Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Activation of human platelet-rich plasmas: effect on growth factors release, cell division and in vivo bone formation.

OBJECTIVES Aims of this controlled study were to determine the effects of activated human platelet-rich plasmas (PRPs) on early and mature bone formation in vivo, and to characterize the effect of PRP activation on growth factors release and endothelial cell division in vitro. MATERIAL AND METHODS PRPs were prepared from four volunteers with the platelet concentrate collector system (PCCS) system and activated with three concentrations of calcium and thrombin. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) levels released in supernatants were measured by ELISA, at time 0, 1h, 24h and 6 days following PRP activation. Mitogenic potential of PRP supernatants were tested on endothelial cells in vitro, and the effects of activated human PRPs on bone formation in vivo were measured in athymic rats by micro-CT analyses. RESULTS Activation of PRPs with calcium and thrombin triggered an immediate release of VEGF, PDGF-BB and TGF-beta and a delayed release of IL-1beta in PRP supernatants. Higher endothelial cell division was observed with supernatants from activated PRPs than from non-activated PRPs. Positive correlations were observed between VEGF levels and endothelial cell division and bone formation. A negative correlation was also found between PDGF-BB concentration and bone formation. However, early and mature bone formations with activated PRPs did not significantly differ from the ones obtained in the control group. CONCLUSIONS Activation of PRPs with calcium and thrombin regulates growth factors release and endothelial cell division in vitro. However, activated PRPs does not improve the early or mature bone formations in vivo in this athymic rat model.
Space-Time Coding versus Repetition Coding for Free-Space Optical Communication

In this paper, we investigate spatial diversity techniques for free-space optical (FSO) links with intensity modulation and direct detection (IM/DD) over log-normal atmospheric turbulence-induced fading channels. We consider the deployment of space-time block codes and repetition codes. Our performance analysis demonstrates that although both schemes are able to extract full diversity, repetition codes outperform their counterparts. The performance gap increases as the number of transmit apertures increases. Our findings clearly point out that deployment of space-time coding is not necessary for a FSO IM/DD link.
First Version : May , 2004 Current Version : August , 2004 Corporate Governance , Risk-Taking and Growth

∗ William Gerstenberg Professor of Banking and Finance, Stern School of Business, New York University, Tel: (212) 9980337, Fax: (212) 995-4233, Email: kjohn@stern.nyu. edu ** Doctoral student, Stern School of Business, New York University, Tel: (212) 998-0883, Fax: (212) 995-4218, Email: llitov@stern.nyu. edu *** Abraham Krasnoff Professor in Global Business, Economics, and Management at Stern School of Business, New York University, Tel: (212) 998-0425, Fax: (212) 995-4221, Email: byeung@stern.nyu. edu
The Accuracy of Coagulation Tests During Spinal Fusion and Instrumentation

Patients undergoing major spine surgery may acquire a perioperative coagulopathy from dilution of coagulation factors and/or platelets or fibrinolysis. The mechanisms of the coagulopathy and role of coagulation testing during these procedures are poorly defined. Theoretically, coagulation tests could be used perioperatively to determine which patients are at risk for significant bleeding and guide transfusion therapy. We retrospectively evaluated the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of coagulation tests in predicting excessive surgical bleeding in 244 consecutive patients undergoing thoracic, lumbar, or sacral spinal fusion with or without instrumentation. Excessive bleeding was reported by the surgeon in 39 of the patients and was defined as recurrent microvascular bleeding despite adequate use of electrocautery and suture or decreased clot formation of blood pooled within the surgical field. Patients with excessive clinical bleeding sustained larger estimated blood losses than those with normal hemostasis. The total number of allogeneic red blood cells, platelets, and fresh frozen plasma units were also larger in patients with excessive bleeding noted during surgery. The intraoperative coagulation tests with the most sensitivity and specificity were the international normalized ratio (INR), prothrombin time (PT), and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). The INR had a sensitivity of 94%, a specificity of 88%, and an accuracy of 0.9 at a value of 1.4 (normal, 0.8–1.2). The PT had a sensitivity of 90%, a specificity of 64%, and an accuracy of 0.73 at a value of 13.5 s (normal, 8.4–12.0 s). The aPTT had a sensitivity of 85%, a specificity of 64%, and an accuracy of 0.71 at a value of 30.9 s (normal, 23–37 s). The thromboelastogram values were of marginal use. We conclude that the INR, PT, and aPTT may be helpful in guiding transfusion therapy in patients undergoing major spine surgery.
Prosocial Behavior Across Professional Boundaries: Experimental Evidence From Hospitals

Differences in social status might impede teamwork and cooperation among health professionals. Against this background, we study the social interaction between health professionals using a simple experimental tool from behavioral economics (the dictator game). In our setup, physicians, nurses, and student nurses had to allocate monetary endowments between themselves and recipients, whereby the professional status of the recipient (physician, nurse, and student nurse) was varied. This way, we obtain insights into the prosocial motives of health professionals. Our results indicate a considerable amount of pure altruistic concern for the welfare of others among health practitioners, which also reaches across professional boundaries. These findings put concerns expressed in the literature on the doctor–nurse relationship such as a potential lack of team identity, in-group favoritism, and overly strict hierarchies along professional boundaries into perspective. Our study also paves the way for further experimental research on the relationship between social status and cooperation in the medical sector.
MEDICINAL PLANTS USED FOR THE TREATMENT OF DIABETES IN TURKEY

Diabetes mellitus, dunya nufusunun %2.8’ ini etkileyen en yaygin metabolik bozukluklardan biridir. 2025 yilinda bu oranin yanlis beslenme aliskanliklari ve artan obeziteye bagli olarak %5.4 (300 milyon) olacagi tahmin edilmektedir. Son yillarda toplumda onemli bir saglik sorunu haline gelen olan diyabet uzerinde yapilan arastirmalar hizla artmaktadir. Bunun yaninda tibbi bitkiler ilac arastirmalarinda dogrudan ya da dolayli olarak her zaman kaynak olmuslardir. Yapilan literatur taramalari geleneksel tipta pek cok bitkinin antidiyabetik amacli kullanildigini gostermektedir. Hipoglisemik aktiviteye sahip 400’ den fazla bitki turu literaturde tanimlanmistir. 30.000 bitki turuyle dunyanin en zengin floralarindan biri olan Turkiye florasi geleneksel tipta antidiyabetik olarak kullanilan cok sayida bitki icermektedir. Bu bitkiler en cok Rosaceae, Lamiaceae ve Asteraceae familyalarinda toplanmis olup, en yaygin kullanilan turler Cerasus mahaleb, Rosa canina, Teucrium polium, Urtica dioica ve Viscum album olarak belirlenmistir
Temperature and stress tuning characteristics of long-period gratings imprinted in Panda fiber

Temperature and stress tunabilities of long-period Bragg gratings imprinted in Panda fiber are presented in this letter. It is shown that the temperature and strain response of the resonance peaks for fast and slow axes are different not only in their magnitudes but also in the signs of the slope. Furthermore, the characteristics for different order modes are different both in magnitudes and signs. The complicated phenomena are discussed by using a simplified model.
Antigen preservation in microwave‐irradiated tissues: A comparison with formaldehyde fixation

A wide range of immunoreactive antigens commonly investigated in diagnostic pathology were evaluated in tissues subjected to fixation by microwave irradiation in normal saline to 63°C. All of the 23 antigens studied were well preserved and compared with corresponding tissues conventionally fixed by formaldehyde for periods of 16 and 18 h, respectively, immunostaining in microwave‐irradiated tissues was clearly superior, being more intense and also more extensive. Proteolytic digestion was not necessary for irradiated tissues except for the staining of cytokeratins and desmin. It was also possible to stain for Leu‐14 (CD22) and Leu‐1 (CD5), whereas these lymphocyte antigens were lost during formaldehyde fixation. Cytomorphological details were well preserved in the rapidly‐fixed irradiated tissues.
Exponential stability of uncertain time-delayed systems

This paper provides a new criterion for exponential stability (with guaranteed decay rate) of a class of uncertain systems with multiple time-varying delays and nonlinear uncertainties by utilizing Halanay inequality. Time delays in this paper are assumed to be bounded and arbitrarily time-varying. Our results are less conservative and easier to check than some existing ones. A numerical example is provided to illustrate our main results.
Combination Therapy of Calcium Channel Blocker and Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker Reduces Augmentation Index in Hypertensive Patients

Introduction:The optimal combination treatment for hypertension has not been established. We investigated the effect of a calcium channel blocker or a diuretic added to angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) on the augmentation index (AI), as a marker of arterial stiffness and wave reflection, in hypertensive patients. Methods:Thirty-seven patients treated with ARBs were randomly allocated to either of the 2 groups receiving an ARB plus azelnidipine (AZ group) or trichlormethiazide (TCM group). Changes in brachial blood pressure (BP), AI, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and serum asymmetric dimethylarginine, as an endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, were determined. Results:Systolic and diastolic blood pressure after 6 months were significantly reduced in both the groups similarly; however, after adjustment for baseline covariates, the extent of the reduction in AI (%) in the AZ group was significantly greater than in the TCM group (between-group difference was 3.2; 95%CI: 0.2–6.3; P = 0.03). The reduction of high-sensitive C-reactive protein (mg/L) and serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (&mgr;mol/L) was significantly greater in the AZ group than in the TCM group (between-group difference was 0.18 and 0.05; 95%CI: −0.01 to 0.36 and −0.01 to 0.11; P = 0.04 and 0.02, respectively). Further, when patients were analyzed according to age younger than 60 years or older than 60 years, the reduction in AI in the AZ group aged older than 60 years was significantly greater than in the TCM group. Conclusion:The results suggest that azelnidipine has a more beneficial effect on vascular properties in combination therapy with ARB than trichlormethiazide.
Efeito de sessão aguda de Pilates no solo e na água sobre a glicemia de mulheres portadoras de diabetes tipo 2

Objetivo: Comparar o efeito de exercicios de Pilates realizados no solo (PS) e na agua (PA) sobre a glicemia de mulheres portadoras de diabetes tipo 2 (DM2). Metodos: Oito voluntarias (62,4 ± 7,9 anos) realizaram uma sessao de PS, PA e controle (CO) com duracao de 30 min. A glicemia foi mensurada durante o repouso pre-sessao, imediatamente apos (IA), aos 15 e 30 min da sessao e aos 15 min de recuperacao apos a sessao (15’rec). Resultados: Reducao significativa (p < 0,05) da glicemia foi observada na sessao PA nos momentos IA (-41 mg/dl) e aos 15’rec (-57 mg/dl) quando comparada com o repouso pre-sessao. Porem, o mesmo nao foi observado na sessao PS. Conclusao: A sessao de PA durante 30 min promoveu reducao da glicemia capilar durante e nos primeiros 15’rec em mulheres portadoras de DM2, enquanto que a sessao PS nao. Palavras-chave: diabetes mellitus, Pilates, glicemia.
Statin therapy is associated with improved survival in incident peritoneal dialysis patients: propensity-matched comparison.

BACKGROUND Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have a greatly increased risk of premature cardiovascular disease. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients have more atherogenic lipid profiles than haemodialysis patients. In this retrospective cohort study, we evaluated whether statin use is associated with improved mortality in incident PD patients. METHODS The study population included consecutive new PD patients (≥18 years old) from seven PD centres in Korea, between January 2003 and December 2008. The clinical outcome was mortality. A propensity score (PS) comprising demographic, clinical and laboratory variables was used to select a 1:1 matched cohort. RESULTS Statins were prescribed for 37.8% of incident PD patients. Cumulative survival probabilities for statin user versus non-user were 87 versus 80% and 76 versus 69% at 3 and 5 years, respectively (P = 0.01). Statin prescription was associated with a 41% lower adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of death in the unmatched cohort [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.42-0.82; P = 0.002]. The protective effect of statins was also observed in a subgroup analysis of patients with diabetic ESRD (HR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.36-0.80; P = 0.002). After PS matching, the use of statins was also associated with improved survival (HR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.38-0.79; P = 0.001) in incident PD patients. CONCLUSIONS The use of statins was associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality. This association was independent of a history of cardiovascular disease or total cholesterol level. Future randomized clinical trials are warranted to confirm the beneficial effect of statin on PD patients.
CHEMICAL STABILITY OF 2′-DEOXY-5-METHYLISOCYTIDINE DURING OLIGODEOXYNUCLEOTIDE SYNTHESIS AND DEPROTECTION

ABSTRACT Previous studies have encountered difficulties with degradation of some isocytidine derivatives during solid-phase synthesis and deprotection of oligonucleotides. Here we investigate the degradation of a commonly used derivative, 2′-deoxy-5-methylisocytidine, during oligodeoxynucleotide synthesis and deprotection. A small, but detectable amount of hydrolytic deamination occurred at ca. 0.5% of 2′-deoxy-5-methyliso-cytidine residues using routine synthesis and deprotection conditions. Depyrimidination, or cleavage of the glycosylic bond, occurred to a far lesser extent during alkaline deprotection than previously suggested. In contrast to model studies of nucleoside monomers, significant depyrimidination was not observed, even at extended incubation times.
Rollvection versus linearvection: Comparison of brain activations in PET

We conducted a PET study to directly compare the differential effects of visual motion stimulation that induced either rollvection about the line of sight or forward linearvection along this axis in the same subjects. The main question was, whether the areas that respond to vection are identical or separate and distinct for rollvection and linearvection. Eleven healthy volunteers were exposed to large‐field (100° × 60°) visual motion stimulation consisting of (1) dots accelerating from a focus of expansion to the edge of the screen (forward linearvection) and (2) dots rotating counterclockwise in the frontal plane (clockwise rollvection). These two stimuli, which induced apparent self‐motion in all subjects, were compared to each other and to a stationary visual pattern. Linearvection and rollvection led to bilateral activations of visual areas including medial parieto‐occipital (PO), occipito‐temporal (MT/V5), and ventral occipital (fusiform gyri) cortical areas, as well as superior parietal sites. Activations in the polar visual cortex around the calcarine sulcus (BA 17, BA 18) were larger and more significant during linearvection. Temporo‐parietal sites displayed higher activity levels during rollvection. Differential activation of PO or MT/V5 was not found. Both stimuli led to simultaneous deactivations of retroinsular regions (more pronounced during linearvection); this is compatible with an inhibitory interaction between the visual and the vestibular systems for motion perception. Hum. Brain Mapp. 21:143–153, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Functional Characterization of Novel Alternatively Spliced ClC-2 Chloride Channel Variants in the Heart*

A novel volume-regulated hyperpolarization-activated chloride inward rectifier channel (Cl.ir) was identified in mammalian heart. To investigate whether ClC-2 is the gene encoding Cl.ir channels in heart, ClC-2 cDNAs cloned from rat (rClC-2) and guinea pig (gpClC-2) hearts were functionally characterized. When expressed in NIH/3T3 cells, full-length rClC-2 yielded inwardly rectifying whole-cell currents with very slow activation kinetics (time constants > 1.7 s) upon hyperpolarization under hypotonic condition. The single-channel rClC-2 currents had a unitary slope conductance of 3.9 ± 0.2 picosiemens. A novel variant with an in-frame deletion at the beginning of exon 15 that leads to a deletion of 45 bp (corresponding to 15 amino acids in α-helices O and P, rClC-2Δ509–523) was identified in rat heart. The relative transcriptional expression levels of full-length rClC-2 and rClC-2Δ509–523 in rat heart were 0.018 ± 0.003 and 0.028 ± 0.006 arbitrary units, respectively, relative to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (n = 5, p = nonsignificant). A similar partial exon 15 skipping with a deletion of 105 bp (35 amino acids in α-helices O-Q, gpClC-2Δ509–543) was also identified in guinea pig heart. Expression of both rClC-2Δ509–523 and gpClC-2Δ509–543 resulted in functional channels with phenotypic activation kinetics and many properties identical to those of endogenous Cl.ir channels in native rat and guinea pig cardiac myocytes, respectively. Intracellular dialysis of anti-ClC-2 antibody inhibited expressed ClC-2 channels and endogenous Cl.ir currents in native rat and guinea pig cardiac myocytes. These results demonstrate that novel deletion variants of ClC-2 due to partial exon 15 skipping may be expressed normally in heart and contribute to the formation of endogenous Cl.ir channels in native cardiac cells.
Seed longevity and dormancy state in an invasive tree species: Ailanthus altissima (Simaroubaceae)1

Abstract. Successional tree species often form soil seedbanks, suggesting that extended seed dormancy may also facilitate regeneration in nonnative species. We examined seed dormancy in Ailanthus altissima, which is currently spreading into long-established forests of Europe and eastern North America. Ailanthus seeds were sewn into replicated nylon mesh bags and buried in 10 second-growth stands in southeast Ohio, USA. North- and south-facing slopes were included as a coarse-grained test for environmental control. Bags were recovered at 2-mo intervals and seeds were tested for viability and germination. Fifty percent of Ailanthus seeds survived the full length of the study (24 mo) after an initial phase of partial germination (51–79% of viable seeds). Remaining seeds returned to a state of induced dormancy, allowing a second flush of germination (3–28%) after 18 mo. After the first 5 mo no further decline in seed number was observed, suggesting persistence in the soil well beyond the 2-yr length of this study. No slope-aspect effect was observed. Long-term seed dormancy potentially facilitates Ailanthus invasion by buffering against extended canopy closure or allowing passive dispersal with movement of soil. Complete eradication of a population will depend on elimination of the soil seed bank, which may require many years. Management should avoid creating canopy openings near existing populations with the goal of suppressing sexual reproduction and seedling establishment.
Opioid Therapy for Chronic Noncancer Back Pain: A Randomized Prospective Study

Study Design. A randomized, open, long‐term, repeated‐dose comparison of an anti‐inflammatory drug and two opioid regimens in 36 patients with back pain. Objectives. To examine the long‐term safety and efficacy of chronic opioid therapy in a randomized trial of patients with back pain. Methods. All participants underwent a 4‐week washout period of no opioid medication before being randomly assigned to one of three treatment regimens for 16 weeks: 1) naproxen only, 2) set‐dose oxycodone, or 3) titrated‐dose oxycodone and sustained‐release morphine sulfate. All patients then were assigned to a titrated dose of opioids for 16 weeks and then gradually tapered off their medication for 12 weeks. Finally, all participants were monitored for a 1‐month posttreatment washout period. Each patient was called once a week for a report on pain, activity, mood, medication, hours awake, and adverse effects and was monitored carefully for signs of abuse and noncompliance. Results. Weekly reports during the experimental phase showed the titrated‐dose group to have less pain (P < 0.001) and less emotional distress (P < 0.001) than the other two groups. Both opioid groups were significantly different from the naproxen‐only group. During the titration phase, patients also reported significantly less pain and improved mood. Few differences were found in activity or hours asleep, or between average pretreatment and posttreatment phone‐interview and questionnaire variables. No adverse events occurred and only one participant showed signs of abuse behavior. Conclusions. The results suggest that opioid therapy has a positive effect on pain and mood but little effect on activity and sleep. Opioid therapy for chronic back pain was used without significant risk of abuse. However, tapered‐off opioid treatment is palliative and without long‐term benefit.
Characterization of asphaltic oil occurrences from the southeastern margin of the Basque-Cantabrian Basin, Spain

A geochemical investigation has been undertaken on biodegraded hydrocarbons in outcropping reservoirs of the south-eastern margin of the Basque-Cantabrian Basin (Alava sector). The aims of the study were the characterization of the geochemical features and biodegradation level of these hydrocarbons, and the evaluation of their resemblance to oils from the Ayoluengo onshore oil field by means of isotopic analyses and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques. Most of the samples lack n-alkanes, isoprenoids, low molecular weight aromatic compounds, steranes, homohopanes, diasteranes and triaromatic steroids, whereas hexacyclic and heptacyclic alkanes appear as key compounds although some structures were not totally elucidated. Thermal maturity has been assessed with several parameters and a calculated-equivalent vitrinite reflectance value of around 0.8% was estimated. In addition, gammacerane content, diasterane-to-sterane ratio and C35 to C34 hopanes ratio suggest that the Alava oil shows were derived from a carbonate rock deposited in a reducing, water-stratified and possibly hypersaline environment. Isotopic signatures and other data confirmed that these hydrocarbons are not genetically related to the oils from Ayoluengo and, consequently, their origin is associated with a yet unknown source rock in the basin.