Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prostacyclin and Pathogenesis of Hemodynamic Abnormalities of Diabetic Ketoacidosis in Rats

The pathogenesis of the hemodynamic abnormalities of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is not well understood. Previous studies suggest that prostacyclin (PGI2) production by adipose tissue is increased in DKA. We investigated the role of PGI2 in the pathogenesis of the reduced vascular resistance in DKA. Rats with streptozocin-induced DKA were anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium, and flow was measured with an electromagnetic probe on the infradiaphragmatic aorta The plasma level of 6-keto-PGF1α (stable derivative of PGI2) was higher (mean ± SE 0.91 ± 0.05 ng/ml) and vascular resistance lower (4.9 ± 0.2 mmHg · ml−1 · min−1 · 100 g−1 [resistance units, RU]) in 67 rats with DKA than in 21 normal rats (0.34 ± 0.03 ng/ml, P < .01, and 9.0 ± 0.7 RU, P < .01, respectively). Inhibition of cyclooxygenase activity with either indomethacin or meclofenamic acid reduced the plasma 6-keto-PGF1α level but failed to raise vascular resistance. Infusions of PGI2 in rats with DKA demonstrated that the vasculature was responsive to PGI2. Inhibition of cyclooxygenase activity not only reduced PGI2 production but also suppressed renin release. When the effects of the renin-angiotensin system were excluded by bilateral nephrectomy, indomethacin caused a significant increase (P < .05) in vascular resistance. Thus, the failure of cyclooxygenase inhibitors to raise vascular resistance in DKA was a result of concurrent suppression of vasodilator (PGI2) and vasoconstrictor (renin-angiotensin system) mechanisms that are activated in DKA. Insulin administration increased vascular resistance (P < .01) and decreased the level of plasma 6-keto-PGF1α (P < .01). Combined administration of PGI2 and insulin did not alter vascular resistance, suggesting that the increase in vascular resistance with insulin was predominantly due to the reduction of circulating PGI2. Thus, vascular resistance is decreased in DKA primarily as a result of the vasodilator effects of PGI2 produced by adipose tissue. The activation of the renin-angiotensin system represents a partial compensation. The increase in PGI2 production may contribute to the hypotension and mortality of DKA.
Glucose utilization by intracranial meningiomas as an index of tumor aggressivity and probability of recurrence: a PET study.

Seventeen patients with intracranial meningiomas were studied with positron emission tomography and fluorine-18-2-fluorodeoxyglucose (PET-FDG) to assess the glucose utilization of these tumors. Four meningiomas followed for 3-5 years after PET-FDG and surgery showed no evidence of recurrence. These tumors had significantly lower glucose utilization rates (1.9 mg/dl/min +/- 1.0) than 11 recurrent or regrowing meningiomas (4.5 mg/dl/min +/- 1.96) (P less than .01). The glucose metabolic rates of meningiomas correlated with tumor growth, as estimated from changes in tumor size on repeated computed tomographic scans. Histopathologically, a syncytial (atypical) meningioma had the highest glucose utilization rate, followed by a papillary meningioma and an angioblastic meningioma. Individual transitional and syncytial (typical) meningiomas showed marked differences in glucose metabolism despite similar microscopic appearance. Glucose utilization rate appears to be at least as reliable as histologic classification and other proposed criteria for predicting the behavior and recurrence of intracranial meningiomas.
Promoter methylation of MGMT gene in serum of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in North East India.

BACKGROUND Promoter hypermethylation is a common event in human cancer. O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is a gene involved in DNA repair, which is methylated in a variety of cancers. We aimed to explore the methylation status of MGMT gene among the North Eastern population where esophageal cancer incidence and exposure to carcinogens like nitrosamines is high. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 100 newly diagnosed esophageal cancer cases along with equal number of age, sex and ethnicity matched controls were included in this study. Methylation specific PCR was used to determine the MGMT methylation status in serum samples. RESULTS Aberrant promoter methylation of the MGMT gene was detected in 70% of esophageal cancer cases. Hypermethylation of MGMT gene was found to be influenced by environmental factors like betel quid and tobacco which contain potent carcinogens like nitrosamines. Tobacco chewing and tobacco smoking habit synergistically with MGMT methylation elevated the risk for esophageal cancer development [adjusted OR=5.02, 95% CI=1.35-18.74; p=0.010 for tobacco chewing and Adjusted OR=3.00, 95% CI=1.22-7.36; p=0.014 for tobacco smoking]. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that the DNA hypermethylation of MGMT is an important mechanism for MGMT gene silencing resulting in esophageal cancer development and is influenced by the environmental factors. Thus MGMT hypermethylation can be used as a biomarker for esophageal cancer in high incidence region of North East India.
Routine assessment of occupational exposure and its relation to semen quality in infertile men: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND/AIM Concerns about the detrimental effects of occupational and environmental exposure on male reproductive function have been raised by reports of declining sperm quality over the last decades. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between altered semen parameters and exposure to occupational risk factors as assessed by questionnaire. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study among a population of 2122 men who underwent andrological investigation for couple infertility. All participants were interviewed and their semen samples were analyzed. Information about medical history and occupational exposure was used to classify participants into exposed and unexposed groups. RESULTS Exposure to pesticides was associated with a significantly higher risk of asthenozoospermia (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.6; 95% CI, 1.0-2.4) and necrozoospermia (OR = 2.6; 95% CI, 1.4-4.7). Exposure to cement was found to be correlated with a higher risk of oligozoospermia (OR = 1.1; 95% CI, 0.9-1.4). There was no association between semen impairment and exposure to solvents, excess heat, or mechanical vibrations. CONCLUSION We found an association between self-reported occupational exposure and altered semen parameters. These results support the usefulness of questionnaires for routine assessment and management of occupational exposures in infertile men.
Estimation of Government Spending Multiplier in EU Economies

Abstract The aim of this paper is to estimate government consumption multiplier and to examine the effect of various characteristics of countries on the size of fiscal multiplier. We apply a panel VAR model following Ilzetzki et al. (2013) for a sample of 28 EU countries covering the period from 1995 to 2017. Key findings are, first, the estimated average fiscal multiplier is larger than unity. Second, the size of fiscal multiplier is larger in the cases of lower public indebtedness, for more developed European countries and for more financially open economies, which is also in line with relevant empirical literature. Regarding the role of trade openness, the results are inconclusive. In addition to this, membership of countries in the European integrations positively affects the size of fiscal multiplier. Therefore, fiscal policymakers should use fiscal stimuli as the instrument of boosting short-term economic growth selectively and consider country-specific characteristics. This paper contributes to the ongoing discussion in two ways, it examines the effect of additional characteristics of countries on the size of fiscal multiplier and updates existing empirical literature.
The Role of Pr55gag in the Annealing of tRNA3Lys to Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Genomic RNA

ABSTRACT During human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) assembly, the primer tRNA for the reverse transcriptase-catalyzed synthesis of minus-strand strong-stop cDNA, tRNA3Lys, is selectively packaged into the virus and annealed onto the primer binding site on the RNA genome. Annealing of tRNA3 Lys in HIV-1 is independent of polyprotein processing and is facilitated in vitro by p7 nucleocapsid (NCp7). We have previously shown that mutations in clusters of basic amino acids flanking the first Cys-His box in NC sequence inhibit annealing of tRNA3 Lys in vivo by 70 to 80%. In this report, we have investigated whether these NC mutations act through Pr55 gag or Pr160 gag-pol . In vivo placement of tRNA3 Lys is measured with total viral RNA as the source of primer tRNA-template in an in vitro reverse transcription assay. Cotransfection of COS cells with a plasmid coding for either mutant Pr55 gag or mutant Pr160 gag-pol , and with a plasmid containing HIV-1 proviral DNA, shows that only the NC mutations in Pr55 gag inhibit tRNA3 Lysplacement. The NC mutations in Pr55 gag reduce viral infectivity by 95% and are trans-dominant-negative, i.e., they inhibit genomic placement of tRNA3 Lys even in the presence of wild-type Pr55 gag . This dominant phenotype may indicate that the mutant Pr55 gag is disrupting an ordered Pr55 gag structure responsible for the annealing of tRNA3 Lys to genomic RNA.
Detection of pathogens in Boidae and Pythonidae with and without respiratory disease

Respiratory diseases in boid snakes are common in captivity, but little information is available on their aetiology. This study was carried out to determine the occurrence of lung associated pathogens in boid snakes with and without respiratory signs and/or pneumonia. In total, 80 boid snakes of the families Boidae (n = 30) and Pythonidae (n = 50) from 48 private and zoo collections were included in this survey. Husbandry conditions were evaluated using a detailed questionnaire. All snakes were examined clinically and grouped into snakes with or without respiratory signs. Tracheal wash samples from all snakes were examined bacteriologically as well as virologically. All snakes were euthanased, and a complete pathological examination was performed. Respiratory signs and pneumonia were detected more often in pythons than in boas. An acute catarrhal pneumonia was diagnosed more often in snakes without respiratory signs than in snakes with respiratory signs, which revealed fibrinous and fibrous pneumonia. Poor husbandry conditions are an important trigger for the development of respiratory signs and pneumonia. Different bacterial pathogens were isolated in almost all snakes with pneumonia, with Salmonella species being the most common. Ferlavirus (formerly known as ophidian paramyxovirus)-RNA was detected only in pythons. Inclusion body disease was rarely seen in pythons but often in boas. Adenovirus and Mycoplasma were other pathogens that were diagnosed in single snakes with pneumonia. In living boid snakes with respiratory signs, tracheal wash samples were found to be a useful diagnostic tool for the detection of viral and bacterial pathogens.
Effects of flunixin meglumine on the recovery of ischaemic equine colonic mucosa in vitro.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY The effects of prostaglandins and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on repair of equine intestinal mucosa are important since most horses with gastrointestinal diseases are routinely treated with NSAIDs, such as flunixin meglumine (FM), and these drugs can be toxic to equine gastrointestinal mucosa. HYPOTHESIS Flunixin meglumine would not affect recovery of equine colonic mucosa in vitro, 18 h after a reversible ischaemic injury. METHODS In 14 anaesthetised horses, a segment of pelvic flexure was subjected to 2 h of ischaemia and the horses were allowed to recover for 18 h. Seven horses received normal saline and 7 received FM, 1.1 mg/kg bwt i.v. , at the end of ischaemia and 12 h later. Colonic mucosa was harvested during a second anaesthesia, 18 h after recovery from ischaemia and then horses were subjected to euthanasia. Transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and transepithelial flux of tritiated mannitol were used to measure mucosal permeability during 4 h of incubation in Ussing chambers, with the following in vitro treatments: 1) no addition, 2) FM 14 µmol/l as powder, 3) FM 14 µmol/l in injectable form and 4) diluent for injectable FM. Histomorphological changes were assessed by light microscopy. RESULTS There were no significant differences in any of the measurements between saline and FM treated horses. The mucosal height of the ischaemic FM tissues incubated in diluent was significantly decreased compared to the nonischaemic tissues. CONCLUSIONS Flunixin meglumine did not adversely affect barrier integrity in ischaemic equine colonic mucosa.
Duodenal ulcer and Helicobacter pylori infection at high altitude: experience from southern Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE To study the clinical presentation, endoscopic features and prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in duodenal ulcer (DU) patients in southern Saudi Arabia, located 3150 m above sea level, and to compare results with those from low altitude regions of the Kingdom. METHODS Prospective study of patients with proven DU referred for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy at Asir Central Hospital, Abha, southern Saudi Arabia over an 18-month period. RESULTS Of 126 patients with proven DU, 72% were men and mean age was 40.4 years (range 18 to 68). Twenty-eight per cent were smokers and only 5% used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Thirty-eight patients (30%) presented with hematemesis or melena, and the majority had a single ulcer. Nineteen per cent of patients with dyspepsia had DU and 96% had H pylori. These results are comparable with those reported from the low altitude, warmer regions of Saudi Arabia. CONCLUSIONS Age of patients and the male:female ratio were similar to those in developing countries. The frequency of smoking is lower than in western countries and no patient in this report consumed alcohol. High altitude did not affect the prevalence of DU or the frequency of H pylori because the results were comparable with those from the low altitude areas of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other lowland developing countries. Although great socioeconomic changes have increased the incidence of heart disease, the patterns of DU and H pylori infection assume those in developing nations.
Persistent attentional dysfunction in remitted bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVES Although previous research has shown that attentional dysfunction is common during acute mood episodes in individuals with bipolar disorder (BPD), few studies have examined whether attentional deficits are evident during periods of symptom stability. The goal of this study was to determine whether clinically stable individuals with BPD would have attentional disturbances relative to healthy subjects. METHODS Fourteen patients with BPD and 12 healthy comparison subjects participated in the study, and were administered the Degraded Stimulus Continuous Performance Test (DSCPT), Digit Span Distractibility Test (DSDT) and Grooved Pegboard Test (GPT). Psychiatric symptoms were assessed with the Young Mania Rating Scale and the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms. Medication side effects were measured with the Simpson Rating Scale. RESULTS The patient group responded significantly more slowly than the control group on the DSCPT (z = -2.52, p = 0.01) and the GPT (z = -3.37, p = 0.001). There was a trend towards the BPD patients demonstrating impaired perceptual sensitivity on the DSCPT (z = 1.68, p = 0.09). The two groups did not differ on the DSDT (z = -1.06, p = 0.3). Poor performance on the GPT and DSCPT target reaction time were not associated with symptom ratings or medications. CONCLUSION The findings suggest that impairments in fine motor skills and reaction time may be present in clinically stable patients with BPD, even after accounting for psychiatric symptoms and medication effects. Performance decrements on attentional tasks may be in part reflective of motor impairments in patients with BPD.
Sustaining observations of the unsteady ocean circulation

Sustained observations of ocean properties reveal a global warming trend and rising sea levels. These changes have been documented by traditional ship-based measurements of ocean properties, whereas more recent Argo profiling floats and satellite records permit estimates of ocean changes on a near real-time basis. Through these and newer methods of observing the oceans, scientists are moving from quantifying the ‘state of the ocean’ to monitoring its variability, and distinguishing the physical processes bringing signals of change. In this paper, I give a brief overview of the UK contributions to the physical oceanographic observations, and the role they have played in the wider global observing systems. While temperature and salinity are the primary measurements of physical oceanography, new transbasin mooring arrays also resolve changes in ocean circulation on daily timescales. Emerging technologies permit routine observations at higher-than-ever spatial resolutions. Following this, I then give a personal perspective on the future of sustained observations. New measurement techniques promise exciting discoveries concerning the role of smaller scales and boundary processes in setting the large-scale ocean circulation and the ocean's role in climate. The challenges now facing the scientific community include sustaining critical observations in the case of funding system changes or shifts in government priorities. These long records will enable a determination of the role and response of the ocean to climate change.
What do we want? Examining the motivating role of goals in social movement mobilization

The main purpose of any social movement organization is to achieve the goals of its followers. Little is known, however, about what type of goals disadvantaged group members strive to reach and which of those may motivate them to join a social movement organization. Using a door-to-door survey (N = 351), we investigated the mobilizing effects of goals among inhabitants of the North of the Netherlands that are adversely affected by gas-extraction induced earthquakes. We distinguished between collective (e.g., reduce gas extraction) versus individual goals (e.g., financial compensation), and outcome versus means goals (e.g., influence policy-makers). Moreover, we examined how perceptions of shared opinions with other affected citizens versus with people who are not negatively affected by gas extraction motivate the inhabitants to join a movement and attach importance to different goals. Our results indicate the existence of two pathways for potential mobilization: the first one through the perceptions of shared grievances, which can motivate people to join the movement and pursue collective solutions; and a second one through the perceptions of deprivation, which can motivate people to exert influence on power holders by joining a movement. Individual outcome goals were important but did not motivate disadvantaged citizens to join a social movement organization. We discuss the role of goals as a link between individual level and meso level factors for movement mobilization and collective action.
Pharmacotherapy for disordered sleep in post-traumatic stress disorder: a systematic review

Sleep disorders, such as insomnia and nightmares, are common problems in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), exert a strong negative influence on the quality of life and are a great challenge for clinical psychiatry. Several studies have reported on the efficacy of drugs for the treatment of PTSD-related sleep disorders. These studies have not been systematically reviewed. This is the first review on the effectiveness of sleep medication in PTSD. We performed a Medline, EMBASE and Cochrane Library Indexed search, using the keywords: PTSD, pharmacotherapy, therapy, sleep, nightmares, insomnia and review. From this database, English-language, human subject, data driven papers published after 1980 were selected. Forty eight articles are discussed. Open-label and case studies suggest efficacy for some antidepressants, anticonvulsants and atypical antipsychotics. Only a few placebo-controlled studies have been published. They show promising results for the atypical antipsychotic olanzapine, and the &agr;1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin. In comparison to the incidence and impact of sleep complaints in PTSD, the pharmacotherapeutic armamentarium for PTSD-related sleep complaints remains poorly investigated. Some recent studies show promising results, especially for &agr;1-adrenoceptor and 5-HT2 receptor antagonists. However, randomized controlled trials with larger populations need to be conducted.
The perceived personal control (PPC) questionnaire as an outcome of genetic counseling: Reliability and validity of the instrument

The perceived personal control (PPC) questionnaire was developed by Berkenstadt and colleagues as an outcome measure for the evaluation of the process of genetic counseling. The present study aimed to further assess the psychometric properties of a Dutch version of the instrument. Data were used from two samples. A reproductive genetic counseling sample (n = 140), which included pregnant and non‐pregnant women, and a cancer genetic counseling sample (n = 181), also consisting of women only. Counselees completed questionnaires before and following their first consultation. Besides the PPC these questionnaires addressed counselees' degree of concern, risk perception and satisfaction with the consultation. The following psychometric properties were assessed: acceptability, internal consistency, dimensionality, and validity. The instrument was well accepted as indicated by few missing items. The internal consistency was good for the total PPC (Cronbach's alpha: 0.79–0.81), reasonable for the original subscales of ‘decisional’ and ‘behavioral control’ (>0.60), but unacceptable for the subscale of ‘cognitive control’ (<0.60). The original three‐factor solution was not confirmed; a one‐factor solution proved most stable. Significant differences between pre‐ and post‐counseling PPC scores support the PPC's construct validity. Concurrent validity was confirmed by positive associations with counselees' satisfaction although non‐significant (concern) and unexpected (risk perception) results were also found. When used as a one‐dimensional scale, the PPC has its value as an outcome measure in research addressing genetic counseling. However, the instrument's validity needs to be further assessed. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Digestion Procedure and Determination of Heavy Metals in Sewage Sludge—An Analytical Problem

Huge amounts of sewage sludge produced globally is a substantial environmental threat and require rational handling. Application in agriculture is an economical and relatively simple method of sludge management, however, it is associated with restrictions regarding metals content. According to EU regulations, the total amounts of Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, Ni, and Zn have to be analyzed by the AAS technique requiring effective destruction of the organic matrix. Currently used methods of sewage sludge digestion may be biased when applied without optimization. The aim of the presented work was to evaluate the efficiency of the organic substances destruction in either raw or stabilized sludge. Three mineralization procedures were evaluated, namely: (A)—drying and microwave digestion; (B)—ignition and microwave digestion; (C)—drying and conventional digestion. For matrix destruction, a mixture of concentrated HNO3 and HCl (3:1 v/v) was used. Metals were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). No limits of metal concentration were overdrawn. Generally, the method (B) was the most effective. Results obtained for Cu, Cd, and Zn after digestion by method (A) and (B) were comparable. Methods (B) and (C) yield complete decomposition of the matrix. As result, the precision of measurement substantially increases.