Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rapid tryptophan depletion reverses phenelzine‐induced suppression of REM sleep

Treatment with the monoamine oxidase inhibitor phenelzine completely suppressed rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in five depressed patients. Hypothesizing that increased serotonergic neurotransmission eliminated REM sleep, we administered a tryptophan‐free amino acid drink (TFD) known to reduce plasma tryptophan and brain levels of serotonin. The TFD reversed the REM sleep suppression, while the control drink (TFD plus tryptophan) had virtually no effect on sleep. Neither TFD nor control drink affected mood, total sleep time, sleep efficiency or the all‐night electroencephalogram power spectra in non‐rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. We report the first non‐disruptive, double‐blind method for studying human subjects overnight with and without REM sleep. It opens up a novel strategy for investigating the functions of REM sleep, and the roles of serotonin and REM sleep in the regulation of NREM sleep and mood.
PLASMA NITRIC OXIDE IN POSTTRAUMA CRITICAL ILLNESS: A FUNCTION OF “SEPSIS” AND THE PHYSIOLOGIC STATE SEVERITY CLASSIFICATION QUANTIFYING THE PROBABILITY OF DEATH

The time course of nitric oxide (NO) production in posttrauma critical illness was monitored, and its relationship to posttrauma “sepsis/SIRS” and physiologic patterns was described. Eighty multiple trauma patients were studied (514 samples) during their course in the intensive care unit (Injury Severity Score 27.6; 36% deaths). Plasma NO was estimated from NO3+NO2 by the Griess test and compared with that of 10 healthy controls (HC). At each sample period, the patient was categorized as having bacteremic sepsis (BAC), sepsis syndrome (SS), or systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and classified by Physiologic State Severity Classification (PSSC) into normal stress response (A-State), metabolic insufficiency (B-State), or respiratory insufficiency (C2-State), each quantified by their physiologic “distance” from reference state of recovering trauma patients (R-State). A severity index (L2PDEATH), based on a logistic model of state distances from R-State, quantified probability of death. Deaths showed increased NO (p < .05) over survivors or HC by day 3 posttrauma. A fall in vascular tone in deaths was related to the increased NO (p < .0001). The level of NO was higher as sepsis worsened: BAC > SS > SIRS > HC (all simultaneous, p < .05). PSSC and L2PDEATH correlated with incidence > HC and level of NO. In conclusion, the severity of posttrauma critical illness was classified by PSSC and quantified by the L2PDEATH index. These reflect progressively increased NO levels and suggest worsening sepsis status. The reduced total peripheral resistance (TPR)-to-flow relationship (vascular tone) in deaths characteristic of the more severe septic PSSC states appeared related to the increased plasma NO.
Estimating the Effect of Income on Health and Mortality Using Lottery Prizes as an Exogenous Source of Variation in Income

A vast literature has established a strong positive relation between income and health status and a negative relation with mortality. This paper studies the effects of income on health and mortality, using only the part of income variation due to a truly exogenous factor: monetary lottery prizes of individuals. The findings are that higher income causally generates good health and that this effect is of a similar magnitude as when traditional estimation techniques are used. A 10 percent income increase improves health by about 4–5 percent of a standard deviation.
Parameters Estimation of the Actuator used in Haptic Interfaces: Comparison of two Identification Methods

In advanced motor control systems, an accurate knowledge of motor parameters is essential in order to achieve good performances. Some of these parameters, such as stator resistances, are sometimes given by constructors, but they vary according to the operating conditions. This paper presents and compares two parameter identification methods of an actuator used in haptic interfaces which, in this case, is a permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM). Using these methods, the electrical parameters of the PMSM can be determined during different operating conditions. Physical parameters estimation of a dynamic 4-parameter model is performed on the one hand, using an output error identification method based on a non linear programming algorithm and on the other hand, using an identification method based on least-squares techniques and inverse models
Symposium on ‘Nutrition and the elderly’ Protein-energy malnutrition in older subjects

The concept of old age is not a new one. Many of the ancient Greek philosophers lived long and full lives, e.g. Isocrates 98 years, Sophocles 91 years, Plat0 8 1 years. The bible refers to the extreme longevity of personages such as Methusaleh. What is new is the greying of populations as opposed to the successful ageing of a few individuals. By the year 2000, approximately two-thirds of the elderly in the world will live in developing countries, e.g. 300 million in China and 170 million in India. By the year 2030, the percentage of older individuals in the population of most developed nations will be approaching 20 %. Individuals over the age of 65 years are faced by a number of challenges that increase the chance of them developing protein-energy malnutrition. These challenges include difficulty in shopping (1 1 %), in preparing meals (7 %), inability to self-feed (27 %), poverty (15 %), social isolation (30 %), impaired mobility (87 %), visual deficits (8 %), dental problems (16 %), and difficulty in chewing (35 %). As will be further explored later in the present article (pp. 588-589), the development of protein-energy malnutrition is directly responsible for a number of disease processes and functional impairment in old age. Protein-nergy malnutrition is a major problem in older subjects. While estimates of its prevalence vary, it has been reported to be present to some degree in 15 % of community-dwelling older subjects (Morley et al. 1989). Severe protein-energy malnutrition occurs in 10-38 % of older outpatients (Miller et al. 1990; Wallace et al. 1995; Wilson et al. 1998), 5-12 % of homebound patients (Morley, 1997), 26-65 % of hospitalized patients (Linn & Jensen, 1984; Morley et aE. 1989) and 5-85 % of institutionalized older subjects (Sandman et al. 1987; Johnson et al. 1993; Silver et al. 1993; Morley & Silver, 1995). While proteinenergy malnutrition is extremely common in older subjects, its presence is rarely recognized by physicians, and even when recognized, it is even more rarely treated (Miller et al. 1990; Wilson et al. 1998). The physiological anorexia of ageing
Enhanced repair of extensive articular defects by insulin‐like growth factor‐I‐laden fibrin composites

Stem cells indigenous to the cancellous spaces of the bone bed in an acute injury provide an important source of pluripotent cells for cartilage repair. Insulin‐like growth factor‐I facilitates chondrogenesis of bone marrow‐derived stem cells in long‐term culture and may enhance chondrogenesis in healing cartilage lesions in vivo. This study examined the impact of insulin‐like growth factor‐I, gradually released from fibrin clots polymerized in situ, on the recruitable stem‐cell pool in a full‐thickness critical cartilage defect model. Twelve full‐thickness 15‐mm cartilage lesions in the femoropatellar articulations of six young mature horses were repaired by an injection of autogenous fibrin containing 25 μg of human recombinant insulin‐like growth factor‐I or, in control joints, fibrin without the growth factor. All horses were killed at 6 months, and cartilage repair tissue and surrounding cartilage were assessed by histology, histochemistry, types I and II collagen immunohistochemistry, types I and II collagen in situ hybridization, and matrix biochemical determinations. White tissue filled grafted and control lesions, with the growth factor‐treated defects being more completely filled and securely attached to the subchondral bone. A moderately improved chondrocyte population, more columnar cellular organization, and better attachment to the underlying bone were evident on histological evaluation of growth factor‐treated defects. Type‐II procollagen mRNA was abundantly present in the deeper half of the treated sections compared with moderate message expression in control tissues. Immunolocalization of type‐II collagen showed a preponderance of the collagen in growth factor‐treated lesions, confirming translation of type‐II message to protein. Composite histologic healing scores for treated defects were significantly improved over those for control defects. DNA content in the cartilage defects was similar in treated and control joints. Matrix proteoglycan content was similar in treated and control defects and lower in the defects than in the intact surrounding and remote cartilage of the treated and control joints. The proportion of type‐II collagen significantly increased in growth factor‐treated tissues. Fibrin polymers laden with insulin‐like growth factor‐I improved the histologic appearance and the proportion of type‐II collagen in healing, full‐thickness cartilage lesions. However, none of the biochemical or morphologic features were consistent with those of normal articular cartilage.
Precise determination of the Cooper-pair mass.

The ratio h/m' of Planck's constant to the observable Cooper-pair mass (approx.2m/sub e/) is determined directly using a rotating superconducting ring by measuring the London moment flux (2m'c/e/sup */). omega.S, where S is the area bounded by the ring, in units of the flux quantum (hc/e/sup */). The flux in the ring is zero for a set of rotation frequencies which are equally spaced by . delta nu. , and h/m' = 2S.delta nu. We have measured . delta nu. and S with a precision of 5 ppm and an accuracy of 21 ppm. Our result for niobium, (m'/2m/sub e/)/sub Nb/ = 1.000 084(21), disagrees with theoretical predictions of 0.999 992.
Teenage Communication in the Instant Messaging Era

Since the mid-1990s, teenagers have migrated from email and chat rooms to instant messaging (IM). We observed this change in data from 60 interviews with teens and their families conducted from 1996 to 2002 and a national survey of teenagers in 2002. We examined the content of conversations, communication partners, and conversation multitasking. While using IM, teens mainly talk to friends from daily life and rarely with those they met online. In terms of both partners and content, IM conversations are more like face-to-face visits than email exchanges. Teens engage in IM to be “with” friends. Conversations often consist of inconsequential small talk, but can offer opportunities for more substantial social support. Despite these similarities, teens report they enjoy IM conversations far less than they enjoy face-to-face visits and phone conversations. We offer some design recommendations focused on the integration of IM-like interactions with other online and real world communication.
A human derived SSADH coding variant is replacing the ancestral allele shared with primates

Background: A growing number of reports describe markers with high frequencies of the ancestral alleles in Africa, contrasting with high frequencies and possibly fixation of derived variants out of Africa. Such a pattern can be explained by either neutral or non-neutral processes. Aim: The study examined worldwide frequencies of two non-synonymous variants in NAD+-dependent succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH), in a search for possible signatures of natural selection favouring the derived alleles. Subjects and methods: The typing of 1574 subjects were compiled, representing 60 populations from all continents. SSADH haplotype frequencies were correlated across 52 populations to those of 260 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers deposited in the CEPH database and of markers reported to be under positive Darwinian selection. Results: In the world population, the c.538C variant is proceeding to replace the ancestral c.538T, shared with primates. The overall population differentiation is within the normal range. A significant correlation was also found between the frequencies of the derived alleles in SSADH and Microcephalin (MCPH1), which showed concerted changes worldwide and, at least in Asian populations, also on a restricted geographical scale. Conclusion: The analysis of robust correlations based on a large panel of populations is potentially able to identify clusters of genomic regions or genes showing co-evolution of the frequencies of derived alleles.
The legal and ethical framework governing Body Donation in EuropeA review of current practice and recommendations for good practice

Discussions at the inaugural meeting of a Trans-European Pedagogic Research Group for Anatomical Sciences highlighted the fact that there exist considerable variations in the legal and ethical frameworks throughout Europe concerning body bequests for anatomical examination. Such differences appear to reflect cultural and religious variations as well as different legal and constitutional frameworks. For example, there are different views concerning the “ownership” of cadavers and concerning the need (perceived by different societies and national politicians) for legislation specifically related to anatomical dissection. Furthermore, there are different views concerning the acceptability of using unclaimed bodies that have not given informed consent. Given that in Europe Eur J Anat, 12 (1): 1-24 (2008)
Filarial infection is resisted differentially by subjects having different blood group phenotypes

This study was aimed to elucidate the relationship between major blood group antigens (BGAs) and susceptibility or resistance to human lymphatic filariasis. A total of 492 human subjects, living in Raipur city of Chhattisgarh, endemic for bancroftian filariasis in Central India, were screened for the presence of Wuchereria bancrofti microfilariae and disease manifestations. The frequency of BGAs was tabulated as a function of the status of filariasis, namely normal (no infection), mf carrier (presence of microfilariae in blood), and elephantiasis (confirmed clinical manifestations). The comparison of ABO phenotype distributions among all the three groups clearly indicated that disease status has a significant relationship with the blood group attributes. The result of χ2 analysis of the frequencies of ABO phenotypes observed in microfilaraemic and elephantiasis groups (observed frequency vs. expected frequency computed based on the distribution of the normal population) revealed that there has been a significant alteration in the distribution of ABO phenotypes in microfilaraemic, but not in elephantiasis, group. The susceptibility to filarial infection was computed as a function of blood group phenotypes in the population. The susceptibility and conditional susceptibility for elephantiasis were the least among the subjects with AB phenotypes. The mechanism of association between filariasis and ABO antigens needs to be further explored to understand how the distribution of BGAs affects susceptibility/resistance to infection. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 23:186–191, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evaluation of thymopoiesis using T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs): differential correlation between adult and pediatric TRECs and naïve phenotypes.

To determine whether the thymus is still functional despite age-related involution, we measured a biomarker for thymopoiesis known as the T cell receptor excision circle (TREC) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 148 healthy children and from PBMCs, CD4(+), and CD8(+) cells of 32, 30, and 50 healthy adults, respectively. We demonstrate that during the first 5 years of life, thymic output is decreased (P 0.002) but not dramatically (r = -0. 282). Among adults aged 23-58, thymic output was inversely correlated with age, as measured from PBMCs (r = -0.628, P < 0.0005), CD4(+) (r = -0.530, P 0.003), and CD8(+) fractions (r = -0.385, P 0. 006). A strong correlation existed between pediatric PBMC TRECs and the expression of three naïve phenotypic markers (CD45RA(+)CD45RO(-), CD45RA(+)CD62L(+), and CD45RO(-)CD27(+)CD95(low)). Adult PBMC TRECs correlated only with the expression of CD45RA(+)CD45RO(-) (r = 0.459, P 0.012). Our data suggest that in adults CD45RA(+)CD45RO(-) may be enriched for TRECs and add to a growing body of evidence illustrating intact thymic function in adulthood.
Eclampsia in Enugu, Eastern Nigeria

A retrospective analysis of 83 cases of eclampsia managed at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital over a ten year period was carried out. Incidence of eclampsia was 1.7/ 1000 deliveries. Antepartum eclampsia constituted 84% of the cases managed. The incidence of eclampsia among unbooked cases was 14.3/1000 births and of these, the maternal mortality was 15.6% while the incidence of eclampsia for the booked patients was 1.1/1000 births of which the maternal mortality was 7.8%. Selection of high risk cases for hospital confinement, early referral of cases of eclampsia and careful use of drugs to control eclamptic fits are recommended to reduce morbidity and mortality from eclampsia.
Schistosomiasis and Impaired Response to Antiretroviral Therapy Among HIV-Infected Patients in Tanzania

Schistosomiasis affects over 230 million people worldwide, 90% of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa(1). Data suggests helminthic infections like schistosomiasis may hasten HIV progression in co-infected patients(2,3). Helminths induce chronic immune activation, shifting from a T-helper cell type 1 (Th1) to type 2 (Th2) immune response. Th2-lymphocytes down-regulate cytotoxic effects of CD8+ T-lymphocytes, leading to an altered cytokine profile with increased viral replication(4–7). Studies have shown that treating ascariasis or filariasis improves CD4+ T-cell counts (CD4 counts) and viral loads in HIV-infected patients(8, 9). Little research has explored the specific interaction between schistosomiasis and HIV, but one study yielded concerning results. Antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive HIV-infected patients with schistosome co-infection who were randomized to delayed anti-schistosome treatment with praziquantel after three months had larger increases in HIV RNA levels and greater declines in CD4 counts than patients treated immediately(10). Despite this possible interaction, schistosomiasis screening is not currently recommended for HIV-infected patients in many endemic countries, including Tanzania. Also, no study has yet assessed impact of schistosomiasis on ART response. We hypothesized that schistosome infection may adversely affect HIV-infected patients’ responses to ART. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to explore this issue at Bugando Medical Centre (BMC) near Lake Victoria in Tanzania, where schistosomiasis is hyper-endemic.
Effect of cyclosporin on lung diffusing capacity in renal transplant patients

A prospective lung function study pre- and postrenal transplantation was performed on 21 patients in order to evaluate whether cyclosporin decreased the lung diffusing capacity due to lung toxicity. Initial inclusion criteria were absence of respiratory symptoms and normal findings in both chest X-ray and pulmonary function tests. Participants had to be nonsmokers. We determined spirometry including lung volumes, arterial blood gases, carbon monoxide diffusing capacity by the single breath method (DLCOSB), and rate of CO uptake per unit of lung volume (KCO) before and 3, 6, and 12 months after transplantation. Immunosuppression consisted of prednisone and cyclosporin, maintaining total blood levels between 100 and 250 ng/ml. Spirometric and blood gases data remained within reference levels during the follow-up. Hemoglobin (Hb) pretransplant concentrations remained low, returning to their normal levels posttransplantation. Pretransplant DLCOSB levels were slightly decreased but fell within the therapeutic range after correction for Hb concentration, unlike the mean KCO levels which remained slightly diminished despite their correction. In post-transplant controls, the values obtained for both DLCOSB and KCO were significantly higher at the different post-transplant intervals (P<0.005) than pretransplantation but only when compared without Hb correction. No significant differences for DLCOSB were found when corrected values were compared, and an improvement in the KCO appeared to be significant at 12 months posttransplantation. Based on these findings, we feel that when serum levels are within the therapeutic range, cyclosporin fails to alter the respiratory function or the pulmonary diffusing capacity of the lung.
Upregulation of MicroRNA-210 Regulates Renal Angiogenesis Mediated by Activation of VEGF Signaling Pathway under Ischemia/Perfusion Injury in vivo and in vitro

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous, non-coding, small RNAs that regulate gene expression and function, but little is known about regulation of miRNAs in the kidneys under normal or pathologic conditions. Here, we sought to investigate the potential involvement of miRNAs in renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and angiogenesis and to define some of the miRNAs possibly associated with renal angiogenesis. Methods and Results: Male Balb/c mice were subjected to a standard renal I/R. CD31 immunostaining indicated a significant increase of microvessels in the ischemic region. VEGF and VEGFR2 expression were increased in renal I/R at both the mRNA and protein levels which were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. More importantly, 76 microRNAs exhibited more than 2-fold changes using Agilent microRNA microarray, which contains downregulation of 40 miRNAs and upregulation of 36 miRNAs. Upregulation of miR-210 was confirmed by qRT-PCR with prominent changes at 4 and 24 h after reperfusion. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-210 in HUVEC-12 cells enhances VEGF and VEGFR2 expression and promotes angiogenesis on Matrigel in vitro. Conclusion: These findings suggest miR-210 may be involved in targeting the VEGF signaling pathway to regulate angiogenesis after renal I/R injury, which provides novel insights into the angiogenesis mechanism of renal I/R injury.
Household Income, Travel Behavior, Location, and Accessibility

This paper analyzes the differences in travel behavior and location characteristics across different income groups in two cities in different parts of the world: Chile and China. Vehicle ownership rates, mode choices, trip rates and purposes, and travel times and distances are compared according to high-, middle-, and low-income terciles in Chengdu, China, and Santiago, Chile, with the use of recent household travel surveys. Household location characteristics are also compared, and different measures of accessibility are presented. Results suggest commonalities and differences and build a foundation on which future analytical models can be developed and more rigorous and comparable accessibility measures might be derived.