Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biologic parameters that correlate with the prognosis of human gliomas

Much clinical and biologic data have been processed in the search for useful objective parameters to predict brain tumor behavior. Seventy cases of astrocytic glioma collected by a single clinical team were studied using a full complement of clinical procedures: follow up (7 years), histologic analysis, DNA content estimation, and cell kinetics by flow cytometry. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was determined by immunocytochemical‐coupling flow cytometry (PFC) and also by counting under light microscopy (PIHC). A statistical evaluation was carried out to establish the usefulness of several parameters for glioma prognosis. The cases were histologically classified as 14 low‐grade astrocytomas, 20 anaplastic astrocytomas, and 36 glioblastomas multiforme. The survival curve showed significant differences between his‐tologic groups. Diploid populations were more frequent in low‐grade astrocytomas, and aneuploid tumors often had increased S‐phase and proliferative fractions. The PCNA‐labeled index (PCNA‐LI) increased with malignancy and correlated with histologic grading (P = 0.01). The PCNA‐LI and age segregated low‐ from high‐grade astrocytomas (including anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme), but none of the variables considered differentiated anaplastic astrocytoma from glioblastoma multiforme. The Cox regression test displayed significant values for age, histologic diagnosis, and PCNA determinations when considered in tandem. Discriminant analysis obtained a function integrating age and specifically PIHC‐LI to help in the prognosis of doubtful cases. The results emphasize the importance of parameters integrating different variables in an attempt to provide an accurate prognosis, the most significant being age, histopathologic diagnosis, and the proliferative fraction determined by PCNA.
Report on the 1986 A.S.P.E.N. Research Workshop on selenium in clinical nutrition.

Selenium in human nutrition was the theme of the 1986 Research Workshop of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. At the workshop, evidence for the nutritional essentiality of selenium to humans was reviewed, and it was concluded that Keshan disease, the cardiomyopathy of children and young women described in China, is now firmly linked to selenium deficiency, although other factors may be involved. Selenium metabolism and techniques for assessing selenium status also received attention at the workshop. A measurement of blood selenium levels was accepted, in general, as a valid technique for assessing selenium status in individuals with relatively constant selenium intakes. Clinical practitioners at the workshop reported that some of their total parenteral nutrition patients not receiving selenium presented biochemical evidence of selenium deficiency, but no characteristic clinical syndrome due to selenium deficiency has yet been observed in such patients. The workshop attendees acknowledged the need for an official guideline for selenium use in total parenteral nutrition, but were unable to develop a consensus regarding such a guideline. However, the workshop agreed that any guideline established in the future should specify the type of patients to be supplemented, the dose of selenium to be administered, and the selenium compound to be used. Until that time, the physician supervising the therapy must assume responsibility both for determining the need for selenium supplementation, and for the administration of the supplemental selenium.
Differential levels of α-synuclein, β-amyloid42 and tau in CSF between patients with dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer's disease

Background The clinical diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is made on the basis of consensus criteria; however, the sensitivity of the criteria is relatively low. There are no generally accepted biomarkers to distinguish DLB from other dementias. Here the utility of quantification of α-synuclein, β-amyloid42 (Aβ42) and tau in the CSF of patients with DLB, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias was examined. Methods 86 patients were divided into three age and sex matched groups: DLB (n=34), AD (n=31) and other dementias (n=21). Two patients with α-synuclein gene (SNCA) duplication were also examined. Aβ and tau were quantified using an ELISA kit. A modified sandwich ELISA was developed which enables the sensitive quantification of CSF α-synuclein. Results Total and phosphorylated tau levels as well as Aβ40/42 and tau/Aβ42 ratios were significantly higher in AD patients than in patients with DLB (p<0.01) and other dementias (p<0.01). CSF α-synuclein levels in DLB patients were significantly lower than those in patients with AD (p<0.05) and other dementias (p<0.01). CSF α-synuclein level correlated with the Aβ42 level in DLB patients (p=0.01, r=0.43). Two patients with SNCA duplication exhibited relatively low levels of CSF α-synuclein. Conclusions The study suggests that reduced levels of CSF α-synuclein in DLB may reflect the accumulation of α-synuclein with Lewy pathology in the brain and that quantification of CSF α-synuclein helps in the differentiation of DLB from AD and other dementias in combination with Aβ42 and tau analysis.
Micro-computerized tomography assessment of fluorescence aided caries excavation (FACE) technology: comparison with three other caries removal techniques.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine the caries removal effectiveness (CRE) and minimal invasiveness potential (MIP) of four dentine caries removal methods. METHODS After carious molars were scanned using micro-computerized tomography (micro-CT), dentine caries were removed by fluorescence aided caries excavation (FACE) technology, laser induced fluorescence (LIF), chemomechanical excavation (CME), and conventional excavation (CE). Micro-CT was then repeated. CRE was determined based on the volume of residual caries/initial caries (RC/IC) and the mean mineral density (MD) at the cavity floor. MIP was determined by measuring the volume of the prepared cavity/initial cavity (PC/IC). RESULTS Among the four groups, the LIF group had the smallest RC/IC (0.08), the highest mean MD at the cavity floor (1.32 g/cm(3) ) and the highest MIP (4.47). The CME group had the highest RC/IC (0.24), the lowest mean MD (1.01 g/cm(3) ) and the lowest MIP (2.23). The CE group exhibited a more acceptable CRE (RC/IC = 0.13, mean MD = 1.21 g/cm(3) ) but had a higher MIP (3.95). Both the CRE and MIP parameters of FACE technology were the second most acceptable (RC/IC = 0.12, mean MD = 1.13 g/cm(3) , MIP = 3.20) and did not differ significantly from the most acceptable. CONCLUSIONS FACE is an effective caries removal technology for removing infected dentine without significantly increasing cavity size.
Significance of Polymorphisms in the Superoxide Dismutase-3 Gene in COPD: It's all about Location!

Oxidative stress is known to contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cigarette smoke contains high levels of oxidants, which also adds to the oxidative stress in COPD. Endogenous antioxidants are present to scavenge these harmful oxidants and help maintain lung homeostasis. An imbalance in oxidant-antioxidant levels in the lung is detrimental. Indeed, healthy smokers and COPD patients were found to have an impaired oxidant-antioxidant balance as determined by increased plasma levels of malonyldoaldehyde and decreased levels erythrocyte superoxide dismutase enzyme activity (1). Extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD or SOD 3) is one member of the superoxide dismutase family of antioxidant enzymes. EC-SOD is mainly located in the extracellular matrix and is highly expressed in arteries and the lung (2). Numerous studies have shown that pulmonary EC-SOD inhibits lung injury in response to variety of pulmonary insults (3–9). EC-SOD is known to limit inflammation and prevent oxidative damage by directly binding to and preventing the oxidative fragmentation of numerous extracellular matrix components, such as type I collagen (10), heparan sulfate (11, 12), and hyaluronan (13). Therefore, inherited changes in EC-SOD expression and function could greatly influence lung homeostasis and proper pulmonary function. There are 3 known single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the SOD3 gene: E1 (rs8192287) in the noncoding 5’ untranslated region (14); I1 (rs8192288) in the first intron (14), and R213G (rs1799895) in the coding region for the carboxylterminal domain (15). The R213G SNP is the most commonly studied polymorphism as the carboxyl-terminal domain is essential for its affinity to the extracellular matrix. Indeed, heterozy
Flavonoids from Pyrrosia petiolosa (Christ) Ching

A new kaempferol glycoside, kaempferol-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside-7-O-α-l-arabinofuranoside (1), was isolated from the EtOH extract of Pyrrosia petiolosa together with six known flavonoids already reported from the same plant. Structural elucidation was performed by means of physico-chemical methods including MS, and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy.
Inhibition of Nitric Oxide Synthase Impairs Early Olfactory Associative Learning in Newborn Rats

The present experiments examined the role of nitric oxide ( NO) in early associative olfactory learning in rats. A preference for peppermint odor was induced by pairing peppermint odor with tactile stimulation in Wistar rat pups, in either a repetitive training paradigm or in a one-trial olfactory learning paradigm. In a first experiment we studied the effect of nitric oxide synthase (NOs) inhibition on early olfactory learning in a repetitive paradigm, by systemic daily injections of NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME, 50 mg/kg, i.p.). In order to exclude possible deleterous effects of repeated injections of l-NAME, we explored in a second experiment the effect of a single inhibitor injection in a one-trial olfactory learning paradigm. Inhibition of NOs was performed by either administration of l-NAME (50 mg/kg, i.p.), or 7-nitroindazole (7-NI, 30 mg/kg, i.p.), a more selective inhibitor of the neuronal NOs. We showed that both l-NAME and 7-NI impaired early olfactory associative learning when given before training but not before subsequent testing. Considering that NOs neurons are already widespread in the central nervous system (the olfactory bulb included) during the first postnatal week, the sites where NO inhibition may have acted to impair olfactory learning are discussed. The mechanisms of action of NO in relation with other neurotransmitters known to be necessary for olfactory conditioning in rat pups remain to be established. Impairment by NO synthesis inhibition of the acquisition during the first postnatal week of an olfactory conditioning, but not its recall, suggests a role for NO at synapses involved in that learning.
Full configuration interaction calculation of the low lying valence and Rydberg states of BeH

The all‐electron full configuration interaction (FCI) vertical excitation energies for some low lying valence and Rydberg excited states of BeH are presented in this article. A basis set of valence atomic natural orbitals has been augmented with a series of Rydberg orbitals that have been generated as centered onto the Be atom. The resulting basis set can be described as 4s2p1d/2s1p (Be/H) + 4s4p3d. It allows to calculate Rydberg states up to n= {3,4,5} of the s, p, and d series of Rydberg states. The FCI vertical ionization potential for the same basis set and geometry amounts to 8.298 eV. Other properties such as FCI electric dipole and quadrupole moments and FCI transition dipole and quadrupole moments have also been calculated. The results provide a set of benchmark values for energies, wave functions, properties, and transition properties for the five electron BeH molecule. Most of the states have large multiconfigurational character in spite of their essentially single excited nature and a number of them present an important Rydberg‐valence mixing that is achieved through the mixed nature of the particle MO of the single excitations. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2008
Factors that may influence the experience of hot flushes by healthy middle-aged women.

BACKGROUND Interest in menopausal symptoms in general and hot flushes (HFs) in particular has grown in recent years. This is mostly due to increased awareness and the vast impact these symptoms have on women's lives. Despite the high prevalence of women who experience HFs, a definitive etiology for HFs is yet to be found. Our objective was to review the current literature dealing with associated factors for experiencing HFs and to provide a synthesized overview on this common and often debilitating condition. METHODS We systematically searched the English-language literature in the PubMed database using relevant key words and included only those articles that contained information on associated factors for HFs in generally healthy midlife women. RESULTS Both conflicting scientific results between studies documenting factors that influence HFs and the lack of validated measuring tools make it difficult to truly pinpoint associated factors for HFs. Nonetheless, we identified the following clusters of associated factors: the menopausal stages, sex steroid hormones, other endocrine agents, genetic polymorphisms, race/ethnicity, body mass index (BMI) and obesity, mood disorders, smoking, soy isoflavones and phytoestrogens, alcohol consumption, and physical activity. CONCLUSIONS No single associated factor was consistently identified as having a major role in experiencing HFs. More resources should be directed to develop a unified study system along with multivariable analyses to get a better understanding of this condition, which often imposes a tremendous social and personal toll on the women who experience it.
Health professionals’ experiences and perceptions of challenges of interprofessional collaboration: Socio-cultural influences of IPC

Background: Literature shows that interprofessional collaboration (IPC) is a challenging phenomenon both in theory and practice, and it is affected by socio-cultural contexts in which the health professionals (HPs) play their roles. Considering some evidences on the similarities and differences between eastern and western socio-cultural contexts, this study aims to explore and describe the socio-cultural factors influencing IPC in these two contexts. Materials and Methods: This was a pilot qualitative descriptive study that was conducted in 2012–2013. Data were collected through conducting one-to-one and group interviews as face-to-face and written in terviews (narratives) with purposeful samples of HPs from various disciplines including nurses, medical doctors (MDs) from variety of specialities, social workers, and psychologists from health system in Iran and Germany. Other methods of data collection were taking field notes and reviewing related literature. The qualitative content analyses method was employed to derive the common categories and themes. Results: Totally 22 participants took part in the study. Moreover, researchers had a 10-day period of field observation in Germany (health systems affiliated with Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg). Qualitative data analysis revealed three themes and related subthemes. The themes were: (1) Interaction beyond boundaries, (2) motivation to engage in IPC, and (3) readiness to approaching toward IPC. Conclusions: The results of the study emphasized that in both eastern and western contexts, organizational, professional, and community socio-cultural textures, mainly in terms of attitudes toward other people, other professions, and IPC, play their role as important factors. We suggest future researches about each of the emerged themes.
Influence of dual ET(A)/ET(B)-receptor blockade on coronary responses to treadmill exercise in dogs.

We hypothesized that endothelin (ET) release during exercise may be triggered by alpha-adrenergic-receptor activation and thereby influence coronary hemodynamics and O(2) metabolism in dogs. Exercise resulted in coronary blood flow increases (to 1.88+/-0.26 from 1.10+/- 0.12 ml x min(-1) x g(-1)) and in a fall (P<0.01) in coronary sinus O(2) saturation (17.4+/-1.5 to 9.6+/-0.7 vol%), whereas myocardial O(2) consumption (MVO(2)) increased (109+/-13% from 145+/-16 microl O(2) min(-1) x g(-1)). Tezosentan, a dual ET(A)/ET(B)-receptor blocker, slightly reduced mean arterial pressure (MAP) and increased heart rate throughout exercise. The relationship between coronary sinus O(2) saturation and MVO(2) was shifted upward (P<0.05) after tezosentan administration; i.e., as MVO(2) increased during exercise, coronary sinus O(2) saturation was disproportionately higher after ET-receptor blockade. After propranolol, tezosentan resulted in significant decreases (P<0.05) in left ventricular pressure, the first derivative of left ventricular pressure over time, and MAP during exercise. As MVO(2) increased during exercise, coronary sinus O(2) saturation levels after tezosentan became superimposable over those observed before ET-receptor blockade. Thus dual blockade of ET(A)/ET(B) receptors alters coronary hemodynamics and O(2) metabolism during exercise, but ET activity failed to increase beyond baseline levels.
Effects of a Custom Bite-Aligning Mouthguard on Performance in College Football Players

Abstract Drum, SN, Swisher, AM, Buchanan, CA, and Donath, L. Effects of a custom bite-aligning mouthguard on performance in college football players. J Strength Cond Res 30(5): 1409–1415, 2016—Besides injury prevention, mouthguards can also be employed to improve physical performance. The effects of personalization of mouthguards have rarely been investigated. This 3-armed, randomized, controlled crossover trial investigated the difference of wearing (a) personalized or custom-made (CM, e.g., bite-aligned), (b) standard (BB, boil and bite), and (c) no (CON) mouthguards on general fitness parameters in experienced collegiate football players. A group of 10 upperclassmen (age, 19–22 years; mean ± SD: age = 20.7 ± 0.8 years; body mass = 83 ± 7.4 kg; height = 179.1 ± 5.2 cm; body mass index = 25.9 ± 2.2 kg·cm−2), National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II football players with at least 2 years of playing experience, were randomly assigned to the 3 mouthguard conditions: a randomized, within-subjects repeated-measures design was applied. All participants were randomly tested on strength and endurance performance V[Combining Dot Above]O2max testing, with Bruce treadmill protocol including (a) time to fatigue, (b) blood lactate concentration in millimoles per liter at stage 2 and (c) at peak fatigue, (d) flexibility, (e) reaction time, (f) squat vertical jump, (g) countermovement vertical jump, and (h) 1 repetition maximum bench press. Repeated-measures analysis of variance showed no significant differences between the 3 conditions for each outcome variable (0.23 < p < 0.94; 0.007 < < 0.15). These data indicate that CM mouthguards did not superiorly affect general fitness parameters compared with BB and CON. In turn, protective BB or CM mouthpieces did not appear to impair general fitness performance vs. CON. The recommendation of a custom bite-aligning mouthguards for performance enhancement in young Division II football players is questioned. Further studies with larger sample sizes, gender comparison, and (sport) discipline-specific performance testing are needed.
Robust Adaptive LQ Control Schemes

The certainty equivalence principle is used to combine a robust adaptive law with a control structure derived from the linear quadratic (LQ) control problem. The resulting adaptive control scheme is applicable to minimum and non-minimum phase continuous-time plants and is robust with respect to unmodeled dynamics and bounded disturbances. The computational complexity of the continuous-time adaptive LQ control scheme is improved by using a hybrid adaptive law.
Risk-taking and decision-making in youth: relationships to addiction vulnerability.

BACKGROUND Decision-making and risk-taking behavior undergo developmental changes during adolescence. Disadvantageous decision-making and increased risk-taking may lead to problematic behaviors such as substance use and abuse, pathological gambling and excessive internet use. METHODS Based on MEDLINE searches, this article reviews the literature on decision-making and risk-taking and their relationship to addiction vulnerability in youth. RESULTS Decision-making and risk-taking behaviors involve brain areas that undergoing developmental changes during puberty and young adulthood. Individual differences and peer pressure also relate importantly to decision-making and risk-taking. CONCLUSIONS Brain-based changes in emotional, motivational and cognitive processing may underlie risk-taking and decision-making propensities in adolescence, making this period a time of heightened vulnerability for engagement in additive behaviors.
Association of abnormal cervical cytology with coinfection of human papillomavirus and Chlamydia trachomatis

Introduction: Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and human papillomavirus (HPV) are considered to be major sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and likely health hazard among women. In addition, HPV and CT are considered as potential cofactors in the development of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Objectives: The main objective of this study was to investigate the association of HPV and CT infection with the presence of abnormal cervical cytology. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 90 women with complaints of vaginal discharge attending STI clinic in a tertiary care hospital in New Delhi. Papanicolaou staining and polymerase chain reaction were done for the detection of HPV and CT. Statistical analyses were performed for comparison. Results: Abnormal cervical cytology was observed in 42.2% of the study participants (41.1% low-grade squamous intraepithelial neoplasia and 1.1% high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia). HPV and CT were positive in 21.1% and 31.5% of participants with abnormal cervical cytology, respectively. Coinfection with HPV and CT was observed in 84.2% of participants with cervical atypia. Further, genital herpes was diagnosed in 18.9% of the studied population and a significant association was observed between genital herpetic ulcers and abnormal cervical cytology (P = 0.016). Conclusion: CT was found to be a significant risk factor for cervical cytological abnormalities in our study. HPV and CT coinfection were also associated with a higher prevalence of cervical atypia. As chlamydial infection is easily treatable, we recommend screening and treatment of all women of the reproductive age group for Chlamydia to decrease the risk of cervical dysplasia. Limitation: This is a single-center STI clinic-based study. Multicenter and community-based studies with a larger cohort will confirm the association.