Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Risk of Seizures Associated with Tramadol

We conducted a study of the risk of idiopathic incident seizures among users of tramadol derived from data present in the General Practice Research Database based in the United Kingdom for 1994–1996. We used a nested case‐control study design, comparing risks of idiopathic incident seizures during exposed and unexposed times among patients who had ever taken tramadol using a 90‐day follow‐up. Among the 10,916 subjects, we identified 17 cases of idiopathic seizures, 11 of which were definite and 6 possible. None of the patients was exposed to tramadol alone in the prior 90 days. Eight patients were exposed to opiates, five to both tramadol and opiates, three to other analgesics, and one to no analgesics. We found no increased risk of idiopathic incident seizures associated with exposure to tramadol alone. Thus seizures seem rarely attributable to the agent.
Women's Actions and Reactions to Male Migration: A Case Study of Women in San Juan Guelavia, Oaxaca, Mexico

This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. For more information, please contact pdxscholar@pdx.edu. Recommended Citation Boyles, Julie, "Women's Actions and Reactions to Male Migration: A Case Study of Women in San Juan Guelavía, Oaxaca, Mexico" (2013). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 659.
Inhibition of Apoptotic Protein p53 Lowers the Threshold of Isoflurane-Induced Cardioprotection During Early Reperfusion in Rabbits

INTRODUCTION:Exposure to isoflurane before and during early reperfusion protects against myocardial infarction by activating phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)-mediated signaling. The apoptotic protein, p53, is regulated by PI3K, and inhibition of p53 protects against ischemic injury. We tested the hypothesis that p53 inhibition lowers the threshold of isoflurane-induced postconditioning in vivo. METHODS:Rabbits (n = 73) instrumented for hemodynamic measurement and subjected to a 30-min left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion and 3-h reperfusion received 0.9% saline (control), isoflurane (0.5 or 1.0 minimum alveolar concentration [MAC]) administered for 3 min before and 2 min after reperfusion, the p53 inhibitor pifithrin-&agr; (1.5 or 3.0 mg/kg), or 0.5 MAC isoflurane plus 1.5 mg/kg pifithrin-&agr;. Other rabbits received 3.0 mg/kg pifithrin-&agr; or 0.5 MAC isoflurane plus 1.5 mg/kg pifithrin-&agr; after pretreatment with the selective PI3K inhibitor wortmannin (0.6 mg/kg) or the mitochondrial permeability transition pore opener atractyloside (5 mg/kg). RESULTS:Isoflurane (1.0 but not 0.5 MAC), pifithrin-&agr; (3.0 but not 1.5 mg/kg), and the combination of 0.5 MAC isoflurane plus 1.5 mg/kg pifithrin-&agr; significantly (P < 0.05) reduced infarct size (21% ± 4%, 43% ± 7%, 22% ± 4%, 45% ± 4%, and 28% ± 3% [mean ± sd], respectively, of left ventricular area at risk; triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining) when compared with control (45% ± 2%). Atractyloside, but not wortmannin, abolished 3.0 mg/kg pifithrin-&agr;-induced cardioprotection, whereas atractyloside and wortmannin blocked reductions in infarct size produced by 0.5 MAC isoflurane plus 1.5 mg/kg pifithrin-&agr;. CONCLUSION:The results indicate that inhibition of the apoptotic protein p53 lowers the threshold of isoflurane-induced cardioprotection during early reperfusion in vivo.
Evaluation of 2'-modified oligonucleotides containing 2'-deoxy gaps as antisense inhibitors of gene expression.

We have used a previously described 17-mer phosphorothioate (Monia, B.P., Johnston, J.F., Ecker, D. J., Zounes, M.A., Lima, W.F., and Freier, S.M. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 19954-19962) for structure-function analysis of 2'-sugar modifications including 2'-O-methyl, 2'-O-propyl, 2'-O-pentyl, and 2'-fluoro. These modifications were analyzed for hybridization affinity to complementary RNA and for antisense activity against the Ha-ras oncogene in cells using a highly sensitive transactivation reporter gene system. Hybridization analysis demonstrated that all of the 2'-modified oligonucleotides hybridized with greater affinity to RNA than an unmodified 2'-deoxy oligonucleotide with the rank order of affinity being 2'-fluoro > 2'-O-methyl > 2'-O-propyl > 2'-O-pentyl > 2'-deoxy. Evaluation of antisense activities of uniformly 2'-modified oligonucleotides revealed that these compounds were completely ineffective in inhibiting Ha-ras gene expression. Activity was restored if the compound contained a stretch of at least five 2'-deoxy residues. This minimum deoxy length correlated perfectly with the minimum length required for efficient RNase H activation in vitro using partially purified mammalian RNase H enzyme. These chimeric 2'-modified/deoxy phosphorothioates displayed greater antisense potencies in inhibiting Ha-ras gene expression, compared with the unmodified uniform deoxy phosphorothioate. Furthermore, antisense potency correlated directly with affinity of a given 2' modification for it's complementary RNA. These results demonstrate the importance of target affinity in the action of antisense oligonucleotides and of RNase H as a mechanism by which these compounds exert their effects.
Improvement of popliteal angle with semitendinosus or gastrocnemius tenotomies in children with cerebral palsy.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of semitendinosus and gastrocnemius tenotomies on popliteal angle presenting knee flexion spasticity in children with cerebral palsy (CP). METHODS The study included 44 patients (25 males, 19 females; mean age: 8.1 years, range: 4 to 14 years) with spastic CP who underwent surgery for knee flexion spasticity. A total of 78 semitendinosus tenotomies and 28 associated gastrocnemius tenotomies were performed. Popliteal angle was measured under general anesthesia before and after surgery. Patients were divided into groups according to age (younger and older than 7 years), severity of deformity and type of CP. RESULTS Mean popliteal angles decreased by 14. 3º (30.1%) following semitendinosus tenotomy and by 6. 1º (12%) following gastrocnemius tenotomy (p=0.0001). The change in popliteal angle was not statistically significant according to age, severity of flexion spasticity, and type of CP palsy. There was a significant difference following gastrocnemius tenotomy between groups with a popliteal angle of greater or lesser than 50º (p=0.0001). CONCLUSION Semitendinosus and gastrocnemius tenotomies improved popliteal angle by 30.1% and 12%, respectively. Age, preoperative popliteal angle or anatomical disease classification did not a significantly affect popliteal angle.
Experience of Circuit Survival in Extracorporeal Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy Using Small-Calibre Venous Cannulae

Objectives: To describe an experience of circuit survival in extracorporeal continuous renal replacement therapy using small-calibre (< 7 French gauge [F]) venous cannulae. Design: An observational study. Setting: A multidisciplinary, university-affiliated PICU. Subjects: Case note review of all continuous renal replacement therapy episodes (1998–2010), which used vascular access cannulae of an external diameter less than 7F, was performed. Measurements and Main Results: Forty-nine patients underwent continuous renal replacement therapy treatment during which circuit blood flow was delivered using either 5F or 6.5F double-lumen cannulae. One hundred thirty-nine circuits were employed (median per patient, 2; interquartile range, 1–3) in providing 4,903 hours of therapy (median duration of therapy, 43 hr; interquartile range, 22–86 hr); allowing for censoring, the median circuit survival time was 40 hours (95% CI, 28–66). Eighty-one circuits (58%) failed because of clotting/technical problems, equating to a circuit failure rate of 16.5 (95% CI, 13.3–20.5) per 1,000 hours of continuous renal replacement therapy. The probability of a circuit surviving 40 hours or greater was 50% with 43% (95% CI, 34–53%) expected to survive 60 hours or more. No significant relationship between circuit survival and the calibre of the cannula deployed was identified; however, placement of venous access in an internal jugular vein was associated with improved circuit survival. Conclusions: Contrary to previous reports, vascular access cannulae of a caliber less than 7F can support sufficiently prolonged continuous renal replacement therapy to make them a useful means of delivering renal support in neonates and small infants.
Floral traits and pollination systems in the Caatinga, a Brazilian tropical dry forest.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Pollination is a critical stage in plant reproduction and thus in the maintenance and evolution of species and communities. The Caatinga is the fourth largest ecosystem in Brazil, but despite its great extent and its importance few studies providing ecological information are available, with a notable lack of work focusing on pollination biology. Here, general data are presented regarding the frequency of pollination systems within Caatinga communities, with the aim of characterizing patterns related to floral attributes in order to make possible comparisons with data for plant communities in other tropical areas, and to test ideas about the utility of syndromes. This paper also intends to provide a reference point for further studies on pollination ecology in this threatened ecosystem. METHODS The floral traits and the pollination systems of 147 species were analysed in three areas of Caatinga vegetation in northeastern Brazil, and compared with world-wide studies focusing on the same subject. For each species, floral attributes were recorded as form, size, colour, rewards and pollination units. The species were grouped into 12 guilds according to the main pollinator vector. Analyses of the frequencies of the floral traits and pollination systems were undertaken. KEY RESULTS Nectar and pollen were the most common floral resources and insect pollination was the most frequent, occurring in 69.9 % of the studied species. Of the entomophilous species, 61.7 % were considered to be melittophilous (43.1 % of the total). Vertebrate pollination occurred in 28.1 % of the species (ornithophily in 15.0 % and chiropterophily in 13.1 %), and anemophily was recorded in only 2.0 %. CONCLUSIONS The results indicated that the pollination systems in Caatinga, despite climatic restrictions, are diversified, with a low percentage of generalist flowers, and similar to other tropical dry and wet forest communities, including those with high rainfall levels.
PARP inhibition causes premature loss of cohesion in cancer cells

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) regulate various aspects of cellular function including mitotic progression. Although PARP inhibitors have been undergoing various clinical trials and the PARP1/2 inhibitor olaparib was approved as monotherapy for BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer, their mode of action in killing tumour cells is not fully understood. We investigated the effect of PARP inhibition on mitosis in cancerous (cervical, ovary, breast and osteosarcoma) and non-cancerous cells by live-cell imaging. The clinically relevant inhibitor olaparib induced strong perturbations in mitosis, including problems with chromosome alignment at the metaphase plate, anaphase delay, and premature loss of cohesion (cohesion fatigue) after a prolonged metaphase arrest, resulting in sister chromatid scattering. PARP1 and PARP2 depletion suppressed the phenotype while PARP2 overexpression enhanced it, suggesting that olaparib-bound PARP1 and PARP2 rather than the lack of catalytic activity causes this phenotype. Olaparib-induced mitotic chromatid scattering was observed in various cancer cell lines with increased protein levels of PARP1 and PARP2, but not in non-cancer or cancer cell lines that expressed lower levels of PARP1 or PARP2. Interestingly, the sister chromatid scattering phenotype occurred only when olaparib was added during the S-phase preceding mitosis, suggesting that PARP1 and PARP2 entrapment at replication forks impairs sister chromatid cohesion. Clinically relevant DNA-damaging agents that impair replication progression such as topoisomerase inhibitors and cisplatin were also found to induce sister chromatid scattering and metaphase plate alignment problems, suggesting that these mitotic phenotypes are a common outcome of replication perturbation.
In vitro characteristics of volume‐reduced platelet concentrate stored in syringes

For convenience, small volumes of platelet concentrate (PC) intended for neonatal patients are often dispensed in syringes. The PC, however, may remain in the syringe for up to several hours before the actual transfusion. As there are few data on the effect of such syringe storage on PCs, the in vitro syringe storage properties of small volumes of 1‐ and 5‐day‐old units, and volume‐reduced units of PC were evaluated. In four separate experiments, PCs were stored in syringes in volumes of 10, 15, or 30 mL for up to 6 hours at 20 to 24 degrees C without agitation. Platelets were evaluated for pH, platelet count, and a variety of biochemical and in vitro functional assays. Results showed that even with the equivalent of a full unit of platelets stored in the syringe for up to 6 hours, the pH did not fall below 6.0. Although there was an increase in lactate production and consumption of glucose, which paralleled the decline in pH, the changes were not greater than those seen in platelets stored up to 5 days in gas‐permeable blood bags. Similar results were seen for PCs stored in syringes for 6 hours at 37 degrees C. All of the pH levels recorded at the end of 6 hours of syringe storage were above the minimum required level of pH 6.0. Data from in vitro platelet assays imply that at any time during their shelf life, PCs can be stored in gas‐impermeable polypropylene syringes for up to 6 hours and can maintain acceptable storage characteristics; in vivo data are needed to confirm these observations.
Epidermal growth factor receptor gene copy number and clinical outcome of metastatic colorectal cancer treated with panitumumab.

PURPOSE In a previous cohort study, we proposed that responsiveness of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies has a genetic basis, being associated with increased EGFR gene copy number (GCN) as measured by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in individual tumors. The present study was aimed at assessing the predictive role of EGFR GCN, in terms of clinical outcome, in patients treated with panitumumab. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with mCRC refractory to standard therapies were a subset of patients from a phase III trial of panitumumab plus best supportive care (BSC; n = 58) versus BSC alone (n = 34) who were selected on the basis of availability of tumor samples adequate for FISH. RESULTS In patients treated with panitumumab, a mean EGFR GCN of less than 2.5/nucleus or less than 40% of tumor cells displaying chromosome 7 polysomy within the tumor predicted for shorter progression-free survival (PFS; P = .039 and P = .029, respectively) and overall survival (P = .015 and P = .014, respectively). None of the treated patients with mean EGFR GCN of less than 2.47/nucleus or less than 43% of tumor cells displaying chromosome 7 polysomy obtained objective response compared with six of 20 and six of 19 patients with values greater than these cutoff limits, respectively (P = .0009 and P = .0007, respectively). Evaluation of BSC-treated patients showed no correlation between EGFR GCN or chromosome 7 polysomy status and PFS. CONCLUSION In a larger and more homogeneous series than in previous studies, present exploratory data suggest that mCRC patients with tumors distinguishable by FISH analysis of EGFR as homogenously disomic or with low chromosome 7 polysomy have a reduced likelihood of response to panitumumab.
Bentazon triggers the promotion of oxidative damage in the Portuguese ricefield cyanobacterium Anabaena cylindrica: Response of the antioxidant system

Rice fields are frequently exposed to environmental contamination by herbicides and cyanobacteria, as primary producers of these aquatic ecosystems, are adversely affected. Anabaena cylindrica is a cyanobacterium with a significantly widespread occurrence in Portuguese rice fields. This strain was studied throughout 72 h in laboratory conditions for its stress responses to sublethal concentrations (0.75–2 mM) of bentazon, a selective postemergence herbicide recommended for integrated weed management in rice, with special reference to oxidative stress, role of proline and intracellular antioxidant enzymes in herbicide‐induced free radicals detoxification. Activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione S‐transferase (GST) increased in a time‐ and herbicide dose‐response manner and were higher than those in the control samples after 72 h. A time‐ and concentration‐dependent increase of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and the enhanced cell membrane leakage following bentazon exposure are indicative of lipid peroxidation, free radicals formation, and oxidative damage, while increased amounts of SOD, CAT, APX, GST, and proline indicated their involvement in free radical scavenging mechanisms. The appreciable decline in the reduced glutathione (GSH) pool after 72 h at higher bentazon concentrations could be explained by the reduction of the NADPH‐dependent glutathione reductase (GR) activity. The obtained results suggested that the alterations of antioxidant systems in A. cylindrica might be useful biomarkers of bentazon exposure. As the toxic mechanism of bentazon is a complex phenomenon, this study also adds relevant findings to explain the oxidative stress pathways of bentazon promoting oxidative stress in cyanobacteria. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2010.
The Accuracy of Various Torque Wrenches Used in Dental Implant Systems

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of the torque wrenches used in different dental implant systems. Methods: We evaluated 42 torque wrenches used in different dental clinics in Mashhad, Iran, using a digital torque meter (Mark 10). High (25, 30 and 35 N·cm) and low (15 N·cm) levels of torque were examined. Ten tests were performed on each wrench, and the mean value was considered as the real torque of the instrument. Different characteristics (Model (spring or friction), System, Duration of use, Sterilization, Calibration) of each wrench were also recorded. The difference between the torque applied by the instrument and the target torque required was calculated numerically and as a percentage. A one-way ANOVA and Student’s t-test were used for statistical analysis. Results: There was a significant difference between the error at higher torques in the spring wrenches compared with the friction wrenches (P<0.05). At higher torques, an error greater than 10% was more common in the friction wrenches (29.4%) than in the spring wrenches (4.3%). No significant differences were observed regarding the duration instruments usage and the mean numerical error at high and low torque. In the wrenches that had been used for more than three years, 21.1% of samples showed an error of more than 10%, compared with 9.5% in wrenches that had been used for less than three years (P=0.39). At higher torques the Straumann system produced the least error and the Biohorizon system produced the greatest error which was significantly greater than the other systems (P<0.05). Conclusion: Our results indicate that spring wrenches produce more accurate results than friction wrenches; however, friction wrenches are more reliable at lower torques than higher torques. The length of time in use and sterilization of torque wrenches does not affect the function of the instruments significantly. The precision of the instrument system used is also important.
Efficacy and Safety of CE-224,535, an Antagonist of P2X7 Receptor, in Treatment of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Inadequately Controlled by Methotrexate

Objective. To evaluate efficacy and safety of CE-224,535, a selective P2X7 receptor antagonist, versus placebo, in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inadequate response to methotrexate (MTX). Methods. In our phase IIA study (ClinicalTrials.gov no. NCT00628095; A6341009), patients aged ≥ 18 years with active RA were randomized to receive either CE-224,535 (500 mg bid) or placebo for 12 weeks; all patients continued a stable background dose of ≥ 7.5 mg MTX. Results. The American College of Rheumatology 20% (ACR20) response rate (primary efficacy endpoint) was not significantly different from placebo for CE-224,535 (34.0% vs 36.2%; p = 0.591) at Week 12, or at any timepoint over the 12-week treatment period. There was no significant difference at Week 12 for the ACR20 response rate following subgroup analyses by age, sex, baseline disease activity, baseline duration of disease, geographic region, or concomitant use of steroids. ACR50/ACR70 response rates and change from baseline in Disease Activity Score 28-joint C-reactive protein (DAS28-3-CRP) and Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index for CE-224,535 were not significant at Week 12 versus placebo. Treatment-emergent adverse events (AE) were reported by 62.3% (CE-224,535) and 55.3% (placebo) of patients; the most common AE were nausea (11.3%, CE-224,535; 4.3%, placebo) and diarrhea (7.5%, CE-224,535; 4.3%, placebo). The proportion of patients discontinuing due to an AE was 9.4% (CE-224,535) and 6.4% (placebo); no deaths were reported. Serious AE occurred in 3.8% (CE-224,535) and 2.1% (placebo) of patients; none was considered treatment-related. Conclusion. CE-224,535 was not efficacious, compared with placebo, for the treatment of RA in patients with an inadequate response to MTX. CE-224,535 demonstrated an acceptable safety and tolerability profile.
Censorship and the Catalan translations of Jean-Paul Sartre

After more than 20 years during which no translations of foreign texts were permitted in Spain if they were not in tune with the Francoist regime, the work of Jean-Paul Sartre arrived in the 1960s in the form of translations into Catalan, despite the fact that his books had been on the list of Books Prohibited by the Catholic Church since 1948. The last years of the dictatorship, between 1965 and 1973, saw the publication of seven translations into Catalan of Sartre’s work. The aim of this study is to investigate the institutional censorship that these works underwent from the time the publishers requested the permits from the Ministry of Information and Tourism (MIT) up until the final authorizations were given. After a brief contextualization of the translations, this article concentrates on the analysis of the eight censors’ reports consulted in the General Archive of the Administration (AGA) situated near Madrid, in Alcalá de Henares. Seven permits were authorized and one rejected. The investigation enables us to see how the Francoist dictatorship reacted to the possibility of translating into Catalan works by Sartre, who were the censors who wrote the reports, what views they expressed and why, in spite of his being a banned author, the MIT finally authorized the translations.
Evaluation of neem, Azadirachta indica, with and without water management, for the control of culicine mosquito larvae in rice‐fields

Applications of neem, Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae), to rice‐fields were evaluated with the dual objective of controlling the culicine mosquito vectors of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and enhancing the grain yield. Since crude neem products deteriorate under improper storage conditions, a laboratory bioassay was developed to screen neem cake powder against mosquito larvae, Cule.x quinquefasciatus. Only samples of neem giving over 90% bioassay mortality were used in field trials.