Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regeneration of nerve fibres across a colonic anastomosis in the guinea‐pig

Resection and re‐anastomosis of the bowel interrupts enteric neuronal pathways. The re‐establishment of neuronal connections across a colonic anastomosis was studied using immunohistochemical, retrograde tracing and physiological techniques. In control guinea‐pig proximal colon, retrograde labelling with 1,1′‐didodecyl‐3,3,3,3′‐tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI) revealed that enteric neurons with anally‐directed projections are more numerous and have longer axons than orally‐projecting neurons. In resected bowel, up to 26 weeks after re‐anastomosis, descending neuronal pathways were substantially interrupted. Immunohistochemical labelling of nerve fibres revealed that some enteric nerve fibres did regenerate across narrow regions of the anastomosis, growing preferentially in the oral to anal direction. However, nerve fibres immunoreactive for neurofilament protein triplet were substantially depleted in myenteric ganglia anal to the anastomosis, even after the longest recovery periods, demonstrating that axonal regrowth was limited. This was confirmed in retrograde tracing studies, as no nerve cell bodies oral to an anastomosis were labelled when DiI was placed on myenteric ganglia just anal to the anastomosis. Physiological studies confirmed that regrowth of nerve fibres across the anastomosis occurred and that it was asymmetric, as electrical stimulation led to aboral conduction across the anastomosis more reliably than oral conduction, as measured by circular muscle contraction. After resection and re‐anastomosis of the colon, the disruption of neuronal pathways in the enteric nervous system was observed, with limited and preferential re‐establishment of aborally‐directed long connections.
Different composition of glutamate receptors in corticothalamic and lemniscal synaptic responses and their roles in the firing responses of ventrobasal thalamic neurons in juvenile mice

Thalamic ventrobasal (VB) relay neurons receive information via two major types of glutamatergic synapses, that is, from the medial lemniscus (lemniscal synapses) and primary somatosensory cortex (corticothalamic synapses). These two synapses influence and coordinate firing responses of VB neurons, but their precise operational mechanisms are not yet well understood. In this study, we compared the composition of glutamate receptors and synaptic properties of corticothalamic and lemniscal synapses. We found that the relative contribution of NMDA receptor‐mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) to non‐NMDA receptor‐mediated EPSCs was significantly greater in corticothalamic synapses than in lemniscal synapses. Furthermore, NMDA receptor 2B‐containing NMDA receptor‐ and kainate receptor‐mediated currents were observed only in corticothalamic synapses, but not in lemniscal synapses. EPSCs in corticothalamic synapses displayed the postsynaptic summation in a frequency‐dependent manner, in which the summation of the NMDA receptor‐mediated component was largely involved. The summation of kainate receptor‐mediated currents also partially contributed to the postsynaptic summation in corticothalamic synapses. In contrast, the contribution of NMDA receptor‐mediated currents to the postsynaptic summation of lemniscal EPSCs was relatively minor. Furthermore, our results indicated that the prominent NMDA receptor‐mediated component in corticothalamic synapses was the key determinant for the late‐persistent firing of VB neurons in response to corticothalamic stimuli. In lemniscal synapses, in contrast, the onset‐transient firing in response to lemniscal stimuli was regulated mainly by AMPA receptors.
Role of Lipid Microdomains in P/Q-type Calcium Channel (Cav2.1) Clustering and Function in Presynaptic Membranes*

Lipid microdomains can selectively include or exclude proteins and may be important in a variety of functions such as protein sorting, cell signaling, and synaptic transmission. The present study demonstrates that two different voltage-gated calcium channels, which both interact with soluble N-ethyl-maleimide-sensitive fusion protein attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins but have distinct subcellular distributions and roles in synaptic transmission, are differently distributed in lipid microdomains; presynaptic P/Q (Cav2.1) but not Lc (Cav1.2) calcium channel subtypes are mainly accumulated in detergent-insoluble complexes. The immunoisolation of multiprotein complexes from detergent-insoluble or detergent-soluble fractions shows that the α1A subunits of Cav2.1 colocalize and interact with SNARE complexes in lipid microdomains. The altered organization of these microdomains caused by saponin and methyl-β-cyclodextrin treatment largely impairs the buoyancy and distribution of Cav2.1 channels and SNAREs in flotation gradients. On the other hand, cholesterol reloading partially reverses the drug effects. Methyl-β-cyclodextrin treatment alters the colocalization of Cav2.1 with the proteins of the exocytic machinery and also impairs calcium influx in nerve terminals. These results show that lipid microdomains in presynaptic terminals are important in organizing membrane sites specialized for synaptic vesicle exocytosis. The cholesterol-enriched microdomains contribute to optimizing the compartmentalization of exocytic machinery and the calcium influx that triggers synaptic vesicle exocytosis.
Predictors of Mortality in Older Hip Fracture Inpatients Admitted to an Orthogeriatric Unit in Oslo, Norway

Objectives: To identify to which degree patient-related factors (age, gender, place of residence, general health condition, comorbidity) and hospital-related factors (waiting time for surgery, type of surgery, in-hospital complications, length of stay) may predict 1-year mortality in elderly hip fracture patients in an orthogeriatric unit, to optimize treatment and care. Method: In-hospital patient information was routinely collected by multidisciplinary staff and entered into a database. Information about mortality was obtained for 567 patients aged 65 and above. Multivariate logistic regression was performed. Results: Overall mortality was 23.5%, but there was a large variation in mortality according to age, gender, comorbidity, and place of residence. Independent predictors of mortality were admittance from nursing home (risk ratio [RR] = 3.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.37-4.43 compared with home dwellers) and a higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score (RR = 1.75 and 95% CI = 1.24-2.46, for ASA ≥ 3 compared with ASA ≤ 2). Male gender, increasing age, increasing number of comorbid conditions, and having fallen indoors were indicators, but not independent predictors, of higher mortality. Discussion: Almost one fourth of older hip fracture patients in this unit died within a year. The most important predictor was admittance from nursing home, which was associated with comorbidity and frailty. More attention to patients from nursing homes is needed in the health care system.
Meanings, ideologies, and learners' dictionaries

This paper looks at the treatment of ideologically loaded items in monolingual learners’dictionaries of English, and issues in the lexicographical description of their meanings. It begins by considering non-denotative meaning and the question of evidence; then considers a selection of entries relating to ethnocentricity, gender and sexuality, and age. Entries are drawn mainly from the standard British big five; the 1948 edition of Hornby; and two crowd-sourced dictionaries.
Review: Safety of long-acting β2 -agonists in the treatment of asthma

Several studies suggested an association between the regular use of β2-agonists and asthma deaths. Whether this association represents adverse effects of β -agonist use or is entirely due to disease severity is a matter of ongoing debate. Previous literature indicates that confounding by poor asthma control may explain the apparent deleterious effects of inhaled β2-agonists. Tolerance to nonbronchodilator effects of β2-agonists may account for the increase in reactivity to indirect bronchoconstrictor challenges and explain why some studies have demonstrated enhanced bronchoconstriction in patients with asthma after regular β 2-agonist therapy. Nonetheless, the salmeterol multi-centre asthma research trial (SMART) found more asthma deaths (13 vs 3) and life-threatening asthma events (37 vs 22) in the salmeterol-treated asthmatic patients, although it was documented that among African-Americans, 5 times as many deaths and near-deaths from asthma occurred in those given salmeterol than in those given placebo, and among patients with asthma not using an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) as a preventive (controller) medication, again more deaths and near-deaths from asthma occurred in those given salmeterol than in those given placebo. Only 38% of the African-Americans who participated in the study used an ICS. As a result of the findings from the SMART, FDA issued a public health advisory to highlight that long-acting β2-agonists (LABAs) should not be the first medicine used to treat asthma. LABAs should be added to the asthma treatment plan only if other medicines, including the use of low-or-medium dose ICSs, do not control asthma. However, despite all of the concerns raised by the SMART, inhaled β2-agonists remain the most effective bronchodilators available for the immediate relief of asthma symptoms and, as such, remain an important component of asthma management. Obviously, there are concerns about LABA treatment as monotherapy for asthma. Patients with asthma should be initiated and maintained on sufficiently high doses of ICSs and only patients whose asthma cannot be controlled should receive additional LABAs on a regular basis.
Board diversity and total directors’ remuneration: evidence from an emerging market

Purpose This paper aims to examine the relationship between board diversity and total directors’ remuneration in Malaysia. The authors have operationalised two variables to represent board diversity: the proportion of women directors on the board, to present gender diversity and the proportion of Bumiputras directors, to represent ethnic diversity. Design/methodology/approach This study has used a panel least squares to test the relationship between board diversity and total directors’ remuneration. Findings Based on a 1,094 firm-year sample from 2007 to 2009, the authors found a positive and significant relationship between gender-diverse boards and remuneration, but a negative and significant relationship between ethnically diverse boards and remuneration. The interaction between gender and ethnically diverse boards results in a weaker negative relationship between ethnically diverse boards and remuneration with an increased presence of women directors. Finally, the authors found a positive and significant impact on remuneration when there are at least three women and three Bumiputras directors. The findings are robust after controlling for corporate governance variables, institutional variables and firm characteristics. Research limitations/implications The main implication of this finding is the positive effect of firms hiring more women in top management roles on remuneration. In addition, the negative effect of Bumiputras suggests that their role is to offer political expedience to the board and thus provide economies of scale through their status to the country. Originality/value This study tests the effect of both gender and ethnicity simultaneously on directors’ remuneration.
Prediction of infarct size by speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with anterior myocardial infarction

BackgroundSpeckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is based on tracing of pixel groups in grayness scale for the quantitative measurement of myocardium strain and myocardium strain rate. Recent data suggest that evaluation of STE could be a tool for myocardial function assessment similar to MRI. AimTo assess the predictive value of STE for the evaluation of infarct size in patients with anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Materials and methodsWe enrolled 39 patients with the first anterior wall STEMI (mean age 59±10 years, 29 men). All patients were treated with a primary percutaneous coronary intervention, and the time from the symptom onset to reperfusion was 298±195 min. Left ventricular ejection fraction assessed in three-dimensional echocardiography was 47±9%. On the day of discharge, STE was performed to determine the average global value of peak longitudinal strain (GLS) of 16 myocardial segments. The average value of the peak longitudinal strain for nine segments supplied by the left anterior descending artery anterior wall global longitudinal strain was assessed separately. Infarct size was assessed 3 months after STEMI by MRI using late gadolinium enhancement, and a large infarct was defined as at least 20% left ventricle myocardium covered by the scar. ResultsAccording to the results of MRI, we defined two groups: 22 patients with a large infarct (≥20%, group A) and 17 patients with a small infarct (<20%, group B). There were no differences between both groups in the demographics and cardiovascular risk factors. There was a significant correlation between GLS and the degree of myocardium injury assessed by MRI (r=0.62, P=0.001). The correlation was higher for anterior wall global longitudinal strain (r=0.68, P=0.001). With the receiver operating characteristic curve, the cut-off point for GLS was calculated (−12.3), which defined a large infarct with 82% sensitivity and 87% specificity (area under the curve=83). For segments supplied by the left anterior descending artery, the cut-off value for the prediction of a large infarct was −11.5 (sensitivity 90%, specificity 73%, area under the curve=84). ConclusionSTE seems to be a very promising tool in the prediction of infarct size in patients with anterior STEMI.
Evaluation of mutagenic effect of two antiobesity drugs on mice’s genetic materials

Obesity is a complex, multifactorial disease that, similarly to high blood pressure and diabetes, frequently requires pharmacological treatment with long-term use, suggesting that pattern of use could increase the rates of genetic damage. Among antiobesity drugs, meridia and orlistat act with completely different mechanisms of action. This study aimed to evaluate the mutagenic effect of meridia and orlistat on genetic material of mice by cytogenetic analysis, which included the micronucleus test and chromosomal aberration assay at two doses comparable to propose human therapeutic and double therapeutic doses. Results revealed that the total number of structural chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow cells, with gap, was significantly increased for the two drugs at therapeutic doses. The structural chromosomal aberrations involved breaks, gaps, deletions and fragments, and centric fusion. Chromosomal deletions and fragments were the most frequently increased types of structural chromosomal aberrations. At double therapeutic doses, the treated animals showed a high significant increase of total structural chromosomal aberrations with and without gaps for the two drugs. The frequency of micronucleus in mice treated with therapeutic doses was significantly increased for both drugs. The treated animals at double therapeutic doses showed a positive response for both drugs. In conclusion, treatment with these two drugs at therapeutic doses should be taken under precaution and contraindicated at double therapeutic doses, because the cytogenetic analysis of meridia and orlistat showed an adverse effect on genetic materials at therapeutic doses and a mutagenic effect at double therapeutic doses.
A novel continuous capnodynamic method for cardiac output assessment in a porcine model of lung lavage

We have evaluated a new method for continuous monitoring of effective pulmonary blood flow (COEPBF), i.e. cardiac output (CO) minus intra‐pulmonary shunt, during mechanical ventilation. The method has shown good trending ability during severe hemodynamic challenges in a porcine model with intact lungs. In this study, we further evaluate the COEPBF method in a model of lung lavage.
Original Article Effects of dexmedetomidine on cellular immunity of perioperative period in children with brain neoplasms

Objective: To study the effects of dexmedetomidine (Dex) on cellular immunity during the perioperative pe- riod in children with brain neoplasms. Methods: Forty children with brain neoplasms scheduled for selective opera- tion were recruited and divided randomly into two groups. The Dex group was given a loading dose of 1 μg*kg -1 Dex 15 minutes before anesthesia induction followed by a continuous infusion of 0.5 μg × kg -1 × h -1 Dex. Patients in control group received a same volume of normal saline for a same time period. Venous blood was collected before anesthesia (T 0 ), 1 h after operation started (T 1 ), immediately after operation ended (T 2 ), 1 day after operation (T 3 ) and 3 days after operation (T 4 ), respectively. Results: CD 3 + , CD 4 + , CD 4 + /CD 8 + , NK and B cells at T 1 -T 3 decreased sig- nificantly (P < 0.05) in both groups compared with those at T 0, while the decrease of CD 3 + , CD 4 + , CD 4 + /CD 8 + and NK cells at T 1 -T 3 and B cells at T 1- T 2 in Dex group was significantly less than the control group (P < 0.05). All values at T 4 recovered to the level before anesthesia in both groups. Conclusion: Dex given by a continuous intravenous infusion during general anesthesia may effectively inhibit the stress responses and reduce the inhibition of cellular immunity in children with brain neoplasms during the perioperative period.
Random Pilot and Data Access in Massive MIMO for Machine-Type Communications

A massive MIMO system, represented by a base station with hundreds of antennas, is capable of spatially multiplexing many devices and thus naturally suited to serve dense crowds of wireless devices in emerging applications, such as machine-type communications. Crowd scenarios pose new challenges in the pilot-based acquisition of channel state information and call for pilot access protocols that match the intermittent pattern of device activity. A joint pilot assignment and data transmission protocol based on random access is proposed in this paper for the uplink of a massive MIMO system. The protocol relies on the averaging across multiple transmission slots of the pilot collision events that result from the random access process. We derive new uplink sum rate expressions that take pilot collisions, intermittent device activity, and interference into account. Simplified bounds are obtained and used to optimize the device activation probability and pilot length. A performance analysis indicates how performance scales as a function of the number of antennas and the transmission slot duration.
Centrally mediated inhibition of small intestinal transit and motility by morphine in the rat.

The effects of morphine treatment on small intestinal propulsion and contractile activity were investigated in unanesthetized rats. Intragastrically, s.c. and i.c. v. administered morphine produced dose-related decreases in the transit of a radioactive marker (51Cr) through the small intestine. Morphine was most potent after i.c. v. administration whereas the intragastric route was the least potent. Intracerebroventricular and s.c. morphine also delayed gastric emptying of [3H]polyethylene glycol placed directly into the stomach. Intragastric morphine at doses up to 500 mg/kg did not alter gastric emptying. The antitransit effects of i.c. v. and s.c. morphine were antagonized by prior treatment with naloxone (2 mg/kg s.c.). Changes in small intestinal motility resulting from morphine treatment were measured directly through chronically implanted silastic cannulas. Two cannulas were implanted in each rat, one into the duodenum and the second in the proximal jejunum. Each cannula was perfused with distilled water at a low flow rate (0.04 ml/min) and increases in intraluminal pressure associated with contractions were recorded as changes in outflow resistance. Morphine treatment decreased the frequency of contractions in both areas of the small intestine. Intracerebroventricular morphine again was the more potent route of administration when compared to s.c. morphine. These data indicate that morphine can act within the central nervous system to alter autonomic outflow to the small intestine. The result is an inhibition of motility which accounts for the antitransit effects of opiate-like compounds in the rat.
Quantification of myocardial blood flow and flow reserve in rats using arterial spin labeling MRI: comparison with a fluorescent microsphere technique

To quantify noninvasively myocardial blood flow (MBF) and MBF reserve in isoflurane‐anesthetized rats using the Look‐Locker flow‐alternating inversion recovery gradient‐echo arterial spin labeling technique (LLFAIRGE‐ASL), and to compare the results with the fluorescent microsphere (FM) technique. Male Wistar rats (weight = 200–240 g, n = 21) were anesthetized with 2.0% isoflurane. Hemodynamic parameters were recorded. In seven rats, MBF was assessed on a Bruker Biospec 4.7T MR system using an ECG‐ and respiration‐gated LLFAIRGE‐ASL (pixel size = 234 × 468µm2, TE = 1.52ms) at rest and during adenosine infusion (140 µg/kg/min). A mixture of 200 000 FM was injected into a second group of rats at rest and during adenosine infusion (n = 7 each), under similar physiologic conditions. Hearts and skeletal muscle samples were processed for fluorescence spectroscopy. Two‐tailed unpaired, paired Student's t‐test and ANOVAwere used to compare groups. MBF measured with LLFAIRGE‐ASL was 5.2 ± 1.0 mL/g/min at rest and 13.3 ± 3.0 mL/g/min during adenosine infusion. Results obtained with fluorescent microspheres yielded 5.9 ± 2.3 mL/g/min (nonsignificant vs. LLFAIRGE‐ASL, p = 0.9) at rest and 13.1 ± 2.1 mL/g/min (nonsignificant vs. LLFAIRGE‐ASL, p = 0.4) during adenosine infusion. Myocardial blood flow reserve measured using LLFAIRGE‐ASL and FM were not significantly different (2.5 ± 0.6 vs. 2.4 ± 0.9, respectively; p = 0.8). Hemodynamic parameters during the experiments were not different between the groups. The myocardial blood flow reserve determined under isoflurane anesthesia was 2.5 ± 0.6, which was not different from the value obtained with FM. LLFAIRGE‐ASL provided MBF maps with high spatial resolution in rats under isoflurane anesthesia. LLFAIRGE‐ASL is a noninvasive measure to assess myocardial blood flow reserve and provides an interesting tool for cardiovascular research. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.