Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the hemodynamic effects of midazolam and diazepam in patients with coronary occlusion.

Midazolam is gradually replacing diazepam in neuroleptanalgesia with fentanyl and sufentanil because of its greater water solubility, greater hypnotic potency, shorter half-life, lack of pharmacologically active metabolites and low incidence of thrombophlebitis. In order to substantiate midazolam as being as safe and effective as diazepam in cardiac patients with severe coronary occlusion, hemodynamic measurements were made before and 10 min after completion of intravenous injection of 0.2 mg/kg i.v. midazolam (n = 45) and 0.4 mg/kg i.v. diazepam (n = 30), the doses which are identical to those used in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. All 75 patients were spontaneously breathing 40% O2 in air. No positional changes or stimulation of patients were allowed before and during the study. Of hemodynamic variables, systemic systolic blood pressure was significantly reduced by both midazolam and diazepam. Midazolam also caused significant reduction in systemic vascular resistance with reduction in diastolic pressure and left ventricular stroke work index. No changes in heart rate, systolic and diastolic pulmonary artery pressures, cardiac output and index, stroke volume and index, pulmonary vascular resistance, right ventricular stroke work index and rate pressure product were observed following either midazolam or diazepam. No statistically significant differences were observed in any hemodynamic variable between those patients receiving midazolam or diazepam. It is concluded that midazolam is as safe as diazepam in cardiac patients with coronary obstruction.
Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), environmental enteropathy, nutrition, and early child development: making the links

There is scarce research and programmatic evidence on the effect of poor water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) conditions of the physical environment on early child cognitive, sensorimotor, and socioemotional development. Furthermore, many common WASH interventions are not specifically designed to protect babies in the first 3 years of life, when gut health and linear growth are established. We review evidence linking WASH, anemia, and child growth, and highlight pathways through which WASH may affect early child development, primarily through inflammation, stunting, and anemia. Environmental enteropathy, a prevalent subclinical condition of the gut, may be a key mediating pathway linking poor hygiene to developmental deficits. Current early child development research and programs lack evidence‐based interventions to provide a clean play and infant feeding environment in addition to established priorities of nutrition, stimulation, and child protection. Solutions to this problem will require appropriate behavior change and technologies that are adapted to the social and physical context and conducive to infant play and socialization. We propose the concept of baby WASH as an additional component of early childhood development programs.
Development potential of rifalazil

Rifalazil represents a new generation of ansamycins that contain a unique four-ring structure. Originally rifalazil was developed as a therapeutic agent to replace rifampin as part of a multiple drug regimen in the treatment of tuberculosis. As a result of its superior antimicrobial activity and high intracellular levels, rifalazil has potential to treat indications caused by the intracellular pathogen, Chlamydia trachomatis, which causes non-gonococcal urethritis and cervicitis, often leading to pelvic inflammatory disease. Rifalazil also has potential to treat the related microorganism, Chlamydia pneumoniae, which may be involved in chronic inflammatory processes thought to be partly responsible for atherosclerosis. Due to its favourable antimicrobial spectrum and other positive attributes, rifalazil may also prove valuable in the treatment of gastric ulcer disease, caused by Helicobacter pylori, and antibiotic-associated colitis, the result of toxin production following the growth of Clostridium difficile in the colon. The potential value of rifalazil in the treatment of these indications will be assessed in human clinical trials.
Direct analysis of body composition of dairy cows at three physiological stages.

Holstein cows were killed at three physiological stages, prepartum (-7 d, n = 10), early lactation (63 d, n = 7), and late lactation (269 d, n = 8), for determination of chemical composition and prediction of energy changes during lactation. Cows were weighed, slaughtered, and separated into five or six fractions, including carcass, gastrointestinal tract, mammary gland, uterus, and fetus (if present); the remainder was noncarcass. Live BW and weight of all empty body components except fat were unaffected by physiological stage. Empty body fat was reduced 42.3 kg for the early lactation cows compared with that of prepartum cows. Fat-free matter was similar across physiological stages; however, the water content of fat-free matter was greater for the prepartum and early lactation cows than for late lactation cows. In early lactation cows, the percentages of total protein were less in carcass and greater in gastrointestinal tissue than in prepartum and late lactation cows, but fat distribution was not affected. The energy values of 9.2 and 5.57 Mcal/kg for fat and protein in tissue, respectively, were determined by regression and used to apportion energy associated with fat, . 925, and protein, . 07, during lactation using data adjusted for ash. A maximum loss of 442 Mcal of tissue energy by approximately 77 DIM was determined by regression of empty body energy on DIM).
A forward-backward Bregman splitting scheme for regularized distributed optimization problems

We consider regularized distributed optimization problems over networks. The problem arises from many existing domains, such as coordinated control, sensor fusion and distributed learning. We propose a new framework based on Bregman method and operator splitting, which allows us to come up with a general distributed algorithm, termed Distributed Forward-Backward Bregman Splitting (D-FBBS). The proposed algorithm, though derived from a different perspective, is shown to have close connections with some existing algorithms. In addition, we show that the proposed algorithm is able to seek a saddle point which solves the above primal problem as well as its dual simultaneously. We also establish a non-ergodic convergence rate of o(1/k) in terms of fixed point residual. A simple example of sensor fusion problem is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the algorithm.
Haptoglobin polymorphism and complications in established essential arterial hypertension

Objective: Salt sensitivity and the magnitude of systolic blood pressure have been linked to haptoglobin (Hp) polymorphism in normotensives. The aim of the present study was to investigate the indices of hypertension, the severity of complications and the occurrence of coronary and peripheral artery disease for the various haptoglobin phenotypes and their relation to the therapeutic needs (number and class of drugs) of established arterial hypertensives Design: Haptoglobin polymorphism was studied in 302 Caucasians with established essential arterial hypertension who had been treated for at least 1 year Methods: Haptoglobin polymorphism was studied using starch-gel electrophoresis of haemoglobin-supplemented serum Results: The relative allele frequencies of Hp 1 and Hp2 (0.360 and 0.640, respectively) in established hypertensives were comparable with those of the control population. Logistic regression analysis confirmed that Hp2-2 contributes to the therapeutic needs in hypertension. The most important factors determining therapeutic needs were coronary artery disease, Hp2-2 phenotype, body mass index (BMI) and left ventricular hypertrophy. Although no contributive effect of serum haptoglobin concentration could be derived from the logistic regression approach, analysis of serum haptoglobin concentration demonstrated a concentration-related effect on therapeutic needs for the Hp2-2 phenotype only Conclusions: The present study suggests that hypertensives with an Hp 2-2 phenotype need more complex combinations of antihypertensive drugs to reduce blood pressure to the same level. The hypertensive patient carrying Hp 2-2 is more likely to accumulate atherosclerotic lesions of the coronary or peripheral arteries, despite comparable lipid levels, smoking habits and BMI. Hp1-1 patients are characterized by a younger age at diagnosis and a lower complication rate. In view of the greater therapeutic needs and the higher complication rate, Hp2-2 hypertensives need more careful follow-up
Tangle and neuron numbers, but not amyloid load, predict cognitive status in Alzheimer’s disease

Objective: To examine the relationship between stereologic estimates of AD-related pathology and severity of cognitive deficits in brain aging. Background: Previous studies reported substantial contributions of neurofibrillary tangles (NFT), amyloid deposits, and neuronal loss to the development of dementia. However, the prediction of cognitive status based on nonstereologic quantification of these measures has led to conflicting results. Such studies have measured densities, rather than absolute numbers, and most do not take into account the potential interaction between the above pathologic hallmarks in a global multivariate analysis. Methods: Clinicopathologic study in 22 elderly cases. Cognitive status assessed prospectively using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE); stereologic assessment of NFT, unaffected neurons, and total amyloid volume in the CA1 field of the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and area 9. Statistical analysis was performed using both univariate and multivariate linear regression models. Results: High total NFT counts but not amyloid volume were strongly associated with a lower number of unaffected neurons in all areas studied. A high proportion of variability in MMSE scores was explained by NFT and neuronal counts in the CA1 field (83% and 85.4%), entorhinal cortex (87.8% and 83.7%), and area 9 (87% and 79%); amyloid volume in the entorhinal cortex, but not in the CA1 field and area 9, accounted for 58.5% of MMSE variability. Multivariate analyses showed that total NFT counts in the entorhinal cortex and area 9 as well as neuron numbers in the CA1 field were the best predictors of MMSE score. Conclusions: These new stereologic data indicate that neuronal pathology in hippocampal formation and frontal cortex closely reflects the progression of cognitive deficits in brain aging and AD. They also demonstrate that amyloid volume has no additional predictive value, in terms of clinicopathologic correlations, beyond its interaction with NFT.
Integrating Factors Influencing Consumers’ Halal Products Purchase: Application of Theory of Reasoned Action

ABSTRACT The purpose of this research is to determine Muslim consumers’ purchase perceptions of Halal products in Pakistan. The research team has integrated different factors such as processing, Halal logo, ingredients, health consciousness, perceived value, food safety concern, and religious factor with Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), and they investigated their influence on consumers’ attitudes and intentions to purchase Halal food products. A survey was conducted in Islamabad and Rawalpindi city, Pakistan. A total of 282 (56.4%) completed questionnaires were received from 500 respondents. Structural equation modeling technique was used to determine consumers’ purchase intention and behavior regarding Halal products. Except for health consciousness and Halal logo, all factors positively influence consumers’ attitude and purchase intention of Halal food products and, subsequently, their purchase behavior.
Use of Intracellular Cytokine Staining and Bacterial Superantigen to Document Suppression of the Adaptive Immune System in Injured Patients

Objective To determine the percentages of major T lymphocyte subsets in the circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cell population in patients with major traumatic injury at early and late time points and to determine the expression of coreceptors and cytokine production by these T cell subsets. Summary Background Data Prior studies suggest that serious injury in humans suppresses the adaptive immune system as revealed by diminished proliferation and altered cytokine production in response to polyclonal T cell activation. However, the contribution of individual cell types to this immune dysfunction has not been well characterized. Methods The percentage of circulating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and the relative density of CD4 and CD8 coreceptor expression was determined by flow cytometry in 17 consecutive trauma patients (injury severity score > 20) within 24 hours of injury and at day 7. Intracellular expression of the cytokines interleukin 2 (IL-2), interferon gamma (IFN&ggr;), IL-4, and IL-10 were also studied after stimulation with bacterial superantigen (SEB). Patients were compared with age- and sex-matched controls and to themselves for differences between early and late cytokine expression. Results The percentage of circulating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was decreased versus controls at day 1 and further decreased by day 7 following injury. CD4 and CD8 cell surface expression was also decreased at days 1 and 7. CD4+ T cells in injured patients responded to SEB activation with decreased expression of IFN&ggr; and IL-2 on day 1 versus controls (P < 0.05) and of all 4 cytokines by day 7 (P < 0.05), while CD8+ T cells showed diminished expression of IFN&ggr; and IL-2 only at both time points. When day 1 and day 7 cytokine expression results were compared in the same patients, CD4+ T cells showed diminished expression of IFN&ggr;, IL-2, and IL-4 by day 7 (P < 0.05), but maintained expression of IL-10. CD8 T cells showed diminished expression of IFN&ggr; only. Conclusions Severe injury induces a loss of circulating CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes and diminished coreceptor expression by these cells. Both T cell subsets show progressive loss of immunostimulatory cytokine production with maintenance of potentially suppressive IL-10 production. These events may have negative consequences for host defense.
Lower Serum Osteocalcin Levels in Pregnant Drug Users and Their Newborns at the Time of Delivery

Osteocalcin was evaluated by radioimmunoassay at the time of delivery in mothers and in the umbilical arteries of newborns in a group of pregnant drug users (eight heroin users and seven cocaine users) and compared with findings from a group of normal mothers and their newborns (N=18). Drug users had lower osteocalcin values than did the normal women (1.3 ± 0.7 versus 2.7 ± 0.8 ng/mL, P<.001); and infants of drug users had lower values than normal infants (14.1 ± 3.8 versus 19.0 ± 4.0 ng/mL, P<.005). The birth weights of drug users' infants were smaller (3160 ± 402 versus 3591 ± 374 g, P<.05) and there was a significant negative correlation (P<.001) between osteocalcin and drug intake during pregnancy, but no changes in osteocalcin dependent on the type of drug used. These results suggest a toxic effect of these drugs on the osteoblast, which could account for the lower birth weights and skeletal alterations reported in the infants of drug users
Synchronization of Muscular Oscillations Between Two Subjects During Isometric Interaction

Muscles oscillate with a frequency around 10 Hz. But what happens with myofascial oscillations, if two neuromuscular systems interact? The purpose of this study was to examine this question, initially, on the basis of a case study. Oscillations of the triceps brachii muscles of two subjects were determined through mechanomyography (MMG) during isometric interaction. The MMG-signals were analyzed concerning the interaction of the two subjects with algorithms of nonlinear dynamics. In this case study it could be shown, that the muscles of both neuromuscular systems also oscillate with the known frequency (here 12 Hz) during interaction. Furthermore, both subjects were able to adapt their oscillations against each other. This adjustment induced a significant (α < .05) coherent behavior, which was characterized by a phase shifting of approximately 90°. The authors draw the conclusion, that the complementary neuromuscular partners potentially have the ability of mutual synchronization.
Prolactin Receptor–Integrin Cross-Talk Mediated by SIRPα in Breast Cancer Cells

The hormone prolactin (PRL) contributes to the pathogenesis of breast cancer in part through its activation of Janus-activated kinase 2 (Jak2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (Stat5), a PRL receptor (PRLr)–associated pathway dependent on cross-talk signaling from integrins. It remains unclear, however, how this cross-talk is mediated. Following PRL stimulation, we show that a complex between the transmembrane glycoprotein signal regulatory protein-α (SIRPα) and the PRLr, β1 integrin, and Jak2 in estrogen receptor–positive (ER+) and ER− breast cancer cells is formed. Overexpression of SIRPα in the absence of collagen 1 significantly decreased PRL-induced gene expression, phosphorylation of PRLr-associated signaling proteins, and PRL-stimulated proliferation and soft agar colony formation. In contrast, overexpression of SIRPα in the presence of collagen 1 increased PRL-induced gene expression; phosphorylation of Jak2, Stat5, and Erk; and PRL-stimulated cell growth. Interestingly, overexpression of a tyrosine-deficient SIRPα (SIRPα-4YF) prevented the signaling and phenotypic effects mediated by wild-type SIRPα. Furthermore, overexpression of a phosphatase-defective mutant of Shp-2 or pharmacologic inhibition of Shp-2 produced effects comparable with that of SIRPα-4YF. However, the tyrosine phosphorylation of SIRPα was unaffected in the presence or absence of collagen 1. These data suggest that SIRPα modulates PRLr-associated signaling as a function of integrin occupancy predominantly through the alteration of Shp-2 activity. This PRLr-SIRPα-integrin complex may therefore provide a basis for integrin-PRLr cross-talk and contribute to the biology of breast cancer. Mol Cancer Res; 8(10); 1413–24. ©2010 AACR.
Endometrial Preparation for Women Undergoing Embryo Transfer Frozen-Thawed Embryo Transfer With and Without Pretreatment With Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Agonists

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of endometrial preparation by exogenous steroids, with and without pretreatment by the use of GnRH agonist. Materials and methods: This randomized interventional study was conducted on 100 women who underwent a FTET that were randomly assigned to receive GnRH agonist (buserelin) in the luteal phase or no receive this medication. In both groups endometrial preparation was achieved by the use of estradiol valerate pill started from the second day of the menstruation and used every day, with an initial dose of 2mg/d and every 3 days increased to 4 mg/d and 6 mg/d, respectively. Endometrial thickness was evaluated by vaginal ultrasound. Forty eight hours after beginning of progesterone administration 2 to 3 embryos surviving in freezing procedure were transferred. Results: the two groups were similar in mean age, body mass index, duration of infertility, type of infertility, number of embryos transferred and endometrial thickness on the day of beginning progesterone therapy. Comparing outcome of FTET between the two groups scheduled for receiving GnRH agonist showed no significant difference in the rate of implantation (6.7% versus 10.0%), the rate of chemical pregnancy (21.7% versus 22.5%), clinical pregnancy rate (15.0% versus 17.5%), and also ongoing pregnancy (13.3% versus 12.5%). Conclusion: Endometrial preparation for FTET using GnRH agonists appears to be as effective as FTET without administrating these agonists.
Activation of the human immunodeficiency virus type 2 enhancer is dependent on purine box and kappa B regulatory elements

Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) displays several features which distinguish it from HIV-1. Among the differences in these two viruses are the responses of their enhancer regions to T-cell activation. For example, stimulation of HIV-1 transcription is largely dependent on two kappa B regulatory elements. In contrast, the HIV-2 enhancer has a single kappa B site and contains additional cis-acting sequences responsive to induction. One of these sites, previously termed CD3R, is a purine-rich site, also called PuB1, which is responsive to stimulation of the CD3 component of the T-cell receptor complex and binds Elf-1, a member of the ets proto-oncogene family. In this report, we examine the interaction of the PuB1 site with other sites in the HIV-2 enhancer. We demonstrate that the PuB1 site confers responsiveness to T-cell activators only in cooperation with additional enhancer elements. Induction of the HIV-2 enhancer is dependent on at least two other cis-acting regulatory elements in addition to PuB1 and kappa B. One of these elements is another purine-rich site (PuB2), which also binds recombinant Elf-1. An adjacent region, proximal to the PuB2 ets (pets) site, shows protection in DNase footprinting experiments with extracts from Jurkat T cells. Mutation of either the kappa B, PuB1, PuB2, or pets site significantly reduces the response of the HIV-2 enhancer to T-cell stimulation, an effect which is mediated at the RNA level. Therefore, activation of the HIV-2 enhancer is dependent on at least four cis-acting elements, only one of which is found in HIV-1, which act in synergy with one another. Despite their sequence similarity, the organization and function of the HIV-2 enhancer have diverged considerably from those of HIV-1.
Inflation expectations and monetary policy under disagreements

Using a wide range of survey data on Japanese inflation outlook, this study examines two types of disagreements regarding inflation expectations and accordingly, presents monetary policy implications. The analysis reveals three key findings. First, information rigidities are determinants of cross-sectional disagreement among not only households but also experts. Second, survey data indicate dissonance regarding the long-run forecasts of inflation rates between the central bank and economic entities, despite the adoption of a 2% inflation target in January 2013 and the introduction of an unconventional monetary policy (QQE) in April 2013. While short- and mid-term inflation forecasts by households are generally close to the 2% target rate, long-term forecasts fail to converge to the target level. Finally, under the two types of disagreements, the private sector's perception about a monetary policy stance does not significantly differ before and after the introduction of the inflation target and QQE. These findings suggest that the policy regime of the monetary policy dose not abruptly change on basis of perception; that is, there is no upheaval in the agents f perception about a monetary policy stance enough to induce a regime change.