Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thoracoabdominal injuries in the elderly: 25 years of experience.

BACKGROUND The present study was conducted to determine the clinical characteristics and outcome of hospitalized elderly patients with thoracic and thoracoabdominal injuries. METHOD This is a longitudinal, nonblinded study using established standard of care of patients with penetrating and blunt chest trauma. From April 1972 to August 1997, 5,702 patients were hospitalized for chest injuries. Out of these patients, 171 (3%) were aged 65 or above. Of these patients, 96 (56%) had blunt trauma (group 1)--motor vehicle accident in 83 (86%) and falls in 13 (14%). The remaining 75 (44%) patients had penetrating injuries (group 2)--gunshot wounds in 47 (63%) and stab wounds in 28 (37%). RESULTS Of the blunt trauma patients, 45% (43/96), and 15% (11/75) of the penetrating trauma patients were managed by observation alone; the remainder required surgical procedures. The overall mortality was 10% (17/171), of which mortality among penetrating and blunt trauma to the chest were 12% (9/75) and 8% (8/96), respectively. Of eight deaths due to blunt trauma, six had multiple (four or more) rib fractures. There were no deaths among the 54 patients who were simply observed, and none of them required surgery at a later date. Complication rate among the survivors was 12.3%, with only 0.4% being infectious. CONCLUSIONS Mortality was highest among the elderly with penetrating chest trauma. Mortality was high because of cardiac and great vessel injuries in group 2, whereas multiple rib fractures and brain injuries were the higher cause of mortality in group-1 patients. Infectious complications were low among the survivors.
The Influence of Self-concept on Adherence to Recommended Health Regimens in Adults With Heart Failure

Background: Lifestyle behaviors are the largest contributors to health status. Healthy People 2010 objectives identify that a better understanding of the determinants of adherence to health regimens is needed. Psychological influences on adherence behaviors have not been fully explored in individuals with heart failure (HF). Objective: This study sought to gain understanding of the influence of self-concept on adherence to prescribed regimens in individuals with HF. Roy's Self-concept Mode Theory was used to examine the relationships between components of self-concept to recommended health regimens in individuals with HF. The study also examined the extent to which aspects of self-concept cognitive perception of health regimens might predict adherence to health regimens. Methods: A convenience sample of 97 adults diagnosed with HF was collected from 2 large HF clinics. Three instruments were pilot tested for validity and reliability. Alpha coefficients ranged from . 46 on the Adherence Questionnaire to . 84 on the Cognitive Perception of Cardiovascular Healthy Lifestyles instrument. Results: Overall subjects were more challenged than threatened by health regimens and reported high adherence to medications and diet. Inverse relationships were found between adherence and threat to body sensation, self-ideal, body sensation, and self-consistency. Overall threat to self-concept accounted for 12% of the variance in adherence. Threat to body image accounted for 14% of the variance in adherence. Positive relationships were found between adherence and challenge to body sensation, body image, self-consistency, self-ideal, and moral-ethical-spiritual self. Overall challenge to self-concept accounted for 13% of the variance in adherence. Challenge to moral-ethical-spiritual self accounted for 10.8% of the variance, and the combination of challenge moral-ethical-spiritual self and body image accounted for 14.5% of the variance in adherence. Conclusion: The efficacy of recommended treatment regimens depends on how well clients adhere to them. Nurses need to identify methods that support feelings of challenge to body sensation, body image, self-consistency, self-ideal, and moral-ethical-spiritual self and minimize threat to body sensation, self-ideal, body sensation, and self-consistency to enhance adherence to health regimens in individuals with HF.
Rumen Anaerobic Fungi of Cattle and Sheep

Plant fragments obtained from natural rumen digesta of fistulated cattle and sheep were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Various plant materials suspended in the rumen for different times were examined likewise. By 2 h large numbers of phycomycetous fungal zoospores were found attached to fibrous plant fragments, particularly vascular tissues. The subsequent development of these fungi resulted in production of thalli with extensive rhizoids and with sporangia up to 175 μm long. Scanning electron microscope examination of plant fragments randomly selected from natural rumen contents of both cattle and sheep demonstrated widespread colonization by large populations of these anaerobic fungi. Furthermore, all plant fragments suspended in nylon bags in the rumen were also extensively colonized. These findings demonstrate that plant fragments in the rumen are the sites of colonization and development by the anaerobic phycomycetous fungi. In addition, the results suggest that these fungi may form a significant part of the rumen microbiota in cattle and sheep fed on fibrous diets and suggest that they may be important in fiber digestion.
An extract of the oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus, increases catalase gene expression and reduces protein oxidation during aging in rats.

OBJECTIVE The objective of the present study was to address the effect of mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus on the catalase (CAT) gene expression and the protein carbonyls in liver and kidney of aged (24 months old) rats. METHODS Eighteen acclimated rats were divided into 3 groups of 6 each: group I, normal young (4 months old) rats; group II, normal aged (24 months old) untreated rats; group III, normal aged rats treated with mushroom P. ostreatus extract (200 mg/kg body weight administered intraperitoneally for 30 days). On the 31st day, rats were sacrificed by decapitation; the livers and kidneys were removed, washed free of blood, blotted dry and processed immediately. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and spectrophotometry were utilized for the analyses of CAT gene expression and protein carbonyl content in the tissues of livers and kidneys. RESULTS In aged rats that had been treated with the extract of P. ostreatus (group III), the level of the transcript of CAT gene was found to be higher than that in liver (P<0.01) and kidney (P<0.05) of aged untreated (group II) rats, respectively. Treatment of aged rats with P. ostreatus extract (group III) resulted in protein carbonyl levels being significantly lower in liver (P<0.05) and kidney (P<0.01) than those observed in aged untreated (group II) rats. CONCLUSION These results suggest that an extract of P. ostreatus can enhance the antioxidant enzyme (CAT) gene expression and could decrease the incidence of free radical-induced protein oxidation in aged rats, thereby protecting the occurrence of age-associated disorders that involve free radicals.
Stress resistance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is strongly correlated with assembly of a novel type of multiubiquitin chain

The covalent attachment of ubiquitin (Ub) to short-lived or damaged proteins is believed to be the signal that initiates their selective degradation. In several cases, it has been shown that the proteolytic signal takes the form of a multi-Ub chain in which successive Ub molecules are linked tandemly at lysine 48 (K-48). Here we show that Ub molecules can be linked together in vivo at two other lysine positions, lysine 29 (K-29) and lysine 63 (K-63). The formation of these alternative linkages is strongly dependent on the presence of the stress-related Ub conjugating enzymes UBC4 and UBC5. Furthermore, expression of Ub carrying a K-63 to arginine 63 substitution in a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that is missing the poly-Ub gene, UBI4, fails to compensate for the stress defects associated with these cells. Taken together, these results suggest that the formation of multi-Ub chains involving K-63 linkages plays an important role in the yeast stress response. In broader terms, these results also suggest that Ub is a versatile signal in which different Ub chain configurations are used for different functions.
The effect of physical exercise on arterial stiffness parameters in young sportsmen

Objective This study aimed to determine the eff ect of single-bout exercise on aortic stiff ness parameters in young basketball players. Method and results A total of 108 young male subjects (mean age 14.2 ± 3.4 years) were enrolled into the study. Simultaneous measurement of aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao) and augmentation index (AIxao) were performed with the oscillometric, occlusive device. Echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function at rest were also measured in sportsmen. We did not fi nd signifi cant diff erences of restin PWVao in comparison with young sportsmen (S) and age-matched healthy volunteers (V): 5.82 ± 0.14 m/s vs 5.83 ± 0.12 m/s for S and V groups, respectively. The values of PWVao measured after dynamic exercise, isometric exercise, and rest were 8.0 ± 0.5 m/s, 5.86 ± 0.1 m/s and 5.82 ± 0.1 m/s, respectively. We confi rmed that values after dynamic exercise are signifi cantly diff erent from those after isometric exercise ( P <0.01) and those after rest ( P <0.01). The AIxao values exhibited a considerable, but statistically non-signifi cant, decrease during dynamic exercise in the three groups (11.7 ± 7% vs 3.8 ± 3% vs- 0.9 ± 0.9% for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively) Conclusion We applied a feasible, clinically useful method which allowed us to measure changes in aortic PWV and AIx during acute, single-bout exercise on the basketball court in young sportsmen.
Definition and drivers of acute traumatic coagulopathy: clinical and experimental investigations

Summary. Background: Acute traumatic coagulopathy (ATC) is an impairment of hemostasis that occurs early after injury and is associated with a 4‐fold higher mortality, increased transfusion requirements and organ failure. Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to develop a clinically relevant definition of ATC and understand the etiology of this endogenous coagulopathy. Patients/methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of trauma patients admitted to five international trauma centers and corroborated our findings in a novel rat model of ATC. Coagulation status on emergency department arrival was correlated with trauma and shock severity, mortality and transfusion requirements. 3646 complete records were available for analysis. Results: Patients arriving with a prothrombin time ratio (PTr) > 1.2 had significantly higher mortality and transfusion requirements than patients with a normal PTr (mortality: 22.7% vs. 7.0%; P < 0.001. Packed red blood cells: 3.5 vs. 1.2 units; P < 0.001. Fresh frozen plasma: 2.1 vs. 0.8 units; P < 0.001). The severity of ATC correlated strongly with the combined degree of injury and shock. The rat model controlled for exogenously induced coagulopathy and mirrored the clinical findings. Significant coagulopathy developed only in animals subjected to both trauma and hemorrhagic shock (PTr: 1.30. APTTr: 1.36; both P < 0.001 compared with sham controls). Conclusions: ATC develops endogenously in response to a combination of tissue damage and shock. It is associated with increased mortality and transfusion requirements in a dose‐dependent manner. When defined by standard clotting times, a PTr > 1.2 should be adopted as a clinically relevant definition of ATC.
Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase Mediates Halothane-induced Cerebral Microvascular Dilation

Background The causes of volatile anesthetic-induced cerebral vasodilation include direct effects on smooth muscle and indirect effects via changes in metabolic rate and release of mediators from vascular endothelium and brain parenchyma. The role of nitric oxide and the relative importance of neuronal and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (nNOS and eNOS, respectively) are unclear. Methods Rat brain slices were superfused with oxygenated artificial cerebrospinal fluid. Hippocampal arteriolar diameters were measured using computerized videomicrometry. Vessels were preconstricted with prostaglandin F2&agr; (PGF2&agr;; halothane group) or pretreated with 7-nitroindazole sodium (7-NINA, specific nNOS inhibitor, 7-NINA + halothane group) or N-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME; nonselective NOS inhibitor, L-NAME + halothane group) and subsequently given PGF2&agr; to achieve the same total preconstriction as in the halothane group. Increasing concentrations of halothane were administered and vasodilation was calculated as a percentage of preconstriction. Results Halothane caused significant, dose-dependent dilation of hippocampal microvessels (halothane group). Inhibition of nNOS by 7-NINA or nNOS + eNOS by L-NAME similarly attenuated halothane-induced dilation at 0.6, 1.6, and 2.6% halothane. The dilation (mean ± SEM) at 1.6% halothane was 104 ± 10%, 65 ± 6%, and 51 ± 9% in the halothane, 7-NINA + halothane and L-NAME + halothane groups, respectively. The specificity of 7-NINA was confirmed by showing that acetylcholine-induced dilation was not inhibited by 7-NINA but was converted to constriction by L-NAME. Conclusions At clinically relevant concentrations, halothane potently dilates intracerebral arterioles. This dilation is mediated, in part, by neuronally derived nitric oxide. Endothelial NOS does not play a major role in halothane-induced dilation of hippocampal microvessels.
Post‐stroke pain case study: clinical characteristics, therapeutic options and long‐term follow‐up

Central post‐stroke pain (CPSP) is a syndrome characterized by sensory disturbances and neuropathic pain. In 40%−60% of CPSP patients, the onset of central pain following a stroke occurs more than 1 month after the stroke, creating a source of diagnostic uncertainty or significant delay in treatment since healthcare providers familiar with CPSP may no longer be caring for the patient when the symptoms occur. In addition to chronic pain, the presence of somatosensory abnormalities is the most important diagnostic corollary of CPSP. Neuropathic or central pain has been estimated to occur in up to 8% of patients after a stroke, and about 18% of stroke patients with a somatosensory disturbance will develop CPSP. Although largely a matter of conjecture, it is generally agreed that damage to spinothalamic sensory pathways plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of CPSP. A comprehensive examination of the patient for sensory deficits is essential before treatment can be initiated. Functional disturbances such as depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances are significant comorbid conditions associated with CPSP; the physician should incorporate an assessment of these potential comorbidities into the examination. Treatment options for CPSP are limited; at present, amitriptyline is the drug of first choice. Other drugs including antidepressants, anticonvulsants, antiarrhythmics, opioids and N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate antagonists may provide relief for some patients who do not respond to amitriptyline. Included in this review is a case study outlining the challenges of managing the patient with CPSP.
Genetic and nutritional effects on male traits and reproductive performance in Tribolium flour beetles

In Tribolium flour beetles and other organisms, individuals migrate between heterogeneous environments where they often encounter markedly different nutritional conditions. Under these circumstances, theory suggests that genotype‐by‐environment interactions (GEI) may be important in facilitating adaptation to new environments and maintaining genetic variation for male traits subject to directional selection. Here, we used a nested half‐sib breeding design with Tribolium castaneum to partition the separate and joint effects of male genotype and nutritional environment on phenotypic variation in a comprehensive suite of life‐history traits, reproductive performance measures across three sequential sexual selection episodes, and fitness. When male genotypes were tested across three nutritional environments, considerable phenotypic plasticity was found for male mating and insemination success, longevity and traits related to larval development. Our results also revealed significant additive genetic variation for male mating rate, sperm offence ability (P2), longevity and total fitness and for several traits reflecting both larval and adult resource use. In addition, we found evidence supporting GEI for sperm defence ability (P1), adult longevity and larval development; thus, no single male genotype outperforms others in every nutritional environment. These results provide insight into the potential roles of phenotypic plasticity and GEI in facilitating Tribolium adaptation to new environments in ecological and evolutionary time.
Human C-Reactive Protein Is Protective against Fatal Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Infection in Transgenic Mice

ABSTRACT C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase protein with a well-known association with infection and other inflammatory conditions. We have shown that expression of human CRP by CRP transgenic (CRPtg) mice is protective against lethal infection byStreptococcus pneumoniae, an effect likely mediated by CRP's ability to bind to this gram-positive pathogen. In the present study we tested whether CRPtg mice are resistant to infection withSalmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, a gram-negative pathogen that causes the murine equivalent of typhoid fever. CRPtg mice experimentally infected with a virulent Typhimurium strain lived longer and had significantly lower mortality than their non-tg littermates. The greater resistance of CRPtg mice could be attributed to significantly increased early (0 to 4 h) blood clearance of salmonellae and significantly decreased numbers of bacteria in the liver and spleen on day 7 postinfection. In addition, 14 days after infection with an avirulent Salmonella strain, the serum titer of anti-Salmonella immunoglobulin G antibodies was higher in CRPtg than non-tg mice. This study provides unequivocal evidence that CRP plays an important role in vivo in host defense against salmonellae during the early stages of infection. In addition, as the beneficial effect of CRP includes enhancement of the host's humoral immune response, CRP may also contribute indirectly to host defense during later stages of infection.
Functional reorganization of sensory pathways in the rat spinal dorsal horn following peripheral nerve injury

1 Functional reorganization of sensory pathways in the rat spinal dorsal horn following sciatic nerve transection was examined using spinal cord slices with an attached dorsal root. Slices were obtained from animals whose sciatic nerve had been transected 2‐4 weeks previously and compared to sham‐operated controls. 2 Whole‐cell recordings from substantia gelatinosa neurones in sham‐operated rats, to which nociceptive information was preferentially transmitted, revealed that dorsal root stimulation sufficient to activate Aδ afferent fibres evoked a mono‐ and/or polysynaptic EPSC in 111 of 131 (≈85 %) neurones. This is in contrast to the response following Aβ fibre stimulation, where monosynaptic EPSCs were observed in 2 of 131 (≈2 %) neurones and polysynaptic EPSCs were observed in 18 of 131 (≈14 %) neurones. 3 In sciatic nerve‐transected rats, however, a polysynaptic EPSC following stimulation of Aβ afferents was elicited in 30 of 37 (81 %) neurones and a monosynaptic EPSC evoked by Aβ afferent stimulation was detected in a subset of neurones (4 of 37, ≈11 %). 4 These observations suggest that, following sciatic nerve transection, large myelinated Aβ afferent fibres establish synaptic contact with interneurones and transmit innocuous information to substantia gelatinosa. This functional reorganization of the sensory circuitry may constitute an underlying mechanism, at least in part, for sensory abnormalities following peripheral nerve injuries.
Finasteride, 1 mg daily administration on male androgenetic alopecia in different age groups: 10‐year follow‐up

Finasteride 1 mg is indicated for the treatment of men with androgenetic alopecia (AGA). However, more than 5 years efficacy and safety has not been previously reported. To assess the efficacy over 10 years in different age groups of men with AGA. 118 men, between 20 and 61 years, with AGA receiving finasteride (1 mg/day), were enrolled in this uncontrolled study. Efficacy evaluation was assessed with standardized global photographs at T0,T1,T2,T5,T10. Statistical analysis was made using frequency tables and evaluating the chi‐square index with its p‐value. Better improvements are observed in patients older than 30 years (42.8% aged between 20 and 30 years did not improve also after 10 years) or with higher AGA grades (58.9% for AGA grade IV and 45.4% for AGA grade V had the first improvement just after 1 year). In 21% of cases, the treatment continuation beyond 5 years provided better results. Side effects were referred by 6% of the patients; nevertheless, some of them went on with treatment because of the great results. In our opinion, the result after the first year can help in predicting the effectiveness of the treatment. Its efficacy was not reduced as time goes on; in fact, a big proportion of subjects unchanged after 1 year, improved later on, maintaining a positive trend.
Endoscopic Versus Microscopic Approach in Pituitary Surgery

AbstractThe objective of this study is to compare the efficacy and complications of endoscopic and microscopic transsphenoidal surgery in the treatment of pituitary adenomas. A total of 105 follow-up cases including 60 in endoscopic surgery and 45 in microscopic surgery were treated in our hospital between January 2012 and November 2014. The endoscopic approach had a higher rate of gross tumor removal (81.7% versus 62.2%, P < 0.05) as well as a lower rate of postoperative complications (18.3% versus 35.6%, P < 0.05) than that in the microscopic group. There was no significant difference in the rates of visual improvement and cerebrospinal fluid leak between endoscopic group and microscopic group (P > 0.05). The length of the operation was longer (175 ± 25 minutes versus 110 ± 17 minutes, P < 0.05) but the postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter (5.1 ± 0.7 versus 7.8 ± 0.8 days, P < 0.05) for the endoscopic surgery group compared with microscopic surgery group. Endoscopic approach provides a wide surgical field and broad lateral vision making easier distinction of tumor tissue. The results of this study support the safety and short-term efficacy of endoscopic pituitary surgery.