Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Combined Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist and Growth Hormone Therapy on Adult Height in Precocious Puberty: A Further Contribution

Out of 35 girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty (CPP) treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) (depot-triptorelin) at a dose of 100 microg/kg every 21 days i.m. for at least 2-3 years whose growth velocity fell below the 25th percentile for chronological age (CA), 17 received growth hormone (GH) in addition at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg/week, s.c. , 6 days per week, for 2-4 years. The other 18, matched for bone age (BA), CA and duration of GnRHa treatment, who showed the same growth pattern but refused GH treatment, remained on GnRHa alone, and were used as a control group to evaluate GH efficacy. No patient was GH deficient. Both groups discontinued treatment at a comparable BA (mean +/- SD): BA 13.4 +/- 0.6 in GnRHa plus GH group vs 13.0 +/- 0.5 years in the GnRHa alone group. The 35 patients have reached adult height (i.e. growth during the preceding year was less than 1 cm, with a BA of over 15 years). Patients of the group treated with GH plus GnRHa showed an adult height (161.2 +/- 4.8 cm) significantly higher (p < 0.001) than pre-treatment predicted adult height (PAH) calculated according to tables either for accelerated girls (153.2 +/- 5.0 cm) or for average girls (148.6 +/- 4.3 cm). The adult height of the GnRH alone treated group (156.6 +/- 5.7) was not significantly higher than pre-treatment PAH if calculated on Bayley and Pinneau tables for accelerated girls (153.9 +/- 3.8 cm), whilst it remained significantly higher if calculated on tables for average girls (149.6 +/- 4.0 cm) (p < 0.001). The gain between pre-treatment PAH and final height was 8.2 +/- 4.8 cm according to tables for accelerated girls and 12.7 +/- 4.8 cm according to tables for average girls in patients treated with GH plus GnRHa; while in patients treated with GnRH alone the gain calculated between pre-treatment PAH for accelerated girls was just 2.3 +/- 2.9 cm and 7.1 +/- 2.7 cm greater than pre-treatment PAH for average girls. The difference between the gain obtained in the two groups (about 6 cm) remained the same, however PAH was calculated. The addition of GH to GnRHa in a larger cohort of patients with CPP with a longer follow-up confirms the safety of the combined treatment and the still significant but more variable gain in the group with the combined treatment, probably due to the larger number of patients analyzed. Caution is advised in using such an invasive and expensive treatment, and there is need for further studies before widespread clinical use outside a research setting.
Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Surgical Patients with Intensive Care Unit Lengths of Stay of 90 Days and Greater

Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of prolonged length of stay in an intensive care unit (ICU) on the mortality and morbidity of surgical patients. Methods We performed a monocentric and retrospective observational study in the surgical critical care unit of the department of surgery at the Medical Center of the University of Freiburg, Germany. Clinical data was collected from patients assigned to the ICU with a length of stay (LOS) of 90 days and greater. Results From the total of the 19 patients with ICU LOS over 90 days, ten patients died in the ICU whereas nine patients were discharged to the normal ward. The ICU mortality rate was 52%. The overall survival one year after ICU discharge was 32%. Regarding factors affecting mortality of the patients, significantly higher mortality was associated with age of the patients at the time point of the ICU admission and with postoperative need of renal replacement therapy. Conclusions We found a high but in our opinion acceptable mortality rate in surgical patients with ICU LOS of 90 days and greater. We identified age and the need of renal replacement therapy as risk factors for mortality.
Nickel in the catalytically active hydrogenase of Alcaligenes eutrophus

Nickel is a constituent of soluble and particulate hydrogenase of Alcaligenes eutrophus. Incorporation of 63Ni2+ revealed that almost the total nickel taken up by the cells was bound to the protein. Chromatography of a crude extract on diethylaminoethyl cellulose demonstrated an association of 63Ni2+ with soluble and particulate hydrogenase, supported by further analysis like polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Unspecific binding of 63Ni2+ to the protein was excluded by comparison with a mutant extract free of hydrogenase protein. X-ray fluorescence analysis of the homogeneous soluble hydrogenase indicated the presence of 2 mol of nickel per mol of enzyme, whereas the amount of nickel determined by incorporation of 63Ni2+ was calculated to be approximately 1 mol/mol of enzyme. Cells grown under nickel limitation contained catalytically inactive, but serologically active, soluble and particulate hydrogenase. The immunochemical reactions were only partially identical with the enzyme from nickel-cultivated cells indicating a structural modification of the proteins in the absence of nickel. It is concluded that nickel is essential for the catalytic activity of hydrogenase and not involved as a regulatory component in the synthesis of this enzyme.
Two-Stage Cosine Filter-Based Decimator with Improved Aliasing Rejection

This paper presents alias rejection improvement in a two-stage cosine filter-based two-stage structure for even decimation factors, a structure recently proposed in literature. The structure improves alias rejection in all odd comb folding bands by introducing simple modified cosine filter at the second stage. The goal here is to improve the aliasing rejection in even folding bands, while keeping a low complexity of the structure. This is achieved by introducing simple expanded cosine filter at the first stage, and increase by one the number of the cascaded combs at the first stage. The resulting filter is multiplierless and has an improved alias rejection in all folding bands in comparison with the original structure. The mathematical background of the method is presented. The method is illustrated with an example and it is compared with some recently proposed methods for aliasing rejection improvement. The efficient structures are also presented.
The Effect of Production System and Finish Weight on Carcass and Meat Quality of Kivircik Lambs

Abstract Fifty-two male Kivircik lambs were used to investigate the influences of finish weight (LOW: 25–26 kg, MEDIUM: 30–31 kg and HIGH: 35–36 kg) and production system (CON: concentrate-based system, PAS: pasture-based system) on carcass and meat quality characteristics. CON lambs (n=27) were weaned at 76 d of age and then finished on concentrate feed and alfalfa hay until slaughter. PAS lambs (n=25) grazed on native pasture in the day-time and sucked their dams until slaughter. CON group grew 30% faster during the experimental period; therefore significantly fewer days were required to reach the target weight. CON lambs had higher cold carcass weight, cold dressing percentage, and produced fattier carcasses compared with those of PAS system. PAS lambs had lower meat lightness values than CON ones. CON system produced more tender meat than PAS system in terms of shear force and sensory evaluation results. Intramuscular fat of the PAS lambs had higher percentage of ∑PUFA and ∑n-3 PUFA, and lower n-6/n-3 ratio than that of CON ones. Finish weight had no influence on dressing percentage and carcass fatness. Meat of HIGH lambs had lower L* value than other groups. Panellists gave lower scores to meat of MEDIUM lambs for tenderness when compared with other groups. In conclusion, CON system might be considered to obtain higher carcass dressing, lighter meat colour and more tender meat, while PAS system had an advantage of lower n-6/n-3 ratio and of higher ∑n-3 PUFA percentage. PAS lambs had lower fatness level than CON ones. Therefore, if priority is given to fatty acid composition and carcass with lower fat, PAS system might be considered. Finish weight of 35–36 kg might be preferred to increase lamb production, without any adverse effect on carcass and meat quality in both of the production systems.
Design of a permanent magnet synchronous machine for a flywheel energy storage system within a hybrid electric vehicle

As an energy storage device, the flywheel has significant advantages over conventional chemical batteries, such like higher energy density, higher efficiency, longer life time, and less environment pollution. Flywheel technology have been widely used in varies of areas, including power system, space craft, and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV). An effective flywheel system mainly attribute to its good Motor /Generator (M/G) design. This paper describes the design of a permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) as an M/G suitable for integration in a flywheel energy storage system within a large HEV. The operating requirements of the application include wide power and speed ranges combined with high total system efficiency. The machine described in this paper has been designed to meet these requirements together with a number of additional constrains that include restricted dimensions, voltage and current limits. Along with presenting the design, essential issues upon PMSM design including cogging torque, iron losses and total harmonic distortion (THD) are investigated, and certain strategies as solutions to those issues have been introduced and compared. An iterative approach combining lumped parameter analysis with 2D Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is used, and the final design is also presented showing great performances.
Bacterial Populations Active in Metabolism of C1 Compounds in the Sediment of Lake Washington, a Freshwater Lake

ABSTRACT Active members of the bacterial community in the sediment of Lake Washington, with special emphasis on C1 utilizers, were identified by employing two complementary culture-independent approaches: reverse transcription of environmental mRNA and 16S rRNA combined with PCR (RT-PCR) and stable-isotope probing (SIP) of DNA with the 13C-labeled C1 substrates methanol, methylamine, formaldehyde, and formate. Analysis of RT-PCR-amplified fragments of 16S rRNA-encoding genes revealed that gammaproteobacterial methanotrophs belonging to Methylobacter and Methylomonas dominate the active methylotroph population, while only one other known methylotrophic lineage, Methylophilaceae, was detected via this approach. Analysis of RT-PCR-amplified functional genes, pmoA and fae, allowed detection of alphaproteobacterial (Methylosinus) and gammaproteobacterial (Methylobacter, Methylomonas, and Methylomicrobium) methanotrophs, methylotrophs of the genus Methylobacterium, and yet-unidentified proteobacteria. SIP experiments allowed detection of a broad variety of groups actively metabolizing C1 compounds. Comparisons between 16S rRNA gene pools amplified from [13C]DNA and from [12C]DNA revealed that the proportion of Methylophilus-related sequences increased in the presence of [13C]methanol, [13C]methylamine, and [13C]formaldehyde; Novosphingobium-related sequences were enriched in the presence of [13C]methanol; Gemmatimonadaceae-related sequences were enriched in the presence of [13C]formaldehyde and [13C]formate; and Xanthomonadaceae-related sequences were enriched in the presence of [13C]formate. Analysis of fae genes amplified from [13C]DNAs isolated from different microcosms revealed specific shifts in populations in response to a specific C1 compound: Methylosinus sequences dominated the [13C]methanol microcosm pool, and beta- and gammaproteobacterial sequences dominated the [13C]methylamine microcosm pool. The [13C]formaldehyde microcosm was dominated by betaproteobacterial sequences and by sequences of a nonaffiliated group, while the [13C]formate microcosm was dominated by alpha- and betaproteobacterial sequences. Overall, these data point toward the presence of a diverse population of active methylotrophs in Lake Washington sediments and toward the existence of yet-uncultivated organisms.
Coherent time-resolved investigation of LO-phonon dynamics in GaAs.

The dynamics of coherently excited LO phonons is investigated in GaAs using an infrared time-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering technique. The LO-phonon dephasing time is precisely measured as a function of crystal temperature. The results reveal that the relaxation is dominated by the intraband decay into a transverse-acoustic phonon and a LO phonon at the L critical point of the Brillouin zone. The frequently proposed decay route into two longitudinal-acoustic phonons is found to be incompatible with results from our temperature-dependent measurements.
Epidemiology of aging.

The last quarter of the 20th century has seen the formal coming of age of the study of the health, diseases, and disabilities of older adults, as well as of aging itself. Epidemiologic research on aging developed out of groundbreaking gerontologic studies that have been carried out since the 1940s, the establishment of the National Institute on Aging in 1974 (an outgrowth itself of the first White House Conference on Aging in 1961), and the maturation of programs in gerontology and geriatrics. The 1980s brought recognition that the US population was aging and the initiation of the first cohort studies that assessed older adults longitudinally, including a report by Branch et al. (1) showing that older adults could and would participate in epidemiologic cohort studies. Following this, the National Center for Health Statistics raised the age of the population studied in the Health Interview Survey to 75 years (2), and the National Institute on Aging funded the EPESE studies [Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly] (3), the first multicenter prospective cohort studies designed specifically to study adults aged 65 years and older. At the same time, cohorts in established epidemiologic studies such as the Framingham Heart Study (4) had aged, permitting an expansion of such studies' focus to the epidemiology of disease and disability in older adults. Subsequently, it was demonstrated that older adults can be recruited to participate in intensive physiologic and clinical evaluations in cohort studies, with 4to 6-hour examinations carried out in both centralized and home locations (5-7), and that long term retention in such studies is high. For example, after 10 years of annual examinations, the rate of cohort retention for adults aged 65 years or more in the multicen-
Qualitative MRI: Evidence of Usual Aging in the Brain

The understanding of aging in our society with steadily increasing life expectancy is an important challenge in medical science since socioeconomic pressure increases in parallel. Magnetic resonance imaging is a most useful tool to explore age related changes in the central nervous system especially in the brain. This article will focus on current knowledge and importance of such changes. Special attention will paid to white matter hyperintensities in terms of occurrence and progression and cerebral microbleeds in terms of their association to various diseases and their possible influence on thrombolytic therapy. Furthermore the meaning of darkening of the basal ganglia will be discussed and, in more general terms, the occurrence of virchow robin spaces and changes in cerebral metabolites assessable by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Large-Scale Investigation of Leishmania Interaction Networks with Host Extracellular Matrix by Surface Plasmon Resonance Imaging

ABSTRACT We have set up an assay to study the interactions of live pathogens with their hosts by using protein and glycosaminoglycan arrays probed by surface plasmon resonance imaging. We have used this assay to characterize the interactions of Leishmania promastigotes with ∼70 mammalian host biomolecules (extracellular proteins, glycosaminoglycans, growth factors, cell surface receptors). We have identified, in total, 27 new partners (23 proteins, 4 glycosaminoglycans) of procyclic promastigotes of six Leishmania species and 18 partners (15 proteins, 3 glycosaminoglycans) of three species of stationary-phase promastigotes for all the strains tested. The diversity of the interaction repertoires of Leishmania parasites reflects their dynamic and complex interplay with their mammalian hosts, which depends mostly on the species and strains of Leishmania. Stationary-phase Leishmania parasites target extracellular matrix proteins and glycosaminoglycans, which are highly connected in the extracellular interaction network. Heparin and heparan sulfate bind to most Leishmania strains tested, and 6-O-sulfate groups play a crucial role in these interactions. Numerous Leishmania strains bind to tropoelastin, and some strains are even able to degrade it. Several strains interact with collagen VI, which is expressed by macrophages. Most Leishmania promastigotes interact with several regulators of angiogenesis, including antiangiogenic factors (endostatin, anastellin) and proangiogenic factors (ECM-1, VEGF, and TEM8 [also known as anthrax toxin receptor 1]), which are regulated by hypoxia. Since hypoxia modulates the infection of macrophages by the parasites, these interactions might influence the infection of host cells by Leishmania.
Painting a truer picture of US socioeconomic and racial/ethnic health inequalities: the Public Health Disparities Geocoding Project.

OBJECTIVES We describe a method to facilitate routine monitoring of socioeconomic health disparities in the United States. METHODS We analyzed geocoded public health surveillance data including events from birth to death (c. 1990) linked to 1990 census tract (CT) poverty data for Massachusetts and Rhode Island. RESULTS For virtually all outcomes, risk increased with CT poverty, and when we adjusted for CT poverty racial/ethnic disparities were substantially reduced. For half the outcomes, more than 50% of cases would not have occurred if population rates equaled those of persons in the least impoverished CTs. In the early 1990s, persons in the least impoverished CT were the only group meeting Healthy People 2000 objectives a decade ahead. CONCLUSIONS Geocoding and use of the CT poverty measure permit routine monitoring of US socioeconomic inequalities in health, using a common and accessible metric.
Increased antitumor potential of the raloxifene prodrug, raloxifene diphosphate

Raloxifene (RAL) significantly reduced the incidence of breast cancer in women at high risk of developing the disease. Unlike tamoxifen (TAM), an increased incidence of endometrial cancer was not observed in women treated with RAL. However, RAL, having two hydroxyl moieties, can be conjugated rapidly through phase II metabolism and excreted, making it difficult to achieve adequate bioavailability by oral administration in humans. As a result, higher doses must be administered to obtain an efficacy equivalent to that achieved with TAM. To improve oral bioavailability and antitumor potential, RAL diphosphate was prepared as a prodrug. RAL diphosphate showed several orders of magnitude lower binding potential to both ERα and ERβ and weak antiproliferative potency on cultured human MCF‐7 and ZR‐75‐1 breast cancer cells, as compared to RAL. However, RAL diphosphate has a much higher bioavailability than RAL, endowing it with higher antitumor potential than RAL against both 7,12‐dimethylbenz(a)anthracene‐induced mammary carcinoma in rats and human MCF‐7 breast cancer implanted in athymic nude mice. The RAL prodrug may provide greater clinical benefit for breast cancer therapy and prevention. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Multicenter randomized trial of dacarbazine alone or in combination with two different doses and schedules of interferon alfa-2a in the treatment of advanced melanoma.

PURPOSE Some phase II studies have suggested that the combination of interferons (IFNs) with dacarbazine (DTIC) in the treatment of malignant melanoma (MM) increases the antitumor activity of DTIC alone. In an attempt to confirm this hypothesis, a randomized study was performed with the further intent of observing whether low doses of recombinant interferon alfa-2a (rIFN alpha 2a) could be as effective as intermediate doses. PATIENTS AND METHODS Two hundred sixty-six patients were randomized onto three different treatment arms: DTIC 800 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) days 1 and 21; DTIC plus rIFN alpha 2a 9 mIU intramuscularly (IM) daily; and DTIC plus rIFN alpha 2a 3 mIU IM three times per week. Major prognostic factors were well balanced among the three arms. Chemotherapy was administered for a maximum of eight cycles. After 6 months of therapy, rIFN alpha 2a was continued until disease progression at 3 mIU three times per week in responding patients who had received the combined treatment. RESULTS The percentage of objective responses did not differ among the three groups (20%, 28%, and 23%, respectively), although a significant prolongation of response duration was observed when rIFN alpha 2a was added to DTIC (2.6 v 8.4 v 5.5 months, respectively). However, this improvement in response duration did not translate into an amelioration of overall survival. The addition of rIFN alpha 2a led to the onset of flu-like syndrome, but in no case was it necessary to withdraw the treatment program and no toxic deaths or life-threatening toxicities were reported. CONCLUSION In this study, rIFN alpha 2a significantly prolonged response duration, whereas no effects on response rate and survival were observed; rIFN alpha 2a 3 mIU appeared to be equally effective and better tolerated than 9 mIU.
Nursing contribution to the rehabilitation of older patients: patient and family perspectives.

AIMS This article reports a study of the perspective of older patients and their family members on the role of nurses in inpatient rehabilitation. BACKGROUND Rehabilitation services are used increasingly by older patients as life expectancy increases. The role of rehabilitation nurses in the multidisciplinary team has, however, yet to be clearly articulated. Previous research has focussed on the views of health professionals about nursing involvement in rehabilitation, but none has sought family members' perspectives. With the expectation of patient-centred care, it is important to consider what older patients and their families expect and require from nurses. DESIGN Grounded theory was used to collect and analyse data from interviews in an inpatient rehabilitation unit in New Zealand with seven patients, aged 72-89 years, and six family members, during 2009-2010. FINDINGS A substantive theory was developed which recognizes that the older patient values the relationship they build with nurses more than any specific role nurses perform. Participants acknowledged that rehabilitation nurses' roles included 'looking after', 'stepping in' and 'coaching independence' but 'best fit' nurses were identified by patients based on their 'nature', 'being available' and 'being attuned' to the patient's individual needs. If a 'connection' was formed, then this 'best fit relationship' maximized the older person's motivation to participate in his or her rehabilitation therapy. CONCLUSION Patients and family members appreciate 'best fit relationships' where nurses seek to enter into the older person's world of disability to form a partnership which enhances their motivation to achieve independence.