Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Two Functional Flow Cytometric Assays to Assess P-gp Activity in Acute Leukemia

One of the possible causes of treatment failure in acute leukemia is the emergence of multidrug resistance caused by P-glycoprotein (P-gp) overexpression. We compared a flow cytometric assay using JC-1 with a technique using rhodamine 123 (rho123) to evaluate the P-gp function in acute leukemia. Samples from 50 acute leukemia patients were analyzed by both functional assays. The P-gp expression was assessed by an immunological flow cytometric test and the association between the P-gp status and the clinical outcome was evaluated. Of all samples, 28% showed a reversible JC-1 efflux and 36% scored positive for the rho123 assay. In two cases, the leukemic blasts showed a reversible JC-1 efflux whereas they were negative for rho123. These patients had blast cells with a very low P-gp activity. Six samples scored positive for the rho123 assay but were negative for the JC-1 test. Five of these samples did not express P-glycoprotein and were considered false positive. We found a strong correlation between the JC-1 and the rho123 test (Rs = 0.59, p < 0.0001) and the JC-1 and the immunological assay (Rs = 0.29, P = 0.05). There was also an association between the JC-1 status and the clinical outcome of adult patients (χ2 = 6.30, P = 0.04). In conclusion, we recommend the JC-1 assay to study the P-gp activity in acute leukemia because it is more specific and less labor intensive than conventional functional flow cytometric tests using rhodamine 123. In addition, the JC-1 assay can be used to identify adult patients with an increased risk for adverse clinical outcome.
Management of Brugada Syndrome 2016: Should All High Risk Patients Receive an ICD? Alternatives to Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator Therapy for Brugada Syndrome.

More than 20 years ago, the Brugada brothers reported 8 patients with recurrent episodes of aborted sudden death and no demonstrable heart disease having a peculiar ECG pattern of ST elevation in right precordial leads.1 The Brugada syndrome (BrS), one of the most devastating causes of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in relatively young patients with apparently normal heart, was born. In fact, it is likely that the first case of BrS was reported a few years before by Martini et al.2 The syndrome was recognized although not fully characterized even earlier in various southeastern Asian countries as responsible for mysterious cases of unexpected nocturnal SCD.3 Over the following 2 decades, extensive research on the clinical and ECG aspects, electrophysiological (EP) mechanism, genetic background, and management of the syndrome has been accomplished. Two consensus reports on the diagnostic criteria, risk stratification, and management of BrS were published in 20054 and 2013.5 Recent publication of several works dealing with various modes of management of BrS has raised questions about the optimal treatment that should be offered to these patients. Hereunder, I review these updated results and give my own viewpoint on the issue of management of BrS. See Response by Sieira and Brugada ### Importance of ECG Phenotype Ascertainment Although there has been general initial consensus about the ECG definition of Brugada ECG pattern into 3 types (type 1, type 2, and type 3),4 there has been a recent effort to establish a more simplified mode of classification, including only 2 ECG patterns6: pattern 1 identical to the classic type 1 of other consensus (coved pattern) and pattern 2 that joins patterns 2 and 3 of previous consensus (saddle-back pattern). This is in agreement with the classification presently adopted by most specialists that differentiates Brugada ECG type 1 versus non-type …
Microstructure and dynamics of vacancy-induced nanofilamentary switching network in donor doped SrTiO3−x memristors

Donor doping of perovskite oxides has emerged as an attractive technique to create high performance and low energy non-volatile analog memories. Here, we examine the origins of improved switching performance and stable multi-state resistive switching in Nb-doped oxygen-deficient amorphous SrTiO3 (Nb:a-STOx) metal–insulator–metal (MIM) devices. We probe the impact of substitutional dopants (i.e., Nb) in modulating the electronic structure and subsequent switching performance. Temperature stability and bias/time dependence of the switching behavior are used to ascertain the role of substitutional dopants and highlight their utility to modulate volatile and non-volatile behavior in a-STOx devices for adaptive and neuromorphic applications. We utilized a combination of transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence emission properties, interfacial compositional evaluation, and activation energy measurements to investigate the microstructure of the nanofilamentary network responsible for switching. These results provide important insights into understanding mechanisms that govern the performance of donor-doped perovskite oxide-based memristive devices.
Factors That Influence the Applicability of Sham Needle in Acupuncture Trials: Two Randomized, Single-Blind, Crossover Trials With Acupuncture-Experienced Subjects

ObjectivesIn recent years the retractable type of sham needle has been anticipated to be a possible solution for masking patients in acupuncture research. However, this needle has been intended mainly for acupuncture-naïve subjects. The authors’ goal in this study was to assess the validity of the retractable type of sham needle. MethodsThe authors conducted two randomized, single-blind, crossover trials with acupuncture-experienced subjects. Different acupuncture points were used in each trial (a LI-4 trial and a BL-23 trial). The subjects received two sessions of different stimulations in each trial. A Park Sham Needle was used in one session, a genuine acupuncture needle in the other. ResultsIn the LI-4 trial, all of the 21 subjects (100%) felt penetration with the genuine needle, but only 7 of the 20 subjects (35%) felt a similar sensation with the sham needle (P=0.0002). Fifteen of the 21 subjects (71%) felt a dull sensation with the genuine needle, but only 4 of the 20 subjects (20%) felt a similar sensation with the sham needle (P=0.01). In the BL-23 trial, 14 of the 20 subjects (70%) felt penetration with the genuine needle and 10 of the 20 subjects (50%) felt “penetration” with the sham needle (P=0.39). Eight of the 20 subjects (40%) felt a dull sensation with the genuine needle and 2 of the 20 subjects (10%) did with the sham needle (P=0.109). ConclusionsPotential factors that influence the applicability of “placebo” needling include not only intertester variability but also the patient's knowledge and experience of acupuncture, acupuncture point selection, the visual impact of needling, and so on.
Intimal thickening involves transdifferentiation of embryonic endothelial cells

Morphological studies have hypothesized different origins for the precursors of the vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). The intriguing possibility that intimal SMCs may arise from the endothelium has newly emerged. As a first step towards understanding of the possible mechanisms involved in the transdifferentiation of endothelium into smooth muscle cells, we characterized the in vivo phenotype of the cells located in the aortic wall (distal to the aortic arches). This was accomplished using advanced stages of chicken embryo development. Furthermore, we investigated whether the cells present at the intimal thickening derive from the endothelial cell transdifferentiation. Immunolabeling of serial cryosections suggested that mesenchymal cells observed in the intimal thickening may arise from the endothelium. These cells may persist either as non‐muscle throughout the development or possibly convert to cells expressing smooth muscle α‐actin (SM α‐actin).
A naturalistic study of the relationships among electromyographic activity, psychological stress, and pain in ambulatory tension‐type headache patients and headache‐free controls.

&NA; Twelve subjects who met diagnostic criteria for episodic tension‐type headache and nine subjects who rarely or never suffered from headaches wore a computer‐controlled electromyographic (EMG) activity recorder in their natural environment for 48 to 96 consecutive hours. EMG activity of the posterior neck or frontal muscles was recorded 24 hr per day. During waking hours, subjects rated their perceived levels of stress, pain, and negative affect at 30‐min intervals. The EMG activity of headache and control subjects did not differ significantly, and EMG activity did not covary with stress, pain, or negative affect. Cross‐correlations among EMG activity, pain, and stress revealed little evidence of leading, contemporaneous, or lagging relationships. Interrupted time series analysis showed no consistent muscle hyperactivity during a headache attack compared to a headache‐free baseline period.
Effect of the hemopump left ventricular assist device on regional myocardial perfusion and function. Reduction of ischemia during coronary occlusion.

The Hemopump is a new 7-mm diameter left ventricular assist device that provides as much as 3.5 l/min of nonpulsatile cardiac output after fluoroscopic placement into the left ventricle through a femoral artery cutdown. The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of Hemopump assist on hemodynamics, left ventricular function, and perfusion in the presence and absence of ischemia. Eight dogs were instrumented under pentobarbital anesthesia with left ventricular, left atrial, and aortic catheters, a loose silk ligature around the midleft anterior descending coronary artery, and sonomicrometer crystals in midwall myocardium within the left anterior descending and circumflex perfusion territories. Hemodynamic variables, regional systolic fractional shortening, and myocardial perfusion after left atrial injection of 15-microns radiolabeled microspheres were measured in the presence and absence of Hemopump assist before and after left anterior descending artery occlusion. In the absence of ischemia, Hemopump left ventricular assist resulted in reduced left ventricular end-diastolic pressure while aortic mean pressure was maintained, and there was significant reduction in regional systolic fractional shortening (reflecting systolic unloading) that correlated with an 18% decline in regional myocardial perfusion. During left anterior descending artery occlusion, left ventricular systolic and diastolic pressures were reduced during Hemopump assist while aortic mean pressure was maintained. Perfusion rose in the ischemic territory (from 13.0 +/- 8.7% to 26.2 +/- 19.8% of nonischemic flow, p = 0.045). Reduced fractional shortening was again seen in nonischemic tissue with Hemopump assist during left anterior descending artery occlusion, and this was often correlated with reduced perfusion (r = 0.67). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Imaging for Suspected Appendicitis: Variation Between Academic and Private Practice Models

Background Little is known regarding the effect of different emergency department (ED) practice models on computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (US) utilization for suspected appendicitis in the ED and through the potential inpatient hospital stay. Objectives Examination rates of CT and US for suspected appendicitis at 2 different pediatric EDs (PEDs) through hospital admission: an academic affiliated tertiary PED (site A) compared with a private practice tertiary care PED (site B). Methods All visits with the ICD-9 (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision) chief complaint of abdominal pain were retrospectively examined from May 1, 2009, to February 21, 2012. Suspected appendicitis visits were defined as any visit with the chief complaint of abdominal pain where a complete blood cell count was obtained. Abdominal CT and US in the PED and during hospital admission were compared across the 2 sites. Return visits within 72 hours were evaluated for any missed appendicitis. Results Overall appendicitis rates were similar at both sites: site A, 4.7%; site B, 4.0%. The odds of having a CT scan performed during visits to the PED for abdominal pain were significantly higher at site B (odds ratio [OR], 3.19; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 2.74–3.71), whereas the odds of having an US at site B were the opposite (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.28–0.40). When evaluating only the admitted visits, the odds of having a CT were also greater at site B (OR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.86–2.94) and having an US were less (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.44–0.73). Conclusions In this study of 2 PEDs with differing practice models, we identified a dramatic difference in imaging utilization among patients with suspected appendicitis.
Composition of Trade between Australia and Latin America: Gravity Model

This paper aims to analyse the value of merchandise through a broad category of trade between Australia and nine selected Latin American countries by using a gravity model focusing on the period from 1998 to 2004. The traditional cross-sectional data is a useful tool to understand this bilateral trade focusing on exports and imports through primary products, manufactured products, and total merchandise trade. The general thrust of the analysis regarding trade composition implies that Australian trade with Latin America has been shaped by political and economic variables. The trade of primary products is explained by economic distance, openness, population, and political influence. Economic mass along with economic distance are significant explanatory variables in the trade of manufactured products. Political influence on bilateral trade has been significant in most Latin American countries – captured by a dummy for presidential changes – exceptions are: Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay.
Skin changes in patients claiming to suffer from “screen dermatitis”: a two‐case open‐field provocation study

Abstract An open‐field provocation, in front of an ordinary TV set, of 2 patients regarding themselves as suffering from skin problems due to work at video display terminals (VDTs) is presented. Using immunohistochemistry, in combination with a wide range of antisera directed towards cellular and neurochemical markers, we were able to show a high‐to‐very high number of somatostatin‐immunoreactive dendritic cells as well as histamine‐positive mast cells in skin biopsies from the anterior neck taken before the start of the provocation. At the end of the provocation the number of mast cells was unchanged; however, the somatostatin‐positive cells had seemingly disappeared. The reason for this latter findings is discussed in terms of loss of immunoreactivity, increase of breakdown, etc. The high number of mast cells present may explain the clinical symptoms of itch, pain, edema and erythema. Naturally, in view of the present public debate, the observed results are highly provocative and, we believe, have to be taken seriously.
Use of Severely Steatotic Grafts in Liver Transplantation: A Matched Case-Control Study

Background:Although there is a worldwide need to expand the pool of available liver grafts, cadaveric livers with severe steatosis (>60%) are discarded for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) by most centers. Methods:We analyzed patients receiving liver grafts with severe steatosis between January 2002 and September 2006. These patients were matched 1:2 with control patients without severe steatosis according to status the waiting list, recipient age, recipient body mass index (BMI), and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score. Primary end points were the incidence of primary graft nonfunction (PNF), and graft and patient survival. Secondary end points included primary graft dysfunction (PDF), the incidence of postoperative complications, and histologic assessment of steatosis in follow-up biopsies. We also conducted a survey on the use of grafts with severe steatosis among leading European liver transplant centers. Results:During the study period, 62 patients dropped out of the waiting list and 45 of them died due to progression of disease. Of 118 patients who received transplants 20 (17%) received a graft with severe steatosis during this period. The median degree of total liver steatosis was 90% (R = 65%–100%) for the steatotic group. The steatotic (n = 20) and matched control group (n = 40) were comparable in terms of recipient age, BMI, MELD score, and cold ischemia time. The steatotic group had a significantly higher rate of PDF and/or renal failure. Although the median intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay were not significantly different between both groups, the proportion of patients with long-term ICU (≥21 days) and hospital (≥40 days) stay was significantly higher for patients with a severely steatotic graft. Sixty-day mortality (5% vs. 5%) and 3-year patient survival rate (83% vs. 84%) were comparable between the control and severe steatosis group. Postoperative histologic assessment demonstrated that the median total amount of liver steatosis decreased significantly (median: 90% to 15%, P < 0.001). Our survey showed that all but one of the European centers currently reject liver grafts with severe steatosis for any recipient. Conclusion:Due to the urgent need of liver grafts, severely steatotic grafts should be no longer discarded for OLT. Maximal effort must be spent when dealing with these high-risk organs but the use of severely steatotic grafts may save the lives of many patients who would die on the waiting list.
Effect of physical activity on menopausal symptoms among urban women.

PURPOSE To determine whether physical activity, measured by expended kilocalories per week (kcal.wk), decreases the risk of menopausal symptoms among African American and Caucasian women. METHODS Level of physical activity and menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes, depression, anxiety, stress, and vasomotor, physiological, and somatic symptom summaries were measured in 401 women during an 8-yr period. Tertiles of physical activity at each assessment were defined as kilocalories per week: top third (>or= 1450 kcal x wk(-1)), middle third (< 1450 to 644 kcal x wk(-1)), and bottom third (< 644 kcal x wk(-1)). Regression models were used to estimate the independent effect of physical activity at each time period on menopausal symptoms after adjusting for covariates and hormone levels. Results were also stratified by race, smoking status, and menopausal status. RESULTS Overall, only perceived stress was related to level of physical activity, with women in both the middle and top tertiles of physical activity reporting lower mean levels of stress compared with women in the lowest tertile of activity. In the analysis by menopausal stage, active postmenopausal women continued to report lower mean levels of anxiety, stress, and depressive symptoms compared with inactive postmenopausal women. We did not find an association between level of physical activity and reports of hot flashes, even after adjusting for the variability in the hormonal changes. CONCLUSIONS Among a cohort of community-dwelling women, high levels of physical activity were related to lower levels of stress during an 8-yr follow-up period. In addition, levels of anxiety, stress, and depression were lowest among physically active postmenopausal women compared with inactive women in the same menopausal grouping.
Hemochromatosis Cys282Tyr mutation and liver iron overload in patients with chronic active hepatitis C

We read with interest the very comprehensive article on iron and chronic viral hepatitis recently published in HEPATOLOGY,1 which, in large part, dealt with liver iron accumulation observed in patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). 1,2 In 1996, a homozygous missense mutation, Cys282Tyr, within the HLA-H gene located on chromosome 6 was found to be present in 82% to 100% of patients with genetic hemochromatosis.3,4 The detection of this mutation in peripheral blood cells makes it possible to assess its role in other conditions with liver iron overload. Indeed, Roberts et al.5 found a significantly high proportion of individuals homozygous or heterozygous for the Cys282Tyr mutation among patients with sporadic porphyria cutanea tarda, a disease commonly associated with hepatic iron overload, suggesting that the mutation is a susceptibility factor for sporadic porphyria cutanea tarda. The aim of the present work was to determine whether liver iron overload in patients with CAH caused by HCV is related to the presence of the Cys282Tyr mutation of the hemochromatosis gene. Two hundred eleven consecutive patients (132 men, 79 women; mean age, 44.3 6 12.0 years) with histologically proven HCV-related CAH were studied. Semiquantitative histological grading from 0 to 3 (Table 1) was used to assess liver iron overload after Perls’ staining. The Cys282Tyr mutation was identified by RsaI restriction enzyme analysis of polymerase chain reaction–amplified DNA fragments using HLA-H–specific primers as reported.3 Liver iron overload was found in 89 of 211 patients (42.2%). It was mild (grade 1) in 75 of 89 patients (84.3%) and only hepatocellular in 36 of 89 patients (40.4%). The relationship between the Cys282Tyr mutation and the presence and severity of liver iron overload is shown in Table 1. Overall, the prevalence of heterozygosity for the Cys282Tyr mutation observed in this series of patients with HCV-related CAH (10.4%) was similar to that reported in the general population.3 In addition, the Cys282Tyr mutation does not seem to play a role in liver iron overload, because its prevalence did not differ in patients with and without iron overload (12.4% vs. 9%, respectively; P 5 .41). Our findings indicate that liver iron overload is frequent in patients with CAH caused by HCV, but that heterozygosity for the Cys282Tyr mutation has no role in its occurrence. Other parameters not related to the genetic background might be incriminated, such as the release of iron from damaged hepatocytes, infusion of large amounts of iron through blood transfusions, which is one of the main risk factors for HCV infection, and/or perturbation of iron metabolism secondary to HCV-related liver disease.