Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in hepatitis C liver cirrhosis patients

Introduction: With this increase in the prevalence in viral C hepatitis, surgeons now more frequently encounter cirrhotic patients with symptomatic gallstones. Now, when such patients required cholecystectomy, it is performed laparoscopically. However, an abdominal pain, especially radiating to the right shoulder, nausea and vomiting in the postoperative period due to pneumoperitoneum using carbon dioxide gas. The use of c drainage tube after uncomplicated LC in patients without liver cirrhosis, which is supposed to prevent such postoperative events, is an issue of considerable debate. Aim of the work is to evaluate our experience of LC in hepatitis c liver cirrhosis patients from surgical, anesthesia and surgical intensive care aspects. We conducted a prospective, randomized, double blind study to determine the effect of placing of drains after LC in hepatitis c liver cirrhosis patients on the incidence of postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting. Patients and methods: Forty-four patients with non-complicated chronic calcular cholecystitis and liver cirrhosis were recruited for the study during the period from February 2017 to December 2018. They electively operated upon at the department of general surgery of Theodor Bilharz Research Institute (TBRI) using the laparoscopic technique. The patients were randomly subdivided into two equal groups Group-I (n=22); suction drains will be placed in the sub-hepatic region (Morison’s pouch) and Group-II (n=22), no drains will be placed. Demographic data, preoperative variables, duration of surgery, postoperative shoulder tip pain, vomiting and analgesics requirement evaluated and recorded. Results: Operative times were not statistically significant of both groups. Drain group I had a significant lower shoulder tip pain and analgesic requirement at post-operative 6 and 12 hours but that was higher after 12 hours, than Group II. The overall incidence of nausea/vomiting was more in group without drain than in drain group which was statistically significant. Patients in Group I had a longer stay in hospital as compared to Group II that was statistically significant. Conclusion: The routine use of abdominal drain after elective uncomplicated laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with liver cirrhosis because its role in reducing post-operative nausea/vomiting is not justified. It increases post-operative pain and hospital stay. Selective use of drain is reasonable if there is a surgical indication like potential bile leak.
Novel Application of Quantitative Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography/Computed Tomography to Predict Early Response to Methimazole in Graves' Disease

Objective Since Graves' disease (GD) is resistant to antithyroid drugs (ATDs), an accurate quantitative thyroid function measurement is required for the prediction of early responses to ATD. Quantitative parameters derived from the novel technology, single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT), were investigated for the prediction of achievement of euthyroidism after methimazole (MMI) treatment in GD. Materials and Methods A total of 36 GD patients (10 males, 26 females; mean age, 45.3 ± 13.8 years) were enrolled for this study, from April 2015 to January 2016. They underwent quantitative thyroid SPECT/CT 20 minutes post-injection of 99mTc-pertechnetate (5 mCi). Association between the time to biochemical euthyroidism after MMI treatment and %uptake, standardized uptake value (SUV), functional thyroid mass (SUVmean × thyroid volume) from the SPECT/CT, and clinical/biochemical variables, were investigated. Results GD patients had a significantly greater %uptake (6.9 ± 6.4%) than historical control euthyroid patients (n = 20, 0.8 ± 0.5%, p < 0.001) from the same quantitative SPECT/CT protocol. Euthyroidism was achieved in 14 patients at 156 ± 62 days post-MMI treatment, but 22 patients had still not achieved euthyroidism by the last follow-up time-point (208 ± 80 days). In the univariate Cox regression analysis, the initial MMI dose (p = 0.014), %uptake (p = 0.015), and functional thyroid mass (p = 0.016) were significant predictors of euthyroidism in response to MMI treatment. However, only %uptake remained significant in a multivariate Cox regression analysis (p = 0.034). A %uptake cutoff of 5.0% dichotomized the faster responding versus the slower responding GD patients (p = 0.006). Conclusion A novel parameter of thyroid %uptake from quantitative SPECT/CT is a predictive indicator of an early response to MMI in GD patients.
National health expenditures, 1991

Spending for health care rose to $751.8 billion in 1991, an increase of 11.4 percent from the 1990 level. National health expenditures as a share of gross domestic product increased to 13.2 percent, up from 12.2 percent in 1990. The health care sector exhibited strong growth, despite slow growth in the overall economy. This combination resulted in the largest increase in the share of the Nation's output consumed by health care in the past three decades. In this article, the authors present estimates of health spending in the United States for 1991. The authors also examine reasons for the unusually large growth in Medicaid expenditures and highlight recent trends in the hospital sector.
Innovation in der psychiatrischen Versorgung

Zusammenfassung. Der nachfolgende Beitrag beschreibt, welchen Beitrag die Pflege zum Wandel der psychiatrischen Versorgung in den letzten Jahrzehnten geleistet hat. Dieser Wandel wurde von einem Wertewandel begleitet, welcher die Vermeidung von Aggression und Zwang, den Aufbau sozialer Beziehungen sowie die Selbstbestimmung der Nutzenden betonte. Die Ausfuhrungen basieren auf einem Vortrag, den der Verfasser am Kongress des Schweizer Berufsverbands fur Pflegefachfrauen und Pflegefachmanner (SBK) im Mai 2017 gehalten hat.
SOME NOTES ON COMPUTATION OF GAMES SOLUTIONS

Abstract : This paper presents some dynamical systems whose steady state solutions yield solutions to a discrete game matrix. First a few systems of differential equations for the case of a symmetric game, then some more or less related systems of difference equations for digital computation are considered. Finally, a representation of the linear programming problem as a symmetric game is given. This representation serves also to represent asymmetric games in symmetric form.
Assessment of the Bioactivity of Antibodies against β-Amyloid Peptide in vitro and in vivo

The accumulation of the β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) is a central event in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Aβ removal from the brain by immune therapy shows promising potential for the treatment of patients with AD, although the mechanisms of the antibody action are incompletely understood. In this study we compared the biological activities of antibodies raised against various Aβ fragments for Aβ reduction in vitro and in vivo. Antibodies against Aβ enhanced the uptake of Aβ42 aggregates up to 6-fold by primary microglial cells in vitro. The kinetics of Aβ42 uptake varied considerably among antibodies. Based on the activity to mediate Aβ42 uptake by microglial cells, we identified a bioactive antibody that significantly reduced Aβ42 levels in the brains of transgenic mice with neuronal expression of an AD-related mutated amyloid precursor protein. This effect depended on the epitopes recognized by the antibody. Our data suggest that the ability to facilitate Aβ42 uptake by primary microglia cells in vitro can be used to predict the biological activity of the antibody by passive immunization in vivo. This protocol may prove useful for the rapid validation of the activity of antibodies designed to be used in immune therapy of AD.
A dual role for plant quinone reductases in host-fungus interaction.

Quinone reductases (QR, EC 1.5.6.2) are flavoproteins that protect organisms from oxidative stress. The function of plant QRs has not as yet been addressed in vivo despite biochemical evidence for their involvement in redox reactions. Here, using knock-out (KO) and overexpressing lines, we studied the protective role of two groups of Arabidopsis thaliana cytosolic QRs, Nqr (NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase) and Fqr (flavodoxin-like quinone reductase), in response to infection by necrotrophic fungi. The KO lines nqr(-) and fqr1(-) displayed significantly slower development of lesions of Botrytis cinerea and Sclerotinia sclerotium in comparison to the wild type (WT). Consistent with this observation, the overexpressing line FQR1(+) was hypersensitive to the pathogens. Both the nqr(-) and fqr1(-) displayed increased fluorescence of 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein,‬ a reporter for reactive oxygen species in response to B. cinerea. Infection by B. cinerea was accompanied with increased Nqr and Fqr1 protein levels in the WT as revealed by western blotting. In addition, a marked stimulation of salicylic acid-sensitive transcripts and suppression of jasmonate-sensitive transcripts was observed in moderately wounded QR KO mutant leaves, a condition mimicking the early stage of infection. In contrast to the above observations, germination of conidia was accelerated on leaves of QR KO mutants in comparison with the WT and FQR1(+). The same effect was observed in water-soluble leaf surface extracts. It is proposed that the altered interaction between B. cinerea and the QR mutants is a consequence of subtly altered redox state of the host, which perturbs host gene expression in response to environmental stress such as fungal growth. ‬‬‬‬‬‬
Single-walled carbon nanotube based gas sensor with nanoscale electrode interval using sacrificial oxide layer

We developed a chemical gas sensor using SWCNT (single-walled carbon nanotubes) with nanoscale electrode-interval. To fabricate electrode pattern, we designed at first a continuous electrode pattern without any intervals. Then, the nanoscale interval was formed by a nanoscale trench using a sacrificial oxide layer located at the center of electrode. By this technique we obtained an electrode pattern with 100 nm interval. Though, the nanoscale interval can be realized by various nanolithography techniques including nanoimprint, nano-MEMS technology is not yet standardized and still requires great expense for even a stamp fabrication. Our method consisted of well developed processes for microscale semiconductor fabrication including trench formation, polysilicon deposition, and thermal oxidation. We expect that our method will induce high reproducibility and is closer to the commercialization of nanotube based gas sensor with higher sensitivity.
The Role of Board Governance on Bank Performance

This study uses a sample of 119 commercial banks in Asia (specifically China, Philippine, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand) to test the impact of board governance on the bank performance. The result reported based on OLS and within estimators. In addition, two step system estimator is employed in this study to solve endogeneity problem in corporate governance literature. The finding reported that bank with large board and more independent directors sit on board it help the bank to achieve higher performance. The result shows that bank can achieve better performance with younger directors. While CEO duality and female directors are insignificant to influence the bank performance. The result also reported that the higher loan losses provision leads to bank performance decline. This study employ various governance characteristics towards performance among banking sector in selected Asian countries. The result of this study highlight the effectiveness of the board as a functioning device in monitoring and advising manager.
Adjacent and divergently oriented operons under the control of the sporulation regulatory protein GerE in Bacillus subtilis

The DNA-binding protein GerE is the latest-acting regulatory protein in the mother cell line of gene expression during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis. GerE directs the transcription of several genes that encode structural components of the protein coat that encases the mature spore. We report on the identification and characterization of a cluster of additional genes whose transcription is dependent on GerE. These genes, which are located in the replication terminus region of the chromosome (181 degrees on the genetic map), are arranged in adjacent and divergently oriented operons called cgeAB and cgeCDE, which consist of two and at least three genes, respectively. CgeD, the product of the second member of the cgeCDE operon, is strikingly similar to the product of a B. subtilis gene (ipa-63d) of unknown function and is similar at its amino terminus to certain glycosyl transferases involved in polysaccharide biosynthesis. Strains with mutations in the cgeAB and cgeCDE operons produce spores with altered surface properties, on which basis we propose that proteins encoded by these operons influence maturation of the outermost layer of the spore, perhaps by glycosylation of coat proteins at the spore surface.
Energy efficiency in cognitive radio network

Cognitive radio techniques have been introduced to improve the spectrum utilization in the frequency bands already allocated to licensed users. Under spectrum sharing model, secondary users can share spectrum with primary users with the condition that total interference caused by SUs should not be exceeded from a predefined level. Energy efficiency is one of the important metric in cognitive radio networks as it has to work under strict transmit power constraint. In this paper, we explore how better energy efficiency can be achieved in a spectrum sharing environment. Our analysis shows that energy efficiency in cognitive radio network is better when number of secondary users is more than available channels.
Human Cytomegalovirus. Studies on the Mechanism of Viral Gytopathology and Inclusion Body Formation.∗

Summary When cultured human fetal fi-broblasts were infected by human cytomegalo-virus, virus-induced morphologic changes consisting of cytopathology, intracytoplasmic and intranuclear inclusion bodies developed during a 72-hour period. Thus, in this system, virus-induced cell changes followed closely upon viral multiplication. Inhibitors of DNA synthesis, IUdR (100 μg/ml), mitomycin C (15 μg/ml) and cytosine arabinoside (100 μg/ml), when added at the time of infection, suppressed the production of infectious virus and the development of mature inclusions but did not interfere with the development of cytopathology and the “early” cytoplasmic lesion. An inhibitor of RNA synthesis, actino-mycin D (0.5 μg/ml), when added at the time of infection, prevented all virus-induced morphological changes and the production of infectious virus. An inhibitor of protein synthesis, puromycin (0.5 μg/ml), gave the same results as the inhibitors of DNA synthesis.
Lumbalgia crónica en la población española. Factores asociados y calidad de vida según la Encuesta Nacional de Salud 2011

Introduccion. La lumbalgia es una dolencia frecuente, que tiene repercusion a nivel social, laboral y economico, lo que la convierte en un problema de salud publica, tanto en paises industrializados, como en aquellos en vias de desarrollo. Se calcula que la lumbalgia afecta a entre un 80% y un 85% de la poblacion general al menos una vez en su vida y que tiene una prevalencia puntual situada entre el 17-32%. La lumbalgia cursa con dolor, reduccion de la movilidad espinal y discapacidad. El dolor y la limitacion de la movilidad pueden dificultar actividades tanto de la vida diaria, como laborales. La lumbalgia es la mayor causa de discapacidad e invalidez en el periodo laboral de las personas, lo que genera grandes costes, llegando a ser un componente fundamental del gasto en salud de muchos paises. Supone la principal causa de gasto publico por conceptos asistenciales y laborales en los paises desarrollados. Multiples estudios han senalado como factores de riesgo de lumbalgia la obesidad, el tabaquismo y el sedentarismo. Ademas los individuos con lumbalgia tienen un alto nivel de ansiedad y depresion. Hay varios estudios espanoles que utilizan la informacion facilitada por la Encuesta Nacional de Salud para investigar las caracteristicas epidemiologicas de los individuos que padecen lumbalgia en nuestro pais, aunque ninguno estudia la repercusion que tiene el dolor lumbar sobre la calidad de vida de estas personas. La medida de la Calidad de Vida (CV) es, probablemente, la evaluacion subjetiva de salud mas utilizada en relacion con las enfermedades de caracter cronico ya que refleja de forma adecuada la carga de enfermedad. Los indicadores de salud tradicionales no son suficientes cuando se evalua una condicion invalidante o cronica, como es el caso de la lumbalgia.
Mutations sensitizing yeast cells to the start inhibitor nalidixic acid

The regulatory step Start in the cell cycle of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is inhibited by nalidixic acid (Nal). To study this inhibition, mutations were identified that alter the sensitivity of yeast cells to Nal. Nal‐sensitive mutations were sought because the inhibitory effects of Nal on wild‐type cells are only transient, and wild‐type cells naturally become refractory to Nal. Three complementation groups of Nal‐sensitive mutations were found. Mutations in the first complementation group were shown to reside in the ARO7 gene, encoding chorismate mutase; tyrosine and phenylalanine synthesis was inhibited by Nal in these aro7 mutants, whereas wild‐type chorismate mutase was unaffected. These aro7 alleles demonstrate ‘recruitment’, by mutation, of an innately indifferent protein to an inhibitor‐sensitive form. The Nal‐sensitive aro7 mutant cells were used to show that the resumption of Nal‐inhibited nuclear activity and cell proliferation takes place while cytoplasmic Nal persists at concentrations inhibitory for the mutant chorismate mutase. Mutations in the second complementation group, nss2 (Nal‐supersensitive), increased intracellular Nal concentrations, and may simply alter the permeability of cells to Nal. The third complementation group was found to be the ERG6 gene, previously suggested to encode the ergosterol biosynthetic enzyme sterol methyltransferase. Mutation or deletion of the ERG6 gene had little effect on the inhibition of Start by Nal, but prevented recovery from this inhibition. Mutation of ERG3, encoding another ergosterol biosynthetic enzyme, also caused Nal sensitivity, suggesting that plasma membrane sterol composition, and plasma membrane function, mediates recovery from Nal‐mediated inhibition of Start.
Evaluation of two communication strategies to improve udder health management.

Worldwide, programs to improve udder health are implemented using communication tools and methods that inform and persuade dairy farmers. This study evaluated 2 communication strategies used in a mastitis control program in the Netherlands. To improve farmers' udder health management, tools such as instruction cards, treatment plans, checklists and software were developed following an argument-based comprehensive "central route. " These tools were used during on-farm study group meetings for farmers organized by veterinarians and also during individual veterinarian-farmer interactions. The second strategy aimed at adopting a single management practice to increase the use of milking gloves during milking. This approach followed a straightforward "peripheral" route that used implicit persuasion techniques. Results of an online survey of 374 Dutch dairy farmers showed that most farmers were able and willing to use the educational management tools to increase udder health on their farms. They evaluated the tools positively regardless of the mastitis problems on their farms. This seems to indicate that the central route of communication is most effective when farmers are motivated to work on udder health in general. Results of repeated random telephone surveys before, during, and after the campaign on the use of milking gloves showed that the use of gloves increased from 20.9 to 42.0% of the respondents. Respondents' opinions about milking gloves also changed favorably, indicating that a relatively short peripheral campaign on a single action can have a sustained effect on farmers' behavior. Both communication strategies seem to be potentially successful in disseminating knowledge to a specific target group of farmers and in changing that group's behavior. However, to reach as many farmers as possible, the strategies should be combined. When optimizing these strategies, both the farmers' motivation to work on udder health and the aim of the campaign should be considered. When aiming to improve general udder health management, the central route seems to be effective if farmers are already motivated to optimize their udder health management. For farmers who are less motivated to work on udder health, the peripheral route seems to be most effective when aiming to change a single management practice. The evaluated communication strategies are examples of how management practices to control mastitis can be effectively communicated to farmers. As such, this study contributes to optimizing future programs to control and prevent diseases.
Systemic and intestinal immunities after natural typhoid infection

A 2-year study of systemic and intestinal immunity to Salmonella typhi was performed in 14 patients who were suffering from typhoid fever in an attempt to extrapolate the mechanism of immune responses in this disease. The methods employed were the leukocyte migration inhibition agarose test for the measurement of systemic cell-mediated immunity. The systemic immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM that were specific to S. typhi and anti-O and anti-H agglutinins were measured by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the Widal test, respectively. The immunobead ELISA was used to measure total secretory IgA (SIgA), and indirect ELISA was used to measure SIgA that was specific to S. typhi in the intestinal lavage fluid. The results revealed that the patients developed various types of immune response to S. typhi that had various magnitudes and durations. After the onset of illness, the cell-mediated immunity persisted for 16 weeks; IgG, IgM, and anti-O and anti-H agglutinin persisted for 2 years, 16 weeks, 16 weeks, and 36 weeks, respectively. SIgA can persist in the gut for about 48 weeks. Thus, the immunities as a whole can barely persist beyond 1 year after the onset of illness, unless there are persistent booster stimulations by S. typhi bacilli that exist in the environment, and then the immunities may be lifelong.
Oral immunotherapy in hen’s egg‐allergic children increases a hypo‐proliferative subset of CD4+ T cells that could constitute a marker of tolerance achievement

Background: Food allergy affects a significant number of children and its prevalence, and persistence is undergoing an important increase in the last years. Specific oral tolerance induction (SOTI) is a promising therapy for food allergy. However, little is known about the immune mechanisms implicated in the desensitization to allergens. Our purpose was to study which immune parameters are modified during the process of tolerance achievement with the goal of identifying markers of tolerance induction.