Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterisation and objective monitoring of balance disorders following head trauma, using videonystagmography.

OBJECTIVE To characterise balance disorders occurring after head trauma, using videonystagmography, and to test the efficiency of videonystagmography as a diagnostic and monitoring tool. METHOD Prospective, cohort analysis of 126 head trauma patients managed with vestibular evaluation, monitoring and treatment, in a tertiary referral centre. Analytical parameters included: head injury severity; balance disorder type, severity and time of onset; and patient recovery and outcome. RESULTS Head trauma was minor in 31.7 per cent, mild in 36.6 per cent, moderate in 19 per cent and severe in 12.7 per cent. Balance disorder symptoms included vertigo in 42.9 per cent, unsteadiness in 15.9 per cent, dizziness in 9.5 per cent and none in 31.7 per cent. Videonystagmographic balance disorder diagnosis type was peripheral vestibular in 23.8 per cent, central in 7.9 per cent, mixed in 12.7 per cent, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in 4.8 per cent and no findings in 50.8 per cent. Balance disorder was immediate in 47.6 per cent (this included all moderate and severe trauma cases). Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo developed within the first week in two-thirds of cases. More severe trauma cases had longer recovery times. Peripheral, mixed and central balance disorders recovered within the first three months. Early rehabilitation of acute balance disorders led to early recovery regardless of diagnosis. CONCLUSION Videonystagmography enables precise, simple, cost-effective monitoring of balance disorders after head trauma, and improves care and outcomes.
Olfactory ensheathing cells and Schwann cells differ in their in vitro interactions with astrocytes

Transplanted olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) are able to remyelinate demyelinated axons and support regrowth of transected axons after transplantation into the adult CNS. Transplanted Schwann cells (SCs) share these repair properties but have limitations imposed on their behavior by the presence of astrocytes (ACs). Because OECs exist alongside astrocytes in the olfactory bulb, we have hypothesized that they have advantages over SCs in transplant‐mediated CNS repair due to an increased ability to integrate and migrate within an astrocytic environment. In this study, we have tested this hypothesis by comparing the interactions between astrocytes and either SCs or OECs, using a range of in vitro assays. We have shown that (1) astrocytes and SCs segregate into defined non‐overlapping domains in co‐culture, whereas astrocytes and OECs freely intermingle; (2) both SCs and OECs will migrate across astrocyte monolayers, but only OECs will migrate into an area containing astrocytes; (3) SCs spend less time in contact with astrocytes than do OECs; and (4) astrocytes undergo hypertrophy when in contact with SCs, but not with OECs. Expression of N‐cadherin has been implicated as a key mediator of the failure of SCs to integrate with astrocytes. However, we found no differences in the intensity of N‐cadherin immunoreactivity between SCs and OECs, suggesting that it is not the adhesion molecule that accounts for the observed differences. In addition, the number of astrocytes expressing chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPG) is increased when astrocytes are co‐cultured with Schwann cells compared with the number when astrocytes are grown alone or with OECs. Taken together, these data support the hypothesis that OECs will integrate more extensively than Schwann cells in astrocytic environments and are therefore better candidates for transplant‐mediated repair of the damaged CNS. GLIA 32:214–225, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Partisan’s Metamorphosis: From Freelance Military Entrepreneur to German Freedom Fighter, 1740 to 1815

The unreliability of the ‘mercenary’ is legendary. However, this reputation is distorted, and the same is true of the mercenary’s prima facie antagonist, the ‘partisan’. In the eighteenth century the latter term was typically used to designate a regular detachment leader employed in skirmishes. Here, military action and military economic principles had survived, which gave the fighters a seemingly more archaic appearance than the prevailing pattern of standing armies. While the eighteenth-century term ‘partisan’ referred to a detachment leader who was often also a military entrepreneur, it underwent a metamorphosis to ‘freedom fighter’ in the Napoleonic age.
Manipulation of proliferation and differentiation of human bone marrow‐derived neural stem cells in vitro and in vivo

Recent evidence has demonstrated that neural stem cells (NSC) can be expanded from a variety of sources, including embryos, fetuses, and adult bone marrow and brain tissue. We have previously reported the generation of adult rat bone marrow‐derived cellular spheres that are morphologically and phenotypically similar to neurospheres derived from brain NSC. Here we show that adult human bone marrow‐derived neural stem cells (HBM‐NSC) are capable of generating spheres that are similar to brain neural‐derived neurospheres. Additionally, we sought to promote proliferation and differentiation of HBM‐NSC through transduction with nonreplicative recombinant adenovirus encoding the cDNA sequence for Gli, rADV‐Gli‐1; sonic hedgehog, rADV‐Shh; or Nurr1, rADV‐Nurr1. Immunocytochemistry and RT‐PCR analysis showed that HBM‐NSC could be efficiently expanded and differentiated in vitro and that HBM‐NSC transduced with rADV‐Gli‐1 or rADV‐Shh dramatically increased NSC time‐related proliferation; however, Nurr1 had no effect on proliferation. We also transplanted HBM‐NSC into chicken embryos to examine their potential function in vivo. We found that transduction of HBM‐NSC with rADV‐Gli‐1 or rADV‐Shh and subsequent transplantation into chicken embryos increased HBM‐NSC proliferation, whereas rADV‐Nurr1 promoted migration and differentiation in vivo. Our findings suggest that HBM‐NSC can be efficiently expanded and differentiated in vitro and in vivo by overexpressing Gli‐1, Shh or Nurr1. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Insulin-degrading Enzyme in Brain Microvessels

The accumulation of amyloid β (Aβ) in the walls of small vessels in the cerebral cortex is associated with diseases characterized by dementia or stroke. These include Alzheimer's disease, Down syndrome, and sporadic and hereditary cerebral amyloid angiopathies (CAAs) related to mutations within the Aβ sequence. A higher tendency of Aβ to aggregate, a defective clearance to the systemic circulation, and insufficient proteolytic removal have been proposed as mechanisms that lead to Aβ accumulation in the brain. By using immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry, we show that insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) from isolated human brain microvessels was capable of degrading 125I-insulin and cleaved Aβ-(1-40) wild type and the genetic variants Aβ A21G (Flemish), Aβ E22Q (Dutch), and Aβ E22K (Italian) at the predicted sites. In microvessels from Alzheimer's disease cases with CAA, IDE protein levels showed a 44% increase as determined by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot. However, the activity of IDE upon radiolabeled insulin was significantly reduced in CAA as compared with age-matched controls. These results support the notion that a defect in Aβ proteolysis by IDE contributes to the accumulation of this peptide in the cortical microvasculature. Moreover they raise the possibility that IDE inhibition or inactivation is a pathogenic mechanism that may open novel strategies for the treatment of cerebrovascular Aβ amyloidoses.
Prevention of corneal allograft rejection in a mouse model of high risk recipients

Aim: To determine the effectiveness of treatment with immunosuppressive drugs and monoclonal antibodies (mAb) after penetrating keratoplasty in two different models of high risk mouse recipients. Methods: Corneas were grafted orthotopically in mouse models of high risk recipients with either neovascularisation of the graft bed or presensitisation to graft donor antigens. Recipients were treated with mAb against CD4+ or CD8+ cells or against T cells, or were treated with cyclosporin A (CsA) or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), or a combination of both drugs. Results: Control untreated recipients with neovascularised graft bed or presensitised to the graft donor antigens rejected corneal allografts in 12.5 (SD 2.3) and 9.9 (1.6) days, respectively. Treatment of graft recipients with a neovascularised graft bed with mAb anti-CD4 or anti-T cells, but not with mAb anti-CD8 or with immunosuppressive drugs, resulted in a significant prolongation of graft survival; 75% and 28.5%, respectively, of grafts survived for more than 45 days after grafting. However, none of the treatments were successful in presensitised recipients. Conclusions: Treatment of high risk recipients with mAb anti-CD4 is more effective in preventing corneal allograft rejection than the treatment with mAb anti-CD8 or the immunosuppressive drugs MMF and CsA. However, the effectiveness of the treatment depends on the recipients’ pretransplantation risk type.
Increase of CD57+ T cells in knee joints and adjacent bone marrow of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients: implication for an anti‐inflammatory role

The distribution of CD57+ T and CD56+ T cells in patients with RA was examined. In control osteoarthritis patients, these cells exist as a minor population in the peripheral blood. Our data show that in patients with RA, CD57+ T cell levels are elevated in peripheral blood, knee joint fluid, knee synovial membrane and bone marrow (BM), compared with peripheral blood of controls. CD57+ T cells are especially high in knee joint fluid and joint‐adjacent BM, while CD56+ T cells show no such increase. CD57+ T cells contain a major population of CD8+ cells and higher proportions of CD4−8− cells and γδ T cells than do CD57−T cells. CD57+T cells in peripheral blood and joint fluid increase with the duration of disease. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is inversely correlated with the proportion of CD57+T cells in the joint fluid. Although RA frequently occurrs in patients with CD3+57+ cell leukaemia, and some CD57+T cells are likely to be involved in the onset of RA, we suggest that CD57+T cells may rather suppress inflammation of RA, and other cellular components (e. g. granulocytes) may govern the severity of the inflammation of RA. These CD57+ T cells are probably generated extrathymically in the adjacent BM or joint space.
Antibiotic susceptibility patterns and clones of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Swedish ICUs

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is 1 of the bacteria most adaptive to anti-bacterial treatment. Previous studies have shown nosocomial spread and transmission of clonal strains of P. aeruginosa in European hospitals. In this study we investigated antibiotic susceptibility and clonality in 101 P. aeruginosa isolates from 88 patients admitted to 8 Swedish ICUs during 2002. We also compared phenotypes and genotypes of P. aeruginosa and carried out cluster analysis to determine if phenotypic data can be used for surveillance of clonal spread. All isolates were collected on clinical indication as part of the NPRS II study in Sweden and were subjected to AFLP analysis for genotyping. 68 isolates with unique genotypes were found. Phenotyping was performed using MIC values for 5 anti-pseudomonal agents. Almost 6% of the isolates were multi-drug resistant (MDR), and this figure rose to almost 8% when intermediate isolates were also included. We found probable clonal spread in 9 cases, but none of them was found to be an MDR strain. Phenotypical cluster analysis produced 40 clusters. Comparing partitions did not demonstrate any significant concordance between the typing methods. The conclusion of our study is that cross-transmission and clonal spread of MDR P. aeruginosa does not present a clinical problem in Swedish ICUs, but probable cross-transmission of non-MDR clones indicate a need for improved hygiene routines bedside. The phenotype clusters were not concordant with genotype clusters, and genotyping is still recommended for epidemiological tracking.
Stability optimization on quadruped robot using trajectory algorithm

A lot of research about using animal walking patterns on quadruped robots such as cheetah, cats and others. The big problem is about how to make this fourlegged robot run fast and maintain stability. The instability of the robot makes visual sensors such as Camera, Thermal sensor and various sensors used to get significant disturbance. With this problem, this paper made a system in the form of Walking Trajectory System algorithm that can be used on four legged robot that makes the movement run more stable. To achieve the coordinates running used Inverse Kinematics method. The Walking Trajectory System will be applied to the Gait where 2 legs support and 2 legs swing at the same time as walking. This algorithm will be added in (Transfer Phase) swinging foot from the PEP (Posterior Extreme Position) to AEP (Anterior Extreme Position) by optimizing the transition gait is expected to optimize the stability. The stability data will be represented with the output of the IMU in the form of roll and pitch graphs.
Reduced CDX2 Expression Predicts Poor Overall Survival in Patients with Colorectal Cancer

The homeodomain transcription factor CDX2 directs development and maintenance of normal intestinal epithelium. However, the role of CDX2 in colorectal carcinogenesis is poorly understood. Hence, we investigated the CDX2 expression in patients with colorectal cancer and its relationship to tumor cell proliferation and differentiation and evaluated the role of this molecule as a biologic marker for the prediction of poor patient survival. We retrospectively reviewed 207 patients with colorectal cancer, with an available paraffin block, who underwent surgical resection between January 2002 and December 2004 at Korea University Guro Hospital. CDX2 expression was compared between tumor tissue and the adjacent normal mucosa using immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. Immunohistochemical staining for CDX2, Ki-67, and CK20 was performed in each tumor tissue. Immunohistochemistry revealed that CDX2 protein is overexpressed by colorectal cancer compared with adjacent normal mucosa (P < 0.001). In the Western blot analysis, tumor tissue showed a trend toward overexpression of CDX2 protein compared with normal mucosa (P = 0.09). CDX2 expression showed a significant direct correlation with the expression of Ki-67 and CK20 in tumor tissue (P = 0.028 and P = 0.042, respectively). Survival analysis showed that reduced CDX2 expression was statistically and significantly related to poor overall survival. Reduced CDX2 expression is associated with poor overall survival in patients with colorectal cancer and may be clinically useful as a marker for poor prognosis.
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Preconception Care for Women With Established Diabetes Mellitus

OBJECTIVE To determine whether the additional costs of preconception care are balanced by the savings from averted complications. Several studies have demonstrated the efficacy of preconception care in reducing congenital anomalies in infants born of mothers with pre-existing diabetes mellitus. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This study used literature review, consensus development among an expert panel of physicians, and surveys of medical care personnel to obtain information about the costs and consequences of preconception plus prenatal care compared with prenatal care only for women with established diabetes. Preconception care involves close interaction between the patient and an interdisciplinary health-care team as well as intensified evaluation, follow-up, testing, and monitoring. The outcome measures assessed in this study are the medical costs of preconception care versus prenatal care only and the benefit-cost ratio. RESULTS The costs of preconception plus prenatal care are $17,519/delivery, whereas the costs of prenatal care only are $13,843/delivery. Taking into account maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes, the net savings of preconception care are $1720/enrollee over prenatal care only and the benefit-cost ratio is 1.86. The preconception care program remained cost saving across a wide range of assumptions regarding incidence of adverse outcomes and program cost components. CONCLUSIONS Despite significantly higher per delivery costs for participants in a hypothetical preconception care program, intensive medical care before conception resulted in cost savings compared with prenatal care only. Third-party payers can expect to realize cost savings by reimbursing preconception care in this high-risk population.
The Age at Which Young Deaf Children Receive Cochlear Implants and Their Vocabulary and Speech-Production Growth: Is There an Added Value for Early Implantation?

Objective: The age at which a child receives a cochlear implant seems to be one of the more important predictors of his or her speech and language outcomes. However, understanding the association between age at implantation and child outcomes is complex because a child’s age, length of device use, and age at implantation are highly related. In this study, we investigate whether there is an added value to earlier implantation or whether advantages observed in child outcomes are primarily attributable to longer device use at any given age. Design: Using hierarchical linear modeling, we examined latent-growth curves for 100 children who had received their implants when they were between 1 and 10 yr of age, had used oral communication, and had used their devices for between 1 and 12 yr. Children were divided into four groups based on age at implantation: between 1 and 2.5 yr, between 2.6 and 3.5 yr, between 3.6 and 7 yr, and between 7.1 and 10 yr. Results: Investigation of growth curves and rates of growth over time revealed an additional value for earlier implantation over and above advantages attributable to longer length of use at any given age. Children who had received their implants before the age of 2.5 yr had exhibited early bursts of growth in consonant-production accuracy and vocabulary and also had significantly stronger outcomes compared with age peers who had received their implants at later ages. The magnitude of the early burst diminished systematically with increasing age at implantation and was not observed for children who were older than 7 yr at implantation for consonant-production accuracy or for children who were over 3.5 yr old at implantation for vocabulary. The impact of age at implantation on children’s growth curves differed for speech production and vocabulary. Conclusions: There seems to be a substantial benefit for both speech and vocabulary outcomes when children receive their implant before the age of 2.5 yr. This benefit may combine a burst of growth after implantation with the impact of increased length of use at any given age. The added advantage (i.e., burst of growth) diminishes systematically with increasing age at implantation.
Rhizobium meliloti mutants deficient in phospholipid N-methyltransferase still contain phosphatidylcholine

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is the major membrane-forming phospholipid in eukaryotes. In addition to this structural function, PC is thought to play a major role in lipid turnover and signalling in eukaryotic systems. In prokaryotes, only some groups of bacteria, among them the members of the family Rhizobiaceae, contain PC. To understand the role of PC in bacteria, we have studied Rhizobium meliloti 1021, which is able to form nitrogen-fixing nodules on its legume host plants and therefore has a very complex phenotype. R. meliloti was mutagenized with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, and potential mutants defective in phospholipid N-methyltransferase were screened by using a colony autoradiography procedure. Filters carrying lysed replicas of mutagenized colonies were incubated with S-adenosyl-L-[methyl-14C]methionine. Enzymatic transfer of methyl groups to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) leads to the formation of PC and therefore to the incorporation of radiolabel into lipid material. Screening of 24,000 colonies for reduced incorporation of radiolabel into lipids led to the identification of seven mutants which have a much-reduced specific activity of phospholipid N-methyltransferase. In vivo labelling of mutant lipids with [14C]acetate showed that the methylated PC biosynthesis intermediates phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine and phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine are no longer detectable. This loss is combined with a corresponding increase in the potential methyl acceptor PE. These results indicate that PC biosynthesis via the methylation pathway is indeed blocked in the mutants isolated. However, mass spectrometric analysis of the lipids shows that PC was still present when the mutants had been grown on complex medium and that it was present in the mutants in wild-type amounts. In vivo labelling with [methyl-14C]methionine shows that in phospholipid N-methyltransferase-deficient mutants, the choline moiety of PC is not formed by methylation. These findings suggest the existence of a second pathway for PC biosynthesis in Rhizobium.
Diabetes, Insulin Use, and Gastric Cancer: A Population-based Analysis of the Taiwanese

Background: The association between diabetes and gastric cancer is rarely studied, and the risk associated with insulin use is not known. Materials and Methods: Gastric cancer prevalence rates in 2005 were calculated in 329,198 insurants aged 45 years or older and without type 1 diabetes from a random sample of 1,000,000 insurants of the National Health Insurance in Taiwan. Logistic regression evaluated whether diabetes or insulin use could be an independent risk factor after adjustment for age, sex, occupation, and living region. Sensitivity analyses were performed by excluding patients with diabetes duration <5 years and by excluding patients with cancers other than gastric cancer. Results: A total of 1464 cases of gastric cancer were identified. The prevalence of gastric cancer in diabetic and nondiabetic subjects were 595.0 and 387.7 per 100,000 population (P<0.0001), respectively. In diabetic patients, the respective prevalence of gastric cancer in insulin users and nonusers were 656.0 and 589.5 (P=0.4743). Adjusted odds ratio for diabetic versus nondiabetic subjects was 1.139 (1.022 to 1.270), and for insulin users versus nonusers in the diabetic patients was 1.002 (0.745 to 1.346). Age and male sex were also associated with significantly higher risk of gastric cancer, but the association with occupation and living region were not consistent. Results from sensitivity analyses were similar. Conclusions: Diabetic patients may have a 14% higher risk of gastric cancer. However, insulin use is not related to the increased risk.