Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Clinical and Histologic Study of Diabetic Nephropathy in the Pima Indians

The relationship of renal disease to carbohydrate tolerance was examined in the Pima, who are American Indians with a high prevalence of diabetes mellitus. Glucose tolerance, serum creatinine level and urine protein concentration were measured in 1,716 subjects aged fifteen and over, of whom 404 were diabetic. Histologic information was obtained by reviewing autopsy material from forty-three diabetics and sixty-two nondiabetics. Over 22 per cent of the diabetics and less than 7 per cent of the nondiabetics had proteinuria (p < 0.001). Severe proteinuria aid elevated serum creatinine levels were, respectively, fifteen and nine times more common in the diabetics (p < 0.001). Both the frequency and severity of renal disease increased with duration of diabetes in subjects who were under age sixty-five when examined or when the disease was diagnosed. Above age sixty-five the prevalence of proteinuria was high in all duration groups. At autopsy, 65 per cent of the diabetics had diffuse glomerulosclerosis. Nodular glomerulosclerosis was found in 56 per cent of the diabetics and in none of the nondiabetics. Arteriolar lesions were also significantly more common in the diabetics. Pyelonephritis was found in 16 per cent of the diabetics and 5 per cent of the nondiabetics; other forms of renal disease were rare in both groups. Diabetic nephropathy, similar in its clinical and histologic characteristics to that described in other populations, is the predominant form of kidney disease in the Pima Indians, making this population ideal for study of the development and course of diabetic renal disease.
Focal nodular hyperplasia with major sinusoidal dilatation: a misleading entity

Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) is a benign liver lesion thought to be a non-specific response to locally increased blood flow. Although the diagnosis of FNH and hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) has made great progress over the last few years using modern imaging techniques, there are still in daily practice some difficulties concerning some atypical nodules. Here, the authors report the case of a 47-year-old woman with a single liver lesion thought to be, by imaging, an inflammatory HCA with major sinusoidal congestion. This nodule was revealed to be, at the microscopical level and after specific immunostaining and molecular analysis, an FNH with sinusoidal dilatation (so-called telangiectatic focal nodular hyperplasia).
Emotion regulation in autism spectrum disorder: evidence from parent interviews and children's daily diaries.

BACKGROUND Although emotion dysregulation is not a defining feature of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), there is a growing consensus that emotional problems play a prominent role in this disorder. METHODS The present study examined a wide range of emotion regulation (ER) strategies in 32 individuals with ASD compared to 31 group-matched typically developing (TD) participants in three emotional domains (anger, anxiety, and amusement). Parents of individuals with ASD and TD individuals were interviewed about their child's emotional experience and the use and efficacy of 10 ER strategies. In addition, participants filled out daily diaries on experience and regulation in the same emotional domains. RESULTS Compared to TD individuals, parents reported that individuals with ASD experienced more anger and anxiety and less amusement, made less frequent use of a variety of adaptive ER strategies (e.g. problem solving, cognitive reappraisal), and made more frequent use of maladaptive strategies (e.g. repetitive behavior). Moreover, individuals with ASD were less effective at utilizing adaptive ER strategies. Self-reports showed differences in experience of amusement and in ER strategies for anger and anxiety, but not in experience of anger and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence that individuals with ASD less frequently use adaptive - but more frequently use maladaptive - ER strategies. Implications for ASD treatments that focus on increasing the use of adaptive strategies are discussed.
[Quinone oxidoreductase gene polymorphism and genetic susceptibility to nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE To ascertain whether the point mutation of cDNA609 C to T of quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) gene is associated with the genetic susceptibility to nasopharyngeal carcinoma. METHODS Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was employed to assess the polymorphism of NQO1 genes both in 120 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and 120 healthy subjects matched for age, gender and origin. RESULTS The allelic frequency of mutant T allele of NQO1 gene was significantly higher in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma than in the healthy subjects (P<0.05), and the individuals with T allelic genotype of NQO1 gene were at greater risk to develop nasopharyngeal carcinoma. CONCLUSION The cDNA 609 T allele of NQO1 gene is very likely to be associated with the genetic susceptibility to nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Comparison of Quantitative and Qualitative Research Traditions: epistemological, theoretical, and methodological differences

There has been much discussion about quantitative and qualitative approaches to research in different disciplines. In the behavioural and social sciences, these two paradigms are compared to reveal their relative strengths and weaknesses. But the debate about both traditions has commonly taken place in academic books. It is hard to find an article that deals with the generic issues related to the quantitative and qualitative divide by drawing on distinguished research literature. Interested in addressing this need, this article aims to explain the essential characteristics of quantitative and qualitative research approaches with an emphasis on their underlying epistemological, theoretical, and methodological differences. It elucidates the research design issues and concepts in relation to both research paradigms, from planning research to collecting and analyzing data, and reporting findings. The criteria that are used to evaluate research strategies and findings are also discussed.
Systemic administration of adenosine ameliorates pentylenetetrazol‐induced chemical kindling and secondary behavioural and biochemical changes in mice

Adenosine is one of the inhibitory neuromodulators in the brain and is considered to be responsible for seizure arrest and postictal refractoriness. Adenosine, adenosine receptor agonists, and adenosine uptake blockers are known to reduce the severity and duration of amygdala‐kindled seizures. The present study was carried out to elucidate the anticonvulsant and neuromodulatory effect of systemic adenosine on the pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)‐induced chemical kindling in mice. Kindling was induced by chronic administration of a subconvulsive dose of PTZ (40 mg/kg, i.p.) on every other day for a total period of 9 days. Adenosine was administered daily, 30 min before PTZ or vehicle. The kindling score was recorded immediately following PTZ administration according to a prevalidated scoring scale. Various behavioral and biochemical estimations were performed on day 10 (i.e. 24 h after the last dose of PTZ). Chronic PTZ treatment progressively increased the seizure score with the maximum score reached on day 9. Behavioral analysis found hyperlocomotor activity, anxiogenic response, hyperalgesia and amnesia in kindled mice. Biochemical analysis revealed that chronic treatment with PTZ significantly increased lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde levels), nitrite (NO2− levels), adenosine deaminase (ADA) and total RNA levels and decreased catalase, reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in brain homogenates, and a depletion of adrenal ascorbic acid. Daily treatment with adenosine (25 and 50 mg/kg, i.p.) for 9 days led to a significant decrease in PTZ‐induced kindling score and also reversed various behavioral and biochemical alterations produced by PTZ. The results of the present study suggested that systemic adenosine administration reversed the behavioral and biochemical alterations induced by chronic PTZ.
Output feedback controller design of Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy systems

This paper presents new systematic design methods of two types of output feedback controllers for Takagi–Sugeno (T–S) fuzzy systems, one of which is constructed with a fuzzy regulator and a fuzzy observer, while the other is an output direct feedback controller. In order to use the structural information in the rule base to decrease the conservatism of the stability analysis, the standard fuzzy partition (SFP) is employed to the premise variables of fuzzy systems. New stability conditions are obtained by relaxing the stability conditions derived in previous papers. The concept of parallel distributed compensation (PDC) is employed to design fuzzy regulators and fuzzy observers from the T–S fuzzy models. New stability analysis and design methods of output direct feedback controllers are also presented. The output feedback controllers design and simulation results for a nonlinear mass-spring-damper mechanical system show that these methods are effective.
FMRI in Prodromal Schizophrenia

We report the case of a young woman who presented with several months ongoing formal thought disorder and deterioration of social functioning. Our differential diagnosis included cognitive impairment after malaria, schizotypal disorder and prodromal schizophrenia. With a combination of clinical observation, neuropsychology and functional magnetic resonance tomography (fMRI) measurement, we were able to establish the diagnosis of prodromal schizophrenia. This diagnosis was confirmed by a short psychotic outburst two months later. The additional acquired fMRImeasurement was in line with fMRI results of a study with unmedicated schizophrenic patients. Our fMRI measurement showed hypofrontality during a bimodal attention task which was reversed by treatment with clozapine. This case report documents the transition of prodromal schizophrenia to full-blown schizophrenia with the help of neuropsychology, fMRI and psychopharmacological treatment (German J Psychiatry 2010; 13: 57-60).
Respiratory mechanics in patients with COPD on ventilatory support

textabstractChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Oisease (COPO) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Approximately 6 % of deaths in men and 4 % of deaths in women are due to COP01. COPO currently ranks as number six in the global impact of disease scale and is expected to rise to number three by the year 20202. In the Netherlands it already is the third cause of death3. The major cause of COPO is cigarette smoking. The percentage of smokers in the Netherlands is among the highest in Europe4 . COPO is defined physiologically as chronic airflow obstruction and may be due to a mixture of emphysema and peripheral airway obstruction from chronic obstructive bronchitis. Emphysema is a pathological diagnosis characterised by destruction of alveolar walls resulting in abnormal and permanent enlargement of airspaces and loss of lung elasticity, with consequent obstruction of peripheral airways1. Chronic obstructive bronchitis is due to obstruction of peripheral airways as a result of an inflammatory response 1. The population of patients studied in this thesis consists of patients in whom loss of elasticity of lung tissue is assumed to be present. However, this assumption is based on clinical and lung function findings, since destruction of elastic tissue is difficult to demonstrate in a living person.
New Approach for Oral Administration of Insulin With Polyalkylcyanoacrylate Nanocapsules as Drug Carrier

Polyalkylcyanoacrylate nanocapsules (mean size 220 nm), composed of spheric polymeric structures, have been used as a drug carrier for insulin. The rate of encapsulation of insulin is 54.9%, and we studied the therapeutic efficiency of the nanocapsules in diabetic and normal rats. When administered subcutaneously, insulin-loaded nanocapsules prolonged the hypoglycemic effect of insulin; the duration of this effect increased with the doses. When administered orally by force-feeding to diabetic rats, insulin nanocapsules (12.5, 25, and 50 U/kg) decreased fasted glycemia 50–60% by day 2. This effect was maintained for 6 or 20 days with 12.5 or 50 U/kg, respectively. Only the dose of 100 U/kg decreased fed glycemia by 25% in diabetic rats. In normal rats, hyperglycemia induced by an oral glucose load was reduced by 50% with the same dose of oral insulin nanocapsules. We concluded that polyalkylcyanoacrylate nanocapsules preserve the therapeutic effect of insulin when administered orally and prolong this effect when administered subcutaneously and orally.
The quality of the evidence for dietary advice given in UK national newspapers

Introduction: Newspaper reports advocating dietary intake changes may impact on dietary choice and food related health beliefs. The scientific basis and quality of evidence underpinning these reports is uncertain. Objective: To evaluate the scientific quality of newspaper reporting related to dietary advice. Design: Articles offering dietary advice from the top ten selling UK newspapers for a randomly selected week were assessed using two established evidence grading scales: developed by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN). Results: Of 111 dietary health claims identified, 72% and 68% (assessed by WCRF and SIGN criteria respectively) had levels of evidence lower than the convincing or probable categories that are recommended for dietary health claims. Conclusions: Misreporting of dietary advice by UK newspapers is widespread and may contribute to public misconceptions about food and health.
Emerging Role of the Pentose Phosphate Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

In recent years, there has been a revival of interest in metabolic changes of cancer cells as it has been noticed that malignant transformation and metabolic reprogramming are closely intertwined. The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is one of the fundamental components of cellular metabolism crucial for cancer cells. This review will discuss recent findings regarding the involvement of PPP enzymes in several types of cancer, with a focus on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We will pay considerable attention to the involvement of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, the rate-limiting enzyme of the PPP. Subsequently, we discuss the inhibition of the PPP as a potential therapeutic strategy against cancer, in particular, HCC.
In Vitro Antibacterial Activities of DQ-113, a Potent Quinolone, against Clinical Isolates

ABSTRACT The antibacterial activity of DQ-113, formerly D61-1113, was compared with those of antibacterial agents currently available. MICs at which 90% of the isolates tested are inhibited (MIC90s) of DQ-113 against clinical isolates of methicillin-susceptible and -resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-susceptible and -resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci were 0.03, 0.008, 0.03, and 0.06 μg/ml, respectively. Moreover, DQ-113 showed the most potent activity against ofloxacin-resistant and methicillin-resistant S. aureus, with a MIC90 of 0.25μg/ml. DQ-113 inhibited the growth of all strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, including penicillin-resistant strains, and Streptococcus pyogenes at 0.06 μg/ml, and DQ-113 was more active than the other quinolones tested against Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium with MIC90s of 0.25 and 2 μg/ml, respectively. Against vancomycin-resistant enterococci, DQ-113 showed the highest activity among the reference compounds, with a MIC range from 0.25 to 2 μg/ml. DQ-113 also showed a potent activity against Haemophilus influenzae, including ampicillin-resistant strains (MIC90, 0.015 μg/ml), and Moraxella catarrhalis (MIC90, 0.03 μg/ml). The activity of DQ-113 was roughly comparable to that of levofloxacin against all species of Enterobacteriaceae. The MICs of DQ-113 against ofloxacin-susceptible Pseudomonas aeruginosa ranged from 0.25 to 2 μg/ml, which were four times higher than those of ciprofloxacin. From these results, DQ-113 showed the most potent activity against gram-positive pathogens among antibacterial agents tested.
Dominantly inherited cerebello‐olivary atrophy is not due to a mutation at the spinocerebellar ataxia‐I, machado‐joseph disease, or dentato‐rubro‐pallido‐luysian atrophy locus

The dominantly inherited ataxias are characterized both by phenotypic variablity (phenotypic heterogeneity) within the same genotype and overlapping phenotypes from different genotypes (genotypic heterogeneity). Therefore it is important to characterize specific clinical‐neuropathologic phenotypes as precisely as possible at the genetic level. We describe a family with dominantly inherited ataxia of late adult onset with relatively “pure” cerebellar signs. Neuropathologic examination in two individuals from this family revealed findings consistent with cerebello‐olivary atrophy, suggesting that this neuropathologic phenotype may run true within families. Mutations at the spinocerebellar ataxia‐I, Machado‐Joseph disease, and dentatorubropallidoluysian atrophy loci were excluded by direct DNA analysis on the leukocytes of one living affected member. Thus we provide evidence that these mutations are not responsible for this particular phenotype of dominantly inherited ataxia.
Effect of non-response bias in pressure ulcer prevalence studies.

AIM This paper reports a study to determine the prevalence of pressure ulcers in German hospitals and nursing homes for national and international comparison, and analyses the influence of non-response bias. BACKGROUND Outcome rates are often used to evaluate provider performance. The prevalence of pressure ulcers is seen as a possible parameter of outcome healthcare quality. However, the results from different pressure ulcer prevalence studies cannot be compared, because there is no standardized methodology and terminology. Observed and published prevalence rates may reflect variations in quality of care, but differences could also relate to differences in case-mix or to random variation. METHODS A point prevalence survey was carried out for 2002 and 2003 using data from 21,574 patients and residents in 147 different kinds of institutions throughout Germany. Participation rates and reasons for not participating in the study were documented. Non-responders were considered in different calculations to show the range of possible prevalence rate for a hypothetic 100% participation. RESULTS In 2002 and 2003, the calculated prevalence rate (among participating persons at risk) in hospitals was 25.1% and 24.2% respectively, while in nursing homes it was 17.3% and 12.5% respectively. Non-response varied from 15.1% to 25.1%. The majority of non-responders in hospitals and nursing homes had not been willing to participate in the study. Based on different assumptions about the characteristics of the non-responders, we calculated minimum and maximum prevalence rates as if 100% participation was achieved. CONCLUSIONS Calculating the non-response bias of prevalence rates is an inconvenient but necessary thing to do because its influence on calculated prevalence rates was high in this study. High participation rates in clinical studies will minimize non-response bias. If non-response cannot be avoided, the formula provided will help researchers calculate possible minimum and maximum prevalence rates for the total sample of both the responding and non-responding groups.
Comércio eletrônico: identificação do perfil do e-consumidor

Esta pesquisa foi realizada objetivando identificar o perfil do e-consumidor entre os academicos de Administracao da Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa (UEPG), no estado do Parana. Em um mercado de acelerada competicao e de consumidores cada vez mais exigentes, tracar o perfil do consumidor para adotar melhores estrategias de negociacao pode fazer toda a diferenca, na medida em que aumenta a satisfacao do cliente. A internet faz parte do cotidiano das pessoas, logo, as organizacoes devem adotar melhores estrategias de negociacao para oferecer produtos e servicos a um nivel distinto, de acordo com as necessidades e desejos dos e-consumidores. Nesse contexto, realizou-se a pesquisa bibliografica acerca do tema, e para a pesquisa de campo utilizou- -se questionario. Ao analisar os dados, verificou-se que, dos entrevistados, 65,34% ja efetuaram compras na internet, e 34,65% ainda nao. Dos compradores, a maior parcela possui renda entre R$ 260,00 e R$ 1.300,00, e idade entre 16 e 25 anos, estando diariamente na nternet de 1 a 6 horas, com o objetivo de obter informacoes pessoais, pesquisa e diversao. Os itens mais consumidos foram livros, eletronicos e produtos de informatica. O criterio de mais relevância na decisao de compra foi o preco, seguido da confianca dos compradores em relacao ao sitio de compra. Com relacao aos problemas indesejaveis ao acessar um sitio, os entrevistados que efetuaram compras apontaram a falta de clareza do processo de compra e a ausencia de uma ferramenta de busca. Dos academicos que nao efetuaram compra, verificou-se que os maiores fatores impeditivos sao a inseguranca e a visualizacao da qualidade do produto.
Effects of pneumoperitoneum with carbon dioxide and helium on renal function and morphology in rats.

PURPOSE To evaluate the effects of pneumoperitoneum with carbon dioxide and helium on renal function and morphology in a rat model. METHODS Twenty four rats were randomized into three groups (n=8): gasless insufflation ('open', Pressure=0 mmHg), carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum at 12 mmHg, and helium pneumoperitoneum at 12 mmHg; all lasting 90 minutes. A cystostomy was performed and the bladder was emptied. At the end of the experiment, the urine produced, a blood sample and the left kidney of each animal were collected. The following variables were obtained: serum sodium, potassium, urea and creatinine, urine volume and creatinine. The creatinine clearance was estimated for each animal. The kidneys were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and evaluated by a pathologist blinded to the groups. RESULTS The CO2 and Helium groups did not differ in the variables evaluated. Both developed oliguria (p<0.001 vs. gasless). The CO2 group presented hyperkalemia compared to gasless (p=0.05), which did not attain significance in the helium group. Histopathological analysis revealed mild hydropic degeneration and congestion in the three groups, with no significant difference among them. CONCLUSIONS The type of gas resulted in no difference in the variables of renal function and morphology assessed. The increase in serum potassium was only observed with CO2 insufflation suggests a combined effect of elevated intra-abdominal pressure and metabolic effects of pneumoperitoneum.
Confirmatory factor analysis of the Thought Occurrence Questionnaire for Sport (TOQS) among adolescent athletes

Abstract There is an inherent link between theory and measurement suggesting that validation of measures should be the first stage of theory testing. The aim of the present study was to cross-validate the factorial validity of the Thought Occurrence Questionnaire for Sport for use among adolescent athletes. National standard young athletes (Individual N = 204; Team N = 360) completed the TOQS questionnaire. Single-sample and multisample confirmatory factor analysis provided support for the psychometric integrity of the hypothesized three-factor correlated model. Multisample results demonstrated invariance for factor loadings and correlations between individual and team athletes. Internal consistency coefficients were over the . 70 criterion for acceptability. Findings lend support to previous validation studies conducted on samples of adult athletes and suggest that the TOQS provides an equally valid measure for use among adolescent athletes. It is suggested that the TOQS can be used to investigate theoretical issues related to cognitive interference during competition.