Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Growth-Climate Response of Young Turkey Oak (Quercus cerris L.) Coppice Forest Stands along Longitudinal Gradient in Albania

Background and Purpose: Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.) is the most widespread species in Albania and less investigated from dendroclimatological point of view. Previous studies have reported that Q. cerris is sensitive to the environment when growing at different latitudes and ecological conditions. Based on this fact we have explored the response of different Q. cerris populations located along the longitudinal gradient. Materials and Methods: The stem discs were sampled from six sites (Kukes, Diber, Rreshen, Ulez, Elbasan, Belsh) along longitudinal gradient ranging from north-east to central Albania. All oak forests stands grow under the influence of specific local Mediterranean climate. Tree-ring widths were measured to the nearest 0.001 mm using a linear table, LINTAB and the TSAP-Win program. Following the standard dendrochronological procedures residual tree-ring width chronologies were built for each site. Statistical parameters commonly used in dendrochronology were calculated for each site chronology. Relations between the tree-ring chronologies were explored using Hierarchical Factor Classification (HFC) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA), while the radial growth-climate relationship was analyzed through correlation analysis using a 19-month window from April in the year prior to tree-ring formation (year t - 1) until October in the year of growth (year t). Results and Conclusions: The length of the site chronologies ranged from 16 to 36 years, with the Elbasan site chronology being the longest and the Belsh site chronology the shortest one. Trees at lower elevation were younger than trees at higher elevation. Statistical parameters (mean sensitivity (MS) and auto correlation (AC)) of site chronologies were different among them and lower values of AC1 showed a weaker dependence of radial growth from climatic conditions of the previous growing year. Principal component analysis showed that Belsh, Rreshen and Elbasan site chronologies were clustered in the first principal component accounted 36.6% of the total variance. The HFC indicated grouping of the site chronologies in two clusters, where Belsh, Rreshen and Elbasan site chronologies were grouped in the first cluster while Kukes, Diber and Ulez in the second one, confirming the results previously provided from
The effect of ACE inhibitors and atrial natriuretic factor on the cardiorenal axis in man.

Primary renal diseases such as glomerulonephritis are normally immunological in origin but renal function is also abnormal in a large variety of general medical conditions and in these latter conditions the abnormality is in renal haemodynamics rather than being of immunological origin. For example, in hypertension, it has long been known that if the kidney is transplanted from a spontaneously hypertensive rat to a normotensive rat, then the hypertension follows the kidney. This suggests that the kidney is of major aetiological importance in the development of essential hypertension. It has also recently been shown that one of the earliest abnormalities to be found in the first degree relatives of hypertensive patients is a decrease in renal blood flow and this is at a stage when they are still normotensive (van Hooft et al., 1991). The next general medical condition where renal function is abnormal is chronic heart failure where renal sodium and fluid retention is usually the first clinical sign of the disease. Diabetes mellitus is another medical disease where renal dysfunction is prominent. Curiously in diabetes, there is initially an increase in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) which gives way to microalbuminuria and subsequently to a decreased GFR and frank nephropathy. Lastly cyclosporin is a drug in widespread use which causes renal vasoconstriction leading to nephrotoxicity and hypertension. Before we will be able to unravel the renal abnormalities in each of the above diseases, we have to learn more about how the normal kidney functions. Much of this article is devoted to understanding how the normal kidney functions but I will later on directly discuss both chronic heart failure and cyclosporin. There are a large number of different regulators of renal function. I will discuss only the three main ones of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and atrial natriuretic factor (ANF).
Pharmacological Effects of Imidafenacin (KRP-197/ONO-8025), a New Bladder Selective Anti-cholinergic Agent, in Rats

Abstract Imidafenacin (CAS 170105-16-5, KRP-197, ONO-8025) has been developed for the treatment of overactive bladder as a new anti-cholinergic with high affinities for muscarinic acetylcholine M3 and M1 receptors. The pharmacological profiles of imidafenacin on the urinary bladder function by determining carbamylcholine (CCh)-induced decrease in bladder capacity and distention-induced rhythmic bladder contraction in conscious rats were investigated. In addition, effects of imidafenacin on CCh-induced salivary secretion and performance in the Morris water maze task in rats were investigated to evaluate side effects, such as dry mouth and cognitive dysfunction in the central nervous system (CNS). Imidafenacin prevented the CCh-induced decrease in bladder capacity dose-dependently with an ID50 of 0.055 mg/kg. On the distention-induced rhythmic bladder contraction, imidafenacin, propiverine, tolterodine, oxybutynin and darifenacin showed inhibitory effects with ID30's of 0.17, 15, 3.0, 3.2 and 0.85 mg/kg, respectively. The rank order of inhibitory potency was: imidafenacin > darifenacin > tolterodine > oxybu-tynin > propiverine. Imidafenacin, propiverine, tolterodine, oxybutynin and darifenacin showed inhibitory effects on the CCh-stimulated salivary secretion with ID50's of 1.5,14,15,4.4 and 1.2 mg/kg, respectively. The rank order of inhibitory potency was: darifenacin > imidafenacin > oxybutynin > propiverine > tolterodine. Imidafenacin at the doses of 1 and 10 mg/ kg did not affect the escape latencies in the Morris water maze task compared with those in vehicle controls. Oxybutynin at the dose of 100 mg/kg induced a significant increase in the escape latencies, but propiverine at the dose of 100 mg/kg did not induce significant changes. These results suggest that imidafenacin inhibits urinary bladder contraction to a greater extent than the salivary secretion (compared with the M3 receptor selective antagonist, darifenacin, and the non-selective antagonists, propiverine, tolterodine and oxybutynin) or the CNS functions, such as performance in the Morris water maze task (compared with oxybutynin). In conclusion, imidafenacin has organ selectivity for the bladder over the salivary gland, without influence on the central nervous system such as spatial learning and memory.
Morbidity and survivorship of patients with embolic cholesterol crystals in the ocular fundus.

TBE SIGNIFICANCE OF OBSERVED EMBOLIC CHOLESTEROL CERYSTALS IN THE ocular fundus of patients with occlusive cerebrovascular disease is well established.15 This report concerns the follow-up of 208 consecutive patients with retinal cholesterol emboli and other vascular conditions, originally reported in 1966.6 Most of the patients had one or more manifestations of vascular disease, and a significant percentage had initial complaints of amaurosis fugax, cerebral ischemia, angina, or calf claudi-cation.Our impression that the retinal cholesterol crystal is a warning sign of impending vascular complications in the vascular system prompted this study of the morbidity and survivorship of these 208 patients. We obtained follow-up morbidity mortality data on (175 30 females) of the One and were 34 patients 37 49 58
The burden and management of neonatal jaundice in Nigeria: A scoping review of the literature

Neonatal jaundice is a leading cause of hospitalization in the first week of life worldwide. If inappropriately managed, it may result in significant bilirubin-induced mortality and disability. We set out to describe the epidemiology of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia as well as the practices and challenges in the care of infants with significant neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (SNH) in Nigeria, as basis for policy intervention and research priorities. We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, WHO Library Database, African Index Medicus, African Journals Online, and local journals for studies published between January 1960 and December 2014. We included studies, without restriction on methodological design that provided evidence on the incidence/prevalence, etiological /risk factors and adverse outcomes of hyperbilirubinemia, care-seeking practices, diagnosis and treatment, as well as follow-up evaluation of infants with SNH in Nigeria. A total of 558 studies were identified from all sources out of which 198 (35.5%) were finally selected. SNH accounted for about one in five neonatal admissions and has been associated consistently with substantial case fatality and neuro-developmental sequelae such as cerebral palsy and auditory impairments, especially among out-born babies. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, prematurity/low birth weight, infection, and ABO incompatibility were most frequently, and Rhesus disease rarely, associated with SNH. Late presentation at appropriate health facilities was common and resulted in high rates of acute bilirubin encephalopathy (ABE), kernicterus and avoidable exchange transfusions. Uniform practice guidelines, including developmental assessment and surveillance of infants with SNH, were rare at all levels of healthcare delivery. In summary, since 1960, SHN persists as a major contributor to neonatal mortality and developmental disabilities in Nigeria. The underpinning maternal, perinatal and neonatal factors as well as systems-based constraints are not insurmountable. Systematic and sustained interventions are warranted to curtail the disproportionate and perennial burden of this condition in this population.
Contraindicated medications dispensed with cisapride: temporal trends in relation to the sending of ‘dear doctor’ letters

‘Dear Doctor’ letters alert the prescribing community of drug labeling changes that contain new contraindications, warnings, adverse reactions, and precautions. There has been little assessment of the impact of these letters. We quantified the impact of two ‘Dear Doctor’ letters concerning interactions between cisapride and a series of drugs. A letter in 1995 described a risk of prolonged QT intervals and serious ventricular arrhythmia in patients who received macrolide antibiotics and imidazole antifungals in conjunction with cisapride. A June 1998 letter that expanded the list of contraindicated comedications had wider distribution than an earlier one, was accompanied by substantial Internet and media coverage, and was complemented by an effort to inform large pharmacy dispensing information organizations of the warnings against concurrent use of the named drugs.
Screening for retinopathy of prematurity and treatment outcome in a tertiary hospital in Hong Kong.

INTRODUCTION Studies on the prevalence and severity of retinopathy of prematurity in the local population are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, screening, and treatment outcome of retinopathy of prematurity in a tertiary hospital in Hong Kong. METHODS This cross-sectional study with internal comparison was conducted at Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong. The study evaluated 89 premature infants who were born at the hospital and were screened for retinopathy of prematurity, in accordance with the 2008 British Guidelines, between January 2013 and December 2013. The prevalences of retinopathy of prematurity and severe retinopathy requiring treatment were studied. RESULTS The mean (± standard deviation) gestational age at birth was 30+2 weeks ± 16.5 days (range, 24+1 to 35+5 weeks). The mean birth weight was 1285 g ± 328 g (range, 580 g to 2030 g). A total of 15 (16.9%) infants developed retinopathy of prematurity and three (3.4%) required treatment. In a subgroup analysis of extremely-low-birth-weight infants of <1000 g, 70.6% developed retinopathy of prematurity and 17.6% required treatment. Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested low birth weight and patent ductus arteriosus were significantly associated with development of retinopathy of prematurity (P<0.001 and P=0.035, respectively). Among the three infants who received treatment for severe retinopathy of prematurity, all regressed successfully after one laser treatment. CONCLUSIONS Retinopathy of prematurity is a significant problem among premature infants in Hong Kong, especially those with extremely low birth weight. Our screening service for retinopathy of prematurity was satisfactory and treatment results were good. Strict adherence to international screening guidelines and vigilance in infants at risk are key to successful management of retinopathy of prematurity.
The Molecular Epidemiology of Genital Chlamydia trachomatis in the Greater Reykjavik Area, Iceland

Background The diversity in MOMP (major outer membrane protein) of Chlamydia trachomatis is thought to be necessary for the bacteria to survive in its environment. The rate of change in the omp1 gene (coding for MOMP) is not known. Iceland offers a good opportunity to study the epidemiology of chlamydial infections because the population is small (280,000) and geographically well defined. Goal The goal was to determine the number and distribution of C trachomatis genotypes in a population attending the STD clinic in Reykjavík and to assess changes in omp1 sequences over a period of 2 years. Study Design Three-hundred thirty isolates of C trachomatis collected periodically from January 1999 to January 2001 were omp1 genotyped with nested PCR and sequencing. Results The serotypes found, in descending order of prevalence, were E, D, J, F, K, G, H, and I. Eighteen distinctive genotypes were found. During the study period no significant changes in frequency of genotypes were noted, and introduction of new or changed genotypes was not observed. Conclusion The results indicate a relatively stable situation of genotypes and suggest an ecological advantage of serotype E.
Influence of patients' requests for direct-to-consumer advertised antidepressants: a randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT Direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising of prescription drugs in the United States is both ubiquitous and controversial. Critics charge that it leads to overprescribing, while proponents counter that it helps avert underuse of effective treatments, especially for conditions that are poorly recognized or stigmatized. OBJECTIVE To ascertain the effects of patients' DTC-related requests on physicians' initial treatment decisions in patients with depressive symptoms. DESIGN Randomized trial using standardized patients (SPs). Six SP roles were created by crossing 2 conditions (major depression or adjustment disorder with depressed mood) with 3 request types (brand-specific, general, or none). SETTING Offices of primary care physicians in Sacramento, Calif; San Francisco, Calif; and Rochester, NY, between May 2003 and May 2004. PARTICIPANTS One hundred fifty-two family physicians and general internists recruited from solo and group practices and health maintenance organizations; cooperation rates ranged from 53% to 61%. INTERVENTIONS The SPs were randomly assigned to make 298 unannounced visits, with assignments constrained so physicians saw 1 SP with major depression and 1 with adjustment disorder. The SPs made a brand-specific drug request, a general drug request, or no request (control condition) in approximately one third of visits. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Data on prescribing, mental health referral, and primary care follow-up obtained from SP written reports, visit audiorecordings, chart review, and analysis of written prescriptions and drug samples. The effects of request type on prescribing were evaluated using contingency tables and confirmed in generalized linear mixed models that accounted for clustering and adjusted for site, physician, and visit characteristics. RESULTS Standardized patient role fidelity was excellent, and the suspicion rate that physicians had seen an SP was 13%. In major depression, rates of antidepressant prescribing were 53%, 76%, and 31% for SPs making brand-specific, general, and no requests, respectively (P<.001). In adjustment disorder, antidepressant prescribing rates were 55%, 39%, and 10%, respectively (P<.001). The results were confirmed in multivariate models. Minimally acceptable initial care (any combination of an antidepressant, mental health referral, or follow-up within 2 weeks) was offered to 98% of SPs in the major depression role making a general request, 90% of those making a brand-specific request, and 56% of those making no request (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS Patients' requests have a profound effect on physician prescribing in major depression and adjustment disorder. Direct-to-consumer advertising may have competing effects on quality, potentially both averting underuse and promoting overuse.
Design of Ring-Manifold Microwave Multiplexers

A ring manifold for connecting microstrip bandpass channel filters to form a multiplexer has been developed. A method of connecting the bandpass filters to the ring has been devised, all ports are well matched in their passband, and highly isolated. By modifying the length of the feed lines which connect the filters to the ring, it has been shown that the filters can be connected to the ring to form a multiplexer without significant interaction. Experimental results for the multiplexer are given to verify the technique, and show good agreement with the simulated results
International assessment of the internal consistency of respiratory symptoms. European Community Respiratory Health Study (ECRHS).

We aimed to assess cross-cultural validity of the reporting of respiratory symptoms in the European Community Respiratory Health Study (ECRHS). A random sample of subjects from the general population (aged 20-44 yr), from 35 centers in 15 countries, answered a questionnaire and underwent allergy tests and airway challenge with methacholine. The overall response rate to the questionnaire was 60% (n = 16,635). Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify how symptoms were grouped (i.e., to specify factor structure), using data from the United Kingdom. Subsequently, a confirmatory factor analysis of the prespecified structure for the United Kingdom was assessed for each country in consecutive nested models, increasing at each step the number of parameters forced to be equal to the United Kingdom, and assessing the goodness of fit. Variables were clustered in the same four groups (factors) in all countries. The four factors, mutually adjusted, were associated with either bronchial responsiveness, atopy, or smoking, which provides coherence for the separation of the four factors. In the confirmatory factor analysis, when the load of each of the symptoms in the corresponding factor was prespecified, all countries except Spain showed an adequate fit; in Spain there were differences in answers concerning asthma treatment. We conclude that the ECRHS multilingual translated respiratory symptoms questionnaire shows high internal consistency, suggesting that international comparisons are not affected by errors due to cross-cultural variations in the reporting of symptoms.
Two-Dimensional Scattering by a Conducting Elliptic Cylinder Coated With a Homogeneous Anisotropic Shell

A solution to the two-dimensional scattering properties of a conducting elliptic cylinder coated with a confocal homogeneous anisotropic elliptical shell is obtained. The transmitted field of the anisotropic shell is expressed as an integral equation based on waves with different wave numbers and different directions of propagation. The waves in all directions are represented as the eigenfunction expansion in elliptic coordinates in terms of Mathieu functions. In order to solve the nonorthogonality properties of Mathieu functions, Galerkin's method is applied and a matrix is required for the computation of unknown expansion coefficients of the scattered and transmitted fields. Only the transverse magnetic (TM) polarization is presented, while the transverse electric (TE) polarization can be obtained in the same way. Some numerical results are presented in graphical forms. The result is in agreement with that available as expected when a coated elliptic cylinder degenerates to the coated circular one.
Assessing level of consciousness and cognitive changes from vegetative state to full recovery

Although investigations addressing cognitive recovery from the vegetative state have been reported, to date there have been no detailed studies of these patients combining both neuropsychology and functional imaging to monitor and record the recovery of consciousness. This paper describes the recovery of a specific vegetative state (VS) case. The patient (OG) remained in the vegetative state for approximately two months, increasing her level of awareness to a minimally conscious state, where she continued for approximately 70 days. In the course of the ensuing 18 months, she was able to reach an acceptable level of cognitive functioning, with partial levels of independence. Throughout this two year period, she received continuous cognitive evaluation, for which several different tools were applied including coma and low functioning scales, full cognitive batteries, and structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We present here preliminary data on fMRI using a word presentation paradigm before and after recovery; we also discuss the difficulty of how to determine level of consciousness using the tools currently available, and the subsequent improvement in different cognitive domains. We confirm that accurate diagnosis and proper cognitive assessment are critical for the rehabilitation of patients with disorders of consciousness.
Metabolism and Toxicity of Styrene in Microsomal Epoxide Hydrolase-Deficient Mice

Styrene, which is widely used in manufacturing, is both acutely and chronically toxic to mice. Styrene is metabolized by cytochromes P-450 to the toxic metabolite styrene oxide, which is detoxified via hydrolysis with microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) playing a major role. The purpose of these studies was to characterize the importance of this pathway by determining the hepatotoxicity and pneumotoxicity of styrene in wild-type and mEH-deficient (mEH−/−) mice. While the mEH−/− mice metabolized styrene to styrene oxide at the same rate as the wild-type mice, as expected there was minimal metabolism of styrene oxide to glycol. mEH−/− mice were more susceptible to the lethal effects of styrene. Twenty-four hours following the administration of 200 mg/kg ip styrene, mice demonstrated a greater hepatotoxic response due to styrene, as measured by increased serum sorbitol dehydrogenase activity and greater pneumotoxicity as shown by increased protein levels, cell numbers, and lactate dehydrogenase activity in bronchioalveolar lavage fluid. mEH−/− mice were also more susceptible to styrene-induced oxidative stress, as indicated by greater decreases in hepatic glutathione levels 3 h after styrene. Styrene oxide at a dose of 150 mg/kg did not produce hepatotoxicity in either wild-type or mEH−/− mice. However, styrene oxide produced pneumotoxicity that was similar in the two strains. Thus, mEH plays an important role in the detoxification of styrene but not for exogenously administered styrene oxide.