Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Registering grades of sudden deafness to predict the hearing outcome via an inner-ear test battery

Abstract Objectives: An inner ear test battery comprising audiometry and ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP), cervical VEMP (cVEMP), and caloric tests was applied to patients with sudden deafness to map their lesions and predict hearing outcome. Design: Retrospective study. Study sample: Seventy-five patients with unilateral sudden deafness underwent an inner-ear test battery. Registering the grades of sudden deafness was based on the number of abnormal test results in the inner ear test battery. Results: After treatment for three consecutive months, mean hearing gain declined significantly from Grade I (one abnormal test) to Grade IV (four abnormal tests). Significant relations existed between hearing outcome and oVEMP test results (p < 0.05), caloric test results (p < 0.05), but not cVEMP test results and pre-treatment mean hearing level. Combined caloric and oVEMP test results demonstrated a stronger predictor with a c statistic of 0.722 than either test alone, indicating that this regression model fits the whole set of observations well and is effective in predicting the hearing outcome. Conclusion: Abnormal caloric and oVEMP test results in sudden deafness patients may indicate poor prognosis for hearing improvement, whereas hearing recovery can be anticipated when both tests reveal normal responses.
Growth hormone exposure as a risk factor for the development of subsequent neoplasms of the central nervous system: a report from the childhood cancer survivor study.

CONTEXT Cranial radiation therapy (CRT) predisposes to GH deficiency and subsequent neoplasms (SNs) of the central nervous system (CNS). Increased rates of SNs have been reported in GH-treated survivors. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to evaluate the association between GH treatment and the development of CNS-SNs. DESIGN The study was designed with a retrospective cohort with longitudinal follow-up. SETTING The setting of the study was multiinstitutional. PARTICIPANTS A total of 12 098 5-year pediatric cancer survivors from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, diagnosed with cancer prior to age 21 years, of whom 338 self-reported GH treatment, which was verified through medical record review. INTERVENTIONS INTERVENTIONS included subject surveys, medical records abstraction, and pathological review. OUTCOME MEASURES Incidence of meningioma, glioma, and other CNS-SNs was measured. RESULTS Among GH-treated survivors, 16 (4.7%) developed CNS-SN, including 10 with meningioma and six with glioma. Two hundred three survivors without GH treatment (1.7%) developed CNS-SN, including 138 with meningioma, 49 with glioma, and 16 with other CNS-SNs. The adjusted rate ratio in GH-treated compared with untreated survivors for development of any CNS-SN was 1.0 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.6-1.8, P = . 94], for meningiomas, 0.8 (95% CI 0.4-1.7, P = .61), and for gliomas, 1.9 (95% CI 0.7-4.8, P = .21). Factors associated with meningioma development included female gender (P = .001), younger age at primary cancer diagnosis (P < .001), and CRT/longer time since CRT (P < .001). Glioma was associated with CRT/shorter time since CRT (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS There was no statistically significant increased overall risk of the occurrence of a CNS-SN associated with GH exposure. Specifically, occurrence of meningiomas and gliomas were not associated with GH treatment.
Wireless monitoring system of the heart rate

Research in recent years have led to the emergence of technologies for remote monitoring of patients with the wireless transmitted to biomedical signal obtained from various sensors. Specialist person who monitors can be connected via a router to the IP address of the wireless board monitoring system, and through software developed in LabVIEW graphical programming software can read the value of measuring of the value, but very important is that it can be viewed as biomedical signal monitored.
Advanced c‐myc antisense (AVI‐4126)‐eluting phosphorylcholine‐coated stent implantation is associated with complete vascular healing and reduced neointimal formation in the porcine coronary restenosis model

An advanced six‐ring morpholino backbone c‐myc antisense (AVI‐4126) was shown to inhibit c‐myc expression and intimal hyperplasia after local catheter delivery in a porcine balloon injury model. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an AVI‐4126‐eluting phosphorylcholine‐coated (PC) stent on c‐myc expression restenosis and vascular healing after stent implantation in porcine coronary arteries. PC stents were loaded with AVI‐4126 using soak trap. Nine pigs underwent AVI‐4126 PC coronary stent implantation (two stents/animal). Two to six hours postprocedure, three pigs were sacrificed and stented segments were analyzed by Western blot for c‐myc expression. In chronic experiments, six pigs (12 stent sites) were sacrificed at 28 days following intervention and vessels were perfusion‐fixed. High‐performance liquid chromatography analysis of plasma samples showed minimal presence of the antisense. Western blot analysis of the stented vessels demonstrated inhibition of c‐myc expression at 2 and 6 hr after procedure. Quantitative histologic morphometry showed that the neointimal area was significantly reduced (by 40%) in the antisense‐coated group compared with control (2.3 ± 0.7 vs. 3.9 ± 0.8 mm2, respectively; P = 0.0077). Immunostaining and electron microscopy demonstrated complete endothelialization, without fibrin deposition, thrombosis, or necrosis in all implanted stents. In the porcine coronary model, an advanced c‐myc‐eluting PC stent blocked c‐myc expression and significantly inhibited myointimal hyperplasia and allowed complete reendothelialization and healing response. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2004;61:518–527. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Saliency and co-saliency detection by low-rank multiscale fusion

To facilitate efficiency, most recent successful saliency detection methods are built on superpixel level. However, saliency detection with single-scale superpixel segmentation may fail in capturing the intrinsic salient objects in complex natural scenes with small-scale high-contrast backgrounds. To tackle this problem and realize more reliable saliency detection, we present a simple strategy using multiscale superpixels to jointly detect salient object via low-rank analysis. Specifically, we construct a multiscale superpixel pyramid and derive the corresponding saliency map using multiple saliency features and priors for each single scale at first. Then, we show that by joint low-rank analysis of multiscale saliency maps, we can obtain a more reliable adaptively fused saliency map that takes all scales saliency results into account. We further propose a GMM-based co-saliency prior to enable the above approach to detecting co-salient objects from multiple images. Extensive experiments on benchmark datasets validate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed approach over state-of-the-art methods.
Vestibular cortex lesions affect the perception of verticality

Seventy‐one patients with unilateral supratentorial infarctions were evaluated with respect to static vestibular function in the roll plane, including determinations of the subjective visual vertical, skew deviation, and ocular torsion. Since animal studies have revealed at least four different areas of the parietal and temporal cortex involved in vestibular function, we tried to identify cortical areas in humans responsible for vestibular function in the roll plane. Infarcted areas, as demonstrated in magnetic resonance and computed tomography scans, were projected onto the appropriate sections of an atlas of the human brain. Infarctions in the territories of the posterior and anterior cerebral arteries did not affect static vestibular function in roll. Twenty‐three of 52 patients with infarctions in the middle cerebral artery territory showed significant (p < 0.0005), mostly contraversive, pathological subjective visual vertical tilts. The overlapping area of these infarctions centered on the posterior insula, probably homologous to the parieto‐insular vestibular cortex in the monkey. Although electrophysiological and cytoarchitectonic data in animals demonstrate several multisensory areas rather than a single primary vestibular cortex, the parieto‐insular vestibular cortex seems to represent the integration center of the multisensory vestibular cortex areas within the parietal lobe.
Aerobic training workload affects human endothelial cells redox homeostasis.

PURPOSE Moderate aerobic exercise reduces oxidative stress, whereas intense physical activity may produce the opposite result. At present, the effects of different exercise loads on oxidative stress markers and the response of human cells to different exercise volumes have not been fully elucidated. METHODS Human (Eahy-926) endothelial cells (EC), exposed or not exposed to oxidative stress, were conditioned with sera from two groups of triathletes practicing at different workloads. RESULTS Although no differences in functional and hemodynamic variables were observed between the two groups of triathletes, significant changes in some markers for oxidative stress were found in their sera. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and superoxide dismutase activity were similar, but triathletes practicing the sport at lower volume (T1) had higher serum nitric oxide and lower catalase activity than triathletes performing the training at greater load (T2). The EC conditioned with serum from T1 (T1-EC) showed higher survival and proliferation rates and lower senescence levels than the EC supplemented with T2 (T2-EC) serum both before and after oxidative stress induction. These effects depended on catalase as demonstrated via enzyme activity inhibition using 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole. After oxidative stress induction, Sirt1 activity, a regulator of the oxidative stress response, was significantly increased in the T1-EC but not in the T2-EC. Moreover, the T1-EC required less catalase activity than the T2-EC to counteract an equal amount of oxidative stress after H2O2 administration. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that the beneficial effects of aerobic exercise are eliminated when the training is performed at a greater workload. Moreover, we suggest an oxidative stress marker, serum catalase activity, as a valid tool to use in the supervision of changes to exercise volume.
Conformational modulation of troponin T by configuration of the NH2-terminal variable region and functional effects.

Troponin T (TnT) is an essential element in the thin filament-based regulatory system of striated muscle. Alternative mRNA splicing generates multiple TnT isoforms with primary structural differences in the NH2-terminal region. The functional significance of this hypervariable NH2-terminal domain and the developmental or muscle type-specific TnT isoforms is not fully understood. We have analyzed chicken breast muscle TnT containing a metal-binding cluster [H(E/A)EAH]4-7 (Tx) in the NH2-terminal region to demonstrate potential effects of the NH2-terminal structure on the conformation of TnT [Ogut, O. , and Jin, J.-P. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 16581-16590]. Using specific antibody epitope analysis on this metal-binding TnT model, this study revealed that the binding of Zn2+ to the NH2-terminal region of chicken breast muscle TnT induces extensive conformational changes in the whole protein as demonstrated by a significant decrease in binding avidity of a polyclonal anti-TnT serum which recognizes multiple epitopes on the TnT molecule. This NH2-terminal configuration-based effect is not restricted to the metal ion interaction, whereas the binding of anti-NH2 terminus monoclonal antibodies to TnT induced similar changes. Protein-binding assays have shown that the NH2-terminal variability-induced conformational changes can alter TnT's binding affinity for tropomyosin and troponin I. The results suggest a functional modulation of TnT through the configuration of the NH2-terminal domain, and this novel mechanism may mediate the physiological significance of the TnT isoform regulation.
High-Performance Pi-Gate Poly-Si Junctionless and Inversion Mode FET

In this paper, the Pi-gate (PG) poly-Si junction-less (JL) and inversion mode (IM) FETs with a high aspect ratio (A.R. = channel thickness/channel width ~ 3.4) have been successfully fabricated and demonstrated by a method without using the costly lithography technique. This method has some advantages: 1) the thickness of channels can be controlled simply by thickness of poly-Si layer; 2) the shape of channels can be controlled effectively by rectangular silicon nitride (Si3N4) as hard masks; 3) the series resistance can be reduced by raised source/drain configurations; and 4) Si-compatible low thermal budget process. The PG polySi JL FETs show excellent electrical performance in terms of low gate overdrive voltage (VG-VTH = 2 V), extremely near ideal subthreshold swing (S.S.) ~68 mV/decade, steep average subthreshold swing (A.S.S.) ~ 73 mV/decade, smaller drain induced barrier lowering ~9 mV/V, a higher ON/OFF current ratio ~ 1.1 × 108 (VD = 1 V), and a better field-effect mobility (μFE) ~ 35 (cm2/Vs) as compared with PG poly-Si IM FETs. Thus, these devices are very promising for future 3-D integrated circuits applications.
Distinguishing War-Related PTSD Resulting From Perpetration- and Betrayal-Based Morally Injurious Events

Objective: We investigated whether potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) during a combat deployment may lead to PTSD through distinct pathways from danger-based events. We also examined the prevalence of perpetration-based PMIEs, during which service members behaved in ways that violated their own moral values, and betrayal-based PMIEs, during which personal moral expectations were violated by trusted others. Method: Using a sample of 867 active duty Marines from a single infantry battalion that engaged in heavy ground combat while deployed to Afghanistan, a structural equation model was built to examine the relationships between perpetration- and betrayal-based PMIEs, combat experiences, and peritraumatic dissociation reported at 1 month postdeployment, and guilt/shame, anger, and PTSD symptoms reported at 8 months postdeployment. Results: The relationship between betrayal-based PMIEs and PTSD was mediated by anger (&bgr; = .14). There was marginal evidence of mediation of the relationship between perpetration-based PMIEs and PTSD by shame and guilt (&bgr; = .09), and of the relationship between danger-based combat events and PTSD by peritraumatic dissociation (&bgr; = .08). No significant direct relationships were found between any of these 3 types of events and subsequent PTSD. Perceived perpetration and betrayal accounted for PTSD symptoms above and beyond combat exposure. Over a third of the sample reported experiencing perpetration- or betrayal-based PMIEs. Conclusions: The associations of perpetration and betrayal with PTSD, controlling for danger-based combat events, highlight the limitations of conceptualizations and treatments of PTSD based on fear or helplessness as sole etiologic factors.
Detection of Loss of Heterozygosity (LOH) Using Circulating Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) by Fluorescence-based Multiplex PCR for Identification of Patients With Prostate Cancer

Several lines of evidence suggest that loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in specific chromosomal regions is a common mechanism for the inactivation of tumor-suppressor genes that are implicated in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer (PCa). Short tandem repeat (STR) sequences are extremely reliable genetic markers for the detection of LOH associated with cancers. Hence, in the current study, we investigated the detection of LOH at 6 STR markers (D8S360, D9S1748, D9S171, D8S137, D6S1631, and THRB) using blood circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA), which can be used to distinguish PCa from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). A total of 136 individuals were included in the study, 76 male patients diagnosed with PCa (50 male patients with localized PCa and 26 male patients with metastatic PCa) as experimental subjects and 60 male patients with BPH as controls. Circulating cfDNA was extracted from plasma samples and amplified with fluorescence-labeled primers specific for known STR markers. We also evaluated the serum prostate-specific antigen in both groups. Our findings revealed that the frequency of LOH at D8S360, D9S1748, D9S171, D8S137, and D6S1631 was significantly higher in PCa subjects than in controls (P<0.05). Of the 6 STR markers, LOH at D8S360 could discriminate metastatic PCa from localized PCa. We found that 71.05% of patients with PCa and 1.66% of BPH subjects had LOH at least at 3 of the markers in cfDNA. Our findings provide additional evidence to support the hypothesis that analysis of LOH at D8S360, D9S1748, D9S171, D8S137, and D6S1631 STR markers using cfDNA can be applied as a noninvasive diagnostic approach for the detection of PCa.
Use of transesophageal Doppler ultrasonography in ventilated pediatric patients: Derivation of cardiac output

Objective To ascertain if cardiac output (CO) could be derived from blood flow velocity measured in the descending aorta of ventilated children by transesophageal Doppler ultrasonography (TED) without the need for direct aortic cross sectional area measurement, and to evaluate the ability of TED to follow changes in CO when compared with femoral artery thermodilution. Design Prospective, comparison study. Setting A 16-bed pediatric intensive care unit of a university hospital. Patients A total of 100 ventilated infants and children aged 4 days to 18 yrs (median age, 27 months). Diagnoses included postcardiac surgery (n = 58), sepsis/multiple organ failure (n = 32), respiratory disease (n = 5), and other (n = 5). A total of 55 patients were receiving inotropes or vasodilators. Interventions When patients were hemodynamically stable, a TED probe was placed into the distal esophagus to obtain optimal signal, and minute distance (MD) was recorded. Five consecutive MD measurements were made concurrently with five femoral artery thermodilution measurements, and the concurrent measurements were averaged. CO was then manipulated by fluid administration or inotrope adjustment, and the readings were repeated. Measurements and Main Results Femoral artery thermodilution CO ranged from 0.32 to 9.19 L/min, (median, 2.46 L/min), and encompassed a wide range of high and low flow states. Theoretical consideration revealed the optimal TED estimate for CO to be (MD × patient height2 × 10−7). Linear regression analysis yielded a power function model such that: estimated CO = 1.158 × (MD × height2 × 10−7)0.785, r2 = 0.879, standard error of the estimate = 0.266. Inclusion of a correction factor for potential changes in aortic cross-sectional area with hypo- and hypertension did not appreciably improve the predictive value of the model. MD was able to follow percentage changes in CO, giving a mean bias of 0.87% (95% confidence interval −0.85% to 2.59%), and limits of agreement of ± 16.82%. The median coefficient of variation for MD was 3.3% Conclusions TED provides a clinically accurate estimate of CO across the entire pediatric age range and is able to follow changes in CO.
Vitamin D Deficiency Associated With Markers of Cardiovascular Disease in Children With Obesity

Adult studies have reported associations of low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) with dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease; however, there are scarce pediatric data regarding relationships between vitamin D status and specific lipid markers affecting cardiovascular risk. In this cross-sectional study of children evaluated at university-based pediatric endocrinology clinics, 178 patients meeting criteria for overweight or obesity had 25OHD levels assessed over a 2-year period; 60 of 178 had non-HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol and fasting lipid parameters performed. Patients with 25OHD <20 ng/mL had significantly higher non-HDL cholesterol (134.76 ± 47.32 vs 108.85 ± 31.14, P < .03), triglyceride (TG)/HDL ratio (3.09 ± 2.26 vs 1.82 ± 1.18, P = .03), total cholesterol (TC)/HDL ratio (4.23 ± 1.23 vs 3.40 ± 1.05, P < .01), TC (184.15 ± 40.19 vs 158.89 ± 30.10, P < .01), and TG (134.76 ± 47.32 vs 78.93 ± 37.46, P < .03) compared with 25OHD ≥20 ng/mL. Vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with increase in atherogenic lipids and markers of early cardiovascular disease. These findings suggest that vitamin D deficiency may have negative effects on lipid parameters with increase in cardiovascular risk.
Container Throughput Forecasting Using Dynamic Factor Analysis and ARIMAX Model

The paper examines the impact of integration of macroeconomic indicators on the accuracy of container throughput time series forecasting model. For this purpose, a Dynamic factor analysis and AutoRegressive Integrated Moving-Average model with eXogenous inputs (ARIMAX) are used. Both methodologies are integrated into a novel four-stage heuristic procedure. Firstly, dynamic factors are extracted from external macroeconomic indicators influencing the observed throughput. Secondly, the family of ARIMAX models of different orders is generated based on the derived factors. In the third stage, the diagnostic and goodness-of-fit testing is applied, which includes statistical criteria such as fit performance, information criteria, and parsimony. Finally, the best model is heuristically selected and tested on the real data of the Port of Koper. The results show that by applying macroeconomic indicators into the forecasting model, more accurate future throughput forecasts can be achieved. The model is also used to produce future forecasts for the next four years indicating a more oscillatory behaviour in (2018-2020). Hence, care must be taken concerning any bigger investment decisions initiated from the management side. It is believed that the proposed model might be a useful reinforcement of the existing forecasting module in the observed port.
An Inhibitor of p38 Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Prevents Insulin-stimulated Glucose Transport but Not Glucose Transporter Translocation in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes and L6 Myotubes*

The precise mechanisms underlying insulin-stimulated glucose transport still require investigation. Here we assessed the effect of SB203580, an inhibitor of the p38 MAP kinase family, on insulin-stimulated glucose transport in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and L6 myotubes. We found that SB203580, but not its inactive analogue (SB202474), prevented insulin-stimulated glucose transport in both cell types with an IC50 similar to that for inhibition of p38 MAP kinase (0.6 μm). Basal glucose uptake was not affected. Moreover, SB203580 added only during the transport assay did not inhibit basal or insulin-stimulated transport. SB203580 did not inhibit insulin-stimulated translocation of the glucose transporters GLUT1 or GLUT4 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes as assessed by immunoblotting of subcellular fractions or by immunofluorescence of membrane lawns. L6 muscle cells expressing GLUT4 tagged on an extracellular domain with a Myc epitope (GLUT4myc) were used to assess the functional insertion of GLUT4 into the plasma membrane. SB203580 did not affect the insulin-induced gain in GLUT4myc exposure at the cell surface but largely reduced the stimulation of glucose uptake. SB203580 had no effect on insulin-dependent insulin receptor substrate-1 phosphorylation, association of the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase with insulin receptor substrate-1, nor on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, Akt1, Akt2, or Akt3 activities in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In conclusion, in the presence of SB203580, insulin caused normal translocation and cell surface membrane insertion of glucose transporters without stimulating glucose transport. We propose that insulin stimulates two independent signals contributing to stimulation of glucose transport: phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase leads to glucose transporter translocation and a pathway involving p38 MAP kinase leads to activation of the recruited glucose transporter at the membrane.