Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ESHAP versus rituximab-ESHAP in frail patients with refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

BACKGROUND Treatment for refractory lymphoma in frail patients (older, poor performance status, or concomitant diseases) has not been defined. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 100 frail patients naive to rituximab therapy were allocated to be treated with ESHAP (etoposide, methylprednisolone, cytosine arabinoside, and platinum; 53 patients) or RESHAP (rituximab plus ESHAP; 47 patients). Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was used to ameliorate the presence of severe granulocytopenia. RESULTS Overall response rate (ORR) and complete response (CR) were similar among ESHAP and R-ESHAP (ORR, 33 patients [62%] and 28 patients [60%], respectively; CR, 20 patients [37%] and 18 patients [36%], respectively). Actuarial curves at 5 years showed that progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were similar: 51% and 31% in the ESHAP arm and 50% and 26%, respectively, in R-ESHAP. Toxicity was severe in both groups; grade 4 granulocytopenia was observed in 30% and 32% of ESHAP and R-ESHAP arms, respectively. Viral infections were more frequent in R-ESHAP (52 cases) than in ESHAP (3 cases). CONCLUSION Frail patients, who generally have not been accepted in controlled clinical trials, can be treated with aggressive chemotherapy because tolerance is well and improvement in outcome is feasible. Although ESHAP retains the clinical efficacy previously reported in nonfrail patients, the addition of rituximab did not improve response rate, PFS, or OS.
Race/Ethnicity, Socioeconomic Status, and Satisfaction With Health Care

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status on consumer health care satisfaction ratings. The authors analyzed national data from the 2001 National Research Corporation Healthcare Market Guide Survey (N = 99 102). Four global and 3 composite ratings were examined. In general, satisfaction ratings were high across all global and composite measures; however, Asian/Pacific Islanders and Hispanics gave lower ratings than did whites, and African Americans gave a mix of higher and lower ratings (vs whites). Among the lowest ratings were those given by American Indians/Alaska Natives living in poverty. Race/ethnicity effects were independent of education and income. These findings are consistent with reports of continuing racial/ethnic disparities in both coverage and care. Programs to improve quality of care must specifically address these well-documented, severe, and persistent disparities.
Inotropic Effects of Ouabain on Rabbit Left Atria in Presence of Beta-Adrenergic Blocking Drugs.∗

Summary The positive inotropic effects of ouabain on electrically driven rabbit left atrial preparations was studied in the presence of 3 drugs known to be potent and specific beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists (pronethalol, propranolol and MJ-1999). Ouabain alone (6.9 × 10-7 M) produced a highly significant increase in contraction force compared to untreated controls. Pronethalol (3.76 × 10-6 M) and propranolol (1.35 × 10-6 M) were found to produce significant decreases in contraction force. The methanesulfonanilide substituted isopropylphenylethylamine (MJ-1999) had no significant effects on contraction force in a concentration of 1.3 × 10-5 M. Administering ouabain after pretreatment with and in the presence of either pronethalol, propranolol, or MJ-1999 failed to modify significantly the normal positive inotropic effect of the glycoside. Therefore, no evidence was found to indicate that beta-adrenergic receptor blockade could prevent the positive inotropic effect of ouabain on isolated rabbit left atria.
Ranking of the antipsoriatic effect of various topical corticosteroids applied under a hydrocolloid dressing—skin‐thickness, blood‐flow and colour measurements compared to clinical assessments

In 10 patients with chronic plaque type psoriasis one or two plaques affected equally with psoriasis were chosen for study. Five punched out rings of a hydrocolloid dressing were applied to the psoriasis plaque(s). In each circular test area 20 mg of one of the following creams was applied: base, 1% hydrocortisone (DAK), 0·1% triamcinolone acetonide (Kenalogue®), 0·1%, betamethasone‐17‐valerate cream (Betnovate®), and 0·05% clobetasol proprionate cream (Dermovate®). The areas were occluded with a thin Him of transparent hydrocolloid dressing (Comfeel® P Transparent Dressing), for 1 week. Non‐invasive measurements (ultrasound skin thickness, laser‐Doppler flowmetry, colorimetry) were performed before and after treatment. Therapeutic response was evaluated blindly by clinical score. The measurements showed a decline in blood How, a decrease in skin thickness, and normalization of colour approaching that of normal skin, the more potent the corticosteroid used. The clinical scores showed the same: the more potent a corticosteroid used, the closer to the score of normal skin. Data on variability and applications of the methods are presented. The study concludes that potent corticosteroids occluded with a hydrocolloid dressing can clear psoriasis in 1 week. Short‐course corticosteroid therapy appears harmless and relevant for clinical dermatology.
Safety and Changes in Plasma and Cerebrospinal Fluid Amyloid &bgr; After a Single Administration of an Amyloid &bgr; Monoclonal Antibody in Subjects With Alzheimer Disease

Objectives:Active and passive immunization strategies have been suggested as possible options for the treatment of Alzheimer disease (AD). LY2062430 (solanezumab) is a humanized monoclonal antibody being studied as a putative disease-modifying treatment of AD. Methods:Patients with mild to moderate AD were screened and selected for inclusion. Initial screening was performed for 54 subjects, and 29 of these underwent additional screening; after this second screening, a total of 19 subjects were included. Single doses of solanezumab using 0.5, 1.5, 4.0, and 10.0 mg/kg were administered. Safety assessments included gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analyses at baseline and 21 days after dosing. Plasma and CSF concentrations of solanezumab and amyloid &bgr; (A&bgr;) and cognitive evaluations were obtained. Results:Administration of solanezumab was generally well tolerated except that mild self-limited symptoms consistent with infusion reactions occurred for 2 of 4 subjects given 10 mg/kg. No evidence of meningoencephalitis, microhemorrhage, or vasogenic edema was present based on magnetic resonance image and CSF analyses. A substantial dose-dependent increase in total (bound plus unbound) A&bgr; was demonstrated in plasma; CSF total A&bgr; also increased. No changes in cognitive scores occurred. Conclusions:A single dose of solanezumab was generally well tolerated, although infusion reactions similar to those seen with administration of other proteins may occur with higher doses. A dose-dependent change in plasma and CSF A&bgr; was observed, although changes in cognitive scores were not noted. Further studies of solanezumab for the treatment of AD are warranted.
Age at placement, adoption experience and adult adopted people's contact with their adoptive and birth mothers: An attachment perspective

Adoption holds particular interest for attachment researchers. Although children adopted as babies experience almost continuous care by their adoptive parents, older placed children experience at least one major change of caregiver when they join their adoptive family. Moreover, in the majority of cases, older placed children have generally suffered a pre-adoption history of abuse, neglect and/or rejection. It is now being recognized that older placed children's attachment histories and internal working models (IWMs) established in relationship with their initial carers remain active in relationship with their new carers. Transactional models have helped both researchers and practitioners to understand the dynamics of parent-child relationships in cases where insecure children with histories of neglect,abuse and rejection findthemselves in new caregiving environments. The present study examines the childhood experiences of adult adopted people and their current levels of contact with their adoptive mothers, and in cases where people had searched for and found a birth relative, current levels of contact with their birth mother. Although no information was collected on the adopted adult's pre-placement history,age at placementwas used as a proxy measure to examine whether older placed children reported different adoption experiences and what their current levels of contact were with their adoptive and birth mothers. The findings show that age at placement was associated with adopted people'sreported experiences of being adopted and current rates of contact with their adoptive and birth mothers, with those placed at older ages most likely to report that they (1) did not feel they belonged in their adoptive families while growing up, (2) did not feel loved by their adoptive mother, (3) were least likely to remain in highfrequency contact with their adoptive mother, and (4) were least likely to remain in high-frequency contact with their birth mother. An attachment perspective is used to interpret the findings. Children adopted at older ages appear more likely to have experienced an insecure attachment relationship with their adoptive mother.
Sphingosine can pre‐ and post‐condition heart and utilizes a different mechanism from sphingosine 1‐phosphate

Consistent with previous reports, sphingosine at a high concentration (5 μM) was cardiotoxic as evidenced by increased infarct size in response to ischemia/reperfusion in an ex vivo rat heart. Sphingosine 1‐phosphate (S1P) at 5 μM was cardioprotective. However, at a physiologic concentration (0.4 μM) sphingosine as well as S1P was effective in protecting the heart from ischemia/reperfusion injury both when perfused prior to 40 min of ischemia (preconditioning) or when added to reperfusion media following ischemia (postconditioning). Protection by sphingosine and S1P was evidenced with both pre‐ and post‐conditioning by a >75% recovery of left ventricular developed pressure during reperfusion and a decrease in infarct size from 45% of the risk area to less than 8%. When VPC23019, an S1P1and3G‐protein coupled receptor antagonist, was added to the preconditioning or postconditioning medium along with S1P, it completely blocked S1P‐induced protection. However, VPC 23019 did not affect the ability of 0.4 μM sphingosine to either precondition or postcondition hearts. Studies of preconditioning revealed that inhibition of protein kinase C with GF109203X blocked preconditioning by S1P. However, GF109203X did not affect preconditioning by 0.4 μM sphingosine. Likewise, cotreatment with the PI3 kinase inhibitor wortmanin blocked preconditioning by S1P but not by sphingosine. By contrast, inhibition of protein kinase G with KT5823 had no effect on S1P preconditioning but completely eliminated preconditioning by sphingosine. Also, the protein kinase A inhibitory peptide 14–22 amide blocked preconditioning by sphingosine but not S1P. These data reveal for the first time that sphingosine is not toxic at physiologic concentrations but rather is a potent cardioprotectant that utilizes a completely different mechanism than S1P; one that is independent of G‐protein coupled receptors and utilizes cyclic nucleotide‐dependent pathways. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 22:113–118, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.20227
[The study on the beclin1 expression and change in diabetic rats].

OBJECTIVE To study the expression of beclin1 in renal tissue of diabetic rats, and its role in diabetic nephropathy (DN). METHODS Diabetic rat model was produced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg), it was considered to be diabetic nephropathy that 72 h blood glucose after modeling was higher than 16 mmol/L. The positive urine protein was detected by paper method at the end of 1 week. 24 h urine albumin excretion (ALb) and urinary albumin and urinary creatinine ratio (ACR) were examined by immunoturbidimetry, Beclin1 expression was also studied by immunohistochemistry with envision method. The electron microscopy was used to detect the form of autophagic vesicles and lysosome. RESULTS (1) Compared with control group, the 24-hour urinary albumin excretion rate and ACR in diabetic rats were significantly higher. (2) The electron microscopy showed there were autophagic vesicles in renal tissue in both groups; (3) Immunohistochemistry showed beclin1 expression in normal rat kidney cells partly, while no expression in glomeruli. The expression of beclin1 in DN renal tissue was stronger than that in normal rats (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION beclin1 may be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy with the mechanism related to the process of programmed cell death.
On the structure and function of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-cytochrome f reductase of spinach chloroplasts.

1 NADPH-eytochrome f reductase from spinach chloroplasts has been purified, and its amino acid composition is reported. 2 The specificity of the enzyme for different electron acceptors has been studied. In addition to higher plant cytochrome f, Euglena gracilis cytochrome f and plastocyanin are reduced. The reaction with these acceptors occurs through a two-step mechanism, whereas higher plant cytochrome f forms a ternary complex with NADPH and the enzyme. The Km values for NADPH in the reactions with the different electron acceptors, the Km's for the electron acceptors and the turnover numbers are reported. 3 The sulphydryl reagents slowly inactivate the enzyme and enhance the fluorescence of enzyme-bound FAD and of the tryptophan residues of the protein. In the presence of NADPH, the inactivation is very rapid, and FADH2 is split from the apoenzyme. Preincubation of the enzyme with NADPH inactivates reversibly all the reactions except cytochrome f reductase. The results are interpreted in terms of structure to function relationships and the significance of the NADPH-cytochrome f reductase in photosynthetic electron transport is also discussed.
Post‐kala‐azar dermal leishmaniasis

Sir, Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is an uncommon dermatosis usually seen one to two years after an attack of kala-azar. Involvement of the areola and nipple has not been reported previously. A 25 year-old man was admitted with rapid onset of fever, dyspnea and dry nonproductive cough. His physician had diagnosed pulmonary consolidation, which was confirmed by a chest x ray which showed involvement of a segment in the lower zone of the right lung. The blood picture had shown neutrophilic leucocytosis and a raised ESR. Peripheral blood smear examination for malarial parasites, blood culture and a Widal test had revealed no abnormality. Meanwhile the patient was receiving ampicillin 250 mg and cloxacillin 250 mg four times daily. When his condition improved he was referred to the dermatology service for opinion on skin lesions. These were of two years duration and they had commenced gradually, and were asymptomatic. There was a previous history of kala-azar six years before the skin lesions developed. On examination the face was erythematous with papules seen predominantly around the mouth, alae nasi and on the neck. Large hypopigmented macules with irregular borders were seen on the trunk, buttocks, arms and thighs. The papules were scattered in these areas and the axillary folds were streaked with linear erythematous indurated plaques along the creases. Both the areola and nipples were studded with papules making them appear larger than normal (Fig 1). The scrotum, shaft of penis and glans were also affected. The spleen was palpable three finger breadths below the costal margin, and was nontender. Slit-skin smears from the areolar lesion were stained by Ziehl-Neelsen's for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) and by Giemsa's for Leishman-Donovan bodies (LDB). The former was negative and the latter revealed a few LDB within the mononuclear cells. A skin biopsy of a papule from the back confirmed PDKL, but he refused all other investigations on the pretext that they could be performed after he felt he had totally recovered from the lung ailment. A few days later he absconded. The most important differential diagnosis for PKDL is leprosy, since PKDL has frequently been mistaken and treated as lepromatous leprosy (LL). ' It is mainly for this reason that the present case has been described. The nipples and areola are characteristic sites of involvement in LL in the male leading to marked enlargement, at times topped by a nodule which has been descriptively termed gynecothelia. ^ FIGURE 1—Papules on the areola and nipple.
How Well Does the CWEQ II Measure Structural Empowerment? Findings from Applying Item Response Theory

The main purpose of this paper is to examine the psychometric properties of the original five-point CWEQ II using Item Response Theory (IRT) methods, followed by an examination of the revised three-point CWEQ II. (1) Background: The psychometric properties of the CWEQ II have not been previously assessed using more robust techniques such as IRT. (2) Methods: This is a secondary analysis of baseline data from 1067 staff nurses whose leaders had attended a leadership development program. Data were analyzed using a polytomous IRT model. (3) Results: The two versions of CWEQ II fit the SE data equally as each had only one poor-fitting item. For the five-point CWEQ II, discriminant ability was poor for a majority of the items; one item demonstrated a disordinal step difficulty parameter; and item reliability was supported for a relatively wider range of SE levels. The discriminant ability and reliability of items for the three-point CWEQ II was better than those of the five-point CWEQ II, but for a narrower range of SE levels; and the disordinal step difficulty parameter was resolved. (4) Conclusion: The appropriate use of each version of the scale depends on the conditions of the work setting targeted.
Assessment of the Association Between HIV Viral Load and CD4 Cell Count on the Occurrence of Oropharyngeal Candidiasis in HIV-Infected Patients

Background: Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) is the most frequently observed oral infection in HIV-infected individuals. Historically, lower CD4 counts have been associated with an increased prevalence of OPC in HIV-infected patients, but HIV viral load has also recently been recognized as a possible predictive factor. Objective: We examined the impact of viral load and blood CD4 cell count on the occurrence of OPC using modern exploratory statistical analyses. Methods: The exploratory and inferential methods of classification and regression trees (CARTs) and logistic regression were used to compare the impact of viral load and CD4 cell counts on OPC status in 161 HIV-infected individuals from an outpatient clinic population in New Orleans. Results: The use of stepwise logistic regression and CART to classify individual OPC status both identified viral load as the most important covariate, followed by CD4 cells counts. Age, sex, and highly active antiretroviral therapy use were also found to be associated with OPC status. Conclusions: These data strongly suggest that low viral load distinguishes those not at risk for OPC with high viral load, which also includes a heterogeneous set of predictors for OPC status, has the highest impact on OPC classification.
On the automorphism groups of convex domains in C n

We establish that every bounded convex domain in C n with an automorphism orbit accumulation at a boundary point at which the domain has a sphere contact from inside admits a non-compact 1-parameter subgroup of automorphisms. Notice that this in particular implies that no Teichmuller domain of a Riemann surface of genus g > 1 can be holomorphically im- bedded as a convex domain in C 3g� 3 .
Clinical Evaluation of the Automated COBAS AMPLICOR MTB Assay for Testing Respiratory and Nonrespiratory Specimens

ABSTRACT We evaluated the COBAS AMPLICOR PCR system (Roche Diagnostics) for the routine detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) in clinical specimens. Diagnostic culture, considered as the reference method, was performed with BACTEC, Löwenstein-Jensen, Stonebrink, and Kirchner media. Occasionally MB-Redox, ESP, or MGIT medium was also used. A total of 643 respiratory and 506 nonrespiratory specimens collected from 807 patients were investigated. Of the 95 culture-positive specimens, 80 were COBAS AMPLICOR MTB positive, and of the 1,054 culture-negative specimens, 1,044 were COBAS AMPLICOR MTB negative. After resolving discrepancies by review of the medical history, the overall sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for the COBAS AMPLICOR MTB assay, respectively, were 83.5, 98.8, 86.7, and 98.6% compared to those of diagnostic culture. In smear-positive specimens, the sensitivity of the COBAS AMPLICOR MTB assay was 96%, versus 48% for smear-negative specimens. No significant differences in the test performance between respiratory and nonrespiratory specimens were observed. The overall inhibition rate was less than 2%, excluding stool specimens. The clear advantages of the COBAS AMPLICOR PCR system are standardized procedures and reagents for specimen processing as well as an internal control for reliable monitoring of PCR inhibitors. By simplifying the work flow through a completely automated amplification and amplicon detection procedure, the COBAS AMPLICOR PCR system proved itself as a very useful component for routine diagnostic procedures.
Gene expression of herpes simplex virus. III. Effect of arabinosyladenine on viral polypeptide synthesis

Arabinosyladenine, an established antiherpetic drug, was used to block herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA synthesis quantitatively in infected xeroderma pigmentosum cells. Kinetic analyses of viral polypeptides synthesized in the presence and absence of this drug revealed that there were at least six distinct kinetic classes of polypeptides. These differed in time of appearance after infection, time of maximum rate of synthesis, kinetics of turnoff, and sensitivity to arabinosyladenine. This study showed that arabinosyladenine had the following three main effects on herpes simplex virus type 1 gene expression. (i) The turnon of immediate early and delayed early polypeptides (kinetic classes 1 and 2) was retarded. (ii) The turnoff of early (immediate early and delayed early) polypeptides (classes 1 through 3) was delayed. (iii) The synthesis of late polypeptides (class 4 through 6) was inhibited by arabinosyladenine, with class 6 severely (80 to 90%) inhibited. The kinetic data presented here, along with the findings of other workers on the effects of inhibition of viral DNA synthesis, suggest that viral DNA replication is required for optimum synthesis of late viral polypeptides.