Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pharmacokinetic Comparisons of Albiflorin and Paeoniflorin after Oral Administration of Shaoyao-Gancao-Tang and Single Herb Paeony Decoction to Rats

Shaoyao-Gancao-Tang (SGT) is a traditional Chinese prescription containing Radix Paeoniae alba and Radix Glycyrrhizae and is commonly used to relieve pains. Albiflorin and paeoniflorin are the main effective compounds of Radix Paeoniae alba, and the pharmacokinetic differences of the two compounds in rats after oral administration of SGT and single herb Paeony decoction were studied. At different time points (5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, 360, and 540 min) after administration, plasma concentrations of albiflorin and paeoniflorin were determined using a simple and reliable UPLC method, and main pharmacokinetic parameters were evaluated. It was found that there were significant differences (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) between the two groups. The results indicated that some components in the other ingredient herb of SGT (Radix Glycyrrhizae) had a pharmacokinetic interaction with albiflorin and paeoniflorin and hence reduced their systematic exposure level.
Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: An update on current management and review of literature

Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is a subtype of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), commonly seen in the Asian population. It is dissimilar in epidemiology, genetic heterogeneity, pathogenesis, natural history, and response to treatment in comparison to nAMD. Confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy-based simultaneous fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) with enhanced depth imaging, swept-source OCT, and OCT angiography have improved the ability to detect PCV, understand its pathology, and monitor treatment response. A plethora of literature has discussed the efficacy of photodynamic therapy, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) monotherapy, and combination of both, but only a few studies with higher level of evidence and limited follow-up duration are available. This review discusses the understanding of PCV with respect to epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, natural history, imaging techniques, and various treatment options. Recent clinical trials (EVEREST-II and PLANET study) have emphasized that either anti-VEGF monotherapy or combination treatment is equally capable to strike a balance between polyp regression and stabilization of visual acuity. The recurrent nature of the disease, the development of macular atrophy, and the long-term poor visual prognosis despite treatment are concerns that open avenues for further research.
Pesquisa nacional sobre o uso de crack : Quem são os usuários de crack e/ou similares do Brasil? Quantos são nas capitais brasileiras?

Gostariamos de agradecer a Dra. Paulina do Carmo Arruda Vieira Duarte, titular da SENAD, ao final do segundo mandato do entao presidente Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, ocasiao em que a proposta inicial da presente pesquisa foi formulada, assim como a equipe da SENAD a epoca, na pessoa do entao diretor de Projetos Estrategicos e Assuntos Internacionais, Vladimir de Andrade Stempliuk, assim como Cejana Brasil Cirilo Passos, que acompanhou a pesquisa desde a sua concepcao inicial, ate a finalizacao da presente publicacao.
Recombinant human thyrotropin enhances endothelial-mediated vasodilation of conduit arteries.

CONTEXT Endothelial cells possess receptors to TSH. Their role is largely unknown. OBJECTIVES The objective of the study was to determine whether elevated serum TSH levels, as occur in hypothyroidism, affect endothelial function of large arteries and vascular risk biomarkers. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Thirty-four consecutively recruited patients, who had undergone thyroidectomy for thyroid carcinoma, were studied in connection with one of the monitoring procedures based on recombinant human (rh) TSH administration. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery and serum vascular risk markers were measured at baseline and for 5 d after the administration of rhTSH (0.9 mg im on d 1 and 2). Holter electrocardiogram and echocardiography were performed on d 2. RESULTS rhTSH caused a rapid increase in flow-mediated dilation from the basal value of 10.2 to 15.6% at 6 h (P < 0.0000001), to 16.1% on d 2 (P < 0.0000001), and to 14.9% on d 6 (P = 0.0015). The results were identical when the analysis was made in a subgroup of 19 patients free of vascular risk conditions. Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, TNFalpha, IL-6, and high sensitive C-reactive protein were unaffected by rhTSH, whereas homocysteine was decreased. Arterial blood pressure, mean 24-h heart rate, and left ventricular function were unaffected by rhTSH. CONCLUSIONS rhTSH causes marked and persistent activation of the endothelial mediated vasodilation, independent of systemic hemodynamic changes.
Human air space shapes, sizes, areas, and volumes.

The geometry of an enlarged reconstructed human acinus (i.e., a terminal bronchiole and distal airways and air spaces) was studied. Alveoli were categorized in six shapes: three-fourths of a spheroid, a slightly truncated cone, one-fourth of a spheroid, a cylindroid with a hemispherical bottom, a shallow cylindroid with a flat bottom, and a truncated deep ellipsoid. Sacs were usually either hemispheroids or shallow truncated cones. Ducts of eight generations were spheroid and gradually decreased in diameter (D) and length (L) as the generation number (z) increased. Considering the terminal bronchiole as the 15th generation and using Weibel's data for the first 10 generations, the dimensions, in mm, for z of 1-10 and 10-26 were reasonably described by D-z = 12e-(0.27-0.005z)z and L-z = 25e-0.187z. The predicted volume of the acinus at three-fourths total lung volume was 182.8 mm3, a volume equivalent to that of a sphere 7.04 mm in diameter. The reconstruction demonstrated a great increase in respiratory bronchiolar and ductal cross-sectional area and alveolar surface area, considerably more rapid than predicted by Weibel's model A.
Sindbis Virus Translation Is Inhibited by a PKR/RNase L-Independent Effector Induced by Alpha/Beta Interferon Priming of Dendritic Cells

ABSTRACT The tropism of Sindbis virus (SB) for cells of the dendritic cell (DC) lineage and the virulence of SB in vivo are largely determined by the efficacy of alpha/beta interferon (IFN-α/β)-mediated antiviral responses. These responses are essentially intact in the absence of PKR and/or RNase L (K. D. Ryman, L. J. White, R. E. Johnston, and W. B. Klimstra, Viral Immunol. 15:53-76, 2002). In the present studies, we investigated the nature of antiviral effects and identity of antiviral effectors primed by IFN-α/β treatment of bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs) generated from mice deficient in PKR and RNase L (TD). IFN-α/β priming exerted significant antiviral activity at very early stages of SB replication and most likely inhibited the initial translation of infecting genomes. The early effect targeted cap-dependent translation as protein synthesis from an SB-like and a simple RNA were inhibited by interferon treatment, but an encephalomyocarditis virus internal ribosome entry site-driven element exhibited no inhibition. Phosphorylation of the α subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 was defective after virus infection of TD cells, suggesting other mechanisms of translation inhibition. To identify components of these alternative antiviral pathway(s), we have compared global gene regulation in BMDCs derived from normal 129 Sv/Ev, IFNAR1−/−, and TD mice following infection with SB or treatment with IFN-α/β. Candidate effectors of alternative antiviral pathways were those genes induced by virus infection or IFN-α/β treatment in 129 Sv/Ev and TD-derived BMDC but not in virus-infected or IFN-α/β-treated IFNAR1−/− cells. Statistical analyses of gene array data identified 44 genes that met these criteria which are discussed.
Purification and Kinetic Analysis of eIF2B fromSaccharomyces cerevisiae *

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2B (eIF2B) is the heteropentameric guanine nucleotide exchange factor for translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2). Recent studies in the yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae have served to characterize genetically the exchange factor. However, enzyme kinetic studies of the yeast enzyme have been hindered by the lack of sufficient quantities of protein suitable for biochemical analysis. We have purified yeast eIF2B and characterized its catalytic properties in vitro. Values for K m and V max were determined to be 12.2 nm and 250.7 fmol/min, respectively, at 0 °C. The calculated turnover number (K cat) of 43.2 pmol of GDP released per min/pmol of eIF2B at 30 °C is approximately 1 order of magnitude lower than values previously reported for the mammalian factor. Reciprocal plots at varying fixed concentrations of the second substrate were linear and intersected to the left of the yaxis. This is consistent with a sequential catalytic mechanism and argues against a ping-pong mechanism similar to that proposed for EF-Tu/EF-Ts. In support of this model, our yeast eIF2B preparations bind guanine nucleotides, with an apparent dissociation constant for GTP in the low micromolar range.
Seroprevalence of Cryptosporidium and risks of cryptosporidiosis in residents of Sothern Egypt: A cross-sectional study

Objective: To identify the serological epidemiology of Cryptosporidium infections and to follow up on the changes in the infection profile in Southern Egypt in order to establish a suitable scheme for control and prevention of cryptosporidiosis. Methods: A total of 1 912 (960 from human and 952 from animals) stool specimens and sera were screened for Cryptosporidium species using modified Ziehl Neelsen technique and a newly-developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Environmental risk factors and socioeconomic data were surveyed by questionnaire between September 2016 and December 2017. Results: Totally, 20.83% of the human subjects were positive for Cryptosporidium infection tested by ELISA. The seropositivity was positively correlated with age. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium infections in females was significantly higher than in males (P<0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of ELISA for Cryptosporidium were 99.06% and 88.88%, respectively. Furthermore, a high prevalence of Cryptosporidium in domestic animals (42.20%). Conclusions: The study observed that Cryptosporidium infections are common in the study area, with water sanitation, socioeconomic level; eating habits and hygienic status are considered the main risk factors for cryptosporidiosis. Therefore, environmental sanitation and health education will be useful in reducing the prevalence of infection.
Molecular cloning of Proteus mirabilis uroepithelial cell adherence (uca) genes

Proteus mirabilis bacteria are a common cause of hospital-acquired urinary tract infection. In a previous study, we described a P. mirabilis fimbrial protein, UCA, that adhered to human uroepithelial cells. Genes sufficient for expression of UCA adherence were cloned into Escherichia coli K-12. E. coli bacteria that contained the uca recombinant plasmid adhered to human uroepithelial cells. In addition, the ucaA gene encoding the structural component of UCA pili was subcloned, and its DNA sequence was determined. Amino acid sequence homology (30 to 50%) was found between mature UcaA protein and pilins from pathogenic bacteria representing several genera, including E. coli F17, G, and type 1C pilins, Haemophilus M43 pilin, and a Bordetella pilin.
Association of Abo Blood Group and Rh Factor with Malaria and Some Gastrointestinal Infectious Disease in a Population of Adet and Merawi, Ethiopia

ABO and Rhesus are the most important blood group systems in medicine and transplantation immunology which differ by the presence or absence of antigens on red blood cells (RBCs) and antibodies in the blood plasma. In this study, the frequency distribution of ABO and Rh blood groups in various phenotypes was assessed to seek for the possible relationships with diseases. A total of 100 volunteers donors were selected from West Gojjam (Merawi and Adet) towns and blood samples were collected from both inpatient and outpatient individuals. Then, blood grouping was done by the antigen-antibody agglutination test. The overall blood-group frequencies from this region was O (r=0.624), A (p=0.2299) and B (q=0.1456) and the genotypic frequencies were AA (p2=0.05285), AO (2pr=0.287), BB (q2=0.0212), BO (2qr=0.1818), AB (2pq=0.0669) and OO (r2=0.39). The ABO blood type frequency associated with Malaria diseases was highest in the A blood group than in others. Patients with gastric and intestinal diseases were the highest in O blood group individuals. Individuals with the blood type O had the least frequent malarial infection. Blood type B individuals were most affected followed by A, AB and O. Blood type A subjects were more prone to Ameobiosis than the other blood types whereas blood type O individuals were more affected with gastric and intestinal parasites. Overall these results show correlations of human blood types with various gastric diseases and malaria infection which may inform better regional resource allocations.
A Computer Vision System for Chess Game Tracking

In this paper, we present a real-time system that allows the detection of the moves of a chess game. In the proposed approach, each captured video frame, from a RGB webcam positioned over the chessboard, is processed through the following steps; the detection of the corner points of the chessboard grids, geometric rectification, chessboard position adjustment, automatic camera exposure adjustment, intensity adjustment, move detection and chessboard drawing. All steps were implemented in MATLAB programming environment without using any chess engine. The proposed approach correctly identified 162 of 164 moves in 3 games played under different illumination conditions.
Social Exclusion and Information and Communication Technologies

Current notions of social exclusion are to an extent anchored in older concerns with relative poverty, which had the merit of considering not just material deprivation but also the social and cultural dimensions of participation or exclusion. The focus of this article is on the role of ICTs in relation to people's ability to participate in society. It draws upon detailed qualitative research on single parent and young elderly households to explore what counts as experiences of inclusion or exclusion and the processes behind them. Dealing mainly, but not exclusively, with the more traditional ICTs of telephony and broadcasting, the article considers processes of self-exclusion as people have mixed evaluations of these technologies derived both from current circumstances and past experiences. It then looks beyond the acquisition of ICTs to show how other modes of access to these resources are important before reflecting upon the quality of experience of ICTs, not just in terms of the functionality on offer but also taking into account that technologies are themselves symbolic goods. Finally, and drawing on more recent research, the article asks what lessons might be learnt from these traditional ICTs when considering newly emerging ones like the internet.
Synthetic aperture radar interferometry over Rutford Ice Stream and Carlson Inlet, Antarctica

Abstract We describe the calibration and interpretation of interferograms generated from ERS-1 synthetic aperture radar Single Look Complex (SAR.SLC) images of the Rutford Ice Stream area. Ground surveys provide over 100 tie-points with which to optimise the interferometric baselines that separate nominally repeated satellite orbits. Covariant tie-point errors are dealt with by constructing an error covariance matrix for the expected values of the unwrapped interferometric phases at the tie-points. With baseline parameters that minimise the weighted residual variance, rms tie-point residuals of less than 1 cm in slant range are obtained. These are attributed to a combination of interferometric phase noise, movement survey errors and inadequate slope information. The image set used is inadequate for isolating the influences of topography and movement, so the glaciological conclusions to be drawn are limited. Nevertheless, the interferograms confirm that the whole of the upper 50 km of Carlson Inlet flows at a speed less than a tenth of that of the neighbouring Rutford Ice Stream. Also confirmed are the entry of faster-moving ice into the lower reaches of Carlson Inlet and the position of part of the Carlson Inlet grounding line. In general, the distribution of the residuals suggests no significant differences in ice movement between 1978 and 1992. An exception is the neighbourhood of the shear margin between Rutford Ice Stream and Carlson Inlet, where inconsistencies between ground surveys over the periods 1984-86 and 1994-96 and interferograms from 1994 and 1996 suggest fluctuations in velocity of up to 10 m year−1.
Outcomes of lacrimal gland injection of botulinum toxin in functional versus nonfunctional epiphora

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess the outcomes of lacrimal gland injections of botulinum toxin A (BoNTA) for epiphora secondary to lacrimal drainage disorders and functional epiphora. METHODS: This was a retrospective interventional case series where cases were divided into functional and nonfunctional epiphora. RESULTS: A total of 37 eyes of 31 patients were identified: 13 males and 18 females. The mean age was 52 years (median = 53, range 29–86). The functional epiphora group had seven patients (8 eyes), subcategorized into hypersecretion (5), crocodile tears (1), and post seventh nerve palsy (1). Obstructive group (nonfunctional) had 24 patients (29 eyes), subcategorized into proximal canalicular block (12), common canalicular block (6), punctal stenosis (3), posttraumatic nasolacrimal duct obstruction (1), and partial nasolacrimal duct obstruction (1). Median preinjection Munk scores were similar in both groups (Grade 4). At 1 month, the median Munk score improved to 1 and 2 in functional and nonfunctional groups, respectively, after receiving a median dose of 4 units of BoNTA. Median reduction in Munk score was 75% in functional group versus 50% in nonfunctional group (P = 0.07). No difference in terms of complications was noted (transient ptosis). CONCLUSIONS: Reduction in epiphora after lacrimal gland injection of botulinum toxin is seen in cases with functional epiphora as well as those with a physical obstruction in the lacrimal drainage pathway. While the symptomatic improvement was more in functional epiphora, the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant.
Dietary n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake interacts with FADS1 genetic variation to affect total and HDL-cholesterol concentrations in the Doetinchem Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND The delta-5 and delta-6 desaturases, encoded by the FADS1 and FADS2 genes, are rate-limiting enzymes in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) biosynthesis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the FADS gene cluster region have been associated with both PUFA concentrations in plasma or erythrocyte membrane phospholipids and cholesterol concentrations in recent genome-wide association studies. OBJECTIVE We examined whether genetic variations in the FADS gene cluster region interact with dietary intakes of n-3 (omega-3) and n-6 (omega-6) PUFAs to affect plasma total, HDL-, and non-HDL-cholesterol concentrations. DESIGN Dietary intakes of n-3 and n-6 PUFAs, plasma concentrations of total and HDL cholesterol, and rs174546, rs482548, and rs174570 in the FADS gene cluster region were measured in 3575 subjects in the second survey of the Doetinchem Cohort Study. RESULTS Significant associations between rs174546 genotypes and total and non-HDL-cholesterol concentrations were observed in the group with a high intake of n-3 PUFAs (> or =0.51% of total energy; P = 0.006 and 0.047, respectively) but not in the low-intake group (P for interaction = 0.32 and 0.51, respectively). The C allele was associated with high total and non-HDL-cholesterol concentrations. Furthermore, the C allele was significantly associated with high HDL-cholesterol concentrations in the group with a high intake of n-6 PUFAs (> or =5.26% of total energy, P = 0.004) but not in the group with a low intake (P for interaction = 0.02). CONCLUSION Genetic variation in the FADS1 gene potentially interacts with dietary PUFA intakes to affect plasma cholesterol concentrations, which should be investigated further in other studies.
Interspecies differences in enzymes reacting with organophosphates and their inhibition by paraoxon in vitro

1 Inhibition of cholinesterases (ChE) and carboxyles terases (CaE) by paraoxon (Px) was studied in vitro in the serum, liver, lung and muscle of mouse, guinea pig, rabbit and man (serum only). Moreover, the role ofPx hydrolyzing enzyme (Pxase) in the detoxification of Px was studied by inhibiting its activity with EDTA. 2 The ChE and CaE activities as well as their sensitivity to Px varied in different tissues and species. The ChEs were more sensitive than CaEs to Px except in the liver. The CaE activity in human and rabbit sera was low and resistant to Px, indicating that it may have a minor importance for the binding of Px. 3 The Px-inhibited ChEs were spontaneously reactivated in the mouse and rabbit sera during 24 h. In mouse, also the CaE activity was recovered. The presence of EDTA in the incubation medium prevented this reactivation indicating that Pxase takes part in the reactivation process. 4 In rabbit, the serum Pxase activity was very high suggesting a good Px detoxifying capacity of the rabbit serum. 5 The results show that amounts and sensitivities of esterases to OPs in rodents may markedly differ from that in man. Possible species-related differences in the affinity of ChEs and CaEs for OPs and the OP hydrolyzing activity should be taken into the con sideration, when animal data are extrapolated to man.
Determinants of aortic pressure variation during positive-pressure ventilation in man.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To define the relation between systolic arterial pressure (SAP) changes during ventilation and left ventricular (LV) performance in humans. DESIGN Prospective repeat-measures series. SETTING University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Operating Room. PATIENTS Fifteen anesthetized cardiac surgery patients before and after cardiopulmonary bypass when the mediastinum was either closed or open. INTERVENTIONS Positive-pressure ventilation. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS SAP and LV midaxis cross-sectional areas were measured during apnea and then were measured for three consecutive breaths. SAP increased during inspiration, this being the greatest during closed chest conditions (p < 0.05). Changes in SAP could not be correlated with changes in either LV end-diastolic areas (EDAs), end-systolic areas, or stroke areas (SAs). If SAP decreased relative to apnea, the decrease occurred during expiration and was often associated with increasing LV EDAs and SAs. SAP often decreased after a positive-pressure breath, but the decrease was unrelated to SA deficits during the breath. Increases in SAP were in phase with increases in airway pressure, whereas decreases in SAP, if present, followed inspiration. No consistent relation between SAP variation and LV area could be identified. CONCLUSIONS In this patient group, changes in SAP reflect changes in airway pressure and (by inference) intrathoracic pressure (as in a Valsalva maneuver) better than they reflect concomitant changes in LV hemodynamics.