anthonyyazdaniml/gliner-biomed-curated-corpus huggingface dataset:
This project is to develop a new CMT Pediatric Scale (CMTPeds) for Children with CMT. Although there is a validated score (the CMTNS) which measures disease severity for CMT, it is not always applicable to children due to their limited ability to relay information about their symptoms. The CMTPeds scale is being developed and validated in order to measure disease severity in children and have outcome measures available for future clinical trials. Children (defined as 21 and under) being evaluated will be asked to perform functional tasks such as using stairs, walking in a hallway, and performing hand function tests. This information will be used to validate the CMTPeds score. It is important to have validated instruments to measure disease severity in childhood so these can be used with clinical treatment trials are available.
BACKGROUND: The relationship between serum albumin and prognosis in critically ill patients has been studied, however, there is a paucity of exploration into non-linear relationships, particularly in critically ill patients undergoing dialysis. This study intends to investigate the association between serum albumin (ALB) and 28 day mortality in critically ill patients undergoing dialysis.
METHODS: We conducted a multi-center retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing dialysis by utilising data from the eICU Collaborative Research Database from 208 distinct ICUs across the United States between 2014 and 2015. The study focused on mortality within 28 days of ICU admission. We employed univariate analysis, multi-factor logistic regression, subgroup analysis, curve-fitting, and threshold effect analysis to examine the correlation between ALB levels and 28 day mortality.
RESULTS: Among the 2,315 patients with a median age of 63 years, 205 (8.86%) died within 28 days of ICU admission. When ALB level was < 2.7 g/dL, the mortality decreased with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 0.34 (95% CI 0.22-0.51, P < 0.0001) for every 1 increment in the ALB. However, no significant mortality changes were observed when ALB levels were at or above this threshold.
CONCLUSION: Our study identifies a nonlinear dose-response relationship between serum ALB levels and 28 day mortality in critically ill patients undergoing dialysis, with a specific turning point observed. This finding underscores a significant negative correlation between ALB levels and mortality risk, with lower ALB levels being associated with higher mortality risk in this particular population.
BACKGROUND: It is unclear if immunomodulation via cytokine adsorption (CA) to reduce perioperative inflammatory cascade in cardiothoracic transplants is associated with better outcomes.
OBJECTIVE: This pilot study aims to assess the clinical outcomes of intraoperative CA in heart/lung transplantation.
METHODS: From July to October 2020, intraoperative CA was instituted in 11 patients who underwent heart/lung transplantation. One-to-one propensity score matching without replacement was conducted with historical patients who did not receive CA at the time of surgery. Primary end-points evaluated were vasopressor/ inotropic demands, blood loss and mortality. Secondary end-points measured were operative morbidities.
RESULTS: After matching, there were 2 (18.2%) ventricular assist device explant with heart transplantation, 2 (18.2%) heart transplantation and 7 (63.6%) lung transplantation in each group. Mean age in both groups were 53.3 years and 54.9 years respectively. The duration of noradrenaline requirement in the CA group was shorter (median, 1627 versus 3144 min, P = 0.5) and postoperative dopamine demand was significantly higher (median peak dose, 5.0 versus 0 μg/kg/min, P = 1.0; median duration of use, 7729 versus 0 min, P = 0.01). Non-red blood cell transfusion rate was two times higher in CA patients (90.9% versus 45.4%, P = 0.06). Early mortality was higher in the control group (18.2% versus 9.1%, P = 1.0). No differences were observed in the incidences of operative morbidities.
CONCLUSION: Intraoperative CA in heart and lung transplantation in our institution was not associated with significant improvement in clinical outcomes, including vasopressor/inotropic demand. Larger studies are required to evaluate the transfusion requirements and mortality risks with CA use in this patient population.
OBJECTIVE: Previous studies reported mixed results on associations between dietary potassium intake and hyperkalemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study investigated the association between potassium intake from different food sources and hyperkalemia in patients with non-dialysis-dependent CKD.
METHODS: A total of 285 patients were recruited at a university hospital and 2 city hospitals in Tokyo. Dietary potassium intake was estimated by a validated diet history questionnaire. Associations of potassium intake from all foods and individual food groups with serum potassium were examined by multivariable linear regression among potassium binder nonusers. An association between tertile groups of potassium intake and hyperkalemia, defined as serum potassium ≥5.0 mEq/L, was evaluated by multivariable logistic regression.
RESULTS: Among 245 potassium binder nonusers, total potassium intake was weakly associated with serum potassium (regression coefficient = 0.147, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.018-0.277), while an association with hyperkalemia was not observed (first vs third tertile: adjusted odds ratio = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.29-3.26). As for food groups, potassium intakes from potatoes, pulses, and green/yellow vegetables were positively associated with serum potassium. Patients in the highest tertile of potassium intake from potatoes had higher odds of hyperkalemia as compared to those in the lowest tertile (adjusted odds ratio = 4.12, 95% CI: 1.19-14.34).
CONCLUSION: Total potassium intake was weakly associated with serum potassium, but not with hyperkalemia. Potassium intake from potatoes was associated with hyperkalemia. These findings highlight the importance of considering food sources of potassium in the management of hyperkalemia in CKD.
Sixty women will be randomly assigned to two groups (superset and concurrent). The interventions will be carried out virtually asynchronously, only sessions 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, and 21 will be supervised synchronously. Follow-up will be done through WhatsApp messages. Both groups will have a training frequency of 3 times a week for eight weeks. In the training sessions, strength exercises with self-loading (crunches, one leg squat, side plank, push up, deadlift, lumbar extension stretch, row, glute bridge, front raise) and/or aerobic exercises (floor tape squat, jumping jacks, skaters). Each group will execute the same number of series and repetitions during the 8 weeks, the performance of strength exercises will be standardized at 45 bpm throughout the protocol, and aerobic exercises at 70 bpm. Intensity will be controlled by resting between sets, starting with 90 seconds in week one, decreasing by 15 seconds every two weeks until reaching 45 seconds.

Each participant will have initial and final evaluations to measure muscle strength in lower, middle, and upper kinetic chains. Queen's College test will be used to assess cardiorespiratory fitness, BREQ-2, and SF-12 questionnaires will be used to measure motivation and health-related quality of life respectively.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Increasing age brings a greater risk of death of friends and family (hereafter referred to as loss) potentially impacting individuals' life-space mobility (LSM) trajectory.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Using the UAB study of aging, we examined differences in LSM trajectories of 1,000 community-dwelling older Alabamians (65 + years) with and without loss over 8.5 years. We measured LSM using UAB's Life-Space Assessment (LSA), a validated instrument assessing movement through zones ranging from their bedroom to out of town. We assessed loss every 6 months using a standard bereavement questionnaire capturing spousal, other relative, or friend loss. We used piecewise linear mixed-effects models to compare LSA trajectories.
RESULTS: At baseline, those who later experienced loss, compared with those who did not were younger, more likely to be female, and overall in better health. Those without loss had a baseline mean LSA score of 49.5 and a decline of 0.08 points per year (p < .001). Those with loss had a baseline LSA score of 60 and declined by 1.0 point per year before loss (p < .001), accelerating to 1.8 points per year after loss (p < .001).
DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Those with loss do not experience acute decline postloss but do have an acceleration of the preexisting decline. Although additional research may explain the impact of loss on LSM; this finding suggests that more interventions such as social, mental, or health care services, may be needed for those who experience loss. Specifically, bereaved individuals may benefit from it.
Reversing the aggravated immunosuppression hence overgrowth of colorectal cancer (CRC) caused by the gut inflammation and microbiota dysbiosis is pivotal for effective CRC therapy and metastasis inhibition. However, the low delivery efficiency and severe dose-limiting off-target toxicities caused by unsatisfied drug delivery systems remain the major obstacles in precisely modulating gut inflammation and microbiota in CRC therapy. Herein, a multifunctional oral dextran-aspirin nanomedicine (P3C-Asp) was utilized for oral treatment of primary CRC, as it could release salicylic acid (SA) while scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and held great potential in modulating gut microbiota with prebiotic (dextran). Oral P3C-Asp retained in CRC tissues for over 12 h and significantly increased SA accumulation in CRC tissues over free aspirin (10.8-fold at 24 h). The enhanced SA accumulation and ROS scavenging of P3C-Asp cooperatively induced more potent inflammation relief over free aspirin, characterized as lower level of cyclooxygenase-2 and immunosuppressive cytokines. Remarkably, P3C-Asp promoted the microbiota homeostasis and notably increased the relative abundance of strengthening systemic anti-cancer immune response associated microbiota, especially lactobacillus and Akkermansia to 6.66- and 103- fold over the control group. Additionally, a demonstrable reduction in pathogens associated microbiota (among 96% to 79%) including Bacteroides could be detected. In line with our findings, inflammation relief along with enhanced abundance of lactobacillus was positively correlated with CRC inhibition. In primary CRC model, P3C-Asp achieved 2.1-fold tumor suppression rate over free aspirin, with an overall tumor suppression rate of 85%. Moreover, P3C-Asp cooperated with αPD-L1 further reduced the tumor weight of each mouse and extended the median survival of mice by 29 days over αPD-L1 alone. This study unravels the synergistic effect of gut inflammation and microbiota modulation in primary CRC treatment, and unlocks an unconventional route for immune regulation in TME with oral nanomedicine.
Patients with active or recent S. aureus SSTI will be recruited from St. Louis Children's Hospital and community pediatric practices affiliated with the investigators practice-based research network. All participants (index patients and their household contacts) will perform a baseline S. aureus decolonization protocol for 5 days consisting of enhanced hygiene measures, application of mupirocin antibiotic ointment to the anterior nares twice daily, and daily body washes with chlorhexidine antiseptic. Following the 5-day baseline decolonization regimen, households will be randomized to one of three intervention groups: 1) Periodic personal decolonization performed by all household members, to include chlorhexidine body washes twice weekly for 3 months and application of intranasal mupirocin for 5 consecutive days each month for 3 months; 2) Household environmental hygiene, including targeted cleaning of household surfaces and laundering of bed linens, weekly for 3 months; and 3) Integrated periodic personal decolonization and household environmental hygiene for 3 months. Households will be followed prospectively (1, 3, 6, and 9 months following randomization) to measure the prevalence of S. aureus colonization in the participants, household environmental surfaces, and pet dogs and cats and to document the incidence of recurrent SSTI. Molecular strain typing will be performed on all recovered S. aureus isolates to illuminate transmission dynamics and the effects of the decolonization measures on genetic epidemiology. Lastly, the investigators will assess resistance to the prescribed topical antimicrobials at baseline and longitudinal samplings.
Increased platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI), which indicate accelerated thrombus formation and inflammatory response, potentially have prognostic implications. Given that cardiovascular disease and renal function exacerbate each other, an elevated PLR and NLR at admission for AMI may worsen renal function after AMI. However, only a few clinical studies have addressed this issue. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effects of PLR and NLR at AMI onset on renal function. This retrospective study analyzed data from 234 patients hospitalized for AMI. First, correlations between various parameters (age; sex; body mass index; hemoglobin level, albumin level, B-type natriuretic peptide level, C-reactive protein level, creatinine (Cr) level, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level, PLR, and NLR at admission; contrast medium usage; and maximum creatine kinase) and Cr and BUN levels at discharge were examined using single and multiple regression analyses. Then, correlations between these parameters and the change in Cr (ΔCr) and BUN levels (ΔBUN) were investigated using single and multiple regression analysis, followed by structural equation modeling (SEM). Multiple regression analysis revealed significant positive correlations between PLR at admission and Cr level at discharge (β = 0.135, P = .021), PLR at admission and BUN level at discharge (β = 0.218, P = .006), PLR at admission and ΔCr (β = 0.244, P = .019), and PLR at admission and ΔBUN (β = 0.312, P = .003). SEM results revealed significant positive correlations between PLR at admission and ΔCr (β = 0.260, P = .008) and PLR at admission and ΔBUN (β = 0.292, P = .003). Conversely, NLR demonstrated a minimal association with renal function at discharge compared to PLR. This study suggests that increased PLR at admission in AMI significantly affects and exacerbates renal function but does not increase NLR at admission. PLR is one of the predictors of renal dysfunction after AMI.
Pterostilbene (PTE), a natural stilbene found in small berries, exhibits multiple pharmacological activities, particularly antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This study explores the dietary supplementation of PTE to ameliorate acute and chronic alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). C57BL/6 mice were administrated with PTE and subjected to acute or chronic alcohol stimulation. They were intragastrically administered with alcohol (5 g kg-1, 3 times per 24 h) to induce acute alcohol liver injury or fed a Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet containing 5% ethanol for 4 weeks and a single binge to induce chronic alcoholic liver injury. In the acute ethanol model, PTE decreased the serum transaminase and triglyceride (TG) levels and ameliorated lipid droplet accumulation. PTE ameliorated acute ethanol-induced hepatic steatosis by inhibiting the expression of SREBP1 and its target genes and up-regulating PPARα expression. PTE could reverse the inflammatory response by inhibiting NLRP3 activation, inflammatory factor secretion, and macrophage recruitment caused by acute ethanol exposure. PTE could synergistically activate the SIRT1-AMPK and LXR/FXR axis in mice with acute ethanol exposure. In the chronic-binge ethanol feeding model, PTE also decreased serum transaminase and TG levels and ameliorated hepatocellular ballooning, macrovesicular steatosis, lipid accumulation and inflammation. Chronic-binge ethanol feeding could induce extracellular matrix dysfunction with an increase in α-SMA, collagen I and TIMP-1 expression, which was decreased by PTE. PTE increased SIRT1 expression and AMPK phosphorylation and activated the LXRs/FXR axis, which could be reduced by chronic-binge ethanol feeding. PTE could prevent liver injury caused by alcohol regardless of acute or chronic exposure. These results suggest that PTE can be utilized as a dietary health supplement to avoid ALD and promote health and quality of life.
The investigators preliminary data showed that T2D had significantly reduced total number of distal branches as assessed using the investigators quantitative magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) feature measurement method (iCafe) than non-T2D. This reduction represents a decrease in intracranial blood flow condition and can be an indication for ischemia. Clinical trial showed that semaglutide reduces stroke incidence in T2D. The investigators are conducting a randomized, double blind and placebo-controlled study to investigate the biological basis of the observed stroke reduction with semaglutide by demonstrating semaglutide can improve intracranial blood flow condition and reduce bloodbrain barrier (BBB) permeability. The investigators working hypothesis is that it is known that semaglutide has beneficial effects on T2D, therefore, it improves endothelial function for a better cerebral flow condition. However, semaglutide may also improve cerebral flow independently from glucose lowering. Together, the improved cerebral flow condition results in stroke reduction. In order to investigate the independent effects of semaglutide on intracranial blood flow condition and BBB permeability, the investigators will have a designated diabetes care specialist unblinded to the study randomization to carry out glucose management to achieve HbA1C\<7.5% for both treatment groups.
Of the 27 million surgeries performed in the United States each year, a reported 2.6% result in a surgical site infection (SSI), and Staphylococci species are commonly the culprit. Alternative therapies, such as nitric oxide (NO)-releasing biomaterials, are being developed to address this issue. NO is a potent antimicrobial agent with several modes of action, including oxidative and nitrosative damage, disruption of bacterial membranes, and dispersion of biofilms. For targeted antibacterial effects, NO is delivered by exogenous donor molecules, like S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP). Herein, the impregnation of SNAP into poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) for SSI prevention is reported for the first time. The NO-releasing PLGA copolymer is fabricated and characterized by donor molecule loading, leaching, and the amount remaining after ethylene oxide sterilization. The swelling ratio, water uptake, static water contact angle, and tensile strength are also investigated. Furthermore, its cytocompatibility is tested against 3T3 mouse fibroblast cells, and its antimicrobial efficacy is assessed against multiple Staphylococci strains. Overall, the NO-releasing PLGA copolymer holds promise as a suture material for eradicating surgical site infections caused by Staphylococci strains. SNAP impregnation affords robust antibacterial properties while maintaining the cytocompatibility and mechanical integrity.
BACKGROUND: Fluid therapy in veterinary medicine is pivotal for treating various conditions in pigs; however, standard solutions, such as Hartmann's solution, may not optimally align with pig physiology. This study explored the development and efficacy of a customized fluid therapy tailored to the ionic concentrations of pig blood, aiming to enhance treatment outcomes and safety in both healthy and diseased pigs.
RESULTS: The study involved two experiments: the first to assess the safety and stability of customized fluids in healthy pigs, and the second to evaluate the efficacy in pigs with clinical symptoms of dehydration. In healthy pigs, the administration of customized fluids showed no adverse effects, with slight alterations observed in pO2, hematocrit, and glucose levels in some groups. In symptomatic pigs, the customized fluid group did not show any improvement in clinical symptoms, with no significant changes in blood chemistry or metabolite levels compared to controls. The customized fluid group showed a mild increase in some values after administration, yet within normal physiological ranges. The study reported no significant improvements in clinical or dehydration status, attributing the observed variations in blood test results to the limited sample size and anaesthesia effects rather than fluid characteristics.
CONCLUSIONS: Customized fluid therapy, tailored to mimic the ionic concentrations of pig blood, appears to be a safe and potentially more effective alternative to conventional solutions such as Hartmann's solution for treating pigs under various health conditions. Further research with larger sample sizes and controlled conditions is recommended to validate these findings and to explore the full potential of customized fluid therapy in veterinary practice.
Participants will receive 200 mg vibostolimab in combination with 200 mg pembrolizumab, plus the investigator's choice of Area Under Curve (AUC) 5 mg/mL/min carboplatin OR 75 mg/m\^2 cisplatin on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle plus 100 mg/m\^2/day etoposide on Days 1-3 of each 21-day cycle for up to 4 cycles. Maintenance therapy with 200 mg vibostolimab in combination with 200 mg pembrolizumab on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle will continue for up to an additional 31 cycles. A participant will be allowed to switch from cisplatin to carboplatin in the event of an adverse event (AE), ineligibility for further cisplatin therapy, and/or the investigator considers switching to carboplatin to be in the best interest of the participant.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)is the most frequent primitive tumour of the liver. Although the histological examination remains the reference for the diagnosis, it may be difficult to obtain biopsy material because of difficulty in getting to the lesion or due to their small size. However, it is know that the size of the lesion remains a major prognostic factor, implying the need for an earliest detection, which enhances the chance for curative treatment.PET enables the study of changes in the glucidic or lipidic metabolism of cancer cells. PET-CT, providing both metabolic and anatomic information, improves the performances of this technique. PET with 18F-FDG has not been sensitive enough in the detection of HCC, except in cases of low grade. Recently, several research studies reported that 11C-choline PET has shown a high detection rate of well differentiated HCC, which is an early stage of primary liver cancer.

The study include 30 patients presenting a suspicion of HCC with or without cirrhosis. Each patient will be examined with two conventional imaging techniques, consisting in dynamic magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography; alpha fetoprotein measurement will be taken. PET-CT will be acquired after an intravenous injection of 11C-choline. The 11C-choline PET-CT performance for HCC diagnosis will be compare to histological analysis obtained by a tumoral liver biopsy, or by using of the American Association for the study of Liver Disease diagnostic criteria. In absence of the two criteria , the follow up within one year will serve as a reference.