Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of ischemic preconditioning on repeated sprint ability in team sport athletes

Abstract This study investigated whether ischemic preconditioning (IPC) in a trained population affected repeated sprint performance. A secondary aim was to assess responses according to gender. Sixteen (nine females and seven males) well trained team sport athletes took part in a randomised crossover study design. Participants underwent an IPC and placebo treatment involving three periods of 5 min occlusion applied unilaterally (3 × 5 min occlusion to each leg) at either 220 mmHg or 50 mmHg. Each period of occlusion was followed by 5 min reperfusion. Following treatment 5 × 6 s maximal effort sprints were undertaken on a cycle ergometer against 7.5% body mass, each interspersed by 24 s recovery. Measured parameters included peak power, total power, percentage decrement, post-exercise blood lactate and ratings of perceived exertion. Nor within subject main effect for IPC was observed, neither was there an interaction effect with gender. Effect sizes were trivial (ES < 0.2) with the exception of a moderate (ES < 1.2) change in post-exercise blood lactate in the female cohort (1.6 ± 0.4 mmol−1 lower following IPC). Results suggest no benefit to team sport players in utilising IPC as a means of enhancing repeated sprint performance. A lower blood lactate response in female participants following IPC may suggest improved blood flow through vasodilation.
Surface hydrophobicity, adherence, and aggregation of cell surface protein antigen mutants of Streptococcus mutans serotype c

The pac gene of the serotype c strain Streptococcus mutans MT8148 encodes a cell surface protein antigen (PAc) of approximate 190 kilodaltons. The serotype c strain S. mutans GS-5 does not produce the 190-kilodalton PAc but produces a lower-molecular-weight protein that reacts with anti-PAc serum. The SphI-BamHI fragment of the pac gene was ligated with the S. mutans-Escherichia coli shuttle vector pSA3. The chimeric shuttle vector was transformed into strain GS-5, and two transformants (TK15 and TK18) were isolated. These transformants produced a large amount of cell-free and cell-bound PAc of 190 kilodaltons. No plasmid was isolated from these transformants, and the EcoRI fragments of their chromosomal DNA hybridized with the erythromycin resistance gene in the shuttle vector DNA, indicating insertion of the chimeric shuttle vector DNA into the chromosomal DNA. The cell hydrophobicity of strains TK15 and TK18 as well as PAc-defective mutants constructed by inserting an erythromycin resistance gene into the pac gene of strain MT8148 was analyzed. Strains MT8148, TK15, and TK18 were hydrophobic. On the other hand, strain GS-5 and PAc-defective MT8148 transformants were hydrophilic. Resting cells of the hydrophobic strains attached in larger numbers to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite than did the hydrophilic strains. Human whole saliva induced the aggregation of cells of the hydrophobic strains but not that of cells of the hydrophilic strains. These results suggest that cell surface PAc of S. mutans serotype c participates in attachment of the streptococcal cell to experimental pellicles.
Efinaconazole (Jublia) for the treatment of onychomycosis

Efinaconazole 10% nail solution (Jublia®) is a new topical triazole antifungal designed for the topical treatment of distal and lateral subungual onychomycosis. It inhibits ergosterol biosynthesis enzyme sterol 14α-demethylase. Efinaconazole has lower minimum inhibitory concentrations than terbinafine, ciclopirox, itraconazole and amorolfine in Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Candida albicans. The solution based formula has low surface tension and keratin binding properties that increase penetrance through the nail plate. Safety studies have shown that this formulation is not associated with atopic dermatitis or contact sensitivity. Duplicate Phase III clinical trials in adults with mild to moderate distal and lateral subungual onychomycosis indicate that efinaconazole 10% solution is an effective therapy with a pooled complete cure rate of 17% and a pooled mycological cure rate of 54%. Efinaconazole 10% nail solution is a safe and effective new topical therapy for onychomycosis, which will fill a pressing need for more effective topical therapy in this disease.
Sclerosing Peritonitis Associated with Luteinized Thecomas of the Ovary: A Clinicopathological Analysis of Six Cases

Six cases of a distinctive ovarian lesion associated with sclerosing peritonitis were found in patients 13 to 76 years of age. Five patients presented with abdominal swelling; on examination, three were found to have unilateral or bilateral pelvic masses, one had ascites and evidence of small bowel obstruction, and one had ascites alone. The sixth patient presented with small bowel obstruction. At operation, 1 to 9 L of ascitic fluid were found in five patients. Five patients with bilateral ovarian enlargement underwent bilateral oophorectomy or, in one case, bilateral ovarian wedge resection. The sixth patient had unilateral ovarian enlargement treated by unilateral oophorectomy. All had fibrotic thickening of the peritoneum, most prominently involving the omentum and small bowel, four at initial operation and two at a second operation performed shortly thereafter. One or more episodes of small bowel obstruction subsequently occurred in three of the five patients with follow-up. One woman died of pulmonary embolism 2 months after her initial operation; four were alive without clinical evidence of disease 8 months to 6 years postoperatively. Gross examination revealed unilateral (one case) or bilateral (two cases), predominantly solid ovarian tumors 12 to 31 cm in maximum dimension in three cases and slight enlargement and nodularity of both ovaries in the other three cases. Microscopic examination of the ovaries revealed a cellular proliferation of spindle cells with focal differentiation into nests of luteinized or partially luteinized cells; one case also had occasional foci of sex cord elements. The process was confined to the ovarian cortex in the three cases with slight ovarian enlargement. Residual ovarian follicles were entrapped by the proliferation in three cases, but were prominent in only one of them. Additional features included brisk mitotic activity, predominantly in the spindle cells, in three cases, and striking edema in the three cases with significant ovarian enlargement. The ovarian lesions were interpreted as luteinized thecomas, although a closely related hyperplasia with luteinization, instead of early neoplasia, cannot be excluded in the three cases with only slight ovarian enlargement (and in one, prominent entrapment of follicles). The peritoneal process consisted of a variably cellular proliferation of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts separated by collagen, fibrin, and occasional chronic inflammatory cells. These cases and two similar cases from the literature suggest a unique association between some luteinized thecomas (or a closely related proliferative lesion of the ovary) and sclerosing peritonitis, although the relation between the ovarian and peritoneal processes is presently enigmatic.
Respiratory syncytial virus epidemics: the ups and downs of a seasonal virus

Respiratorysyncytial virus (RSV) is the most common pathogen causing lower respiratory tract infections in infants worldwide. Lower respiratory tract infections caused by RSV occur epidemically, and the appearance of epidemics seems to vary with latitude, altitude and climate. This study uses a review of the literature on RSV seasonality to investigate whether a global pattern in RSV epidemics can be found. A comparison of morbidity and mortality caused by RSV in developed vs. developing countries is also presented. The seasons in which RSV epidemics occur typically depend on geographic location and altitude. During these seasons the epidemics tend to appear in clusters. Although the appearance pattern of these epidemics varies from one continent to another, they usually begin in coastal areas. RSV is the cause of one-fifth of lower respiratory infections worldwide. Generally RSV mortality is low, with a median value of zero. However, RSV mortality in developing countries is significantly higher than RSV mortality in developed countries.
Comparative study of sequential expression of the organizer‐related genes in normal Cynops pyrrhogaster embryos and mesodermalized ectoderm

An artificially mesodermalized ectoderm (mE) of early Cynops pyrrhogaster gastrula acquires the organizer property; the mE is able to induce the secondary axis. The expression of organizer‐related genes was investigated during the mesodermalizing process of the mE. The expression of C. pyrrhogaster organizer‐related genes, such as bra, gsc, lim‐1, chd and noggin, were analyzed. Cynops pyrrhogaster shh expression was also investigated. The organizer‐related genes were activated by 12 h after the mesoderm‐inducing stimulus. It was noted that there was a temporal gap in the expression of each gene. The expression of bra and gsc seemed to be more quickly activated during the mesodermalizing process. While expression of lim‐1 and noggin was activated later than that of bra and gsc, lim‐1 expression was earlier than chd and noggin expression. Shh expression was activated later than lim‐1/noggin. The present study suggests the possibility that the bra/gsc, lim‐1, chd, noggin and shh genes are expressed one by one in that order during the mesodermalizing of the presumptive ectoderm. It also indicates that the sequence is not always consistent with that of the whole embryo during normal embryogenesis. The meaning of the discrepancy will be discussed in connection with the cascade of certain genes expressed during the mesodermalizing process.
Neutrophil extracellular traps release induced by Leishmania: role of PI3Kγ, ERK, PI3Kσ, PKC, and [Ca2+]

Upon in vitro stimulation, neutrophils undergo a cell death named netosis. This process is characterized by extracellular release of chromatin scaffold associated with granular and cytoplasmic proteins, which together, ensnare and kill microbes. We have previously described that interaction of Leishmania amazonensis with human neutrophils leads to the release of neutrophil extracellular traps, which trap and kill the parasite. However, the signaling leading to Leishmania induced netosis is still unknown. Thus, we sought to evaluate signaling events that drive L. amazonensis induced neutrophil extracellular trap release from human neutrophils. Here, we found that PI3K, independently of protein kinase B, has a role in parasite‐induced netosis. We also described that the main isoforms involved are PI3Kγ and PI3Kδ, which work in reactive oxygen species‐dependent and ‐independent ways, respectively. We demonstrated that activation of ERK downstream of PI3Kγ is important to trigger reactive oxygen species‐dependent, parasite‐induced netosis. Pharmacological inhibition of protein kinase C also significantly decreased parasite‐induced neutrophil extracellular trap release. Intracellular calcium, regulated by PI3Kδ, represents an alternative reactive oxygen species‐independent pathway of netosis stimulated by L. amazonensis. Finally, intracellular calcium mobilization and reactive oxygen species generation are the major regulators of parasite‐induced netosis. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the signaling behind netosis induced by interactions between Leishmania and neutrophils.
Advanced Pharmaco-EEG Reveals Morphine Induced Changes in the Brain's Pain Network

Introduction: By using a novel brain source modeling approach, where the evoked potential (EP) signal was decomposed with multichannel matching pursuit (MMP) before source localization, we investigated brain generators of EPs after a pain stimulus in the esophagus before and after administration of placebo/morphine. We showed that this new approach of pharmaco-electroencephalogram (EEG) analysis can shed light on subtle changes, which cannot be foreseen from conventional analysis (amplitude/latency/topography). Methods: In this placebo-controlled crossover study, the effects of orally administered morphine (30 mg) on esophageal pain elicited by electrical stimulation were investigated in 9 healthy volunteers. Using new methods (decomposition of the EPs with MMP and clustering) in combination with inverse modeling, we investigated brain sources of the EPs and their time–frequency properties. Results: Morphine treatment resulted in a shift of the brain sources in the low-frequency range (2–4 Hz) toward the frontal cortex during the first 300 milliseconds after stimulus, whereas active brain sources after placebo treatment remained stable. Conclusions: Decomposing the EPs into the original brain generators showed that morphine mainly changes the low frequency electrical activity in the frontal brain area. This method can be used to increase the basic understanding of the opioid effect on the brain's processing of pain and eventually identify biomarkers of analgesia in experimental pain models.
Synthesis of zeolite NaA membrane from fused fly ash extract

ABSTRACT Zeolite-NaA membranes were synthesized from an extract of fused South African fly ash on a porous titanium support by a secondary growth method. The influence of the synthesis molar regime on the formation of zeolite NaA membrane layer was investigated. Two synthesis mixtures were generated by adding either aluminium hydroxide or sodium aluminate to the fused fly ash extract. The feedstock material and the synthesized membranes were characterized by X-diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF). It was found by XRD and SEM that the cubic crystals of a typical zeolite NaA with a dense intergrown layer was formed on the porous Ti support. The study shows that the source of Al used had an effect on the membrane integrity as sodium aluminate provided the appropriate amount of Na+ to form a coherent membrane of zeolite NaA, whereas aluminium hydroxide did not. Morphological, the single hydrothermal stage seeded support formed an interlocked array of zeolite NaA particles with neighbouring crystals. Also, a robust, continuous and well-intergrown zeolite NaA membrane was formed with neighbouring crystals of zeolite fused to each other after the multiple stage synthesis. The synthesized membrane was permeable to He (6.0 × 106 L m−2h−1 atm−1) and CO2 (5.6 × 106 L m−2h−1 atm−1), which indicate that the layer of the membrane was firmly attached to the porous Ti support. Membrane selectivity was maintained showing membrane integrity with permselectivity of 1.1, showing that a waste feedstock, fly ash, could be utilized for preparing robust zeolite NaA membranes on Ti support.
Carbonic anhydrase expression and CO2 excretion during early development in zebrafish Danio rerio

SUMMARY Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is critical for CO2 excretion in adult fish, but little is known of the expression or function of CA during early development. The present study examined the hypothesis that, as rates of CO2 production increased during early development in zebrafish (Danio rerio), CA would become necessary for effective CO2 excretion, and that the pattern of CA expression during early development would reflect this transition. Real-time RT-PCR was used to examine the mRNA expression of the two main intracellular CA isoforms over a time course of early development ranging from 0 to 120 h post fertilization (h.p.f.). The mRNA expression of zCAb was generally higher than that of zCAc, particularly during the earliest stages of development. Rates of CO2 excretion increased approximately 15-fold from 24 to 48 h.p.f. whereas rates of O2 uptake increased only 6.7-fold over the same period, indicating a relative stimulation of CO2 excretion over O2 uptake. Treatment of 48 h.p.f. larvae with the CA inhibitor acetazolamide resulted in CO2 excretion rates that were 52% of the value in control larvae, a significant difference that occurred in the absence of any effect on O2 uptake. Antisense morpholino oligonucleotides were used to selectively knock down one or both of the main intracellular CA isoforms. Subsequent measurement of gas transfer rates at 48 h.p.f. indicated that CA knockdown caused a significant relative inhibition of CO2 excretion over O2 uptake, regardless of which cytosolic CA isoform was targeted for knockdown. These results suggest that between 24 h.p.f. and 48 h.p.f. , developing zebrafish begin to rely on CA to meet requirements for increased CO2 excretion.
Management of Multidrug-Resistant CMV Infection in Immunocompromised Patients: Case Report of a Heart-Transplant Recipient and Review of the Literature

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) remains a leading cause of morbidity after solid organ transplantation. The efficiency of antivirals for the treatment of CMV infections may be hampered because of the emergence of CMV resistance to antivirals. The development of CMV multidrug resistance, which remains uncommon but does occur, constitutes a clinically challenging complication and may contribute to difficult therapeutic management and adverse clinical outcome. We report here the observation of the emergence of a multidrug-resistant CMV infection in a heart-transplant recipient and review the literature on similar cases to identify the potential strategies for the successful management of CMV multidrug resistance among immunocompromised patients.
THE CURRENT SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF LARGE, RECURRENT, OR PERSISTENT MACULAR HOLES

Purpose: To evaluate the current surgical options available for the management of large (>400 &mgr;m), recurrent, or persistent macular holes (MHs). Methods: A review of the literature was performed, focusing on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and surgical treatments of large, recurrent, or persistent MHs. Based on this review, a comprehensive overview was provided regarding the topic of large, recurrent, or persistent MHs and focused on recent surgical management updates. Results: For large MHs, variations of the inverted internal limiting membrane flap technique demonstrated promising rates of primary hole closure and significant visual acuity improvements. For recurrent or recalcitrant MHs, early repeat vitrectomy with extension of the internal limiting membrane peel remains the most straightforward and optimal surgical technique to achieve secondary closure. Regardless of the surgical approach, the goal of each technique described is to induce or aid in stimulating gliosis within the MH to maximize closure. Conclusion: Despite the high success rate of modern MH surgery, large, recurrent, or persistent MHs remain a challenge for retinal surgeons. This review provides a detailed summary on the rationality and efficacy of current surgical options.
Does Insight Affect the Efficacy of Antipsychotics in Acute Mania?: An Individual Patient Data Regression Meta-Analysis

Abstract Patients having an acute manic episode of bipolar disorder often lack insight into their condition. Because little is known about the possible effect of insight on treatment efficacy, we examined whether insight at the start of treatment affects the efficacy of antipsychotic treatment in patients with acute mania. We used individual patient data from 7 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled registration studies of 4 antipsychotics in patients with acute mania (N = 1904). Insight was measured with item 11 of the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) at baseline and study endpoint 3 weeks later. Treatment outcome was defined by (a) mean change score, (b) response defined as 50% or more improvement on YMRS, and (c) remission defined as YMRS score less than 8 at study endpoint. We used multilevel mixed effect linear (or logistic) regression analyses of individual patient data to assess the interaction between baseline insight and treatment outcomes. At treatment initiation, 1207 (63.5%) patients had impaired or no insight into their condition. Level of insight significantly modified the efficacy of treatment by mean change score (P = 0.039), response rate (P = 0.033), and remission rate (P = 0.043), with greater improvement in patients with more impaired insight. We therefore recommend that patients experiencing acute mania should be treated immediately and not be delayed until patients regain insight.
Practice parameter: Evidence-based guidelines for migraine headache (an evidence-based review)

Mission statement. The Quality Standards Subcommittee (QSS) of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) is charged with developing practice parameters for physicians. This practice parameter summarizes the results from the four evidence-based reviews on the management of patients with migraine: specifically, acute, preventive, and nonpharmacologic treatments for migraine, and the role of neuroimaging in patients with headache. The full papers for these treatment guidelines are published elsewhere,1-6⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓ and only the specific treatment recommendations are summarized below. Migraine is a very common disorder. An estimated 18% of women and 6% of men experience migraine, but many go undiagnosed and undertreated.7 There have been a number of advances in the diagnosis and treatment of migraine as well as great strides in understanding its pathogenesis, making it one of the best understood of the neurologic disorders. Migraine is characterized by enhanced sensitivity of the nervous system. The attack is associated with activation of the trigeminal-vascular system. In June 1998, Duke University’s Center for Clinical Health Policy Research, in collaboration with the AAN, completed four Technical Reviews on migraine sponsored by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. These reviews covered self-administered drug treatments for acute migraine8; parenteral drug treatments for acute migraine9; drug treatments for the prevention of migraine10; and behavioral and physical treatments for migraine.11 The Education and Research Foundation of the AAN later funded additional reports on diagnostic testing for headache patients, an update on sumatriptan and other 5-HT1 agonists, and a report on butalbital-containing compounds for migraine and tension-type headache, using the same methodology that was used in the original Technical Reviews . A multidisciplinary panel of professional organizations (The US Headache Consortium) produced four treatment guidelines, each related to a distinct set of …
Equity Risk Premiums (ERP): Determinants, Estimation and Implications – The 2012 Edition

AbstractThe following sections are included:Equity Risk Premiums: Importance and DeterminantsWhy Does the Equity Risk Premium Matter? A price for riskExpected returns and discount ratesInvestment and policy implicationsWhat are the Determinants of Equity Risk Premiums? Risk aversion and consumption preferencesEconomic riskInformationLiquidityCatastrophic riskGovernment policyThe behavioral/irrational componentThe Equity Risk Premium PuzzleEstimation ApproachesSurvey PremiumsInvestorsManagersAcademicsAcademicsEstimation questions and consequencesEstimates for the United StatesGlobal estimatesThe survivor biasHistorical Premium PlusSmall cap and other risk premiumsThe CAPM and market capitalizationThe Small Cap PremiumPerils of the approachCountry risk premiumsThe arguments for no country risk premiumThe arguments for a country risk premiumEstimating a Country Risk PremiumMeasuring Country RiskChoosing between the approachesImplied Equity PremiumsA Stable Growth DDM PremiumA Generalized Model: Implied Equity Risk PremiumImplied Equity Risk Premium: S&P 500Implied Equity Risk Premiums: Annual Estimates from 2008 to 2012A Term Structure for Equity Risk Premiums? Time Series Behavior for S&P 500 Implied PremiumImplied Equity Risk Premiums during a Market Crisis and BeyondDeterminants of Implied PremiumsImplied ERP and Interest ratesImplied ERP and Macroeconomic variablesImplied ERP, Earnings Yields and Dividend YieldsImplied ERP and Technical IndicatorsOther Equity MarketsSector premiumsFirm CharacteristicsChoosing an Equity Risk PremiumWhy Do the Approaches Yield Different Values? Which Approach is the “Best” Approach? Five Myths About Equity Risk PremiumsSummaryReferences