Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Silibinin Inhibits Tumor Promotional Triggers and Tumorigenesis Against Chemically Induced Two-Stage Skin Carcinogenesis in Swiss Albino Mice: Possible Role of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

Silibinin is a major bioactive flavonolignan present in milk thistle (Silybum marianum) that possesses antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and anticarcinogenic activity. However, the precise underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. The present study was designed to investigate underlying molecular mechanism for antitumorigenic potential of silibinin against chemically induced skin tumorigenesis in Swiss albino mice. In light of the important role of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), iNOS, proinflammatory cytokines, vascular endothelial growth factor, and oxidative stress in carcinogenesis, chemopreventive efficacy of silibinin against 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene/12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced 2-stage skin carcinogenesis was studied in terms of cytoprotective enzymes activity, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory responses, and the expression of various molecular marker in skin tissue. We found that topical application of silibinin at the dose of 9 mg/mouse effectively suppressed oxidative stress and deregulated activation of inflammatory mediators and tumorigenesis. Thus, findings of the present study suggest that the chemopreventive effect of silibinin is associated with upregulation of endogenous cytoprotective machinery and down regulation of inflammatory mediators (nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, interleukin -1β, COX-2, iNOS, and NF-κB).
Replacement of electrical (load) drives by a hardware-in-the-loop system

This paper presents an interesting approach for hardware-in-the-loop testing of voltage source inverters for drive applications. For this purpose the inverter under test is not connected to a real machine, but to a second inverter instead, which behaves like an electrical machine. The power capability of the so-called “Virtual Machine” is increased by sequential switching of parallel connected standard inverters. The parallel connected inverters can be of the same type as the inverter under test. Hence there exists no power limit for drive inverter testing with respect to the product range of the manufacturer.
Review of IL-17 inhibitors for psoriasis

Abstract Background: The development of biologic agents directed against distinct cytokines and receptors has advanced the therapeutic options available for psoriasis patients. Evidence from preclinical studies suggests that IL-17 may contribute to the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Objective: The objective was to review the safety and efficacy profile for each IL-17 inhibitor by evaluating phase III clinical trial data. Methods: We reviewed the results of phase III clinical trials for the IL-17 inhibitors secukinumab, ixekizumab, and brodalumab. Results: At week 12, the proportion of patients reaching Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 75) was above 60% for the most efficacious dose of each agent with favorable and comparable safety profiles. The most commonly reported adverse events were nasopharyngitis, headache, and upper respiratory tract infection. Conclusions: The clinical improvement among psoriasis patients on IL-17 inhibitors is similar or superior to the improvement seen with commercially produced biologic agents available accompanied by a favorable short-term safety profile. The results of the phase III trials indicate that IL-17 inhibitors are effective therapeutic options for psoriasis patients.
Endovascular Treatment of Popliteal Artery Aneurysms

Background: With the recent advances in endovascular techniques and the emergence of more flexible endoprosthesis, the treatment of popliteal artery aneurysms has become more frequent. The objective of this study was to evaluate the short and mid-term clinical outcomes of the treatment of popliteal artery aneurysms with the use of a flexible endoprosthesis. Methods: Retrospective longitudinal study conducted in two sites from January of 2011 to February of 2014. Populational characteristics, procedure-related data, and radiologic imaging were evaluated at a mean follow-up of 1 year. Morbidity and mortality rates, complication rates, and stent patency rates were obtained. Results: A total of 13 male patients, mean age 66 ± 9 years, were submitted to popliteal artery aneurysm treatment in 15 limbs. Run-off vessel evaluation showed that most patients had at least two patent arteries in the legs (92.3%). Stents were implanted in the middle segment in 57.1% and in the distal segment of the popliteal artery in 42.9% of the procedures. Target lesion revascularization was achieved in all of the cases and two stents were required in four limbs. Seventeen ViabahnTM and two MultilayerTM stents were used. During the 12-month follow-up there were no stent fractures. The primary patency rate was 53.3% and limb salvage rate was 100%. Conclusions: Endovascular treatment of popliteal artery aneurysm was shown to be effective in the mid-term follow-up. DESCRIPTORS: Aneurysm. Popliteal artery. Blood vessel prosthesis. Stents. Treatment outcome. Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Correspondence to: Patrick Bastos Metzger. Avenida Dr. Dante Pazzanese, 500, Vila Mariana − CEP: 04012-909 − São Paulo, SP, Brazil E-mail: patrickvascular@gmail.com Received on: 9/9/2014 • Accepted on: 11/28/2014 Original Article
A novel power divider structure using the gysel and wilkinson power dividers with only one grounded resistor

A technique for combined design of the Wilkinson and the Gysel power divider is presented. Close-form design equations are obtained by analysis of the proposed structure. It is shown through a careful simulation study that at one hand a good bandwidth compared to the Gysel is obtained for the proposed combined structure, at other hand a higher power handling capability is also achieved while utilizing only one grounded resistor. A design methodology and comparison with state-of-the art are also included.
The influence of physical stress and exercise on growth hormone and insulin secretion in man.

Abstract The effects of physical stress and exercise on the secretion of growth hormone and insulin have been, studied in several groups of subjects undergoing surgery, electroconvulsive therapy, competitive and noncompetitive exercise, and acute physical trauma. Associated changes in plasma glucose and NEFA have also been measured. Plasma growth hormone levels rose significantly in many subjects during periods of physical stress or exercise, while insulin values either remained unchanged or fell slightly. Epinephrine administration did not stimulate the release of growth hormone, and the failure of plasma insulin levels to rise in response to stress-induced hyperglycemia is consistent with the recent observation that the infusion of epinephrine impairs insulin release. Plasma glucose and NEFA levels rose as expected in many individuals during physical stress and exercise. The results of this study suggest that certain stressful situations may be diabetogenic not only because of the well-known release of epinephrine and the corticosteroids but also in part because of an increased release of growth hormone on the one hand and an epinephrine-induced suppression of insulin secretion on the other.
Racial/ethnic differences in children's access to care.

OBJECTIVES This study explored reasons for racial and ethnic differences in children's usual sources of care. METHODS Data from the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey were examined by means of logistic regression techniques. RESULTS Black and Hispanic children were substantially less likely than White children to have a usual source of care. These differences persisted after control for health insurance and socioeconomic status. Control for language ability, however, eliminated differences between Hispanic and White children. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that the marked Hispanic disadvantage in children's access to care noted in earlier studies may be related to language ability.
Lifetime and novel psychiatric disorders after pediatric traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE To assess lifetime and current psychiatric disorders at least 1 year after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children and adolescents. METHOD Forty-six youths who sustained a TBI between the ages of 6 through 15 years were evaluated at least 1 year post-TBI to identify the presence of lifetime and/or novel psychiatric disorders. Semistructured interviews of the parent and child and standardized parent self-report rating instruments were used. RESULTS Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and depressive disorders were the most common lifetime and novel diagnoses. A wide variety and high rate of novel psychiatric disorders were identified; 74% of these disorders persisted in 48% of the injured children. Internalizing disorders were more likely to resolve than externalizing disorders. Both interviews and parent ratings were sensitive to current externalizing behaviors; interviews more often detected internalizing disorders, whereas parent ratings also identified cognitive difficulties. CONCLUSIONS Findings were generally consistent with previous research demonstrating the high rate of novel psychiatric disorders following pediatric TBI. Psychiatric interviews were sensitive in identifying both lifetime and novel disorders.
Nonclassical Activation of Hedgehog Signaling Enhances Multidrug Resistance and Makes Cancer Cells Refractory to Smoothened-targeting Hedgehog Inhibition*

Background: Hedgehog signaling is aberrantly activated in malignancies. Results: The inflammatory cytokine osteopontin causes nonclassical activation of Hedgehog signaling in tumor cells. Conclusion: The tumor cells become refractory to Smoothened-targeting inhibition and acquire multidrug resistance. Significance: The outcomes reveal the tumor-extrinsic mechanisms of resistance to Hh inhibitors. The Hedgehog (Hh) pathway is critical in normal development. However, it has been reported to be up-regulated in numerous cancers and implicated in tumorigenicity and metastasis. Classical activation of Hh signaling initiated by Hh ligands results in activation of Smoothened (SMOH) and culminates in the activation of the GLI transcription factors. Classical Hh signaling is autocrine or paracrine (involving interaction between tumor cells and their stroma/microenvironment). The tumor milieu is rich in inflammatory cytokines that can modulate tumor cell behavior. Here, we show for the first time that the Hh pathway can be nonclassically up-regulated by the inflammatory cytokine, osteopontin (OPN). OPN-initiated Akt-GSK3β signaling mediates the subcellular distribution and activation of GLI1 resulting in the modulation of epithelial mesenchymal plasticity and drug resistance. Interestingly, the SMOH inhibitor cyclopamine was unable to uncouple the effects of OPN on Hh signaling, indicating that OPN nonclassically activates GLI-mediated transcription. Given the fact that OPN is itself transcriptionally activated upon Hh signaling, our current findings highlight the possibility of a feedforward vicious cycle such that the Hh pathway might be turned on nonclassically by stimuli from the tumor milieu. Thus, drugs that target the classical Hh ligand-mediated activation of Hh signaling may be compromised in their ability to interfere with the functioning of the pathway.
Placental Alkaline Phosphatase Expression at the Apical and Basal Plasma Membrane in Term Villous Trophoblasts

Human placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) was localized at the apical and basal plasma membrane of syncytiotrophoblasts and at the surface of cytotrophoblasts in term chorionic villi using immunoelectron microscopy. Similarly, apical and basolateral PLAP expression was found in polarized trophoblast-derived BeWo cells. Trophoblasts isolated from term placentas exhibited mainly vesicular PLAP immunofluorescence staining immediately after isolation. After in vitro differentiation into syncytia, PLAP plasma membrane expression was upregulated and exceeded that observed in mononuclear trophoblasts. These data call for caution in using PLAP as a morphological marker to differentiate syncytiotrophoblasts from cytotrophoblasts or as a marker enzyme for placental brush-border membranes. (J Histochem Cytochem 49:1155–1164, 2001)
Pimecrolimus 1% Cream in Non-Specific Inflammatory Recurrent Balanitis

Background: Non-specific balanitis is a common inflammatory dermatosis with frequent relapses and considerable impact on male sexual life. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of pimecrolimus 1% cream in recurrent non-specific balanitis. Methods: Twenty-six patients with recurrent flares of non-specific balanitis were randomly assigned to 1 group applying pimecrolimus cream 1% and 1 group applying placebo on the glans twice daily for 7 days. The patients were assessed on day 14. They were instructed to continue applying the agent whenever symptoms initialized for the following 90 days and take account of the cumulative days with symptoms. Results: Seven out of the 11 (63.6%) patients in the pimecrolimus group and 1 out of 11 (9%) in the control group were free of all symptoms and lesions after 14 days, 3 (27.3%) in both groups reported improvement, while 1 (9.1%) in the pimecrolimus and 7 (63.6%) in the control group remained unaffected. (χ2 = 9.0, d.f. = 2, p = 0.011). Days with symptoms during the 90-day follow-up period were 7.50 ± 3.02 for the pimecrolimus and 17.62 ± 4.40 for the control group (p = 0.000064). Conclusions: Pimecrolimus 1% cream is promising in relieving symptoms and signs of non-specific balanitis during flares and controlling the disease during long-term follow-up.
Nosocomial transmission of rotavirus from patients admitted with diarrhea

We studied the transmission of rotavirus (RV) in 950 patients under 2 years of age hospitalized for diarrhea in Santiago, Chile. Stool samples were collected every other day from all patients during their entire hospital stay. To trace nosocomial transmission, we mapped the ward at the time of detection of RV. Comparative study by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of 315 RV isolates (180 detected upon admission of patients and 135 attributed to nosocomial transmission) allowed the identification of 18 different electropherotypes. An electropherotype similar to that of a community-acquired case was found in the same room in 81% of nosocomial cases and in the ward in 92% of nosocomial cases. It was concluded that the infants admitted shedding RV are the major source of nosocomial transmission and there was not a RV strain that was particularly transmissible.
The numerical analysis of a restored tooth using meshless methods

In this work it is study how the remaining coronal dentin and type of rehabilitation influences the strain, the stress distribution, and the fracture resistance of restored teeth. Thus, an advance discretization numerical technique - a meshless method - is used to analyse the effects of the rehabilitation technical solutions on the biomechanical behaviour of restored teeth. The meshless method used in this work is the Natural Neighbour Radial Point Interpolation Method (NNRPIM). Within the NNRPIM, the Natural Neighbour concept is used in order to enforce the nodal connectivity and to construct a node-depending background mesh. The NNRPIM interpolation functions possess the delta Kronecker property, which simplify the imposition of the natural and essential boundary condition. The objective of this work is to extend and validate the NNRPIM to the elasto-static numerical analysis of restored maxillary molar. Several numerical examples are analysed and the obtained results are compared with clinical cases.
Teenage drinking in South-West Scotland.

Summary By the age of fourteen most children have tasted alcohol. There is a suggestion that drinking behaviour starts wry early within the family home and progresses in a common manner through other social situations leading to peer group drinking. It is argued that this early experience and progression may be a prerequisite of normal social drinking in later life.
Plasma Insulin and Growth Hormone Levels in Untreated Diabetic Children

Blood glucose, plasma insulin, and growth hormone were measured in 28 untreated diabetic children, and the results were compared with those obtained from a control group. Though 2 of the 28 diabetic children were still capable of increasing plasma insulin concentration above the normal fasting range, the insulin response was inadequate in all cases. Growth hormone levels in the fasting diabetic children were not raised; however, in the nonfasting children whose illness was of greater severity they were raised despite the presence of hyperglycaemia.
Hyponatremia among runners in the Boston Marathon.

BACKGROUND Hyponatremia has emerged as an important cause of race-related death and life-threatening illness among marathon runners. We studied a cohort of marathon runners to estimate the incidence of hyponatremia and to identify the principal risk factors. METHODS Participants in the 2002 Boston Marathon were recruited one or two days before the race. Subjects completed a survey describing demographic information and training history. After the race, runners provided a blood sample and completed a questionnaire detailing their fluid consumption and urine output during the race. Prerace and postrace weights were recorded. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors associated with hyponatremia. RESULTS Of 766 runners enrolled, 488 runners (64 percent) provided a usable blood sample at the finish line. Thirteen percent had hyponatremia (a serum sodium concentration of 135 mmol per liter or less); 0.6 percent had critical hyponatremia (120 mmol per liter or less). On univariate analyses, hyponatremia was associated with substantial weight gain, consumption of more than 3 liters of fluids during the race, consumption of fluids every mile, a racing time of >4:00 hours, female sex, and low body-mass index. On multivariate analysis, hyponatremia was associated with weight gain (odds ratio, 4.2; 95 percent confidence interval, 2.2 to 8.2), a racing time of >4:00 hours (odds ratio for the comparison with a time of <3:30 hours, 7.4; 95 percent confidence interval, 2.9 to 23.1), and body-mass-index extremes. CONCLUSIONS Hyponatremia occurs in a substantial fraction of nonelite marathon runners and can be severe. Considerable weight gain while running, a long racing time, and body-mass-index extremes were associated with hyponatremia, whereas female sex, composition of fluids ingested, and use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs were not.
Secrecy Rate Beamforming for Multi-Cell SWIPT Networks

Considering a multicell network for secure wireless information and power transfer, this paper studies the joint design of transmit beamformers at the base stations (BSs) and receive signal splitting ratios at the end users' equipment (UEs). The primary concern in this work is the network internal security, where there may be a single multi-antenna eavesdropper who eavesdrop on the received signal of any user. The objective is to maximize the minimum secrecy user rate under BS transmit power and UE minimum harvested energy constraints. New path- following algorithm is proposed for computational solution of the difficult nonconvex optimization problem. Each iteration involves one simple convex quadratic program (QP). Numerical results confirm that the proposed algorithm converges quickly after few iterations and the secrecy rate performance is close to that of normal rate in the absence of eavesdropper.
Post-cholecystectomy alkaline reactive gastritis: a randomized trial comparing sucralfate versus rabeprazole or no treatment

Objective At present there are no well-established pharmacological approaches in the management of post-cholecystectomy alkaline reactive gastritis. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of sucralfate versus rabeprazole or no treatment on dyspeptic symptoms and endoscopic/histological signs in a population of patients with a history of cholecystectomy and evidence of alkaline reactive gastritis. Methods Sixty dyspeptic patients fulfilling the following criteria of inclusion took part in this study: (1) a history of cholecystectomy; (2) no use of anti-inflammatory steroidal and non-steroidal drugs, or abuse of alcohol; (3) evidence of abundant gastric bile reflux at endoscopy; (4) endoscopic signs of chronic gastritis; (5) histological signs of chronic gastritis; and (6) absence of Helicobacter pylori infection. Dyspeptic symptoms were evaluated by means of a self-administered validated questionnaire. Patients included in the study were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups for 3 months: sucralfate, rabeprazole, observation. Patients were re-evaluated at the end of the treatment. Results Sucralfate and rabeprazole therapies were both able to significantly reduce epigastric pain, heartburn, bloating and halitosis. Endoscopic/histological signs were lower in both treatment groups compared to the observation group. Conclusion Both sucralfate and rabeprazole therapies are effective treatment options in the patients with alkaline gastritis when compared with observation.
Peritoneal Small Solute Clearance is Nonlinearly Related to Patient Survival in the Australian and New Zealand Peritoneal Dialysis Patient Populations

Background The contribution of peritoneal small solute clearance per se to peritoneal dialysis (PD) patient outcomes remains uncertain. The aim of the present study was to determine whether baseline peritoneal small solute clearance predicted subsequent survival in Australian and New Zealand PD patients. Methods The study included all adult patients in Australia and New Zealand that commenced PD between 1 April 2002 and 31 December 2005 and had a peritoneal Kt/V (pKt/V) measurement performed within 6 months of PD commencement. Time to death and death-censored technique failure were examined by Kaplan–Meier analyses and both univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. Results pKt/V measurements were available in 2434 (63%) of the 3841 individuals that began PD treatment in Australia and New Zealand during the study period. These patients were divided into 4 groups according to their baseline pKt/V values: <1.45 (n = 599), 1.45 – 1.69 (n = 550), 1.70 – 2.00 (n = 607), and >2.00 (n = 678). Compared with the reference group (pKt/V 1.70 – 2.00), patient mortality was significantly increased in individuals with pKt/V <1.45 [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.24 – 2.84; p = 0.003] and tended to be increased in those with pKt/V 1.45 – 1.69 (adjusted HR 1.46, 95% CI 0.96 – 2.21; p = 0.074). Importantly, higher pKt/V values (>2.00) also tended to be associated with higher mortality (adjusted HR 1.42, 95% CI 0.96 – 2.11; p = 0.079). The other independent predictors of death were lower residual renal function (RRF), older age, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, late referral, higher peritoneal permeability, and untreated hypertension. No interaction was observed between pKt/V, RRF, and survival. Death-censored technique failure was demonstrated to be significantly worse in the pKt/V 1.45 – 1.69 group (adjusted HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.03 – 1.79; p = 0.028), older individuals, and individuals with Asian racial origin. Conclusions Initial peritoneal Kt/V significantly and independently influences patient survival in Australian and New Zealand PD patients. Overall survival appears to be optimal in the pKt/V range 1.70 – 2.00, with poorer outcomes observed above and below these values. In particular, survival is significantly worse when the achieved pKt/V is <1.45. In addition, RRF is an important independent predictor of patient survival in the Australian and New Zealand incident PD patient populations. The results of this study should therefore draw attention to the possible danger of not delivering adequate PD dose to patients with considerable RRF.