Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Medication use and predictors of sexual activity in men and women with CVD

Purpose:To examine the influence of cardiac and noncardiac medications on sexual activity by drug classification and generation of the drug, among men and women with cardiovascular disease. Data sources:This study was a subanalysis (n = 224) of survey data from a cross‐sectional sample of 336 cardiac patients. Self‐reported medications were categorized by generic drug name, classification, and subclass and/or generation of the drug. Sexual activity was the presence or absence of current sexual activity in the last 2 months. Conclusions:Patients taking generation one beta blockers, particularly men; diuretics as a class; and loop diuretics, were significantly less likely to be sexually active, with diuretics negatively influencing sexual activity in women, but not men. Certain antidepressant medications positively influenced sexual function, particularly for women. Nearly 20% of the variances in sexual activity were explained by younger age, fewer number of medications, higher education, and having a sexual partner. Implications for practice:A new finding meriting further study was that loop diuretics negatively impacted sexual activity, particularly for women; and further studies of women overall are clearly needed. Advance practice nurses play an important role in evaluating medications, proactively choosing drugs within a class or subclass less likely to cause sexual problems, and in promoting sexual quality of life of cardiac patients.
Observation of a J(PC)=1-+ exotic resonance in diffractive dissociation of 190   GeV/c π- into π- π- π+.

The COMPASS experiment at the CERN SPS has studied the diffractive dissociation of negative pions into the π- π- π+ final state using a 190 GeV/c pion beam hitting a lead target. A partial wave analysis has been performed on a sample of 420,000 events taken at values of the squared 4-momentum transfer t' between 0.1 and 1 GeV2/c2. The well-known resonances a1(1260), a2(1320), and π2(1670) are clearly observed. In addition, the data show a significant natural-parity exchange production of a resonance with spin-exotic quantum numbers J(PC)=1-+ at 1.66 GeV/c2 decaying to ρπ. The resonant nature of this wave is evident from the mass-dependent phase differences to the J(PC)=2-+ and 1++ waves. From a mass-dependent fit a resonance mass of (1660±10(-64)(+0)) MeV/c2 and a width of (269±21(-64)(+42)) MeV/c2 are deduced, with an intensity of (1.7±0.2)% of the total intensity.
Valuing Urban Cultural Heritage in African Countries: A Contingent Valuation Study of Historic Buildings in Port Louis, Mauritius

While economic valuation of cultural goods has expanded as a field of inquiry, few studies have so far focused on urban cultural heritage of African cities, places generally characterized by development pressure but also growing tourism potential. In this paper, we apply Contingent Valuation (CV) method to estimate the economic benefits arising from the preservation and rehabilitation of historic buildings in the city center of Port Louis, Mauritius. By simultaneously analyzing the preferences of both foreign tourists and local residents, the paper investigates differences of two relevant groups of users of historic city centers and discusses the challenge in assessing economic benefits to justify investments in cultural heritage preservation. Moreover, the paper adds evidence on the complex relationship between cultural attitudes toward heritage and economic valuation, revealing conditions and contexts under which the willingness to pay for cultural goods, measured by stated preference methods, might incorporate the cultural value people express on these goods.
Kinetic Studies of Calcium Binding to the Regulatory Site of Troponin C from Cardiac Muscle (*)

We have studied the kinetics of the structural transitions induced by calcium binding to the single, regulatory site of cardiac troponin C by measuring the rates of calcium-mediated fluorescence changes with a monocysteine mutant of the protein (C35S) specifically labeled at Cys-84 with the fluorescent probe 2-[4′-(iodoacetamido)anilino]naphthalene-6-sulfonic acid. At 4°C, the binding kinetics determined in the presence of Mg2+ was resolved into two phases with positive amplitude, which were completed in less than 100 ms. The rate of the fast phase increased linearly with [Ca2+] reaching a maximum of ∼590 s−1, and that of the slow phase was approximately 100 s−1 and did not depend on Ca2+ concentration. Dissociation of bound Ca2+ from the regulatory site occurred with a rate of 102 s−1, whereas the dissociation from the two high affinity sites was about two orders of magnitude slower. These results are consistent with the following scheme for the binding of Ca2+ to the regulatory site: where the asterisks denote states with enhanced fluorescence. The apparent second-order rate constant for calcium binding is Kok1 = 1.4 × 108M−1 s−1. The two first-order transitions occur with observed rates of k1 + k−1 ≈ 590 s−1 and k2 + k−2 ≈ 100 s−1, and the binding of Ca2+ to the regulatory site is not a simple diffusion-controlled reaction. These transitions provide the first information on the rates of Ca2+-induced conformational changes involving helix movements in the regulatory domain.
Employee involvement in Ukrainian companies

This paper examines the hypothesis that the introduction of Western quality standards has brought some development of employee involvement in Ukrainian manufacturing and service companies and analyses the consequences for managements' use of the institutions of employee representation. The subject is pursued through eight case studies, four in a test and four in a control group. Quality developments were driven by top managers and not by human resource (HR) practitioners. In the test companies, managerial hierarchies were flattened and process orientations adopted; training was increased; communication was improved and in some cases teamwork was established. These developments were largely absent in the four control cases. The consequences for employee representative institutions are examined. In three cases, management revived the previously anachronistic ‘Assembly of the Working Collective’ as an employee involvement tool, thereby demonstrating a preference for picking workplace institutions ‘off the path’ for adaptation rather than either using unions or limiting involvement to non-institutional modes.
Coeliac disease in South Asians resident in Britain: comparison with white Caucasian coeliac patients

Background The catchment population of our hospital is ethnically diverse and we have seen a number of patients of South Asian origin with coeliac disease. We have suspected that there are differences compared with white Caucasian coeliacs, especially with respect to iron-deficiency anaemia and vitamin D deficiency at presentation. Aims To compare the clinical and laboratory features of South Asian adult coeliac patients with adult white Caucasian coeliacs. Methods We reviewed the notes of patients attending the adult coeliac clinic over the past 10 years. All patients were older than 16 years at diagnosis. There were 40 South Asians and 90 white Caucasians. Symptoms, haematology, biochemistry, endomysial antibody status, HLA alleles and small bowel histology at presentation were compared between the two racial groups. Results There were significant differences between the racial groups. South Asians were younger at presentation than the Caucasian patients (mean age 27 years compared with 47 years respectively, P<0.0001); they were less likely to have ‘irritable bowel syndrome’ symptoms (P<0.01), but more likely to have features of vitamin D deficiency (P<0.03). Their haemoglobin (P<0.05), mean cell volume (P<0.0004), serum iron (P<0.01), transferrin saturation (P<0.05), serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (P<0.002), and levels were lower, while serum alkaline phosphatase levels were higher (P<0.04) than in white Caucasian coeliac patients. There were no differences with respect to serum folate, vitamin B12, serum calcium, alanine aminotransferase and small bowel histology. IgA class endomysial antibody positivity was similar in the two groups (88.5% for South Asians compared with 73.5% for white Caucasians). White Caucasian patients were significantly more likely to be DQ2-positive than the South Asian patients (97.2% compared with 83.3%, P=0.02). Conclusion South Asians with coeliac disease are less likely to present with ‘irritable bowel syndrome’ symptoms, but more likely to have features of vitamin D deficiency and iron deficiency, and have a higher alkaline phosphatase than white Caucasians. The differences in HLA alleles seen in South Asians with coeliac disease compared with white Caucasian patients suggests that among the South Asians, non-HLA regions may play a stronger role in disease susceptibility and presentation.
AGNP consensus guidelines for therapeutic drug monitoring in psychiatry: update 2011.

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), i. e. , the quantification of serum or plasma concentrations of medications for dose optimization, has proven a valuable tool for the patient-matched psychopharmacotherapy. Uncertain drug adherence, suboptimal tolerability, non-response at therapeutic doses, or pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions are typical situations when measurement of medication concentrations is helpful. Patient populations that may predominantly benefit from TDM in psychiatry are children, pregnant women, elderly patients, individuals with intelligence disabilities, forensic patients, patients with known or suspected genetically determined pharmacokinetic abnormalities or individuals with pharmacokinetically relevant comorbidities. However, the potential benefits of TDM for optimization of pharmacotherapy can only be obtained if the method is adequately integrated into the clinical treatment process. To promote an appropriate use of TDM, the TDM expert group of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Neuropsychopharmakologie und Pharmakopsychiatrie (AGNP) issued guidelines for TDM in psychiatry in 2004. Since then, knowledge has advanced significantly, and new psychopharmacologic agents have been introduced that are also candidates for TDM. Therefore the TDM consensus guidelines were updated and extended to 128 neuropsychiatric drugs. 4 levels of recommendation for using TDM were defined ranging from “strongly recommended” to “potentially useful”. Evidence-based “therapeutic reference ranges” and “dose related reference ranges” were elaborated after an extensive literature search and a structured internal review process. A “laboratory alert level” was introduced, i. e. , a plasma level at or above which the laboratory should immediately inform the treating physician. Supportive information such as cytochrome P450 substrate and inhibitor properties of medications, normal ranges of ratios of concentrations of drug metabolite to parent drug and recommendations for the interpretative services are given. Recommendations when to combine TDM with pharmacogenetic tests are also provided. Following the guidelines will help to improve the outcomes of psychopharmacotherapy of many patients especially in case of pharmacokinetic problems. Thereby, one should never forget that TDM is an interdisciplinary task that sometimes requires the respectful discussion of apparently discrepant data so that, ultimately, the patient can profit from such a joint eff ort.
Income distribution dynamics among Italian provinces. The role of Bank Foundations

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the convergence process and the distribution dynamics of income among Italian NUTS-3 provinces between 2003 and 2011. Findings show the existence of multiple steady-state equilibria which is consistent with the well-documented persistence in income disparities among Italian provinces. The role of grant-making activities by Bank Foundations is assessed on a conditioning scheme. Results suggest that Bank Foundations can affect the shape of the distribution of income and, in the long run, reduce polarization with a tendency for income to collapse towards a unimodal distribution.
Mercury in a spanish peat bog: archive of climate change and atmospheric metal deposition

A peat core from a bog in northwest Spain provides a record of the net accumulation of atmospheric mercury since 4000 radiocarbon years before the present. It was found that cold climates promoted an enhanced accumulation and the preservation of mercury with low thermal stability, and warm climates were characterized by a lower accumulation and the predominance of mercury with moderate to high thermal stability. This record can be separated into natural and anthropogenic components. The substantial anthropogenic mercury component began approximately 2500 radiocarbon years before the present, which is near the time of the onset of mercury mining in Spain. Anthropogenic mercury has dominated the deposition record since the Islamic period (8th to 11th centuries A.D.). The results shown here have implications for the global mercury cycle and also imply that the thermal lability of the accumulated mercury can be used not only to quantify the effects of human activity, but also as a new tool for quantitative paleotemperature reconstruction.
Potential risks, prognostic indicators, and diagnostic and treatment modalities affecting survival in dogs with presumptive aspiration pneumonia: 125 cases (2005-2008).

OBJECTIVE To evaluate a clinical population of dogs diagnosed with presumptive aspiration pneumonia (AP) and determine diagnostic and treatment modalities contributing to survival. DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING A university veterinary teaching hospital in an urban setting. ANIMALS One hundred and twenty-five dogs with presumed AP treated from 2005 to 2008. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Dogs with presumptive AP identified by a review of medical records had an overall survival of 81.6% (102/125). Male large-breed dogs (mean 24.9 kg; 82/125) were overrepresented and were more likely to develop AP in this study population. Recent anesthesia had been performed in 16% (20/125), and vomiting was reported in 64% (80/125). The most common radiographic findings were a predominantly alveolar pattern (187/272, [68.8%] total lung lobes) in the right middle lung lobe (80/115, [69.6%]). A mean of 2 lung lobes were involved radiographically, and the relationship between survival and the number of lung lobes affected was statistically significant (P=0.04). Neutrophilia with a left shift was common with no significant change on consecutive daily evaluations. The mean PaO(2) was 77.7 mm Hg (SD, 17.5 mm Hg) (range, 40.7-100 mm Hg) with a median alveolar-arterial gradient of 41.1 mm Hg (range, 8.1-81.8 mm Hg). In this study population, 37.6% (47/125) of dogs had microbial cultures performed and of these, 76.6% (36/47) were positive for growth; Escherichia coli (38.8%), Mycoplasma spp. (21.3%), Pasturella spp. (19.1%), and Staphylococcus spp. (17%) were the most common isolates in either single or multiagent infections. No treatment modality was statistically associated with increased survival. Colloid therapy was a negative prognostic indicator. CONCLUSIONS In this study the overall prognosis for AP was good. Patients with only 1 affected lung lobe appeared more likely to survive. Supportive treatment modalities are warranted for the hospitalized patient, although no individual treatment method was found to be clearly superior to others.
Zyflamend sensitizes tumor cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis through up-regulation of death receptors and down-regulation of survival proteins: role of ROS-dependent CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-homologous protein pathway.

AIM TNF (tumor necrosis factor)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), is a selective killer of tumor cells, although its potential is limited by the development of resistance. In this article, we investigated whether the polyherbal preparation Zyflamend(®) can sensitize tumor cells to TRAIL. RESULTS We found that Zyflamend potentiated TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human cancer cells. Zyflamend manifested its effects through several mechanisms. First, it down-regulated the expression of cell survival proteins known to be linked to resistance to TRAIL. Second, Zyflamend up-regulated the expression of pro-apoptotic protein, Bax. Third, Zyflamend up-regulated the expression of death receptors (DRs) for TRAIL. Up-regulation of DRs was critical as gene-silencing of these receptors significantly reduced the effect of Zyflamend on TRAIL-induced apoptosis. The up-regulation of DRs was dependent on CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-homologous protein (CHOP), as Zyflamend induced CHOP, its gene-silencing abolished the induction of receptors, and mutation of the CHOP binding site on DR5 promoter abolished Zyflamend-mediated DR5 transactivation. Zyflamend mediated its effects through reactive oxygen species (ROS), as ROS quenching reduced its effect. Further, Zyflamend induced DR5 and CHOP and down-regulated the expression of cell survival proteins in nude mice bearing human pancreatic cancer cells. INNOVATION Zyflamend can sensitize tumor cells to TRAIL through modulation of multiple cell signaling mechanisms that are linked to ROS. CONCLUSION Zyflamend potentiates TRAIL-induced apoptosis through the ROS-CHOP-mediated up-regulation of DRs, increase in pro-apoptotic protein and down-regulation of cell survival proteins.
Remethylation at sites 5' of the murine Lyt-2 gene in association with shutdown of Lyt-2 expression.

We have used hybridomas made by fusing the Lyt-2- AKR thymoma, BW5147, to Lyt-2+ SJL/J lymph node cells to study the regulation of Lyt-2 expression. Fusions of this type yielded hybridomas, the majority of which failed to express Lyt-2. In the minority of hybridomas that did express surface Lyt-2, expression was transient and greatly diminished in terms of molecules of Lyt-2 per cell. Lack of Lyt-2 expression was not due to loss of the gene encoding this cell surface molecule; rather, negative regulation of Lyt-2 appeared to be at the level of transcription (i.e., no Lyt-2 transcripts were detected in these hybridomas). We have shown that the Lyt-2 gene is undermethylated in normal Lyt-2+ T cells, whereas the gene is heavily methylated in Lyt-2- liver cells and in BW5147. Loss of Lyt-2 expression in (BW5147 x Lyt-2+ SJL/J lymph node cell) hybridomas was associated with remethylation of DNA within the Lyt-2 gene and at sites 5' of the Lyt-2 gene.
Adult Height Distribution in Subjects Born Small for Gestational Age

The aim of the study was to investigate the post-natal growth of subjects born small for gestational age (SGA) by describing adult height distribution and by testing the effects of parental, neonatal and pregnancy-related parameters on the risk for adult short stature. The study population was made of adults selected on birth data from a maternity registry and born either small (SGA, n = 734, birth weight <10th percentile) or appropriate for gestational age (AGA, n = 886, 25th < birth weight <75th percentile) in whom anthropometric parameters were measured at 22 years of age. The SGA group demonstrated significantly reduced body size in comparison to the AGA group with a mean loss of 0.7 standard deviation (SD) in adult height. The frequency of adult short stature (<–2 SD) was 10.3% in the SGA group vs. 2.4% in the AGA group (p = 0.0001), adult height <–2.5 SD was observed in only 3.7% of the SGA group. Maternal (OR = 0.31 (0.16–0.62), p = 0.0001) and paternal (OR = 0.45 (0.31–0.67), p = 0.0001) heights and subjects birth length (OR = 0.78 (0.62–0.99), p = 0.04) significantly influenced the risk of adult short stature. In summary, post-natal growth defect remains moderate in the majority of subjects born SGA and <4% only will end up with severe short stature requiring GH therapy according to most current recommendations. The role of parental height and birth length suggests that adult short stature in SGA subjects results at least in some cases from a familial and likely genetic growth disorder with antenatal onset.
Paediatric surgical pathology - a profile of cases from Western India and review of literature.

AIM The paediatric surgical pathology specimens manifest a wide spectrum of morphological and histological features. The present work has been undertaken to know the prevalence and to describe the profile of paediatric surgical pathology specimens from western India as seen in Ahmedabad, India from 2008 to 2010. MATERIALS AND METHODS We reviewed 140 paediatric surgical specimens, 118 specimens rendered definitive diagnosis were included for the analysis. Cases were divided in two groups, one of developmental and congenital conditions and another of acquired lesions. RESULTS This study included 118 patients of which 79.3 % were male and 20.7 % were female. Age range of the patients was one day to twelve years. Children of one month to one year age group (infants) were the most vulnerable (31.3% cases). Group of developmental and congenital conditions consisted of 45.7% cases where as 55.3 % cases were of acquired lesions. Gastrointestinal tract was most frequently affected organ (43.2%) followed by head and neck region (14.4%) and testis (7.6%). Hirschsprung's disease (HD) cases (6.7%) were commonest among the group of developmental and congenital conditions followed by juvenile polyps of colon (5%), Meckel's diverticulum of small intestine (5%) and neural tube defect (5%). In acquired lesions, Appendicitis was the most frequent lesion (21.2%) followed by haemorrhagic infarct of testis due to torsion (5%) and intussuception of intestine (5%). Malignant cases were (4.2%) and the most common cancer was yolk sac tumour. CONCLUSION Paediatric surgical specimens, unlike adults, represent significant number of developmental and congenital conditions in addition to acquired lesions; accounting for wide spectrum of morphological and histological features. Study provides insight into the trends of paediatric surgical lesions in the western region of India.
Sustained Antiresorptive Effects After a Single Treatment With Human Recombinant Osteoprotegerin (OPG): A Pharmacodynamic and Pharmacokinetic Analysis in Rats

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a naturally occurring negative regulator of osteoclast differentiation, activation, and survival. We created a recombinant form of human OPG (rhOPG), with a sustained serum half‐life, to achieve prolonged antiresorptive activity. This study describes the rapid and sustained antiresorptive effects that are achieved with a single treatment with rhOPG. Male Sprague‐Dawley rats (10 weeks old) were given a single bolus intravenous injection of vehicle (PBS) or rhOPG (5 mg/kg). PBS‐ and rhOPG‐treated rats (n = 6/group) were killed at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 30 days post‐treatment. rhOPG‐treated rats were compared with their age‐matched controls. The main pharmacologic effect of rhOPG was a rapid (24 h) reduction in osteoclast surface in the tibia, which reached a nadir on days 5 and 10 (95% reduction vs. vehicle controls). Osteoclast surface remained significantly reduced 30 days after the single treatment with rhOPG. Tibial cancellous bone volume was significantly increased within 5 days of rhOPG treatment (23%) and reached a peak increase of 58% on day 30. Femoral bone mineral density was significantly increased in rhOPG‐treated rats on days 10 and 20. Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed that serum concentrations of rhOPG remained at measurable levels throughout the 30‐day study. These data show that a single intravenous injection of rhOPG in young growing rats causes significant gains in bone volume and density, which are associated with rapid and sustained suppression of osteoclastic bone resorption.