Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigation of serum substance P status in patients with chronic pruritic skin lesions due to sulfur mustard: a cross-sectional study

Purpose: Chronic cutaneous complications of sulfur mustard (SM) are quite common among intoxicated patients. Among these complications, pruritus represents the most frequent symptom which has significant influence on the quality of life (QoL). The present was undertaken to assess serum levels of substance P in patients who suffer from chronic pruritic lesions due to SM. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, patients suffering from chronic SM-induced pruritic skin lesions (n = 40) and atopic dermatitis (AD)-induced pruritus (n = 20) were recruited. Healhy subjects (n = 10) with no dermatologic disorder were also recruited as control groups. Serum substance P was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pruritus severity was assessed using pruritus score and visual analogue scale (VAS). QoL was evaluated using the dermatology life quality index (DLQI). Results: Significantly elevated serum concentrations of SP were found in the SM compared to the control (p < 0.001) and AD group (p < 0.001). Pruritus score was also higher in the SM compared to both control (p < 0.001) and AD groups (p < 0.001). While there was a higher VAS score in the SM vs. AD group (p = 0.019), no significant difference was observed for DLQI scores (p > 0.05). Significant correlations were found between serum SP and pruritus score in all assessed groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In light of the present findings, elevated SP levels might be regarded as an important contributor of SM-induced chronic pruritus and a potential target for reducing the symptoms.
The anti‐inflammatory agent Propolis improves wound healing in a rodent model of experimental diabetes

Foot ulcers and poor wound healing are problematic for patients with diabetes. The beehive protectant Propolis can improve wound healing but whether it can improve healing in diabetic wounds has not been investigated. In this study, the effect of a single application of Propolis on epithelial closure, wound morphology, cellular infiltrate, and blood vessel density were investigated. Diabetes was induced in rats using streptozocin. After 6 weeks, diabetic and control animals were wounded and the wounds were treated with Propolis or saline as control. At days 6 and 12 animals were sacrificed and wounds were excised. Compared with controls, diabetes decreased epithelial closure and reepithelialization but had no effect on wound contraction. These delays were prevented by Propolis. At day 12, the impaired macrophage infiltration (C:1.49±0.09 vs. D:0.25±0.14), persistent neutrophil infiltration (C:0.22±0.19 vs. D:1.33±0.81), and increased myeloperoxidase activity (fourfold) in diabetic wounds were prevented by Propolis. Diabetes had no effect on wound volume, vessel number, or branch points. These novel data indicate that Propolis can accelerate wound healing in diabetes. As neutrophil infiltration is normalized, its mechanism of action may be through anti‐inflammatory pathways. This result and the established safety profile of Propolis provide a rationale for studying topical application of this agent in a clinical setting.
Distinct antithrombotic consequences of platelet glycoprotein Ibα and VI deficiency in a mouse model of arterial thrombosis

Summary. Background: Collagen and von Willebrand factor (VWF) are considered essential to initiate platelet deposition at sites of vascular injury, but their respective roles remain to be elucidated. Methods: We used a model of carotid artery thrombosis induced by a ferric chloride injury to compare the time to first occlusion and occlusion rate at 25 min postinjury in mice lacking the collagen receptor, glycoprotein (GP) VI, or the ligand‐binding domain of the VWF receptor, GP Ibα. Results: In normal mice used as controls (n = 12), a complete obstruction of blood flow developed within 8.05 ± 0.47 min (mean ± SEM), and the occlusion rate was 100%. The results were variable in 26 GP VI−/− mice. The artery never occluded in eight mice, but the time to first occlusion in the remaining 18 (8.36 ± 0.27 min) was not different from normal (P = 0.556). Nonetheless, the occlusion rate was 42%, because in seven mice the occluded artery reopened and stayed patent at 25 min. In contrast, the artery never occluded in 12 mice lacking GP Ibα. In ex vivo perfusion experiments, GP VI−/− platelets failed to form thrombi onto collagen type I fibrils, but formed thrombi of normal size when exposed to endothelial or fibroblast extracellular matrix. Conclusions: Absence of GP Ibα function has a more profound antithrombotic effect in vivo than absence of the GP VI‐dependent pathway of collagen‐induced adhesion/activation. Components of the extracellular matrix may elicit a thrombogenic response in the absence of GP VI but not GP Ibα.
The costs of community-based psychiatric care for first-ever patients. A case register study

Background. Analysing costs measures in conjunction with psychiatric case register (PCR) data can provide important epidemiologically-based information on resource utilization. Costing the service use patterns of first-ever patients can indicate the shape and likely resource consequences for mental health services operating within a community-based system of care. Methods. Yearly costs were calculated for the 299 first-ever patients and 768 longer-term patients who contacted the South-Verona Psychiatric Case Register between 1 January 1992 and 31 December 1993. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to compare costs between these groups and to test the associations between costs and the sociodemographic and diagnostic data recorded on the PCR. Results. For all diagnostic groups identified, first-ever patients were found to be less costly to support than longer-term patients, even after adjustment for various factors, including whether patients were single consulters. When multivariate analyses were employed, between 20% and 69% of the cost variation for first-ever patients could be explained by patient and other characteristics, and the effect of the contact (first or subsequent) variable was reduced. Conclusion. This study considered only the costs to the specialist psychiatric services but the methodology allows the likely annual resource implications of supporting new patients to be predicted from data collected at first contact. Such information can help ensure that services are adequately funded and that the resources are deployed appropriately between client groups.
Disturbance rejection and H∞ pinning control of networked multi-agent systems

This paper concerns the disturbance rejection problem arising in the coordination control of a group of autonomous agents subject to external disturbances. The agent network is said to possess a desired level of disturbance rejection, if the Hinfin norm of its transfer function matrix from the disturbance to the controlled output is satisfactorily small. Undirected graph is used to represent the information flow between agents. It is shown that the disturbance rejection problem of an agent network can be solved by analyzing the Hinfin control problem of a set of independent systems whose dimensions are equal to that of a single node. An interesting result is that the disturbance rejection ability of the whole agent network coupled via feedback of merely relative measurements between agents will never be better than that of an isolated agent. To improve this, local feedback injections are applied to a small fraction of the agents in the network. Then, some criteria for possible performance improvement are derived in terms of linear matrix inequalities.
Usefulness of Hemoglobin A1c as a Criterion to Define Metabolic Syndrome in Nondiabetic Chinese Adolescents

Aims To examine whether hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) can be used instead of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) to identify nondiabetic Chinese adolescents with metabolic syndrome (MS). Methods This was a cross-sectional study involving 910 adolescents (11–16 years; 46.8% girls) with an HbA1c less than or equal to 6.4% and an FPG less than or equal to 6.9 mmol/L. All participants underwent anthropometric and biochemical examinations. Metabolic syndrome was defined using the definition proposed by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the American Heart Association (AHA). Replacement of an FPG greater than or equal to 5.6 mmol/L with an HbA1c greater than or equal to 5.7% yielded 2 HbA1c definitions (IDF-HbA1c and AHA-HbA1c). The use of an HbA1c greater than or equal to 5.7% or an FPG greater than or equal to 5.6 mmol/L in the definition of the glycemic component of the MS was compared. Results The HbA1c definition resulted in an increase in the population prevalence of MS by 2.4% (IDF-HbA1c) and 2.5% (AHA-HbA1c), respectively (P ≥ 0.05). The degree of concordance (κ index) was as high as 0.900 for the concordance between the IDF and IDF-HbA1c definition, and 0.811 between the AHA and AHA-HbA1c definition. Subjects who were diagnosed as normal based on the FPG definition and met the HbA1c definition for MS had more cardiometabolic risk factors (waist circumference, blood pressure, lipid profiles, uric acid, and homeostasis assessment model of insulin resistance; all P < 0.05), indicating that the HbA1c definition identified more subjects with cardiovascular disease–related risk factors. HbA1c greater than or equal to 5.7% was significantly associated with the presence of MS [adjusted odds ratio, 2.61 (1.13–6.01)]. Conclusions An HbA1c greater than or equal to 5.7% was associated with the presence of MS and can be considered a surrogate for FPG in the diagnosis of MS in nondiabetic Chinese adolescents.
A proteomic analysis of the salt, cadmium and peroxide stress responses in Candida albicans and the role of the Hog1 stress‐activated MAPK in regulating the stress‐induced proteome

Stress responses are important for the virulence of the major fungal pathogen of humans, Candida albicans. In this study we employed a 2‐DE approach to examine the impact of exposure to peroxide (5 mM H2O2), salt (300 mM NaCl) or cadmium stress (0.5 mM Cd2+) upon the C. albicans proteome. Highly reproducible changes in the C. albicans proteome were observed in response to each stress condition. Significantly more proteins were up‐regulated in response to cadmium (77) than to the salt (35) or peroxide stresses (35). These proteomic changes displayed minimal overlap with those observed in the transcriptome under equivalent conditions and, importantly, revealed functional categories that respond to stress at the protein level but not the transcript level. Six proteins were up‐regulated by all three conditions: Adh1, Atp2, Cip1, Eft2, Ssa1 and Ssb1, which is consistent with the concept that a core stress response exists in C. albicans. This is the first time that a fungal core stress response has been defined at the proteomic level. We have also shown that the Hog1 stress‐activated mitogen‐activated protein kinase, which is activated in response to the stresses examined in this study, makes a major contribution to the C. albicans stress proteome.
Hippocampal Volume Reduction in First-Episode and Chronic Schizophrenia

Several magnetic resonance imaging studies have reported hippocampal volume reduction in patients with schizophrenia, but other studies have reported contrasting results. In this review and meta-analysis, the authors aim to clarify whether a reduction in hippocampal volume characterizes patients with schizophrenia by considering illness phase (chronic and first episode) and hippocampus side separately. They made a detailed literature search for studies reporting physical volumetric hippocampal measures of patients with schizophrenia and healthy control (HC) participants and found 44 studies that were eligible for meta-analysis. Individual meta-analyses were also performed on 13 studies of first-episode patients and on 22 studies of chronic patients. The authors also detected any different findings when only males or both males and females were considered. Finally, additional meta-analyses and analyses of variance investigated the role of the factors “illness phase” and “side” on hippocampal volume reduction. Overall, the patient group showed significant bilateral hippocampal volume reduction compared with HC. Interestingly, first-episode and chronic patients showed same-size hippocampal volume reduction. Moreover, the left hippocampus was smaller than the right hippocampus in patients and HC. This review and meta-analysis raises the question about whether hippocampal volume reduction in schizophrenia is of neurodevelopmental origin. Future studies should specifically investigate this issue.
Comparison of acute toxicities associated with cetuximab-based bioradiotherapy and platinum-based chemoradiotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas: A single-institution retrospective study in Japan

Abstract Conclusion: Grade ≥ 3 mucositis/stomatitis and inability to feed orally were problematic for patients undergoing cetuximab-based bioradiotherapy (BRT) as well as platinum-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Severe mucositis/stomatitis and radiation dermatitis should be addressed carefully in patients undergoing cetuximab-based BRT as well. Objectives: The efficacy of cetuximab-based BRT in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinomas has been established. However, the safety of cetuximab-based BRT in comparison with platinum-based CRT is currently under investigation. Method: This study retrospectively analyzed 14 patients undergoing cetuximab-based BRT and 29 patients undergoing platinum-based CRT to compare the incidence of acute toxicities. In the BRT group, an initial cetuximab loading dose of 400 mg/m2 was delivered 1 week before the start of radiotherapy. Seven weekly infusions of 250 mg/m2 of cetuximab followed during the definitive radiotherapy. In the CRT group, cisplatin was administered at a dose of 40 mg/m2 weekly during the definitive radiotherapy. Results: The BRT group had a higher incidence of Grade ≥ 3 radiation dermatitis than did the CRT group (43% vs 3%, respectively, p < 0.01). The incidence rate of Grade ≥ 3 mucositis/stomatitis was 64.3% and 41.4% in the BRT and CRT group, respectively (p = 0.1484), while the incidence rate of the inability to feed orally was 38.5% and 55.2%, respectively (p = 0.2053).
Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy Suppresses Baroreflex Control of Heart Rate in Patients with Essential Hyperhidrosis

Endoscopic thoracic (T2-3 or T3-4) sympathectomy (ETS) is a highly effective treatment for palmar hyperhidrosis. Because the T2-3 or T3-4 sympathetic ganglia are involved in direct sympathetic innervation of the heart, sympathectomy at this level may alter baroreflex control of heart rate. The purpose of our study was to examine the influence of ETS on baroreflex responses to pressor and depressor stimuli under small-dose sevoflurane anesthesia. We studied 40 patients with palmar or axillary hyperhidrosis who were scheduled to receive ETS. In the ETS procedure, the sympathetic trunk was identified by using thoracic endoscopy and was transected. Before and after ETS, the pressor or depressor test was performed by using an IV infusion of phenylephrine or nitroglycerin, respectively, under small-dose general anesthesia. Baroreflex sensitivity was calculated from R-R intervals and systolic blood pressure. ETS did not change heart rate and systemic blood pressure at rest, although ETS significantly altered baroreflex in both pressor and depressor tests in all patients. Baroreflex was completely suppressed in 1 of 19 patients in the pressor test and in 9 of 21 patients in the depressor test. We conclude that baroreflex responses are suppressed in patients who receive ETS.
Enhancement of diuresis with metolazone in infant paediatric cardiac intensive care patients

Abstract Background Few data are available regarding the use of metolazone in infants in cardiac intensive care. Researchers need to carry out further evaluation to characterise the effects of this treatment in this population. Methods This is a descriptive, retrospective study carried out in patients less than a year old. These infants had received metolazone over a 2-year period in the paediatric cardiac intensive care unit at our institution. The primary goal was to measure the change in urine output from 24 hours before the start of metolazone therapy to 24 hours after. Patient demographic variables, laboratory data, and fluid-balance data were analysed. Results The study identified 97 infants with a mean age of 0.32±0.25 years. Their mean weight was 4.9±1.5 kg, and 58% of the participants were male. An overall 63% of them had undergone cardiovascular surgery. The baseline estimated creatinine clearance was 93±37 ml/minute/1.73 m2. Initially, the participants had received a metolazone dose of 0.27±0.10 mg/kg/day, the maximum dose being 0.43 mg/kg/day. They had also received other diuretics during metolazone initiation, such as furosemide (87.6%), spironolactone (58.8%), acetazolamide (11.3%), bumetanide (7.2%), and ethacrynic acid (1%). The median change in urine output after metolazone was 0.9 ml/kg/hour (interquartile range 0.15–1.9). The study categorised a total of 66 patients (68.0%) as responders. Multivariable analysis identified acetazolamide use (p=0.002) and increased fluid input in the 24 hours after metolazone initiation (p<0.001) as being significant for increased urine output. Changes in urine output were not associated with the dose of metolazone (p>0.05). Conclusions Metolazone increased urine output in a select group of patients. Efficacy can be maximised by strategic selection of patients.
The developmental pattern of androgen receptor expression in rat prostate lobes is altered after neonatal exposure to estrogen.

Brief administration of estrogen to newborn rats permanently imprints adult prostatic androgen receptor (AR) expression in a lobe-specific manner. To delineate this effect, we examined the immediate effects of early estrogen exposure on the changing AR pattern in the developing ventral, dorsal, and lateral prostate lobes. Antibodies against rat AR (PG-21) were used in combination with several antibodies to cell-specific antigens for positive cellular identification by immunocytochemistry. At birth, mesenchymal cells of the ventral prostate were strongly AR positive (AR+). Epithelial cells stained only for basal cell cytokeratins and, in contrast to earlier reports, many were AR+ on day 1. Between days 3-5, periductal mesenchymal cells differentiated into smooth muscle cells which retained strong AR+ staining, whereas interductal fibroblasts exhibited a decreased incidence of AR+ cells. Between days 5-10, luminal epithelial cells first appeared, and a striking increase in AR staining intensity was noted relative to that in the basal cells. During puberty, basal cells lost their AR immunoreactivity. Similar changes were observed in the dorsal and lateral lobes. Newborn rats were given 25 micrograms estradiol benzoate on days 1, 3, and 5 and were killed thereafter. By day 6, AR staining was markedly decreased to a weak to moderate intensity in all cell types, and by day 10, AR was virtually absent in the separate lobes. Growth and epithelial cytodifferentiation were significantly retarded. Between days 15-30, evidence of luminal cell cytodifferentiation was noted; however, this was frequently not associated with an increase in AR staining. In the ventral and dorsal lobes, a continuous peripheral layer of AR-negative basal cells surrounded the ducts in the central and proximal regions, and this was associated with a permanent inability of luminal epithelial cells to express AR. Epithelial and smooth muscle AR expression was observed only in the distal tips. In contrast, AR expression rapidly returned in all regions of the lateral lobes, except the proximal ducts. We conclude that 1) basal epithelial cells express AR as early as day 1 of life and should be considered as possible direct targets of androgen action during prostate morphogenesis; 2) differentiation into luminal cells is associated with an increase, rather than an induction, of AR expression; and 3) periductal smooth muscle cells retain strong AR expression throughout development and should be considered primary targets for androgen-mediated morphogenesis. Neonatal estrogen initially down-regulates AR expression in all cells of three lobes, which may explain the overall growth retardation. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
The effects of different prey regimes on the proteolytic digestion of nymphs of the spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Abstract The effects of different prey regimes on the performance and digestive physiology of the spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris (Say) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), were assessed. Specifically, P. maculiventris nymphs were fed on Colorado potato beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), larvae; Egyptian cotton leafworm (ECW); Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae); larvae; Calliphora spp. (CAL) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) pupae or a mixture of the three prey. No differences in development and weight gain were observed when P. maculiventris nymphs were fed different prey species (CPB, ECW or CAL). However, an increase in weight gain and a reduction in the duration of the stadia were observed for nymphs fed with a mixture of the three prey. To investigate the physiological background, biochemical analysis were carried out on insects dissected at the end of the feeding assay. We have found that the proteolytic activity in the salivary glands of P. maculiventris nymphs was not affected by prey species, whereas the relative activity of these proteases in the midgut depends on the prey. Moreover, gel assays proved that the proteolytic profiles of midguts from P. maculiventris nymphs feeding on CPB, ECW and CPB closely resembled those of their prey. All together, these results suggest that P. maculiventris may utilize enzymes from the prey they consume that may facilitate the process of digestion.
Fracturing mechanics before valve-in-valve therapy of small aortic bioprosthetic heart valves.

AIMS Patients with degraded bioprosthetic heart valves (BHV) who are not candidates for valve replacement may benefit from transcatheter valve-in-valve (VIV) therapy. However, in smaller-sized surgical BHV the resultant orifice may become too narrow. To overcome this, the valve frame can be fractured by a high-pressure balloon prior to VIV. However, knowledge on fracture pressures and mechanics are prerequisites. The aim of this study was to identify the fracture pressures needed in BHV, and to describe the fracture mechanics. METHODS AND RESULTS Commonly used BHV of small sizes were mounted on a high-pressure balloon situated in a biplane fluoroscopic system with a high-speed camera. The instant of fracture was captured along with the balloon pressure. The valves were inspected for material protrusion and later dissected for fracture zone investigation and description. The valves with a polymer frame fractured at a lower pressure (8-10 atm) than those with a metal stent (19-26 atm). None of the fractured valves had elements protruding. CONCLUSIONS VIV procedures in small-sized BHV may be performed after prior fracture of the valve frame by high-pressure balloon dilatation. This study provides tentative guidelines for expected balloon sizes and pressures for valve fracturing.