Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors Involved in the Decision to Perform a Selective Versus Nonselective Fusion of Lenke 1B and 1C (King-Moe II) Curves in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Study Design. A retrospective evaluation of 203 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients with Lenke 1B or 1C (King-Moe II) type curves. Objectives. To evaluate the incidence of inclusion of the lumbar curve in the treatment of this type of deformity as well as radiographic factors associated with lumbar curve fusion. Summary of Background Data. In patients with structural thoracic curves and compensatory lumbar curves, many authors have recommended fusing only the thoracic curve (selective thoracic fusion). Studies have shown that correction of the thoracic curve results in spontaneous correction of the unfused lumbar curve; however, in some cases, truncal decompensation develops. Though there have been various attempts to define more accurately what type of curve pattern should undergo selective fusion, controversy continues in this area. Methods. Measurements were obtained from the preoperative standing posteroanterior and side-bending radiographs of 203 patients with Lenke Type 1B or 1C curves from five sites of the DePuy AcroMed Harms Study Group. Patients were divided into two groups depending on their most distal vertebra instrumented: the “selective thoracic fusion” group included patients who were fused to L1 or above and the “nonselective fusion” group included patients fused to L2 or below. A statistical comparison was conducted to identify variables associated with the choice for a nonselective fusion. Results. The incidence of fusion of the lumbar curve ranged from 6% to 33% at the different patient care sites. Factors associated with nonselective fusion included larger preoperative lumbar curve magnitude (42 ± 10°vs. 37 ± 7°, P < 0.01), greater displacement of the lumbar apical vertebra from the central sacral vertical line, (3.1 ± 1.4 cm vs. 2.2 ± 0.8 cm, P < 0.01), and a smaller thoracic to lumbar curve magnitude ratio (1.31 ± 0.29 vs. 1.44 ± 0.30, P = 0.01). Conclusions. The characteristics of the compensatory “nonstructural” lumbar curve played a significant role in the surgical decision-making process and varied substantially among members of the study group. Side-bending correction of the lumbar curve to <25° (defining these as Lenke 1, nonstructural lumbar curves) was not sufficientcriteria to perform a selective fusion in some of these cases. The substantial variation in the frequency of fusing the lumbar curve (6% to 33%) confirms that controversy remains about when surgeons feel the lumbar curve can be spared in Lenke 1B and 1C curves. Site-specific analysis revealed that the radiographic features significantly associated with a selective fusion varied according to the site at which the patient was treated. The rate of selective fusion was 92% for the 1B type curves compared to 68% for the 1C curves.
Cyclic stretch induces the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in vascular smooth muscle cells.

OBJECTIVE Accumulating evidence links the release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) to normal endothelial cell (EC) function, repair and maintenance. Using an in vitro model we investigate the role of cyclic stretch on both the release of VEGF by VSMC and the phosphorylation of a VEGF receptor on EC. METHODS Bovine VSMC and EC were exposed to 10% cyclic strain for 4 hours. VEGF mRNA steady-state levels of VSMC were analysed by northern blot hybridisation. The presence of secreted VEGF from VSMC was determined by assaying the migration of EC. VEGF receptor phosphorylation on stretched EC was assayed by immunoblotting. RESULTS The steady-state level of VEGF mRNA in stretched VSMC increased 3.3 (+/- 0.6) fold above that of unstretched VSMC (p < 0.005). Migration of EC was stimulated 8.3 (+/- 1.1) and 14.6 (+/- 1.3) fold by media from unstretched and stretched VSMC respectively, demonstrating a 1.8 fold increase due to stretch alone (p < 0.05). Cyclic stretch resulted in phosphorylation of the VEGF receptor KDR. CONCLUSION Exposure of VSMC to physiological levels of stretch induces a biologically significant increase in VEGF secretion and may provide an arterial stimulus for maintenance of steady state levels of VEGF essential for EC survival.
Monitoring nitric oxide (NO) in rat locus coeruleus: differential effects of NO synthase inhibitors

A porphyrinic microsensor combined with in vivo voltammetry was used to monitor extracellular nitric oxide (NO) in the locus coeruleus (LC) of anaesthetized rats. Administration of Nω-nitro-L-arginine p-nitroanilide (100 mg/kg, i.p) or 7-nitro indazole (30 mg/kg, i.p.), which both inhibit preferentially neuronal NO synthase (NOS), induced a marked decrease in the NO oxidation peak height. On the other hand, Nw-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (200 mg/kg, i.p.), a less selective NOS inhibitor, failed to decrease the NO signal. Moreover, intra LC administration of NMDA, known to activate LC noradrenergic neurones, increased the NO signal. This study demonstrates the usefulness of in vivo voltammetry to monitor basal levels of NO and their changes in the LC. Differential effects of NOS inhibitors show that their central activity need to be assessed through in situ measurement of NO before using these inhibitors as neuropharmacological tools.
CpG Methylation Controls Reactivation of HIV from Latency

DNA methylation of retroviral promoters and enhancers localized in the provirus 5′ long terminal repeat (LTR) is considered to be a mechanism of transcriptional suppression that allows retroviruses to evade host immune responses and antiretroviral drugs. However, the role of DNA methylation in the control of HIV-1 latency has never been unambiguously demonstrated, in contrast to the apparent importance of transcriptional interference and chromatin structure, and has never been studied in HIV-1-infected patients. Here, we show in an in vitro model of reactivable latency and in a latent reservoir of HIV-1-infected patients that CpG methylation of the HIV-1 5′ LTR is an additional epigenetic restriction mechanism, which controls resistance of latent HIV-1 to reactivation signals and thus determines the stability of the HIV-1 latency. CpG methylation acts as a late event during establishment of HIV-1 latency and is not required for the initial provirus silencing. Indeed, the latent reservoir of some aviremic patients contained high proportions of the non-methylated 5′ LTR. The latency controlled solely by transcriptional interference and by chromatin-dependent mechanisms in the absence of significant promoter DNA methylation tends to be leaky and easily reactivable. In the latent reservoir of HIV-1-infected individuals without detectable plasma viremia, we found HIV-1 promoters and enhancers to be hypermethylated and resistant to reactivation, as opposed to the hypomethylated 5′ LTR in viremic patients. However, even dense methylation of the HIV-1 5′LTR did not confer complete resistance to reactivation of latent HIV-1 with some histone deacetylase inhibitors, protein kinase C agonists, TNF-α, and their combinations with 5-aza-2deoxycytidine: the densely methylated HIV-1 promoter was most efficiently reactivated in virtual absence of T cell activation by suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid. Tight but incomplete control of HIV-1 latency by CpG methylation might have important implications for strategies aimed at eradicating HIV-1 infection.
Acoustic Neuroma: Predominance of Antoni Type B Cells in Tumors of Patients With Vestibular Paresis

Objective This study aimed to investigate whether in patients with acoustic neuroma (AN), the presence or absence of vestibular symptoms is related to the histologic characteristics of the tumor. Study Design The study design was a retrospective clinical study. Setting The study was conducted at a tertiary referral center. Patients A group of eight patients with unilateral AN and normal vestibular function was compared with a group of AN patients, matched for tumor size, with vestibular paresis. Methods The methods were vestibular examination of the patients and morphometric analysis of the histologic specimens of their tumors. Main Outcome Measures The outcomes were measured by vestibular function and by the relative quantity of Antoni type A or type B cell tissue. Results The tumors of patients with vestibular paresis appeared to contain significantly more Antoni B cells and fewer Antoni A cells than did the tumors of patients with normal vestibular function. Conclusions Besides morphologic differences, type B cells may display a distinct behavior compared with type A cells. Presumably, in AN patients the development of a vestibular paresis appears to be related to the biologic activity of type B cells in the tumor.
Imprinted Gene mRNA Expression during Porcine Peri-implantation Development

Imprinted genes are essential for fetal development, growth regulation, and postnatal behavior. However, little is known about imprinted genes in livestock. We hypothesized that certain putatively imprinted genes affected normal peri-implantation development such as embryo elongation, initial placental development, and preparation of implantation. The objective of the present study was to investigate the mRNA expression patterns of several putatively imprinted genes during the porcine peri-implantation stages from day 6 to day 21 of gestation. Imprinted genes were selected both maternally (Dlk1, IGF2, Ndn, and Sgce) and paternally (IGF2r, H19, Gnas and Xist). Here, we report that the maternally imprinted gene IGF2 was expressed from day 6 (Blastocyst stage), but Dlk1, Ndn, and Sgce were not expressed in this stage. These genes were first expressed between days 12 and day 14. All the maternally imprinted genes studied showed significantly high expression patterns from day 18 of embryo development. In contrast, paternally imprinted genes IGF2r, H19, Gnas, and Xist were first expressed from day 6 of embryo development (BL). Our data demonstrated that the expression of H19 and Gnas genes was significantly increased from day 14 of the embryo developmental stage, while IGF2r and Xist only showed high expression after day 21. This study is the first to show that the putatively imprinted genes were stage-specific during porcine embryonic development. These results demonstrate that the genes studied may exert important effects on embryo implantation and fetal development.
Vapor Inhalation of Alcohol in Rats

Alcohol dependence constitutes a neuroadaptive state critical for understanding alcoholism, and various methods have been utilized to induce alcohol dependence in animals, one of which is alcohol vapor exposure. Alcohol vapor inhalation provides certain advantages over other chronic alcohol exposure procedures that share the ultimate goal of producing alcohol dependence in rats. Chronic alcohol vapor inhalation allows the experimenter to control the dose, duration, and pattern of alcohol exposure. Also, this procedure facilitates testing of somatic and motivational aspects of alcohol dependence. Chronic exposure to alcohol vapor produces increases in alcohol‐drinking behavior, increases in anxiety‐like behavior, and reward deficits in rats. Alcohol vapor inhalation as a laboratory protocol is flexible, and the parameters of this procedure can be adjusted to accommodate the specific aims of different experiments. This unit describes the options available to investigators using this procedure for dependence induction, when different options are more or less appropriate, and the implications of each. Curr. Protoc. Neurosci. 44:9.29. 1‐9.29. 19. © 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Social consequences of multiple sclerosis (1): early pension and temporary unemployment—a historical prospective cohort study

Multiple sclerosis affects young and middle-aged people and often leads to physical and cognitive handicaps. There is a need for detailed knowledge of the social consequences of the disease. We aim here to describe the course of the working life and career of multiple sclerosis patients at the time of onset and thereafter, in terms of probability of early pension and income development. All 2538 patients with multiple sclerosis in Denmark with disease onset between 1980 and 1989, identified through the Danish MS-Registry, were included in this study. Twenty matched control persons per patient were randomly drawn from the civil registration system. Information on economic status was retrieved from Statistics Denmark. A survival analysis technique was used with onset as the starting point. We found that the probability of remaining without early pension was at 5 years 70% for patients and 97% for controls, and at 20 years 22% for patients and 86% for controls. Due to lower rates for early pension, gross income with time was lower in patients than controls. We conclude that multiple sclerosis seriously affects the economic life of multiple sclerosis patients, even within a few years of onset.
Current strategies in the diagnosis and management of chronic neutrophilic leukemia

Objective To review the implications for diagnosis, pathogenesis and potential for new therapeutic option for chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL). Data sources Data cited in this review were obtained mainly from PubMed and Medline from 1993 to 2013 and highly regarded older publications were also included. The terms “chronic neutrophilic leukemia” and “diagnosis” were used for the literature search. Study selection We identified, retrieved and reviewed the information on the clinical and laboratory features, the new genetic findings, prognosis and disease evolution and management of CNL. Results The discovery of high‐frequency granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor receptor (CSF3R) mutations in CNL identifies a new major diagnostic criterion, and lends more specificity to the World Health Organization (WHO) diagnostic criteria for CNL, which are variably applied in routine clinical practice. Conclusions In patients for whom the cause of neutrophilia is not easily discerned, the incorporation of CSF3R mutation testing can be a useful point‐of‐care diagnostic to evaluate the presence of a clonal myeloid disorder, as well as providing the potential for genetically informed therapy. The oncogenic CSF3R mutations are molecular markers of sensitivity to inhibitors of the SRC family‐TNK2 and JAK kinases and may provide a new avenue for therapy.
Association of Arterial Oxygen Tension During In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest With Return of Spontaneous Circulation and Survival

Background: Despite numerous advances in the delivery of resuscitative care, in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) continues to be associated with high morbidity and mortality. We sought to study the impact of arterial oxygen tension (Pao2) on return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and survival to discharge in patients with IHCA. Methods: The study population included 255 consecutive patients who underwent advanced cardiac life support–guided resuscitation from January 2012 to December 2013 for IHCA at an academic tertiary medical center. Of these patients, 167 underwent arterial blood gas testing at the time of the arrest. Baseline demographic, clinical, laboratory, and clinical outcome data were recorded. The primary outcome of interest was survival to hospital discharge. Secondary outcome of interest was presence of ROSC. Results: Of the 167 patients studied, Pao2 categorization included the following: Pao2 < 60 mm Hg (n = 38), Pao2 of 60-92 mm Hg (n = 44), Pao2 of 93 to 159 mm Hg (n = 43), Pao2 of 160 to 299 mm Hg (n = 24), and Pao2 ≥ 300 mm Hg (n = 18). Patients with higher Pao2 levels during the time of cardiac arrest were noted to have higher rates of hypertension and chronic kidney disease. Clinical presentation of IHCA, in particular, the initial rhythm, location of IHCA, and duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, was similar in all groups. Patients with higher Pao2 levels had higher platelet count, higher arterial pH, and lower arterial carbon dioxide tension (Pco 2). With respect to outcomes, patients with higher intra-arrest Pao2 levels had progressively higher rates of ROSC (58% vs 71% vs 72% vs 79% vs 100%, P = .021) and survival to discharge (16% vs 23% vs 30% vs 33% vs 56%, P = .031). In multivariate analysis, Pao2 ≥ 300 mm Hg was independently associated with higher survival to discharge (odds ratio 60.68; 95% confidence interval: 3.04-1210.28; P = .007; referent Pao2 < 60 mm Hg). Conclusion: Higher intra-arrest Pao2 is independently associated with higher rates of survival to discharge in adults with IHCA.
A novel analytical method for finger position regions on grasped object

An analytical approach is proposed for obtaining finger position regions of an object with a multi-fingered hand. First, a method to obtain which combination of the object edges is possible to be used for grasping, is given. Then, a graspable finger position region on a combination of edges is defined where the object can be held successfully. It is shown that the region is bounded by plural boundary hyperplanes. By combining these boundary hyperplanes, two propositions for exactly obtaining the graspable finger position region by using an analytical method, are proposed. Finally, numerical examples are performed to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Prescription noncompliance due to cost among adults with disabilities in the United States.

OBJECTIVES This study estimated national prevalence rates of medication noncompliance due to cost and resulting health problems among adults with disabilities. METHODS Analyses involved 25,805 respondents to the Disability Follow-Back Survey, a supplement to the 1994 and 1995 National Health Interview Surveys. RESULTS Findings showed that about 1.3 million adults with disabilities did not take their medications as prescribed because of cost, and more than half reported health problems as a result. Severe disability, poor health, low income, lack of insurance, and a high number of prescriptions increased the odds of being noncompliant as a result of cost. CONCLUSIONS Prescription noncompliance due to cost is a serious problem for many adults with chronic disease or disability. Most would not be helped by any of the current proposals to expand Medicare drug coverage.
Oxidants and antioxidants in human fertility

Oxidants are highly unstable molecules that attack every chemical substance they come into contact. Oxidants modify the macromolecules both structurally and functionally. Body has defense mechanisms against oxidants in the form of both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are a group of oxidants formed during oxygen metabolism. ROS appears to be involved in the pathogenesis of many human diseases. In reproductive medicine, ROS have both physiological and pathological role in male and female reproduction. Oxidative stress develops when the generation of ROS overwhelms the scavenging capacity of antioxidants. Oxidative stress causes damage to spermatozoa, oocyte and embryos. It appears to play a role in both natural and in vitro fertilization and pregnancy. The patients with oxidative stress may benefit from the strategies to reduce oxidative stress and treatment with antioxidants.
Reconfigurable Bandwidth Bandpass Filter With Enhanced Out-of-Band Rejection Using $\pi $ -Section-Loaded Ring Resonator

A novel ring resonator bandpass filter with reconfigurable bandwidth with central frequency at 2.4 GHz is demonstrated. Theoretical analysis for computing the resonant frequencies is shown, and the design approach of implementing <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\pi $ </tex-math></inline-formula>-section stubs connected to the ring to obtain the bandwidth reconfigurability is explained. The use of reconfigurable <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\pi $ </tex-math></inline-formula>-section allows the alteration of the stub’s effective width and therefore the filter’s bandwidth reconfigurability. p-i-n diodes are used as switching elements to achieve the narrowband/wideband response. Coupled line sections are used for suppressing the higher modes by generating out-of-band transmission zeros, resulting in a significantly enhanced out-of-band rejection. Measurements indicate that the 3-dB fractional bandwidth can be switched from 58.5% to 75% at a fixed center frequency of 2.4 GHz with an insertion loss better than 1.1 dB. Moreover, the −20-dB stopband performance is extended to <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$2. 7f_{0}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>.
Supplemental material Manuscript Title : Real-world eligibility for revascularization in acute stroke : a 12 year single center statistics

In the last year reporting of 5 positive endovascular thrombectomy trials lead to the publication of new American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ ASA) guidelines on the early management of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and a consensus statement from European societies. These new recommendations support the use of rapid intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) followed by endovascular treatment (EVT) in well-selected large vessel occlusive strokes. Implementation of these new guidelines in clinical practice depends on the proportion of patients eligible for this treatment and the organization of the regional health system. However, health systems need to adapt their resource use to the approximate number of revascularization-eligible patients, which also depends on selection criteria that may vary between guidelines, randomized controlled trials, and clinical practice. Whereas the AHA/ASA guidelines recommend a more focused approach, in some of the randomized controlled trial’s and especially in real-life clinical practice a more liberal approach has been applied. Independently of the approach chosen, stroke systems of care need estimations of the number of eligible patients for intravenous and endovascular revascularization based on realworld data. We aimed at providing such numbers from a consecutive series of patients with AIS admitted within more than 10 years to a comprehensive stroke center. We also tried to identify demographic and clinical variables in this population associated with IVT and EVT eligibility.
A 40 Gb/s clock and data recovery circuit in 0.18 /spl mu/m CMOS technology

A 40-Gb/s clock recovery circuit incorporates a quarter-rate phase detector and a multiphase LC oscillator to retime the data and demultiplex it into four 10 Gb/s outputs. Fabricated in 0.18 /spl mu/m CMOS technology, the circuit produces a clock jitter of 0.9 ps RMS and 9.67 ps peak-to-peak while consuming 144 mW.
Postoperative Pain After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Intraperitoneal Bupivacaine Versus Intravenous Pethidine

Pain is the most common complaint of patients on the first day after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). This clinical trial compared the effects of intraperitoneal (IP) bupivacaine and intravenous (IV) pethidine on this pain. Forty-eight patients who underwent LC were randomly assigned to 2 groups of IP bupivacaine and IV pethidine. Postoperative pain, oral analgesic consumption, peak expiratory flow rate, and presence of nausea or vomiting was recorded at baseline and 4, 8, and 24 hours after surgery. Patients who received IP bupivacaine showed a significantly lower pain score (P=0.022) and improved peak expiratory flow rate (P=0.006), and received lower doses of ibuprofen (P=0.003) within the first 24 hours after surgery. Likewise, the presence of nausea/vomiting was significantly lower in bupivacaine groups 1 and 4 hours after surgery (P=0.003 and 0.005, respectively). Our results indicate that IP instillation of bupivacaine is more beneficial than traditional IV pethidine for pain reduction after LC.