Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detecting Visual Field Progression in Glaucoma – Using the Right Tools for the Job

Monitoring disease progression is at the centre of managing a patient with glaucoma. This article focuses specifically on how visual field measurements from standard automated perimetry (SAP) can be monitored over time. Various options for analysis on the Humphrey and Octopus perimeters are discussed, from summary indices to event and trend-based analyses; their respective merits and flaws evaluated. It is strongly recommended that quantitative analysis methods and software are used in assessing progression, as variability in threshold measurements makes detecting true deterioration non-trivial. Recommendations on the frequency of visual fields that should be taken per year are also discussed. The article concludes by putting the spotlight on new research being undertaken to improve the methods of measuring and predicting progression, as well as relating visual fields to patient visual disability and quality of life.
Biliary Excretion of Phenolphthalein Sulfate in Rats

Glucuronide and glutathione conjugates have been reported to be substrates of multidrug resistance protein 2 (Mrp2), whereas sulfates of nonbile acid organic anions have never been reported as substrates of Mrp2. To further examine the substrate specificity of Mrp2, we examined the effects of bile acid sulfates on the biliary excretion of phenolphthalein sulfate in rats. The biliary excretion of phenolphthalein sulfate was markedly delayed in Eisai hyperbilirubinemic rats, an Mrp2-deficient strain, and was markedly inhibited by taurolithocholate-3-sulfate. The biliary excretion of leukotriene C4 metabolites and sulfobromophthalein was inhibited by phenolphthalein sulfate infusion to some extent. These findings suggest that phenolphthalein sulfate is a unique sulfated nonbile acid organic anion which is a substrate of Mrp2.
New studies on adaptive predictive coding of images using multiplicative autoregressive models

Adaptive predictive coding of digitized images using multiplicative autoregressive (MAR) models is discussed. Three MAR models, designated as nonsymmetric half plane (NSHP) (3*3), quarter plane (QP) (2*3), and NSHP (2*3), are studied in detail. Results demonstrate that both NSHP (3*3) and QP (2*3) are very effective for coding and transmission of such images at bit rates less than one bit per pixel. Comparison with a 2-D model that has a quarter plane 2*2 region of support indicates that the performance of NSHP (3*3) and QP (2*3) either exceeds or matches that of the former. The proposed scheme has the following advantages. First, the signal-to noise ratio and the bit rate attainable with this method are comparable to those of two-dimensional (2-D) predictive techniques. Second, unlike the 2-D schemes, the stability of the predictive coder is easily guaranteed. <<ETX>>
A CONCERN ? AN 18-YEAR EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEILLANCE Of TIMIS COUNTY , ROMANIA

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study is to bring new epidemiological data on human trichinellosis in Timis County, Romania, during the period 1990-2007 and to compare them with other worldwide results. Material and methods: Data have been collected by medical record review of 530 patients, inhabitants of Timis County, diagnosed with trichinellosis and hospitalized during 1990-2007 at the Victor Babes Hospital of Infectious Diseases Timisoara. The reported cases have been distributed by age groups, gender, profession, location, season and year of hospitalization. Results: The ages of 121 patients (22.83%) ranged between 20-29 years; 280 of the patients (52.83%) were males; 88 patients (16.6%) were hospitalized in 1994; 376 of the patients (70.94%) were from the urban area; 337 patients (63.59%) were from Timisoara; winter was the season with the highest prevalence 429 cases (80.94%); 134 patients (31.6%) were workers, without superior school levels. Conclusions: The highest prevalence of the disease was observed in the 20-29 year old group of patients. Males and females were similarly affected, with a slightly larger percentage of males. The largest number of patients hospitalized for trichinellosis has been reported during 1993-1994. Although most of the patients lived in urban areas, the source of infection has been often identified in rural areas. The disease prevailed in patients with low socio-economic status and poor hygiene standards. In almost all of the cases, the infection occured as a result of ingestion of raw or improperly cooked pork products.
Regulation of Phagosome Maturation by Signals from Toll-Like Receptors

In higher metazoans, phagocytosis is essential in host defense against microbial pathogens and in clearance of apoptotic cells. Both microbial and apoptotic cells are delivered on a common route from phagosomes to lysosomes for degradation. Here, we found that activation of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway by bacteria, but not apoptotic cells, regulated phagocytosis at multiple steps including internalization and phagosome maturation. Phagocytosis of bacteria was impaired in the absence of TLR signaling. Two modes of phagosome maturation were observed, constitutive and inducible; their differential engagement depended on the ability of the cargo to trigger TLR signaling.
Simulation of a wireless sensor network using OPNET

We aim to evaluate the performance of a ZigBee wireless sensor network using OPNET. The network is intended for a general application and should be able to collect data from many nodes, every node connected to several sensors. One possible application for such a network is in the medical area. At first the network will be used to display the evolution of blood pressure; the body temperature, the ambient temperature and pressure and the level of the transfusion liquid can be collected as well. The network coordinator will transmit the data to a local server for further processing. The simulation will be used to evaluate the general parameters of the wireless network and to optimise it.
Planar Helix With Straight-Edge Connections in the Presence of Multilayer Dielectric Substrates

A planar slow-wave structure consisting of a planar helix with straight-edge connections has been studied in the context of application in traveling-wave tubes. The effects of several practical modifications to the basic structure are examined. These modifications comprise a vacuum tunnel, metal shield, and multilayer dielectric substrates. A modified effective dielectric constant method is proposed to obtain the dispersion characteristics for different possible configurations. Furthermore, coupling impedance for the different configurations has been calculated using the corresponding 2-D approximations. It is shown that, far from cutoff, the phase velocity and coupling impedance values calculated in this manner match very well with the simulation results obtained from CST Microwave Studio. The effects of variations in aspect ratio, metal shield distance, and dielectric constant of the substrates on phase velocity and coupling impedance are studied. A coplanar waveguide feed has been designed for one of the possible configurations. The measured S-parameters and phase velocity values for this proof-of-concept configuration agree well with the simulated results and confirm the ease of fabrication, low loss, and the wideband potential of the planar helix with straight-edge connections.
Patterns of temporal lobe atrophy in semantic dementia and Alzheimer's disease

Volumetric magnetic resonance imaging analyses of 30 subjects were undertaken to quantify the global and temporal lobe atrophy in semantic dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Three groups of 10 subjects were studied: semantic dementia patients, Alzheimer's disease patients, and control subjects. The temporal lobe structures measured were the amygdala, hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, parahippocampal gyrus, fusiform gyrus, and superior, middle, and inferior temporal gyri. Semantic dementia and Alzheimer's disease groups did not differ significantly on global atrophy measures. In semantic dementia, there was asymmetrical temporal lobe atrophy, with greater left‐sided damage. There was an anteroposterior gradient in the distribution of temporal lobe atrophy, with more marked atrophy anteriorly. All left anterior temporal lobe structures were affected in semantic dementia, with the entorhinal cortex, amygdala, middle and inferior temporal gyri, and fusiform gyrus the most severely damaged. Asymmetrical, predominantly anterior hippocampal atrophy was also present. In Alzheimer's disease, there was symmetrical atrophy of the entorhinal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala, with no evidence of an anteroposterior gradient in the distribution of temporal lobe or hippocampal atrophy. These data demonstrate that there is a marked difference in the distribution of temporal lobe atrophy in semantic dementia and Alzheimer's disease. In addition, the pattern of atrophy in semantic dementia suggests that semantic memory is subserved by anterior temporal lobe structures, within which the middle and inferior temporal gyri may play a key role. Ann Neurol 2001;49:433–442
Small-Size Low-Cost Wideband Continuous-Time Linear Passive Equalizer With an Embedded Cavity Structure on a High-Speed Digital Channel

This paper proposes a wideband continuous-time passive equalizer with an embedded cavity structure that is more compact in size and enables lower-cost processing than conventional technologies. The proposed passive equalizer is composed of a lumped resistor and capacitance in a cavity structure generated by a parasitic channel parasitic component, such as a package ball pad. This equalizer design in which the capacitance is embedded in the cavity structure offers the advantages of reducing the additional occupied printed circuit board (PCB) area and of enabling a small-sized equalizer with a large capacitance for application in high-density systems. For a 40-cm transmission line on PCB with a data rate of 12.5 Gb/s, the measured eye diagram is successfully demonstrated and the eye opening significantly improved to 81.1 mV, with a timing jitter of 28.7 ps.
Disorder-specific impact of coordinated anxiety learning and management treatment for anxiety disorders in primary care.

CONTEXT Anxiety disorders commonly present in primary care, where evidence-based mental health treatments often are unavailable or suboptimally delivered. OBJECTIVE To compare evidence-based treatment for anxiety disorders with usual care (UC) in primary care for principal and comorbid generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder (PD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). DESIGN A randomized controlled trial comparing the Coordinated Anxiety Learning and Management (CALM) intervention with UC at baseline and at 6-, 12-, and 18-month follow-up assessments. SETTING Seventeen US primary care clinics. PATIENTS Referred primary care sample, 1004 patients, with principal DSM-IV diagnoses of GAD (n = 549), PD (n = 262), SAD (n = 132), or PTSD (n = 61) (mean [SD] age, 43.7 [13.7] years; 70.9% were female). Eighty percent of the participants completed 18-month follow-up. INTERVENTIONS CALM (cognitive behavior therapy and pharmacotherapy recommendations) and UC. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Generalized Anxiety Disorder Severity Scale, Panic Disorder Severity-Self-report Scale, Social Phobia Inventory, and PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version scores. RESULTS CALM was superior to UC for principal GAD at 6-month (-1.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], -2.42 to -0.79), 12-month (-2.34; -3.22 to -1.45), and 18-month (-2.37; -3.24 to -1.50), PD at 6-month (-2.00; -3.55 to -0.44) and 12-month (-2.71; -4.29 to -1.14), and SAD at 6-month (-7.05; -12.11 to -2.00) outcomes. CALM was superior to UC for comorbid SAD at 6-month (-4.26; 95% CI, -7.96 to -0.56), 12-month (-8.12, -11.84 to -4.40), and 18- month (-6.23, -9.90 to -2.55) outcomes. Effect sizes favored CALM but were not statistically significant for other comorbid disorders. CONCLUSIONS CALM (cognitive behavior therapy and pharmacotherapy medication recommendations) is more effective than is UC for principal anxiety disorders and, to a lesser extent, comorbid anxiety disorders that present in primary care.
Steroid-regulated molecular markers of implantation.

The endometrium acquires the ability to implant the developing embryo within a specific time window, termed the "receptive phase. " During this period the endometrium undergoes pronounced structural and functional changes induced by the ovarian steroids estrogen and progesterone, which prepare it to be receptive to invasion by the embryo. These steroid-induced molecules, when identified, may serve as useful markers of uterine receptivity. In the present article, we provide a brief description of the molecules that have emerged as candidate markers of steroid hormone action in rodents and humans during implantation.
A monitoring system development for a new-type of Korean FNET

As the scale of power systems has become larger, intelligence for wide-area protection has been required. Among these, the frequency monitoring network (FNET) has been an important rule. Many PMUs (phase measurement unit) have been developed for wide-area protection, but a frequency-based one has not developed yet. In this paper, a monitoring system development for a new-type of Korean FNET is introduced. Simulation results are given to show the validation of the proposed system.
Fat-storing cells and myofibroblasts are involved in the initial phase of carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis in BN/BiRij rats.

This study on the appearance, distribution and kinetics of fibroblast-like cells (fat-storing cells, transitional cells, myofibroblasts and fibroblasts) after CCl4-treatment was undertaken to delineate further the respective roles of these cell types in liver fibrogenesis. The different cell types were distinguished on the basis of their immunophenotypic pattern with a combination of marker antibodies and on the basis of ultrastructural characteristics. Combined staining for alpha-smooth muscle actin (sma) and desmin (Des) revealed perisinusoidal fat-storing cells (FSC) as d+ sma- and myofibroblasts around the central veins of the normal rat liver as d+ sma+. During the initial phase of CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis (week 1 and 2), the number of d+ sma+ cells increased in the degenerating area around the central veins and d+ sma+ cells appeared in the very thin fibrotic septa at week 2. Ultrastructural examination of the affected central areas showed the presence of myofibroblasts. These sma+ cells proliferated, as shown by double staining for bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and sma. In degenerating parenchymal areas, d+ sma- FSC were present. The FSC in the perisinusoidal space of areas which were not affected by CCl4 intoxification, remained d+ sma-. These immunostaining findings support the electron microscopical results, which show the presence of cells with the typical ultrastructural characteristics of FSC in both the degenerating areas and the perisinusoidal space of unaffected areas. After one week of CCl4-treatment, enhanced deposition of procollagen type III was observed around the central veins. Enhanced deposition of collagen type IV was seen subendothelially along the sinusoids, notably in degenerating parenchymal areas where the septa were later formed. FSC appear to be the principal source of collagen type IV during fibrogenesis. These observations further support and specify the role of FSC in early fibrogenesis. With the progression of the CCl4-induced fibrosis, d+ sma+ myofibroblasts remained localized in the fibrotic septa, but now along their outer edge. The majority of the cells in the septa were formed by d- sma- cells indicating a prominent role of fibroblasts in the septal formation. Septal fibroblasts are not only likely to produce matrix components, but also were shown to degrade collagen, as evidenced by the increased number of collagen-containing vacuoles during the course of fibrosis. In conclusion, myofibroblasts and FSC appear to be the main cell types involved in the initial phase of liver fibrogenesis induced by CCl4. Both myofibroblasts and FSC divide and transform. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Current and predicted cost of metastatic renal cell carcinoma in Finland

Abstract Information on detailed treatment costs and the economic burden of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is rare. The current study provides treatment costs and outcomes of patients with metastatic RCC (mRCC), as well as estimates of the future burden from the perspective of Finnish health care. These results offer a baseline against which the impact of emerging treatments may be evaluated. Materials and methods. Information on treatment modalities, survival, and the cost of treatment was retrospectively gathered from mRCC patients (n = 83) receiving first-line interferon-alpha (IFN). Predictions of the number of new cases, premature deaths, and productivity losses were made using local epidemiological data, which were projected to the future using population growth forecasts. The future costs of mRCC treatment and the budget impact of sunitinib were estimated through modeling. Results. Patients survived 11.9 months (median; 95% CI 9.2–14.7) after initiation of active IFN treatment, accruing an average total treatment cost of €951. Most of the treatment costs were due to hospitalization and active IFN treatment. The aging of the population leads to nearly a 2% increase in the absolute number of new diagnoses annually, while at the same time it results in declining productivity losses. The estimated five-year population cost of IFN-based treatment was €16M–€26M. Adding sunitinib to the first-line treatment protocol increased this cost by €13M–€41M. Conclusions. Despite the limited number of patients, metastatic renal cell carcinoma places a considerable economic burden on Finnish society. Treatment costs are likely to increase substantially due to the adoption of new and more expensive medications, the aging population, and enhanced survival times.
Divergent transcription: A new feature of active promoters

Divergent transcription is common of many promoters in organisms as diverse as mammals and yeast. Many independent experiments indicate that RNA polymerase II is frequently initiated but paused in the sense direction downstream from the promoter. Similarly a second peak of transcriptionally-engaged polymerase is paused in the anti-sense direction upstream of the promoter. Chromatin modifications that are associated with active promoters reside in nucleosomes immediately flanking this pair of paused polymerases. The nucleosome-free region associated with most promoters could in part be defined by this divergent transcription. The potential implications of divergent transcription on gene regulation and possible mechanisms that give rise to this phenomenon are discussed.
Effect of Embryonic Donor Age and Dissection on the DARPP-32 Content of Cell Suspensions Used for Intrastriatal Transplantation

The aim of this study was to determine in vitro the DARPP-32 content of donor cells used for striatal transplantation in vivo. The effect of selective embryonic dissection of the lateral ganglionic eminence (LGE) was compared with the standard dissection of the whole ganglionic eminence (WGE) at each of three embryonic ages (14, 15, and 16 days of gestation) in the rat. The resultant cell suspensions were cultured for up to 7 days and incubated with antibodies against DARPP-32, a marker of striatal medium spiny neurons; beta-tubulin III, a neuronal marker; GFAP, a marker of reactive astrocytes; and Gal-C, a marker of oligodendrocytes. LGE dissection gave rise to more DARPP-32 neurons compared to WGE; but this relationship was only observed in the younger embryos. When older (16 days gestation) embryos are used there is no difference in the yield of DARPP-32 cells obtained from LGE and WGE. LGE dissections were also observed to contain fewer glial cells. There was no beneficial effect of LGE over WGE on survival of striatal neurons in vitro. These results have important implications for the selection and dissection of fetal donor material used in clinical trials of intrastriatal transplantation as a potential treatment for Huntington's disease.
Advances in cervical cancer screening and human papillomavirus vaccines

Cervical cancer is causally linked to human papillomavirus (HPV) and constitutes a major health problem for women. Nearly 80% of the 510,000 cases reported worldwide each year occur in developing countries which lack organized screening programmes. Cervical screening has effectively reduced the incidence of and mortality from invasive cervical cancer in industrialized countries, but is not completely protective. Cervical screening is now undergoing modernization and has seen several changes in recent years. These aim to enhance the overall efficiency and effectiveness of screening, reduce rates of inadequate sampling, increase sensitivity rates and facilitate ancillary technologies, such as HPV testing. This review discusses these advances and the development of HPV vaccines.
Telomere Variation in Xenopus laevis

ABSTRACT Eukaryotic telomeres are variable at several levels, from the length of the simple sequence telomeric repeat tract in different cell types to the presence or number of telomere-adjacent DNA sequence elements in different strains or individuals. We have investigated the sequence organization of Xenopus laevis telomeres by use of the vertebrate telomeric repeat (TTAGGG) n and blot hybridization analysis. The (TTAGGG) n -hybridizing fragments, which ranged from less than 10 to over 50 kb with frequently cutting enzymes, defined a pattern that was polymorphic between individuals. BAL 31 exonuclease treatment confirmed that these fragments were telomeric. The polymorphic fragments analyzed did not hybridize to 5S RNA sequences, which are telomeric according to in situ hybridization. When telomeric fragments from offspring (whole embryos) were compared to those from the spleens of the parents, the inheritance pattern of some bands was found to be unusual. Furthermore, in one cross, the telomeres of the embryo were shorter than the telomeres of the parents’ spleen, and in another, the male’s testis telomeres were shorter than those of the male’s spleen. Our data are consistent with a model for chromosome behavior that involves a significant amount of DNA rearrangement at telomeres and suggest that length regulation ofXenopus telomeres is different from that observed forMus spretus and human telomeres.
Pharmacokinetics of cisplatin instilled into the pleural cavity following panpleuropneumonectomy in patients with malignant pleurisy due to lung cancer

The pharmacokinetics of cisplatin instilled into the pleural cavity in patients with malignant pleurisy due to lung cancer were studied. Higher concentrations of total and free platinum in pleural effusion have been maintained for longer than 72 hours in patients who were subjected to panpleuropneumonectomy than in those who received simple drainage. Early rapid drop of total platinum within 6 hours was significant in the drainage group. Total platinum level in the serum of the panpleuropneumonectomy group gradually increased during 1–72 hours, however, that of the drainage group was highest at 1 hour after instillation and declined gradually with time. Free platinum in the serum was also present at lower concentrations in the panpleuropneumonectomy group than in the drainage group. These facts may be ascribed to the absorptive activity of parietal pleura which is present in the drainage group but absent in the panpleuropneumonectomy group. In summary, removal of the parietal pleura by panpleuropneumonectomy could cause cisplatin to be not only more active but also less toxic in patients with malignant pleurisy due to lung cancer. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.