anthonyyazdaniml/gliner-biomed-curated-corpus huggingface dataset:
Strabismus is prevalent among preterm infants of low gestational age and birth weight in Southeast Asian countries, with intermittent exotropia (IXT) being the most common type in South Korea. In this retrospective, cross-sectional study, we investigated the differences between full-term and premature infants with IXT. IXT patients with available childbirth history were divided into two groups: preterm vs. full-term and low birth weight (LBW) vs. normal birth weight (NBW). Parameters related to exotropia including parental heredity, surgical history, and treatment options were investigated. In univariate regression for gestational age, a result of ≥ 100 s in the Titmus test was 1.352 times more frequent in preterm than in full-term infants. When birth weight was considered instead, a result of ≥ 100 s in the Titmus test was 1.412 times more frequent in the LBW compared to the NBW group. In multivariate regression for birth weight, the frequency of a result of ≥ 100 s in the Titmus test for the LBW group was 2.032 times higher than that for the NBW group. It is particularly important to examine stereopsis in preterm and LBW patients affected by IXT to ensure timely surgical planning and avoid potential recurrence after surgery.
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is fatal without surgical intervention. An important subset of HLHS patients die prior to surgical intervention, but this population is underevaluated. The neonatal sequential organ failure assessment score (nSOFA) is an operational definition of organ dysfunction that can identify those with a high risk of mortality among neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients. The utility of the nSOFA to predict preoperative mortality in the unique HLHS population is unknown and could inform care, particularly care provided by neonatology staff. We performed a multicenter retrospective cohort study of HLHS cases across three level IV NICUs from January 1, 2009, to December 3, 2023. Patients were classified as either survived or died prior to surgical intervention. Demographic variables were curated from medical records including the maximum nSOFA (nSOFAmax) before surgical intervention or death. We identified 265 patients with HLHS over the study period. The nSOFAmax was greater in patients who died preoperatively (14/265; 5%) compared with survivors to surgical intervention (median 8 [interquartile range, 6, 12] vs. 2 [0, 4]; p < 0.001). The area under receiver operating characteristics curve for the nSOFAmax to discriminate for mortality was 0.93 (95% confidence interval, 0.88-0.98; p < 0.001). Compared with an nSOFAmax of 0, the likelihood ratio for preoperative death doubled at 2, tripled at 4, and was 10-fold at 9. This is the first demonstration of nSOFA utility in specific to congenital heart disease and HLHS. The nSOFAmax represents a novel, electronic health record-compatible, and generalizable method to identify patient-level organ dysfunction and risk for preoperative mortality in HLHS patients. KEY POINTS: · An important subset of HLHS patients die preoperatively.. · nSOFA can be used to measure preoperative HLHS severity.. · nSOFA predicts preoperative mortality risk in HLHS patients..
PURPOSE:To obtain a multilayered cosmetic, containing sodium lactate, polyglycerol, a surfactant water and capable of emulsifying to assume a beautiful external appearance in shaking and rapidly separating into many layers in allowing to stand and having improved skin safety as well as practicability characteristics in use. CONSTITUTION:A multilayered type cosmetic containing (A) 2.5-31.5wt% sodium lactate, (B) 5-83wt% polyglycerol, (C) 5-85wt% surfactant and (D) 1.5-22.5wt% water at 50:50-70:30 weight ratio of the ingredients (A) to (D). The cosmetic separates into many layers in a standing state but assumes a beautiful emulsified external appearance in shaking and has excellent practicability characteristics, e.g. compatibility with the skin, stickiness, extensibility, moist feeling, etc. The ingredient (A) is preferably an aqueous solution in 50-70% concentration and a nonionic surfactant having 8-12 HLB value is preferred as the ingredient (C). Furthermore, straight-chain polyglycerol expressed by the formula (n is preferably 4-10) is used as the ingredient (B).
Control group (coronally advanced flap and subepithelial connective tissue graft alone) Test group (coronally advanced flap and subepithelial connective tissue graft using microsurgical approach) Same procedure will be executed but with the addition of vitamin C injection. Intraepidermal injection (oral mesotherapy technique) of 1-1.5 ml (200-300 mg concentration) of L-ascorbic acid will be done. It will be locally introduced in relation to the keratinized gingival tissues with extension to the whole target region successively using special syringes (30 gauge). The needle will be introduced parallel to the gingival tissues with the bevel facing upwards. Vitamin C will then be delivered through the attached gingival tissues at the epithelium-connective tissue junction (equivalent to epidermal- dermal junction) till the tissues blanch. Vitamin C will be injected first time immediately postsurgical and then repeated once per week for 3 consecutive weeks for a total of 4 injections.
Scn1b plays essential roles in the heart, where it encodes β1-subunits that serve as modifiers of gene expression, cell surface channel activity, and cardiac conductivity. Reduced β1 function is linked to electrical instability in various diseases with cardiac manifestations and increased susceptibility to arrhythmias. Recently, we demonstrated that loss of Scn1b in mice leads to compromised mitochondria energetics and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In this study, we examined the link between increased ROS and arrhythmia susceptibility in Scn1b-/- mice. In addition, ROS-scavenging capacity can be overwhelmed during prolonged oxidative stress, increasing arrhythmia susceptibility. Therefore, we isolated whole hearts and cardiomyocytes from Scn1b-/- and Scn1b+/+ mice and subjected them to an oxidative challenge with diamide, a glutathione oxidant. Next, we analyzed gene expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes in Scn1b-/- hearts. Cells isolated from Scn1b-/- hearts died faster and displayed higher rates of ROS accumulation preceding cell death compared with those from Scn1b+/+. Furthermore, Scn1b-/- hearts showed higher arrhythmia scores and spent less time free of arrhythmia. Lastly, we found that protein expression and enzymatic activity of glutathione peroxidase is increased in Scn1b-/- hearts compared with wild type. Our results indicate that Scn1b-/- mice have decreased capability to manage ROS during prolonged oxidative stress. ROS accumulation is elevated and appears to overwhelm ROS scavenging through the glutathione system. This imbalance creates the potential for altered cell energetics that may underlie increased susceptibility to arrhythmias or other adverse cardiac outcomes.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Using an oxidative challenge, we demonstrated that isolated cells from Scn1b-/- mice are more susceptible to cell death and surges in reactive oxygen species accumulation. At the whole organ level, they were also more susceptible to the formation of cardiac arrhythmias. This may in part be due to changes to the glutathione antioxidant system.
BACKGROUND: The Scottish Inflammatory Prognostic Score (SIPS), an innovative scoring system, has emerged as a promising biomarker for predicting patient outcomes following cancer therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the value of SIPS as a prognostic indicator following hepatectomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
METHODS: This retrospective study included 693 HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy. Survival outcomes were compared between propensity score-matched groups. Independent prognostic factors were identified through Cox regression analysis. Additionally, both traditional Cox proportional hazards models and machine learning models based on the SIPS were developed and validated.
RESULTS: A total of 693 HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy were included, with 102 in the high SIPS group and 591 in the low SIPS group. Following propensity score matching (1:3 ratio), both groups achieved balance, with 82 patients in the high SIPS group and 240 patients in the low SIPS group. The low SIPS group demonstrated significantly superior recurrence-free survival (RFS) (25 months vs. 21 months; P < 0.001) and overall survival (OS) (69 months vs. 58 months; P < 0.001) compared to the high SIPS group. Multivariable analysis identified SIPS as an independent adverse factor affecting both RFS and OS. The calibration curve for overall patient survival diagnosis displayed excellent predictive accuracy. Traditional COX prognostic models and machine learning models incorporating SIPS demonstrated excellent performance both the training and validation set.
CONCLUSION: This study confirms the prognostic significance of SIPS in post-hepatectomy HCC patients, providing a practical tool for risk stratification and clinical decision-making. Further research and validation are needed to consolidate its role in prognostic assessment.
The control condition provides study participants with online tools for enrolling in offline fitness workshops offered by the university's recreation department and recording their progress in the program. All fitness workshops are pre-programmed in an online calendar. Upon clicking a workshop, participants can read a detailed description and register for it directly on the calendar. The registration then triggers a confirmation email sent to the participant immediately and a reminder email 12 hours before the workshop starts. In addition, an online tracking tool is built that participants can use to keep a daily journal of their health activities and fitness status.
Bronchiectasis is a common and frequently occurring respiratory disease, with more hospitalization rate and mortality, poor quality of life and heavy financial burden. The main clinical manifestations are persistent or recurrent cough, expectoration, sometimes accompanied by hemoptysis, which can cause respiratory dysfunction and chronic pulmonary heart disease. There are some randomized controlled trials of TCM for bronchiectasis, and have the effect in the treatment of bronchiectasis, reducing the number of acute aggravation and alleviating dyspnea. However, some TCM interventions lack comprehensive syndrome differentiation and the placebo control.

This is a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial to compare the efficacy to evaluate the effectiveness of TCM on patients with clinically stable bronchiectasis. 216 subjects will be randomly assigned to one therapies (TCM treatments based on syndrome differentiation) and the other therapy (placebo of TCM treatment) for 24 weeks. After the treatment period, the subjects will be followed up for 24 weeks. The primary outcomes include the frequency of bronchiectasis exacerbation, and the secondary outcomes include quality of life (SGRQ, LCQ, QOL-B), pulmonary function, safety observation index.
Cognitive remediation (CR) and physical exercise have separately shown promising results in schizophrenia cognitive improvement, despite this, the impact in improving functionality is still limited. Physical exercise increases Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) levels, promoting neuronal and cognitive plasticity, which can maximize the impact of CR. The aim of this project is to study the efficacy of an intensive program (3 months) that combines CR and physical exercise by a randomized controlled trial where 74 patients with chronic schizophrenia will be randomized to two groups: 1) CR plus physical exercise; 2) CR plus control activity (health promotion). Primary outcome measures will be cognitive performance, functional outcome, negative symptoms and BDNF levels. Measures will be blindly assessed at baseline, at 3 months follow up and at 15 months follow up. The investigators expect that: i) the CR plus physical exercise will be superior to CR plus control activity in improving cognition, functional outcome, negative symptoms and in increasing BDNF levels in the short and medium term (3 and 15 months); ii) changes in BDNF levels after the CR plus physical exercise will be an adequate biomarker of the cognitive improvement obtained with this treatment.
The method involves visualizing condition of blood and abnormal changes in vessels by ultrasound. Two different gases e.g. oxygen and carbon dioxide, enter into application as a mixture by mass flow rate measuring techniques. Quantity ratios of the different gases are adapted relative to each other according to application and/or medical requirements. The gases or other gas are used for foaming the gas mixture. Medicaments are mixed with different concentrations of gases. A diagnosis and therapy of the vessels are taken place by different composition of gases and medicaments. The device comprises a container made of light alloy or plastic. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for a device for producing gas mixture and injecting the mixture with medicaments into human or animal body during diagnosis and/or therapy application.
INTRODUCTION: Hereditary ataxias (HAs) encompass a diverse and genetically intricate group of rare neurodegenerative disorders, presenting diagnostic challenges. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) has significantly improved diagnostic success. This study aimed to elucidate genetic causes of cerebellar ataxia within a diverse Brazilian cohort.
METHODS: Biological samples were collected from individuals with sporadic or familial cerebellar ataxia, spanning various ages and phenotypes, excluding common SCAs and Friedreich ataxia. RFC1 biallelic AAGGG repeat expansion was screened in all patients. For AAGGG-negative cases, WES targeting 441 ataxia-related genes was performed, followed by ExpansionHunter analysis for repeat expansions, including the recently described GGC-ZFHX3. Variant classification adhered to ClinGen guidelines, yielding definitive or probable diagnoses.
RESULTS: The study involved 76 diverse Brazilian families. 16 % received definitive diagnoses, and another 16 % received probable ones. RFC1-related ataxia was predominant, with two definitive cases, followed by KIF1A (one definitive and one probable) and SYNE-1 (two probable). Early-onset cases exhibited higher diagnostic rates. ExpansionHunter improved diagnosis by 4 %.We did not detected GGC-ZFHX3 repeat expansion in this cohort.
CONCLUSION: This study highlights diagnostic complexities in cerebellar ataxia, even with advanced genetic methods. RFC1, KIF1A, and SYNE1 emerged as prevalent mutations. ZFHX3 repeat expansion seem to be rare in Brazilian population. Early-onset cases showed higher diagnostic success. WES coupled with ExpansionHunter holds promise as a primary diagnostic tool, emphasizing the need for broader NGS accessibility in Brazil.
Wiedemann-Rautenstrauch Syndrome (WRS; MIM 264090) is an extremely rare and highly heterogeneous syndrome that is inherited in a recessive fashion. The patients have hallmark features such as prenatal and postnatal growth retardation, short stature, a progeroid appearance, hypotonia, facial dysmorphology, hypomyelination leukodystrophy, and mental impairment. Biallelic disease-causing variants in the RNA polymerase III subunit A (POLR3A) have been associated with WRS. Here, we report the first identified cases of WRS syndrome with novel phenotypes in three consanguineous families (two Omani and one Saudi) characterized by biallelic variants in POLR3A. Using whole-exome sequencing, we identified one novel homozygous missense variant (NM_007055: c.2456C>T; p. Pro819Leu) in two Omani families and one novel homozygous variant (c.1895G>T; p Cys632Phe) in Saudi family that segregates with the disease in the POLR3A gene. In silico homology modeling of wild-type and mutated proteins revealed a substantial change in the structure and stability of both proteins, demonstrating a possible effect on function. By identifying the homozygous variants in the exon 14 and 18 of the POLR3A gene, our findings will contribute to a better understanding of the phenotype-genotype relationship and molecular etiology of WRS syndrome.
Studies have highlighted an upregulation of PD-1 expression in CD4+ T cells, which accelerates lung fibrosis by activating the IL-17/STAT3 pathway, leading to IL-17A and TGF-β1 secretion. However, the relation with traumatic tracheal stenosis (TS) remains unexplored. Our analysis found significant increases in PD-1+CD4+ T cells, IL-17A, and TGF-β1 in the TS patients (n = 10). The cellular model used CD4+ T cells co-cultured with bronchial fibroblasts while the animal model used a nylon brush to scrape the damaged tracheal mucosa. Interventions with PD-1 and STAT3 inhibitors both in vitro (n = 5) and in vivo (n = 6) showed decreased expression of TGF-β1 and IL-17A in CD4+ T cells, decreased collagen I synthesis in vitro, and reduced tractal fibrosis in vivo. Furthermore, PD-1's modulation of the STAT3 was evident. This research unveils PD-1+CD4+ T cells' role in TS, thus suggesting a novel immunotherapeutic strategy to counteract tracheal fibrosis.
Understanding the relationship between cricoid and mainstem bronchi can provide to be a useful adjunct for lung isolation in children. The relationship between cricoid dimensions and the dimensions of main-stem bronchi (right and left) have been studied using 2 dimensional CT images and video-bronchoscopic images. The present study defines the volume-based relationship between the right main-stem bronchus (RMSB), left main-stem bronchus (LMSB) and the cricoid ring based on 3 dimensional CT derived images.

Methods: The three dimensional CT images of 35 children, younger than 8 years, undergoing radiological evaluation unrelated to airway symptomatology were examined. The children were evaluated during spontaneous ventilation without airway devices either during natural sleep or with sedation. The 3-dimensional images of the airway column were evaluated at the level of cricoid, right mainstem bronchus and left main-stem bronchus, volumes were calculated and comparisons made between these levels. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis was used to determine whether one or more of the variables (age, gender, height, weight and cricoid) had a predictable relationship to the RMSB and the LMSB diameter.
Participants will receive six sessions (three sessions per week for two weeks; session duration = 30 mins) of approach-avoidance training in the virtual reality. Alcoholic beverages are pushed away with a controller and soft-drinks will be pulled towards oneself. Training will begin approximately three weeks before discharge from the inpatient clinics to measure the add-on effect and to ensure that the add-on treatment does not extend the treatment period.
This group included 120 wart lesions, treated with Er:YAG laser followed by LP Nd:YAG laser after 1-2 minutes. Cryo 6 (Zimmer Medizin Systems) was used to cool the lesions before, during and after applying the Nd:YAG laser.
Chronic wounds are often infected with biofilm bacteria and characterized by high oxidative stress. Current dressings that promote chronic wound healing either require additional processes such as photothermal irradiation or leave behind gross amounts of undesirable residues. We report a dual-functionality hydrogel dressing with intrinsic antibiofilm and antioxidative properties that are synergistic and low-leaching. The hydrogel is a crosslinked network with tethered antibacterial cationic polyimidazolium and antioxidative N-acetylcysteine. In a murine diabetic wound model, the hydrogel accelerates the closure of wounds infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm. Furthermore, a three-dimensional ex vivo human skin equivalent model shows that N-acetylcysteine promotes the keratinocyte differentiation and accelerates the re-epithelialization process. Our hydrogel dressing can be made into different formats for the healing of both flat and deep infected chronic wounds without contamination of the wound or needing other modalities such as photothermal irradiation.
BACKGROUND: Social psychoneuroimmunology suggests an interplay between social deficits (loneliness and isolation) and chronic inflammation, but the direction of these relationships remains unclear. We estimated the reciprocal associations of social deficits and social engagement with levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), compared the consistency of the findings depending on the biological sampling method used, and examined the modifying role of phenotypic and genotypic depression.
METHODS: We used longitudinal nationally representative data from the US (Health and Retirement Study, 3 waves, 2006-16) and England (English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, 4 waves, 2004-18). Loneliness, social isolation, and social engagement were self-reported. CRP was measured using dried blood spots (US) and venous blood samples (England). Cross-lagged panel models were fitted and tested interactions with phenotypic depression (above-threshold depressive symptom scores) and genotypic depression (polygenic score for major depressive disorder).
RESULTS: We included 15,066 participants (mean age = 66.1 years, SD = 9.8) in the US and 10,290 (66.9 years, SD = 10.5) in England. We found reciprocal associations between loneliness and CRP using dried blood spots and venous blood samples. Higher CRP predicted higher subsequent loneliness and higher loneliness predicted elevated CRP. Both phenotypic and genotypic depression modified this reciprocal association. There were also reciprocal associations for social engagement in venous blood samples: higher CRP predicted lower social engagement and greater social engagement predicted lower subsequent CRP. Associations between social isolation and CRP were inconsistent and unidirectional.
CONCLUSIONS: Loneliness may increase chronic inflammation, whereas social engagement may reduce inflammation. As these relationships were reciprocal, there may be a loop between inflammation, loneliness, and social engagement. This loop was stronger in those with depression or at high genetic risk for major depressive disorder. This relationship for loneliness was present in both blood sampling methods despite contrasting methods of CRP measurement, indicating that the finding is not attributable to measurement bias in biomarkers.
Participants assigned to the treatment group will participate in a 9-week group CBT intervention for PPD delivered via Zoom by two public health nurses. This intervention was developed by Dr. Van Lieshout (PI) at the Women's Health Concerns Clinic (WHCC) at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. It was designed to be brief, simple, and applicable to women in community settings. It consists of 9 weekly 2-hour sessions where core CBT skills are learned and practiced, and a new psychoeducational topic is introduced and discussed by women each week. All participants in the treatment group will be mailed a hardcopy of the program manual.
Cellular senescence, characterized by cell cycle arrest, can result in tissue dysfunction when senescent cells persist and accumulate. Periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory condition caused by the interaction between bacteria and the immune system of the host, primarily manifests as damage to periodontal tissues. Aging and inflammation are interlinked processes that exacerbate each other. The progression of localized chronic periodontal inflammation is often accelerated in conjunction with tissue and organ aging. The presence of senescent cells and release of inflammatory cytokines, immune modulators, growth factors and proteases that are associated with the senescence‑associated secretory phenotype contribute to the deterioration of periodontal tissues. The present review aimed to elucidate the mechanisms of cellular senescence and its potential impact on periodontitis, offering novel insights for modulating the inflammatory microenvironment of periodontal tissues.