Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
When the caregiver needs care: the plight of vulnerable caregivers.

OBJECTIVES This study examined the characteristics, activities, and challenges of high-risk informal caregivers. METHODS Telephone interviews were conducted with a nationally representative cross-section of 1002 informal caregivers. Vulnerable caregivers with poor health or a serious health condition were compared with nonvulnerable caregivers. RESULTS Thirty-six percent of caregivers were vulnerable. Compared with nonvulnerable caregivers, vulnerable caregivers were more likely to have difficulty providing care, to provide higher-intensity care, to report that their physical health had suffered since becoming a caregiver, to be aged 65 years or older, to be married, and to have less than 12 years of education. CONCLUSIONS Reliance on informal caregivers without considering the caregiver's ability to provide care can create a stressful and potentially unsafe environment for the caregiver and the care recipient.
Structural modelling of red cell surface proteins

The red cell surface membranes contain a large variety of proteins, many of which express blood group activity as a result of variation in their oligosaccharide or amino acid sequences. To understand the nature of the blood group epitopes, the functions of the proteins that express them and their relationship to each other, computer modelling has been employed to provide predictions of their structures. Modelling is an excellent method of first resort when experimental structural data for the protein of interest are absent or incomplete. The model can then be used to explain previous experimental data and to direct future experiments. In this review, examples of protein modelling are taken from the Rh, RHAG, Kell, LW, Lutheran, Duffy, Dombrock and RAPH blood group systems.
Humour in adult cancer care: a concept analysis.

AIMS To report an analysis of the concept of humour in adult cancer care. BACKGROUND Humour is a form of communication which is present in the adult cancer setting. Numerous studies show the multi-dimensional value of humour in cancer care. A clear conceptual understanding, however, of what it represents is lacking. DESIGN Walker and Avant's framework was used to guide this concept analysis. DATA SOURCES Literature searches included bibliographic databases, internet, and manual searches. REVIEW METHODS Literature published from 1990 to the present was reviewed. Thematic analysis was carried out to identify critical attributes and antecedents. RESULTS Based on the analysis, a definition of humour in adult cancer nursing is proposed. Humour is a subjective emotional response, resulting from the recognition and expression of incongruities of a comic, absurd and impulsive situation, remark, character, or action, which enhances feelings of closeness or togetherness when shared in the context of trust between the patient and nurse and may be used as a coping mechanism in a stressful situation such as the adult cancer care setting. CONCLUSION The analysis provides an understanding of the concept of humour in the adult cancer setting and includes a theoretical illustration of its critical attributes. This concept analysis provides a forum for discussion with reference to the use of humour in adult cancer nursing care. Further exploration is recommended to determine the meaning of humour and its nature across different care settings.
Gulf of Maine salinity variation and its correlation with upstream Scotian Shelf currents at seasonal and interannual time scales

In the Gulf of Maine (GoM), a network of buoy hydrography measurements collected since 2001 provide a subsurface salinity time series showing a strong seasonal cycle and interannual variations that are both consistent with remote forcing of Gulf hydrography by upstream advection. These long-term mooring data are combined with satellite altimeter estimates of upper ocean current anomaly on the adjoining Scotian Shelf (SS) in a new attempt to use disparate regional observations as proxies to detect and evaluate remote forcing of water mass change inside the Gulf from 2002-2015. Focusing on buoys moored along the Maine coastal current (MCC), lagged cross correlations with upstream altimeter-derived SS current anomalies are found to be as high as 0.84 and explain 50-70% of variance in the MCC subsurface salinity data at both seasonal and interannual time scales. Significant MCC freshening in 2004-2005 and 2010-2011 follow SS velocity strengthening, while salting events in 2002-2004 and 2012-2015 are associated with relaxation of SS currents. Estimated time lags translate to advective SS inflow velocity estimates of 6±2 cm/s that are consistent with past modeling and observational work. Investigation of wind stress control on SS velocity anomalies indicates that wind directions away from the along-shore can factor into flow modulation. Overall, the study findings are consistent with past freshwater flux observations and modeling examining southwest SS inflow to the GoM, provide a new empirical means to diagnose GoM hydrographic change, and point to one potential application of an altimeter measurement record that extends from 1992 into the future. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Simvastatin Acutely Reduces Myocardial Reperfusion Injury In Vivo by Activating the Phosphatidylinositide 3-Kinase/Akt Pathway

Long-term pretreatment with statins reduces myocardial injury after acute ischemia and reperfusion by increasing the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). We hypothesized that statins may act rapidly enough to protect the myocardium from ischemia/reperfusion injury when given right at the beginning of the reperfusion period and tried to delineate the role of PI 3-kinase/Akt pathway in early eNOS activation. Activated simvastatin was given intravenously 3 minutes before starting the reperfusion after temporary coronary artery occlusion (CAO) in anaesthetized rats. Simvastatin significantly increased myocardial PI 3-kinase activity, AktSer473, and eNOSSer1177 phosphorylation and reduced infarct size by 42%. Infarct size reduction as well as activation of PI 3-kinase/Akt/eNOS pathway were not observed in rats co-treated with the PI 3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin. Contribution of eNOS was further delineated using the NOS inhibitor l-NAME, which could completely block cardioprotection by the statin. In summary, simvastatin acutely reduces the extent of myocardial necrosis in normocholesterolemic rats in an NO- dependent manner by activating the PI 3-kinase/Akt pathway. This is the first study demonstrating short-term cardioprotective effects of simvastatin in an in vivo model of ischemia/reperfusion.
Pyrimethamine decreases levels of SOD1 in leukocytes and cerebrospinal fluid of ALS patients: A phase I pilot study

Abstract The mutated SOD1 protein appears to have a gene dose-dependent effect on the severity and progression of ALS. Lowering of SOD1 protein levels might reduce severity and progression of the disease. The antimalarial drug pyrimethamine (PYR) was identified to cause a dose-dependent reduction in SOD1 protein levels in human cells in vitro. To determine if there was a similar effect in humans, we performed a phase I pilot study in 16 ALS patients with SOD1 mutations, 18 weeks in duration. Blood samples were obtained during all visits. The actin normalized leukocyte SOD1 levels were analyzed using Western blot. SOD1 content in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was determined by ELISA and the SOD1 enzymic activity by spectrophotometric analysis using KO2. Clinical assessment of disease severity was assessed using Appel ALS scale and ALSFRS-R. The leukocyte SOD1 levels showed a significant reduction (p > 0.0001) by the third study visit and this reduction was sustained throughout the remainder of the study. CSF also showed a decrease in SOD1 protein content and enzymic activity in the two patients so tested. Thus, PYR use may be associated with a reduction in SOD1 in ALS patients. The significance is uncertain and further detailed study is required.
Rationalization of enantioselectivities in dialkylzinc additions to benzaldehyde catalyzed by fenchone derivatives.

Three (-)-fenchyl alcohol derivatives, ¿(1R,2R,4S)-exo-(2-Ar)-1,3, 3-trimethylbicyclo[2.2. 1] heptan-2-ol, Ar = o-anisyl (2), 2-N-methylimidazolyl (3), 2-N,N-dimethylbenzylamine (4)¿ were synthesized, characterized by X-ray analyses, and employed as precatalysts in diethyl zinc additions to benzaldehyde. Directions and relative degrees of enantioselectivities are rationalized by QM/MM ONIOM computations of mu-O transition structure models. Enantioselectivities arise from repulsive interactions between "transferring" or "passive" alkyl groups at the zinc centers and the substituents at donor groups or the bicyclo[2.2. 1]heptane moieties. These results enable predictions for ligand-tuning to improve catalyst efficiency of fenchone-based ligands in dialkylzinc additions to aldehydes.
Ultrastructural and Antioxidant Studies of Etoposide Treated Kidney of Rat

Etoposide is well-known drug long been used in clinical trials for treating various cancers. The beneficial action of drug can be used in treatment of small cell and non-small cell lung cancer, lymphoma and ovarian cancer. In this study we examined the effect of etoposide on morphological structure of renal tissue. Studies showed that long-term treatment of etoposide given at dose of 1 mg/kg i.p for period of 8 weeks resulted in histological changes that are associated with dilated proximal convoluted tubules (PCT) with enlarged lumen (L) and vacuolation in their epithelium around nucleus. The onset of necrosis and atrophied glomerulus is also observed. Additionally, ultrastructural studies showed presence of mitochondria in segments and lumen with broken microvilli. Furthermore, biochemical finding’s in etoposide treated kidney displayed significant increase in Glutathione-STransferase (GST), Glutathione Peroxidase (Gpx) and decrease in glutathione reductase (GR), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activities however, glutathione (GSH), Catalase (CAT) and Lipid peroxidation (MDA Content) showed non-significant decrease. The drug metabolizing enzyme’s Cytochrome p450 (Cyp450) showed no change whereas, Cytochrome b5 (Cyp b5) showed significant decrease. Thus we conclude that etoposide does not cause nephrotoxic effect at given dose level.
Trauma and Dissociation in Conversion Disorder and Chronic Pelvic Pain

Objective: The purpose of this study was to: a) assess the link between sexual and/or physical abuse and dissociation in conversion disorder and chronic pelvic pain patients; and b) assess whether this effect is independent of level of general psychopathology. Method: This report examines data from four separate samples. Fifty-two patients with chronic pelvic pain, 61 patients with non-epileptic seizures, and two samples of patients (102 and 54) with predominantly motor or sensory types of conversion disorder were studied. Results: Using point-biserial correlations no compelling evidence for a consistent and positive association of sexual and/or physical abuse with dissociation was found. After statistically controlling for level of psychopathology using multiple regression analyses, in most of the cases the association of abuse with dissociation was no longer statistically significant. Only physical abuse predicted level of somatoform dissociation over and above level of psychopathology. Conclusion: In future clinical studies of dissociation in patients with conversion disorder and chronic pelvic pain more complex models may be needed with less exclusive reliance on historical antecedents such as childhood abuse and more emphasis on recent potentially traumatizing experiences or co-morbid psychiatric disorders.
Hypoglycemic efficacy of chitosan-coated insulin liposomes after oral administration in mice.

AIM To evaluate the hypoglycemic efficacy of insulin liposomes coated by chitosan with different molecular weights and concentrations after oral administration in mice. METHODS Insulin-liposomes were prepared by reversed-phase evaporation. Chitosan coating was carried out by incubation of the liposomal suspensions with the chitosan solution. The hypoglycemic efficacies of chitosan-coated insulin liposomes were investigated by monitoring the blood glucose level using the glucose oxidase method after oral administration to healthy mice. RESULTS In all the insulin liposomes, the insulin liposomes coated by 0.2% chitosan (Mr 1000 kDa) showed a better hypoglycemic efficacy as compared with the other liposomes coated by chitosan. The minimum blood glucose level was 15.1%+/-6.0 % of the initial (n=6). The hypoglycemic efficacy lasted for 4 h after oral administration to mice. CONCLUSION Chitosan-coated liposomes could reduce tryptic digestion on insulin, and enhance enteral absorption of insulin. The molecular weights and concentrations of chitosan had significant effects on hypoglycemic efficacy of chitosan-coated insulin liposomes after oral administration to healthy mice.
Reduced Tillage in an Irrigated Potato Rotation

Soil erosion continues to be a threat to agricultural productivity worldwide, with soil losses in the United States exceeding 3 billion tons annually. Wind and water erosion have caused dramatic declines in soil productivity. Erosion protection and associated conservation of nutrients, organic matter, soil water holding capacity and biota are significant concerns. Pimentel et al. (1995) estimated the annual total onand off-site costs of erosion to be over $44 billion. The type of cultivation, hilling and harvesting practices for potato production may increase soil erosion (Auerswald et al., 2006; Ruysshaert et al., 2006) injure potatoes, increase soil compaction (Perrone and Madramootoo, 1994) and bring weed seeds to the soil surface (Eberlein et al., 1997). Despite these undesirable effects of cultivation, 86% of U.S. potato acreage is cultivated for weed control (USDA, 1999).
Clinical diagnosis of syphilis: a ten-year retrospective analysis in a South Australian urban sexual health clinic

National notifications for infectious syphilis in Australia have increased in recent years. Outside of sexual health clinics, junior clinicians seldom encounter this disease in its infectious stage (primary, secondary and early latent). With such a variable clinical presentation, textbook teaching is no substitute for real-life experience. The importance of accurate classification and staging of disease is relevant to the risk of transmission and determines treatment duration. In this article, the authors review the clinical presentation of syphilis over ten years in an urban sexual health clinic with a focus on the clinical presentation and diagnosis of infectious syphilis, in particular secondary syphilis, compared with that outlined in the Australian National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System guidelines. This retrospective review of all patients diagnosed with syphilis at an urban sexual health clinic showed that between 2005 and 2015, 226 cases of syphilis were diagnosed. Documentation of impression of clinical staging of disease was present in 46% of the cases. Seventeen of these cases were recorded as secondary syphilis. The criteria used by clinicians to diagnose the secondary syphilis cases were consistent with criteria defined by the Australian National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System. All cases of secondary syphilis had at least one cutaneous manifestation of disease. The demographic of the cohort of syphilis cases was consistent with that recorded in the literature. This review showed that the clinician’s diagnosis of secondary syphilis in this service is consistent with the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System guidelines. Continuing education of junior medical staff is important to facilitate diagnosis and improve documentation of clinical staging, minimise disease transmission and ensure appropriate treatment.
LIFT study is discontinued

EDITOR—We informed the BMJ about the increased risk of stroke in the long term intervention on fractures with tibolone (LIFT) study.1 Further analysis now indicates a benefit of tibolone on risk of vertebral fracture, the primary end point of the study. Thus, the LIFT study is being stopped because of a recommendation by the data safety monitoring board that the trial has reached its objectives and additional follow-up is …
Galaxy Zoo: Bar Lengths in Nearby Disk Galaxies

We present an analysis of bar length measurements of 3150 local galaxies in a volume limited sample of low redshift (z =3), and we find that observers were able to reproduce their own bar lengths to 3% and each others' to better than 20%. We find a "color bimodality" in our disk galaxy population with bar length, i.e., longer bars inhabit redder disk galaxies and the bars themselves are redder, and that the bluest galaxies host the smallest galactic bars (< 5 kpc/h). We also find that bar and disk colors are clearly correlated, and for galaxies with small bars, the disk is, on average, redder than the bar colors, while for longer bars the bar then itself is redder, on average, than the disk. We further find that galaxies with a prominent bulge are more likely to host longer bars than those without bulges. We categorise our galaxy populations by how the bar and/or ring are connected to the spiral arms. We find that galaxies whose bars are directly connected to the spiral arms are preferentially bluer and that these galaxies host typically shorter bars. Within the scatter, we find that stronger bars are found in galaxies which host a ring (and only a ring). The bar length and width measurements used herein are made publicly available for others to use (this http URL).
p53 and mdm2 Expression in Colorectal Carcinoma: A Correlative Analysis With Clinical Staging and Histological Parameters

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is rare in the Indian subcontinent. The two-hit carcinogenic theory has been well established from the turn of this century, in which p53 is described as a late marker in colorectal carcinogenesis, and murine double minute 2 (mdm2) has not yet been correlated with colorectal carcinoma. With the recent introduction of anti-mdm2 oligonucleotides, it is apparent that if its role can be established in colorectal carcinogenesis, the DNA conservation of the wild p53 strain would be achieved therapeutically because mdm2 conserves the wild p53 strain. We studied 32 cases with adequate number of controls and found a positive correlation (P = .001) between these proteins. These proteins were expressed in tumor adjacent to the hyperplastic mucosa, dysplastic mucosa, and aberrant crypt foci, unlike in studies in the West. The expression of these proteins was correlated with aggressive tumor behavior. All these indicate significant diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic roles for these proteins.
ES Cell‐Derived Glial Precursors Contribute to Remyelination in Acutely Demyelinated Spinal Cord Lesions

Pluripotent embryonic stem (ES) cells have emerged as a powerful tool for disease modeling and neural regeneration. Transplantation studies in rodents indicate that ES cell‐derived glial precursors (ESGPs) efficiently restore myelin in dysmyelinating mutants and chemically induced foci of myelin loss. Here we explore the myelination potential of ESGPs in an antibody/complement‐induced demyelination model. Microinjection of an antibody to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) and complement was employed to generate circumscribed areas of demyelination in the adult rat spinal cord. ESGPs transplanted into 2‐day‐old lesions were found to survive and differentiate into both oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. The engrafted cells remained largely confined to the lesion site and showed no evidence of tumor formation up until 4 weeks after transplantation. Within areas of pronounced microglial activation and macrophage extravasation, engrafted ES cell‐derived oligodendrocytes contacted and enwrapped host axons and alongside endogenous glia, contributed to the formation of new myelin sheaths. These findings demonstrate that ESGPs transplanted into acutely demyelinated lesions can contribute to myelin repair.
cTnT can be a useful marker for early detection of anthracycline cardiotoxicity.

BACKGROUND The level of serum cardiac troponin-T (cTnT) increases with myocardial damage. We sought to assess whether cTnT level could be a useful marker for the early detection of anthracycline cardiotoxicity. PATIENTS AND METHODS Forty-one patients who had been scheduled to receive anthracycline-containing combination chemotherapy were included in the study. Serum cTnT levels were measured before (baseline) and after the first cycle of chemotherapy, and again, after the last cycle of chemotherapy. In all patients, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), fractional shortening (FS), early peak flow/atrial flow velocity (E/A) ratio, and the isovolemic relaxation time (IRT) were measured echocardiographically, both before and after the completion of chemotherapy. RESULTS LVEF and FS did not change in any patients. In 21 patients (49%), the E/A ratio decreased after therapy as compared to the pre-treatment values. The decrease in E/A ratio was more prominent in patients who were older than the mean age of our study group, which was 44 years. The post-treatment IRT was prolonged compared with the pretreatment IRT (94.0 +/- 2.0 versus 85.6 +/- 10.5 ms, respectively). cTnT levels after completion of therapy were elevated in 14 (34%) patients, and exceeded the upper limit of the normal range (>0.1 ng/ml) in only one patient. cTnT levels measured after completion of therapy were significantly higher, compared with those measured at baseline and after the first cycle of therapy. In the younger age group (< or =44 years old), there was a two-fold decrease in the E/A ratio in those patients whose cTnT levels increased during the therapy, when compared with those whose cTnT levels did not change (21% versus 43%, respectively). CONCLUSION Increased serum cTnT level can be detected in the early stages of anthracycline therapy and it is associated with diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle. Therefore, serum cTnT level could be a useful measure for early detection of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity.
The Influence of the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome on Depression , Anxiety , and Quality of Life

Ad dress for Cor res pon den ce/Ya z›fl ma Ad re si: Gülçin Benbir MD, İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Departments of Neurology, İstanbul, Turkey Tel. : +90 533 226 37 97 E-mail: drgulcinbenbir@yahoo.com Re cei ved/Ge liş Ta ri hi: 14.04. 2014 Ac cep ted/Ka bul Ta ri hi: 11.06. 2014 © Journal of Turkish Sleep Me di ci ne, Pub lis hed by Ga le nos Pub lis hing. / © Tür k Uyku Tıbbi Der gi si, Ga le nos Ya yı ne vi ta ra fın dan ba sıl mış tır. İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Departments of Psychiatry, İstanbul, Turkey *İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Departments of Neurology, İstanbul, Turkey Obstrüktif Uyku Apne Sendromunun Tedavisinin Depresyon, Anksiyete ve Yaşam Kalitesi Üzerine Etkileri