Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Oral sucrose compares favourably with lidocaine‐prilocaine cream for pain relief during venepuncture in neonates

To compare the relative efficacy of oral sucrose versus EMLA® cream for pain relief during venepuncture, 51 full‐term newborns (38M, 13F; postnatal age <4d) in a stable condition were randomly allocated to one of four treatment groups: placebo (2 ml spring water); 2 ml sucrose 24% w/v; 1 g lidocaine‐prilocaine 5% cream (EMLA); or EMLA plus sucrose. Water or a single dose of sucrose solution was administered orally 2 min before venepuncture. EMLA cream was applied in the antecubital fossa 45–60 min before venepuncture and covered by a Tegaderm® dressing. A pacifier was given before skin puncture, but it was not actively held or replaced during the procedure or observation periods. In total, 55 venepunctures were performed blindly, always for clinical reasons. As indicators of pain, the total crying time was recorded and heart rate, respiratory rate and arterial oxygen saturation were measured blindly at baseline, immediately post‐venepuncture, and 2 and 4 min afterwards. The main effects observed were: (i) time spent crying decreased significantly in the sucrose alone (p= 0.001) and EMLA plus sucrose (p= 0.008) groups; (ii) the above treatments attenuated significantly (p < 0.05) the immediate heart rate response to pain; and (iii) the concomitant use of EMLA did not increase further the analgesic efficacy of sucrose.
An randomized controlled trial of Post‐it® notes did not increase postal response rates in older depressed participants

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of a Post-it® note to increase response rates and shorten response times to a 4-month postal follow-up questionnaire sent to participants taking part in the Collaborative Care in Screen-Positive Elders (CASPER) trials. METHOD Our trial was a two-arm randomized controlled trial comparing response rates to questionnaires with a printed Post-it® note (intervention) and without (control), nested in multi centred randomized controlled trials of older people with varying levels of depressive symptoms; the CASPER+ and CASPER Self Help for those At Risk of Depression (SHARD) trials. A total of 611 participants were eligible and randomized. The primary outcome was response rates, secondary outcomes were time to response and need for a reminder. RESULTS Of 297 participants, 266 (89.6%) returned their 4-month questionnaire in the post-it note arm, compared with 282 of 314 participants (89.8%) in the control arm (OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.57, 1.65, P = 0.913). There were no statistically significant differences in time to respond or the need to be sent a reminder. Patients with a major depressive episode were more likely to return questionnaires with post-it notes (P of interaction = .019). CONCLUSION There was no significant difference in response rates, time to response, or the need for a reminder between the intervention and control at 4-month follow up for older people with depressive symptoms. However, there was a significant interaction between the Post-it® note group and level of depression.
Chapter 10. The stability of the televisual character: A corpus stylistic case study

This chapter analyses characterisation through television dialogue, using a corpus stylistic (Wynne 2006) approach, in particular using key word and cluster analysis (Scott and Tribble 2006). The focus is on exploring from a linguistic perspective the assumption made in Media/Television Studies that televisual characters are relatively stable, i.e. that they do not change drastically (Huisman 2005: 178; Pearson 2007: 56). In a case study of the “dramedy” Gilmore Girls (Warner Brothers 2000–2007), I analise the in/stability of the televisual character with respect to two main aspects: (1) How much does a character’s language vary diachronically (across seasons)? (2) How much does a character’s language vary according to who s/he is talking to? The corpus stylistic analysis thus explores the degree of diachronic and intersubjective stability in televisual characters. The findings are discussed in terms of characterisation in the analised series, the nature of televisual data and narrative, the mainstream nature of TV series, and audience engagement with TV characters.
Familiality of neural preparation and response control in childhood attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder

Background Patients with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) exhibit difficulties in multiple attentional functions. Although high heritability rates suggest a strong genetic impact, aetiological pathways from genes and environmental factors to the ADHD phenotype are not well understood. Tracking the time course of deviant task processing using event-related electrophysiological brain activity should characterize the impact of familiality on the sequence of cognitive functions from preparation to response control in ADHD. Method Preparation and response control were assessed using behavioural and electrophysiological parameters of two versions of a cued continuous performance test with varying attentional load in boys with ADHD combined type (n = 97), their non-affected siblings (n = 27) and control children without a family history of ADHD (n = 43). Results Children with ADHD and non-affected siblings showed more variable performance and made more omission errors than controls. The preparatory Cue-P3 and contingent negative variation (CNV) following cues were reduced in both ADHD children and their non-affected siblings compared with controls. The NoGo-P3 was diminished in ADHD compared with controls whilst non-affected siblings were located intermediate but did not differ from both other groups. No clear familiality effects were found for the Go-P3. Better task performance was further associated with higher CNV and P3 amplitudes. Conclusions Impairments in performance and electrophysiological parameters reflecting preparatory processes and to some extend also for inhibitory response control, especially under high attentional load, appeared to be familially driven in ADHD and may thus constitute functionally relevant endophenotypes for the disorder.
Expanded range of 11q13 breakpoints with differing patterns of cyclin D1 expression in B‐cell malignancies

We have analyzed the BCL1 locus in a series of 24 B‐cell tumors and cell lines with rearrangements of 11q13 (mostly t(11;14)(q13;q32) translocations). Using Southern hybridization and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on metaphase chromosomes, we have not only confirmed the scattering of the breakpoints between the BCL1 locus and the cyclin DI gene (CCND1), but also shown that some of the breakpoints could be as far as 500 kb on either side of the latter. Expression of CCND1 was not restricted to cases with t(11;14)(q13;q32), but was also associated with other 11q13 rearrangements, such as a t(8;11)(p22;q13). Whatever the alteration at 11q13, a correlation was observed between the expression of CCND1 and the presence of a breakpoint within 150 kb upstream of the gene. On the contrary, three samples, including a bona fide t(11;14) translocation and two cases with breakpoints located outside the BCL1‐CCND1 area, did not exhibit detectable levels of CCND1 transcripts. Our results raise the possibility that several discrete molecular events can take place at 11q13 in B‐cell malignancies. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identification of a provirally activated c‐Ha‐ras oncogene in an avian nephroblastoma via a novel procedure: cDNA cloning of a chimaeric viral‐host transcript.

Retrovirus without oncogenes often exert their neoplastic potential as insertional mutagens of cellular proto‐oncogenes. This may be associated with the production of chimaeric viral‐host transcripts; in these cases; activated cellular genes can be identified by obtaining cDNA clones of bipartite RNAs. This approach was used in the analysis of chicken nephroblastomas induced by myeloblastosis‐associated virus (MAV). One tumor contained a novel mRNA species initiated within a MAV LTR. cDNA cloning revealed that this mRNA encodes a protein of 189 amino acids, identical to that of normal human Ha‐ras‐1 at 185 positions, including positions implicated in oncogenic activation of ras proto‐oncogenes; there are no differences between the coding sequences of presumably normal Ha‐ras cDNA clones from chicken lymphoma RNA and the tumor‐derived cDNAs. The chimaeric mRNA in the nephroblastoma is at least 25‐fold more abundant than c‐Ha‐ras mRNA in normal kidney tissue, and a 21‐kd ras‐related protein is present in relatively large amounts in the tumor. We conclude that a quantitative change in c‐Ha‐ras gene expression results from an upstream insertion mutation and presumably contributes to tumorigenesis in this single case. Little or no increase in c‐Ha‐ras RNA or protein was observed in other nephroblastomas.
In vivo cholinergic circuit evaluation in frontotemporal and Alzheimer dementias

The test of short latency afferent inhibition (SAI) of the motor cortex is helpful in demonstrating dysfunction of central cholinergic circuits in Alzheimer disease (AD). The authors evaluated SAI in 20 patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and compared data with those from 20 patients with AD and 20 controls. SAI was normal in FTD, whereas it was reduced in AD. SAI may represent an additional tool to discriminate FTD from AD.
Online vs. Paper Evaluations of Faculty: When Less is Just as Good

Evaluation of teaching effectiveness is considered a critical element in determining whether or not faculty members are retained at higher education institutions; academic milestones such as tenure and promotion often require documentation of the quality of faculty teaching. As methods of assessing teaching effectiveness evolve, concerns about the equity of alternative methods arise. This study compared two methods of student evaluations of faculty, online versus the traditional paper format. Although the student response rate for online evaluations was lower, evaluation scoring patterns were similar for both methods. The findings suggest that conducting faculty evaluations online may be a suitable alternative to the traditional, paper-based approach.
Modeling and Analysis of Sharing Ratio Enforcement in Private BitTorrent Communities

Providing incentives for user contribution has been one of the primary design goals of Peer-to-Peer systems. The newly-emerged BitTorrent private communities adopt Sharing Ratio Enforcement (SRE) on top of BitTorrent's incentive mechanism, Tit-For-Tat, in order to strictly enforce a minimum contribution a member has to provide, in relation to the amount of service it has received. In this paper, we provide a theoretical model to analyze 1) how SRE provides seeding incentives, and 2) how SRE influences the download performance in the system. Specifically, we study the influence of the SRE threshold (i.e., the minimum sharing ratio requirement) and the bandwidth heterogeneity of the peers in the system. In our analysis, we assume users to be rational, i.e., peers seed only the minimum amount required by SRE, and we show that the download performance as predicted by our model represents a lower bound for the actual performance that can be reached in a BitTorrent private community. Hence, following our model, community administrators can predict the minimum performance level their systems will be able to reach.
Mean Platelet Volume in Heterozygous Beta Thalassaemia

Background/Aim: It is not known why cerebrovascular and cardiovascular ischaemic events are less frequently observed in heterozygous beta thalassaemia (HBT) patients than in the general population. However, we previously reported that serum levels of some platelet function markers, i.e. soluble CD40 ligand and soluble P-selectin, are lower in patients with HBT than in controls. A high mean platelet volume (MPV) is an indicator of in vivo platelet activation and may indicate a tendency to thrombosis. We investigated whether MPV is lower in HBT patients than in controls. Methods: Forty-eight patients with HBT were compared with 51 controls matched for gender, age, and BMI for MPV in a cross-sectional study. Results: The MPV was within the normal range and higher in the HBT group (9.64 ± 1.20 vs. 9.07 ± 082 fL, p = 0.006). The 2 groups were similar in terms of atherosclerosis risk factors and medications. After linear regression analysis, the MPV was correlated with HBT, sensitive CRP, and BMI. Conclusion: The higher MPV in patients with HBT could indicate platelet activation, and this may represent a dilemma. Higher MPV in the HBT group might have resulted from higher sympathetic nervous system activity, mild ineffective erythropoiesis, and haemolysis.
Decorin Binds Near the C Terminus of Type I Collagen*

Decorin belongs to a family of small leucine-rich proteoglycans that are directly involved in the control of matrix organization and cell growth. Genetic evidence indicates that decorin is required for the proper assembly of collagenous matrices. Here, we sought to establish the precise binding site of decorin on type I collagen. Using rotary shadowing electron microscopy and photoaffinity labeling, we mapped the binding site of decorin protein core to a narrow region near the C terminus of type I collagen. This region is located within the cyanogen bromide peptide fragment α1(I) CB6 and is ∼25 nm from the C terminus, in a zone that coincides with the c1 band of the collagen fibrild-period. This location is very close to one of the major intermolecular cross-linking sites of collagen heterotrimers. Thus, decorin protein core possesses a unique binding specificity that could potentially regulate collagen fibril stability.
Early kidney transplantation improves neurocognitive outcome in patients with severe congenital chronic kidney disease

Renal replacement therapy has become available for the majority of patients suffering from severe congenital chronic kidney disease (CKD). Data on the long‐term neurocognitive outcome and the impact of early kidney transplantation (KTx) in this setting is unclear. Neurocognitive outcomes in 15 patients (11 male) with isolated congenital CKD (stage 3–5) requiring KTx at a mean age of 2.8 ± 1.3 were assessed at a mean age of 8.3 ± 1.4 years. Patients underwent neurological examination and testing for neuromotor and neurocognitive function using three independent tests. Pre‐emptive KTx was performed in six patients, and nine patients were dialyzed prior to KTx for a mean period of 11.1 ± 8.6 months. Neuromotor function was abnormal in 8/15 patients. HAWIK‐III showed a global intelligence quotient (IQ) of 93.5 ± 11.4 (P = 0.05) due to a significantly reduced performance IQ of 89.1 ± 11.3 (P < 0.01). In three patients, the global IQ was clinically significantly reduced by >1 SD to <85. In patients with neuromotor dysfunction, performance IQ was lower than in patients with normal neuromotor function (83.8 ± 10.2 vs. 96.2 ± 9.0, P = 0.04). Time on dialysis was inversely correlated to verbal IQ (r = 0.78, P = 0.02). Pre‐emptive KTx and duration of dialysis treatment <3 months was associated with superior neurocognitive outcome. Early (pre‐emptive) KTx results in superior long‐term neurocognitive outcome in children with severe congenital CKD.
Intralysosomal iron induces lysosomal membrane permeabilization and cathepsin D-mediated cell death in trabecular meshwork cells exposed to oxidative stress.

PURPOSE To investigate the role of intralysosomal redox-active iron in oxidative stress-induced damage in trabecular meshwork (TM) cells. METHODS Chronic oxidative stress was applied using the hyperoxic model; acute oxidative stress was applied with H(2)O(2). Microarray analysis was performed using microarrays. mRNA and protein levels were quantified by real-time PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. Redox-active iron was monitored using calcein-AM. Apoptosis was quantified using double staining. DNA damage was evaluated by single-cell gel electrophoresis assay. Lysosomal permeabilization was monitored using uptake and acridine orange relocation techniques. Intracellular ROS production was quantified using H(2)DCFDA. Cytosolic translocation of cathepsins was visualized with pepstatin-A-BODIPY-FL. Chemical inhibition of cathepsins was achieved with leupeptin and pepstatin A. Silencing of cathepsin expression was accomplished with miRNA sequences. Lysosomal iron chelation was achieved with desferrioxamine. RESULTS Chronically stressed TM cells showed elevated levels of redox-active iron and altered expression of genes involved in intracellular iron homeostasis. Although iron increased ROS production and lipofuscin levels and sensitized TM cells to H(2)O(2), intralysosomal iron chelation completely protected the cells against H(2)O(2)-induced cell death and apoptosis. The protective effect of desferrioxamine was mediated by the prevention of lysosomal ROS generation and the rupture of lysosomal membrane, with the subsequent release of cathepsin D into the cytosol. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that the generation of intralysosomal ROS induces lysosomal membrane permeabilization and the release of cathepsin D into the cytosol, leading to TM cell death. Here, the authors propose a mechanism by which oxidative stress might contribute to the decrease in cellularity reported in the TM tissue with both aging and disease.
Carotenoid consumption is related to lower lipid oxidation and DNA damage in middle-aged men

The present cross-sectional study assessed the potential relationships of carotenoid intake with lipid and oxidative stress markers in middle-aged men. A total of 296 apparently healthy middle-aged men (mean age 50·5 (sd 5·0) years, BMI 25·8 (sd 3·5) kg/m2) were recruited to participate in the study. Dietary intake, anthropometry, blood pressure, lifestyle features, blood and urine biomarkers were assessed using validated procedures. The lipid markers included NEFA, Castelli index, and TAG:HDL ratio; oxidative stress markers included urinary 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), 8-iso-PGF2α and plasma oxidised-LDL (ox-LDL). We observed a significant inverse association (P< 0·05) between NEFA concentrations and consumption of lutein plus zeaxanthin, β-carotene, α-carotene and total carotenoid, while Castelli index was negatively associated with daily intake of lycopene, β-carotene and total carotenoids. Regarding oxidative stress biomarkers, urinary 8-OHdG and ox-LDL concentrations were also inversely associated (P< 0·05) with consumption of lycopene, lutein plus zeaxanthin, β-carotene, α-carotene and total carotenoids, regardless of confounding variables. Moreover, there was a negative association of urinary 8-iso-PGF2α concentration with dietary lutein plus zeaxanthin (β − 0·135, 95 % CI − 0·268, − 0·001), β-carotene (β − 0·156, 95 % CI − 0·277, − 0·034) and with the sum of all carotenoids (β − 0·189, 95 % CI − 0·333, − 0·046). In conclusion, total daily carotenoid intake based on five investigated carotenoid types (β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein plus zeaxanthin, β-carotene and α-carotene) was inversely associated with relevant lipid and oxidative stress markers in middle-aged men, with emphasis on β-carotene that was negatively associated with five of the six lipid and oxidative stress markers evaluated in the present study.
Down-regulation of HLA class I antigen-processing machinery components in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas: Association with disease progression

Objective. Lack of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) presentation has been proposed to contribute to the immune evasion of cancer cells in some cancers including esophageal cancer. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of HLA class I antigen and the antigen-processing machinery (APM) components in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) lesions and to assess their association with histopathological characteristics. Material and methods. A total of 143 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded ESCC lesions collected in two hospitals in Shandong Province of China were studied. The expression levels were determined by immunohistochemistry. Results. TAP1, TAP2, LMP2, LMP7, β2m, and HLA class I antigen were lost or down-regulated in 30.8%, 35.0%, 45.0%, 48.0%, 56.0%, and 60.8% of the ESCC lesions tested, respectively. The loss of or down-regulated expressions of HLA class I, β2m, TAP1, LMP2, and LMP7 in tumor lesions were all significantly correlated to tumor grade and lymph node status. Expression of HLA class I antigens was strongly correlated to the expression levels of β2m, TAP1, TAP2, LMP2, and LMP7, suggesting APM component defects as a mechanism underlying HLA class I antigen down-regulation in ESCC lesions. Expression of APM components and HLA class I antigens was significantly associated with the extent of intratumoral T-cell infiltration. Conclusions. Our results indicate that lack or reduction of HLA class I antigens and expression of APM components in ESCC may render some tumor cells to escape the immunosurveillance mediated by CD8+ T cells and contribute to the clinical course of ESCC.
Associations Between Different Sedatives and Ventilator-Associated Events, Length of Stay, and Mortality in Patients Who Were Mechanically Ventilated.

BACKGROUND Current sedation guidelines recommend avoiding benzodiazepines but express no preference for propofol vs dexmedetomidine. In addition, few data exist on whether randomized controlled trials of sedatives can be successfully generalized to routine practice, in which conditions tend to be more varied and complex. METHODS Data regarding daily sedative exposure were gathered from all patients undergoing mechanical ventilation for ≥ 3 days over a 7-year period in a large academic medical center. Hazard ratios (HRs) were compared for ventilator-associated events (VAEs), extubation, hospital discharge, and hospital death among patients receiving benzodiazepines, propofol, and dexmedetomidine. Proportional subdistribution hazard models with competing risks were used for analysis. All analyses were adjusted for ICU type, demographic characteristics, comorbidities, procedures, severity of illness, hypotension, oxygenation, renal function, opioids, neuroleptic agents, neuromuscular blockers, awakening and breathing trials, and calendar year. RESULTS A total of 9,603 consecutive episodes of mechanical ventilation were evaluated. Benzodiazepines and propofol were associated with increased VAE risk, whereas dexmedetomidine was not. Propofol was associated with less time to extubation compared with benzodiazepines (HR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.3-1.5). Dexmedetomidine was associated with less time to extubation compared with benzodiazepines (HR, 2.3; 95% CI, 2.0-2.7) and propofol (HR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.4-2.0), but relatively few dexmedetomidine exposures were available for analysis. There were no differences between any two agents in HRs for hospital discharge or mortality. CONCLUSIONS In this large, real-world cohort, propofol and dexmedetomidine were associated with less time to extubation compared with benzodiazepines, but dexmedetomidine was also associated with less time to extubation vs propofol. These possible differences merit further study.