Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Progression of macrovascular disease after transplantation.

INTRODUCTION Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease are major causes of morbidity and mortality after kidney transplantation. The aim of this longitudinal study was to examine the natural history of carotid plaque and to determine risk factors for the progression of vascular disease in uremic, type 1 diabetic patients who received a combined kidney and pancreas transplant. METHODS Carotid artery (n=765) and lower limb vascular duplex scanning (n=656) were prospectively undertaken in 82 recipients before transplantation, at 6 months, and then at annual intervals for up to 10 years. Plaque in the internal carotid artery (ICA), external carotid artery, and common carotid artery was classified by type, location, extent, and degree of functional obstruction, and evaluated using multivariate analysis. RESULTS Carotid plaque was present in 22.5% of patients at initial scanning, but increased to 56.6% by 7-10 years after transplantation, especially in the ICA and common carotid artery. Both the severity and extent of plaque increased, and plaque became more complex and heterogeneous with time after transplantation (P<0.001). Carotid plaque was associated with older age, current cigarette smoking, hyperphosphatemia, hypoalbuminemia, duration of pretransplantation dialysis, and presence of lower limb plaque (P<0.05-0.001). The severity of carotid plaque increased in older, hypertensive recipients and was associated with metabolic acidosis and hyperphosphatemia (all P<0.05). Severity of ICA disease correlated with disease in the contralateral ICA (r=0.57, P<0.001) and femoral arteries (r=0.42, P<0.001). Paradoxically, each carotid artery progressed independently of the other. ICA disease severity progressed when heterogenous, calcified, or new plaque was present on scanning, and with reduced renal transplant function (P<0.01-0.001). The mean ICA blood flow remained stable with time but was progressively impaired by hypertension, fasting hyperglycemia, and a lower prednisolone dose (P<0.05). Cerebrovascular events occurred in only four patients and were unrelated to carotid disease, implying relative plaque stability. CONCLUSION Extensive carotid vascular wall abnormalities increased significantly despite kidney and pancreas transplantation. Initiation of plaque was associated with systemic factors, whereas progression of established plaque was largely influenced by local factors within the arterial wall.
Association between Knowledge, Practice and Attitude towards Nursing Care in the Neural Development of Premature Newborns

The knowledge, practice and attitude of nursing personnel in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) are critical in the effort to reduce sequelae in the neural development of premature newborns. This investigation aims to determine the relationship between level of knowledge, practice and attitude of nursing personnel working in NICU and the care and neural development of premature newborns. The specific objectives are the following: to obtain a profile on nursing personnel working in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs); to determine the level of knowledge of nursing personnel regarding the neural development of premature newborns; to determine the practical application of this knowledge by nursing personnel in the care of premature newborns as regards their neural development; to describe the attitude of nursing personnel when caring for premature newborns as regards their neural development; and to establish the existing relationship between the sociodemographic categories of gender and years working in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of the participants of this study. A questionnaire was administered to nurses working in four hospitals of the Metropolitan area of Puerto Rico. The study was descriptive and correlational with a transversal design; the Pearson Coefficient and Spearman’s Rank Correlation were used for analysis. A correlation was found between level of knowledge, practice and attitude of nurses in NICUs and care and neural development of newborns (r=.254, p < .05), revealing that updating knowledge enables personnel to maintain positive attitudes and apply appropriate nursing care. a Universidad Metropolitana (SUAGM, Puerto Rico-United States); b University of Malaga (Spain). Correspondence: Madeline Fonseca Fonseca, Universidad Metropolitana, PO Box 21150, San Juan, PR 00928 (Puerto Rico, United States) mfonseca8@suagm.edu
The fibrinolytic activity of urine.

TImE fibrinolytic activity of normal urine was first described by Macfarlane and Pilling (1947). The enzyme was found in all samples examined, usually in considerable amounts, and lysis of a fibrin clot was caused by urine dilutions of 1/2000 to 1/4000. Fibrinolytic activity of the circulating blood has also been described in anaphylaxis and peptone shock by Rocha e Silva, Andrade and Teixeira (1946) and by Ungar and Mist (1949). Macfarlane (1937), Macfarlane and Pilling (1946, 1947) and Macfarlane and Biggs (1946) found it in states of anxiety and shock, after exercise, and after the administration of adrenaline. Although exercise produced a slight increase in urinary fibrinolysin the reduction in the rate of urinary excretion made interpretation difficult. Earlier reports on the presence in urine of proteolytic enzymes in general were made by Farnsworth, Speer and Alt (1946), who showed that the excretion of a pepsin-like enzyme was reduced in pernicious anaemia and other conditions with achlorhydria, and by Baumann and Loeper (1922), who described the excretion of pepsin, erepsin and trypsin-like enzymes and commented on the marked variability ini the rate of excretion. The restricted range of pH in which gastric proteinases are active, the highest being 4-5 for cathepsin (Buchs, 1949), excludes the stomach as a source of the fibrinolytic enzyme demonstrated by Macfarlane. The action of streptokinase on a globulin fraction of plasma (plasminogen) to form an active fibrinolysin (plasmin) was first described by Milstone (1941). The activation of plasminogen by a wide variety of different substances has since been described, including tissue suspensions (Astrup and Permin, 1947, and Lewis and Ferguson, 1950). Tagnon and Petermann (1949) and Tagnon and Palade (1950) showed that rat lung is particularly effective and that the active principle is in the mitochondria. A kinase of the same type has been demonstrated in malignant cells by a number of workers, including Fischer (1946) and Goldhaber, Cornman and Ormsbee (1947). From this work there would appear to be three possible sources for the urinary fibrinolysin. The enzyme may be plasmin either excreted after activation in the circulation or as its precursor plasminogen. In this case activation must take place during passage through the renal tract. Secondly the enzyme may be trypsin which has been absorbed into the blood, combined with serum anti-trypsin and then excreted by the kidneys after separation from its antibody. Thirdly it is possible that fibrinolysis caused by urine is due to activation of plasminogen contaminating the fibrinogen used as a substrate. The fibrinogen used by Macfarlane (1947) was purified by repeated precipitation, but it is not clear whether complete removal of plasminogen was obtained.
Adaptive audio servo for multirate robot systems

In this paper, audio servo robot system which was a servo system using audio information as feedback signal was considered. Since the sampling rate of audio signal and that of robot controller are usually different, the system is able to be treated as a multi-rate system. Since it is general that the sampling rate of the output is faster than that of the input, the controller obtains more information than a single-rate servo system. By using this property, an adaptive audio servo system was proposed. Results of a computer simulation and an experiment showed effectiveness of the method.
The neurobiology of risk and pre-emptive interventions for anorexia nervosa.

TOPIC The neurobiology of risk and pre-emptive interventions for anorexia nervosa. PURPOSE This article is based on a presentation at the March 2012 annual conference of the International Society of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses. SOURCES A review of literature and clinical practice experience. CONCLUSIONS Advances in genetics and neuroimaging provide evidence of a recognizable phenotype of traits and neuropsychological characteristics that precede symptom onset in children at risk for anorexia nervosa. Early recognition of the phenotype and experiences that can potentiate symptom expression provides the basis for pre-emptive interventions that may avert or delay the onset and reduce symptom severity.
A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of Single-Dose IM Corticosteroid for Radicular Low Back Pain

Study Design. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of patients with radicular low back pain who present to an emergency department (ED) within 1 week of pain onset. Objective. We hypothesized that a single intramuscular 160 mg dose of methylprednisolone acetate would improve pain and functional outcomes 1 month after ED discharge if the corticosteroid were administered early in disease symptomotology. Summary of Background Data. Parenteral corticosteroids are not recommended for acute, radicular low back pain, though their role in this disease process is ill-defined. To date, this medication class has only been studied in a highly selected group of patients requiring hospitalization. Methods. Adults between the ages of 21 and 50 who presented to an ED with low back pain and a positive straight leg raise test were enrolled. The primary outcome was change in pain intensity on an 11 point numerical rating scale 1 month after ED visit. Secondary outcomes 1 month after ED discharge included analgesic use, functional disability, and adverse medication effects. Results. Six hundred thirty-seven patients were approached for participation, 133 were eligible, and 82 were randomized. Baseline characteristics were comparable between the groups. The primary outcome, a comparison of the mean improvement in pain intensity, favored methylprednisolone by 1.3 (P = 0.10). Some secondary outcomes favored methylprednisolone, such as use of analgesic medication within the previous 24 hours (22% vs. 43%, 95% CI for difference of 20%: 0%–40%) and functional disability (19% vs. 49%, 95% CI for difference of 29%: 9%–49%). Adverse medication effects 1 week after ED discharge were reported by 32% of methylprednisolone and 24% of placebo patients (95% CI for difference of 9%: −12% to 30%). Conclusion. This study was a negative study, though there was a suggestion of benefit of methylprednisolone acetate in a population of young adults with acute radicular low back pain. Further work with a larger sample of patients is needed.
GaggleBridge: collaborative data analysis

MOTIVATION Tools aiding in collaborative data analysis are becoming ever more important as researchers work together over long distances. We present an extension to the Gaggle framework, which has been widely adopted as a tool to enable data exchange between different analysis programs on one computer. RESULTS Our program, GaggleBridge, transparently extends this functionality to allow data exchange between Gaggle users at different geographic locations using network communication. GaggleBridge can automatically set up SSH tunnels to traverse firewalls while adding some security features to the Gaggle communication. AVAILABILITY GaggleBridge is available as open-source software implemented in the Java language at http://it.inf. uni-tuebingen.de/gb. CONTACT florian.battke@uni-tuebingen.de SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Proposed economic selection indices for the Simmentaler breed in South Africa

The development of economic selection indices for an integrated Simmentaler production system was described. The breeding objective was defined in terms of production-, functional- and product quality traits. Criteria included in the total index were birth- and weaning weight (direct and maternal), final weight, mature cow weight, days-to-calving, backfat thickness, tenderness and marbling. The total merit index was termed as IT = – 1.60 BWD – 1.95 BWM + 2.23 WWD + 1.75 WWM – 0.54 FW – 2.01 MCW – 13.21 CD + 4.97 BF – 2.36 T + 12.66 M. The correlation between this index and the aggregate breeding objective was 0.988. The economic superiority of the progeny from the top 40% of animals selected on their ranking in the total index, relative to the average progeny, is expected to be R 119.51. South African Journal of Animal Science Vol. 37 (2) 2007: pp. 122-131
Acute and Sustained Effects of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor on Survival of Flaps and Skin Grafts

Over the past 15 years, we have completed 10 experimental studies of the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on the survival of flaps and skin grafts. We have reviewed these studies to summarize evidence for 2 distinct phases of VEGF actions. The 10 studies were reviewed and classified as demonstrating acute VEGF effects (with VEGF administered at the time of procedures) or sustained VEGF effects (with VEGF administered 24 hours or more before procedures). Acute effects of VEGF included increased survival of skin flaps, muscle flaps, and full thickness skin grafts, increased viability markers in hind limb replants, selective cytokine suppression, and variable modulation of nitric oxide synthase expression. Sustained VEGF effects included extension of skin flap territories, accelerated maturation of tubed pedicle flaps, and increased neovascularization. VEGF effects coincide with descriptive mechanisms of tissue survival. The acute VEGF effects of tissue edema and vasodilation parallel serum imbibition and inosculation. The sustained VEGF effect of neovascularization may be mechanisms of permanent tissue survival at new sites, as well as delay phenomena. Manipulation of these VEGF effects could lead to strategies for achieving greater predictability in flap and graft survival.
A Novel 55-kDa Regulatory Subunit for Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase Structurally Similar to p55PIK Is Generated by Alternative Splicing of the p85 Gene (*)

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, which is composed of a 110-kDa catalytic subunit and a regulatory subunit, plays important roles in various cellular signaling mechanisms. We screened a rat brain cDNA expression library with P-labeled human IRS-1 protein and cloned cDNAs that were very likely to be generated by alternative splicing of p85α gene products. These cDNAs were demonstrated to encode a 55-kDa protein (p55α) containing two SH2 domains and an inter-SH2 domain of p85α but neither a bcr domain nor a SH3 homology domain. Interestingly, p55α contains a unique 34-amino acid sequence at its NH terminus, which is not included in the p85α amino acid sequence. This 34-amino acid portion was revealed to be comparable with p55PIK (p55) in length, with a high homology between the two, suggesting that these NH-terminal domains of p55α and p55 may have a specific role that p85 does not. The expression of p55α mRNA is most abundant in the brain, but expression is ubiquitous in most rat tissues. Furthermore, it should be noted that the expression of p85α mRNA in muscle is almost undetectably low by Northern blotting with a cDNA probe coding for the p85α SH3 domain, while the expression of p55α can be readily detected. These results suggest that p55α may play an unique regulatory role for phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in brain and muscle.
Overview of Celiac Disease : Differences Between Children and Adults

INTRODUCTION Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated enteropathy caused by a permanent sensitivity to gluten in genetically susceptible individuals. It presents as symptomatic subjects with gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal symptoms, as well as subjects without specific CD symptoms that are affected by type I diabetes, Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, Williams syndrome, selective IgA deficiency, and first degree relatives of individuals with CD (1). Although the classic patient with malnutrition and a distended abdomen is readily diagnosed, it is becoming increasingly evident that symptomatic CD patients represent just the tip of the celiac iceberg (Figure 1). Affecting 1% of the general population in the United States, including children, untreated CD poses long-term adverse health consequences including osteoporosis, anemia, poor growth, increased risk of autoimmune conditions and intestinal lymphoma (2). This review describes the epidemiology, pathophysiology, associated conditions, and treatment of CD, with an emphasis on aspects specific to the pediatric population. CLINICAL FEATURES AND EPIDEMIOLOGY OF CELIAC DISEASE Once thought to be a rare childhood disorder characterized by malabsorption, abdominal distension, lethargy, and failure to thrive, celiac disease is a prevalent (~1/100) food hypersensitivity disorder caused by inflammation induced by ingestion of gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and other grains (3). This classic presentation makes for an easy diagnosis but in many patients the disease can be clinically silent or have predominant extra-intestinal manifestations (4). Clinical presentation depends on age, sensitivity to gluten, gluten load, and other undetermined factors. Increased awareness and widespread serologic evaluation has resulted in a shift in the presentation of celiac patients (5). A multitude of signs and symptoms have been ascribed to celiac disease (Table 1). Weight loss and diarrhea are not present in the majority of patients. A significant lag between onset of symptoms and diagnosis can exist because the overall onset of symptoms is gradual (6). Occasionally, a triggering event such as gastroenteritis, travel, stress or a change in diet can be identified. Frequently, non-specific, constitutional symptoms such as fatigue, lethargy, headache, poor appetite, and depression are concomitantly reported (7). Commonly, patients present with symptoms of bloating, abdominal pain, altered bowel habits and have been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. Patients satisfying the Rome II criteria for irritable bowel syndrome have a 5% risk for having undiagnosed celiac disease as the cause of their symptoms (8). CELIAC DISEASE: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW AND UPDATE, SERIES #1
Donepezil‐induced sleep spindle in a patient with dementia with Lewy bodies: a case report

Here, we report a case of rapid eye movement sleep behavioural disorder in an elderly patient with dementia with Lewy bodies. Pretreatment polysomnography revealed atonia during rapid eye movement sleep, absence of sleep spindles and loss of slow‐wave sleep. Administration of donepezil, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, markedly improved delusional symptoms and cognitive function. Pretreatment polysomnography performed after donepezil administration revealed a considerable number of sleep spindles. The effects of cholinergic modulation induced by donepezil seemed to cause remarkable improvement in mental status, incorporating associated with sleep spindles generated by the thalamocortical circuit involved in this patient.
The gender gap in math performance , self-concept , and anxiety : rural and urban China in an international context

Evidence from developed countries shows that there is a significant gender gap in STEM occupations. Girls may begin to underperform in math early as primary school. One possible explanation is the negative stereotype threat towards girls. However, this has been understudied in rural China. In this paper, we describe the math performance gender gap in rural China, compare the gender gap between rural and urban China, and finally compare the Chinese situation with other countries. We further examine possible explanations for the math performance gender gap from comparative perspectives. Using first hand datasets of 3,789 primary students and 12,702 junior high students in northwest China, combing with OECD 2012 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) survey data, we find that in both rural and urban China, boys outperform girls in math. As students grow older, the gap widens. The size of the gender gap in rural China is larger than that in urban China, and larger than in many other countries. We further find that both the gender gaps in math self-concept and math anxiety and discriminatory family investment towards girls are not sufficient to explain the wide math performance gaps. Our study suggests the inequality of education in rural China still merits concern and calls for further work to explain the observed gender gap in math performance.
Exon‐Specific U1s Correct SPINK5 Exon 11 Skipping Caused by a Synonymous Substitution that Affects a Bifunctional Splicing Regulatory Element

The c.891C>T synonymous transition in SPINK5 induces exon 11 (E11) skipping and causes Netherton syndrome (NS). Using a specific RNA–protein interaction assay followed by mass spectrometry analysis along with silencing and overexpression of splicing factors, we showed that this mutation affects an exonic bifunctional splicing regulatory element composed by two partially overlapping silencer and enhancer sequences, recognized by hnRNPA1 and Tra2β splicing factors, respectively. The C‐to‐T substitution concomitantly increases hnRNPA1 and weakens Tra2β‐binding sites, leading to pathological E11 skipping. In hybrid minigenes, exon‐specific U1 small nuclear RNAs (ExSpe U1s) that target by complementarity intronic sequences downstream of the donor splice site rescued the E11 skipping defect caused by the c.891C>T mutation. ExSpe U1 lentiviral‐mediated transduction of primary NS keratinocytes from a patient bearing the mutation recovered the correct full‐length SPINK5 mRNA and the corresponding functional lympho‐epithelial Kazal‐type related inhibitor protein in a dose‐dependent manner. This study documents the reliability of a mutation‐specific, ExSpe U1‐based, splicing therapy for a relatively large subset of European NS patients. Usage of ExSpe U1 may represent a general approach for correction of splicing defects affecting skin disease genes.
Rectosigmoid pHi monitoring during experimental necrotizing enterocolitis.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE Gastric or rectosigmoid intramural pH (pHi) is considered a reliable indicator of splanchnic perfusion. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether rectosigmoid pHi reflects the severity of bowel damage in experimental necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). METHODS A total of 36 neonatal piglets, (median age, 3; range, 1 to 11 days; median weight, 2.5; range, 1.2 to 3.8 kg), were anesthetized, ventilated mechanically, and had invasive monitoring of hemodynamics. A sigmoid tonometer was inserted into the rectosigmoid colon. Enterocolitis was induced in 27 piglets by intraluminal injection of casein-d-gluconate (16.0 mL/kg) into terminal 100 cm of the ileum. Nine control piglets received an equal amount of intraluminal saline. NEC was graded macroscopically as follows: 0, no changes; 1, mild; 2, moderate; and 3, severe. Histology was evaluated according to Chiu scale from 0 to 5. RESULTS The macroscopical bowel injury in caseine-injected piglets was as follows: grade 3 (n = 6), grade 2 (n = 9), grade 1 (n = 12). All control piglets showed macroscopically normal bowel (grade 0). All affected bowels showed histologic changes (Chiu's scale 2 to 4). All study animals had an initial drop of pHi after injection of casein or saline. In control piglets and those with mild NEC (grade 1) pHi tended to return to preinjection level. In animals with moderate or severe NEC (grade 2 to 3) the initial drop was deeper and the pHi continued to decrease significantly throughout the experiment (P < .05). In the arterial pH and mean blood pressure there were no statistically significant differences between piglets with no NEC and mild NEC, and these with moderate or severe NEC. CONCLUSION Drop in rectosigmoid pHi was the most sensitive and earliest sign of severe mucosal necrosis of ileum in this experimental NEC model.