Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pulsed electromagnetic field stimulation of bone marrow cells derived from ovariectomized rats affects osteoclast formation and local factor production

This study examined the effects of a specific pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) stimulation on osteoclast formation in bone marrow cells from ovariectomized rats and to determine if the signal modulates the production of cytokines associated with osteoclast formation. Adult female Wistar rats were subjected to bilateral or sham ovariectomy, and primary bone marrow cells were harvested at 4 days (Subgroup I) and 7 days (Subgroup II) after surgery. Primary bone marrow cells were subsequently placed in chamber slides and set inside solenoids powered by a pulse generator (300 μs, 7.5 Hz) for 1 h per day for 9 days (OVX + PEMF group). Others (INT, SHAM, and OVX groups) were cultured under identical conditions, but no signal was applied. Recruitment and authentication of osteoclast‐like cells were evaluated by determining multinuclear, tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) positive cells on day 10 of culture and by pit formation assay, respectively. The PEMF signal caused significant reductions in osteoclast formation in both Subgroups I (−55%) and II (−43%). Tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin 1β (IL‐1β), and interleukin 6 (IL‐6) in OVX + PEMF group of Subgroup I were significantly reduced at 5, 7, and 9 days as compared to OVX group. The results found in this study suggest that osteoclastogenesis can be inhibited by PEMF stimulation, putatively due to a concomitant decrease in local factor production. Bioelectromagnetics 25:134–141, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Credentialing, certification, and competence: Issues for new and seasoned nurse practitioners.

As new nurse practitioner (NP) graduates enter the workforce, they are faced with the sometimes confusing issues related to establishing credibility in their first job as an advanced practice nurse (APN). Establishing this credibility incorporates not only graduating from an accredited NP program but also dealing with the concepts of certification, licensure, or authorization to practice, and the issue of credentialing and privileging. Even seasoned NPs are facing some of these issues for the first time in their careers as the complex areas of competence, scope of practice, and regulation continue to evolve. This article will provide a brief overview of each of these concepts, which are especially important for the new APN graduate; describe some of the misconceptions that cause problems for APNs; identify the current questions on regulation of APNs being debated; and outline some of the proactive steps that can be taken to stay ahead of the curve.
Subciliary Incision and Skin-Muscle Eyelid Flap for Orbital Fractures

The lower eyelid skin-muscle flap is now widely used for cosmetic blepharoplasty, primarily because of the ease and speed of dissection it offers. We have used the same technique as a surgical approach in fractures of the orbital floor and rim. In a large clinical series seen over a three and a half–year period, no major complications were noted. This approach provides simple, extremely rapid exposure of the injured area and is an excellent alternative to other approaches to this site.
Facets of Perfectionism in a Sample of Hypersexual Patients

Abstract This study investigated the role of perfectionism in a treatment-seeking sample (N = 136) of adult men and women using the Perfectionism Inventory (PI) and the Hypersexual Behavior Inventory (HBI). Several facets of perfectionism were positively correlated with hypersexuality, with the concern over mistakes scale from the PI accounting for most of the predictive variance in patterns of hypersexual behavior measured by the HBI. Items associated with concern over mistakes closely parallel the construct of shame noted in other studies of hypersexual patients. To a lesser degree, the PI scale planfulness also showed a negative relationship with hypersexuality, suggesting tendencies of impulsivity in the current patients. These data reinforce the findings in other studies that patterns of harsh self-criticism and impulsivity seem to strongly influence hypersexual behavior.
Pharmacodynamic effects and pharmacokinetics of a new HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, rosuvastatin, after morning or evening administration in healthy volunteers.

AIMS To compare the lipid-regulating effects and steady-state pharmacokinetics of rosuvastatin, a new synthetic hydroxy methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor, following repeated morning and evening administration in volunteers with fasting serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations < 4.14 mmol l-1. METHODS In this open-label two-way crossover trial 24 healthy adult volunteers were randomized to receive rosuvastatin 10 mg orally each morning (07.00 h) or evening (18.00 h) for 14 days. After a 4 week washout period, volunteers received the alternative regimen for 14 days. Rosuvastatin was administered in the absence of food. RESULTS Reductions from baseline in serum concentrations of LDL-C (-41.3%[morning]vs-44.2%[evening]), total cholesterol (-30.9%vs-31.8%), triglycerides (-17.1%vs-22.7%), and apolipoprotein B (-32.4%vs-35.3%) were similar following morning and evening administration. AUC(0,24 h) for plasma mevalonic acid (MVA), an in vivo marker of HMG-CoA reductase activity, decreased by -29.9% (morning) vs-32.6% (evening). Urinary excretion of MVA declined by -33.6% (morning) vs-29.2% (evening). The steady-state pharmacokinetics of rosuvastatin were very similar following the morning and evening dosing regimens. The Cmax values were 4.58 vs 4.54 ng ml-1, and AUC(0,24 h) values were 40.1 vs 42.7 ng ml-1 h, following morning and evening administration, respectively. There were no serious adverse events during the trial, and rosuvastatin was well tolerated after morning and evening administration. CONCLUSIONS The pharmacodynamic effects and pharmacokinetics of rosuvastatin are not dependent on time of dosing. Morning or evening administration is equally effective in lowering LDL-C.
Nicotine Promotes Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis via Oxidative Stress and Altered Apoptosis-Related Gene Expression

Objective: To investigate the effect of nicotine on cardiomyocyte apoptosis in vitro and explore the potential mechanisms involved. Methods: The MTT assay was used to detect the viability of cultured cardiomyocytes exposed to different concentrations of nicotine (0.1–100 µM). Laser confocal microscopy, TUNEL assay and flow cytometry were utilized to detect cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Oxidative stress was evaluated by the levels of lactic dehydrogenase, malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase in the supernatant of culture media. Real-time PCR was conducted to identify mRNA expression changes in apoptosis-related genes between the nicotine and the control group. Results: Nicotine was found to inhibit cardiomyocyte viability in a concentration-dependent manner. Our results demonstrated that nicotine can promote cardiomyocyte apoptosis and the antioxidant glutathione can protect cardiomyocytes from apoptosis via inhibition of nicotine-induced oxidative stress. Real-time PCR indicated that the expression of Bcl-2, Pax3, Bmp4 and Slug was down-regulated in the nicotine group, while the expression of P53, Bax and Msx1 was up-regulated. Conclusion: Nicotine promotes cardiomyocyte apoptosis by inducing oxidative stress and disrupting apoptosis-related gene expression.
Plasma interferon-&ggr; and interleukin-10 concentrations in systemic meningococcal disease compared with severe systemic Gram-positive septic shock

ObjectiveTo analyze plasma interferon-&ggr; and interleukin-10 concentrations in patients with systemic meningococcal disease and patients with severe Gram-positive septic shock caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae or Staphylococcus aureus. To study the in vitro cytokine (interferon-&ggr; and interleukin-10) responses in a whole blood model boosted with heat-killed Neisseria meningitidis, S. pneumoniae, and S. aureus before and after treatment with recombinant interleukin-10 or recombinant interferon-&ggr;. DesignExperimental study. SettingLaboratory. SubjectsPlasma samples were collected from patients with systemic meningococcal disease (n = 66) and patients with severe Gram-positive septic shock caused by S. pneumoniae (n = 4) or S. aureus (n = 3). InterventionsWhole blood was boosted with heat-killed N. meningitidis, S. pneumoniae, and S. aureus (1 × 106 colony forming units/mL), and plasmas were analyzed for interleukin-10 or interferon-&ggr; at 0, 5, 12, and 24 hrs. Furthermore, recombinant interleukin-10 or recombinant interferon-&ggr; was added before bacteria, and the effect on the secretion of interferon-&ggr; and interleukin-10, respectively, was analyzed after 24 hrs. Measurements and Main ResultsThe median concentration of interferon-&ggr; was 15 pg/mL and of interleukin-10 was 10,269 pg/mL in patients with meningococcal septic shock (n = 24) compared with median interferon-&ggr; concentration of 3400 pg/mL and interleukin-10 concentration of 465 pg/mL in patients with severe Gram-positive shock (p = .001). Increased interferon-&ggr; concentrations were associated with case fatality (p = .011). In a whole blood model we demonstrated that 1 × 106 colony forming units/mL of N. meningitidis induced more interleukin-10 but less interferon-&ggr; than S. pneumoniae. S. aureus induced minimal secretion of both cytokines. Recombinant interleukin-10 efficiently down-regulated the secretion of interferon-&ggr;, and vice versa, as shown in a whole blood model. ConclusionWe speculate whether high concentrations of interleukin-10 contribute to the low concentrations of interferon-&ggr; in fulminant meningococcal septicemia. In addition, it appears as if interferon-&ggr; plays a minor role in the pathophysiology of meningococcal septic shock.
Phytochemical Analysis of Nigerian and Egyptian Henna (Lawsonia Inermis L.) Leaves using TLC, FTIR and GCMS

This study designed to compare phytochemicals for both Nigerian and Egyptian henna using preliminary test for secondary metabolites, thin layer chromatography (TLC), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Gas Chromatography Mass spectroscopy (GCMS). Lawsonia inermis L. (Lythraceae) commonly called henna known for its cosmetic properties. The active ingredients in the leaves were extracted and fractionated using chloroform, ether, methanol, and ethyl-acetate. The resultant fractions primarily analyzed for secondary metabolites and secondarily. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, tannins, quinines, resins and sterols. The presence or absence of all the phytochemicals in these solvents was more or less similar between both samples. TLC profiling shows 9 bands of chemical compounds that are significantly similar in both samples. The FTIR spectrum confirmed the presence of 8 functional in both samples and an additional of aliphaticiodo compound in Egyptian sample. Sixteen and seventeen compounds identified in Nigerian and Egyptian samples respectively by GCMS analysis. Lawsone (2-hydroxy 1, 2-naphtoquinone) is one out of 7 common chemical compounds identified in both samples. The common compound identified by TLC, FTIR, and GCMS were found to be significantly similar in both quantity and quality. Thus, the research confirmed henna to be an important source of phytochemicals of immense pharmaceutical significance.
Adopted children's emotion regulation: The role of parental attitudes and communication about adoption.

BACKGROUND Acknowledgement/rejection of adoption related differences and communication about adoption are two of the most important features of adoptive family dynamics. The present study focuses on the role played by these two variables on the adoptees’ emotion regulation. METHOD The adoptive parents of 70 school-aged children participated in the study. RESULTS Data showed that participant parents perceived their adopted children’s emotion regulation as adequate. In relation to family dynamics, acknowledgment of the adoption specificities significantly predicted the emotional lability/negativity of the adoptees, simultaneously mediated by the emotional quality of and the parental satisfaction with the communication about adoption. Furthermore, there was an indirect effect of early adversity on the adopted child’s emotional lability. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide new insight into adopted children’s emotional development, highlighting the importance of the family environment and pre-adoption experiences.
Cost effectiveness analysis of population-based serology screening and (13)C-Urea breath test for Helicobacter pylori to prevent gastric cancer: a markov model.

AIM To compare the costs and effectiveness of no screening and no eradication therapy, the population-based Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) serology screening with eradication therapy and (13)C-Urea breath test (UBT) with eradication therapy. METHODS A Markov model simulation was carried out in all 237900 Chinese males with age between 35 and 44 from the perspective of the public healthcare provider in Singapore. The main outcome measures were the costs, number of gastric cancer cases prevented, life years saved, and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained from screening age to death. The uncertainty surrounding the cost-effectiveness ratio was addressed by one-way sensitivity analyses. RESULTS Compared to no screening, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was $16166 per life year saved or $13571 per QALY gained for the serology screening, and $38792 per life year saved and $32525 per QALY gained for the UBT. The ICER was $477079 per life year saved or $390337 per QALY gained for the UBT compared to the serology screening. The cost-effectiveness of serology screening over the UBT was robust to most parameters in the model. CONCLUSION The population-based serology screening for H pylori was more cost-effective than the UBT in prevention of gastric cancer in Singapore Chinese males.
A randomized clinical trial of 4-hydroxyphenylretinamide for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions of the cervix.

PURPOSE Previous trials of topical trans-retinoic acid treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grades 2 and 3 led to a statistically significant regression of CIN 2, but not CIN 3. We tested N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4-HPR), a promising oral retinoid that has been shown to induce apoptosis through nonretinoic receptor acid-mediated pathways, for its toxicity and efficacy against CIN 2/3. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN In a blinded randomized trial, 4-HPR at 200 mg/day for 6 months (with a 3-day/month drug holiday) was compared with placebo in patients with biopsy-proven CIN-2/3 [high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HGSILs)]. Patients were treated with placebo or 4-HPR for 6 months, biopsied, and then followed for an additional 6 months. At the 12-month end point, they underwent either loop excision if a histological lesion was present or a biopsy from the original area of the lesion if no lesion was present. RESULTS An interim analysis of blinded data showed a significantly worse prognosis at 12 months for one group. When the code was broken because of the poorer outcomes, we discovered that the 4-HPR treatment arm was performing more poorly than was the placebo at 6 and 12 months (25 versus 44% response rates at 6 months; 14 versus 50% at 12 months). Toxicity was not significant in either arm. CONCLUSIONS 4-HPR at 200 mg/day with a 3-day/month drug holiday is not active compared with placebo in the treatment of HGSIL. Because 4-HPR is active in the laboratory, the lack of effect in our trial may indicate that higher doses are needed in patients to achieve comparable results.
On the use of a simple mobility model in ad hoc routing

Future ad hoc networks are expected to provide mobile hosts with access to a wide range of multimedia services. Mobility, however, poses a challenge towards providing adequate support to quality of service (QoS) routing. The paper considers ways of enhancing ad hoc routing by seeking means to quantify, model and exploit knowledge of various user mobility profiles. In this context, we investigate the use of a simple spatial probabilistic model for relatively low speed mobile hosts. Using the model, we examine combinatorial aspects of two basic routing problems: assessing the likelihood that a given end-to-end route exists, and selecting a highly probable route that balances nodal loads among a number of hosts. We devise efficient approximate solutions to both problems, and discuss possible ways of using the solutions in some existing on-demand routing protocols.
Transcriptional Dynamics Driving MAMP-Triggered Immunity and Pathogen Effector-Mediated Immunosuppression in Arabidopsis Leaves Following Infection with Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato DC3000[OPEN]

High-resolution microarray analysis of Pseudomonas syringae-inoculated Arabidopsis leaves reveals transcriptional dynamics underpinning basal defense and effector modulation leading to disease development. Transcriptional reprogramming is integral to effective plant defense. Pathogen effectors act transcriptionally and posttranscriptionally to suppress defense responses. A major challenge to understanding disease and defense responses is discriminating between transcriptional reprogramming associated with microbial-associated molecular pattern (MAMP)-triggered immunity (MTI) and that orchestrated by effectors. A high-resolution time course of genome-wide expression changes following challenge with Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato DC3000 and the nonpathogenic mutant strain DC3000hrpA- allowed us to establish causal links between the activities of pathogen effectors and suppression of MTI and infer with high confidence a range of processes specifically targeted by effectors. Analysis of this information-rich data set with a range of computational tools provided insights into the earliest transcriptional events triggered by effector delivery, regulatory mechanisms recruited, and biological processes targeted. We show that the majority of genes contributing to disease or defense are induced within 6 h postinfection, significantly before pathogen multiplication. Suppression of chloroplast-associated genes is a rapid MAMP-triggered defense response, and suppression of genes involved in chromatin assembly and induction of ubiquitin-related genes coincide with pathogen-induced abscisic acid accumulation. Specific combinations of promoter motifs are engaged in fine-tuning the MTI response and active transcriptional suppression at specific promoter configurations by P. syringae.
Differential localization of alpha-, beta- and gamma-synucleins in the rat CNS.

Alpha-synuclein is a presynaptic protein that normally participates in the homeostasis of synaptic vesicles. Missense mutations in its gene cause the protein to participate actively in the development of heritable forms of Parkinson's disease. Moreover, its metabolism is perturbed in all cases of Parkinson's disease where alpha-synuclein accumulates in a filamentous form in the Lewy body nerve cell lesion. Lewy bodies also develop in other common neurodegenerative disorders, like dementia with Lewy bodies and Lewy body variant of Alzheimer's disease. In the present study, we have studied the detailed distribution of alpha-, beta- and gamma-synuclein in the rat CNS. Alpha-synuclein was not observed in perikarya, but was distributed with high intensity in nerve terminals in the caudate and putamen and ventral pallidum, where beta-synuclein was much weaker and less densely distributed in the caudate and putamen. Gamma-synuclein was not found in the caudate and putamen. Alpha-synuclein was robustly distributed in the substantia nigra pars reticulata, but was very weak or virtually absent from the perikarya of the neurons in the pars compacta. In contrast, beta-synuclein was very weak or absent from the substantia nigra. gamma-Synuclein was absent from the terminals of substantia nigra pars reticulata, but sparsely distributed gamma-synuclein-containing neurons were detected in the substantia nigra pars compacta. In the brainstem, alpha-synuclein as well as gamma-synuclein were present in the locus coeruleus with high intensity, while beta-synuclein was very weak. In addition, alpha-synuclein was intense in the vagus nucleus, but weak in the oculomotor, facial, hypoglossal, accessory and ambiguous nuclei, where beta-synuclein was very intensely present. Furthermore, gamma-synuclein was localized in the terminals and in cell bodies of the Edinger-Westphal nucleus, the red nucleus, locus coeruleus, and most cranial nerve-related nuclei. In the spinal cord, alpha- and gamma-synucleins were intensely present in laminae I and II and in the preganglionic sympathetic nuclei, whereas beta-synuclein was very weak. These results indicate that alpha-synuclein is abundant in central catecholaminergic regions. Beta-synuclein is more localized in the somatic cholinergic components, while it is particularly weak or absent from catecholaminergic neurons. Gamma-synuclein appears to be present in both cholinergic and catecholaminergic regions, but very weak in the forebrain.
Increasing participation in cervical cancer screening: Telephone contact with long‐term non‐attendees in Sweden. Results from RACOMIP, a randomized controlled trial

Non‐participation is the foremost screening‐related risk factor for cervical cancer. We studied the effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness of an intervention to increase participation in the context of a well‐run screening program. Telephone contact with non‐attendees, offering an appointment to take a smear, was compared with a control group in a population‐based randomized trial in western Sweden. Of 8,800 randomly selected women aged 30–62, without a registered Pap smear in the two latest screening rounds, 4,000 were randomized to a telephone arm, another 800 were offered a high‐risk human papillomavirus (HPV) self‐test by mail (not reported in this article) and 4,000 constituted a control group. Endpoints were frequency of testing, frequency of abnormal smears and further assessment of abnormal tests. Participation during the following 12 months was significantly higher in the telephone arm than in the control group, 718 (18.0%) versus 422 (10.6%) [RR: 1.70, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.52–1.90]. The number of detected abnormal smears was 39 and 19, respectively (RR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.19–3.55). The respective numbers of further assessed abnormalities were 34 and 18 (RR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.07–3.34). Twice as many high‐grade intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2+) were detected and treated in the telephone arm: 14 and 7, respectively. Telephone contact with women who have abstained from cervical cancer screening for long time increases participation and leads to a significant increase in detection of atypical smears. Cost calculations indicate that this intervention is unlikely to be cost‐generating and this strategy is feasible in the context of a screening program.