Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Metabolic characterization of overweight and obese adults

ABSTRACT Objectives: Traditional evaluations of metabolic health may overlook underlying dysfunction in individuals who show no signs of insulin resistance or dyslipidemia. The purpose of this study was to characterize metabolic health in overweight and obese adults using traditional and non-traditional cardiometabolic variables. A secondary purpose was to evaluate differences between overweight/obese and male/female cohorts, respectively. Methods: Forty-nine overweight and obese adults (Mean ± SD; Age = 35.0 ± 8.9 yrs; Body mass index = 33.6 ± 5.2 kg·m−2; Percent body fat [%fat] = 36.7 ± 7.9%) were characterized. Body composition (fat mass [FM], lean mass [LM], %fat) was calculated using a 4-compartment model; visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was quantified using B-mode ultrasound. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were evaluated using indirect calorimetry. Fasted blood and saliva samples were analyzed for total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoproteins (HDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), triglycerides (TRG), glucose (GLUC), insulin, leptin, estradiol, and cortisol. Results: The prevalence of individuals with two or more cardiometabolic risk factors increased from 13%, using traditional risk factors (GLUC, TRG, HDL), to 80% when non-traditional metabolic factors (VAT, LM, RMR, RER, TC, LDL, HOMA-IR) were considered. Between overweight/obese, there were no significant differences in %fat (p = 0.152), VAT (p = 0.959), RER (p = 0.493), lipids/GLUC (p > 0.05), insulin (p = 0.143), leptin (p = 0.053), or cortisol (p = 0.063); obese had higher FM, LM, RMR, and estradiol (p < 0.01). Males had greater LM, RMR, and TRG (p < 0.01); females had greater %fat, and leptin (p < 0.001). There were no significant sex differences in RER, estradiol, insulin, or cortisol (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Evaluating metabolic health beyond BMI and traditional cardiometabolic risk factors can give significant insights into metabolic status. Due to high variability in metabolic health in overweight and obese adults and inherent sex differences, implementation of body composition and visceral fat measures in the clinical setting can improve early identification and approaches to disease prevention.
Tumour surveillance in Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome and hemihyperplasia: A critical review of the evidence and suggested guidelines for local practice

Abstract: There is strong evidence for an association between overgrowth disorders such as Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome and the development of neoplasia. An increased cancer risk has also been observed in individuals with isolated hemihyperplasia. We critically review the evidence for tumour surveillance in Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome and isolated hemihyperplasia and suggest local practice guidelines.
Disabilities, quality of life, and mental disorders associated with smoking and nicotine dependence.

OBJECTIVE Epidemiological studies have reported an association between smoking and mental disorders. However, little is known about the impairment associated with nicotine dependence. METHOD The authors assessed health-related quality of life, disability, and psychiatric comorbidity in adults with and without nicotine dependence. The analysis was based on data from 3,293 respondents, ages 18 to 65, from the German National Health Interview and Examination Survey, a nationally representative multistage probability survey conducted from 1997 to 1999. The authors assessed rates of smoking and health-related quality of life (Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey) by questionnaires. Nicotine dependence and other mental disorders were assessed with a modified version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. RESULTS The population prevalence of current smoking was 36.2% and the 1-year prevalence of nicotine dependence was 9.4%. Nicotine-dependent smokers reported a poorer quality of life than the subjects without nicotine dependence. These relationships were stable after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics. More than half of the subjects with nicotine dependence fulfilled criteria for at least one other mental disorder. Subjects suffering from nicotine dependence reported greater disability in the last month and in the last year. CONCLUSIONS Smokers with nicotine dependence should be distinguished from other smokers in evaluations of the health status of populations.
Epilepsy and brain tumors

Purpose of review To present an overview of the recent findings in pathophysiology and management of epileptic seizures in patients with brain tumors. Recent findings Low-grade gliomas are the most epileptogenic brain tumors. Regarding pathophysiology, the role of peritumoral changes [hypoxia and acidosis, blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption, increase or decrease of neurotransmitters and receptors] are of increasing importance. Tumor-associated epilepsy and tumor growth could have some common molecular pathways. Total/subtotal surgical resection (with or without epilepsy surgery) allows a seizure control in a high percentage of patients. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy as well have a role. New antiepileptic drugs are promising, both in terms of efficacy and tolerability. The resistance to antiepileptic drugs is still a major problem: new insights into pathogenesis are needed to develop strategies to manipulate the pharmakoresistance. Summary Epileptic seizures in brain tumors have been definitely recognized as one of the major problems in patients with brain tumors, and need specific and multidisciplinary approaches.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A hormonal condition?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most frequent motor neuron disorder in adults. This fatal condition, due to degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons in spinal and bulbar myotomes, leads to death from respiratory failure after median disease duration of 36 months. ALS is sporadic in more than 90% of cases and familial in the remaining cases. Most studies show male predominance with a gender ratio of 3:2, but gender differences are age related. The phenotype of ALS is also different in males and females with a predominance of limb onset in males and bulbar onset in females. While age and site of onset impact survival rate, and are both related to gender, gender by itself has not clearly been shown to have an effect on survival. Given this complex relationship between gender and ALS, we developed a hypothesis about hormone involvement in ALS aetiology by suggesting protective effect of oestrogens and adverse effect of androgens.
Nonintubated thoracoscopic lung resection: a 3-year experience with 285 cases in a single institution.

OBJECTIVE Tracheal intubation with one-lung ventilation is considered mandatory for thoracoscopic surgery. This study reported the experience of thoracoscopic lung resection without endotracheal intubation in a single institution. METHODS From August 2009 through July 2012, 285 consecutive patients were treated by nonintubated thoracoscopic surgery using epidural anesthesia, intrathoracic vagal blockade, and sedation for lobectomy, segmentectomy, or wedge resection in a tertiary medical center. The feasibility and safety of this technique were evaluated. RESULTS The final diagnosis for surgery were primary lung cancer in 159 patients (55.8%), metastatic lung cancer in 17 (6.0%), benign lung tumor in 104 (36.5%), and pneumothorax in 5 (1.8%). The operative methods consisted of conventional (83.2%) and needlescopic (16.8%) thoracoscopic surgery. The operative procedures included lobectomy in 137 patients (48.1%), wedge resection in 132 (46.3%), and segmentectomy in 16 (5.6%). Collapse of the operative lung and inhibition of coughing were satisfactory in most of the patients. Fourteen (4.9%) patients required conversion to tracheal intubation because of significant mediastinal movement [5], persistent hypoxemia [2], dense pleural adhesions [2], ineffective epidural anesthesia [2], bleeding [2], and tachypnea [1]. One patient (0.4%) was converted to thoracotomy because of bleeding. No mortality was noted in our patients. CONCLUSIONS Nonintubated thoracoscopic lung resection is technically feasible and safe in selected patients. It can be a valid alternative in managing patients with pulmonary lesions.
Epidemiology and risk factors of lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic hyperplasia and erectile dysfunction

Abstract Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is very common in aging men and causes lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), which decrease health-related quality of life. A number of evidence suggests that other than ageing, modifiable factors, such as increasing prostate volume, obesity, diet, dyslipidemia, hormonal imbalance, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, alcohol, and smoking, also contribute to the development of BPH and/or LUTS. More recently, erectile dysfunction (ED) has been linked to LUTS/BPH as a part of this syndrome, suggesting that patients with BPH or LUTS easily develop ED, and that LUTS/BPH symptoms often coexist with ED. This article focuses on the epidemiology and risk factors of the combined phenotype LUTS/BPH – ED.
Inculturation in a Post-Modern Africa: A Reflection on Salient Issues

This paper critically analyzed the concept of “Inculturation” in a post-modern Africa. Through the use of historical phen.omenological method, the paper averred that Inculturation of Christianity in a post-modern Africa is a herculean task that demands absolute caution. Hence, the paper discussed some salient issues such as the Evolutionary nature of African culture, the Unity of the Christendom and the Christian ecological concern, which should be put into serious consideration in the entire process of inculturation in Africa in order to safeguard the essence of the gospel of Christ and to meet contemporary challenges. Keywords: Inculturation, Christianity, African cultural values, European missionaries, Post-modern Africa, African Christianity.
Caregivers of patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration: a review of burden, problems, needs, and interventions

ABSTRACT Background: Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a relatively rare disease compared to Alzheimer' disease (AD), but nevertheless causes higher burden and stress to caregivers. Only little is known about the problems and needs of the caregivers of patients with FTLD. Such information is crucial for the development of caregiver support interventions. The aim of the current study is to systematically review publications on (1) burden, problems, and needs of FTLD caregivers, and (2) the feasibility and efficacy of caregiver interventions in FTLD. Methods: A systematic review was conducted. Medical, psychological, and social sciences databases were searched for publications on burden, problems, needs of FTLD caregivers, and support interventions. Results: Very little published data are available on burden, problems, and needs of FTLD caregivers. Burden among FTLD caregivers is higher than among AD caregivers and correlated with neuropsychiatric symptoms. Specific problems include delayed diagnosis, young age of patients, behavioral disturbances, lack of information and suitable care facilities, caregivers' depression, social isolation, and neglect of personal needs. Hardly any literature is available on the actual needs of FTLD caregivers. Regarding interventions for caregivers, no randomized controlled trials exist. Eight publications could be identified that provide narrative reports on structured caregiver support groups or respite care in combination with caregiver support intervention or advanced practice nursing. Conclusion: More research and funding are needed to elucidate the complex construct of burden of FTLD caregivers to identify and quantify their problems and needs in order to develop helpful interventions and services.
Robust fingertip tracking for constructing an intelligent room

In a watch-over system, the machine has to detect intention of human user according to circumstance, and such detection has to be able to be achieved naturally without special interface gadget like a hand controller. Hence, in this paper, we propose a hand detection and fingertip tracking method for use in an intelligent room. We are constructing an intelligent room in which any user can control home appliances with intuitive gestures. The presented intelligent room is a room in which home appliances and an interaction monitoring robot for elderly people are operated using intuitive gestures, without any additional equipment and any restriction for positions. The proposed method detects the hand region from a range data, which is robust for environmental changing in complex background. Using weak classifiers, the shape of extracted hand and direction of the fingertip is estimated without needing to know the location of the face. These processes are computationally fast enough to track an object in real time. In addition, characters written on a virtual 2D plane by the user's finger movement were estimated using incremental simple PCA for operator recognition.
The Factors Affecting the Development of National Identity as South Korean in North Korean Refugees Living in South Korea

Objective This study aims to observe the factors that influence the development of national identity of North Korean refugees who have resettled in South Korea. Methods The study population was comprised of 500 North Korean refugees who immigrated to South Korea in 2007. The variables measured national identity as South Korean, a scale for discrimination perceived during daily life, a social for supporting social network, a for childhood trauma experience, traumatic experiences in North Korea, and traumatic experiences during the escape process. Factor analysis was conducted on the result from the scale for national identity as South Korean which produced 4 factors including national consciousness, positive emotions, positive values, and negative values. Multiple regression was done to identify how variables such as demographic data, discrimination, social network, and past trauma had influenced each of 4 factors. Results National identity was negatively related by traumatic experience during childhood, perceived discrimination, and positively influenced by social networks. Positive emotion was related negatively to education level in North Korea and perceived discrimination, but positively related to traumatic experiences in North Korea. Negative value was related positively age and perceived discrimination but negatively related to supporting social network. Conclusion The results of this study suggests that promoting social networks, decreasing discrimination and healing past traumas were important factors for North Korean refugees in South Korea to facilitate a new national identity as a South Korean.
Classifying Esophageal Motility by Pressure Topography Characteristics: A Study of 400 Patients and 75 Controls

AIM:This study aimed to devise a scheme for the systematic analysis of esophageal high-resolution manometry (HRM) studies displayed using topographic plotting.METHODS:A total of 400 patients and 75 control subjects were studied with a 36-channel HRM assembly. Studies were analyzed in a stepwise fashion for: (a) the adequacy of deglutitive esophagogastric junction (EGJ) relaxation, (b) the presence and propagation characteristics of distal esophageal persitalsis, and (c) an integral of the magnitude and span of the distal esophageal contraction.RESULTS:Two strengths of pressure topography plots compared to conventional manometric recordings were: (a) the ability to delineate the spatial limits, vigor, and integrity of individual contractile segments along the esophagus, and (b) the ability to distinguish between loci of compartmentalized intraesophageal pressurization and rapidly propagated contractions. Making these distinctions objectified the identification of distal esophageal spasm (DES), vigorous achalasia, functional obstruction, and nutcracker esophagus subtypes. Applying these distinctions made the diagnosis of spastic disorders quite rare: (a) DES in 1.5% patients, (b) vigorous achalasia in 1.5%, and (c) a newly defined entity, spastic nutcracker, in 1.5%. CONCLUSIONS:We developed a systematic approach to analyzing esophageal motility using HRM and pressure topography plots. The resultant scheme is consistent with conventional classifications with the caveats that: (a) hypercontractile conditions are more specifically defined, (b) distinctions are made between rapidly propagated contractions and compartmentalized esophageal pressurization, and (c) there is no “nonspecific esophageal motor disorder” classification. We expect that pressure topography analysis, with its well-defined functional implications, will prove valuable in the clinical management of esophageal motility disorders.
Induction of Apoptosis by SB202190 through Inhibition of p38β Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase*

p38, a subfamily of the mitogen-activated protein kinase, regulates gene expression in response to various extracellular stimuli. The pyridinyl imidazoles like SB202190 are specific inhibitors of p38α and p38β and have been widely used in investigation of the biological functions of p38. Here we show that SB202190 by itself was sufficient to induce cell death, with typical apoptotic features such as nucleus condensation and intranucleosomal DNA fragmentation. SB202190 stimulated the activity of CPP32-like caspases, and its apoptotic effect was completely blocked by the protease inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone and expression ofbcl-2. In addition, SB202190 was able to potentiate apoptosis induced by Fas(APO-1) ligation or UV irradiation. Expression of p38β attenuated the apoptotic effect of SB202190 and the cell death induced by Fas ligation and UV irradiation. In contrast, expression of p38α induced cell death mildly. These results indicate that SB202190 induces apoptosis through activation of CPP32-like caspases and suggest that distinct members of the p38 subfamily of mitogen-activated protein kinase have different functions in apoptosis.
Genetic associations of leukoaraiosis indicate pathophysiological mechanisms in white matter lesions etiology

Abstract Leukoaraiosis (LA), also called white matter lesions (WMLs) and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), is a frequent neuroimaging finding commonly seen on magnetic resonance imaging brain scans of elderly people with prevalence ranging from 50% to 100%. Although it remains asymptomatic, LA is not considered to be benign, and it is showed to be related to a host of poor clinical outcomes and increases the risk of disability, dementia, depression, stroke, and the overall morbidity and mortality. Pathologically, LA is characterized by loss of myelin and axons, patchy demyelination, and denudation of ependyma in regions of WMH. Age and hypertension are the most importantly established risk factors for LA. However, the precise pathogenic mechanisms remain unclear. Together with the previous findings, our recent genetic results strongly supported that LA is associated with immune response and neuroinflammation. Therefore, we confidently hypothesized that LA was not only a common neuroimaging phenomenon in the elderly but also an emerging neuroinflammatory disorder in the central nervous system. This article focusing on neuroimaging classification, genetics basis, and putative molecular mechanism introduced the basic knowledge and current status of LA and put forward some of our research ideas and results from our molecular genetics research, which may pave the way for deciphering the putative pathogenic mechanism, risk factor, epigenetic index, and its application in diagnostic agents or drug target for prevention and treatment. Thus, it could provide clinicians and researchers with a specific and modern overview of LA to enable the understanding of recent progress and future directions in this illness.
Post-Racial or Most-Racial?: Race and Politics in the Obama Era

When Barack Obama won the presidency, many posited that we were entering into a post-racial period in American politics. Regrettably, the reality hasn t lived up to that expectation. Instead, Americans political beliefs have become significantly "more "polarized by racial considerations than they had been before Obama s presidency in spite of his administration s considerable efforts to neutralize the political impact of race. Michael Tesler shows how, in the years that followed the 2008 election a presidential election more polarized by racial attitudes than any other in modern times racial considerations have come increasingly to influence many aspects of political decision making. These range from people s evaluations of prominent politicians and the parties to issues seemingly unrelated to race like assessments of public policy or objective economic conditions. Some people even displayed more positive feelings toward Obama s dog, Bo, when they were told he belonged to Ted Kennedy. More broadly, Tesler argues that the rapidly intensifying influence of race in American politics is driving the polarizing partisan divide and the vitriolic atmosphere that has come to characterize American politics. One of the most important books on American racial politics in recent years, "Post-Racial or Most-Racial? "is required reading for anyone wishing to understand what has happened in the United States during Obama s presidency and how it might shape the country long after he leaves office. "
Cutting Edge: Agonistic Effect of Indomethacin on a Prostaglandin D2 Receptor, CRTH2

Indomethacin is a widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and is generally known to exhibit its multiple biological functions by inhibiting cyclooxygenases or activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors. In this study, we present evidence demonstrating that the novel PGD2 receptor chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on Th2 cells (CRTH2) is another functional target for indomethacin. Indomethacin induced Ca2+ mobilization in CRTH2-transfected K562 cells at submicromolar concentrations (approximate EC50, 50 nM) in a Gαi-dependent manner as PGD2 did. Other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin, sulindac, diclofenac, and acemetacin) had no such effect even at micromolar concentrations. In chemotaxis assay, three CRTH2-expressing cell types, Th2 cells, eosinophils, and basophils, were all significantly attracted by indomethacin (EC50, 50–500 nM) as well as by PGD2 (EC50, 2–20 nM), and the effects of indomethacin were blocked by anti-CRTH2 mAb. These results suggest the involvement of CRTH2 in mediating some of therapeutic and/or unwanted side effects of indomethacin, independently of cyclooxygenases and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors.
Exploring one‐sided communication and synchronization on a non‐cache‐coherent many‐core architecture

The ongoing many‐core design aims at core counts where cache coherence becomes a serious challenge. Therefore, this paper discusses how one‐sided communication and the required process synchronization can be realized on a non‐cache‐coherent many‐core CPU. The Intel Single‐chip Cloud Computer serves as an exemplary hardware architecture. The presented approach is based on software‐managed cache coherence for MPI one‐sided communication. The prototype implementation delivers a PUT performance of up to 5 times faster than the default message‐based approach and reveals a reduction of the communication costs for the NAS Parallel Benchmarks 3‐D fast Fourier Transform by a factor of 5. Further, the paper derives conclusions for future non‐cache‐coherent architectures.
Therapeutic hypothermia in adult cardiac arrest because of drowning

Therapeutic hypothermia in adult victims who suffer cardiac arrest following drowning has been applied in only a small number of cases. In the last 4 years, we have employed therapeutic hypothermia to decrease hypoxia‐induced brain injury in these patients. The purpose of the present study was to report the results of the treatment of these patients.