Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Experimental Investigations in the Endocrinology of Schizophrenia

IT is not our intention to propose-as the title might suggest-that schizophrenia is an endocrine disorder, but from our work and that of others, there is sufficient evidence to encourage search for endocrinological relationships. It is, however, difficult to find case material that is clinically homogeneous. At first we endeavoured to select our cases because of psychiatric similarity, but, as we have found evidence that cases with an apparently identical clinical picture may have dissimilar physiological patterns, we are endeavouring to classify cases according to physiological patterns, and thereby to specify categories of schizophrenia. The paranoid form of schizophrenia has been excluded from this study. There must be general dissatisfaction in grouping under the clinical label of schizophrenia cases of unknown vtiology, similar in prognosis and perhaps psychopathology, but with little else in common and many points of individual variation. Although it is far from certain that the schizophrenic illnesses ofadolescence have the same origin as those of early adult life or following the puerperium, the only accepted treatment for all types is either the production of extreme physiological stress (as in the shock therapies) or creation of a new neural integration (as in leucotomy). Therefore the indications for and results of treatment should be susceptible to expression in physiological and biological terms. From the enormous literature on the subject, containing so many facts and so few conclusions, it would seem that this hope is not likely ever to be fulfilled. By and large, all workers have reported physiological abnormalities in a proportion of all cases investigated, but there has been no success in correlating these abnormalities with the clinical appearances. Unless the pathophysiological phenomena are unrelated to the disorder (which is unlikely), this lack of success is either because the polymorphism of the disease group defeats study, or because in the disease group are different entities treated as one illness, the psychiatric diagnosis acting as a mask, or because the physiological behaviour of individuals is subject to unpredictable variation.
Longitudinal rotating frame relaxation time measurements in infarcted mouse myocardium in vivo

Longitudinal relaxation time in the rotating frame (T1ρ) was measured using continuous wave irradiation in normal and infarcted mouse myocardium in vivo. Significant increase in T1ρ was found after 7 days of infarction when compared with reference myocardium or in myocardium before infarction. Cine MRI and histology were performed to verify the severity of infarction. The time course of T1ρ in the infarct fits better with granulation and scar tissue formation than necrosis and edema. The results of the study show that T1ρ could potentially be a noninvasive quantitative marker for tissue remodeling after ischemic damage. Magn Reson Med, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Stepwise and Combination Drug Therapy for the Treatment of NIDDM

Pharmacological therapy for patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is finally maturing into a rational discipline in which its primary goal is to prevent marked morbidity and increased mortality, which have been the hallmarks of this ubiquitous disease. Several major scientific advances have been responsible for this change. It has been unequivocally demonstrated that the level of glycemic control has a direct and perhaps linear relationship to the development and progression of retinopathy in both insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and NIDDM patients (1-3) and to the development and progression of nephropathy and neuropathy in IDDM patients. We now know that the level of HbAlc is a yardstick by which to estimate the likelihood that microvascular and neuropathic complications will occur and progress ( 1 3). The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial study provides us with the quantitative data shown in Table 1 (2). Similar data from the Wisconsin Eye Study in NIDDM patients provide quantitatively different but qualitatively similar data (3). Therefore, we are able to conclude that every incremental improvement in the level of HbAlc benefits patients with all types of diabetes and will reduce microvascular and neuropathic complications. As the contemporary strategy, the implication of this for the management of glycemia should be stepwise and multiple drug treatment to lower the HbAlc toward normal as much as possible without causing significant side effects. While microvascular and neuropathic complications in NIDDM patients are quite important, there are overwhelming data that in western society the major devastating chronic complications are those attributed to macrovascular disease (4-6). Between 50 and 60% of NIDDM patients' deaths are due to coronary artery disease. The reasons for the increased macrovascular disease in NIDDM patients cannot be explained solely by hyperglycemia because individuals with impaired glucose tolerance and newly diagnosed NIDDM show significant increases in macrovascular disease (7-9). This has led to the recognition that many individuals have an antecedent metabolic disease syndrome that is characterized by central obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia (increased very-low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride [TG], and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol), insulin
Measurement of net whole-body transcapillary fluid transport and effective vascular compliance in humans.

BACKGROUND Net whole-body transcapillary fluid transport (TFT) between the circulation and the interstitial (extravascular) space may be calculated as: IV - deltaPV - UV - IL, where IV=infused or ingested volume (when applicable), deltaPV = change in plasma volume, UV=urine volume, and IL=insensible loss. RESULTS Infusion of 30 mL/kg isotonic saline over 25 minutes increased supine TFT from a basal capillary reabsorption of -106+/-24 mL/h (mean+/-SE) to a net filtration of 1,229+/-124 mL/h. One hour after infusion, reabsorption of -236+/-102 mL/h was seen, and control reabsorption levels returned by 3 hours. Four hours of 30 mm Hg lower body negative pressure (LBNP) elicited no net TFT, probably because of upper body reabsorptive compensation for lower body capillary filtration. When ingestion of 1 L of isotonic saline accompanied LBNP, filtration of 145+/-10 mL/h occurred. Reabsorption of extravascular fluid into the circulation always followed LBNP. CONCLUSION Application of this technique could aid understanding of physiologic conditions, experimental interventions, disease states, and therapies that cause or are influenced by fluid shifts between intravascular and interstitial compartments.
Complementary black phosphorous FETs by workfunction engineering of pre-patterned Au and Ag embedded electrodes

We propose and experimentally demonstrate top-gated complementary n- and p-type black phosphorous FETs by engineering the workfunction of pre-patterned electrodes embedded in a SiO2 layer. Pre-patterned electrodes offer the possibility of reducing the exposure time of exfoliated flakes to oxidant agents with respect to top-contacted devices and maximize the accessible area for sensing applications. The devices are realized by exfoliating multilayer black phosphorous flakes on top of pre-patterned embedded source and drain contacts. A capping layer consisting of 15 nm thick Al2O3 is used to prevent flakes degradation and serves as top gate dielectric. We deposited both Au and Ag contacts to investigate the impact of the electrode workfunctions on BP FETs polarity. Au contacted devices showed p-type conduction with ON/OFF current ratio 140 and holes mobility up to 40 cm2V−1s−1. Devices with Ag contacts showed prevalent n-type conduction with ON/OFF ratio 1700 and electron mobility 2 cm2V−1s−1. The reported results represent a substantial improvement with respect to reported alternative implementations of black phosphorous FETs with pre-patterned, non-embedded electrodes. Moreover, we demonstrate that Ag is a promising metal for electron injection in black phosphorous FETs.
Effect of Recovery Mode on Exercise Time to Exhaustion, Cardiorespiratory Responses, and Blood Lactate After Prior, Intermittent Supramaximal Exercise

Miladi, I, Temfemo, A, Mandengué, SH, and Ahmaidi, S. Effect of recovery mode on exercise time to exhaustion, cardiorespiratory responses, and blood lactate after prior, intermittent supramaximal exercise. J Strength Cond Res 25(1): 205-210, 2011-This study aimed to determine the effect of 3 different recovery modes (passive [PR], active [AR], and dynamic stretching [SR]) on exercise time to exhaustion (Tlim) and cardiorespiratory and blood lactate responses during supramaximal exercise. Exercise sessions consisted of 2 series of 4 repeated, intermittent supramaximal cycling exercise interspersed in random order with PR, AR, or SR before the supramaximal continuous cycling time limit (Tlim) exercise test performed at 120% of maximal aerobic power. Ten healthy volunteer soccer athletes aged 25.7 ± 2.4 years participated in this study. During each exercise session, heart rate (HR), oxygen consumption (&OV0312;o2), blood lactate concentration, and Tlim exercise performance were recorded. Higher values were obtained in HR (p < 0.01) and in &OV0312;o2 (p < 0.001) with SR and AR compared with PR. Moreover, lower blood lactate concentration (p < 0.01) was observed with SR and AR compared with PR. A greater Tlim exercise duration was obtained for SR compared with AR (p < 0.05) and PR (p < 0.01). Dynamic stretching appeared as the best recovery mode to enhance performance and cardiorespiratory and lactate responses during intermittent supramaximal cycling exercise.
Diagnostic, Prognostic and Theranostic Genetic Biomarkers for Rheumatoid Arthritis

The identification and adoption of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for rheumatoid arthritis has informed and improved the clinical management of this disease. With the advent of biologic treatments such as anti-Tumour Necrosis Factor (anti-TNF) therapy, achieving disease remission has become a realistic endpoint for clinicians. The life-changing efficacy of these therapies however is restricted to the 60-70% of patients who respond. The immune reaction to anti-inflammatory therapy is thought to be influenced by many genes which cumulatively contribute to a threshold for response. There is an inherent clinical need to provide theranostic biomarkers which could determine treatment outcome. The current role of genetic biomarkers in diagnosis, prognosis and predicting response to anti-TNF therapy are discussed.
Event-triggered control for discrete-time systems

In this paper, event-triggered strategies for control of discrete-time systems are proposed and analyzed. Similarly to the continuous-time case, the plant is assumed input-to-state stable with respect to measurement errors and the control law is updated once a triggering condition involving the norm of a measurement error is violated. The results are also extended to a self-triggered formulation, where the next control updates are decided at the previous ones, thus relaxing the need for continuous monitoring of the measurement error. The overall framework is then used in a novel Model Predictive Control approach. The results are illustrated through simulated examples.
Periparturient increase in faecal egg counts in a captive population of mohor gazelle (Gazella dama mhorr)

The objective of this study was to assess whether there was a periparturient rise in the faecal egg output of a population of North African gazelles (Gazeia dama mhorr) kept in captivity in Almeria, southern Spain. In one experiment faeces were collected from 47 female gazelles on three days in winter, in November and December 1995 and January 1996; in a second experiment faecal samples were collected from nine pregnant gazelles at weekly intervals from July 1996 to June 1997. The mean trichostrongylid faecal egg counts were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the periparturient gazelles than in the pregnant and nonpregnant animals only when the births took place in winter. Other factors, including the gazelle's age, its level of inbreeding, the number of previous births, and its trichostrongylid egg output at the beginning of the study did not affect whether it showed a periparturient rise. The parasites responsible for the rise were different in the two experiments.
Analysis and comparison of plasmid profiles of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato strains

The relationship between plasmid profiles and genospecies of the Lyme disease borreliae was investigated by using 40 strains from diverse biological and geographical sources. The genospecies of the strains were determined by examination of rRNA gene restriction patterns with cDNA probes complementary to the 16S and 23S rRNAs of Escherichia coli. Plasmid profiles were obtained by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The number of plasmids per strain and the size of these plasmids ranged from 4 to 10 and from 13.3 to 57.7 kb, respectively. The strains all contained a single large plasmid of 50 to 57.7 kb, with the exception of two Borrelia garinii strains that contained two or three of the large plasmids. The large plasmids of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto strains ranged in size from 51.4 to 52.7 kb and were consistently smaller than the 54.0- to 57.7-kb plasmids present in B. garinii and Borrelia afzelii. The exceptions of this observation were the two B. garinii strains with multiple large plasmids; in this case the large plasmids were 50.6 to 53 kb. Although a large degree of heterogeneity in the sizes and frequencies of occurrence of smaller plasmids was observed, there were some differences among the three genospecies. The differences in plasmids were further studied by using two BamHI DNA fragments from a 28.7-kb plasmid of B. burgdorferi sensu stricto 297 as probes. Both probes hybridized with the 27- to 29-kb plasmids of B. burgdorferi sensu stricto strains. In contrast, two patterns of hybridization were observed with B. garinii and B. afzelii. One pattern was the hybridization of both probes, with each probe hybridizing with a different plasmid. The other pattern was the hybridization of a plasmid of a strain with only one of the two probes. some strains of the three genospecies did not hybridize with either probe. Our results suggest that the plasmid profiles of B. burgdorferi sensu lato have genospecies characteristics and that the hybridization patterns of similar-sized plasmids are different for the three genospecies.
Long-Term Survival After Pancreatoduodenectomy for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: Is Cure Possible?

Objective:To determine long-term survival after pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and to identify clinical factors associated with long-term survival. Summary Background Data:The prognosis for long-term survival even after potentially curative resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma is thought to be poor. Clinical factors determining short-term survival after pancreatic resection are well studied, but prognostic factors predicting long-term survival with a potential for cure are poorly understood. Methods:A case-control study was conducted of 357 patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma between 1981 and 2001. Histologic specimens were reanalyzed to confirm diagnosis. Follow-up was at least 5 years or until death. Results:There was an improved survival throughout the observation period (P = 0.004). We found 62 actual 5-year survivors of whom 21 patients survived greater than 10 years, for a 5- and 10-year survival rate of 18% and 13%, respectively. Cohort analysis comparing patients with short-term (<5 years, n = 295) and long-term (≥5 years, n = 62) survival showed that more advanced disease (greatest tumor diameter, lymph node metastasis) and decreased serum albumin concentration were unfavorable for long-term survival (all P < 0.05). In contrast, the extent of resection and more aggressive histologic features did not correlate with long-term survival (all P > 0.05). En-bloc resection (P = 0.005) but not resection margin status (P > 0.05) was associated with long-term survival. Adjuvant chemoradiation therapy did not significantly influence long-term survival. Multivariate analysis identified lymph node status (OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.14–0.89, P = 0.03) as a prognostic factor for long-term survival. Five-year survival was no guarantee of cure because 16% of this subset died of pancreatic cancer up to 7.8 years after operation. Conclusion:Pancreatoduodenectomy for adenocarcinoma in the head of pancreas can provide long-term survival in a subset of patients, particularly in the absence of lymph node metastasis. One of 8 patients can achieve 10-year survival with a potential for cure.
The effect of ageing on the recollection of emotional and neutral pictures

This study investigated age-related differences in recognition memory for emotional and neutral pictures. Younger and older participants were asked to rate pictures according to their emotional valence, arousal, and visual complexity. Two weeks later they had to recognise these pictures and the states of awareness associated with memory were assessed with the “remember/know/guess” paradigm. We found that, although the influence of emotion on recognition accuracy (as assessed by d′) was similar in both age groups, the tendency for positive and negative pictures to create a rich recollective experience was weaker in older adults. In addition, “remember” responses were more often based on a recollection of emotional reactions in older than in younger participants. We suggest that the elderly tend to focus on their feelings when confronted with emotional pictures, which could have impaired their memory for the contextual information associated with these stimuli.
The degeneracy of the genetic code and Hadamard matrices

The matrix form of the presentation of the genetic code is described as the cognitive form to analyze structures of the genetic code. A similar matrix form is utilized in the theory of signal processing. The Kronecker family of the genetic matrices is investigated, which is based on the genetic matrix [C A; U G], where C, A, U, G are the letters of the genetic alphabet. This matrix in the third Kronecker power is the (8*8)-matrix, which contains 64 triplets. Peculiarities of the degeneracy of the vertebrate mitochondria genetic code are reflected in the symmetrical black-and-white mosaic of this genetic (8*8)-matrix. This mosaic matrix is connected algorithmically with Hadamard matrices unexpectedly, which are famous in the theory of signal processing, spectral analysis, quantum mechanics and quantum computers. A special decomposition of numeric genetic matrices reveals their close relations with a family of 8-dimensional hypercomplex numbers (not Cayley's octonions). Some hypothesis and thoughts are formulated on the basis of these phenomenological facts.
Outcomes of mitral valve repair using artificial chordae.

OBJECTIVES The use of artificial chordae techniques has increased the number of mitral valve lesions which are amenable to repair. Artificial chordae can be adapted for a wide range of mitral valve pathologies including restricting the motion of overly mobile 'floppy' Barlow disease leaflets, replacing diseased chordae and improving coaptation in degenerative disease. There is continuing concern about the long-term performance of artificial chordae, which become endothelialized over time and may exhibit complications during the early or late follow-up period. METHODS To address these issues, we reviewed the literature and extracted 17 papers reporting outcomes following artificial chordae replacement. We discuss the evidence of the effect of artificial chordae on mortality, morbidity and valve performance as measured by echocardiography and complications related to the chordae. We discuss in detail studies comparing artificial chordae with more widely used quadrangular resection techniques. RESULTS In general, outcomes with respect to mortality, morbidity, rates of reoperation, long-term function and complications of artificial chordae implantation are excellent in a range of pathological settings and in both children and adults. These results are comparable with classical Carpentier techniques and there is some evidence that chordal replacement techniques can in some respects improve the risk-benefit ratio for outcomes compared with the classical Carpentier techniques. CONCLUSIONS A number of problems remain in the use of artificial chordae, especially the proper determination of their length. Techniques that solve these issues may enhance patient outcomes further.
Isoform specificity of human Na+,K+‐ATPase localization and aldosterone regulation in mouse kidney cells

Short‐term aldosterone coordinately regulates the cell‐surface expression of luminal epithelial sodium channels (ENaC) and of basolateral Na+ pumps (Na+,K+‐ATPase α1–β1) in aldosterone‐sensitive distal nephron (ASDN) cells. To address the question of whether the subcellular localization of the Na+,K+‐ATPase and its regulation by aldosterone depend on subunit isoform‐specific structures, we expressed the cardiotonic steroid‐sensitive human α isoforms 1–3 by retroviral transduction in mouse collecting duct mpkCCDc14 cells. Each of the three exogenous human isoforms could be detected by Western blotting. Immunofluorescence indicated that the exogenous α1 subunit to a large extent localizes to the basolateral membrane or close to it, whereas much of the α2 subunit remains intracellular. An ouabain‐sensitive current carried by exogenous pumps could be detected in apically amphotericin B‐permeabilized epithelia expressing human α1 and α2 subunits, but not the α3 subunit. This current displayed a higher apparent Na+ affinity in pumps containing human α2 subunits (10 mm) than in pumps containing human α1 (33.2 mm) or endogenous (cardiotonic steroid‐resistant) mouse α1 subunits (mean: 16.3 mm). A very low mRNA level of the Na+,K+‐ATPase γ subunit (FXYD2) in mpkCCDc14 cells suggested that this ancillary gene product is not responsible for the relatively low apparent Na+ affinity measured for a1 subunit‐containing pumps. Aldosterone increased the pump current carried by endogenous pumps and by pumps containing the human α1 subunit. In contrast, the current carried by pumps with a human α2 subunit was not stimulated by the same treatment. In summary, quantitative basolateral localization of the Na+,K+‐ATPase and its responsiveness to aldosterone require α1 subunit‐specific sequences that differentiate this isoform from the α2 and α3 subunit isoforms.