Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy on Pituitary Hormone Secretion and Hormone Replacement Therapies in GHD Adults

Objective: We tested the impact of commencement of GH replacement therapy in GH-deficient (GHD) adults on the circulating levels of other anterior pituitary and peripheral hormones and the need for re-evaluation of other hormone replacement therapies, especially the need for dose changes. Methods: 22 GHD patients were investigated in a double-blind randomized study and 90 GHD patients in an open study at baseline and after 6 and 12 months of GH replacement therapy. Results: In the placebo-controlled trial, the FT3 levels increased after 6 months in the GH-treated group, and in the open study the FT3 levels tended to increase. Other hormone concentrations did not change in either part of the study. Four patients required an increase in thyroxine dose, while 2 patients needed dose reduction. One originally euthyroid patient required thyroxine replacement. Two patients with originally conserved pituitary-adrenal function developed ACTH insufficiency. The hydrocortisone dose was increased in 1 and decreased in 1 of the 66 patients with secondary hypocortisolism. None of the females required any adjustment of sex hormone replacement therapy. Two of 37 males needed dose increase of testosterone, while 1 needed dose reduction. Conclusion: GH replacement therapy required dose adjustments regarding other hormone replacement therapies in 12.2% (n = 11), while initiation of new hormone replacement was performed in 3.3% (n = 3) of the 90 patients during the 1-year follow-up. Monitoring of pituitary hormone axes is advisable after commencement of GH replacement therapy, since changes of hormone replacement therapy was observed in a small but clinically significant number of patients.
Rivastigmine for the Treatment of Dementia and Visual Hallucinations Associated with Parkinson's Disease: A Case Series

Summary Parkinson's disease patients may suffer from cognitive impairment and behavioural problems such as apathy, personality changes, speech disturbances and visual hallucinations (Parkinson's disease dementia). However, there is currently no recommended treatment for Parkinson's disease dementia and antipsychotic agents can worsen extrapyramidal symptoms, making them unsuitable for patients with this condition. The observation that patients with Parkinson's disease dementia have extensive cholinergic deficits led to the hypothesis that cholinesterase inhibitors may provide benefits for patients with this condition. Here, we present a case series of patients with Parkinson's disease and dementia who we treated with rivastigmine, a dual inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) that shows brain region-selectivity. The introduction of rivastigmine led to improvements in cognitive and functional abilities, as well as the resolution of behavioural problems and visual hallucinations. Rivastigmine was well tolerated by our patients when the dose was escalated slowly, including one patient who had previously experienced severe side-effects with the AChE-selective inhibitor donepezil. Despite the large number and range of concomitant medications being received by the patients, no side-effects thought to be related to drug-drug interactions were reported. A large, placebo-controlled study is warranted to ascertain the full clinical profile of rivastigmine in Parkinson's disease dementia.
Predictive factors for recurrence of cryptoglandular fistulae characterized by preoperative three‐dimensional endoanal ultrasound

Precise information regarding the location of an anal fistula and its relationship to adjacent structures is necessary for selecting the best surgical strategy. Retrospective and cross‐sectional studies were performed to determine predictive factors for recurrence of anal fistula from preoperative examination by three‐dimensional endoanal ultrasound (3D‐EAUS).
Irritant hand dermatitis in health care workers.

BACKGROUND Health care workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of irritant contact dermatitis due to frequent hand washing and use of alcohol gel. This has increased the incidence of occupational skin diseases. AIMS To evaluate hand dermatitis in HCWs in our hospital by means of a survey which also examined trends of exposure and the utility of patch testing. METHODS HCWs diagnosed with hand dermatitis in our contact dermatitis clinic from January 2011 to July 2012 were included. Information was collected retrospectively from medical notes, computer records and the database of the British Cutaneous Allergy Society. RESULTS A total of 69 HCWs were diagnosed with hand dermatitis, with a prevalence of ~4%. The majority were female and the clinical areas in which they worked were diverse. About 98% (68) had irritant contact dermatitis, and hand washing was the commonest cause of symptoms. About 75% (51) had irritant dermatitis exclusively. Patch test was positive in 42% with the commonest reaction to nickel, followed by formaldehyde. Associated atopy was found in less than half of the cases. CONCLUSIONS Irritant hand dermatitis is prevalent in HCWs in this setting. Patch testing is useful to identify any additional allergic element in such cases.
Long-term survival after ICU treatment.

BACKGROUND The aim of this paper was to study long-term survival in patients treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and who survived to hospital discharge. METHODS This was a single-center retrospective cohort study of patients admitted to a mixed intensivist-led 10 bed ICU in a teaching hospital between 2004 and 2009 and discharged alive from the hospital with complete follow-up until January 1, 2011. RESULTS A total of 3477 individual patients were admitted to the ICU, 491 (14.1%) of whom died in the hospital while 2986 survived to hospital discharge. In the first year after discharge 436 out of 2986 (14.6%) patients died. Mortality after hospital discharge was highest in the first three months. For patients discharged alive from the hospital the risk of dying during the first year increased significantly with age, APACHE II score at admission and being discharged to a place other than home. Sepsis on ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, renal replacement therapy during ICU treatment or admission type had no effect on one-year mortality rate. CONCLUSION Patients who survive ICU treatment have a high risk of dying during the next year. This risk is almost as great the risk of dying during ICU and hospital treatment and increases with age and illness severity on admission to the ICU.
Pivotal phase III trial of two dose levels of denileukin diftitox for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

PURPOSE The objective of this phase III study was to determine the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of denileukin diftitox (DAB389IL-2, Ontak [Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc, San Diego, CA]) in patients with stage Ib to IVa cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) who have previously received other therapeutic interventions. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with biopsy-proven CTCL that expressed CD25 on > or = 20% of lymphocytes were assigned to one of two dose levels (9 or 18 microg/kg/d) of denileukin diftitox administered 5 consecutive days every 3 weeks for up to 8 cycles. Patients were monitored for toxicity and clinical efficacy, the latter assessed by changes in disease burden and quality of life measurements. Antibody levels of antidenileukin diftitox and anti-interleukin-2 and serum concentrations of denileukin diftitox were also measured. RESULTS Overall, 30% of the 71 patients with CTCL treated with denileukin diftitox had an objective response (20% partial response; 10% complete response). The response rate and duration of response based on the time of the first dose of study drug for all responders (median of 6.9 months with a range of 2.7 to more than 46.1 months) were not statistically different between the two doses. Adverse events consisted of flu-like symptoms (fever/chills, nausea/vomiting, and myalgias/arthralgias), acute infusion-related events (hypotension, dyspnea, chest pain, and back pain), and a vascular leak syndrome (hypotension, hypoalbuminemia, edema). In addition, 61% of the patients experienced transient elevations of hepatic transaminase levels with 17% grade 3 or 4. Hypoalbuminemia occurred in 79%, including 15% with grade 3 or 4 changes. Tolerability at 9 and 18 microg/kg/d was similar, and there was no evidence of cumulative toxicity. CONCLUSION Denileukin diftitox has been shown to be a useful and important agent in the treatment of patients whose CTCL is persistent or recurrent despite other therapeutic interventions.
Intrathecal nalbuphine as an adjuvant to subarachnoid block: What is the most effective dose?

Background: Nalbuphine has been used intrathecally as an adjuvant in previous studies, but none clearly state the most effective dose of nalbuphine. The purpose of our study was to establish the effectiveness of intrathecal nalbuphine as an adjuvant, compare three different doses and determine the optimum dose with prolonged analgesic effect and minimal side-effects. Materials and Methods: In this prospective, randomized, double-blinded, controlled study, 100 ASA I and II patients undergoing lower limb orthopedic surgery under subarachnoid block (SAB), were randomly allocated to four groups: A, B, C and D, to receive 0.5 ml normal saline (NS) or 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 mg nalbuphine made up to 0.5 ml with NS added to 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine 12.5 mg (total volume 3 ml), respectively. The onset of sensory and motor blockade, two-segment regression time of sensory blockade, duration of motor blockade and analgesia, visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score and side-effects were compared between the groups. Results: Two-segment regression time of sensory blockade and duration of effective analgesia was prolonged in groups C (0.4 mg nalbuphine) and D (0.8 mg nalbuphine) (P<0.05), and the incidence of side-effects was significantly higher in group D (P<0.05) compared with the other groups. Conclusion: Nalbuphine used intrathecally is a useful adjuvant in SAB and, in a dose of 0.4 mg, prolongs postoperative analgesia without increased side-effects.
Serum immunoglobulin G antibody subclass responses to respiratory syncytial virus F and G glycoproteins after primary infection

Because the immunoglobulin G (IgG) response to carbohydrate antigens is typically from the IgG2 subclass and the IgG response to protein antigens is typically from the IgG1 and sometimes the IgG3 subclass, two respiratory syncytial virus glycoproteins, F and G, which differ substantially in the amount of glycosylation, were used as antigens in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine IgG subclass responses in 20 infants and young children with naturally acquired respiratory syncytial virus infection. Both glycoproteins elicited primarily IgG1 and IgG3 responses, indicating that the protein moieties of the glycoproteins may be immunodominant in this age group.
Assessment of Bioactivity of Indian Medicinal Plants Using Brine Shrimp (Artemia salina) Lethality Assay

Medicinal plants constitute an important component of flora and are widely distrib- uted in India. The pharmacological evaluation of substances from plants is an established method for the identification of lead compounds which can leads to the development of novel and safe medicinal agents. Based on the ethnopharmacological literature, several species of medicinal plants used in traditional medicine in India were collected. In the present study, aqueous extracts of these medicinal plants were screened for their cytotoxicity using brine shrimp lethality test. Out of the 120 plants tested, Pistacia lentiscus exhibited potent brine shrimp lethality with LC50 2. 5μg . Aristolochia indica (Aristolochiaceae), Boswellia serrata (Burseraceae), Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgoaceae), Garcinia cambogia (Clusiaceae), and Semecarpus anacardium (Anacardiaceae) have also showed significant cytotoxicity with LC50 13, 18, 21, 22, and 29. 5μg respectively. The present study supports that brine shrimp bioassay is simple reliable and convenient method for assessment of bioactivity of medicinal plants and lends support for their use in traditional medi- cine.
Propofol attenuates myocardial lipid peroxidation during coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

BACKGROUND Propofol can scavenge free radicals because it has a chemical structure similar to antioxidants. METHODS We examined if free radical scavenging occurs with propofol during CABG operations. We studied 24 patients undergoing CABG surgery for triple vessel disease, randomized into two groups. After induction of anaesthesia with fentanyl 10 micrograms kg-1 and midazolam 0.1 mg kg-1, patients in the fentanyl group (n = 14) received fentanyl infusion 10-30 micrograms kg-1 h-1 and patients in the propofol group (n = 10) received propofol infusion 3-6 mg kg-1 h-1 for maintenance of anaesthesia. Atrial tissue biopsies were taken during cannulation for bypass, 45 min after cross-clamp insertion, 5 min after unclamping, and in the decannulation period. Lipid peroxidation was assessed by measurement of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the atrial tissue samples. RESULTS Lipid peroxidation in the propofol group was less than in the fentanyl group (P < 0.05) in all sampling periods. Lipid peroxidation in the fentanyl group increased significantly during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) (P < 0.05), but no increase was found in the propofol group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION In clinical doses, propofol strongly attenuates lipid peroxidation during CABG surgery.
The dependence of binocular contrast sensitivities on binocular single vision in normal and amblyopic human subjects

We have measured monocular and binocular contrast sensitivities in response to medium to high spatial frequencies of vertical sinusoidal grating patterns in normal subjects, anisometropic amblyopes, strabismic amblyopes and non‐amblyopic esotropes. On binocular viewing, contrast sensitivities were slightly but significantly increased in normal subjects, markedly increased in anisometropes and esotropes with anomalous binocular single vision (BSV) and significantly reduced in esotropes and exotropes without BSV. Application of a prismatic correction to the strabismic eye in order to achieve bifoveal stimulation resulted in a significant reduction in contrast sensitivity in esotropes with and without anomalous BSV, in exotropes and in non‐amblyopic esotropes. Control experiments in normal subjects with monocular viewing showed that degradative effects of the prism occurred only with high prism powers and at high spatial frequencies, thus establishing that the reduced contrast sensitivities were the consequence of bifoveal stimulation rather than optical degradation. Displacement of the image of the grating pattern by 2 deg in normal subjects and anisometropes by a dichoptic method to simulate a small angle esotropia had no effect on the contrast sensitivities recorded through the companion eye. By contrast, esotropes showed similar reductions in contrast sensitivity to those obtained with the prism experiments, confirming a fundamental difference between subjects with normal and abnormal ocular alignments. The results have thus established a suppressive action of the fovea of the amblyopic eye acting on the companion, non‐amblyopic eye and indicate that correction of ocular misalignments in adult esotropes may be disadvantageous to binocular visual performance.
Continuous separation of microparticles by size with Direct current‐dielectrophoresis

Direct current‐dielectrophoresis (DC‐DEP), the induced motion of the dielectric particles in a spatially nonuniform DC electric field, is demonstrated to be a highly efficient method to separate the microparticles by size. The locally nonuniform electric field is generated by an insulating block fabricated inside a polydimethylsiloxane microchannel. The particle experiences a negative DEP (accordingly a repulsive force) at the corners of the block, where the local electric‐field strength is the strongest. Thus, the particle deviates from the streamline and the degree of deviation is dependent on the DEP force (i.e., the particle size). Combined with the electrokinetic flow, mixed polystyrene particles of a few micrometers difference in diameter can be continuously separated into distinct reservoirs. For separating target particles of a specific size, it is required to simply adjust the voltage outputs of the electrodes. A numerical model based on the Lagrangian tracking method is developed to simulate the particle motion and the results showed a reasonable agreement with the experimental data.
Cell lineages in hematopoietic neoplasia studied with glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase cell markers

Hematologic stem cells pluripotent for lymphoid and myelogenous cells have not been identified directly in humans. However, several indirect approaches have been used to study this question. For example, the existence of a progenitor pluripotent for lymphoid as well as myeloid cells is suggested by the finding of both cell types in individual, presumably clonal, colonies grown in vitro from human marrow (Messner et al., 1981). The indirect method used in the work reviewed here is based upon study of hematologic neoplasms arising in females whose X-chromosome in-activation mosaicism is delineated with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (GGPD) markers. Since the G6PD locus is on the X chromosome and undergoes inactivation, only one of the two G6PD genes is active in somatic cells of females. Thus, women with the usual G6PD gene (GdB) on one X chromosome and the common variant GdA on the other X have two populations of cells, one producing A-type G6PD and the other B-type G6PD. The two enzymes can easily be distinguished from one another by starch-gel or cellulose-acetate electrophoresis. The presence of G6PD-marked cellular mo-saicism allows studies of such questions as
Comparative experimental study of dielectric strength of oil-cellulose insulation for mineral and vegetable-based oils

In this paper the results of experimental investigation on breakdown strength under AC and BIL voltage of impregnated cellulose elements in combination with oil gaps are presented. Within investigated two models three different types of breakdowns are generated: through bulk oil gap, over oil-pressboard interface (creep breakdown) and puncture breakdowns of paper insulation. In each experiment mineral oil insulation system was compared with vegetable-based oil (VBO) system. It is observed that for used composite models these two oils differ not only in breakdown voltages but also in breakdown types.
Reflections about the functional potential of legume proteins. A review.

The term "functional potential" was introduced to better approach to the understanding of the relationships between the structure and the functional properties of food proteins. Although in practice the complex of structural features of a protein contributes to its functionality, it is very useful to regard the functional potential of the protein surface on the one side and to look on special effects of protein conformation (role of compact or unfolded state) on the functionality on the other side. This point of view may help to design the best strategy of modification of the protein structure and functionality. The special situation of the oligomeric legume storage protein, i.e. legumin-like 11 S globulins and vicilin-like 7 S globulin, and the structural and functional modification of 11 S globulin by limited tryptic hydrolysis and by acylation are discussed in this paper.
Reaction time and anticipation time: effects of development.

Abstract The developmental nature of reaction time (RT) and anticipation timing (AT) performance, as well as the relationship between them, was investigated using 15 male and 15 female subjects at each of five age levels—7, 9, 11, 13, and 20 yrs. Each subject was given 40 trials for both RT and AT performance with task order counterbalanced. Results indicated that as age increased RT decreased, with males having more rapid RT than females. The two younger age groups differed from the three older groups on AT performance. RT was significantly correlated with AT (|CE| measure) for the 7, 9, and 11 yr old males but not in any other age by gender condition. Apparently neither young males nor young females have a good motor plan in memory to control AT performance. However, the more rapid RT (and thus better response initiation) of the males allows better AT performance at the younger ages. Beginning about 10–11 yrs of age, better motor plans are developed in children's memory system, leading to less reliance .
Factors Affecting the Production of Candicidin

Factors affecting candicidin synthesis and mycelial growth of Streptomyces griseus IMRU 3570 were studied. Inorganic phosphate was found to inhibit candicidin synthesis but to stimulate mycelial growth. Zinc, iron, and magnesium ions stimulated candicidin synthesis at relatively high concentrations in a complex medium but not in a synthetic medium. No other factors studied, such as temperature, oxygen absorption rate, and sugar concentration, were found to differentially affect antibiotic synthesis and mycelial growth. Optimum concentration of inorganic phosphate for candicidin synthesis in a chemically defined medium was found to be between 5 × 10−5 and 5 × 10−4 M. The culture in idiophase stage can be reverted to typical trophophase growth by the addition of inorganic phosphate, suggesting the controlling role of inorganic phosphate in repression and derepression of secondary metabolic and primary metabolic activity of the culture. With a soya peptone-glucose medium, the maximum rate of candicidin production could be maintained and extended for a considerable length of time by controlling the culture pH at 8.0, using glucose to adjust the pH during the later stages of a batch fermentation. Carrying out fermentations in this way has given candicidin yields up to 4 g/liter.
Alcohol and/or other drug use among adult non-occupant motor vehicle crash victims.

AIMS To identify the frequency of current or lifetime history of alcohol and/or other drug (AOD) use among the full range (admitted and discharged) of injured bicyclists and pedestrians involved in motor vehicle crashes. METHODS In a prospective study of non-occupant motor vehicle crash (NOMVC) victims >or=18 years over a 29-month period, blood was obtained for alcohol and drug testing. Current alcohol abuse/alcohol dependence (AA/AD) or drug abuse/drug dependence (DA/DD) was based on the Diagnostic Interview Survey. RESULTS In all, there were 108 NOMVC victims. Eleven per cent were alcohol (+), 7% drug (+), and 3% both. Sixteen per cent were AA/AD (+), 2.7% DA/DD (+), and 1.4% both. CONCLUSIONS A substantial portion of patients with NOMVC injuries tested AOD (+) and had a current or lifetime substance abuse (AA/AD; DA/DD) diagnosis.