Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Is anti-topoisomerase I a serum marker of pulmonary involvement in systemic sclerosis?

STUDY OBJECTIVE To determine the value of the level of anti-topoisomerase I (anti-topo I) to evaluate lung involvement defined by abnormal high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) score and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in systemic sclerosis (SS). PATIENTS Forty-eight patients with SS, 20 with lung involvement and 28 with no lung involvement. DESIGN PFT measurement, HRCT scoring of lung involvement, and anti-topo I assay by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Normal anti-topo I level was defined as < 30. RESULTS There was a significant association between cutaneous extent and anti-topo I level (6.5% of patients with limited cutaneous scleroderma had abnormal anti-topo I levels vs 70.6% of patients with diffuse cutaneous scleroderma, p = 0.0001). In patients with diffuse cutaneous scleroderma, pulmonary involvement was associated with a higher percentage of abnormal anti-topo I level: 91.7% vs 20% (p = 0.010). In patients with diffuse cutaneous scleroderma, a significant association was found between the class of anti-topoII level and total lung capacity (median, 69 in patients with abnormal anti-topo I level vs 87 in patients with normal anti-topo I level, p = 0.010), between the class of anti-topo I level and HRCT score (median, 12 in patients with abnormal anti-topo I level vs 5 in patients with normal anti-topo I level, p = 0.05). CONCLUSION Anti-topo I can be considered as a marker of lung involvement in patients with diffuse cutaneous scleroderma.
Contralateral recurrence of primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

BACKGROUND Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is a common disease in young adults. With advances in its surgical treatment, ipsilateral recurrence is < 5%. However, contralateral recurrence remains a significant problem. The purpose of this retrospective study was to identify the factors associated with contralateral recurrence of PSP. METHODS From January 1997 to December 1999, 231 patients with PSP were reviewed and evaluated after an average of 92-months of follow-up. The clinical features and treatment of these patients were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS Thirty-three of these patients had contralateral recurrence (14.3%). The average time of contralateral recurrence was 22.94 months. In the univariate analysis (after Bonferroni correction), patients with contralateral recurrence of PSP had lower a body mass index (BMI) [p < 0.001], and higher frequency of contralateral blebs/bullae on high-resolution CT (HRCT) of the lung (p < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression was performed on 128 patients with contralateral blebs/bullae on HRCT of the lung, and the results indicate that being underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m(2)) is an independent risk factor for contralateral recurrence (odds ratio, 5.327). All patients with contralateral recurrence of PSP received surgical treatment. Two patients had unilateral recurrences of pneumothorax during follow-up (2 of 64 video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries, 3%). CONCLUSIONS Contralateral recurrence of PSP is significantly more common in patients with underweight and blebs/bullae in the contralateral lung. Single-stage bilateral surgery may be considered for these patients to circumvent the need for subsequent anesthetic and operative procedures, and additional hospitalization.
Interaction between piroxicam and azithromycin during distribution to human periodontal tissues.

BACKGROUND Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics are important in the prevention of infections and pain associated with periodontal surgery as well as in the adjunctive therapy of periodontal disease. In this study, patients undergoing oral surgery were treated with piroxicam and azithromycin to examine the interactions of these drugs on periodontal tissues. METHODS Sixty-six patients were assigned to 3 groups and treated for 3 days as follows: 1) piroxicam 20 mg/day; 2) azithromycin 500 mg/day; or 3) piroxicam 20 mg/day plus azithromycin 500 mg/day. Samples of blood, saliva, gingiva, and alveolar bone were collected during surgery and at days 0.5, 2.5, 4.5, and 6.5 after last dose. Piroxicam concentrations were assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography and azithromycin concentrations by microbiological assay. RESULTS In patients treated with piroxicam alone, the highest drug concentrations were found in plasma at each time point, but consistent piroxicam levels were also detected in gingival samples up to 4.5 days. The combined treatment with piroxicam plus azithromycin was associated with a reduction of piroxicam concentrations in periodontal tissues. In patients receiving azithromycin alone, high drug levels were measured in periodontal tissues up to 6.5 days. This distribution pattern did not vary in patients treated with piroxicam plus azithromycin. CONCLUSIONS Treatment with piroxicam or azithromycin alone ensures a favorable distribution of these drugs into periodontal tissues. However, upon combined administration, azithromycin interferes negatively with the periodontal disposition of piroxicam. This interaction might depend on the displacement of piroxicam from acceptor sites at the level of periodontal tissues.
The PredictProtein server

PredictProtein (http://www.predictprotein.org) is an Internet service for sequence analysis and the prediction of protein structure and function. Users submit protein sequences or alignments; PredictProtein returns multiple sequence alignments, PROSITE sequence motifs, low-complexity regions (SEG), nuclear localization signals, regions lacking regular structure (NORS) and predictions of secondary structure, solvent accessibility, globular regions, transmembrane helices, coiled-coil regions, structural switch regions, disulfide-bonds, sub-cellular localization and functional annotations. Upon request fold recognition by prediction-based threading, CHOP domain assignments, predictions of transmembrane strands and inter-residue contacts are also available. For all services, users can submit their query either by electronic mail or interactively via the World Wide Web.
The osteogenic transcription factor Runx2 regulates components of the fibroblast growth factor/proteoglycan signaling axis in osteoblasts

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans cooperate with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF/FGF2) signaling to control osteoblast growth and differentiation, as well as metabolic functions of osteoblasts. FGF2 signaling modulates the expression and activity of Runt‐related transcription factor 2 (Runx2/Cbfa1), a key regulator of osteoblast proliferation and maturation. Here, we have characterized novel Runx2 target genes in osteoprogenitors under conditions that promote growth arrest while not yet permitting sustained phenotypic maturation. Runx2 enhances expression of genes related to proteoglycan‐mediated signaling, including FGF receptors (e.g., FGFR2 and FGFR3) and proteoglycans (e.g., syndecans [Sdc1, Sdc2, Sdc3], glypicans [Gpc1], versican [Vcan]). Runx2 increases expression of the glycosyltransferase Exostosin‐1 (Ext1) and heparanase, as well as alters the relative expression of N‐linked sulfotransferases (Ndst1 = Ndst2 > Ndst3) and enzymes mediating O‐linked sulfation of heparan sulfate (Hs2st > Hs6st) or chondroitin sulfate (Cs4st > Cs6st). Runx2 cooperates with FGF2 to induce expression of Sdc4 and the sulfatase Galns, but Runx2 and FGF2 suppress Gpc6, thus suggesting intricate Runx2 and FGF2 dependent changes in proteoglycan utilization. One functional consequence of Runx2 mediated modulations in proteoglycan‐related gene expression is a change in the responsiveness of bone markers to FGF2 stimulation. Runx2 and FGF2 synergistically enhance osteopontin expression (>100 fold), while FGF2 blocks Runx2 induction of alkaline phosphatase. Our data suggest that Runx2 and the FGF/proteoglycan axis may form an extracellular matrix (ECM)‐related regulatory feed‐back loop that controls osteoblast proliferation and execution of the osteogenic program. J. Cell. Biochem. 107: 144–154, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Branch current decomposition method for loss allocation in radial distribution systems with distributed generation

The allocation of the system losses to suppliers and consumers is a challenging issue for the restructured electricity business. Meaningful loss allocation techniques have to be adopted to set up appropriate economic penalties or rewards. The allocation factors should depend on size, location, and time evolution of the resources connected to the system. In the presence of distributed generation, the variety of the power flows in distribution systems calls for adopting mechanisms able to discriminate among the contributions that increase or reduce the total losses. Some loss allocation techniques already developed in the literature have shown consistent behavior. However, their application requires computing a set of additional quantities with respect to those provided by the distribution system power flow solved with the backward/forward sweep approach. This paper presents a new circuit-based loss allocation technique, based on the decomposition of the branch currents, specifically developed for radial distribution systems with distributed generation. The proposed technique is simple and effective and is only based on the information provided by the network data and by the power flow solution. Examples of application are shown to confirm its effectiveness
Criterion validity of the NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Version 2.3 (DISC-2.3).

OBJECTIVE To examine the criterion validity of the NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC) Version 2.3 in the NIMH Methods for the Epidemiology of Child and Adolescent Mental Disorders (MECA) Study, using a design that permitted several comparisons of DISC-generated diagnoses with diagnoses based on clinician symptom ratings. METHOD Two hundred forty-seven youths were selected from the 1,285 parent-youth pairs that constituted the four-site MECA sample. Subjects who screened positive for any of the five diagnostic areas under investigation in the validity study (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, depressive disorder, and the major anxiety disorders) were recruited, as well as a comparable number of screen negatives. Clinicians reinterviewed separately both the youth and the primary caregiver using the DISC followed by a clinical-style interview, and then they rated the presence of symptoms and impairment. Computer algorithms combined this information into diagnoses using comparable rules for both DISC and clinical rating diagnoses. RESULTS In general, the DISC showed moderate to good validity across a number of diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest some specific diagnostic areas in which further revision of the DISC is warranted. Three main sources of variability in DISC-clinician diagnostic agreement were evident over and above that due to the instrument itself, including (1) the informant used, (2) the algorithm applied in synthesizing symptom reports, and (3) the design of the validity comparison.
Barriers and Facilitators to the Use of Evidence-Based Best Practices

The continued use of healthcare interventions without an evidence base increases healthcare costs without positively impacting patient care outcomes. Reports disseminated by bodies such as the Institute of Medicine and initiatives such as the Institute for Health Care Improvement's 5 Million Lives Campaign have increased emphasis on improving outcomes. Results of a descriptive correlational study indicated that 64% of the nurses surveyed read 1 or more specialty journals, 53% read 1 or more general nursing journal, 20% did not regularly read any professional journal, and none of the nurses surveyed read a journal that was primarily dedicated to the publication of original research. Almost half of the nurses indicated that the hospital library was the nearest location to conduct searches, and 34% indicated that they did not know what literature-searching capabilities were available to them. Although knowledge in itself is not sufficient for behavior change, it is an essential prerequisite. Regular reading of journals either through personal subscriptions or access through facility libraries can encourage the adoption of new evidence through lifelong learning. Modeling and skill building in use of readily available Internet resources can serve as a mechanism to increase awareness of and skill in accessing current information. Evidence-based changes can then be empirically examined, implemented, and evaluated in examining nursing's contribution to the daily operation of the healthcare organization.
Development of PANGEA and SICE academic activity support systems

This paper describes the development of PANGEA or GakkaiNet, which is a general platform to support various activities of academic societies. Now, PANGEA is used to implement SICE activity support systems, which include database management of the members, paper review management, magazine editing, SICE 2007 submission support, and so on. The architecture is characterized by 1) database centered system, which contains various aspects of society members' information, 2) software agent sub-systems to facilitate the implementation, and 3) Web-based applications for end-users. The paper addresses the basic principles of PANGEA and current status and future plans of SICE information systems.
Summarizing Neural Networks for Spoken Language Recognition

This paper explores the use of Sequence Summarizing Neural Networks (SSNNs) as a variant of deep neural networks (DNNs) for classifying sequences. In this work, it is applied to the task of spoken language recognition. Unlike other classification tasks in speech processing where the DNN needs to produce a per-frame output, language is considered constant during an utterance. We introduce a summarization component into the DNN structure producing one set of language posteriors per utterance. The training of the DNN is performed by an appropriately modified gradient-descent algorithm. In our initial experiments, the SSNN results are compared to a single state-of-the-art i-vector based baseline system with a similar complexity (i.e. no system fusion, etc.). For some conditions, SSNNs is able to provide performance comparable to the baseline system. Relative improvement up to 30% is obtained with the score level fusion of the baseline and the SSNN systems.
Effective SINR distribution in MIMO OFDM systems

In this paper we analyze the distribution of effective Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise-Ratio (SINR) in multiple input multiple output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems with application to 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) Downlink. The asymptotic distribution of effective SINR in case of correlated post-processed SINR is established analytically to obey normal distribution. The approximation for small number of correlated post-processed SINRs mapped to effective SINR is proposed to be the convolution of two Gamma distribution. The parameters for the Gamma distributions are analytically derived. Analytical results are verified by simulations.
Early-stage rheumatoid arthritis: prospective study of the effectiveness of MR imaging for diagnosis.

PURPOSE To assess the effectiveness of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for the diagnosis of early-stage rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifty subjects (nine men and 41 women) with polyarthralgia who were suspected of having early-stage RA on the basis of clinical and radiographic findings were selected to undergo gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging of the hands. The MR imaging criterion for the diagnosis of early RA was bilateral enhancement in both wrists and/or the metacarpophalangeal and/or proximal interphalangeal joints. Follow-up continued until a final diagnosis was determined. Two patients left the study before the end of follow-up. RESULTS Final diagnoses were established after a mean follow-up of 776 days: rheumatoid arthritis in 26 patients and nonrheumatoid disease in 22. Use of the MR imaging criterion yielded the correct diagnosis in 25 patients with RA and three false-positive results in three patients without RA. As compared with the traditional format and classification tree criteria of the American Rheumatism Association, the MR imaging criterion allowed detection of seven and six additional patients with true RA, respectively. CONCLUSION The introduction of MR imaging into the diagnostic criteria for early RA may contribute to more accurate diagnosis in patients suspected of having RA and thus allow an earlier decision to start proper medication.
Assessment of the economic impact of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome on swine production in the United States.

OBJECTIVE To estimate the annual cost of infections attributable to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus to US swine producers. DESIGN Economic analysis. SAMPLE POPULATION Data on the health and productivity of PRRS-affected and PRRS-unaffected breeding herds and growing-pig populations were collected from a convenience sample of swine farms in the midwestern United States. PROCEDURE Health and productivity variables of PRRS-affected and PRRS-unaffected swine farms were analyzed to estimate the impact of PRRS on specific farms. National estimates of PRRS incidence were then used to determine the annual economic impact of PRRS on US swine producers. RESULTS PRRS affected breeding herds and growing-pig populations as measured by a decrease in reproductive health, an increase in deaths, and reductions in the rate and efficiency of growth. Total annual economic impact of these effects on US swine producers was estimated at dollar 66.75 million in breeding herds and dollar 493.57 million in growing-pig populations. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE PRRS imposes a substantial financial burden on US swine producers and causes approximately dollar 560.32 million in losses each year. By comparison, prior to eradication, annual losses attributable to classical swine fever (hog cholera) and pseudorabies were estimated at dollar 364.09 million and dollar 36.27 million, respectively (adjusted on the basis of year 2004 dollars). Current PRRS control strategies are not predictably successful; thus, PRRS-associated losses will continue into the future. Research to improve our understanding of ecologic and epidemiologic characteristics of the PRRS virus and technologic advances (vaccines and diagnostic tests) to prevent clinical effects are warranted.
Dynamic Analysis of a Current Source Inductively Coupled Power Transfer System

In this paper, dynamic analysis of a current source ICPT system is performed based on the circuit equations of each stage in an operation cycle. From the solution, frequencies of different stages are discussed. Besides a common frequency of the circuit, the other two are resonant frequencies of each side of the transformer. A simplified form of frequency expression is obtained. It is found that in certain circumstance, the resonant frequencies of primary and secondary sides are different and depend on elements of their respective sides. Some suggestions about the parameter selection are provided. The analytical analysis and considerations are verified by a practical ICPT system
Comparative pharmacokinetics of coumarin anticoagulants L: Physiologic modeling of S-warfarin in rats and pharmacologic target-mediated warfarin disposition in man.

The anticoagulant warfarin exemplifies a type of drug that exhibits high affinity to pharmacologic target sites of limited capacity, resulting in unusual concentration-dependent distribution and elimination properties. The time course of warfarin concentrations in the serum, liver, kidneys, muscle, and abdominal fat of male Sprague-Dawley rats was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography after IV injection of a 0.25 or 1.0 mg/kg dose. The rats were preclassified on the basis of their serum free fraction of warfarin; animals with free fraction values of approximately 0.004 and 0.01 and corresponding differences in elimination half-life were selected for study, yielding four experimental groups. Several rats of each group were sacrificed periodically over approximately 80-240 h for determination of drug concentrations. S-warfarin concentrations in serum declined apparently exponentially over at least one order of magnitude. During this time, concentrations in all other assayed tissues declined much more slowly. In another experiment, S-warfarin concentrations in serum and liver were followed for approximately 50 days after IV injection of a 1 mg/kg dose. This revealed a terminal, very slow elimination phase in serum nearly parallel to the decline in liver drug concentrations. Simultaneous physiologic modeling of all data (30 equations) using ADAPT II (Biomedical Simulations Resource, Los Angeles, CA), with intrinsic clearance, the dissociation constant of the warfarin-high affinity binding site complex, and two binding parameters for the (unassayed) remainder tissue compartment as parameters of unknown value, yielded very good fittings and parameter estimates with relatively small standard deviations. The unusual dose-dependent accumulation characteristics of this type of drug during continuous infusion are demonstrated by computer simulation of published results of warfarin infusions in rats. Utilization of a model premised on similar target-mediated drug disposition also allowed characterization of data from the literature for racemic warfarin pharmacokinetics in man.
Paricalcitol in Dialysis Patients with Calcitriol - Resistant Secondary Hyperparathyroidism

Background. Clinical studies in dialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) showed that paricalcitol (19-nor-1a, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D2), a vitamin D analog, suppresses parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels as effectively as intravenous calcitriol without resulting in significant increases in serum Ca and P. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether paricalcitol could provide long-term control of moderate to severe SHPT in hemodialysis patients considered resistant to intravenous calcitriol/alfacalcidol therapy. We also assess the incidence of hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia during treatment with paricalcitol in this group of patients. Methods. Thirty-one stable hemodialysis patients of mean age 54±10 with persistent intact PTH (iPTH) levels of 600 pg/ml or greater for at least 6 months despite treatment with intravenous alfacalcidol were included into the study. All patients underwent hemodialysis three times weekly. Paricalcitol was administered intravenously 3 times per week at the end of hemodialysis session. Therapy with paricalcitol was not initiated until a patient’s serum P level was less than 6,5 mg/dl (2,1 mmol/L). Nutritional counseling and phosphate binders (calcium acetate and/or sevelamer) were used for phosphate control. The initial dose of paricalcitol in mcg per hemodialysis session was calculated according to the formula: iPTH/100. Subsequent doses were titrated according to serum levels of iPTH, Ca and P. The follow-up of the patients was 12-18 months. During the study serum levels of Ca and P were measured every month and iPTH every 1-3 months. The serum Ca concentration was corrected according to the formula: total Ca + 0,8 × (4 – serum albumin). Results. Mean iPTH levels (baseline mean 933±294 pg/ml) decreased rapidly during the first months of therapy and this decrease reached statistical significance already by the first month of treatment with paricalcitol. Mean iPTH levels reached the designated target range (100-300 pg/ml) by month 5 (mean 242±199 pg/ml). Mean Ca and P levels did not change significantly over the 14 months of paricalcitol