Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antibiotics for the prevention of febrile neutropenia

Purpose of reviewFebrile neutropenia causes significant morbidity and mortality in patients receiving antineoplastic chemotherapy. Antibiotic prophylaxis reduces the incidence of fever during chemotherapy, but its routine use remains controversial for patients at low risk of neutropenic infection. This article reviews recent research to clarify the issue. Recent findingsRandomized controlled trials and meta-analyses demonstrate that antibiotic prophylaxis reduces the incidence of febrile neutropenia and infection-related mortality both in patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy and in those receiving moderately myelosuppressive chemotherapy for solid tumours. The evidence that antibiotic prophylaxis results in adverse patient outcomes, through colonization or infection with resistant microorganisms is limited and unconvincing. Retrospective reanalysis of trial data indicates that for patients on moderately myelosuppressive out-patient chemotherapy, the greatest risk of infection and the greatest prophylactic benefit is on the first cycle. SummaryCurrent guidelines recommend that antibiotic prophylaxis is considered in all patients at high and intermediate risk of febrile neutropenia. Clinical evidence now also supports antibiotic prophylaxis for low-risk patients. The impact of antibiotic prophylaxis during cyclical out-patient chemotherapy on microbial resistance should be determined. The hypothesis that, for low-risk patients, prophylaxis should be targeted to first chemotherapy cycles to retain efficacy but limit antibiotic exposure should be tested.
Dielectric and mechanical relaxation in isooctylcyanobiphenyl (8*OCB)

The dynamics of isooctylcyanobiphenyl (8*OCB) was characterized using dielectric and mechanical spectroscopies. This isomer of the liquid crystalline octylcyanobiphenyl (8OCB) vitrifies during cooling or on application of pressure, exhibiting the typical features of glass-forming liquids: non-Debye relaxation function, non-Arrhenius temperature dependence of the relaxation times, τα, a dynamic crossover at T ∼ 1.6Tg. This crossover is evidenced by changes in the behavior of both the peak shape and the temperature dependence of τα. The primary relaxation time at the crossover, 2 ns at ambient pressure, is the smallest value reported to date for any molecular liquid or polymer. Interestingly, at all temperatures below this crossover, τα and the dc conductivity remain coupled (i.e., conform to the Debye–Stokes–Einstein relation). Two secondary relaxations are observed in the glassy state, one of which is identified as the Johari–Goldstein process. Unlike the case for 8OCB, no liquid crystalline phase could be attained for 8*OCB, demonstrating that relatively small differences in chemical structure can effect substantial changes in the intermolecular potential.
Dynamics of protein and polar lipid recruitment during lipid droplet assembly in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

In plants, neutral lipids are frequently synthesized and stored in seed tissues, where the assembly of lipid droplets (LDs) coincides with the accumulation of triacylglycerols (TAGs). In addition, photosynthetic, vegetative cells can form cytosolic LDs and much less information is known about the makeup and biogenesis of these LDs. Here we focus on Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as a reference model for LDs in a photosynthetic cell, because in this unicellular green alga LD dynamics can be readily manipulated by nitrogen availability. Nitrogen deprivation leads to cellular quiescence during which cell divisions cease and TAGs accumulate. The major lipid droplet protein (MLDP) forms a proteinaceous coat surrounding mature LDs. Reducing the amount of MLDP affects LD size and number, TAG breakdown and timely progression out of cellular quiescence following nitrogen resupply. Depending on nitrogen availability, MLDP recruits different proteins to LDs, tubulins in particular. Conversely, depolymerization of microtubules drastically alters the association of MLDP with LDs. LDs also contain select chloroplast envelope membrane proteins hinting at an origin of LDs, at least in part, from chloroplast membranes. Moreover, LD surface lipids are rich in de novo synthesized fatty acids, and are mainly composed of galactolipids which are typical components of chloroplast membranes. The composition of the LD membrane is altered in the absence of MLDP. Collectively, our results suggest a mechanism for LD formation in C. reinhardtii involving chloroplast envelope membranes by which specific proteins are recruited to LDs and a specialized polar lipid monolayer surrounding the LD is formed.
TBX5 transcription factor regulates cell proliferation during cardiogenesis.

Mutations in human TBX5, a member of the T-box transcription factor gene family, cause congenital cardiac septation defects and isomerism in autosomal dominant Holt-Oram syndrome. To determine the cellular function of TBX5 in cardiogenesis, we overexpressed wild-type and mutant human TBX5 isoforms in vitro and in vivo. TBX5 inhibited cell proliferation of D17 canine osteosarcoma cells and MEQC quail cardiomyocyte-like cells in vitro. Mutagenesis of the 5' end of the T-box but not the 3' end of the T-box abolished this effect. Overexpression of TBX5 in embryonic chick hearts showed that TBX5 inhibits myocardial growth and trabeculation. TBX5 effects in vivo were abolished by Gly80Arg missense mutation of the 5' end of the T-box. PCNA analysis in transgenic chick hearts revealed that TBX5 overexpression does suppress embryonic cardiomyocyte proliferation in vivo. Inhibitory effects of TBX5 on cardiomyocyte proliferation include a noncell autonomous process in vitro and in vivo. TBX5 inhibited proliferation of both nontransgenic cells cocultured with transgenic cells in vitro and nontransgenic cardiomyocytes in transgenic chick hearts with mosaic expression of TBX5 in vivo. Immunohistochemical studies of human embryonic tissues, including hearts, also demonstrated that TBX5 expression is inversely related to cellular proliferation. We propose that TBX5 can act as a cellular arrest signal during vertebrate cardiogenesis and thereby participate in modulation of cardiac growth and development.
Enrichment of skin-derived neural precursor cells from dermal cell populations by altering culture conditions.

BACKGROUND As stem cells play a critical role in tissue repair, their manipulation for being applied in regenerative medicine is of great importance. Skin-derived precursors (SKPs) may be good candidates for use in cell-based therapy as the only neural stem cells which can be isolated from an accessible tissue, skin. Herein, we presented a simple protocol to enrich neural SKPs by monolayer adherent cultivation to prove the efficacy of this method. METHODS To enrich neural SKPs from dermal cell populations, we have found that a monolayer adherent cultivation helps to increase the numbers of neural precursor cells. Indeed, we have cultured dermal cells as monolayer under serum-supplemented (control) and serum-supplemented culture, followed by serum free cultivation (test) and compared. Finally, protein markers of SKPs were assessed and compared in both experimental groups and differentiation potential was evaluated in enriched culture. RESULTS The cells of enriched culture concurrently expressed fibronectin, vimentin and nestin, an intermediate filament protein expressed in neural and skeletal muscle precursors as compared to control culture. In addition, they possessed a multipotential capacity to differentiate into neurogenic, glial, adipogenic, osteogenic and skeletal myogenic cell lineages. CONCLUSIONS It was concluded that serum-free adherent culture reinforced by growth factors have been shown to be effective on proliferation of skin-derived neural precursor cells (skin-NPCs) and drive their selective and rapid expansion.
New findings: Depression, suicide, and Toxoplasma gondii infection

Purpose: This article provides an overview of the evidence of a potential pathophysiological relationship between depression, suicide, and the Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection. It discusses the role of inflammatory processes in depressive illness and the infection theory of psychiatric disease. It also provides guidelines for the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of depression for nurse practitioners (NPs). Data source: A narrative review was conducted of the literature from PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. References of identified articles were also reviewed. Conclusions: Seropositivity of the obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, T. gondii is related to various mental health disorders including schizophrenia, suicide attempt, depression, and other neuropsychiatric diseases. Depressive symptoms have been linked to interferon‐&ggr; (IFN‐&ggr;) blocking T. gondii growth by inducing indoleamine‐2,3‐dioxygenase (IDO) activation and tryptophan depletion, which results in a decrease of serotonin production in the brain. Although exposure to T. gondii was considered unlikely to reactivate in immune‐competent individuals, new findings report that this reactivation may be triggered by immune imbalance. Implications for practice: NPs caring for patients with psychiatric illness need to understand the potential mechanisms associated with depression and the T. gondii infection in order to provide effective screening, treatment, and disease prevention.
Effective transient-free capacitor switching (TFCS) for large motor starting on MV systems

Capacitor bank switching on medium voltage power systems has been in practice for nearly half a century. However, capacitor bank switching causes high inrush currents and voltage transients (as high as 3.0 p.u.) in the power distribution system potentially damaging electrical equipment, impacting the system reliability and power quality. Additionally, capacitor switching transients affect the life of the capacitor itself and can cause damage or sudden failure. Pipeline substations are often located in remote areas with insufficient SCC available on the distribution system to start a large medium voltage induction motor. In many such instances, the end user often ends up using a medium voltage soft-starter, a higher rated MVA transformer in conjunction with a reactor start, or a low inrush motor with less than ideal motor efficiency. This paper introduces a transient-free capacitor switching system for large motor starting on MV power distribution systems that can be used with a traditional capacitor bank system while restricting the voltage transient to less than 1.05 p.u. during capacitor switching. This solution eliminates the requirement of a MV soft starter or an auto-transformer motor start which are cost prohibitive. As a result, in lieu of a low inrush, low efficiency induction motor; a regular induction machine with higher efficiency can be applied.
Hospice use in Medicare managed care and fee-for-service systems.

OBJECTIVE To examine whether patterns of hospice use by older Medicare beneficiaries are consistent with the differing financial incentives in Medicare managed care (MC) and fee-for-service (FFS) settings. Specifically, are use patterns consistent with incentives that might encourage hospice use for MC enrollees and discourage hospice use for FFS enrollees? STUDY DESIGN One-year study of hospice use by Medicare beneficiaries dying in 1996. PATIENTS AND METHODS Medicare enrollment and hospice administrative data were used to examine hospice use before death for all elderly individuals residing in 100 US counties with high MC enrollment in 1996. Age-, sex-, and race-adjusted rate of hospice use and length of stay in hospice are compared between FFS and MC enrollees across and within (when possible) the 100 counties. RESULTS Rates of hospice use were significantly higher for MC enrollees than for FFS enrollees (26.6 vs 17.0 per 100 deaths; P < .001). These differences persisted within age, sex, and race groups but were not related to area MC enrollment rate or the amount of money paid to managed care organizations. Age-, sex-, and race-adjusted differences were observed in 94 of 100 counties. Length of stay in hospice was marginally longer for MC enrollees than for FFS enrollees (median, 24 vs 21 days; P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS System of care is an important determinant of hospice use in the elderly Medicare population.
Changes in Surrogate Laboratory Markers, Clinical Endpoints, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients Infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between laboratory markers of HIV, AIDS- defining events, study discontinuation, and summaryscoresftom theMOS-HWVHealthSurvey. Methods: Secondary analysis of data from a clinical trial of antiretroviral therapies in advanced HIV-infected patients (N = 940). Clinical and health-related quality-of-life data were collected over 48 weeks. Linear regression, logistic regression and survival analyses were performed to evaluate the relationships between MOS-HlVsummary scores, clinical events, and laboratory markers. Results: Each point increase in PHS resulted in a 3.0% decrease in the likelihood of developing an AIDS-defining event (p<.05) and a 2.7% decrease in likelihood of study discontinuation (p<.05). MHS did not significantly predict clinical events, but did predict study discontinuation (p<.05). From the linear regression analyses, the change in CD4 counts was a significant predictor of the change in MHS (p<.01). Conclusion: The MOS-HIV summary scores predict clinical events and study discontinuation in advanced HIV-infected patients.
Psychological morbidity, job satisfaction and intentions to quit among teachers in private secondary schools in Edo-State, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND Teachers are an inseparable corner stone of the society and their satisfaction will affect the quality of service they render. Poor job satisfaction could result in job stress and this could affect their psychological health. This study aims to ascertain the level, causes of job dissatisfaction, intentions to quit and psychological morbidity among teachers in private secondary schools in a developing country. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted among teachers (392) in private secondary schools in Benin-City, Edo-State Nigeria, between June 2003 to November 2003. A total population of 400 teachers who had spent at least one year in the service were included in the study. The respondents completed a self-administered designed questionnaire and a standard instrument--The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ 28) RESULTS The response rate was 98%. Fifty-eight (14.8%) of the respondents had psychological morbidity (GHQ score of 4 and above). One hundred and seventy-eight (45.4%) teachers were very satisfied or satisfied with their jobs. A significant number (45.9%) of teachers would want to quit their jobs. The proportion of teachers with GHQ score 4 and above increased with the level of dissatisfaction but this was not found to be statistically significant. Poor salary was found to be the main cause of job dissatisfaction and major reason for wanting to quit the job. CONCLUSION This study shows a low level of job satisfaction among Nigerian teachers. Poor salary was the major cause of job dissatisfaction and intention to quit. Further work need to be done to ascertain the association of psychological morbidity and job dissatisfaction.
Cell activation and inflammatory response following traumatic axonal injury in the rat

In a rat model of traumatic brain injury cell activation was characterized immunohistochemically from 2 h up to 2 weeks. Reactive astrocytosis became apparent perivascularly and in the grey matter within 4 h after trauma. Increased OX42 immunoreactivity indicated microglial activation in cortex and hippocampus as early as 4 h, whereas up-regulation of MHC class II (OX6) was evident in white matter tracts at 24 h. Although macrophage (ED1) numbers increased in the meninges and perivascularly, brain infiltration appeared marginal. Accumulation of lymphocytes and granulocytes was not observed. Our results show that traumatic axonal injury induces a rapid and sustained glial activation in the absence of leukocyte infiltration. Thus, cell activation following diffuse trauma strongly differs from that found after focal brain damage, awaiting further functional characterization.
Ocular disorders and the utility of animal models in the discovery of melatoninergic drugs with therapeutic potential

Introduction: The pineal indole-derived hormone melatonin is a modulator of circadian and seasonal rhythms with an important role in ocular health and disease. This could be due to specific melatonin receptors that have been identified in structures such as cornea, lens, ciliary body, retina, choroid and sclera. In addition, a local synthesis of melatonin occurs in several of these ocular tissues. Areas covered: The authors review existing literature on the most common animal models where ocular melatonin actions have been tested. The therapeutic potential of melatonin in diabetic keratopathy and retinopathy, keratitis, cataracts, glaucoma, uveitis, age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa is discussed. Furthermore, the authors comment on the usefulness of different animal models for the development of melatoninergic drugs with therapeutic potential. Expert opinion: The use of animals for the study of ocular diseases and the potentiality of melatonin and its analogs, as future therapeutic drugs, should be performed on the basis of a rationale study. It is important to note that melatonin receptors seem to be widespread all over the eye. This strongly suggests that, in order to modify the physiology and biochemistry of malfunctioning ocular tissue, the melatonin receptors which are present in that tissue must be first identified. Second there is the need to confirm that those receptors targeted perform the desirable responses, and as a third measure, to use selective agonists (or antagonists) instead of melatonin. However, although some animals mimic ocular pathologies relatively well, and these can be used in melatonin studies, there is still a long way to go till some of the results obtained in animal models could be used for human therapy.
The advantages of retropancreatic vascular dissection for pancreatic head cancer with portal/superior mesenteric vein invasion: posterior approach pancreatico-duodenectomy technique and the mesopancreas theory.

UNLABELLED BACKROUNDS/AIMS: Surgery remains the single hope for long-term survival long-term survival in pancreatic head carcinoma. Portal vein invasion is no longer a contraindication for resection but could be technically challenging. The aim of the present study is to emphasize the advantages of the posterior approach in duodenopancreatectomy with portal vein resection. METHODS The present series includes 16 patients with duodenopancreatectomy and portal/superior mesenteric vein resection and reconstruction duodenopancreatectomy invading the venous axis, performed from 2004 to 2011, and representing one author's experience. RESULTS A lateral resection with direct suture was performed in 10 patients and the length of the resected venous wall was less than 1.2 cm. A segmental resection was performed in six patients and the length of resected vein did not exceed 3 cm (range, 1.5 - 3 cm). All venous resection extremities were cancer-free at final pathological report. Eleven patients were considered as R0 resection while 5 patients were assessed as R1 at final pathological examination. Postoperative morbidity consisted of: 3 patients with postoperative pancreatic fistulae (grade A - 2 patients; grade C - 1 patient, requiring second look laparotomy for peri-pancreatic abscesses) and 5 patients with delayed gastric emptying grade B. CONCLUSION Portal/superior mesenteric vein resection during duodenopancreatectomy is safe and it is facilitated by the posterior approach. Moreover, the posterior approach facilitates total mesopancreas excision during duodenopancreatectomy for pancreatic head cancer, a technical feature that appears to be associated with an increased rate of negative resection margins.
Effect of peripheral obestatin on gastric emptying and intestinal contractility in rodents

Abstract Obestatin has recently been discovered in the rat stomach. It is encoded by the ghrelin gene and has been claimed to be a functional opponent of ghrelin and to be the natural ligand of the GPR39 receptor. The latter could not be confirmed by Holst et al. (Endocrinology, 2006). Yet, in GPR39 knockout mice, gastric emptying is accelerated. We verified the effects of obestatin on gastric emptying and intestinal contractility in rodents. Gastric emptying was measured with the 14C octanoic breath test in mice. In vitro, the effect of obestatin was studied on electrically stimulated and non‐stimulated strips from the fundus and small intestine of mice and rats. Obestatin (60, 125, 250 nmol kg−1) did not affect gastric emptying parameters (Thalf and Tlag) and did not inhibit the prokinetic effects of ghrelin. Mouse and rat intestinal and fundic smooth muscle strips did not respond to obestatin either in the absence or in the presence of electrical field stimulation. Obestatin (125 nmol kg−1) did not inhibit fasting‐induced hyperphagia. Our results suggest that peripheral obestatin is not a satiety signal that plays a role in the regulation of gastric emptying and do not support the concept that obestatin is a physiological opponent of ghrelin.
Calibration of reverberation chambers from S11 measurements

This paper presents a calibration method allowing to quantify the quality of the electromagnetic field generated in a reverberation chamber. The method requires only to measure the reflection coefficient of an antenna (i.e. S11) for different stirring conditions (i.e. different positions of a mode stirrer for a mechanically stirred chamber). The proposed method requiring a simple measurement setup is shown to drastically reduce the measurement time while leading to an interesting level of accuracy.
Magnetic resonance imaging study of extracellular fluid tracer movement in brains of immature rats with hydrocephalus

Abstract Hydrocephalus is associated with brain compression and accumulation of neurotransmitter waste products in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid. We postulated that the extracellular compartment is compressed and specifically hypothesized that extracellular fluid tracer movement through brain would differ between control and hydrocephalic rats. Gadolinium diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) was injected into the cerebral cortex of 4-week-old rats, 7-11 days after induction of hydrocephalus by kaolin injection into the cisterna magna. The movement of this soluble paramagnetic compound was followed over successive timed intervals from 20 min to 180 min with T^weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Nonhydrocephalic controls exhibited greater spread of the tracer and greater change in Trweighted signal intensity in the ipsilateral cortex than hydrocephalic animals. Hydrocephalic animals exhibited preferential accumulation of tracer in edematous white matter. Gd-DTPA penetrated the lateral ventricles within 30 min in both control and hydrocephalic rats. The results suggest that there is a relative impairment of extracellular fluid movement through the cerebral cortex of young hydrocephalic rats. [Neurol Res 2000; 22: 111-116]