Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Valproic acid in amygdala-kindled rats: alterations in anticonvulsant efficacy, adverse effects and drug and metabolite levels in various brain regions during chronic treatment.

Amygdala-kindled rats were treated with valproic acid (VPA; administered as its sodium salt) 3 times daily at 200 mg/kg i.p. for 6 weeks, and anticonvulsant and adverse effects during this period were studied. Groups of nonkindled rats were treated in parallel for determination of VPA and its major active metabolites in various brain regions after different durations of treatment. After the first injection of VPA, 200 mg/kg, seizure severity, seizure duration and duration of electrical afterdischarges recorded from the stimulated amygdala were reduced significantly, but only one of nine animals was protected completely from kindled seizures. At day 3 of chronic treatment, the anticonvulsant activity of VPA had increased markedly so that seven of nine animals were totally protected from seizures. However, this potent anticonvulsant effect was only transitory so that after 1 week of treatment the anticonvulsant effect of the medication was similar to that obtained after the first dosing. The effect of VPA remained at this level for the subsequent weeks, but there was a second, more permanent increase in the number of protected animals after 4 to 6 weeks. Plasma and brain levels of VPA and its metabolites remained relatively constant throughout the chronic treatment although there was a moderate accumulation of some metabolites, e.g., trans isomer of 2-propyl-2-pentenoic acid, in specific brain nuclei. The most prominent adverse effects of VPA were ataxia, muscle relaxation, wet-dog shake behavior and an increase in body temperature. Except for body temperature, tolerance developed to these adverse effects, but escape from wet-dog shake behavior occurred much more rapidly than reduction of other adverse effects. Pathohistological examination of liver sections from animals treated with VPA for 6 weeks showed no indication of any hepatotoxic effects. After drug withdrawal, kindled seizure parameters returned toward control values without evidence of significant carry-over effects. Five days after termination of treatment, only minute amounts of VPA and trans isomer of 2-propyl-2-pentenoic acid were determined in some brain regions, indicating that there was no persistence of active drug or metabolite concentrations in the brain.
Using Two Different Electronic Meeting System Tools for the Same Task: An Experimental Comparison

Abstract:Various aspects of the design and use of Electronic Meeting Systems (ems) have been investigated in laboratory and field studies, but until now no one has systematically investigated the role of ems software on group performance. The current study compares two different ems software tools in a controlled experiment. Dependent variables are decision quality, number of unique alternatives generated, satisfaction, and consensus. The study found that one software tool produced better quality solutions to a combination creativity and intellective task, but the other helped generate more unique alternatives. Each tool worked best on the task for which it was designed. The findings support the authors’ premise that there should be a match between the ems software tool and the task to be performed. The findings have several implications for the design of ems software.
Patellofemoral Joint Instability: A Review of Current Concepts

The patellofemoral joint remains the enigma of orthopedics and sports medicine. Patellar dislocation is a common problem in the younger and athletic population and it is more disabling than cruciate ligament injuries. The pathology is often multifactorial and complex with no one factor being the sole defining etiology. The current management of patella dislocation has been linked with poor patient satisfaction possibly due to a prolonged period of conservative treatment and the general tendency to delay surgical intervention. This review will address the main abnormal anatomical factors contributing to patellar instability, their clinical and radiological diagnoses, and the role of various surgical interventions, including the medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction in stabilizing the patella.
Generalized IRA Erasure Correcting Codes for Hybrid Iterative/Maximum Likelihood Decoding

The design of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes under hybrid iterative / maximum likelihood decoding is addressed for the binary erasure channel (BEC). Specifically, we focus on generalized irregular repeat-accumulate (GeIRA) codes, which offer both efficient encoding and design flexibility. We show that properly designed GeIRA codes tightly approach the performance of an ideal maximum distance separable (MDS) code, even for short block sizes. For example, our (2048,1024) code reaches a codeword error rate of 10-5 at channel erasure probability isin= 0.450, where an ideal (2048,1024) MDS code would reach the same error rate at isin = 0.453.
Influence of gender and estrous cycle in the forced swim test in rats

The present work aimed at studying the influence of the estrous cycle in the forced swim test, an animal model of depression. For this, 44 male and female Wistar rats were divided into five groups according to the hormonal state in the first day of the study: metaestrus (N = 12), diestrus (N = 8), proestrus (N = 7), estrous (N = 6) and males (N = 11). They were housed in groups of five, with water and food ad libitum under a 12/12 h light/dark cycle. Females were screened daily for the estrous cycle. The animals were subjected to two swimming sessions in a glass cylinder with water up to 15 cm at 28±2o C. The data of the first five minutes of a 15-min first session were compared to those of a 5-min second session 24 h later. The results indicate that the latency to the first immobility was substantially reduced in the second session and was longer for females in diestrus and proestrus in the first session. The results also indicate that females in diestrus and proestrus exhibited less immobility than males in the first session; females in diestrus also exhibited less immobility than females in metaestrus. Females in metaestrus and diestrus, as well as males, did not present the decrease in total immobility times in the second session. The present results are analyzed in terms of differential effects of progesterone and estrogen on a learning component and an affective component.
Analysis of the aetiology of diarrhoea in outpatients in 2007, Henan province, China

SUMMARY The purpose of this study was to determine the aetiology of acute diarrhoea and improve knowledge of gastrointestinal pathogens in China. Faecal specimens from 1526 outpatients with diarrhoea were collected from 20 hospitals in Henan province and the prevalence of seven bacterial and five viral diarrhoeagenic pathogens were determined. Bacterial pathogens were recovered from 279/1526 (18·3%) stool specimens and viral pathogens were detected in 178/1526 (11·7%) stool specimens. The top five pathogenic species were diarrhoeagenic E. coli (n = 140, 9·2%), rotavirus (n = 79, 5·2%), Shigella spp. (n = 69, 4·5%), Salmonella spp. (n = 66, 4·3%) and norovirus (n = 56, 3·7%). The prevalence of pathogens showed correlation with age, season and clinical symptoms. Several dominant serotypes were identified in Shigella and Salmonella isolates, and high prevalence of multiple drug-resistant isolates was observed in both species. This important information will have a significant effect on public health policy development and resource prioritization practices.
Low frequency acoustic and dielectric measurements on glasses

The acoustic and dielectric properties of different glasses at audio frequencies and temperatures below 1 K have been investigated with the vibrating reed and a capacitance bridge technique. We found the temperature dependence of the absorption of vitreous silica (Suprasil W) to agree with the predictions of the tunneling model which is commonly used to explain the low temperature behaviour of amorphous materials. The variation of the sound velocity and of the dielectric constant, however, shows significant deviations from the expected behaviour which cannot be accounted for by a simple modification of the model. Instead, it seems to be necessary to introduce a temperature dependence of some relevant model parameters. Moreover, at very low temperatures (T < 0.1 K) the sound velocity strongly depends on the excitation levels. The absence of this effect at higher temperatures proves that it can be ascribed to a nonlinear response of tunneling systems. Similar results were found in sound velocity measurements on a cover glass and on a superconducting metallic glass (Pd30Zr70, Tc = 2.6 K), which indicates that these features are a general aspect of the dynamics of tunneling states in glasses. In contrast to the insulating glasses we found that in Pd30Zr70 also the internal friction is strain dependent.
βPIX controls cell motility and neurite extension by regulating the distribution of GIT1

Cell motility entails the reorganization of the cytoskeleton and membrane trafficking for effective protrusion. GIT1/p95-APP1 is a member of a family of GTPase-activating proteins for ARF GTPases that affect endocytosis, adhesion and migration. GIT1 associates with paxillin and a complex including the Rac/Cdc42 exchanging factors PIX/Cool and the kinase PAK. In this study, we show that overexpression of βPIX induces the accumulation of endogenous and overexpressed GIT1 at large structures similar to those induced by an ArfGAP-defective mutant of GIT1 (p95-C2). Immunohistochemical analysis and immunoelectron microscopy reveal that these structures include the endogenous transferrin receptor. Time-lapse analysis during motogenic stimuli shows that the formation and perinuclear accumulation of the p95-C2-positive structures is paralleled by inhibition of lamellipodium formation and cell retraction. Both dimerization and a functional SH3 domain of βPIX are required for the accumulation of GIT1 in fibroblasts, which is prevented by the monomeric PIX-PG-ΔLZ. This mutant also prevents the formation of endocytic aggregates and inhibition of neurite outgrowth in retinal neurons expressing p95-C2. Our results indicate that βPIX is an important regulator of the subcellular distribution of GIT1, and suggest that alteration in the level of expression of the complex affects the endocytic compartment and cell motility.
Expression of the focal adhesion protein PINCH in normal and alkali-injured corneas and the role of PMNs.

PURPOSE To evaluate the role of particularly interesting new cysteine-histidine-rich protein (PINCH) in corneal wound healing and early neovascularization and to assess the influence of granulocytes. METHODS A standardized corneal alkali wound was inflicted under general anaesthesia to the right eye of 14 New Zealand White rabbits. Seven of the rabbits received i.v. 5 mg/kg fucoidin every 2 hours to prevent granulocytes from entering the wound area. After 36 hours, the rabbits were killed, the corneas excised, fixed in 4% formaldehyde and embedded in paraffin. The sections were double-stained with antibodies against PINCH and with haematoxylin. RESULTS In the normal cornea and limbus, PINCH was weakly expressed in the corneal epithelium and in a wedge of the conjunctival stroma. In the wounded corneas, PINCH expression was seen in the frontline of repopulating endothelial and epithelial cells, and in active keratocytes. The vascular endothelium and the granulocytes expressed PINCH, as did the conjunctival epithelium. In the fucoidin-treated rabbits, PINCH expression was markedly reduced. The vascular endothelial cells and the few granulocytes did not express PINCH in these rabbits. CONCLUSIONS PINCH is only slightly expressed in the normal cornea. A corneal wound induces PINCH expression in the repopulating cells, in the vascular endothelial cells of the limbus, in the limbal epithelium and in the granulocytes. Exclusion of granulocytes reduces expression of PINCH and there is no expression at all in the vascular endothelium.
Prediction of Long-Term Survival in Patients with End-Stage Heart Failure Secondary to Ischemic Heart Disease: Surgical Correction and Volumetric Analysis.

PURPOSE Ischemic heart disease (IHD) may result in lethal conditions such as ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and mitral regurgitation (MR). METHODS We hypothesized preoperative LV volume would be highly associated with long-term survival in such patients. We retrospectively evaluated effects of LV end-systolic volume index (LVESVI) on survival. RESULTS Patients were divided into two groups according to LVESVI; Group S (n = 19, <100 ml/m(2)), and L (n = 55, >100 ml/m(2)). There were 74 patients (male 61, female 13; 61 ± 10 y.o.). There was no statistical significance in preoperative parameters, including ejection fraction (EF), severity of MR, severity of tricuspid regurgitation (TR), and right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP). After operation, LVESVI and severity of MR were statistically reduced in both groups. However, EF, severity of TR and RVSP were not statistically alleviated in both groups. In Group S, 5- and 10-year survival rates were 93% and 48%. In Group L, 5- and 10-year survival rates were 50% and 29%. There was a statistical difference in long-term survival between two groups. CONCLUSIONS Preoperative LV volume would be one of the risk factors for long-term survival in patients with congestive heart failure secondary to IHD. Careful follow-up and optimal treatment should be recommended before LV dimension becomes too large.
Gender differences in coronary heart disease in Turkey

Objectives: To find out whether or not there are some gender differences according to prevalence and underlying risk factors of coronary heart disease (CHD). Methodology: The study was performed in the Internal Medicine Polyclinic on consecutive patients coming with any complaint at and above the age of 15 years between August 2005 and March 2007. Patients under 15 years of age are examined in Paediatrics Department. Results: The study included 2860 cases. Prevalence of CHD was similar both in males and females (4.4% vs 3.8%, p > 0.05, respectively). Mean age of CHD was 63.5 years in males and 61.5 years in females (p > 0.05). Prevalence of smoking was higher in males with CHD (54.5% vs 9.6%, p < 0.001). Females had a nonsignificantly higher mean body mass index (BMI) (28.3 vs 29.7 kg/ m2, p > 0.05). Mean values of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) were higher in females (115.6 vs 132.6 mg/dL, p = 0.008 and 150.1 vs 250.3 mg/dL, p = 0.002, respectively). White coat hypertension (WCH) was nonsignificant (23.6% vs 30.6%, p > 0.05), but hypertension (HT) and diabetes mellitus (DM) were significantly higher in females (p<0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). On the other hand, coronary artery stenting (CAS) and/or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery was greater among males (21.8% vs 1.6%, p < 0.001). Conclusion: CHD is probably seen with similar prevalences in both sexes in Turkey with some prominent differences in the underlying risk factors. Prevalence of smoking was higher in males, whereas mean values of the BMI, LDL-C, TG and prevalences of the WCH, HT, DM were higher in females. On the other hand, prevalence of CAS and/or CABG surgery was significantly higher
Family Environment and Emotional and Behavioural Symptoms in Adolescent Cambodian Refugees: Influence of Time, Gender, and Acculturation

For young refugees, the turmoil of adolescence is exacerbated by the acculturation process that sometimes places them at odds with the traditional culture of their ethnic group. The family environment can affect how adolescents cross that pivotal period. This paper focuses on the influence of family environment, gender and acculturation on the mental health of young refugees from early to mid-adolescence. Sixty-seven Cambodian adolescents were followed up from early to mid-adolescence. The effects of the youths' acculturation level, gender, and family environment and structure on internalising and externalising symptoms were analysed through linear regression analyses. Family conflict tends to increase from early to mid-adolescence. The association between family environment and mental health changes over time and, overall, family environment is associated with externalisation whereas gender, acculturation level, and family structure influence internalisation. Cambodian girls and boys cope differently with the challenges of adolescence in the host country, adopting traditional strategies and borrowing new ones from the host culture. Family therapy may help the parents and their adolescents address this process of change, which is both a source of vulnerability and of fulfilment, and enhances the ability of the family to negotiate between the cultural worlds of the home and of the host countries.
Differences in the Plasma Proteome of Patients with Hypothyroidism before and after Thyroid Hormone Replacement: A Proteomic Analysis

Thyroid hormone is a potent stimulator of metabolism, playing a critical role in regulating energy expenditure and in key physiological mechanisms, such as growth and development. Although administration of thyroid hormone in the form of levo thyroxine (l-thyroxine) has been used to treat hypothyroidism for many years, the precise molecular basis of its physiological actions remains uncertain. Our objective was to define the changes in circulating protein levels that characterize alterations in thyroid hormone status. To do this, an integrated untargeted proteomic approach with network analysis was used. This study included 10 age-matched subjects with newly diagnosed overt hypothyroidism. Blood was collected from subjects at baseline and at intervals post-treatment with l-thyroxine until they reached to euthyroid levels. Plasma protein levels were compared by two-dimensional difference in gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) pre- and post-treatment. Twenty differentially expressed protein spots were detected. Thirteen were identified, and were found to be unique protein sequences by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Ten proteins were more abundant in the hypothyroid vs. euthyroid state: complement C2, serotransferrin, complement C3, Ig κ chain C region, α-1-antichymotrypsin, complement C4-A, haptoglobin, fibrinogen α chain, apolipoprotein A-I, and Ig α-1 chain C region. Three proteins were decreased in abundance in the hypothyroid vs. euthyroid state: complement factor H, paraneoplastic antigen-like protein 6A, and α-2-macroglobulin. The differentially abundant proteins were investigated by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) to reveal their associations with known biological functions. Their connectivity map included interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) as central nodes and the pathway identified with the highest score was involved in neurological disease, psychological disorders, and cellular movement. The comparison of the plasma proteome between the hypothyroid vs euthyroid states revealed differences in the abundance of proteins involved in regulating the acute phase response.
Significance of vehicle composition. I. Relationship between topical vehicle composition, skin penetrability, and clinical efficacy.

The penetration of two topical steroids, fluocinolone acetonide and fluocinonide, through human abdominal skin was investigated for various propylene glycol‐water gels. Release, penetration, and in vivodata were compared as a function of vehicle composition. The similarity between the in vivoand in vitrocomposition profiles for both steroids suggested that clinical efficacy can be predicted from in vitro data and from the physical properties of the steroids. The correlations indicated that the in vivoresults were directly dependent upon penetrability.
Influence of T‐helper cell subsets and crossregulation in hepatitis B virus infection

Summary. Serological and biochemical studies indicate that acute HBV infection is resolved in the context of an efficient cell‐mediated immune (CMI) response, whereas, chronic infection is characterized by weak to undetectable CMI responses and relatively efficient humoral immunity. Because humoral immunity and CMI are regulated by different TH subsets, factors which influence the induction of TH1 vs TH2 cells specific for the HBV nucleocapsid antigens (HBcAg, HBeAg) were examined in a murine model system. The factors which affected the HBc/HBeAg‐specific TH1/TH2‐cell balance included: (1) the structure of the antigen (i.e. HBcAg vs HBeAg); (2) the host MHC and T‐cell site recognized; (3) crossregulation between TH1 and TH2 cells; (4) T‐cell tolerance, which is more complete in TH1 than in TH2 cells; (5) secreted HBeAg, which preferentially depletes TH1 cells; (6) the HBV‐specific subset response could be skewed towards either TH1 or TH2 predominance by cytokine treatment in vivo. The results suggest that the balance between TH1 and TH2 cells specific for the HBc/HBeAgs may be relevant in acute and chronic HBV infections. Importantly, HBeAg‐specific TH2 cells preferentially evade tolerance induction as compared to their TH1‐cell counterparts. Because HBeAg may act as a tolerogen during the vertical transmission of chronic HBV infection and preferentially depletes TH1 cells in the circulation, the predominance of HBeAg‐specific TH2 cells may influence the initiation or maintenance of the chronic carrier state. In this case, cytokine therapy designed to shift a TH2‐like response toward TH1 predominance (i.e. IL‐12) may be beneficial in the treatment of chronic HBV infection.
Multiple informant agreement and the anxiety disorders interview schedule for parents and children.

OBJECTIVE To examine concordance of child, parent, and consensus agreement on the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule, Child and Parent versions (ADIS-C/P), for an outpatient sample of children and adolescents and to explore moderators of those relations. Child characteristics (age, gender, social desirability), a family environment variable (conflict), and type of diagnoses (internalizing, externalizing) were systematically examined. METHOD These relations were examined in 165 children and adolescents referred to a psychological clinic by family practitioners, pediatricians, schools, and mental health professionals. Participants were individually administered the ADIS-C or ADIS-P by separate clinicians, and consensus diagnoses were determined in a clinical conference. Agreements between child-parent, child-consensus, and parent-consensus were determined. RESULTS Poor levels of agreement were found among our informants, especially between child and parent and to some extent between child and consensus. Agreement was higher between parent and consensus, suggesting that our clinicians tended to favor parent input over child input. Although the effects were complex, characteristics of the child, family, and type of diagnosis moderated or qualified these findings. CONCLUSIONS Although discrepancies exist among our informants, our overall findings suggest important information is obtained from each informant and, when combined with certain modifying characteristics, may lead to diagnostic and treatment decisions.