Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prolongation of Lidocaine Spinal Anesthesia with Phenylephrine

The effect of added phenylephrine on the duration of sensory analgesia during lidocaine spinal anesthesia was determined in 65 ASA class I-III patients randomly divided into three groups. Group 1 (n = 25) received 62.5 mg lidocaine in 7.5% glucose; group 2 (n = 21) received lidocaine with 2 mg phenylephrine; and group 3 (n = 19) received lidocaine with 5 mg phenylephrine. The level of analgesia to pin prick was assessed by an anesthesiologist unaware of the drug combination used. The mean ± SD cephalad level of analgesia did not differ among the groups. In group 1, the times for two- and for four-segment regression of the level of analgesia, and the time for regresson of analgesia to the T-12 dermatome, were 77 ± 19 (1 SD), 99 ± 24, and 109 ± 26 min, respectively. The corresponding values were 98 ± 25, 118 ± 27, and 130 ± 36 min in group 2 and 124 ± 32, 142 ± 31, and 162 ± 35 min in group 3. All the regression times in group 2 were significantly longer than those in group 1 (P < 0.05). All the regression times in group 3 were significantly longer than those in group 2 (P < 0.02). It is concluded that clinically useful prolongation of sensory analgesia may be obtained by addition of phenylephrine to lidocaine during spinal anesthesia.
Cataract Formation: A Possible Complication of Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy for Retinoblastoma

Purpose To delineate and discuss a not yet described possible ocular complication of selective intra-arterial chemotherapy (SIAC) for treatment of retinoblastoma. Methods A 23-month-old girl with a large unilateral retinoblastoma was treated with repeated SIAC using 5 mg melphalan between July 2010 and January 2012. Clinical course of tumor and further ocular changes after therapy and histopathologic findings are described. Results In total, 5 SIAC were performed over a time period of 18 months. After the last SIAC, diffuse dense cataract prevented further funduscopy. In addition, anterior chamber seeding was obvious, leading to the decision to enucleate the eye. Histopathologically, nearly complete regression of the main tumor mass with prominent calcifications, but vital tumor seeding in the vitreous, on the lens surface, on the ciliary body, and in the anterior chamber, was observed. Peculiar vacuolation of the lens epithelial cells, liquefaction of the subepithelial lens fibers, and diffuse small vacuoles within the lens were striking. Conclusions Repeated SIAC with melphalan may induce cataract formation, possibly as a toxic effect of the chemotherapeutic to the lens, maybe combined with radiation exposure during fluoroscopy. This ocular complication should be taken into consideration as a limitation of the number of feasible repeated treatments.
Control variation as a source of uncertainty: Single input case

This paper presents a theoretical framework and the control strategy for single input discrete-time stochastic systems for which the control variations increase state uncertainty (CVIU systems). This type of system model can be useful in many practical situations, such as in monetary policy problems, medicine and biology, and, in general, in problems for which a complete dynamic model is too complex to be feasible. The optimal control strategy for a single-input CVIU system associated with a convex cost functional is devised using dynamic programming and tools from nonsmooth analysis. Furthermore, this strategy points to a region in the state space in which the optimal action is of no variation, as expected from the cautionary nature of controlling underdetermined systems. In addition, a specific result for the case when the cost functional is differentiable is obtained and discussed. These results are illustrated through a numerical example in economics.
Learning Embeddings for Completion and Prediction of Relationnal Multivariate Time-Series

We focus on learning over multivariate and relational time-series where relations are modeled by a graph. We propose a model that is able to simultaneously ﬁll in missing values and predict future ones. This approach is based on representation learning techniques, where temporal data are represented in a latent vector space so as to capture the dynamicity of the process and also the relations between the diﬀerent sources. Information completion (missing values) and prediction are performed simultaneously using a unique formalism, whereas most often they are addressed separately using diﬀerent methods
Transforming Growth Factor-β Stimulates Parathyroid Hormone-related Protein and Osteolytic Metastases via Smad and Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathways*

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β promotes breast cancer metastasis to bone. To determine whether the osteolytic factor parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is the primary mediator of the tumor response to TGF-β, mice were inoculated with MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells expressing a constitutively active TGF-β type I receptor. Treatment of the mice with a PTHrP-neutralizing antibody greatly decreased osteolytic bone metastases. There were fewer osteoclasts and significantly decreased tumor area in the antibody-treated mice. TGF-β can signal through both Smad and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathways. Stable transfection of wild-type Smad2, Smad3, or Smad4 increased TGF-β-stimulated PTHrP secretion, whereas dominant-negative Smad2, Smad3, or Smad4 only partially reduced TGF-β-stimulated PTHrP secretion. When the cells were treated with a variety of protein kinases inhibitors, only specific inhibitors of the p38 MAP kinase pathway significantly reduced both basal and TGF-β-stimulated PTHrP production. The combination of Smad dominant-negative blockade and p38 MAP kinase inhibition resulted in complete inhibition of TGF-β-stimulated PTHrP production. Furthermore, TGF-β treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells resulted in a rapid phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase. Thus, the p38 MAP kinase pathway appears to be a major component of Smad-independent signaling by TGF-β and may provide a new molecular target for anti-osteolytic therapy.
TRACER PROPERTIES , AND TRACER TEST RESULTS ( FROM GEOTHERMAL RESERVOIR TESTING ) : PART 2

Two situations are described in which heat transport prediction in geothermal reservoirs can get misled by tracer-based estimations of transport parameters. In situation A, fracture densities derived from singlewell or inter-well tracer tests lead to an underestimation of reservoir lifetime. In situation B, fluid residence times derived from inter-well tracer tests lead to an overestimation of thermal breakthrough time. There are, on the other hand, (C) important aspects of reservoir behavior rendering tracer tests indispensable for its characterization. Issues A or B may occur simultaneously with C but do not necessarily impede upon its outcome.
The Effect of an Antimicrobial Formulary Change on Hospital Resistance Patterns

A university hospital formulary change that was designed to reduce the use of the third‐generation cephalosporins ceftazidime and cefotaxime and replace them with the so‐called “fourth‐generation” cephalosporin cefepime was evaluated. A retrospective review of antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance during two 6‐month periods before and after the formulary change was performed. All hospital patients with vancomycin‐resistant Enterococcus (VRE), ceftazidime‐resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP), methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), piperacillin‐resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PRPA), and ceftazidime‐resistant P. aeruginosa (CRPA) infections were included in the study. Ceftazidime use decreased from 9600 g to 99 g, and cefotaxime use decreased from 6314 g to 732 g, which represented a combined decrease of 89%. Use of cefepime increased from 0 g to 5396 g. Infections from CRKP decreased from 13% to 3%, PRPA infections decreased from 22% to 14%, and CRPA infections decreased from 25% to 15% (p<0.05 for all). Infections from MRSA dropped insignificantly, and VRE infections increased significantly. Substituting cefepime for ceftazidime and cefotaxime while reducing the overall use of cephalosporins appears to decrease rates of CRKP, PRPA, and CRPA.
Brief report: Risk factors for pneumococcal vaccine refusal in adults

AbstractBACKGROUND: Invasive pneumococcal disease is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Despite availability of an effective vaccine, many patients refuse vaccination. OBJECTIVE: To investigate patient characteristics and features of the patient-provider relationship associated with pneumococcal vaccine refusal. DESIGN: Case-control study using chart review. PATIENTS: Five hundred adults from the medical clinics of a 1,000-bed inner-city teaching hospital. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Independent risk factors for pneumococcal vaccine refusal included patient-provider gender discordance (odds ratio (OR)=2.09, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07 to 4.09); a visit to a not-usual provider at the time of vaccine offering (OR=2.26, 95% CI 1.13 to 4.49); never having received influenza vacination (OR=7.44, 95% CI 3.76 to 14.76); prior pneumococcal vaccine refusals (OR=3.45, 95% CI 1.60 to 7.43); and a history of ever having refused health maintenance tests (OR=2.86, 95% CI 1.40 to 5.84). CONCLUSIONS: We have identified both patient factors and factors related to the patient-provider relationship that are risk factors for pneumococcal vaccine refusal. By identifying patients at risk for pneumococcal vaccine refusal, efforts to increase vaccination rates can be better targeted.
Assessment of palmitoyl and sulphate conjugated glycol chitosan for development of polymeric micelles.

INTRODUCTION Amphiphilic copolymers are capable of forming core shell-like structures at the critical micellar concentration (CMC); hence, they can serve as drug carriers. Thus, in the present work, polymeric micelles based on novel chitosan derivative were synthesized. METHODS Block copolymer of palmitoyl glycol chitosan sulfate (PGCS) was prepared by grafting palmitoyl and sulfate groups serving as hydrophobic and hydrophilic fractions, respectively. Then, fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) and spectral changes in iodine/iodide mixture were carried out. RESULTS FTIR studies confirmed the formation of palmitoyl glycol chitosan sulfate (PGCS) and spectral changes in iodine/iodide mixture indicated CMC which lies in the range of 0.003-0.2 mg/ml. CONCLUSION Therefore, our study indicated that polymeric micelles based on palmitoyl glycol chitosan sulphate could be used as a prospective carrier for water insoluble drugs.
Increased Expression of Netrin-1 and Its Deleted in Colorectal Cancer Receptor in Human Diseased Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Compared With Autopsy Control

Study Design. The expression of netrin-1 and its deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) receptor was investigated in human lumbar discs using immunohistochemistry. Objective. To investigate the expression of netrin-1 and DCC receptor in human diseased and healthy lumbar intervertebral discs (IVDs) and to clarify the correlation between netrin-1 expression and the degree of neurovascular ingrowth. Summary of Background Data. Previous studies have shown neurovascular ingrowth into the inner regions of degenerated IVD and suggested that the ingrowth may contribute to discogenic low back pain. Netrin-1 is an axon guidance molecule that regulates axons seeking their final targets and has been identified as involved in various pathological conditions, so is its DCC receptor. However, the role of netrin-1 in diseased IVDs remains unknown. Methods. Thirty-five diseased IVD specimens were collected from 34 patients with different lumbar diseases during posterior lumbar interbody fusion. Eight normal discs were obtained at autopsy as control. Using polyclonal or monoclonal antibody, the disc slides were immmunostained to detect the expression and distribution of netrin-1, the DCC, the neuronal marker (neurofilament), and the vascular endothelial cell marker (CD34). Results. Netrin-1 and DCC immunopositive cells distributed substantially from the annulus fibrosus to the nucleus pulposus (NP), and the immunopositivity was detected in the disc cells, endothelial cells and granulation tissue cells in the diseased discs. The percentage of netrin-1 positive disc cells of the NP was more than that of the annulus fibrosus. The expression of netrin-1 and DCC was weak in the normal discs. A significant positive correlation between the percentage of netrin-1 immunopositive disc cells and neurovascular scores was found. Conclusion. The increased expression of netrin-1 and DCC in diseased IVDs compared with controls suggested that they might play an important role in the process of neurovascular ingrowth.
Cystic ovarian teratoma with intracystic fat balls

Cystic teratomas can produce a wide spectrum of sonographic appearances, which depends on their major content1. Teratomas may be predominantly cystic, of complex mass, or even of solid appearance if the intracystic fat tissue, epithelial debris and hairs are conglomerated and produce hyperechogenic features filling the entire cyst2. Many specific ultrasonographic appearances of cystic teratoma have been reported including the tip of the iceberg sign, fat–fluid level, dermoid mesh and Rokitansky’s protuberance (dermoid plug)3–6. We present a case of another distinct ultrasonographic feature, namely multiple, discrete, uniform globules floating within the cyst. On examination of the gross specimen these globules were fat balls composed of cheese-like sebum material and hairs. This unique finding was discovered when a 33-year-old woman presented with abdominal distension and discomfort that she had experienced for 1 year. Physical examination showed that her abdomen was slightly distended with a midline, tense cystic mass of about 20 cm diameter in her lower abdomen. On pelvic examination, a large cystic mass of 20 cm diameter occupying most of the lower abdomen was noted. It had a smooth external wall and was slightly mobile but not tender. A normal-size uterus was palpated just posterior to this cyst. Transabdominal sonography revealed a large cystic mass of 20 cm diameter occupying the whole pelvic cavity extending up to the level of the umbilicus. This cyst had a striking ultrasound appearance with multiple, distinct, round, bright, echogenic, uniform globules of about 2 cm diameter floating in hypoechogenic fluid (Figure 1). A broad hyperechogenic area with multiple bright linear echoes and spots that were characteristic of cystic teratoma (dermoid plug) was also noted in the upper part of the cyst. Because the uterus and normal ovaries could not be depicted, transvaginal sonography was suggested but the patient refused the procedure. A preoperative ultrasonographic diagnosis of dermoid cyst was made. On exploratory laparotomy the week following ultrasound examination, a 16-cm unilocular left ovarian cyst was found. It contained serous fluid and numerous small, soft, cheese-like sebum balls of about 2 cm diameter with hairs in many of them (Figure 2). A broad, thick mass of cheese-like sebum tissue and hairs that represented a dermoid plug was also noted. The right ovary and the uterus were normal. Left salpingo-oophorectomy was performed
Study on conceptual model of enterprise network resources

The conceptual model of enterprise network resources is discussed in details in this paper. Resources not only include natural resources, but also contain society, economy, technology, intelligence (information, knowledge) and other factors of human labor. Resource-based theory explains that resources owned by enterprise have heterogeneity, and these resources have non-complete mobility among enterprises. An enterprise is composed of knowledge and ability, physical assets, human resources and other tangible and intangible resources owned or controlled by it, which can create competitive advantage constantly. Enterprise network resources are a group of rare, unique, and hard to imitate assets that enterprise can dominate. Enterprise system can re-occupy their own resources and obtain external resources for more development opportunities. Enterprise network resources can be divided into four types including physical, intellectual, cultural and relationship resources. Physical resources, intellectual resources and cultural resources belong to the internal resources, also known as private resources, and relationship resources are external resources.
Spontaneous csf otorrhea from tegmen and posterior fossa defects

Spontaneous cerebrospinal otorrhea (SCSFO) from tegmen or posterior fossa defects is uncommon. Twenty‐nine cases have been detailed in the literature to date. We report an additional four cases from three patients. This group of 33 cases of SCSFO from tegmen or posterior fossa defects is characterized by certain clinical features. These patients are usually older adults (mean age 48 years, range 8 months to 80 years). Aural fullness with a serous appearing middle ear effusion, or clear otorrhea, often subsequent to tube myringotomy, are the usual initial symptoms. Meningitis was the initial manifestation in eight patients (24%), and ultimately occurred in an additional four patients (12%).
Dual Phosphorylation of Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase Adaptor Grb2-Associated Binder 2 Is Responsible for Superoxide Formation Synergistically Stimulated by Fcγ and Formyl-Methionyl-Leucyl-Phenylalanine Receptors in Differentiated THP-1 Cells 1

The class Ia phosphoinositide (PI) 3-kinase consisting of p110 catalytic and p85 regulatory subunits is activated by Tyr kinase-linked membrane receptors such as FcγRII through the association of p85 with the phosphorylated receptors or adaptors. The heterodimeric PI 3-kinase is also activated by G protein-coupled chemotactic fMLP receptors, and activation of the lipid kinase plays an important role in various immune responses, including superoxide formation in neutrophils. Although fMLP-induced superoxide formation is markedly enhanced in FcγRII-primed neutrophils, the molecular mechanisms remain poorly characterized. In this study, we identified two Tyr-phosphorylated proteins, c-Cbl (Casitas B-lineage lymphoma) and Grb2-associated binder 2 (Gab2), as PI 3-kinase adaptors that are Tyr phosphorylated upon the stimulation of FcγRII in differentiated neutrophil-like THP-1 cells. Interestingly, Gab2 was, but c-Cbl was not, further Ser/Thr phosphorylated by fMLP. Thus, the adaptor Gab2 appeared to be dually phosphorylated at the Ser/Thr and Tyr residues through the two different types of membrane receptors. The Ser/Thr phosphorylation of Gab2 required the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and fMLP receptor stimulation indeed activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase in the cells. Enhanced superoxide formation in response to Fcγ and fMLP was markedly attenuated when the Gab2 Ser/Thr phosphorylation was inhibited. These results show the importance of the dual phosphorylation of PI 3-kinase adaptor Gab2 for the enhanced superoxide formation in neutrophil-type cells.
Versatile characterization of glycosylation modification in CTLA4-Ig fusion proteins by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

CTLA4-Ig is a highly glycosylated therapeutic fusion protein that contains multiple N- and O-glycosylation sites. Glycosylation plays a vital role in protein solubility, stability, serum half-life, activity, and immunogenicity. For a CTLA4-Ig biosimilar development program, comparative analytical data, especially the glycosylation data, can influence decisions about the type and amount of animal and clinical data needed to establish biosimilarity. Because of the limited clinical experience with biosimilars before approval, a comprehensive level of knowledge about the biosimilar candidates is needed to achieve subsequent development. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS) is a versatile technique for characterizing N- and O-glycosylation modification of recombinant therapeutic proteins, including 3 levels: intact protein analysis, peptide mapping analysis, and released glycans analysis. In this report, an in-depth characterization of glycosylation of a candidate biosimilar was carried out using a systematic approach: N- and O-linked glycans were identified and electron-transfer dissociation was then used to pinpoint the 4 occupied O-glycosylation sites for the first time. As the results show, the approach provides a set of routine tools that combine accurate intact mass measurement, peptide mapping, and released glycan profiling. This approach can be used to comprehensively research a candidate biosimilar Fc-fusion protein and provides a basis for future studies addressing the similarity of CTLA4-Ig biosimilars.
Stress Management can facilitate weight loss in Greek overweight and obese women: a pilot study

Stress and negative emotions have been shown to be critical factors in inducing overeating as a form of maladaptive coping in obese people. The study is designed to evaluate the efficacy of an 8-week stress management program that includes progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) and diaphragmatic breathing on weight loss perceived stress, emotional and external eating, and dietary restriction behavior in a sample of overweight and obese women who start a weight loss program. A total of 34 overweight and obese women (BMI>28 kg/m), 18 and 60 years old, were recruited. The subjects visited the outpatients Obesity Clinic of a public Hospital, in Athens, Greece, referred by their General Practitioner, in order to lose weight. They were randomly assigned into an intervention Stress Management (SM) group and a control group. Standard anthropometric measurements were taken and the subjects completed the following questionnaires: the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), the Eating Attitudes Test (Eat-26), the Health Locus of Control (HLC) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) before and after the intervention. Findings indicated significant reductions in weight loss in the SM compare to the control group. The SM group lost an average of 4.44 0.83 kg during the 8 weeks of the intervention, whereas the control group lost 1.38 0.78 kg (p value<0.05). Higher restrained eating behaviour (9.45 1.75) was observed at the intervention group after 8 weeks of intervention in comparison with control group (1.51 1.64) (p value<0.05).
Enhanced Decoding of Triple Error Correction Reed-Muller Codes to Reduce Silent Data Corruption in Memories

Memories are typically protected with Error Correction Codes (ECCs) to prevent soft errors from causing data corruption. Codes that can correct one error in a memory word are commonly used. Those are known as Single Error Correction (SEC) codes. In addition to error correction, for memory applications, it is also important to detect errors that cannot be corrected to avoid Silent Data Corruption (SDC). For that reason, Single Error Correction Double Error Detection (SEC-DED) codes that can also detect double errors are preferred. As technology scales, there is an increased interest in the use of more advanced ECCs to protect memories. Among those, Reed-Muller (RM) codes have been proposed due to their efficient decoding. In this paper a modified decoding algorithm for RM codes is proposed. This algorithm, in addition to error correction provides error detection when the number of correctable errors is exceeded by one.