Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative analysis of serotonin in equine plasma with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Serotonin is regularly measured in equine platelet-poor plasma in research settings. However, reported reference values vary between studies, partially because plasma serotonin concentrations are very low and a reliable and affordable detection method is lacking. A simple, rapid, and sensitive method for serotonin determination in equine platelet-poor plasma using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed and validated. Results of a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were compared to the LC-MS/MS results, in order to validate a test more suitable for use in a clinical situation. For LC-MS/MS, 500 µl of plasma was required, and deuterated serotonin was used as an internal standard. The sample preparation was based upon a simple liquid extraction into ethyl acetate. Chromatographic separation was performed with an acetic acid–acetonitrile mobile phase gradient elution. Linearity was demonstrated between 3 ng/ml and 100 ng/ml. A limit of quantification of 3 ng/ml was achieved, corresponding to a limit of detection of 0.10 ng/ml. Comparison of LC-MS/MS and ELISA with Passing–Bablok regression and Bland–Altman plotting showed a poor agreement between the 2 methods, with an increasing difference within the higher range of measurements. Caution is needed when extrapolating results from sources using different analytical techniques.
Virological and Social Outcomes of HIV-Infected Adolescents and Young Adults in The Netherlands Before and After Transition to Adult Care.

BACKGROUND As a result of effective combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) and advanced supportive healthcare, a growing number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children survive into adulthood. The period of transition to adult care is often associated with impaired adherence to treatment and discontinuity of care. We aimed to evaluate virological and social outcomes of HIV-infected adolescents and young adults (AYAs) before and after transition, and explore which factors are associated with virological failure. METHODS We included 59 HIV-infected AYAs from the Netherlands who had entered into pediatric care and transitioned from pediatric to adult healthcare. We used HIV RNA load and cART data from the Dutch Stichting HIV Monitoring database (1996-2014), and collected social and treatment data from patients' medical records from all Dutch pediatric HIV treatment centers and 14 Dutch adult treatment centers involved. We evaluated risk factors for virological failure (VF) in a logistic regression model adjusted for repeated measurements. RESULTS HIV VF occurred frequently during the study period (14%-36%). During the transition period (from 18 to 19 years of age) there was a significant increase in VF compared with the reference group of children aged 12-13 years (odds ratio, 4.26 [95% confidence interval, 1.12-16.28]; P = .03). Characteristics significantly associated with VF were low educational attainment and lack of autonomy regarding medication adherence at transition. CONCLUSIONS HIV-infected AYAs are vulnerable to VF, especially during the transition period. Identification of HIV-infected adolescents at high risk for VF might help to improve treatment success in this group.
The Dependence of Retention Time on Gate Length in UTBOX FBRAM With Different Source/Drain Junction Engineering

The floating-body-RAM sense margin and retention-time dependence on the gate length is investigated in UTBOX devices using BJT programming combined with a positive back bias (so-called V th feedback). It is shown that the sense margin and the retention time can be kept constant versus the gate length by using a positive back bias. Nevertheless, below a critical L, there is no room for optimization, and the memory performances suddenly drop. The mechanism behind this degradation is attributed to GIDL current amplification by the lateral bipolar transistor with a narrow base. The gate length can be further scaled using underlap junctions.
Attempt to control parturition in the sow using an oral progestogen

Analogues of prostaglandin F2 alpha are widely used in the United Kingdom to induce parturition in sows. A disadvantage is that sows are induced to farrow in advance of expected delivery dates. An alternative might be to maintain gestation by the application of a progestogen. Farrowing might then be initiated on the withdrawal of the progestogen. The use of an orally active progestogen (allyl-trenbolone) in an attempt to control the time of parturition in sows is described. In experiment 1, 20 large white cross landrace sows were allocated at random to one of two treatments. Treated sows were fed 16 mg/day of allyl-trenbolone from day 111 of gestation to day 118 of gestation. The farrowing performance of these sows was compared with that of control sows which farrowed naturally. Treated sows farrowed significantly (P less than 0.01) later than the control sows (118.2 and 116.1 days respectively). For treated sows the interval from progestogen withdrawal to farrowing was 29.6 +/- 4.8 hours. The number of stillbirths for treated and control sows respectively was 2.1 and 0.4 per litter. Treatment had no effect either on the birth weight of piglets or on their weaning weight at six weeks old. There was a tendency for more treated sows to show subsequent reproductive malfunction. In a second experiment, under commercial conditions, 81 sows and 12 gilts were allocated to one of four treatments. Treatment A animals were untreated controls. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Comparison of patient perception on gingival depigmentation using scalpel and diode laser

The purpose of this study was to compare patient’s perception on gingival depigmentation using diode laser and scalpel technique. 20 Patients took part in the study, control sites were treated with a scalpel blade and test sites were treated with Diode laser in contact mode. VAS scale was used for pain perception after surgery. A questionnaire was used to assess esthetics change postoperatively at 1 week and at 3 months, patient’s expectation of the procedure and repetition of treatment if needed. 90% subjects complained of no pain in the laser group whereas 45% subjects complained of no pain in scalpel technique which showed VAS scale to be statistical significant between the two groups. Comparison of patient opinion regarding the esthetic change, patient expectation and retreatment of the two surgical procedures were at par with one and another. The application of semiconductor diode laser and scalpel procedure appeared to be an effective treatment for gingival melanin hyperpigmentation.
Propofol inhibits HCN1 pacemaker channels by selective association with the closed states of the membrane embedded channel core

Activation of native IH pacemaker channels and channels formed on heterologous expression of some isoforms of their pore forming HCN (hyperpolarization‐activated, cyclic nucleotide‐regulated) subunits is inhibited by the intravenous general anaesthetic propofol (2,6‐diisopropylphenol). Here, we show that inhibition of homomeric HCN1 channels is mediated through anaesthetic association with the membrane embedded channel core, a domain that is highly conserved between this isoform and the relatively insensitive HCN2 and 4 subunits. Decoupling of HCN channel gating from cAMP and internal protons reveals that changes in these second messengers are neither necessary nor sufficient to account for propofol's actions. Modelling of the equilibrium and kinetic behaviour of HCN1 channels in the absence and presence of anaesthetic reveals that (1) gating is best described by models wherein closed and open states communicate via a voltage‐independent reaction with no significant equilibrium occupancy of a deactivated open state at non‐permissive voltages, and (2) propofol modifies gating by preferentially associating with closed–resting and closed–activated states but a low affinity interaction with the activated open state shapes the effect of the drug under physiological conditions. Our findings illuminate the mechanism of HCN channel gating and provide a framework that will facilitate development of propofol derivates that have altered pharmacological properties and therapeutic potentials.
The delay and blockage of sensory impulses in the dorsal root ganglion *

Early in 1876 Wundt reported a delay of sensory impulses in their passage through the dorsal root ganglion, but this was denied by Exner in 1877. In 1889, Gad & Joseph reported the delay again, but it was denied by Moore & Reynolds (1898). After the appearance of cathode-ray oscilloscope, that enabled Erlanger, Bishop & Gasser (1926) to measure exactly very small time intervals, the delay of sensory impulses in their passage through the ganglion was again described. But in 1938 the existence of this phenomenon was denied, . this time by one of its original observers (Erlanger & Blair, 1938). The aim of the present series of experiments is to try to clarify these controversial issues and to determine whether the dorsal root ganglion modified in any way the passage of sensory impulses. Besides suffering a delay under normal conditions, the sensory impulses are found to be blocked in their passage through the dorsal root ganglion during the early relatively refractory period of the afferent fibres.
Parameters involved and viability of immunosuppression on islet allotransplantation procedure in rodents

INTRODUCAO: A autoimunidade e a rejeicao apos o transplante ainda precisam ser superadas no desenvolvimento tecnico de transplante de ilhotas para o tratamento de diabetes tipo 1. Inibir a rejeicao de enxertos de ilhotas, mantendo a capacidade do enxerto para segregar insulina e uma estrategia essencial. O uso de agentes imunossupressores reduz a taxa de rejeicao aguda em transplantados, mas os efeitos colaterais a longo prazo deve ser evitados. OBJETIVOS: O objetivo do presente estudo e o de organizar e analisar os parâmetros de imunossupressao envolvidos em tentativas experimentais de alotransplante em roedores. METODOLOGIA: Esta avaliacao foi realizada utilizando o banco de dados PUBMED para pesquisar artigos publicados que contenham a palavra-chave "o transplante de ilhotas de roedores". Os criterios de inclusao envolveram alotransplante com ilhotas de roedores e as listas de referencias das publicacoes recuperadas que eram elegiveis. Os criterios de exclusao incluiram isotransplante, autotransplante, e xenotransplante definido como o transplante para outras especies. RESULTADOS: Vinte estudos relacionados ao alotransplante foram selecionados para esta revisao sistematica baseada em imunossupressao. CONCLUSAO: Novas drogas imunossupressoras aumentaram as taxas de sobrevivencia de alotransplante em roedores, reduzindo os efeitos colaterais. Os avancos na imunossupressao levantam a possibilidade de superar a autoimunidade e rejeicao apos alotransplante.
Platinum compounds as radiosensitizers in strontium-89 metabolic radiotherapy.

PURPOSE Strontium-89 is currently used for the treatment of painful bone metastases. This study reports on two preliminary experiences with low-dose platinum compounds, carboplatin and cisplatin, as radiosensitizers in 89Sr therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS 30 patients entered the carboplatin study: 15 patients (Group A) were treated with 148 MBq 89Sr followed by carboplatin (100 mg/m2 at 7 and 21 days) and 15 patients (Group B) were treated with 89Sr alone. 12 patients entered the cisplatin study: six patients (Arm 1) received 148 Mq 89Sr plus cisplatin (50 mg/m2) in two administrations (immediately before and 10 days after 89Sr injection) and six patients (Arm 2) received 89Sr plus two placebo administrations. Pain response was assessed 8 weeks after the therapy on the Wisconsin score modifications. RESULTS No clinically significant adverse effects or myelosuppression by platinum compounds were observed. In carboplatin study a pain response was observed in 20 of 27 (74%) evaluable patients, 13/15 in group A and 7/12 in group B. The pain response in the patients treated with 89Sr and carboplatin was clearly superior to that seen in the patients treated with 89Sr alone (P = 0.025), whereas survival was only marginally better in the combined treatment group (8.1 vs 5.7 months, P = 0.19). In cisplatin study a pain response was observed in 10 of 12 (83%) evaluable patients, 5/6 in Arm 1 and 4/6 in Arm 2. CONCLUSIONS Low-dose platinum compounds seem to enhance the effects of 89Sr radioisotope therapy on pain from bone metastases without relevant hematological toxicity.
A prospective analysis of disseminated intravascular coagulation in patients with infections.

OBJECTIVE Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is often associated with infection and a poor outcome. In this study, useful markers for predicting poor outcomes were examined. METHODS The frequency of DIC and organ failure, outcomes and hemostatic markers were prospectively evaluated in 242 patients with infections. RESULTS Seventy-seven patients were diagnosed with DIC, 36 of whom recovered from the condition. The rate of DIC or resolution of DIC was highest in the patients with sepsis and lowest in the patients with respiratory infections. Mortality tended to be high in the patients with respiratory infections. The DIC score, sepsis-related organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, prothrombin time (PT) ratio and thrombin-antithrombin complex level were significantly high in the patients who did not recover from DIC. The age, DIC score, SOFA score, PT ratio and levels of thrombomodulin and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-I were significantly high in the non-survivors. Factors related to a poor outcome included resolution of DIC, the SOFA score, age and the PT ratio. Factors related to resolution of DIC included the SOFA score and age, while factors related to the SOFA score included the levels of PAI-I, leukocytes, fibrinogen, D-dimer and platelets. CONCLUSION The outcomes of septic patients primarily depend on the SOFA score and the resolution of DIC, which are related to organ failure.
Health care professionals’ experience-based understanding of individuals’ capacity to work while depressed and anxious

Abstract Aim: The meaning of capacity to work while depressed and anxious is not well comprehended. The aim of this study was to explore and describe health care professionals’ experience-based understanding of capacity to work in individuals with depression and/or anxiety disorders. Method: An exploratory qualitative design was used. Four focus groups were conducted with 21 professionals from psychiatric, occupational, and primary health care. Data were analysed using inductive content analysis. Results: Capacity to work while depressed and anxious was understood as a change from the familiar to a no longer recognizable performance at work. Managing time, daily work demands, and emotions was described as difficult for the patients, and capacity to work could be fragmented by anxiety attacks. Patients were perceived as continuing to work while life outside work crumbled. Capacity to work was described as part of a greater whole, the work community, and the patient’s participation in the work community was considered problematic. Conclusions. The findings provide a deeper understanding of the reduced capacity to work compared with theoretical or medico-administrative descriptions. Applied to patient encounters it could promote fitness-for-work dialogues, rehabilitation, and tailor-made work interventions.
Occupational lung cancer risk among men in the Netherlands

Objectives: To assess male lung cancer risks for industrial sectors in the Netherlands and to estimate the proportion of lung cancer attributed to working in specific industrial sectors. Methods: Associations were studied among men aged 55–69 years (n = 58 279) from the prospective Netherlands Cohort Study. 1920 incident lung cancer cases were available after 11.3 years of follow-up. Based on a case-cohort design, and using Cox proportional hazards models, risks were estimated for blue collar workers in 26 industrial sectors. Results: Adjustment for individual smoking habits affected risk estimates for some sectors, but adjustment for fruit/vegetables and alcohol intake did not. Adjusted for confounders, an increased risk of lung cancer was observed for employment for ⩾15 years in blue collar jobs in the “electronics and optical instruments” industry (rate ratio (RR) 1.99; 95% CI 1.18 to 3.35), “construction and homebuilding business” (RR 1.64; 95% CI 1.21 to 2.22) and “railway company” (RR 2.40; 95% CI 1.00 to 5.73). The attributable fraction for working for ⩾15 years in these three industries was 5%. In three other sectors there was a statistically non-significant elevated RR of >1.5. Conclusions: Male lung cancer risk is increased in several industrial sectors. Approximately 2000 lung cancer cases between 1986 and 1997 in the 55–69-year-old age group in the Netherlands may be attributable to working for ⩾15 years in the three sectors with increased risk. In addition, estimates for occupational lung cancer risks for sectors may be biased if no individual information is available on smoking habits.
Red blood cell antioxidant and iron status in alcoholic and nonalcoholic cirrhosis

Background Iron overload has been reported in alcoholic liver cirrhosis but it remains to be established whether iron is involved in inducing oxidative damage to erythrocytes in alcoholic cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to assess oxidative damage and red cell indicators of antioxidant defences in alcoholics with mild‐to‐severe liver cirrhosis, taking into account the iron status.
Similarity in seasonal appearance between atmospheric birch‐pollen grains and allergen in paucimicronic, size‐fractionated ambient aerosol

Background: Specific allergen from various pollen types has been found to be carried through the outdoor air, not only by intact pollen grains, but also by much smaller, paucimicronic particles. There is no complete agreement on whether, for birch (Betula), the seasonal appearance of atmospheric pollen allergen follows the fluctuation pattern of the pollen season.
Quick-multiplex-consensus (QMC)-PCR followed by high-resolution melting: a simple and robust method for mutation detection in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue

Background Mutation detection in tumours will become increasingly important in pathological diagnosis as ‘predictive’ mutations are identified. A cheap and reliable test that works on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue is required. Methods The quick-multiplex-consensus (QMC)-PCR protocol was developed to be used with high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis. The assay was compared with Sanger sequencing. Robustness of the assay was tested in DNA from FFPE tissue. Results QMC-PCR with HRM could detect a minimum of 2.5% of mutant alleles (compared with 20% detectable for Sanger sequencing). Ten mutation hotspots in KRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA and CDC4 were screened in 29 cell lines with 100% sensitivity and specificity. Forty-three FFPE colorectal tumours were sequenced for hotspots in KRAS and PIK3CA and then screened by QMC-PCR. There was 100% sensitivity, although, of 21 mutations detected by QMC-PCR, 16 were confirmed by sequencing (71% specificity, positive predictive value 76%). All 43 samples were then screened for mutations in all 10 hotspots. Of 430 tests, 43 (10%) showed aberrant melting and 36 were confirmed mutant (positive predictive value 84%). As our technique is more sensitive than direct sequencing, the remaining seven tests are probably sequencing false-negatives. Precision tests showed that there was little intra-assay and interassay variation. Conclusions QMC-PCR with HRM is a simple, robust and inexpensive technique which had greater sensitivity than Sanger sequencing. It allows multiple mutation hotspots to be rapidly screened and is thus highly suited to mutation detection in DNA derived from FFPE tissues.
A Dynamic Model of the World Copper Industry

Se especifica un modelo general de productos primarios representado por un sistema de diez ecuaciones diferenciales de primer orden, que incluye hipotesis derivadas de la teoria economica, tales como una formulacion mixta de masas y flujos para representar la dinamica de la formacion de precios; un metodo basado en los activos en cuanto a la demanda de productos primarios, que permite una distincion implicita entre demanda con fines de cobertura y demanda especulativa, incluyendo esta ultima como argumento los precios previstos, y una funcion de produccion en la que los factores fijos de produccion se determinan de forma endogena mediante las funciones de inversion. Se examina la verosimilitud del comportamiento de largo plazo y la estabilidad dinamica, y se demuestra que los productos primarios estacionales pueden tener cabida en este modelo, conservandose asi la retroaccion de la inversion endogena. Se extiende luego este modelo y, utilizando datos trimestrales, se le aplica a la industria mundial del cobre incluyendo el mayor numero posible de aspectos institucionales y el menor numero posible de variables exogenas. Se lleva a cabo la estimacion del sistema simultaneo de 20 ecuaciones diferenciales de primer orden, mediante el metodo de maxima verosimilitud con plena informacion, con lo que aumentan las propiedades de estabilidad dinamica de la estructura estimada. La ultima parte del presente estudio se refiere al uso potencial para analisis de medidas de politica con algunas aplicaciones a programas de estabilizacion, junto con algunas ilustraciones de la capacidad de pronostico que tiene el modelo.
Coxsackievirus B4 infection of murine foetal thymus organ cultures

The infection of foetal thymus with coxsackievirus B4 (CV‐B4) E2 has been studied ex vivo by using CD‐1 mice on foetal day 14, as a ready source of organs for experimentation to investigate the hypothesis of the role of thymic viral infections in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes. The replication of CV‐B4 E2 in murine foetal thymus organ cultures has been demonstrated by evaluating the levels of positive‐ and negative‐stranded viral RNA in cells by using a real‐time quantitative RT‐PCR method and by determining titres of infectious viral particles in culture supernatants for 7 days post‐infection (p.i.). Staining of tissue sections with an anti‐cytokeratin antibody and haematoxylin–eosin showed that CV‐B4 infection had no visible effect on cell survival and organ integrity. Cell counts in mock‐ and virus‐infected foetal thymus organ cultures increased from day 1 through day 7, and live cell numbers were comparable in both conditions as shown by Trypan blue exclusion test and 7‐amino‐actinomycin D staining of thymocytes. Compared with controls on day 7 p.i. , cytofluorometric analyses on cells from CV‐B4 E2‐infected foetal thymus organ cultures displayed a marked increase in the percentage of the most immature CD3−CD4−CD8− thymocytes, and a decrease in the percentage of immature CD3−CD4+CD8+ cells, together with an increase in the percentage of mature CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ cells. These data show that CV‐B4 E2 disturbs T‐cell maturation and differentiation processes in infected murine foetal thymus organ cultures and provide evidence of a suitable system to investigate the effect of viruses in T‐cell differentiation. J. Med. Virol. 80:659–666, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sonographic evaluation of the thyroid size in neonates

To validate the use of the ratio between the total transverse diameters of the thyroid lobes (Th) and the width of the trachea (Tr)—the Th:Tr or Yasumoto ratio—as a sonographic method for estimating thyroid size, and to determine reference values for this ratio and for thyroid volume in neonates.