Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Light and shadows in the iron chelation treatment of haematological diseases

This review outlines the main chelator groups studied to date, and the evidence for their clinical effectiveness. For each treatment, the strength of evidence was documented according to the guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. Three main haematological diseases were considered as models: thalassaemia major, sickle‐cell disorders and myelodysplasia. Although the data in the literature do not allow firmly evidence‐based conclusions, the findings suggest that in thalassaemia major: (i) deferoxamine remains the drug of choice for chelation treatment; (ii) if there is deferoxamine intolerance or a change of treatment is suggested, the options are deferiprone or, if the liver iron concentration is high, deferasirox treatment; and (iii) if the ferritin level is >2500 μg/l and liver iron concentation is >7 mg/g/dry weight, continuous subcutaneous (s.c.) or intravenous (i.v.) deferoxamine, or combined treatment with deferiprone and deferoxamine is advised. In case of heart failure, there is currently more solid documentation to support continuous s.c. or i.v. deferoxamine treatment than combined treatment with deferiprone and deferoxamine. However, more recent data in the literature suggest that the latter could be a satisfactory alternative. Finally, if iron chelation is required for sickle‐cell disorders or myelodysplastic syndromes, the current data support the use of deferoxamine treatment.
Sustained attention in patients with mild traumatic brain injury

Objective: To demonstrate that two tests of sustained attention were sensitive to attention deficits in patients with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). Design: A cross-sectional study recruiting 51 patients with TBI and 51 matched controls. Outcome measures: The Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART) and Monotone Counting Test. Results: The patient groups performed significantly worse than the normal controls in both sustained attention tests. The SART performance was also correlated with pathology severity in the patient group in terms of loss of consciousness (r=0.247, p=0.05). A cut-off of less than 1 standard deviation (SD) gives optimal diagnostic information in terms of sensitivity in the present sample (0.61 for Monotone Counting Test; 0.75 for SART). Conclusion: These findings suggest that the SART and Monotone Counting Test are sensitive to patients with mild TBI. The SART-assessed sustained attention is also sensitive enough to detect attention impairment in this clinical group regardless of diagnosis and may provide clinicians with an alternative method of assessing sustained attention in these clinical groups.
Stoichiometric model of the aerobic metabolism of the biological phosphorus removal process

In the aerobic phase of the biological phosphorus removal process, poly‐β‐hydroxybutyrate, produced during anaerobic conditions, is used for cell growth, phosphate uptake, and glycogen formation. A metabolic model of this process has been developed. The yields for growth, polyphosphate and glycogen formation are quantified using the coupling of all these conversions to the oxygen consumption. The uptake of phosphate and storage as polyphosphate is shown to have a direct effect on the observed oxygen consumption in the aerobic phase. The overall energy requirements for the P‐metabolism are substantial: 25% of the acetate consumed during anaerobic conditions and 60% of the oxygen consumptions is used for the synthesis of polyphosphate and glycogen. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The role of activation-induced deaminase in Lupus Nephritis

High affinity autoreactive IgG antibodies have been implicated in the development of lupus nephritis and other autoimmune disorders. With the discovery of activation-induced deaminase (AID), this question could be finally tested by examining the impact of AID deficiency in autoimmune-prone mice like the MLR/lpr strain. We have recently shown that AID-deficient MRL/lpr mice experienced a complete abrogation of lupus nephritis, and increased survival despite a dramatic increase in autoreactive IgM. Subsequent studies demonstrated that anti-dsDNA IgM is not pathogenic and in fact protects MRL/lpr from glomerulonephritis. AID-deficiency is also associated with decreased antibody-independent B cell-mediated autoimmunity likely through the loss of high affinity receptors through somatic hypermutation. Combined these results directly implicate AID in the development of B cell mediated autoimmunity. However, studies with hyper IgM AID-deficient patients indicate an increase in the incidence of certain autoimmunities. These results, likely the result of the immunodeficiency associated with AID deficiency, suggest caution in therapeutic approaches based in AID inhibition.
Efficacy of Multifunnel Traps for Capturing Emerald Ash Borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae): Effect of Color, Glue, and Other Trap Coatings

ABSTRACT Tens of thousands of adhesive-coated purple prism traps are deployed annually in the United States to survey for the invasive emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). A reusable, more user-friendly trap is desired by program managers, surveyors, and researchers. Field assays were conducted in southeastern Michigan to ascertain the feasibility of using nonsticky traps as survey and detection tools for emerald ash borer. Three nonsticky trap designs, including multifunnel (Lindgren), modified intercept panel, and drainpipe (all painted purple) were compared with the standard purple prism trap; no statistical differences in capture of emerald ash borer adults were detected between the multifunnel design and the prism. In subsequent color comparison assays, both green- and purple-painted multifunnel traps (and later, plastic versions of these colors) performed as well or better than the prism traps. Multifunnel traps coated with spray-on adhesive caught more beetles than untreated traps. The increased catch, however, occurred in the traps' collection cups and not on the trap surface. In a separate assay, there was no significant difference detected between glue-coated traps and Rain-X (normally a glass treatment)-coated traps, but both caught significantly more A. planipennis adults than untreated traps.
Role of granulocytes and monocytes in experimental Staphylococcus epidermidis endocarditis

The role of granulocytes and monocytes during the induction and course of Staphylococcus epidermidis endocarditis was investigated by the selective depletion of monocytes with the drug VP16-213 and of both granulocytes and monocytes with nitrogen mustard. The induction of endocarditis was influenced only by the depletion of monocytes: the 50% infective dose differed significantly, being 3.4 X 10(5) CFU in control rabbits and 3.4 X 10(4) CFU in the monocyte-depleted rabbits, whereas no significant differences were found between the latter and those depleted of both granulocytes and monocytes. Also, control rabbits injected with 10(6) or 10(7) CFU had a significantly higher incidence of sterile vegetations than did rabbits selectively depleted of granulocytes or monocytes. Compared with baseline values, mean monocyte numbers at the time of bacterial inoculation were significantly increased in control rabbits whose vegetations remained sterile, whereas this effect was not seen in rabbits whose vegetations became infected. The course of the endocarditis appeared to be significantly influenced by both granulocytes and monocytes. Comparison showed that a decrease of the same numbers of these cells per microliter of blood was accompanied for the monocytes by an approximately fourfold higher increase of the number of staphylococci in the vegetations. The correlation between the number of granulocytes and of monocytes on the one hand and the number of staphylococci in the vegetations on the other was not substantially influenced by the duration of the disease or the number of staphylococci injected to induce the endocarditis. The number injected proved to be significantly correlated with the number of staphylococci in the vegetations. In rabbits with numbers of CFU per gram of vegetation exceeding 10(7), blood cultures were usually positive. This finding applied rarely to control rabbits, but generally to drug-treated rabbits. In the latter animals a significant correlation between the number of staphylococci in the vegetations and in the circulation was found. We conclude that only monocytes have a measurable effect on the induction of Staphylococcus epidermidis endocarditis but during its course both granulocytes and monocytes keep the endocardial infection in check.
Training and using mid‐level eye care workers: early lessons from Timor‐Leste

Background: A 12‐month Diploma of Eye Care course for mid‐level eye care workers was initiated in 2007 as part of Timor‐Leste's National Eye Health Strategy. This paper reports the development and implementation of this course, examines its initial results and makes suggestions for improvements to the training and deployment of these workers.
Associations of Prenatal Exposure to Organophosphate Pesticide Metabolites with Gestational Age and Birth Weight

Background: Prenatal exposure to organophosphate (OP) insecticides, a widely used class of pesticides, may be associated with decreased gestational age and lower birth weight. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in paroxanase (PON1) enzyme genotypes may modify the relationships between OP exposure and perinatal outcomes. Objective: We examined the relationship of prenatal OP insecticide exposure, measured using urinary dialkyl phosphate (DAP) metabolite concentrations, with gestational age and birth weight. Methods: We measured the concentrations of six nonspecific DAP metabolites of OP insecticides in two maternal spot urine samples collected in a prospective birth cohort. We performed multivariable regression to examine associations between the sum of six DAP concentrations (ΣDAP) with gestational age and birth weight. We also examined whether these associations differed according to infant PON1192 and PON1–108 genotypes. Results: Among 306 mother–infant dyads, a 10-fold increase in ΣDAP concentrations was associated with a decrease in covariate-adjusted gestational age [–0.5 weeks; 95% confidence interval (CI): –0.8, –0.1] and birth weight (–151 g; CI: –287, –16); the decrements in birth weight were attenuated after adjusting for gestational age. The relationship between ΣDAP concentrations and gestational age was stronger for white (–0.7 weeks; CI: –1.1, –0.3) than for black (–0.1 weeks; 95% CI: –0.9, 0.6) newborns. In contrast, there was a greater decrease in birth weight with increasing urinary ΣDAP concentrations for black (–188 g; CI: –395, 19) than for white (–118 g; CI: –296, 60) newborns. Decrements in birth weight and gestational age associated with ΣDAP concentrations were greatest among infants with PON1192QR and PON–108CT genotypes. Conclusions: Prenatal urinary ΣDAP concentrations were associated with shortened gestation and reduced birth weight in this cohort, but the effects differed by race/ethnicity and PON1192/108 genotypes.
[Prehospital management of the acute heart failure].

WSTĘP Ostra niewydolnośc serca (AHF, acute heart failure) jest naglym stanem kardiologicznym stwarzającym zagrozenie dla zycia. Objawy narastają w ciągu godzin (postac ostra) lub dni (postac podostra). Wczesne rozpoczecie leczenia AHF prawdopodobnie poprawia rokowanie, podobnie jak w ostrych zespolach wiencowych [1, 2]. Opoźnienie, z jakim rozpoczyna sie leczenie, jest sumą czasu uplywającego od pojawienia sie dolegliwości do wezwania pomocy oraz czasu od pierwszego kontaktu ze sluzbą zdrowia do wdrozenia terapii. Pierwszy element zalezy od oświaty zdrowotnej, drugi od organizacji i jakości pomocy medycznej. Obecnie chorzy z AHF docierają do placowek sluzby zdrowia średnio z 13-godzinnym opoźnieniem (mediana 2 h) [3]. W przeszlości opoźnienie siegalo kilku dni (2,9–9,7 dnia) i bylo najwieksze w podostrych postaciach AHF [4, 5]. Wezwanie pomocy medycznej najbardziej odwlekają mlodzi mezczyźni z wcześniej nierozpoznaną HF, u ktorych AHF rozwija sie w godzinach nocnych (miedzy 24:00 a 06:00). Pacjenci docierający z wiekszym opoźnieniem mają zwykle ciezsze objawy AHF [3]. Wieksze nasilenie objawow wynika z bardziej zaawansowanych zmian hemodynamicznych i przeklada sie na gorsze rokowanie chorych. Sugeruje to, ze wcześniej rozpoczete leczenie dzieki zahamowaniu narastania zmian hemodynamicznych moze poprawiac rokowanie pacjentow. Hipoteza ta zostala poparta badaniem, w ktorym wykazano, ze opoźnienie leczenia AHF przeklada sie na zwiekszone ryzyko zgonu. Gdy leczenie rozpoczynano juz w domu, chorzy mieli ponad 2-krotnie wieksze szanse na przezycie, niz gdy leczenie rozpoczynano dopiero w izbie przyjec (OR 2,5; CI 95% 1,37– –4,55; p < 0,01). Korzyści z wczesnego leczenia byly tym wieksze, im ciezszy byl stan pacjenta. W podgrupie chorych w ciezkim stanie szansa na przezycie byla ponad 10-krotnie wieksza, jeśli leczenie rozpoczynano niezwlocznie w domu (OR 10,25; p < 0,01). Chorzy niebedący w ciezkim stanie mieli podobne szanse na przezycie niezaleznie od miejsca rozpoczecia terapii [6]. Nawet miejsce rozpoczecia leczenia w szpitalu wplywa na opoźnienie terapii i rokowanie chorych. Wdrazanie leczenia wazoaktywnego w izbie przyjec nastepuje szybciej (1–2 h od wystąpienia objawow) niz w przypadku rozpoczynania go po przyjeciu na oddzial szpitalny (opoźnienie średnio 20–22 h). Chorzy, u ktorych wcześniej rozpoczeto leczenie, są krocej hospitalizowani (średnio o 2,5 dnia; p < 0,0001) i mają mniejsze ryzyko zgonu wewnątrzszpitalnego (4,3% v. 10,9%; p < 0,0001) [7]. Leczenie chorych z ciezkimi postaciami AHF powinno sie rozpoczynac jak najwcześniej, w miejscu pierwszego kontaktu z personelem medycznym. W przypadku wezwania karetki — w domu chorego, a przypadku pacjentow zglaszających sie bezpośrednio do szpitala — w izbie przyjec [8].
Detailed analysis of the cell infiltrate and the expression of mediators of synovial inflammation and joint destruction in the synovium of patients with psoriatic arthritis: implications for treatment

Background: The synovial tissue is a primary target of many inflammatory arthropathies, including psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Identification of proinflammatory molecules in the synovium may help to identify potentially therapeutic targets. Objective: To investigate extensively the features of cell infiltration and expression of mediators of inflammation and joint destruction in the synovium of patients with PsA compared with patients with rheumatoid arthritis matched for disease duration and use of drugs. Methods: Multiple synovial tissue biopsy specimens were obtained by arthroscopy from an inflamed joint in 19 patients with PsA (eight oligoarthritis, 11 polyarthritis) and 24 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Biopsy specimens were analysed by immunohistochemistry to detect T cells, plasma cells, fibroblast-like synoviocytes, macrophages, proinflammatory cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-1, adhesion molecules and vascular markers. Stained sections were evaluated by digital image analysis. Results: The synovial infiltrate of patients with PsA and rheumatoid arthritis was comparable with regard to numbers of fibroblast-like synoviocytes and macrophages. T cell numbers were considerably lower in the synovium of patients with PsA. The number of plasma cells also tended to be lower in PsA. The expression of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), interleukin (IL) 1β, IL6 and IL18 was as high in PsA as in rheumatoid arthritis. The expression of matrix metalloproteinases, adhesion molecules and vascular markers was comparable for PsA and rheumatoid arthritis. Conclusion: These data show increased proinflammatory cytokine expression in PsA synovium, comparable to results obtained for rheumatoid arthritis, and support the notion that, in addition to TNFα blockade, there may be a rationale for treatments directed at IL1β, IL6 and IL18.
From Research to Nationwide Implementation: The Impact of AHRQ’s HAI Prevention Program

Introduction:The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ’s) Patient Safety Program is responsive to AHRQ’s mission of quality improvement in healthcare. As part of this program, AHRQ has invested in projects to prevent healthcare–associated infections (HAIs), and funding has increased significantly over the last decade. AHRQ-funded projects have focused on generating new knowledge and promoting the nationwide implementation of proven HAI prevention measures in diverse healthcare settings. Objectives:To provide insight to AHRQ’s HAI prevention strategies by: first, discussing the context and structure of AHRQ’s HAI research portfolio and funding decisions; secondly, describing the process of prevention practice implementation and lessons learned; and third, explaining the outcomes and national impact of the AHRQ program. Results and Conclusions:In the early 2000s, AHRQ identified HAIs as an important and preventable public health threat and built their HAI-prevention portfolio based on National Action Plan priorities, available resources, advice from experts, and the state of science. This paper describes major contributions that have emerged from AHRQ-funded HAI projects. The projects examined, many of which focus on implementation of HAI prevention practices, yield useful lessons learned for future implementation and research endeavors and show significant impact of AHRQ’s program in reducing HAIs.
Service implications of providing intensive monitoring during high-risk periods for suicide among VA patients with depression.

OBJECTIVES Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) patients in depression treatment have high suicide rates after psychiatric hospitalization, antidepressant starts, and dosage changes. Policy makers have recommended closer monitoring during these periods to reduce suicide. This study assessed the frequency of high-risk periods in clinical settings, the levels of monitoring provided during these periods, and the estimated costs of providing monitoring consistent with the most stringent Food and Drug Administration recommendation for treatment periods after antidepressant change (seven visits in the first 12 weeks). METHODS Monitoring visits were identified in the 12-week period after antidepressant starts and dosage changes and after discharge from psychiatric hospitalization for 100,000 randomly selected VA patients in depression treatment between April 1, 1999, and September 30, 2004. Incremental costs of providing intensive monitoring were estimated by using VA Health Economics Resource Center average cost data. RESULTS Patients averaged less than one high-risk period each year. They completed an average of 2.4 monitoring visits during the 12-week period after antidepressant treatment events and 4.9 visits after psychiatric hospitalization. Providing intensive monitoring would cost an additional $408-$537 for each high-risk period after antidepressant treatment events and $313-$341 for each high-risk period after psychiatric hospitalization. During fiscal year 2004 providing intensive monitoring during all high-risk periods would have cost an additional $183-$270 million. Providing intensive monitoring only after psychiatric hospitalizations would have cost an additional $15-$17 million. CONCLUSIONS Providing intensive monitoring for VA patients in depression treatment during all high-risk periods for suicide would require substantial services reorganization and incremental expenditures. Modest expenditures would support intensive monitoring during the highest-risk period that follows psychiatric hospitalization.
Micromagnetic Modeling of Magnetization Reversal in Nano-Scale Point Contact Devices

This paper deals with micromagnetic model of magnetization reversal in nano scale-point contact devices driven by nonuniform injection of a spin-polarized current. A computational study of the magnetization reversal in the nanosecond regime will be presented considering the influence of the current density distribution below the aperture region on the reversal time. For high current values, a strong dependence of the reversal time on the current distribution has been observed. Finally, results of micromagnetic simulations show that the reversal time versus current behaviour (at T=0K) is monotonic, very different from the switching processes observed in standard spin valves and magnetic tunnel junctions with uniform current injection.
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy: pathogenetic mechanisms and link to dense amyloid plaques

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) of the amyloid‐β (Aβ) type is the most common form of sporadic CAA and is now also accepted as an early and integral part of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis. Cerebral amyloid angiopathy is a risk factor for haemorrhagic stroke and is believed to independently contribute to dementia. Rare forms of hereditary cerebral amyloidosis caused by mutations within the Aβ domain of amyloid precursor protein (APP) have been identified, where mutant Aβ preferably deposits in vessels because of a decreased fibrillogenic potential and/or increased vasotopicity. A review of factors involved in CAA caused by wild‐type Aβ suggests that increased Aβ levels in brain without an increased Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio is one of the most important prerequisites for vascular amyloidosis. This is exemplified by CAA observed in APP duplication and Down’s syndrome patients, neprilysin polymorphism patients and knockout mice and Swedish APP (KM670/671NL) mice. Select presenilin mutations also lead to a prominent CAA, and importantly, presenilin mutations are shown to have varied effects on the production of Aβ40, the predominant amyloid found in CAA. Conversely, APP mutations such as Austrian APP (T714I) drastically decrease Aβ40 production and are deficient in CAA. Apolipoprotein E‐ɛ4 is also shown to be a risk factor for CAA, and this might be because of its specific role in the aggregation of Aβ40. Recent data also suggest that dense‐core senile plaques in humans and dense plaques in transgenic mice, composed predominantly of Aβ40, associate with vessels. This review highlights some of these aspects of genetics and biochemistry of CAA and pathological descriptions linked to a prominent CAA and/or dense plaques in humans and relevant mouse models and discusses how this knowledge has led to a better understanding of the processes involved in vascular amyloidosis, and in causing dementia, and thus has important therapeutic implications.
Detecting disguised processes using application-behavior profiling

In order to avoid detection, malware can disguise itself as a legitimate program or hijack system processes to reach its goals. Commonly used signature-based Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) struggle to distinguish between these processes and are thus only of limited use to detect such attacks. They also have the shortcoming that they need to be updated frequently to possess the latest malware definitions. This makes them inherently prone to missing novel attack techniques. Misuse detection IDSs however overcome this problem by maintaining a ground truth of normal application behavior while reporting deviations as anomalies. In our approach, we try to accomplish this by observing a process' memory consumption. This is for two reasons: We expect the readings to be less volatile in comparison to for instance network operations. Second, by breaking the problem down, we are able to investigate thoroughly while still laying the foundations for future expansion. We use the observations from a given host to train a machine learning algorithm. After an initial learning phase, we evaluate the model with readings from the application it has been trained on and other applications in order to assess its quality. Our results indicate that the efficacy of this method is highly dependent on parametrizing the machine learning algorithm appropriately. A large variance in accuracy with only slightly altered inputs confirms this suggestion. We finish with a discussion on deploying such an IDS at scale in a realistic scenario.