Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Purinergic agonist ATP is a comitogen in thyroid FRTL‐5 cells

Several growth factors may stimulate proliferation of thyroid cells. This effect has, in part, been dependent on calcium entry. In the present study using FRTL‐5 cells, we show that in addition to its effect on calcium fluxes, ATP acts as a comitogen in these cells. In medium containing 5% serum, but no TSH, ATP stimulated the incorporation of 3H‐thymidine in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner in the cells. At least a 24‐h incubation with ATP was necessary to observe the enhanced (30–50%) incorporation of 3H‐thymidine and an increased (30%) cell number. The effect of ATP was dependent on insulin in the incubation medium. Furthermore, ATP enhanced the TSH‐mediated incorporation of 3H‐thymidine. The effect of ATP was apparently mediated via a G‐protein dependent mechanism, as no stimulation of thymidine incorporation was observed in cells treated with pertussis toxin. The effect of ATP was not dependent on the activation of protein kinase C (PKC), as ATP was effective in cells with downregulated PKC. ATP rapidly phosphorylated mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase in FRTL‐5 cells. In addition, ATP stimulated the expression of a 62 kDa c‐fos dependent protein in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. Our results thus suggest that extracellular ATP, in the presence of insulin, may be a cofactor in the regulation of thyroid cell proliferation, probably by phosphorylating MAP kinase and stimulating the expression of c‐fos. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prophylactic nasogastric decompression after abdominal surgery.

BACKGROUND Routine use of nasogastric tubes after abdominal operations is intended to hasten the return of bowel function, prevent pulmonary complications, diminish the risk of anastomotic leakage, increase patient comfort and shorten hospital stay. OBJECTIVES To investigate the efficacy of routine nasogastric decompression after abdominal surgery in achieving each of the above goals. SEARCH STRATEGY Search terms were nasogastric, tubes, randomised, using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Central), and references of included studies, from 1966 through 2006. SELECTION CRITERIA Patients having abdominal operations of any type, emergency or elective, who were randomised prior tot he completion of the operation to receive a nasogastric tube and keep it in place until intestinal function had returned, versus those receiving either no tube or early tube removal, in surgery, in recovery or within 24 hours of surgery. Excluded will be randomised studies involving laparoscopic abdominal surgery and patient groups having gastric decompression through gastrostomy. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Data were abstracted onto a form that assessed study eligibility, as defined above, quality related to randomizations, allocation concealment, study size and dropouts, interventions, including timing and duration of intubation, outcomes that included time to flatus, pulmonary complications, wound infection, anastomotic leak, length of stay, death, nausea, vomiting, tube reinsertion, subsequent ventral hernia. MAIN RESULTS 33 studies fulfilled eligibility criteria, encompassing 5240 patients, 2628 randomised to routine tube use, and 2612 randomised to selective or No Tube use. Patients not having routine tube use had an earlier return of bowel function (p<0.00001), a decrease in pulmonary complications (p=0.01) and an insignificant trend toward increase in risk of wound infection (p=0.22) and ventral hernia (0.09). Anastomotic leak was no different between groups (p=0.70). Vomiting seemed to favour routine tube use, but with increased patient discomfort. Length of stay was shorter when no tube was used but the heterogeneity encountered in these analyses make rigorous conclusion difficult to draw for this outcome. No adverse events specifically related to tube insertion (direct tube trauma) were reported. Other outcomes were reported with insufficient frequency to be informative. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Routine nasogastric decompression does not accomplish any of its intended goals and so should be abandoned in favour of selective use of the nasogastric tube.
Probucol and the cholesterol synthesis inhibitors simvastatin and triparanol regulate I ks channel function differently

Channels responsible for slowly activating delayed-rectifier potassium current (I Ks) are composed of KCNQ1 and KCNE1 subunits, and these channels play a role in the repolarization of cardiac action potentials. Recently, we showed that the antihyperlipidemic drug probucol, which induces QT prolongation, decreases the I Ks after 24-h treatment. In the present study, we investigated the effects of three cholesterol-lowering agents (probucol, an enhancer of cholesterol efflux; simvastatin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor; and triparanol, a 3β-hydroxysterol-▵24-reductase inhibitor) on cholesterol synthesis, the KCNQ1 current (I KCNQ1), and the I Ks to clarify the differences in the modes of action of these agents on the I Ks. Probucol did not inhibit cholesterol synthesis and had no effect on I KCNQ1, while I Ks decreased after 24-h treatment. Simvastatin inhibited cholesterol synthesis and decreased I KCNQ1 and I Ks. Additionally, the activation kinetics of I Ks became faster, compared with that of control I Ks. Triparanol inhibited cholesterol synthesis but did not reduce I KCNQ1 and I Ks. However, the activation kinetics of I Ks became faster. Our data indicated that the mechanism by which probucol inhibits I Ks was not mediated by the inhibition of cholesterol synthesis but depended on an interaction with the KCNQ1/KCNE1 complex. Meanwhile, the reduction in cholesterol induced by simvastatin and triparanol is one of the mechanisms that affects the kinetics of I ks.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibition Reduces Neuroblastoma Cell Growth Rate

Abstract Because of the known capacity of angiotensin II to serve as a growth factor in multiple tissues, we elected to study the effects of renin-angiotensin system inhibition on the growth of human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Cells were treated with captopril (0.05–5 mg/ml), enalapril, or enalaprilat (0.02–5 mg/ml) or saralasin (0.1–0.25 mg/ml). In all cases, statistically significant reductions in cell growth were seen over 5 days of culture. In additional experiments, captopril and enalaprilat significantly decreased thymidine incorporation into DNA in these cells. The administration of angiotensin II in the presence of captopril partially offset these suppressive effects.
A Dynamic Analysis of Regulation and Productivity in Retail Trade

Quantifying possible inefficiencies stemming from regulations is important to both policymakers and researchers. We use a dynamic structural model to evaluate the role of local market entry regulations for productivity in retail trade. Our model endogenizes productivity, is flexible with respect to how local market regulations influence store productivity, and controls for demand in local markets. We combine the structural approach with detailed data on all stores in the Swedish retail trade. The results show that a more liberal entry regulation increases store’s future productivity and contributes significantly to weighted aggregated productivity in local markets.
A Case Study: The Effect of Visitors on Two Captive Pumas With Respect to the Time of the Day

This study analyzed the effects of noise levels and number of visitors on the behaviors of a mother puma and her daughter in a zoo environment with respect to the time of day. The study monitored visitation (noise and number) over two 1-week periods (4 weeks between periods) and frequency of various puma behaviors (videorecorded). The study analyzed videotaped behavior of the pumas based on the time of day and visitors' number and noise levels. There was a direct association of puma behaviors with visitors' number and noise levels. The daughter puma was the most affected and behavioral changes of both pumas correlated more strongly with the noise level than the number of visitors. The noise level and number of visitors affected the behavior of the mother and her daughter only in the morning. The results of this study indicate that both noise level and number of visitors affected these pumas but revealed the noise as predominant. Moreover, the response of these pumas to visitors depended on the time of the day.
High Gain Dual-Band Beam-Steering Transmit Array for Satcom Terminals at Ka-Band

Transmit array design is more challenging for dual-band operation than for single band, due to the independent 360° phase wrapping jumps needed at each band when large electrical length compensation is involved. This happens when aiming at large gains, typically above 25 dBi with beam scanning and $F/D \le 1$ . No such designs have been reported in the literature. A general method is presented here to reduce the complexity of dual-band transmit array design, valid for arbitrarily large phase error compensation and any band ratio, using a finite number of different unit cells. The procedure is demonstrated for two offset transmit array implementations operating in circular polarization at 20 GHz(Rx) and 30 GHz(Tx) for Ka-band satellite-on-the-move terminals with mechanical beam-steering. An appropriate set of 30 dual-band unit cells is developed with transmission coefficient greater than −0.9 dB. The full-size transmit array is characterized by full-wave simulation enabling elevation beam scanning over 0°–50° with gains reaching 26 dBi at 20 GHz and 29 dBi at 30 GHz. A smaller prototype was fabricated and measured, showing a measured gain of 24 dBi at 20 GHz and 27 dBi at 30 GHz. In both cases, the beam pointing direction is coincident over the two frequency bands, and thus confirming the proposed design procedure.
Intra- and Interobserver Agreement and Impact of Arterial Input Selection in Perfusion CT Measurements Performed in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Upper Aerodigestive Tract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: CT Perfusion (CTP) has shown potential for assessing head and neck tumors. Our purposes were to assess the inter- and intraobserver agreement of CTP measurements and to investigate whether the selection of arterial input, ipsilateral versus contralateral to the tumor or left-versus-right external carotid artery (ECA), may affect CTP measurements in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA) of the upper aerodigestive tract. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients with SCCA were enrolled in this prospective study and underwent CTP. Data were analyzed by 2 expert readers and by an inexperienced reader for interobserver agreement and by the 2 expert readers for intraobserver agreement assessment, by using the ECA ipsilateral to tumor site as arterial input. All 3 readers repeated their analysis by using the ECA contralateral to tumor site as arterial input. Inter- and intraobserver agreement was assessed by using the Bland-Altman approach; CTP measurements by using ipsilateral-versus-contralateral or left-versus-right ECA were compared by using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS: The geometric mean of the ratios (95% limits of agreement) for inter- and intraobserver agreement ranged from 0.96 (0.75–1.23) to 1.00 (0.92–1.10) for blood flow (BF), from 0.88 (0.63–1.21) to 1.00 (0.88–1.14) for blood volume (BV), from 0.96 (0.64–1.44) to 0.98 (0.76–1.27) for mean transit time (MTT), and from 0.85 (0.41–1.76) to 1.14 (0.70–1.86) for permeability surface area product (PS). Significantly higher tumor PS and MTT for 2 readers and lower tumor BF for 1 of 3 readers were observed when the arterial input was placed in the left ECA. CONCLUSIONS: BF, BV, and MTT demonstrated higher inter- and intraobserver agreement than PS. The selection of arterial input, right-versus-left ECA, may determine changes in CTP measurements in patients with SCCA of the upper aerodigestive tract.
Carriage of methicillin‐resistant staphylococci by healthy companion animals in the US

Antimicrobial‐resistant staphylococci have been associated with wounded or ill companion animals, but little is known about the prevalence of resistant staphylococci among healthy animals. In this study, 276 healthy dogs and cats from veterinary clinics were tested for the presence of antimicrobial‐resistant Staphylococcus spp. Isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility and the presence of select resistance genes, and typed using Pulsed‐Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE). Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius were also characterized using multilocus sequence typing (MLST), spa typing and SCCmec typing. Approximately 5% (14/276) of the animals were positive by enrichment for five species of staphylococci [Staph. aureus (n = 11), Staph. pseudintermedius (n = 4), Staphylococcus sciuri (n = 6), Staphylococcus simulans (n = 1) and Staphylococcus warneri (n = 1)]. Seventy‐eight per cent (18/23) of staphylococci were resistant to oxacillin and also multidrug resistant (resistance to ≥ 2 antimicrobials). All Staph. aureus isolates were mecA+ and blaZ+, SCCmec type II, spa type t002, ST5 and clonal using PFGE. Staphylococcus pseudintermedius were SCCmec type IV or V, spa type t06 and ST170; two of the isolates were pvl+. These results suggest that healthy companion animals may be a reservoir of multidrug‐resistant staphylococci, which may be transferred to owners and others who handle companion animals.
A 14-day course of triple therapy is superior to a 10-day course for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori: A Canadian study conducted in a 'real world' setting.

BACKGROUND Successful Helicobacter pylori eradication with the traditional seven-day course of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) triple therapy is declining. Prolonging therapy to either 10 or 14 days is associated with better eradications rates. OBJECTIVE To compare the effectiveness of 14-day course of triple therapy versus a 10-day course in the treatment of H pylori in Canada. METHODS Consecutive treatment-naive patients with clinical indications for H pylori eradication underwent either a 10-day course or a 14-day course of traditional PPI triple therapy depending on the date of the office visit (an odd date received the 10-day course, whereas an even date received the 14-day treatment). H pylori eradication was ascertained via urea breath test or gastric biopsies performed ≥4 weeks after completion of therapy. Analyses were by both intention to treat and per-protocol. RESULTS A total of 83 patients were included in the study (31 in the 10-day group and 52 in the 14-day group). In the intention-to-treat analysis, eradication rates were 82.7% (95% CI 70% to 92%) versus 45.2% (95% CI 27% to 64%), favouring the 14-day treatment (P<0.001). Similarly, in the per-protocol analysis, eradication rates were 91.5% (95% CI 80% to 98%) versus 63.6% (95% CI 41% to 83%), favouring the 14-day arm (P=0.01). Adverse events and compliance were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION A 14-day course of standard PPI triple therapy was superior to a shorter-duration therapy and should be included as a first-line regimen for H pylori eradication in Canada. The 10-day course of treatment did not achieve an acceptable eradication rate and should no longer be used in this country.
Boosting the Power Conversion Efficiency of Perovskite Solar Cells Using Self‐Organized Polymeric Hole Extraction Layers with High Work Function

A self-organized hole extraction layer (SOHEL) with high work function (WF) is designed for energy level alignment with the ionization potential level of CH3 NH3 PbI3 . The SOHEL increases the built-in potential, photocurrent, and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of CH3 NH3 PbI3 perovskite solar cells. Thus, interface engineering of the positive electrode of solution-processed planar heterojunction solar cells using a high-WF SOHEL is a very effective way to achieve high device efficiency (PCE = 11.7% on glass).
Pediatric Sports Injuries

Background: Significant knowledge deficits exist regarding sports injuries in the young child. Children continue to engage in physically demanding, organized sports to a greater extent despite the lack of physical readiness, predisposing themselves to injury. Purpose: To evaluate sports injuries sustained in very young children (5-12 years) versus their older counterparts (13-17 years) with regard to the type and location of injuries, severity, and diagnosis. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on a 5% random probability sample (final N = 2133) of 5- to 17-year-old patients treated for sports injuries in the Division of Sports Medicine at a large, academic pediatric medical center between 2000 and 2009. Using descriptive statistics, correlates of injuries by age group, injury type, and body area are shown. Results: Five- to 12-year-old patients differed in key ways from older patients. Children in this category sustained injuries that were more often traumatic in nature and more commonly of the upper extremity. Older patients (13-17 years) were more likely to be treated for injuries to the chest, hip/pelvis, and spine. A greater proportion of the older children were treated for overuse injuries, as compared with their younger counterparts (54.4% vs 49.2%, respectively), and a much larger proportion of these injuries were classified as soft tissue injuries as opposed to bony injuries (37.9% vs 26.1%, respectively). Injury diagnosis differed between the 2 age groups. The 13- to 17-year age group sustained more anterior cruciate ligament injuries, meniscal tears, and spondylolysis, while younger children were diagnosed with fractures, including physeal fractures, apophysitis, and osteochondritis dissecans. The 5- to 12-year-old patients treated for spine injuries were disproportionately female (75.8%); most of these injuries were overuse (78.8%) and bony (60.6%); over one third of the youngest children were diagnosed with spondylolysis. Surgery was required in 40% of the injuries in the full sample. Conclusion: Sports injuries to children differ by age in injury diagnosis, type, and body area. Older children sustain a greater proportion of overuse injuries classified as soft tissue in nature. Children of all ages are sustaining significant sports injuries that require surgical intervention.
FATORES QUE INFLUENCIAM OS HONORÁRIOS DE AUDITORIA NAS EMPRESAS BRASILEIRAS

O trabalho tem como objetivo identificar os fatores que influenciam na determinacao dos honorarios de auditoria independente no ano de 2015 por parte das empresas brasileiras. Para isso, foram analisadas as 100 maiores empresas brasileiras listadas por faturamento pela Revista Exame 2015. As hipoteses do trabalho apresentam como fatores determinantes nos honorarios de auditoria o tamanho da empresa (medida pelo ativo total), o indice de lucratividade, o porte da empresa que realizara o servico, a existencia de rodizio de auditoria, presenca de comite de auditoria, nivel de governanca corporativa e o tipo de relatorio apresentado pelo auditor. Para analise do estudo, realizou-se pesquisa descritiva, documental e de cunho quantitativo. Foram analisadas as maiores empresas brasileiras listadas por faturamento, segundo a revista Exame 2015 compondo uma amostra de 99 empresas. Os dados foram retirados do Formulario de Referencia, Relatorio dos auditores independentes, Balanco e Demonstracao do resultado do exercicio e analisados por meio da estatistica descritiva e analise de regressao linear multipla. Os resultados comprovaram que o tamanho da empresa, de acordo com o ativo total e a presenca de uma grande empresa realizando o servico, influenciam significativamente os honorarios de auditoria. Nao foram encontradas relacoes significativas entre os honorarios de auditoria com a lucratividade da empresa, a presenca do comite de auditoria e o nivel de governanca corporativa.
Genetic and immunological parameters governing in vivo susceptibility/resistance to retrovirally induced murine malignant histiocytosis

Malignant histiocytosis sarcoma virus (MHSV) arose as a recombinant of c‐Harvey‐ras murine sarcoma virus (Ha‐MuSV) and Friend mink cell focus‐forming virus (F‐MCFV). It is a defective acute transforming retrovirus that, along with Friend murine leukemia helper virus (F‐MuLV), induces malignant histiocytosis (MH) in susceptible adult mice. We have assessed the in vivo susceptibility to MHSV in inbred homozygous, F1 hybrid, congenic, and recombinant inbred (RI) mice. We have shown that: (1) in vivo resistance to MHSV is multigenic, regulated by MHC and non‐MHC genes in a different fashion than with F‐MCFV, F‐MuLV, or Ha‐MuSV; (2) using BXD RI mice, the resistance phenotype is linked with 95.8% probability to two linked loci, Pmv‐9 and Iapls3‐14, on chromosome 13 (homologous to the area of human chromosome 5 for which a chromosomal break point at position 5q35 is associated with human MH); and (3) CD4+ T cells are critical for MHSV resistance. J. Leukoc. Biol. 64: 441–450; 1998.
Differential Actions of Endogenous and Iontophoretic Dopamine in Rat Striatum

We have voltammetrically monitored dopamine release in the rat striatum evoked either by stimulation of the median forebrain bundle or by iontophoresis. Neuronal spike activity was recorded with the same microelectrode alternately with voltammetric scans. Low levels of stimulation‐evoked dopamine (< 1 μM) excited all striatal units tested. However, this effect could be converted into an inhibition at higher levels of release. In contrast to the results with neuronally released dopamine, excitation was never seen when dopamine was applied by iontophoresis. Inhibition was, however, observed at high concentrations (> 1–5 μM) of exogenous dopamine. These data show that endogenous dopamine at low levels may be predominantly an excitatory transmitter in the striatum, but exogenous (iontophoretic) dopamine does not have the same effect on striatal unit activity as the endogenous material.
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Neutrophils Have a Distinct Phenotype and Are Resistant to Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase Inhibition.

RATIONALE Acute respiratory distress syndrome is refractory to pharmacological intervention. Inappropriate activation of alveolar neutrophils is believed to underpin this disease's complex pathophysiology, yet these cells have been little studied. OBJECTIVES To examine the functional and transcriptional profiles of patient blood and alveolar neutrophils compared with healthy volunteer cells, and to define their sensitivity to phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibition. METHODS Twenty-three ventilated patients underwent bronchoalveolar lavage. Alveolar and blood neutrophil apoptosis, phagocytosis, and adhesion molecules were quantified by flow cytometry, and oxidase responses were quantified by chemiluminescence. Cytokine and transcriptional profiling were used in multiplex and GeneChip arrays. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Patient blood and alveolar neutrophils were distinct from healthy circulating cells, with increased CD11b and reduced CD62L expression, delayed constitutive apoptosis, and primed oxidase responses. Incubating control cells with disease bronchoalveolar lavage recapitulated the aberrant functional phenotype, and this could be reversed by phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitors. In contrast, the prosurvival phenotype of patient cells was resistant to phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibition. RNA transcriptomic analysis revealed modified immune, cytoskeletal, and cell death pathways in patient cells, aligning closely to sepsis and burns datasets but not to phosphoinositide 3-kinase signatures. CONCLUSIONS Acute respiratory distress syndrome blood and alveolar neutrophils display a distinct primed prosurvival profile and transcriptional signature. The enhanced respiratory burst was phosphoinositide 3-kinase-dependent but delayed apoptosis and the altered transcriptional profile were not. These unexpected findings cast doubt over the utility of phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibition in acute respiratory distress syndrome and highlight the importance of evaluating novel therapeutic strategies in patient-derived cells.