Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Left ventricular systolic function in Nigerian children with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this article was to compare the left ventricular (LV) systolic function of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children with that of healthy controls, determine the prevalence of LV systolic dysfunction in HIV-infected children, and its association with age, stage of disease, and use of zidovudine. STUDY DESIGN This was a comparative cross-sectional descriptive study. SETTING A University Teaching Hospital in North-Central Nigeria in 2008. PATIENTS One hundred fifty HIV-infected children aged 6 weeks-14 years, and an equal number of age- and sex-matched apparently healthy controls. OUTCOME MEASURES Left ventricular internal dimensions in diastole and systole, LV fractional shortening (FS) and ejection fraction (EF). Left ventricular systolic dysfunction was considered present when FS was <28% or EF was <50%. RESULTS Mean LV internal dimensions in diastole was similar in subjects and controls (P= .26). Left ventricular internal dimensions in systole was significantly larger in subjects (2.7 cm, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.6-2.8 cm) than controls (2.4 cm, 95% CI 2.3-2.5 cm) (P < .001). Mean FS of 27.8% (26.8-28.8%) in subjects was significantly reduced compared with 33.7% (33.1-34.3%) in controls (P < .001), as was EF 61.5% (60.7-62.3%) in subjects and 70.5% (69.7-71.3%) in controls (P < .001). Left ventricular systolic dysfunction was detected in 75 (50.0%, 95% CI 41.7-58.3%) subjects and 5 (3.3%, 95% CI 2.2-6.7) controls (P < .001). Subjects with left ventricular systolic dysfunction were significantly older than those without (P < .001) but did not differ significantly from them with respect to zidovudine therapy or stage of disease. CONCLUSIONS Left ventricular systolic dysfunction is significantly more frequent in HIV-infected children compared with controls. Left ventricular systolic function in HIV-infected children deteriorates with increasing age and should be serially evaluated in them.
Effects of food and sucralfate on a single oral dose of 500 milligrams of levofloxacin in healthy subjects

The effects of food and sucralfate on the pharmacokinetics of levofloxacin following the administration of a single 500-mg oral dose were investigated in a randomized, three-way crossover study with young healthy subjects (12 males and 12 females). Levofloxacin was administered under three conditions: fasting, fed (immediately after a standardized high-fat breakfast), and fasting with sucralfate given 2 h following the administration of levofloxacin. The concentrations of levofloxacin in plasma and urine were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography. By noncompartmental methods, the maximum concentration of drug in serum (Cmax), the time to Cmax (Tmax), the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC), half-life (t1/2), clearance (CL/F), renal clearance (CLR), and cumulative amount of levofloxacin in urine (Ae) were estimated. The individual profiles of the drug concentration in plasma showed little difference among the three treatments. The only consistent effect of the coadministration of levofloxacin with a high-fat meal for most subjects was that levofloxacin absorption was delayed and Cmax was slightly reduced (Tmax, 1.0 and 2.0 h for fasting and fed conditions, respectively [P = 0.002]; Cmax, 5.9 +/- 1.3 and 5.1 +/- 0.9 microg/ml [90% confidence interval = 0.79 to 0.94] for fasting and fed conditions, respectively). Sucralfate, which was administered 2 h after the administration of levofloxacin, appeared to have no effect on levofloxacin's disposition compared with that under the fasting condition. Mean values of Cmax and AUC from time zero to infinity were 6.7 +/- 3.2 microg/ml and 47.9 +/- 8.4 microg x h/ml, respectively, following the administration of sucralfate compared to values of 5.9 +/- 1.3 microg/ml and 50.5 +/- 8.1 microg x h/ml, respectively, under fasting conditions. The mean t1/2, CL/F, CLR, and Ae values were similar among all three treatment groups. In conclusion, the absorption of levofloxacin was slightly delayed by food, although the overall bioavailability of levofloxacin following a high-fat meal was not altered. Finally, sucralfate did not alter the disposition of levofloxacin when sucralfate was given 2 h after the administration of the antibacterial agent, thus preventing a potential drug-drug interaction.
Combining BRAFV600E inhibition with modulators of the mitochondrial bioenergy metabolism to overcome drug resistance in metastatic melanoma

mitochondrial bioenergy metabolism to overcome drug resistance in metastatic melanoma Elisabeth Livingstone*, Suzanne Swann*, Carmen Lilla, Dirk Schadendorf and Alexander Roesch Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany; GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, PA, USA; GlaxoSmithKline GmbH & Co. KG, Munich, Germany Correspondence: Alexander Roesch, MD, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, D-45122 Essen, Germany, Tel. : +49 (0) 201 723 4747, Fax: +49 (0) 201 723 6842, e-mail: alexander.roesch@uk-essen.de *These authors contributed equally to the manuscript.
Real and Literary Landscapes in Ancient Egypt

During the past thirty years the Survey of Memphis and others have acquired more than two hundred borehole logs from the Capital Zone of Egypt. Combining these boreholes with maps and satellite images, we show that, during the past five thousand years, the geography of the Nile has been in constant flux with mean rates of migration around 2 m/y and one of its channels becoming extinct, by nature or through human intervention. Re-visiting ancient texts in the light of this changing environment, we show that the literary settings of both fictional and historical texts were real landscapes known to the authors. Hence we infer that ancient descriptions of landscape can be interpreted in a more literal way than before and that the authors were not as prone to writing of a metaphorical realm as was previously thought.
The complex relationship between depressive symptoms and functional limitations in community-dwelling older adults: the impact of subthreshold depression

Background Depressive symptoms above screening thresholds have been shown to predict functional decline in older adults. Less is known about the impact of subthreshold depression, and whether more symptoms confer significantly greater risk compared to fewer symptoms. Method Using data from the Duke Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (EPESE) collected over 10 years, we used repeated-measures mixed models to predict functional change by depression status at the prior (index) in-person interview. Depressive symptoms were measured using a modified version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Subthreshold depression was operationalized as 6–8 symptoms and CES-D-defined depression as 9–20 symptoms in the previous week. Three domains of functional status were assessed at the subsequent in-person interview: limitations in basic activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental ADL (IADL) and mobility. Results Controlling for race, sex, age, education, marital status, cognitive status, health status, self-perceived health, perceived social support and functional status at the index interview, having ⩾6 depressive symptoms predicted an increase of 0.12 IADL limitations 3–4 years later (p=0.03). The incremental effect of CES-D-defined depression (⩾9 symptoms compared to 6–8 symptoms) was not significant, suggesting that the effect of more symptomatic depression did not add to that of subthreshold depression. CES-D score modeled as a continuous variable predicted functional change for all domains, but the relationship was not linear, supporting a possible threshold effect. Conclusions The relationship between depressive symptoms and functional change is complex, not necessarily linear, and may vary by tasks assessed.
Inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 integrase by the Fab fragment of a specific monoclonal antibody suggests that different multimerization states are required for different enzymatic functions

We have characterized a murine monoclonal antibody (MAb 35), which was raised against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integration protein (IN), and the corresponding Fab 35. Although MAb 35 does not inhibit HIV-1 IN, Fab 35 does. MAb 35 (and Fab 35) binds to an epitope in the C-terminal region of HIV-1 IN. Fab 35 inhibits 3'-end processing, strand transfer, and disintegration; however, DNA binding is not affected. The available data suggest that Fab 35 inhibits enzymatic activities of IN by interfering with the ability of IN to form multimers that are enzymatically active. This implies that the C-terminal region of HIV-1 IN participates in interactions that are essential for the multimerization of IN. Titration of the various IN-mediated enzymatic activities suggests that different degrees of multimerization are required for different activities of HIV-1 IN.
The ontogeny of metabolic rate and thermoregulatory capabilities of northern fur seal, Callorhinus ursinus, pups in air and water.

Young pinnipeds, born on land, must eventually enter the water to feed independently. The aim of this study was to examine developmental factors that might influence this transition. The ontogeny of metabolic rate and thermoregulation in northern fur seal, Callorhinus ursinus, pups was investigated at two developmental stages in air and water using open-circuit respirometry. Mean in-air resting metabolic rate (RMR) increased significantly from 113+/-5 ml O(2 )min(-)(1) (N=18) pre-molt to 160+/-4 ml O(2 )min(-)(1) (N=16; means +/- s.e.m.) post-molt. In-water, whole-body metabolic rates did not differ pre- and post-molt and were 2.6 and 1.6 times in-air RMRs respectively. Mass-specific metabolic rates of pre-molt pups in water were 2.8 times in-air rates. Mean mass-specific metabolic rates of post-molt pups at 20 degrees C in water and air did not differ (16.1+/-1.7 ml O(2 )min(-)(1 )kg(-)(1); N=10). In-air mass-specific metabolic rates of post-molt pups were significantly lower than in-water rates at 5 degrees C (18.2+/-1.1 ml O(2 )min(-)(1 )kg(-)(1); N=10) and 10 degrees C (19.4+/-1.7 ml O(2 )min(-)(1 )kg(-)(1); N=10; means +/- s.e. m. ). Northern fur seal pups have metabolic rates comparable with those of terrestrial mammalian young of similar body size. Thermal conductance was independent of air temperature, but increased with water temperature. In-water thermal conductance of pre-molt pups was approximately twice that of post-molt pups. In-water pre-molt pups matched the energy expenditure of larger post-molt pups while still failing to maintain body temperature. Pre-molt pups experience greater relative costs when entering the water regardless of temperature than do larger post-molt pups. This study demonstrates that the development of thermoregulatory capabilities plays a significant role in determining when northern fur seal pups enter the water.
STIMULATORY EFFECT OFNIGELLA SATIVA ON B2-ADRENOCEPTORS OF GUINEA PIG TRACHEAL CHAINS

Our previous studies have demonstrated the relaxant, anticholinergic (functional antagonism), antihistaminic, and inhibitory effect of calcium channels of Nigella sativa on guinea pig tracheal chains. To investigate the other mechanism responsible for the relaxant effect of this plant, the stimulatory effect of Nigella sativa on β2-adrenergic receptors in tracheal chains of the guinea pig was examined in this study. The β2-Adrenergic effects of macerated and aqueous extracts from Nigella sativa, 50 nM propranolol, and saline were tested by performing the cumulative Log concentration-response curves of isoprenaline induced relaxation of precontracted isolated guinea pig tracheal chains with three different conditions including: non-incubated (group 1, n=8); incubated with 1 μM chlorpheniramine, and 1 μM atropine (group 2, n=5). The effective concentration of isoprenaline, causing 50% of maximum response (EC50), maximum response and the slope of isoprenaline curves obtained in the presence of extracts, and propranolol were compared with those of saline. The results showed clear leftward shifts in isoprenaline curves obtained in the presence of both macerated and aqueous extracts compared with that of saline in group 2. The EC50 obtained in the presence of aqueous extract in group 2 was significantlylower than that of saline (p<0.05). The maximum response obtained in the presence of aqueous extract in group 2 was non-significantly greater than that of saline. However, in group 1 experiments there was no significant difference between EC50 and maximum responses obtained in the presence of two extracts and saline, although isoprenaline curves obtained in the presence of both macerated and aqueous extracts showed clear rightward shifts compared to that of saline. Isoprenaline curves were obtained in the presence of propranolol in both groups of experiments. The EC50 obtained in the presence of propranolol was significantly greater than that obtained in the presence of saline and extracts in both groups of experiments (p<0.001 for all cases). The results of this study indicated a stimulatory effect of aqueous extract and a possible stimulatory effect of macerated extract from Nigella sativa on β2-adrenoceptors.
Effect of lung-volume-reduction surgery in patients with severe emphysema.

BACKGROUND Although many patients with severe emphysema have undergone lung-volume-reduction surgery, the benefits are uncertain. We conducted a randomized, controlled trial of the surgery in patients with emphysema. Patients with isolated bullae were excluded because such patients are known to improve after bullectomy. METHODS Potentially eligible patients were given intensive medical treatment and completed a smoking-cessation program and a six-week outpatient rehabilitation program before random assignment to surgery or continued medical treatment. After 15 patients had been randomized, the entry criteria were modified to exclude patients with a carbon monoxide gas-transfer value less than 30 percent of the predicted value or a shuttle-walking distance of less than 150 m, because of the deaths of 5 such patients (3 treated surgically and 2 treated medically). RESULTS Of the 174 subjects who were initially assessed, 24 were randomly assigned to continued medical treatment and 24 to surgery. At base line in both groups, the median forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was 0.75 liter, and the median shuttle-walking distance was 215 m. Five patients in the surgical group (21 percent) and three patients in the medical group (12 percent) died (P=0.43). After six months, the median FEV1 had increased by 70 ml in the surgical group and decreased by 80 ml in the medical group (P=0.02). The median shuttle-walking distance increased by 50 m in the surgical group and decreased by 20 m in the medical group (P=0.02). There were similar changes on a quality-of-life scale and similar changes at 12 months of follow-up. Five of the 19 surviving patients in the surgical group had no benefit from the treatment. CONCLUSIONS In selected patients with severe emphysema, lung-volume-reduction surgery can improve FEV1, walking distance, and quality of life. Whether it reduces mortality is uncertain.
Characterization of Tn5 mutants deficient in dissimilatory nitrite reduction in Pseudomonas sp. strain G-179, which contains a copper nitrite reductase

Tn5 was used to generate mutants that were deficient in the dissimilatory reduction of nitrite for Pseudomonas sp. strain G-179, which contains a copper nitrite reductase. Three types of mutants were isolated. The first type showed a lack of growth on nitrate, nitrite, and nitrous oxide. The second type grew on nitrate and nitrous oxide but not on nitrite (Nir-). The two mutants of this type accumulated nitrite, showed no nitrite reductase activity, and had no detectable nitrite reductase protein bands in a Western blot (immunoblot). Tn5 insertions in these two mutants were clustered in the same region and were within the structural gene for nitrite reductase. The third type of mutant grew on nitrate but not on nitrite or nitrous oxide (N2O). The mutant of this type accumulated significant amounts of nitrite, NO, and N2O during anaerobic growth on nitrate and showed a slower growth rate than the wild type. Diethyldithiocarbamic acid, which inhibited nitrite reductase activity in the wild type, did not affect NO reductase activity, indicating that nitrite reductase did not participate in NO reduction. NO reductase activity in Nir- mutants was lower than that in the wild type when the strains were grown on nitrate but was the same as that in the wild type when the strains were grown on nitrous oxide. These results suggest that the reduction of NO and N2O was carried out by two distinct processes and that mutations affecting nitrite reduction resulted in reduced NO reductase activity following anaerobic growth with nitrate.
Neutralization of Endogenous Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Depletes Primordial Follicles in the Mouse Ovary1

Abstract The regulation of early follicular growth and development involves a complex interaction of autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine signals. The ability of these factors to regulate follicle growth may depend in part on the extent of vascular delivery to and perfusion of the ovary. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) is a major regulator of vascular physiology in the ovary. VEGFA is produced in numerous ovarian compartments and likely plays a role in the regulation of all phases of follicular growth, from preantral through preovulatory. The aim of the present study was to further evaluate the role of VEGF in early follicle growth by neutralization of endogenous VEGF or VEGF receptors. Adult mice were injected systemically and prepubertal mice were injected directly under the ovarian bursa with antibodies designed to neutralize VEGF or block interaction with its receptors in the ovary. Both systemic and intrabursal injections of VEGF antibody significantly reduced the number of primordial follicles within 1–3 days after administration without affecting primary or secondary follicle numbers. Primordial follicle numbers were not different from control levels by 30 days after VEGFA antibody administration. Administration of antibodies to the kinase domain receptor (KDR), but not the FMS-like tyrosine receptor (FLT1), for VEGF also resulted in a significant decrease in primordial follicles. These data suggest that VEGF plays a vital role in the maintenance and growth of the primordial follicle pool.
Determinants of severe oral mucositis in paediatric cancer patients: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE To analyse the incidence and the determinants of severe oral mucositis (OM) in young cancer patients treated by standard chemotherapy. METHODS The study was carried out at the Pediatric Hemato-Oncology unit of Children's Hospital of Rabat. Patients under 16 years of age with malignant disease treated by chemotherapy between January 2001 and December 2006 were recorded. RESULTS Consecutive patients (n = 970) with malignant disease were studied. The age ranges from 2 months to 16 years (mean, 6.8 ± 4.1 years). OM occurred in 540 (55.6%) patients, and 17.9% of them encountered severe grades. Mean time to onset of the lesions was 10.5 ± 6.8 (range, 1-22 days) and mean duration was 6.8 ± 3.1 (range, 2-23 days). All chemotherapeutic protocols were associated with OM development (range, 20-100%). Patients with severe OM were more likely to have undifferentiated carcinoma of nasopharyngeal type (RR = 2.6, 95% IC 1.1-6.1), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (RR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.2-2.4) and acute leukaemia (RR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.5-3.6). Methotrexate-based therapies were also associated with the worsening of OM (RR = 1.7, 95% IC 1.2-2.6). CONCLUSION Underlying disease and chemotherapy regimens are the principal risk factors of OM development. This model can help in the identification of patients at risk for adequate preventive and therapeutic measures.
A novel Lossless BFN for linear arrays based on overlapped sub-arrays

A novel Lossless Beam-Forming Network (BFN) architecture for Limited Field of View and Multi-Beam linear arrays is introduced. The BFN is based on the Overlapped Sub-Array technique and allows a substantial reduction in the number of control elements and associated active devices (i.e. amplifiers, variable phase shifters, etc.). This advantage is achieved adopting a lossless topology with reduced implementation complexity.
Abnormal circulating levels of metalloprotease 9 and its tissue inhibitor 1 in angiographically proven peripheral arterial disease: relationship to disease severity

Background. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is associated with adaptive changes in the vascular and muscle extracellular matrix (ECM) in response to reduced blood flow. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors (TIMPs), are key modulators of ECM turnover. We hypothesized that patients with intermittent claudication (with low ankle‐brachial blood pressure index, <0.8), and critical ischaemia would have raised circulating levels of MMP‐9, TIMP‐1 and TIMP‐2 compared with healthy controls, reflecting an increase in proteolytic activity which may be related to ECM turnover in PAD.
Elevated urinary excretion of endothelin in insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus: no influence of physical exercise

The urinary excretion of endothelin was measured by radioimmunoassay in children with diabetes mellitus in metabolically stable condition before and after ergometric exercise. Apparently healthy children served as normal controls. The excretion of endothelin, calculated for 24 h and the ratio of endothelin/creatinine in urine were also significantly higher in diabetic children compared to normal controls. Physical exercise had no influence on renal endothelin excretion. In diabetic children the volume of diuresis was higher compared to controls. Physical exercise had no influence on diuresis. In a previous study we found a positive correlation between diureses and endothelin excretion. Therefore, the increased endothelin excretion in the diabetic patients may be at least partially the consequence of the higher diuresis values. It cannot be excluded, however, that it may be a sign of altered renal function as well. Furthermore, the present study suggests that in patients with diabetes mellitus elevated sympathetic nerve activity as a result of physical activity does not influence renal endothelin production.
Multiplexing gains achieved in pools of baseband computation units in 4G cellular networks

The tremendous increase of mobile user traffic load within the last few years forces us to efficiently use the wireless network and processing resources. Cloud computing and virtualization techniques offer an exciting opportunity to considerably reduce operation costs and provide flexible and dynamic systems. In this paper we present a simulation study for a cloud base station, which concentrates baseband processing functions of multiple radio sites. There we focus on the multiplexing-gains induced from user load and traffic heterogeneity. Our simulation results show that the data traffic influences the variance of the compute resource utilization, which in consequence leads to significant multiplexing gains if multiple sectors are aggregated into one single cloud base station. In addition, the spatial user distribution has a high impact on the compute resource load. These findings should be taken into account for the assessment of multiplexing gains in real networks.