Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of linaclotide for patients with chronic constipation.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Linaclotide is a minimally absorbed peptide agonist of the guanylate cyclase-C receptor that stimulates intestinal fluid secretion and transit and reduces pain in animal models. We assessed the safety and efficacy of a range of linaclotide doses in patients with chronic constipation. METHODS We performed a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of 310 patients with chronic constipation. Patients were randomly assigned to groups given 75, 150, 300, or 600 microg oral linaclotide or placebo once daily for 4 weeks. Symptom assessments included spontaneous bowel movements (SBMs), complete SBMs, stool consistency, straining, abdominal discomfort, and bloating. Severity of constipation, adequate relief of constipation, global relief of constipation, treatment satisfaction, quality of life, adverse events, clinical laboratory data, and electrocardiogram results were assessed. RESULTS All doses of linaclotide improved the weekly rate of SBM (primary end point) compared with placebo; the increases in overall weekly number of SBMs from baseline were 2.6, 3.3, 3.6, and 4.3 for linaclotide doses of 75, 150, 300, and 600 microg, respectively, compared with 1.5 for placebo (P < or = .05 for each pair-wise comparison of a linaclotide dose to placebo). Likewise, linaclotide significantly improved the weekly rate of complete SBM, stool consistency, straining, abdominal discomfort, bloating, global assessments, and quality of life. The most common and only dose-related adverse event was diarrhea (only 6 patients discontinued treatment because of diarrhea). CONCLUSIONS Linaclotide therapy was associated with few adverse events and produced rapid and sustained improvement of bowel habits, abdominal symptoms, global relief, and quality of life in patients with chronic constipation.
Anti-oxidant activity of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn .

Studies on natural compounds are of interest in now a day, due to their satisfactory health benefits with low toxicity. Herbs and spices have been added to different types of food to impart flavour as well as to improve storage stability due to their anti-oxidant effects. Anti-oxidants play a major role in curing degenerative diseases. In current scenario many synthetic antioxidants are commonly used but due to their toxic and carcinogenic effects, their use has been restricted by legislative rules. So the search for natural anti-oxidants is essential. In the present study, the flower of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn was extracted with n-butanol. Total phenolic content of the extracts was determined by Prussian blue method was found to be 1220 mg catechin is equivalent to 100 g of flower powder. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated through in vitro model systems such as DPPH Radical scavenging, total anti-oxidant activity and reducing power. The % Inhibition by extract (86%) as well as BHT is comparable by considering I% of BHT is 100%. Total antioxidant activity was found to be 248mg/100 g. Reducing power in terms of EC50 value of the extract is excellent (12.10), which is comparable with that of BHT (12.26). The results of the present study indicate that Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn. flower is a good source of antioxidant and phenolics.
[Pigmented nevus and cutaneous ossifications. Apropos of 125 cases of osteonevi].

In a series of 86,400 pathological examinations 125 cases of pigmented naevus associated with one or several foci of cutaneous ossification were observed. This association, known as osteonaevus of Nanta, account for 1.4 p. 100 of all pigmented naevi. In our series of examinations, osteonaevus was the most frequent cause (62 p. 100) of the 201 skin ossifications observed, the other causes being keratinizing basal cell epithelioma (7 p. 100) and pilomatricoma (5.5 p. 100). The patients' mean age was 46 years (range: 21-80 years), and 81 p. 100 of them were women. In almost every case the lesions were located on the head. The clinical diagnosis was always pigmented naevus, but it coexisted with inflammatory changes in 8 cases, and an underlying induration could be perceived at palpation in 4 cases. In 123 or ou 125 cases the pigmented naevus was restricted to the dermis, junctional theques being present in only 2 cases. The number of ossified foci varied from 1 in 45 p. 100 of the cases to 2 to 4 in 91 p. 100, and in 1 patient up to 8 foci were visible on the same section plane. The lesions presented as compact balls (135 cases), or lamellated bone (126 cases), or spicules of unorganized bone formations. They varied in size from 0.5 mm for balls to 1.5 mm for elements with a central cavity. In the latter were rudiments of bone marrow with capillary vessels, osteoclasts, adipose cells and cells that could be regarded as having haemopoietic functions. All naevi contained hair follicles. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Happy together: the life and times of Ty retrotransposons and their hosts

The aim of this review is to describe the level of intimacy between Ty retrotransposons (Ty1–Ty5) and their host the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The effects of Ty location in the genome and of host proteins on the expression and mobility of Ty elements are highlighted. After a brief overview of Ty diversity and evolution, we describe the factors that dictate Ty target-site preference and the impact of targeting on Ty and adjacent gene expression. Studies on Ty3 and Ty5 have been especially informative in unraveling the role of host factors (Pol III machinery and silencing proteins, respectively) and integrase in controlling the specificity of integration. In contrast, not much is known regarding Ty1, Ty2 and Ty4, except that their insertion depends on the transcriptional competence of the adjacent Pol III gene and might be influenced by some chromatin components. This review also brings together recent findings on the regulation of Ty1 retrotransposition. A large number of host proteins (over 30) involved in a wide range of cellular processes controls either directly or indirectly Ty1 mobility, primarily at post-transcriptional steps. We focus on several genes for which more detailed analyses have permitted the elaboration of regulatory models. In addition, this review describes new data revealing that repression of Ty1 mobility also involves two forms of copy number control that act at both the trancriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Since S. cerevisiae lacks the conserved pathways for copy number control via transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene silencing found in other eukaryotes, Ty1 copy number control must be via another mechanism whose features are outlined. Ty1 response to stress also implicates activation at both transcriptional and postranscriptional steps of Ty1. Finally, we provide several insights in the role of Ty elements in chromosome evolution and yeast adaptation and discuss the factors that might limit Ty ectopic recombination.
An In-depth Exploration of Information-Seeking Behavior Among Individuals With Cancer: Part 1: Understanding Differential Patterns of Active Information Seeking

The purpose of this 2-part paper was to describe individuals' health information-seeking behavior (HISB) patterns that emerged from our grounded theory study. Thirty individual interviews and 8 focus groups were conducted with individuals diagnosed with cancer. Analysis was characterized by constant comparison diagram, an evolving coding scheme, and ultimately the generation of a grounded theory of HISB patterns. Five HISB patterns were identified: (1) intense information seeking-a keen interest in detailed cancer information; (2) complementary information seeking-the process of getting "good enough" cancer information; (3) fortuitous information seeking-the search for cancer information mainly from others diagnosed with cancer; (4) minimal information seeking-a limited interest for cancer information; and (5) guarded information seeking-the avoidance of some cancer information. Part 1 focuses on describing the first 3 HISB patterns considered to illustrate variations in active information seeking. Each pattern is explained, including the type, amount, and sources of information sought. This analysis documents variations in active HISB often overlooked in the cancer literature. Findings may assist healthcare professionals in tailoring their informational interventions according to a patient's preferred HISB pattern. Furthermore, findings may inform the refinement of instruments measuring HISB to include variations in active information seeking.
Evaluation of Nutrition and Physical Activity Knowledge, Attitudes, Self Efficacy and Behaviors in Teachers and Children after Implementation of the “Healthy Active Kids” Online Program in Australian Elementary Schools

The aims were to examine change in nutrition and physical activity knowledge, self efficacy and attitudes in a cohort of 23 teachers and 304 year 5 and 6 children after the “Healthy Active Kids” online program and to assess any behavioral change in children’s self reported nutrition and physical activity behaviors and investigate the predictors of nutrition knowledge gain in teachers and children. Results found significant (p < 0.0001) increases in teacher and student knowledge of the five food groups; key nutrients provided by each food group, The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating; food labelling laws, identification of common names for fats, sugars and salts on food labels, food proportions on the Healthy Food Plate and the level and percentage of water in the human body and human brain. Teacher attitudes towards the importance of nutrition and diet and self efficacy related to teaching nutrition in class improved (p < 0.01). The final regression model for predictors of the dependent variable, knowledge gain in students was R = 0.53, Adjusted R square = 0.28 (F = 4.76, p < 0.01) indicating that 28% of the variation in knowledge gain was predicted by the negative (low) Time 1 knowledge. Changes to eating habits reported by children were “drinking more water each day” (89.1%) and “eating foods from the five food groups each day” (76.2%); “sharing information about food labels with your family” (52.4%); “reading food labels when you go shopping” (50.0%); “changing what is on your dinner plate each night” (44.2%); “vegetables that you eat now that you didn’t eat before” (42.1%) and “fruits that you eat now” (39%). Results suggest that the development of basic nutrition knowledge is still very important for both teachers and students, but that other factors such as self efficacy, empowerment and skill development also contribute to nutrition behavior change in children.
Microscopic overview of crinoid regeneration

Crinoids are well known for their striking regenerative potential and can rapidly and completely regenerate arms lost following self‐induced or traumatic amputation. Thus they provide a valuable experimental model for investigation of the regenerative process from the macroscopic to the molecular level. In these last years we have studied in detail the overall process of arm regeneration in the comatulid Antedon mediterranea. This phenomenon can be described on the whole as a typical blastemal regeneration in which new structures develop from migratory pluripotential, actively proliferating cells in the presence of presumptive regulatory factors. The overall process can be subdivided into three main phases: a repair phase, an early regenerative phase, and an advanced regenerative phase, whose crucial aspects are related to common fundamental mechanisms such as cell migration and proliferation, intervention of stem cells and/or dedifferentiated cells, contribution of putative growth factors, particularly in terms of specific neurally derived factors, and mechanisms of pattern formation. This article focuses on the main aspects of the phenomenon and gives a brief account of the most recent and relevant results. Our approach employs classical methods of light (LM) and electron (TEM and SEM) microscopy, immunocytochemistry, and histofluorescence on experimentally induced arm regenerations of standard or abnormal type obtained in significantly different experimental conditions, including extreme mutilations (explants) or exposure to pseudo‐estrogenic environmental contamination. Microsc. Res. Tech. 55:403–426, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Early distinction between shame and guilt processing in an interpersonal context

ABSTRACT Shame and guilt have been compared in many behavioral and functional magnetic resonance imaging studies. However, the time course of shame and guilt processing remains unknown. We conducted an event-related potential (ERP) study to investigate the temporal dynamics of shame and guilt in an interpersonal context. Behaviorally, participants reported “shame” when their wrong advice was correctly rejected by a confederate, whereas reported “guilt” when their wrong advice resulted in economic loss of a confederate. The ERP results showed significant difference between the shame and guilt conditions in the early P2 component (140–220 ms) over the frontal region and the alpha oscillations (240–1000 ms) over the parietal region. No significant difference was found between the shame and guilt conditions in the N2, P3, and theta oscillations. These results supported previous findings that shame compared to guilt involves more self-referential processing, whereas guilt compared to shame involves more empathetic processing, and provided evidence that the distinction between shame and guilt could occur in an early stage.
Motor hand representation in cortical area 44

Objective: To elucidate whether area 44 of human frontal cortex is essential for the organization of voluntary hand movements or not, the authors examined effects of single transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of human area 44 on voluntary hand movement and electromyography (EMG) activities in hand muscles. Method: Surface EMG responses were recorded from the thenar muscles of 10 normal subjects following TMS over area 44. Stimuli were applied 2 cm anterior to the primary tongue motor area. Results: Single TMS over area 44 could easily interrupt target-oriented hand movements. Human area 44 has facilitatory and inhibitory effects over both tonic and phasic finger movements. It is shown that single TMS of area 44 produces motor evoked potential from hand muscles. Conclusion: Human area 44 is involved in voluntary hand movements and has direct fast-conducting corticospinal projections.
Effects of Epinephrine on Coronary Microvascular Diameters

This study was designed to examine the hypothesis that epinephrine has nonuniform effects on coronary microvascular diameters. Measurements of coronary microvascular diameter were completed in anesthetized, open-chest cat preparations in which the epicardial microcirculation was viewed through an intravital microscope using stroboscopic epi-illumination. Images of coronary microvessels were digitized and analyzed on a video monitor. With arterial pressure controlled, measurements in the absence and presence of β-adrenergic blockade (propranolol 1 mg/kg) were obtained during epinephrine infusion (1–2 μg/kg/min). In the absence of β-adrenergic blockade, epinephrine produced a 25% increase in myocardial per fusion. Under these conditions, coronary vasodilation was observed in all classes of coronary arterial and arteriolar vessels. In the presence of β-adrenergic blockade, epinephrine produced a significant decrease in myocardial perfusion ( - 20%). Nonuniform effects on diameter were observed in arterial and venous segments of the coronary circulation. These data are consistent with the view that in the absence of β-adrenergic blockade, the functional coronary hyperemia associated with epinephrine administration is produced by uniform coronary arterial and arteriolar dilation. In the presence of β-adrenergic blockade, with metabolic effects controlled, epinephrine produced a decrease in myocardial perfusion, which is related to a nonuniform decrease in coronary microvascular diameters. Such heterogeneous effects on microvascular diameters result in a redistribution of coronary microvascular resistance. (Circulation Research 1987;61(suppl II):II-47-II-53)
Cell type-specific localization of c-myc protein in the mouse uterus: modulation by steroid hormones and analysis of the periimplantation period.

Estrogen has been shown to induce a rapid transient increase in c-myc mRNA in the rat uterus. However, no studies of the cell specificity of c-myc expression in the uterus have been reported, and nothing is known about the expression of c-myc in response to other steroids or during normal uterine preparation for implantation. To this end, the cell type-specific localization of c-myc protein was determined in the ovariectomized mouse uterus after progesterone (P4) and/or 17 beta-estradiol (E2) injection as well as during the periimplantation period. After E2 injection, a rapid accumulation of c-myc protein was detected exclusively in the uterine luminal and glandular epithelial nuclei in the ovariectomized mouse. Essentially all of these cells contained immunoreactive c-myc by 12 h postinjection. In contrast, after P4 injection, rapid accumulation of c-myc was noted exclusively in some of the stromal cell nuclei. Pretreatment of the ovariectomized mouse for 4 days with P4 (P4 priming) followed by E2 injection resulted in an increase in the number of c-myc-positive stromal cells, but few, if any, c-myc-positive cells were detected in the luminal and glandular epithelia. These uterine cell type-specific localizations of c-myc protein, induced by E2 or P4 injection, were followed within 18-24 h by DNA synthesis ([ 3H]thymidine incorporation) restricted to the epithelia or stroma, respectively. c-Myc was detected in the nuclei of luminal and glandular epithelia during proestrus and on days 1 and 2 of pregnancy, a period when the uterus is under the influence of estrogen. c-Myc-positive cells were detected in the stroma on day 3, and by day 4 a large number of stromal cell nuclei were c-myc positive. These changes are coincident with increasing P4 levels during early pregnancy. At the implantation chamber on day 5, many cells in the primary decidual zone as well as some of the deeper stromal cells were c-myc protein positive, whereas on day 6, c-myc protein was detected only in the secondary decidual zone. During this period of uterine preparation for embryo implantation and subsequent decidualization, there was a positive correlation between c-myc protein localized in specific populations of uterine cells and subsequent DNA synthesis in those cell types. Thus, both E2 and P4 induce cell type-specific accumulation of c-myc protein in the uterus of the ovariectomized mouse, with E2 induction of c-myc being restricted to epithelia, and P4 induction restricted to stroma. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Prediction of Neuroleptic‐Induced Dystonia

For patients receiving neuroleptics, age, sex, neuroleptic potency, and dose all influence the likelihood of a dystonic reaction. Little is known, however, of the relative importance of these factors or of the feasibility of predicting dystonia in individual patients.We reviewed 135 charts of psychotic inpatients to examine these factors and their usefulness in predicting dystonia. Age, sex, neuroleptic type, dose, and occurrence of dystonia were recorded for the first 4 days of drug treatment and were used to construct a linear discriminant function that classified the cases as to whether dystonia was expected. Internal cross-validation was performed, and the error rate of this classification procedure was calculated. Forty-nine (36%) of the patients had dystonia. A younger age was the most powerful predictor of dystonia. Male gender was second in predictive power with minor effects from neuroleptic dose and potency. The overall error rate (false-positive and false-negative errors combined) of the discriminant function was 30%. These results suggest the possibility of predicting dystonia in individual patients but should be regarded with caution since the predictive procedure has not been tested prospectively. If confirmed, these data may allow treatment strategies that protect patients from dystonia while sparing patients not at risk unnecessary treatment with antiparkinson agents. (J Clin Psychopharmacol 1987;7:342–345)
Mothers with intellectual disability, their experiences of maltreatment, and their children’s attachment representations: a small-group matched comparison study

Maternal intellectual disability (ID) is regarded a risk factor in child development, but there is no scientific evidence on maternal ID in relation to children’s attachment. Using a matched comparison design, a small group (n = 23) of mothers diagnosed with ID was studied to help fill this gap. Besides maternal ID, we examined the role of abuse/trauma/maltreatment (ATM) in the mothers’ biographies, along with potential confounds. Comparison group mothers (n = 25) had normal variations in intelligence and matched mothers with ID on residential area, income, child age, and sex. History of maternal ATM was assessed using a semi-structured interview and was found to be significantly more likely in the ID group mothers’ experience than the comparison group mothers. Children’s (M age = 77 months) attachment representations were assessed with the Separation Anxiety Test. Among children of mothers with ID, a substantial minority (35%) had a secure and the vast majority (>80%) an organized attachment representation. Mothers with ID who had suffered elevated ATM were significantly more likely to have children who were scored high on disorganization and insecurity. We discuss possible implications of our findings for societal considerations regarding parenting and child attachment in the context of parental ID status.
Low-Fluence Electron Yields of Highly Insulating Materials

Electron-induced electron yields of high-resistivity high-yield materials - ceramic polycrystalline aluminum oxide and polymer polyimide (Kapton HN) - were made by using a low-fluence pulsed incident electron beam and charge neutralization electron source to minimize charge accumulation. Large changes in the energy-dependent total yield curves and yield decay curves were observed, even for incident electron fluences of < 3 fC/mm2. The evolution of the electron yield as charge accumulates in the material is modeled in terms of electron recapture based on an extended Chung-Everhart model of the electron emission spectrum. This model is used to explain the anomalies measured in highly insulating high-yield materials and to provide a method for determining the limiting yield spectra of uncharged dielectrics. The relevance of these results to spacecraft charging is also discussed.
The Inverse Benefit Law: How Drug Marketing Undermines Patient Safety and Public Health

Recent highly publicized withdrawals of drugs from the market because of safety concerns raise the question of whether these events are random failures or part of a recurring pattern. The inverse benefit law, inspired by Hart's inverse care law, states that the ratio of benefits to harms among patients taking new drugs tends to vary inversely with how extensively the drugs are marketed. The law is manifested through 6 basic marketing strategies: reducing thresholds for diagnosing disease, relying on surrogate endpoints, exaggerating safety claims, exaggerating efficacy claims, creating new diseases, and encouraging unapproved uses. The inverse benefit law highlights the need for comparative effectiveness research and other reforms to improve evidence-based prescribing.