL‐13. Since lectins can enter the circulation after oral uptake, they might play a role in inducing the so‐called early IL‐4 required to switch the immune response towards a Th2 response and type I allergy.
2-Element slot meander patch antenna system for LTE-WLAN customer premise equipment

This work presents 2-element Low-profile slot meander patch (SMP) antenna system for customer premises equipment. The first element is a dual band SMP antenna to receive LTE 1.8 GHz and LTE 2.6 GHz bands. The second element is a WLAN 2.4 GHz transmitter SMP antenna. The first SMP antenna matched band widths are 0.3 GHz and 0.25 GHz. The second SMP antenna matched bandwidth is 0.37 GHz with -10 dB matching criterion (VSWR 2.5:1). Isolation better than 15 dB has been obtained between the two slot meander patch antennas. The isolation is achieved as a result of using Coplanar Wave (CPW) guide feeding mechanism and locating the two elements orthogonally. This dual-feed (2-elements) planar antenna is simulated. The result of this small size structured antenna system shows a good radiation characteristics and small mutual coupling.
Intrarater reliability of selected clinical outcome measures following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

STUDY DESIGN Single group repeated measures following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intrarater reliability of selected clinical outcome measures in patients having ACL reconstruction. BACKGROUND Several investigations have reported the reliability of isokinetic testing and knee ligament arthrometry. Fewer studies have examined the reliability of lower extremity functional tests, with most of these studies evaluating normal subjects. METHODS AND MEASURES Fifteen physically active males with unilateral ACL-reconstructed knees were evaluated with the KT-1000, Biodex isokinetic dynamometer, and 3 functional hop tests on 5 occasions. RESULTS Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) revealed good to high intrarater reliability (ICC > 0.80) of the functional hop tests and isokinetic peak torque values ICCs were higher for the involved limb than the uninvolved limb using the scores from the KT-1000 Manual Maximum Test. CONCLUSIONS The outcome measures examined in this investigation have been shown to be reliable in patients with ACL reconstructions, and support previous investigations in nonimpaired populations. Further research is needed to examine the validity of these postoperative outcome measures in patients with ACL reconstructions.
Diagnostic Value of Serum Procalcitonin in Early Infection after Internal Fixation for Traumatic Fracture.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to observe the changes of serum procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations after internal fixation for traumatic fracture and to discuss the diagnostic value of these two indicators in early infection after internal fixation for traumatic fracture. METHODS Patients who received internal fixation for traumatic fracture at our hospital from June 2014 to December 2016 were included. They were divided into infection group (12 cases) and non-infection group (166 cases), depending on whether infection occurred. Venous blood samples were collected from cases in both groups on day 1, day 4, and day 9 after surgery. Changes in PCT and CRP levels were detected at different time points. RESULTS As compared with the non-infection group, PCT and CRP levels were significantly increased at each time point after surgery in the infection group. The sensitivity of PCT combined with CRP in the detection of early infection after surgery was higher than that of either used alone. CONCLUSIONS The serum PCT level can be used as an early diagnostic indicator of infection after internal fixation for traumatic fracture. The combined use of PCR and CRP levels can increase the sensitivity of detection.
Benefits and drawbacks of telemedicine

Telemedicine is a vast subject, but as yet there are limited data on the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of most telemedicine applications. As a result, objective information about the benefits and drawbacks of telemedicine is limited. This review is therefore based mainly on preliminary results, opinions and predictions. Many potential benefits of telemedicine can be envisaged, including: improved access to information; provision of care not previously deliverable; improved access to services and increasing care delivery; improved professional education; quality control of screening programmes; and reduced health-care costs. Although telemedicine clearly has a wide range of potential benefits, it also has some disadvantages. The main ones that can be envisaged are: a breakdown in the relationship between health professional and patient; a breakdown in the relationship between health professionals; issues concerning the quality of health information; and organizational and bureaucratic difficulties. On balance, the benefits of telemedicine are substantial, assuming that more research will reduce or eliminate the obvious drawbacks.
VSWR-protected silicon bipolar power amplifier with smooth power control slope

A 1.8 GHz silicon bipolar PA is presented. A protection circuit enables the amplifier to sustain a 10:1 load VSWR at 5 V supply despite a low BV/sub ceo/ of 6.5 V. A temperature-compensated bias network allows a moderate power-control slope of less than 80 dB/V. A 50% PAE is attained at a 33.8 dBm output power level. The 1.2/spl times/1.5 mm/sup 2/ die is implemented in 0.8 /spl mu/m BiPMOS.
Hormonal and Reproductive Factors and Pancreatic Cancer Risk: A Prospective Cohort Study

Objectives: We examined pancreatic cancer risk in association with hormonal and reproductive factors in a prospective cohort study of 89,835 Canadian women, aged 40-59 at recruitment, who were enrolled in the National Breast Screening Study (NBSS). Methods: Linkages to national cancer and mortality databases yielded data on cancer incidence and deaths of all causes, respectively, with follow-up ending between 1998 and 2000. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between hormonal and reproductive factors and risk of pancreatic cancer. Results: During a mean of 16.4 years of follow-up, we observed 187 incident pancreatic cancer cases. Compared with women who were premenopausal at baseline, postmenopausal women were at significantly increased risk of pancreatic cancer (odds ratio = 2.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.45-4.09). Age at first livebirth, parity, age at menarche, use of oral contraceptive, and use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were not associated with altered pancreatic cancer risk in our study population. However, among parous women, risk increased with increasing parity. Conclusion: Other than the increased risk among postmenopausal women, the present study provides little support for associations with hormonal factors. Additional prospective data are needed.
Altered distribution of natural killer cell subsets identified by CD56, CD27 and CD70 in primary and chronic human immunodeficiency virus‐1 infection

Human natural killer (NK) (CD3− CD56+) cells can be divided into two functionally distinct subsets, CD3− CD56dim and CD3− CD56bright. We analysed the distribution of NK cell subsets in primary and chronic human immunodeficiency virus‐1 (HIV‐1) infection, to determine if HIV infection stage may influence the subset distribution. In primary infection, contrary to chronic infection, the CD3− CD56dim subset was expanded compared to healthy controls. We also studied the effect of antiretroviral therapy administered early in infection and found that NK cell subset distribution was partially restored after 6 months of antiretroviral therapy in primary infection, but not normalized. Recently, NK cells have been divided into CD27− and CD27+ subsets with different migratory and functional capacity and CD27‐mediated NK cell activation has been described in mice. We therefore investigated whether CD27 and/or CD70 (CD27 ligand) expression on NK cells, and thus the distribution of these novel NK subsets, was altered in HIV‐1‐infected patients. We found up‐regulated expression of both CD27 and CD70 on NK cells of patients, resulting in higher proportions of CD27high and CD70high NK cells, and this phenomenon was more pronounced in chronic infection. Experiments conducted in vitro suggest that the high interleukin‐7 levels found during HIV‐1 infection may participate in up‐regulation of CD70 on NK cell subsets. Imbalance of NK cell subsets and up‐regulated expression of CD27 and CD70 initiated early in HIV‐1 infection may indicate NK cell activation and intrinsic defects initiated by HIV‐1 to disarm the innate immune response to the virus.
Sustained and shorter bouts of physical activity are related to cardiovascular health.

PURPOSE Whereas greater physical activity (PA) is known to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD), the relative importance of performing PA in sustained bouts of activity versus shorter bouts of activity on CVD risk is not known. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), measured in bouts ≥10 and <10 min, and CVD risk factors in a well-characterized community-based sample of white adults. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 2109 participants in the Third Generation Cohort of the Framingham Heart Study (mean age = 47 yr, 55% women) who underwent objective assessment of PA by accelerometry over 5-7 d. Total MVPA, MVPA done in bouts ≥10 min (MVPA(10+)), and MVPA done in bouts <10 min (MVPA(<10)) were calculated. MVPA exposures were related to individual CVD risk factors, including measures of adiposity and blood lipid and glucose levels, using linear and logistic regression. RESULTS Total MVPA was significantly associated with higher HDL levels and with lower triglycerides, BMI, waist circumference, and Framingham risk score (P < 0.0001). MVPA(<10) showed similar statistically significant associations with these CVD risk factors (P < 0.001). Compliance with national guidelines (≥150 min of total MVPA) was significantly related to lower BMI, triglycerides, Framingham risk score, waist circumference, higher HDL, and a lower prevalence of obesity and impaired fasting glucose (P < 0.001 for all). CONCLUSIONS Our cross-sectional observations on a large middle-age community-based sample confirm a positive association of MVPA with a healthier CVD risk factor profile and indicate that accruing PA in bouts <10 min may favorably influence cardiometabolic risk. Additional investigations are warranted to confirm our findings.
Ileal VO(2)-O(2) alterations induced by endotoxin correlate with severity of mitochondrial injury.

Sepsis is usually associated with altered O(2) metabolism in systemic organs. Until recently, inadequate O(2) delivery was thought to be the putative mechanism underlying these metabolic alterations. However, current investigations suggest that impaired O(2) consumption due to disrupted O(2) use by mitochondria may be the culprit. Therefore, we hypothesized that endotoxin (LPS)-induced V O(2)- O(2) alterations would correlate with the severity of mitochondrial injury in a systemic organ (i.e., the ileum). Using an in situ autoperfused feline ileum preparation, we assessed V O(2)- O(2) relationships and mitochondrial ultrastructure after 2 h in LPS-treated (3 mg/kg, intravenous; n = 11) and time-matched control (n = 5) animals. Mitochondrial injury was graded in a blinded fashion on the basis of characteristics associated with established stages of cell injury. LPS-treated animals developed severe mitochondrial injury in the ileal mucosa despite unchanged regional tissue perfusion and ileal oxyhemoglobin levels compared with controls. Worsening of mitochondrial injury correlated with increases in the critical O(2) delivery (r = 0.85; p < 0.002) and decreases in the maximum O(2) extraction (r = -0.61; p < 0.02) in the ileum. These results suggest that mitochondrial injury, leading to impaired O(2) utilization, may be primarily responsible for altered V O(2)- O(2) relationships in systemic organs during sepsis.
Mitochondrially localized ERK2 regulates mitophagy and autophagic cell stress

Degenerating neurons of Parkinson’s disease (PD) patient brains exhibit granules of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) that localize to autophagocytosed mitochondria. Here we show that 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) elicits activity-related localization of ERK1/2 in mitochondria of SH-SY5Y cells, and these events coincide with induction of autophagy and precede mitochondrial degradation. Transient transfection of wild-type (WT) ERK2 or constitutively active MAPK/ERK Kinase 2 (MEK2-CA) was sufficient to induce mitophagy to a degree comparable with that elicited by 6-OHDA, while constitutively active ERK2 (ERK2-CA) had a greater effect. We developed green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion constructs of WT, CA, and kinase-deficient (KD) ERK2 to study the role of ERK2 localization in regulating mitophagy and cell death. Under basal conditions, cells transfected with GFP-ERK2-WT or GFP-ERK2-CA, but not GFP-ERK2-KD, displayed discrete cytoplasmic ERK2 granules of which a significant fraction colocalized with mitochondria and markers of autophagolysosomal maturation. The colocalizing GFP-ERK2/mitochondria granules are further increased by 6-OHDA and undergo autophagic degradation, as bafilomycin-A, an inhibitor of autolysosomal degradation, robustly increased their detection. Interestingly, increasing ERK2-WT or ERK2-CA expression was sufficient to promote comparable levels of macroautophagy as assessed by analysis of the autophagy marker microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3). In contrast, the level of mitophagy was more tightly correlated with ERK activity levels, potentially explained by the greater localization of ERK2-CA to mitochondria compared to ERK2-WT. These data indicate that mitochondrial localization of ERK2 activity is sufficient to recapitulate the effects of 6-OHDA on mitophagy and autophagic cell death.
Socio-Cultural Distance and the Choice of Joint Ventures: A Contingency Perspective

It is widely believed that firms choose joint venture forms overseas when confronted with high socio-cultural distance. However, the probability of choosing the joint venture form is expected to be moderated by the firm-specific characteristics of the investing firm as well as country-specific characteristics of the country of investment. This study examines the moderating role of some firm- and country-specific factors on a firm's choice of joint venture form in response to socio-cultural distance. The firm-specific factors examined in this study include size, multinationality, and technological intensity; and the country-specific factors examined in this study include country risk and market potential. Recent data from a sample of U.S. manufacturing firms is used to test the contingency hypotheses. Results indicate the usefulness of the contingency approach for modeling choice of joint ventures.
Local Government Units in the Philippines: Are you Ready for Federalism?

This paper analyses the existing fiscal architecture of the Republic of the Philippines in relation to its Local Government Units. It assesses the present defects in order to guide developers of the new federal framework. This analysis begins with the Local Government Code (LGC) of 1991 or Republic Act No. 7160 of the Philippines. One of its components in Section 284 and 285 is the formula for Allotment of Internal Revenue Taxes and the Allocation to Local Government Units respectively. This formula is currently under criticism due to the perceived unequal distribution of wealth to various provinces, cities, and municipalities in the Philippines. This has resulted in winning and losing local government units. This paper will focus on the current fiscal architecture together with its failures and defects. Emphasis will be made on the Internal Revenue Allotment for Local Government Units with its imbalances. An analysis on the existing gaps, vertical, and horizontal imbalances will be undertaken to serve as consideration before any shift or transition towards a federal system of government. Policy recommendations will be presented to serve as guidelines to consider before allocating revenues and responsibilities to each local government unit. The Local Government Units in the Philippines are ready for Federalism, however critical foundations have to be established before any shift in form is to be made.
Food, trade, and the environment

Changes in human population density relative to the distribution of agricultural production and natural resources have increased international trade in the global food system (D’Odorico et al 2018). A fundamental benefit of trade is that it can increase carrying capacities relative to local environmental limits (Porkka et al 2017). At the same time, dependence on international trade has many potential costs for the food system. For example, trade may decrease resilience of food supplies to crop failures and sudden economic or political changes taking place in key ‘breadbaskets’ that produce food for the export market (Bren d’Amour et al 2016, Marchand et al 2016, Tigchelaar et al 2018). Trade also distances consumers from the locations of agricultural production, displacing pollution to producing countries, and changing patterns of resource use (O’Bannon et al 2014,Dalin andConway2016,Nesme et al2016). Understanding the complex interdependencies among national food supplies, international trade, and the environment is a key aspect of global sustainability. This Focus Issue contains 29 articles that collectively describe, evaluate, and synthesize diverse aspects of the relationships between trade, food andwater security, and the environment at local to global scales (figure 1). The current trend to protectionist policies inmany countries, including in important food producing countries like the United States, makes this collection especially timely. The papers in this Focus Issue present actionable results that provide insights which can help guide further research and inform decision-making around trade. Below we highlight two of the areas that studies in this Focus Issue contribute to understanding: resilience in the global food systemandcross-scale connections.
A Cluster of Escherichia Coli O157: Nonmotile Infections Associated with Recreational Exposure to Lake Water

Objectives. To identify cases and determine risk factors for an outbreak of Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:nonmotile (NM) infections in children attending a summer day care program in California. Methods. The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study; the cohort comprised first and second graders who attended the day care program during the last week in August 1999. Shiga toxin testing and molecular subtyping using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis were performed on isolates. Lake water, lake bottom sediment samples, and waterfowl feces from the lake environs were cultured for E. coli O157. Results. Three cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:NM infections with matching pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns and four probable cases were found. Children who swallowed more than a mouthful of water had a higher attack rate than those who swallowed less than a mouthful or none at all (43% vs. 10%, relative risk = 4.43, 95% confidence interval 1.12, 17.50). Conclusions. E. coli O157:NM infections were associated with swallowing water from a freshwater lake. Potential sources of contamination include feces from humans, cattle, or deer. This outbreak illustrates the value in screening patients with diarrhea for E. coli O157, submitting isolates to public health laboratories, and using molecular techniques to identify related cases. Outbreaks associated with contaminated freshwater could be averted by prevention and early detection of contamination.