Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Muscle afferent activation causes ventilatory and cardiovascular responses during concurrent hypercapnia in humans

Respiratory and cardiovascular responses to muscle mechanoreflex (passive calf stretch) and metaboreflex activation (local circulatory occlusion) were examined during inhalation of a hypercapnic gas mixture in four trials. These controlled for the effects of central command, metabolite sensitization of muscle afferents and hypercapnia‐induced elevation of central respiratory drive. In an isokinetic dynamometer, with circulation through the right leg occluded by inflation of a thigh cuff, 13 participants either rested (control trial; CON) or plantarflexed their ankle at 50% maximal force for 1.5 min (voluntary exercise trial; EX). Thereafter, circulatory occlusion was maintained and the calf passively stretched before return to the resting position. Both trials were performed while breathing air, as well as while breathing a normoxic, hypercapnic (5% CO2) gas mixture (CO2 trial and CO2+EX trial). Hypercapnic gas inhalation increased baseline minute ventilation ( ), heart rate and mean arterial pressure (+27.67 ± 1.74 l min−1, +7 ± 0.85 beats min−1 and +13 ± 3.41 mmHg, respectively; means ± SEM) above control values (9.78 ± 0.86 l min−1, 62 ± 2.3 beats min−1 and 88 ± 2.6 mmHg, respectively). Voluntary exercise further increased these variables from baseline during both trials (P < 0.05). During the continued circulatory occlusion after voluntary exercise, mean arterial pressure remained significantly elevated (P < 0.05). Minute ventilation returned to baseline during circulatory occlusion following exercise in the EX trial, but in the CO2+EX trial the remained elevated at end‐exercise levels during this period (+7.12 ± 1.13 l min−1). Passive stretch caused further increases in during CO2+EX and CO2 trials but not in CON and EX. These results indicate that in the absence of central command, either muscle metaboreflex and/or mechanoreflex activation stimulates ventilation during concurrent hypercapnia.
Different effects of fluvoxamine on rabeprazole pharmacokinetics in relation to CYP2C19 genotype status.

AIMS Rabeprazole is known to be a substrate of CYP2C19. Our objective was to evaluate the possible effect of an inhibitor of CYP2C19, fluvoxamine, and compare the inhibitory effect of fluvoxamine on the metabolism of rabeprazole between CYP2C19 genotypes. METHODS A two-way randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study was performed. Twenty-one volunteers, of whom seven were homozygous extensive metabolizers (EMs), eight were heterozygous EMs and six were poor metabolizers (PMs) for CYP2C19, received two 6-day courses of either fluvoxamine 50 mg or placebo daily in a randomized fashion with a single oral dose of rabeprazole 20 mg on day 6 in all cases. Plasma concentrations of rabeprazole and its metabolite rabeprazole thioether were monitored up to 24 h after dosing. RESULTS During placebo administration, the mean AUCs(0,infinity) of rabeprazole in homozygous EMs, heterozygous EMs and PMs were 882 (95% CI, 602, 1162) ng ml-1h , 1214 (975, 1453) ng ml-1 h and 2762 (2482, 3042) ng ml-1 h (P<0.001), respectively. Fluvoxamine treatment increased AUC(0,infinity) of rabeprazole and rabeprazole thioether by 2.8-fold (P<0.001) and 5.1-fold (P<0.01) in homozygous EMs, and by 1.7-fold (P<0.01) and 2.6-fold (P<0.01) in heterozygous EMs, and significantly prolonged the elimination half-life of rabeprazole and rabeprazole thioether in homozygous EMs and in heterozygous EMs, whereas no difference in any pharmacokinetic parameters was found in PMs. There was a significant difference in fluvoxamine-mediated percentage increase in AUC(0,infinity) of rabeprazole and rabeprazole thioether between CYP2C19 genotypes. CONCLUSIONS The present study indicates that there are significant drug interactions between rabeprazole and fluvoxamine in EMs of CYP2C19. It is predominantly involved in rabeprazole and rabeprazole thioether metabolism in EMs. Therefore, CYP2C19 is the key determinant of rabeprazole disposition in EMs.
Adherence of Nocardia asteroides within the murine brain

Nonlethal infection of BALB/c mice with Nocardia asteroides GUH-2 (GUH-2) produces a variety of neurological signs, including an L-dopa-responsive movement disorder in 10 to 15% of the infected population. To study nocardial interactions with the brain, we characterized the attachment of GUH-2 within specific regions through the use of microdissection. Following an intravenous injection of a single-cell suspension of log-phase GUH-2, viable cells were recovered from all regions of the brain, and the distribution of the nocardiae was independent of the size of the inoculum. In addition, two mutants of GUH-2 were found to possess significantly altered binding characteristics with regard to both the percentage of the inoculum bound per brain and the relative distribution of adherence to regions of the brain, when compared with the parental strain. These results indicated that GUH-2 bound throughout the murine brain and suggested that GUH-2 utilized specific receptors to facilitate this attachment.
Strong Decays of Charmed Baryons in Heavy Hadron Chiral Perturbation Theory: An Update

We first give a brief overview of the charmed baryon spectroscopy and discuss their possible structure and spin-parity assignments in the quark model. With the new Belle measurement of the widths ofc(2455) andc(2520) and the recent CDF measurement of the strong decays ofc(2595) andc(2625), we give updated coupling constants in heavy hadron chiral perturbation theory. We find g2 = 0.565 +0.011 −0.024 for P-wave transitions between s-wave and s-wave baryons, and h2, one of the couplings responsible for S-wave transitions between s-wave and p-wave baryons, is extracted fromc(2595) + ! � + �� to be 0.63±0.07. It is substantially enhanced compared to the old value of order 0.437. With the help from the quark model, two of the couplings h10 and h11 responsible for D-wave transitions between s-wave and p-wave baryons are determined fromc(2880) decays. There is a tension for the coupling h2 as its value extracted fromc(2595) + ! � + �� will imply �c(2790) 0 ! � ' � andc(2815) + ! � ∗ � rates slightly above the current limits. It is conceivable that SU(3) flavor symmetry breaking can help account for the discrepancy.
Oxidized titanium implants (Nobel Biocare TiUnite) compared with turned titanium implants (Nobel Biocare mark III) with respect to implant failure in a group of consecutive patients treated with early functional loading and two-stage protocol.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to compare two implant types of similar shape but with different surfaces with respect to implant failure. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 136 patients were treated with Nobel Biocare Implants between January 2001 and December 2002. Totally 394 implants were placed, of which 199 were oxidized titanium implants (Nobel Biocare TiUnite and 195 with turned titanium surface (Nobel Biocare Mark III. Sixty-three patients underwent a one-stage surgical protocol, of which 24 were objected to early functional loading. The remaining 73 patients were treated with a traditional two-stage surgical protocol. All patients were followed for a minimum of 5 months after loading of the implants. Implants were classified as survivals when clinically stable and fulfilling purported function without any discomfort to the patient, with no signs of infection or ongoing pathologic process. RESULTS Seven implants were lost in five patients (two males and three females), six in the maxilla and one in the mandible. All failed implants were Mark III implants, inserted following the traditional two-stage protocol. The implant success rate was 98.2% for the whole-patient group, divided as a 100% success rate following the implants with oxidized surface (Nobel Biocare TiUnite compared with a success rate of 96.4% with implants with turned surface (Nobel Biocare Mark III).
Is Acute Hepatitis B Still a Nosocomiallyacquired Infection in Poland? A Case-controlled Study of Transmission Routes in a Hospital Sample

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of medically linked risk factors for acute HBV infection in the Podlasie region of North-Eastern Poland. The records of 107 adult patients and 214 age- and sex-matched controls hospitalized in the Department of Infectious Diseases, Białystok, Podlasie Region during the period 1997-2000 with the diagnosis of acute hepatitis B were reviewed. On multivariate analysis, household contact with hepatitis B [odds ratio (OR) = 18.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.0-165.5] and a history of injections (OR =2.7, 95% CI 1.5-4.7) in the preceding 6 months were independently associated with acute HBV infection. In conclusion, our data indicate that despite a significant decline in the incidence of hepatitis B, injections are still involved in the spread of HBV in Poland.
The role of Mycoplasma genitalium in non-gonococcal urethritis

Mycoplasmas are the smallest prokaryotes capable of self replication . Mycoplasma genitalium, one of 14 mycoplasmas of human origin known so far, was isolated originally from the urethra of two of 13 men with non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) attending the genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London, in 1980.1, 2 By electron microscopy, it was found to be flask shaped, the narrow terminal portion being instrumental in its attachment to eukaryotic cell surfaces.1, 2 Later, the genome of M genitalium , the smallest known for a self replicating micro-organism, 580 kb, was the first of any micro-organism to be fully sequenced.3 The small genome size probably accounts, as least in part, for the fastidious growth requirements of M genitalium . Indeed, despite the original success of isolating this mycoplasma from the urogenital tract and the subsequent recovery of five strains from the respiratory tract,4 further attempts to isolate it from the urogenital tract failed and it was not until the application of a molecular approach that progress was made. It was the advent of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology in the late 1980s that saw the development of sensitive and specific PCR assays for M genitalium , initially by two groups of workers and later by others, each group amplifying different fragments of the attachment protein designated MgPa.5 This has enabled M genitalium to be detected reliably in urogenital specimens. In the past 20 years there have been 19 studies,1, 6–23 undertaken largely in men attending GUM clinics, in 17 of which the relation of the mycoplasma …
RyhB small RNA modulates the free intracellular iron pool and is essential for normal growth during iron limitation in Escherichia coli

The small RNA RyhB has recently been shown to negatively regulate a number of mRNAs encoding dispensable iron‐using proteins in Escherichia coli. The resulting decrease in the synthesis of iron‐using proteins is thought to spare iron in order to ensure its availability for iron‐requiring proteins that are indispensable. Indeed, the expression of RyhB from a heterologous promoter activates the iron‐sensing repressor Fur, which suggests an increase in the pool of free intracellular iron (iron‐sparing). In accordance with these observations, we report here that RyhB expression increases the concentration of free intracellular iron, as shown by direct measurements of the metal in whole cells by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Our data also suggest that iron‐sparing originates from rapid uptake of extracellular iron and not from already internalized metal. Furthermore, RyhB is shown to be essential for normal bacterial growth and survival during iron starvation, which is consistent with previous data describing the function of the small RNA. Overall, our data demonstrate that, by regulating synthesis of nonessential iron‐using proteins, the small RNA RyhB ensures that the iron is directed towards the iron‐requiring enzymes that are indispensable.
Testosterone effects on spermatogenesis in the gonadotropin-releasing hormone-immunized rat.

Active immunization of adult rats with a GnRH fusion protein was used to inhibit gonadotropin secretion and to establish an in vivo model for studying the hormonal control of spermatogenesis. The model was characterized in terms of the efficacy of the immunogen as well as the time course and nature of the immunological and biological responses. To study the reinitiation of spermatogenesis, testosterone (T) was chosen for this initial study as it is known to restore spermatogenesis in gonadotropin-deficient rats. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were actively immunized with a proprietory GnRH immunogen (BA-11, 100 micrograms s.c.) every 4 wk. After 12 wk, 58% of animals showed markedly suppressed testicular size, as assessed by scrotal palpation, and were classed as responders. Serum LH, FSH, and T as well as the testicular elongated spermatid count (ESC) and epididymal sperm were undetectable in responding animals. Marked reductions in testicular (29% of control), prostatic (8% of control), and epididymal (32% of control) weights were seen. Spermatogenesis was severely disrupted with no evidence of progression beyond round spermatids. To study the action of T in GnRH-immunized animals, T (defined by lengths of s.c. silastic implant, T3-T24 cm) was given to responding animals. Animals were killed 2, 8, and 12 wk after T24 administration. In response to T24, serum T levels increased to 4 times control levels, serum FSH levels were restored to 65% of control levels by 2 wk, and serum LH remained undetectable. Testicular weight increased to 80% of control levels at 12 wk (p < 0.05 vs. control). Epididymal and prostatic weights were normalized by T. ESC increased to 82% of control values at 12 wk (110 +/- 10 vs. control 134 +/- 8 million/testis, p = 0.001). Spermatogenesis was histologically normal after 8 wk of T24 treatment. To study the time course and dose response of T action, animals were immunized with another GnRH immunogen (BA-17), which yielded an 87% response rate at 12 wk. Testicular weight increased by Day 5 of T24 treatment, and a clear dose-response effect was apparent. The restoration of ESC was delayed compared to that of testicular weight (no restoration at 2 wk) and required > or = T6 treatment. Rats immunized for 20 wk and then given T24 treatment showed a similar pattern of restoration in testicular weight and ESC. Serum FSH was normalized by Day 2 of T treatment by doses > or = 3 cm. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
The First Crystal Structure of Archaeal Aldolase

A gene encoding a 2-deoxy-d-ribose-5-phosphate aldolase (DERA) homolog was identified in the hyperthermophilic Archaea Aeropyrum pernix. The gene was overexpressed in Escherichia coli, and the produced enzyme was purified and characterized. The enzyme is an extremely thermostable DERA; its activity was not lost after incubation at 100 °C for 10 min. The enzyme has a molecular mass of ∼93 kDa and consists of four subunits with an identical molecular mass of 24 kDa. This is the first report of the presence of tetrameric DERA. The three-dimensional structure of the enzyme was determined by x-ray analysis. The subunit folds into an α/β-barrel. The asymmetric unit consists of two homologous subunits, and a crystallographic 2-fold axis generates the functional tetramer. The main chain coordinate of the monomer of the A. pernix enzyme is quite similar to that of the E. colienzyme. There was no significant difference in hydrophobic interactions and the number of ion pairs between the monomeric structures of the two enzymes. However, a significant difference in the quaternary structure was observed. The area of the subunit-subunit interface in the dimer of the A. pernix enzyme is much larger compared with the E. coli enzyme. In addition, theA. pernix enzyme is 10 amino acids longer than the E. coli enzyme in the N-terminal region and has an additional N-terminal helix. The N-terminal helix produces a unique dimer-dimer interface. This promotes the formation of a functional tetramer of theA. pernix enzyme and strengthens the hydrophobic intersubunit interactions. These structural features are considered to be responsible for the extremely high stability of the A. pernix enzyme. This is the first description of the structure of hyperthermophilic DERA and of aldolase from the Archaea domain.
Clinical and Psychosocial Factors Associated With Patient Experience in Pediatrics

Objective. To identify clinical and psychosocial factors associated with patient experience with care. Methods. We analyzed patient experience surveys, corresponding clinical and psychosocial the data of 1567 encounters using survey-weighted multivariate logistic regression analysis with willingness to recommend the facility as outcome variable. Results. Parents are less likely to recommend the facility if there were custody issues with the child during their stay, if the child has history of chronic medical condition, and if the child is male with odds ratio and corresponding 95% confidence interval of 0.38 [0.21, 0.69], 0.43 [0.24, 0.80], and 0.67 [0.45, 0.99] respectively. Parents of older patients (1-year difference) and parents of low socioeconomic status are more likely to recommend the facility (1.05 [1.01, 1.09] and 2.74 [1.72, 4.37] respectively). Conclusions. Clinical and psychosocial factors significantly affect patient experience scores together with parent perception of provider-family communication and relationship, and hospital environment conducive for children.
Mevastatin induces degeneration and decreases viability of cAMP‐induced differentiated neuroblastoma cells in culture by inhibiting proteasome activity, and mevalonic acid lactone prevents these effects

Statins with a closed‐ring structure (mevastatin, lovastatin, and simvastatin) and with an open‐ring structure (pravastatin and fluvastatin) are widely used in the human population to manage hypercholesterolemia. These statins may have neuroprotective or neurotoxic effects, but these effects remain controversial. We have utilized adenosine 3',5'‐cyclic monophosphate‐induced terminally differentiated murine neuroblastoma (NB) cells in culture as an experimental model to study the effect of statins. Results showed that mevastatin induced degenerative changes and reduced the viability of differentiated NB cells by inhibiting proteasome activity. Lactacystin, an established inhibitor of proteasome, also produced similar degenerative changes in these cells. In contrast, pravastatin neither affected the degeneration and viability of differentiated NB cells nor the proteasome activity. High‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of the extract obtained from mevastatin‐treated growth medium and differentiated cells revealed that about 50% of mevastatin is converted to an open‐ring structure in the growth medium; however, differentiated cells did not convert any portion of mevastatin into an open‐ring structure and accumulated only mevastatin with a closed‐ring structure. Mevalonic acid lactone by itself did not affect the viability of differentiated NB cells or the proteasome activity, but it completely prevented mevastatin‐induced degeneration and decreased viability by reducing the uptake of mevastatin and by blocking its action on proteasome activity. Mevalonic acid failed to prevent lactacystin‐induced degeneration and inhibition of proteasome activity. Our results suggest that mevastatin could act as a neurotoxic agent or neuroprotective agent, depending upon the extent of its hydrolysis to an open‐ring structure and the level of mevalonic acid. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Socioeconomic disparities in childhood cancer survival in Switzerland

In this study, we investigated whether childhood cancer survival in Switzerland is influenced by socioeconomic status (SES), and if disparities vary by type of cancer and definition of SES (parental education, living condition, area‐based SES). Using Cox proportional hazards models, we analyzed 5‐year cumulative mortality in all patients registered in the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry diagnosed 1991–2006 below 16 years. Information on SES was extracted from the Swiss census by probabilistic record linkage. The study included 1602 children (33% with leukemia, 20% with lymphoma, 22% with central nervous system (CNS) tumors); with an overall 5‐year survival of 77% (95%CI 75–79%). Higher SES, particularly parents' education, was associated with a lower 5‐year cumulative mortality. Results varied by type of cancer with no association for leukemia and particularly strong effects for CNS tumor patients, where mortality hazard ratios for the different SES indicators, comparing the highest with the lowest group, ranged from 0.48 (95%CI: 0.28–0.81) to 0.71 (95%CI: 0.44–1.15). We conclude that even in Switzerland with a high quality health care system and mandatory health insurance, socioeconomic differences in childhood cancer survival persist. Factors causing these survival differences have to be further explored, to facilitate universal access to optimal treatment and finally eliminate social inequalities in childhood cancer survival.
The Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms among Sensory and Physically Challenged Persons Living with HIV/AIDS Attending Clinics in Nyanza Province, Kenya

Background: Despite that over 10% of the world’s population has a disability, globally the relationship between HIV and disability has not received due attention. Persons with disabilities are key populations with a high risk of exposure to HIV. In Kenya, 3.5% of the population experience some form of disability, majority of who reside in rural settings: Nyanza Province (5.6%) having the highest prevalence. Although depressive symptoms have been associated with disability, there are limited studies among persons with disabilities living with HIV/AIDS, (PWDLWA) particularly in rural Kenya. Aim: Study aimed to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms among people with disability living with HIV/AIDS in Nyanza Province, Kenya. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among PDLWA receiving HIV care at public health facilities and VCT centers in Nyanza Province. An interview guided questionnaire and the Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to collect Socio-demographic data and depressive symptoms among a purposively selected sample of participants. Data was entered and analyzed using the Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 17. Results: Out of the 236 PWDLWA participants with a mean age of 42.6 ± 11.6 years, more than a half (51.7%) had clinical depression (severe and moderate depressive symptoms). Majority of the participants were female (62.7%), had attained at least primary level of education (58.9%) lived in rural Kenya (66.9%) and were unemployed (58.5%). Clinical depression was associated with low educational level (p=0.010), auditory disability (p=0.025). HIV and disability interventions related factors were not associated with depression. Conclusions and recommendations: More than half of PDLWA suffer from clinical depression. Education level and auditory impairment are risk factors for depression among PDLWA in Nyanza Province Kenya. There is need to intensify screening for depression among sensory and physically challenged persons living with HIV/AIDS.