Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of probiotic supplement for gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background: Probiotic supplement might be beneficial for gestational diabetes mellitus. However, the results remained controversial. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the efficacy of probiotic supplement in gestational diabetes mellitus. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of probiotic supplement in gestational diabetes mellitus were included. Two investigators independently searched articles, extracted data, and assessed the quality of included studies. The primary outcome were fasting serum insulin and fasting plasma glucose. Meta-analysis was performed using the fixed-effect or random-effect model. Results: Six RCTs involving 830 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with control intervention in gestational diabetes mellitus, probiotic supplementation intervention was found to significantly reduce fasting serum insulin (Std. mean difference = −0.95; 95% CI = −1.73 to −0.17; p < .00001) and HOMA-IR (Std. mean difference = −1.12; 95% CI = −2.05 to −0.18; p = .02), but showed no substantial impact on fasting plasma glucose (Std. mean difference = −0.49; 95% CI = −1.05–0.08; p = .09), gestational age (Std. mean difference = 0.07; 95% CI = −0.20–0.34; p = .63), and gestational weight (Std. mean difference = −0.11; 95% CI = −0.38–0.16; p = .43). Conclusions: Compared with control intervention in gestational diabetes mellitus, probiotic supplementation was found to significantly reduce insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and fasting serum insulin, but had no substantial influence on fasting plasma glucose, gestational age and gestational weight.
Nuevo enfoque en el análisis de los factores que condicionan el uso de la bicicleta como modo de transporte urbano

La valoracion del los factores que afectan al usuario a la hora de realizar su eleccion modal a favor de la bicicleta no es la misma que para el resto de modos. Ademas de algunas caracteristicas peculiares, esa valoracion varia de manera significativa dependiendo de la experiencia de uso de la bicicleta por parte del usuario: segun si es usuario frecuente, si usa la bicicleta solo por motivos de ocio o deporte, o si no utiliza la bicicleta. De forma general, los usuarios frecuentes dan mucha menos importancia a las barreras identificadas como fundamentales para los otros usuarios. Especificamente, la diferencia mas acentuada se observa en relacion a una de las barreras que mas afectan a la hora de considerar la bicicleta como modo de transporte usual en la ciudad: la percepcion de la peligrosidad de su uso. Mientras la mayoria de los no usuarios, y sobre todo los que solo usan la bici para ocio o deporte, consideran muy importante o fundamental el riesgo como principal barrera al uso de la bicicleta, el factor resulta mucho menos significativo para los usuarios habituales e incluso para los usuarios ocasionales con motivo de movilidad obligada. Algo parecido resulta considerando las distancias a recorrer o la orografia como factores que llevan a usar la bicicleta menos de lo deseado. En esta linea, los usuarios que la usan para motivos de transporte urbano perciben otros factores como barreras: falta de instalaciones complementarias o climatologia adversa, por ejemplo. A partir de los resultados del estudio, se propone un nuevo enfoque en la orientacion de las politicas de fomento del uso urbano de la bicicleta hacia intervenciones que favorezcan la experimentacion practica de su uso en ambiente urbano, con programas dirigidos de manera especifica hacia no usuarios y usuarios por motivo de ocio o deporte. Esto puede realizarse a traves de medidas que permitan el facil acceso a las bicicletas, como la implantacion de servicios de bicicleta publica, la provision de bicicletas gratuitas para los empleados en las empresas, la rebaja de impuestos en la compra de bicicletas y su integracion en el sistema de transporte publico.
A new observation of dynamically triggered regional seismicity: Earthquakes in Greece following the August 1999 Izmit, Turkey earthquake

The Mw = 7.4 Izmit, Turkey earthquake triggered widespread regional seismicity in Greece over a study region extending from 400 km to nearly 1000 km away from the epicenter. Small events began immediately after the passage of the mainshock surface waves suggesting that the transient stresses of the seismic waves were the trigger. The increase in cataloged earthquakes in ordinary continental crust is a new observation and is statistically significant at the 95% level. Unlike the previous example of distant triggering during the Landers earthquake, the activated seismicity occurred entirely in non‐volcanic areas. The Greek sites were triggered by waves with amplitudes at least a factor of 3 lower than the observed triggering threshold for Imperial Valley. We speculate that dynamic triggering on a regional‐scale results in countrywide episodes of increased seismicity, or “superswarms”, in regions with low triggering thresholds such as Greece.
The Mount Sinai clinical pathway for the management of pheochromocytoma.

OBJECTIVE Pheochromocytomas are complex tumors that require a comprehensive and systematic management plan orchestrated by a multidisciplinary team. METHODS To achieve these ends, The Mount Sinai Adrenal Center hosted an interdisciplinary retreat where experts in adrenal disorders assembled with the aim of developing a clinical pathway for the management of pheochromocytomas. RESULTS The result was a consensus for the diagnosis, perioperative management, and postoperative management of pheochromocytomas, with specific recommendations from our team of adrenal experts, as well as a review of the current literature. CONCLUSION Our clinical pathway can be applied by other institutions directly or may serve as a guide for institution-specific management.
Autologous Osteochondral Grafting in the Knee: Indication, Results, and Reflections

The use of multiple autologous osteochondral plugs (mosaicplasty) for repair of articular cartilage defects is a well-accepted technique. Since 1995, the authors have used mosaicplasty to treat more than 110 patients with cartilage defects of the knee, hip, and ankle. The first 52 consecutive patients who had mosaicplasty of the knee and have an average followup of 37 months (range, 24–56 months) were examined. Indications for surgical treatment were osteochondritis dissecans, acute trauma, and posttraumatic lesions of the femorotibial joint, femoropatellar maltracking with recurrent episodes of patella dislocations, and distinct femoropatellar arthrosis. Preoperatively, cartilage defects were classified as International Cartilage Repair Society Grade III lesions in 23 patients and Grade IV lesions in 29 patients. Two years after surgery, an increased level of knee function was found in 86% of the patients. At the latest followup, improved knee function was observed in 92% of the patients. In four patients, reoperation was necessary because of graft failure. Complications and reoperation rate were related to large surface lesions. Autologous osteochondral transplantation is a valid option for the treatment of full-thickness osteochondral defects. However, the method is limited by the defect size and the number of plugs to be taken at the donor site.
Cognitive behavioural therapy self-help for depression: An overview

Background The World Health Organisation suggests that 60–80% of those affected by depression can be effectively treated using medication or psychotherapy within primary care. However, less than 50% of those affected actually receive such treatments. In practice, it remains a challenge to provide access to psychotherapy due to limited numbers of therapists combined with a growing number of treatment guidelines recommending the delivery of evidence-based psychological therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). One way to overcome this problem is to offer therapy in different ways – with so-called low-intensity (LI) working. One example of LI working is CBT self-help (CBT-SH). Aims To provide an overview of the current literature surrounding the effectiveness of CBT-SH with a particular focus on depression and discuss the future directions for both research and policy implementation. Conclusions It is clear that self-help has a place within a healthcare framework but more work is needed to clarify where and how it should be delivered. The paper concludes that there appears to be enough benefits and sufficient evidence to argue for the introduction of LI working as an appropriate first step for most people facing depression and anxiety.
[Prognostic value of troponin T in hospitalized patients with angina or non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction].

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Cardiac troponins are highly specific and sensitive for detecting minimal myocardial damage. The aim of our study was to determine the prognostic value of troponin T levels in patients hospitalized for suspected angina or myocardial infarction without ST-segment elevation. PATIENTS AND METHOD We recorded the frequency of death, acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, or need for coronary revascularization in the three months after the onset of symptoms in 346 consecutive patients admitted for suspected acute coronary syndrome, excluding those who developed myocardial infarction with persistent ST-segment elevation. RESULT . Serum troponin T levels were > or = 0.1 ng/ml in 133 patients (troponin T positive group) and lower in 213 patients (troponin T negative group). The relative risk (RR) and 95 percent confidence intervals (95% CI) of individual and grouped events for the troponin T positive group were 3.2 (95% CI, 1.4-7.3; p = 0.006) for death; 2.8 (95% CI, 1.43-5.51; p = 0.003) for death or myocardial infarction; and 2.8 (95% CI, 1.6-5.0; p < 0.001) for death, myocardial infarction or heart failure. Diabetes mellitus and troponin T levels > or = 0.1 ng/ml had independent prognostic value after adjusting for age, sex, and electrocardiographic changes; with RR 2.5 (95% CI, 1.01-5.9) for death, myocardial infarction or heart failure. CONCLUSIONS The prognosis of patients hospitalized for chest pain who do not immediately develop transmural necrosis depends on serum troponin T levels at hospital admission. Troponin T levels > or = 0.1 ng/ml almost triple the risk of major events in the three months after the acute episode. The prognostic value of troponin T is independent of age, sex, presence of diabetes mellitus, and electrocardiographic changes.
Controlling and ultimately ending the HIV/AIDS pandemic: a feasible goal.

IT HAS BEEN NEARLY 3 DECADES SINCE THE RECOGNITION of AIDS and the discovery of its etiologic agent, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Despite numerous scientific advances and major successes in the areas of prevention and treatment, HIV/AIDS continues to exact an enormous toll. Nonetheless, controlling and ultimately ending the HIV/AIDS pandemic is feasible. Such a goal will require 3 overarching elements: increasing HIV testing and availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIVinfected individuals; curing a sizeable proportion of HIV infected individuals, such that they no longer require lifelong therapy; and preventing new infections, using both previously proven strategies and a new generation of prevention tools.
Mineralocorticoid receptors and glucocorticoid receptors

In most species the physiological glucocorticoid is cortisol, but in rats and mice corticosterone, an evolutionary difference that remains essentially unexplored. Glucocorticoids are secreted in response to ACTH, which shows both circadian variation and elevations in response to food and stress. In terrestrial species the physiological mineralocorticoid is aldosterone, secreted in response to angiotensin and hyperkalaemia, and characterized by a unique aldehyde (CHO) group at C18, whence its name. The gene coding for the enzyme responsible (aldosterone synthase) lies adjacent to the gene coding for the signature enzyme for glucocorticoids (11-hydroxylase), on human chromosome 16q22. Unequal crossing-over at meiosis is thus possible, producing a chimeric gene with the tissue-localization and regulatory regions from 11-hydroxylase, and the coding sequence for aldosterone synthase. Expression of such a hybrid enzyme throughout the adrenal cortex was shown by Lifton and his colleagues (1992) to underlie the syndrome of glucocorticoid remediable aldosteronism (GRA: also known as glucocorticoid suppressible hypertension, GSH), the first single-gene cause of human hypertension to be elucidated.
Session 201-Advance in reconstruction algorithms ( 012 ) Computed tomography from limited data using a robust discrete algebraic reconstruction technique

Obtaining accurate reconstruction from a small number of projection images is of high importance in many tomography applications. Many advanced reconstruction techniques has been proposed in the past for limited data problems. Most of them achieve such goal by exploiting the prior information we have on the object under imaging. For example, it has been shown that if the object has rather sparse boundaries, significantly improved reconstructions can be obtained by applying the total variation minimization technique (Beck and Teboulle, 2009). In another type of problem, the object under test consists of only a few different materials, each produces an approximately constant gray value in the reconstructed image. By incorporating this knowledge as prior information, discrete tomography (Batenburg, 2005) can produce superior reconstructions using significantly less data comparing to conventional reconstruction methods such as the filtered backprojection (FBP).
Full paper 1 Correlation between genetic variability and virulence factors in clinical strains of Malassezia 2 pachydermatis of animal origin

12 Malassezia pachydermatis is a yeast belonging to the microbiota of the skin and mucous 13 membranes of dog and cat, but it can also act as pathogen, causing dermatitis. The aim of this work 14 was to evaluate the genetic variability of M. pachydermatis strains isolated from symptomatic dogs 15 and cats and determine a correlation between genotype and phenotype. For this purpose eleven 16 strains of M. pachydermatis were molecularly classified by nested-polymerase chain reaction 17 (nested-PCR) based on ITS-1 and ITS-2 regions, specific for fungal rRNA genes. Furthermore, 18 random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was applied for genetic typing of M. 19 pachydermatis isolates identifying four different genotypes. Strains belonging to genotype 1 20 produced the highest amount of biofilm and phospholipase activity. The inflammatory response 21 induced by M. pachydermatis strains in immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCat cells) was 22 significantly different when we compared the results obtained from each strain. In particular, HaCat 23 cells infected with the strains belonging to genotypes 1 and 2 triggered the highest levels of increase 24 in TLR-2, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, COX-2 and MMP-9 expression. By contrast, cells infected with the 25 strains of genotype 3 and those of genotype 4 did not significantly induce TLR-2 and cytokines. 26 The results obtained might suggest a possible association between genotype and virulence factors 27 expressed by M. pachydermatis strains. This highlights the need for a more accurate identification 28 of the yeast to improve the therapeutic approach and to monitor the onset of human infections 29 caused by this emergent zoonotic pathogen. 30
Traumatic laceration of the liver limited to the bare area: CT findings in 25 patients.

OBJECTIVE The capsular extent of traumatic hepatic lacerations may be limited to the bare area of the liver--an area not covered by peritoneal reflection. In these cases, intraperitoneal bleeding may not occur, classic peritoneal findings may be absent, and results of diagnostic peritoneal lavage may be normal. We undertook a study to evaluate the frequency, CT appearance, and significance of injury of the bare area of the liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed radiologic reports of 1469 hemodynamically stable trauma patients referred for abdominal CT between January 1986 and September 1992 and selected 155 patients whose CT reports indicated hepatic injury. Retrospective review of the abdominal CT scans of these 155 patients confirmed intrahepatic laceration or contusion in all of them. The study involved the 25 (16%) patients in whom the capsular extent of injury was limited to the bare area of the liver. RESULTS In all cases, CT scans showed simple or complex lacerations involving predominantly or exclusively the posterior segment of the right hepatic lobe, with capsular extent limited to the superomedial hepatic surface. Abnormal retroperitoneal findings were present in all but two cases. Twenty-two (88%) of 25 patients had right-sided retroperitoneal hemorrhage or fluid collections; adrenal hematoma or periadrenal fluid was seen in 12 (48%) patients. Abnormal pericaval fluid collections were present in nine (36%). Only five (20%) patients had free intraperitoneal fluid. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage, performed as a correlative procedure in four patients, revealed intraabdominal hemorrhage in one, equivocal findings in one, and normal findings in two. Patients who had isolated injuries of the bare area of the liver did well clinically and were discharged after an uneventful hospital stay of an average of 3 days (range, 2-7 days). CONCLUSION A small percentage of hemodynamically stable patients who have hepatic trauma may have lacerations that primarily involve the bare area and that are not suspected clinically or detected by diagnostic peritoneal lavage. In these patients, CT may be helpful to show the extent of liver injury, identify associated retroperitoneal abnormalities, and provide prognostic information.
Antipsychotic polypharmacy: review of mechanisms, mortality and management

Antipsychotic polypharmacy is an increasingly encountered clinical scenario. This review considers the reasons behind antipsychotic polypharmacy and the patterns of its use. We also consider the evidence of effectiveness of combined therapy v . monotherapy and the rationale behind the potentially beneficial combinations that are used. The potential dangers of antipsychotic polypharmacy are also discussed and the limited research regarding switching from polypharmacy to monotherapy is reviewed. Some provisional recommendations regarding antipsychotic polypharmacy are proposed.
Modulation of acetylcholine release at mouse neuromuscular junctions by interaction of three homologous scorpion toxins with K+ channels

1 The effects of three scorpion toxins, charybdotoxin (CTX), iberiotoxin (IbTX), and noxiustoxin (NTX) have been studied on acetylcholine release and on K+ channels by means of twitch tension and electrophysiological recording techniques using isolated skeletal muscle preparations and by a radioligand binding assay using 125I‐labelled dendrotoxin I (DpI) and rat brain synaptosomal membranes.
Postoperative surveillance for deep venous thrombosis with duplex ultrasonography after total knee arthroplasty.

Duplex ultrasonography of the lower extremity was used for routine non-invasive screening for asymptomatic proximal and distal deep venous thrombosis, for monitoring of potential propagation of deep venous thrombosis from distal to proximal, and for confirmation of the resolution of proximal deep venous thrombosis after treatment. In the first part of the study, to substantiate the accuracy of duplex ultrasonography, 130 lower limbs (seventy-nine patients) were studied with that modality as well as with venography after a total hip or total knee arthroplasty. Compared with venography, duplex ultrasonography demonstrated 100 per cent sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for the detection of proximal deep venous thrombosis and 88 per cent sensitivity, 98 per cent specificity, and 98 per cent accuracy for the detection of distal deep venous thrombosis. In the second part of the study, 100 patients who had had a total knee arthroplasty and had been managed with pneumatic stockings and aspirin for prophylaxis against deep venous thrombosis had screening of both lower extremities with duplex ultrasonography on the fourth postoperative day. Duplex ultrasonography demonstrated proximal deep venous thrombosis in seven patients and distal deep venous thrombosis in twenty-two patients; all twenty-nine patients were asymptomatic. The patients who had distal deep venous thrombosis had surveillance with serial duplex ultrasonography on the seventh and fourteenth postoperative days; five of these patients were found to have had propagation of the thrombosis to the proximal deep veins. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The Double Dividend Hypothesis of Environmental Taxes: A Survey

This survey reviews the recent literature on the double-dividend hypothesis of environmental taxes and discusses some extensions of the standard model such as the distributional consequences and the importance of the non-separability assumption between consumption goods and environmental quality for the optimal design of environmental policies. Turning to a model with imperfect labour markets we then show under which circumstances environmental taxes on polluting inputs in production and on polluting consumption goods can reap a second dividend in the form of an employment dividend and discuss the welfare implications. Finally, we turn to international aspects of environmental taxation. When environmental problems are tied to the use of exhaustible resources, resource-consuming countries can appropriate resource rents at the cost of resource-owning countries by levying environmental taxes strategically.
Identifying risk factors for clinically significant diabetic macula edema in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

It is known that clinic blood pressure (BP), gender, cigarette smoking, dyslipidemia, anemia and thiazolidenediones (TZD) treatment are predictors for clinically significant diabetic macula edema (CSDME). We examined a most risky factor for CSDME in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) confirmed using optical coherence tomography by multiple regression analysis (MRA). As the risk factors, wakening-up BP was added to such factors. Seven diabetic Japanese patients with CSDME (group 1) and 124 subjects without CSDME (group 2) assonated with DR using optical coherence tomography were studied. The durations of T2DM in groups 1 and 2 were 15±10 years and 20±15 years, respectively. There was no statistically difference in means of gender, duration, age, body mass index (BMI), HbA1c, TC, LDL and TC/HDL, serum creatinine, urinary albumin excretion rate, and clinic BP between two groups. Morning systolic home BP (MSHBP), cigarette smoking and foveal thickness were significantly (p<0.001) higher in group 1 than group 2, whereas visual acuity was significantly (p<0.00? ) lower in group 1 than in group 2. The patients in both groups had received various kinds of drugs for hyperglycemia, hypertension and others. There were no significant differences in the variables in both groups. MRA revealed that MSHBP, cigarette smoking and pioglitazone as TZD treatment were significantly positive predictors for CSDME, while BMI had a significantly negative predictor. Other variables were not significantly correlated to CSDME. The review summarizes a multiple regression analysis revealed that MSHBP makes an addition to predictive factors for CSDME among risk factors reported previously in patient with T2DM.