Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic strategy for lower limb lymphedema and lymphatic fistula after resection of a malignant tumor in the hip joint region: A case report

Lymphatic fistula complicating lymphedema is thought to occur due to communication between lymph vessels and the skin, which has yet to be shown objectively. The objective of this case report is to show the pathology and treatment using simultaneous lymphatic fistula resection and lymphatico‐venous anastomosis (LVA). A 40‐year‐old woman underwent extended resection and total hip arthroplasty for primitive neuroectodermal tumor in the right proximal femur 23 years ago. Right lower limb lymphedema developed immediately after surgery and lymphatic fistula appeared in the posterior thigh. On ICG lymphography, lymph reflux toward the distal side dispersing in a fan‐shape reticular pattern from the lymphatic fistula region was noted after intracutaneous injection of ICG into the foot. We performed simultaneous lymphatic fistula resection and of LVA. Pathological examination showed that the epidermis and stratum corneum of the healthy skin were lost in the lymphatic fistula region. Dilated lymph vessels were open in this region. The examinations provide the first objective evidence that the cause of lymphatic fistula may be lymph reflux from lymphatic stems to precollectors through lymphatic perforators. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 34:224–228, 2014.
Cimetropium Bromide in the Treatment of Crisis in Infantile Colic

Background Treatment of infantile colic remains an open issue. In Italy, cimetropium bromide is used extensively to treat infantile colic. The aim of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was to investigate the effectiveness and side effects of cimetropium bromide in the treatment of infants with colic crisis. Methods Ninety-seven infants with colic were enrolled. The diagnosis of infantile colic in healthy infants with regular growth, aged 15 to 60 days was made according to the criteria of Wessel. The infants were divided into two groups, one treated with cimetropium bromide (1.2 mg/kg) and the other treated with placebo at onset of each crisis for 3 days. Duration of crying and side effects were recorded daily in a structured diary for the 3 days of therapy. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square and t tests. Results Eighty-six infants completed the trial. The average duration of crying for each crisis was 17.3 ± 12.6 minutes in the cimetropium bromide group and 47.5 ± 28.5 minutes in the placebo group (P < 0.005). Response to cimetropium bromide was 74%. Response to placebo was 33% (P < 0.05). Side effects did not differ significantly between the two groups, except sleepiness, which increased in the infants treated with cimetropium bromide. Conclusion Cimetropium bromide was more effective than placebo in reducing the duration of crying in children with infantile colic. The use of the anticholinergic drugs, aside from the dicyclomine because of its dangerous side effects, should be revaluated for treating infantile colic.
Assessment of the knowledge of GPS considering the surgical treatment of obesity.

UNLABELLED Bariatric surgery is currently the only effective treatment option for morbidly obese patients. There has been observed a considerable disproportion between the number of procedures conducted in Poland and the number of patients requiring such treatment. There are no studies assessing bariatric knowledge among general practitioners who play crucial role in polish health care system. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge of general practitioners regarding bariatric surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS An anonymous questionnaire conducted among 282 general practitioners in 2010-2011 during local educational conferences. The questionnaire consisted of 10 questions relating to fundamental issues of bariatric surgery. RESULTS Only one twelfth (8.1%) of the general practitioners questioned knows the indications for bariatric surgery, can apply them, and has epidemiological awareness. 61.5% of general practitioners know the surgical procedures used for the treatment of obesity, whereas 58% of them show the knowledge of surgical technique in which they are performed. Only 23% of general practitioners were aware that bariatric surgery decreases cancer risk. 92% of the participants noticed a necessity of education regarding the surgical treatment of obesity. CONCLUSIONS Bariatric knowledge among general practitioners is not adequate to scientific research results published during the last years. Most general practitioners who participated in our study are aware of that and are awaiting for educational programmes focused on this issue.
Design of wheel modules for non-holonomic, omnidirectional mobile robots in context of the emerging control problems

In the future, service robots will work in various applications in domestic, public and industrial environments, for example as household assistants or for inspection tasks in production plants. To fulfil complex tasks in natural surroundings these robots will need a high manoeuvrability and flexibility. In order to allow robot platforms to robustly navigate in narrow environments, highly integrated flexible drive modules are necessary together with a control concept that ensures a high manoeuvrability and allows intuitive steering. This paper discusses the design guidelines, advantages and draw-backs of the proposed wheel modules in context with the arising control problem. An overview on the different concepts is provided together with a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the proposed system.
Increase in production of matrix metalloproteinase 13 by human articular chondrocytes due to stimulation with S100A4: Role of the receptor for advanced glycation end products.

OBJECTIVE S100 proteins have been implicated in various inflammatory conditions, including arthritis. The aims of this study were to determine whether chondrocytes produce S100A4 and whether S100A4 can stimulate the production of matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13) by articular chondrocytes via receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE)-mediated signaling. METHODS The expression of chondrocyte S100A4 was analyzed by immunohistochemistry using normal and osteoarthritic (OA) cartilage and by immunoblotting of chondrocyte cell lysates. RAGE signaling was examined by stimulating chondrocytes with S100A4 and monitoring for the activation of MAP kinases and NF-kappaB. Production of MMP-13 was determined in the conditioned medium. A pulldown assay using biotin-labeled S100A4 was used to demonstrate binding to RAGE. RESULTS S100A4 expression was detected in human articular chondrocytes by immunoblotting and appeared to increase in the cell lysates from OA tissue. Marked positive immunostaining for S100A4 was also noted in sections of human cartilage with changes due to OA. Stimulation of chondrocytes with S100A4 increased the phosphorylation of Pyk-2, MAP kinases, and activated NF-kappaB, followed by increased production of MMP-13 in the conditioned medium. This signaling was inhibited in cells pretreated with soluble RAGE, advanced glycation end product-bovine serum albumin, or the antioxidant Mn(III)tetrakis (4-benzoic acid) porphyrin, or by overexpression of a dominant-negative RAGE construct. A pulldown assay showed that S100A4 binds to RAGE in chondrocytes. CONCLUSION This is the first study to demonstrate that S100A4 binds to RAGE and stimulates a RAGE-mediated signaling cascade, leading to increased production of MMP-13. Since both S100A4 and RAGE are up-regulated in OA cartilage, this signaling pathway could contribute to cartilage degradation in OA.
Longitudinal Tracking of Cytokines after Acute Exposure to Tuberculosis: Association of Distinct Cytokine Patterns with Protection and Disease Development

ABSTRACT Household contacts (HCs) of patients with tuberculosis (TB) are at higher risk of infection as well as the development of active disease. Longitudinal tracking of antigen-specific cytokines after acute exposure may significantly advance our understanding of the dynamic changes in cytokine patterns associated with disease establishment. To achieve this objective, we carried out a prospective cohort study with healthy HCs after exposure to TB. The patterns of cytokines (gamma interferon [IFN-γ] and interleukin 10 [IL-10]) in response to mycobacterial antigens (culture filtrate [CF] proteins) and nonspecific mitogens (phytohemagglutinin [PHA] and lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) were assessed at 0, 6, 12, and 24 months after exposure. Seven of 109 (6.4%) HCs developed active disease. Six of the seven individuals were females, and active disease developed between 12 and 15 months after exposure in 5/20 families. The most significant findings were the exponential increases (∼1,000-fold) in both the CF protein- and the PHA- or LPS-induced IFN-γ/IL-10 ratio in healthy HCs (n = 26), which peaked at 12 months, compared to the levels in HCs who developed disease (n = 7), in whom relatively flat responses were observed during the 24-month period. Linear trends for 0 to 12 and 0 to 24 months for the CF protein-induced IFN-γ/IL-10 ratio showed significant differences between the two groups, as determined by the use of the Mantel extension test for χ2 analysis (odds ratio = 0.45; 95% confidence interval = 0.295 to 0.685; P = 0.0002). Our results strongly suggest that the magnitude of the IFN-γ/IL-10 ratio at 12 months after exposure may be a critical determinant in the resolution of infection. These studies provide new insights into the cytokine responses associated with disease establishment or the resolution of infection after natural exposure to TB and have implications for TB control programs as well vaccine efficacy studies.
Phenotypic and functional characterization of human T lymphocytes expressing a gamma/delta T cell antigen receptor.

Most mature T lymphocytes express CD3-associated antigen receptor molecules (TCR) formed by alpha and beta chains. Recently, a minor subset has been identified that express a different CD3-associated TCR composed of gamma and delta chains. The cell subset expressing TCR gamma/delta differs from conventional T cells in a number of phenotypic and functional characteristics. The simultaneous lack of both CD4 and CD8 antigens at the cell surface allows one to greatly enrich for TCR gamma/delta + cells (by monoclonal antibodies, mAbs and complement). Cloning of CD4-8- peripheral blood lymphocytes revealed that they are homogeneously composed of cytolytic cells which, in most instances, lyse tumor target cells. TCR gamma/delta + cells proliferated in response to allogeneic cells in mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) and MLC-derived TCR gamma/delta + cells specifically lysed PHA-induced blast cells bearing the stimulating alloantigens, thus providing the formal proof that they recognize (allo)antigens. The use of different mAbs specific for TCR gamma/delta molecules allowed us to identify two distinct subsets which bound BB3 and delta-TCS-1 mAbs, respectively. The BB3-reactive molecules in peripheral blood-derived TCR gamma/delta + cells were represented by C gamma 1-encoded disulphide-linked heterodimers, whereas delta-TCS-1 reacted with C gamma 2-encoded non disulphide-linked molecules. Both BB3 and delta-TCS-1 mAb induced activation of cloned cells expressing the corresponding antigenic determinants (as assessed by measurements of intracellular Ca++ and/or lymphokine production or cytolytic activity). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Can you simultaneously represent a figure as both an object and an open contour? Hybrid shape representations revealed by the "tap-the-shape" task.

Some figures are irresistibly seen as complete objects. Others are represented as mere collections of line segments. How does the visual system represent figures in between these extremes - say, when part of a figure strongly suggests a complete object, while another part strongly suggests an open contour? More generally, how do we represent figures that are ambiguous or underdetermined with regard to 'shapehood'? We explored these questions using the "tap-the-shape" task, which reveals the so-called "skeletons" (internal symmetry-defined geometric structures) that underlie human shape representation: when a subject is shown a shape on a touch-sensitive tablet computer and is instructed simply to tap the shape once anywhere they please, the aggregated taps from hundreds of observers collectively form that shape's skeleton (Firestone & Scholl, 2014, Psychological Science). Here we exploit this striking phenomenon to ask a more fundamental question: what is a shape in the first place? Across several experiments, we showed thousands of observers ambiguous or incomplete shapes, and asked them to tap "inside" those figures (with one tap and one shape per subject). Remarkably, ambiguous figures - e.g. a rectangle with one missing edge - were represented in a hybrid manner: touches near the 'inside' edge formed clear skeletal branches, while touches near the open edge devolved into noise. We also tested 'open' figures that were ambiguous between multiple complete interpretations. For example, a trapezoid missing its top edge - which can be seen as either a trapezoid or a triangle - was tapped as though it had both the shape skeleton of a triangle and the shape skeleton of a trapezoid. We discuss the significance of these apparent hybrid representations for theories of shape, and for use of the "tap-the-shape" method to study previously stubborn questions about visual representations. Meeting abstract presented at VSS 2015.
Services: a future of low productivity growth?

The question is so common lately, it has become trite: "Is America turning into a nation of hamburger flippers? " The cause for concern is a potentially disturbing pair of trends. First, employment in the United States increasingly has shifted away from manufacturing toward services. In 1963 manufacturing accounted for 30 percent of all jobs, but in 1991 that share had fallen to less than 17 percent.
The Equity Ownership Structure of Thai Firms

This paper examines the ownership structure of listed Thai firms in 1996. The ownership structure is concentrated. In 82.59 percent of the firms in the sample, the largest shareholders are also controlling shareholders. The controlling shareholders are mainly families. Foreign investors form the second largest group of controlling shareholders. More of the controlling shareholders use a simple ownership pattern to control the firms. Only in 21.27 percent of the firms, the controlling shareholders employ pyramid structures, and cross-ownership structures to control the firms. The controlling shareholders do not just control the votes. In approximately 70 percent of the firms in the sample, the controlling shareholders are involved in the firms' management as officers and directors.
Genome Sequence of the Haloalkaliphilic Methanotrophic Bacterium Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum 20Z

ABSTRACT Methylomicrobium strains are widespread in saline environments. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum 20Z, a haloalkaliphilic methanotrophic bacterium, which will provide the basis for detailed characterization of the core pathways of both single-carbon metabolism and responses to osmotic and high-pH stresses. Final assembly of the genome sequence revealed that this bacterium contains a 128-kb plasmid, making M. alcaliphilum 20Z the first methanotrophic bacterium of known genome sequence for which a plasmid has been reported.
A review of epigenetic and gene expression alterations associated with intracranial meningiomas.

OBJECT A more comprehensive understanding of the epigenetic abnormalities associated with meningioma tumorigenesis, growth, and invasion may provide useful targets for molecular classification and development of targeted therapies for meningiomas. METHODS The authors performed a review of the current literature to identify the epigenetic modifications associated with the formation and/or progression of meningiomas. RESULTS Several epigenomic alterations, mainly pertaining to DNA methylation, have been associated with meningiomas. Hypermethylation of TIMP3 inactivates its tumor suppression activity while CDKN2 (p14[ARF]) and TP73 gene hypermethylation and HIST1H1c upregulation interact with the p53 regulation of cell cycle control. Other factors such as HOX, IGF, WNK2, and TGF-β epigenetic modifications allow either upregulation or downregulation of critical pathways for meningioma development, progression, and recurrence. CONCLUSIONS Genome-wide methylation profiling demonstrated that global hypomethylation correlates with tumor grades and severity. Identification of additional epigenetic changes, such as histone modification and higher-order chromosomal structure, may allow for a more thorough understanding of tumorigenesis and enable future individualized treatment strategies for meningiomas.
Medial tibial stress syndrome due to methotrexate osteopathy

Methotrexate (MTX) is a folate antagonist with well known side effects, which mainly include haematological and hepatic adverse events, and less frequently lung or bone toxicities. The use of MTX in high doses has been associated with an osteopathy, which is characterised by severe bone pain, osteoporosis, and insufficiency fractures of the legs.1 We present two patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who developed medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) while taking low dose MTX. The first patient, a 69 year old woman, had a history of RA diagnosed in 2001.2 After 1 year’s treatment with MTX (10 mg/week), she reported a 1 month history of severe pain in the medial part of the left tibia. The pain had an acute onset, prevented her from walking, and was relieved by …
Perspectives on Quality Enhanced capture of healthcare-related harms and injuries in the 11 th revision of the International Classi fi cation of Diseases ( ICD-11 )

The World Health Organization (WHO) plans to submit the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) to the World Health Assembly in 2018. The WHO is working toward a revised classification system that has an enhanced ability to capture health concepts in a manner that reflects current scientific evidence and that is compatiblewith contemporary information systems. In this paper, we present recommendations made to the WHO by the ICD revision’s Quality and Safety Topic Advisory Group (Q&S TAG) for a new conceptual approach to capturing healthcare-related harms and injuries in ICD-coded data. The Q&S TAG has grouped causes of healthcare-related harm and injuries into four categories that relate to the source of the event: (a) medications and substances, (b) procedures, (c) devices and (d) other aspects of care. Under the proposed multiple coding approach, one of these sources of harm must be coded as part of a cluster of three codes to depict, respectively, a healthcare activity as a ‘source’ of harm, a ‘mode ormechanism’ of harm and a International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 2016, 28(1), 136–142 doi: 10.1093/intqhc/mzv099 Advance Access Publication Date: 11 December 2015 Perspectives on Quality © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press in association with the International Society for Quality in Health Care; all rights reserved 136 by gest on M arch 1, 2016 D ow nladed fom consequence of the event summarized by these codes (i.e. injury or harm). Use of this framework depends on the implementation of a new and potentially powerful code-clustering mechanism in ICD-11. This new framework for coding healthcare-related harm has great potential to improve the clinical detail of adverse event descriptions, and the overall quality of coded health data.
Weight loss and African–American women: a systematic review of the behavioural weight loss intervention literature

The excess burden of obesity among African–American women is well documented. However, the behavioural weight loss intervention literature often does not report results by ethnic group or gender. The purpose of this article is to conduct a systematic review of all behavioural weight loss intervention trials published between 1990 and 2010 that included and reported results separately for African–American women. The criteria for inclusion included (i) participants age ≥18 years; (ii) a behavioural weight loss intervention; (iii) weight as an outcome variable; (iv) inclusion of African–American women; and (v) weight loss results reported separately by ethnicity and gender. The literature search identified 25 studies that met inclusion criteria. Our findings suggest that more intensive randomized behavioural weight loss trials with medically at‐risk populations yield better results. Well‐designed and more intensive multi‐site trials with medically at‐risk populations currently offer the most promising results for African–American women. Still, African–American women lose less weight than other subgroups in behavioural weight loss interventions. It is now critical to expand on individual‐level approaches and incorporate the biological, social and environmental factors that influence obesity. This will help enable the adoption of healthier behaviours for this group of women disproportionately affected by obesity.
A Method for the Mass Isolation of Islets From the Adult Pig Pancreas

A method for mass isolation of islets from the pig pancreas is described. The procedure involves the use of an enzymatic and mechanical pancreatic digestion procedure followed by filtration and separation of the islets on Ficoll gradients. A remarkably high yield of purified islets has been obtained from the pig pancreas with this procedure. The islets are morphologically intact and respond to acute stimulation with glucose in Vitro.
VPAC2 Receptors Mediate Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide-Induced Neuroprotection against Neonatal Excitotoxic Brain Lesions in Mice

Prepro-vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) mRNA codes for two neuropeptides: VIP and peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI). Two VIP receptors, shared with a similar affinity by pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), have been cloned: VPAC1 and VPAC2. PHI binds to these receptors with a lower affinity. VPAC receptors are classically associated with a cAMP-dependent pathway, although other pathways, including calcium mobilization and protein kinase C activation have been described. We previously showed that intracerebral administration of the glutamate agonist ibotenate to postnatal day 5 mice induces white matter lesions mimicking human periventricular leukomalacia. In this model, coinjection of VIP protects against white matter lesions. This neuroprotection is independent from cAMP and is mediated by protein kinase C. Using this model, this study aimed to determine the receptor involved in VIP-induced neuroprotection. VIP effects were mimicked with a similar potency by VPAC2 agonists and PHI but not by VPAC1 agonists, PACAP 27, or PACAP 38. VIP neuroprotective effects were lost in mice lacking VPAC2 receptor. In situ hybridization confirmed the presence of VPAC2 mRNA in the postnatal day 5 white matter. When analyzed between embryonic life and adulthood, VIP-specific binding site density peaked at postnatal day 5. These data suggest that, in this model, VIP-induced neuroprotection is mediated by VPAC2 receptors. The pharmacology of this VPAC2 receptor seems unconventional because 1) PACAP does not mimic VIP effects, 2) PHI acts with a comparable potency, and 3) PACAP 27 modestly inhibited the VIP-specific binding, whereas for PHI or VIP, inhibition was complete.