Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Skeletal muscle homeostasis and plasticity in youth and ageing: impact of nutrition and exercise

Skeletal muscles comprise a substantial portion of whole body mass and are integral for locomotion and metabolic health. Increasing age is associated with declines in both muscle mass and function (e.g. strength‐related performance, power) with declines in muscle function quantitatively outweighing those in muscle volume. The mechanisms behind these declines are multi‐faceted involving both intrinsic age‐related metabolic dysregulation and environmental influences such as nutritional and physical activity. Ageing is associated with a degree of ‘anabolic resistance’ to these key environmental inputs, which likely accelerates the intrinsic processes driving ageing. On this basis, strategies to sensitize and/or promote anabolic responses to nutrition and physical activity are likely to be imperative in alleviating the progression and trajectory of sarcopenia. Both resistance‐ and aerobic‐type exercises are likely to confer functional and health benefits in older age, and a clutch of research suggests that enhancement of anabolic responsiveness to exercise and/or nutrition may be achieved by optimizing modifications of muscle‐loading paradigms (workload, volume, blood flow restriction) or nutritional support (e.g. essential amino acid/leucine) patterns. Nonetheless, more work is needed in which a more holistic view in ageing studies is taken into account. This should include improved characterization of older study recruits, that is physical activity/nutritional behaviours, to limit confounding variables influencing whether findings are attributable to age, or other environmental influences. Nonetheless, on balance, ageing is associated with declines in muscle mass and function and a partially related decline in aerobic capacity. There is also good evidence that metabolic flexibility is impaired in older age.
Evidence of seroconversion to SBV in camelids

throughout the nasal passages, infraorbital sinuses, conjunctivae and trachea. The extent and severity of this parasitic infection and the failure to demonstrate M gallisepticum suggested that the disease in these grouse was a result of primary respiratory cryptosporidiosis. At this stage of the investigation no fresh, unfixed material remained. Moredun Research Institute recovered DNA from formalinfixed, paraffin wax-embedded tissues using the Ambion RecoverAllTM system (Life Technologies) and forwarded it to AHVLA – Weybridge where, by 18S rRNA PCR plus sequencing, the organism was identified as Cryptosporidium baileyi. This case, thought to be the first diagnosis of respiratory cryptosporidiosis in free-living red grouse, was reported in the SAC Consulting: Veterinary Services (SAC C VS) disease surveillance report for October 2010 (VR, January 1/8, 2011, vol 168, pp 13-16). In autumn 2011, small numbers of similarly affected grouse with swollen heads and eyelids (Fig 1) were found on a grouse moor in County Durham and submitted to AHVLA – Penrith for examination under the AHVLA Diseases of Wildlife Scheme and project ED 1300 (scanning surveillance for diseases in poultry and GAMEBIRDS
Concordance with ASCO guidelines for surveillance after colorectal cancer treatment: a population-based analysis.

PURPOSE Intensive surveillance after curative treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) is associated with improved overall survival. This study examined concordance with the 2005 ASCO surveillance guidelines at the population level. METHODS A cohort of 250 patients diagnosed with stage II or III CRC in 2004 and alive 42 months after diagnosis was identified from health administrative data in Manitoba, Canada. Colonoscopy, liver imaging, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) testing were assessed over 3 years. Guidelines were met if patients had at least one colonoscopy in 3 years and at least one liver imaging test and three CEA tests annually. Multivariate logistic regression assessed the effect of patient and physician characteristics and disease and treatment factors on guideline concordance. RESULTS Guidelines for colonoscopy, liver imaging, and CEA were met by 80.4%, 47.2%, and 22% of patients, respectively. Guideline concordance for colonoscopy was predicted by annual contact with a surgeon, higher income, and the diagnosis of colon (rather than rectal) cancer. Adherence was lower in those older than 70 years and with higher comorbidity. For liver imaging, significant predictors were annual contact with an oncologist, receipt of chemotherapy, and diagnosis of colon cancer. Concordance with CEA guidelines was higher with annual contact with an oncologist and high levels of family physician contact, and lower in urban residents, in those older than 70, and in those with stage II disease. CONCLUSION Completion of recommended liver imaging and CEA testing fall well below guidelines in Manitoba, whereas colonoscopy is better provided. Addressing this gap should improve outcomes for CRC survivors.
May bed rest cause greater muscle loss than limb immobilization?

Bed rest, as often occurs following surgery or during (critical) illness, may result in greater muscle loss than local muscle disuse; not only because of the amount of muscle tissue that is subjected to disuse, but also because of various systemic factors that may accelerate muscle atrophy. These factors could include hormonal changes or (low-grade) systemic inflammation. In medical research, experimental (whole-body) bed rest and (local) limb immobilization are typically applied in healthy volunteers to investigate the impact of disuse on the loss of muscle mass and strength. Previous work, based on combined results of separate studies, has suggested that immobilization leads to more pronounced muscle loss than bed rest due to the greater degree of restriction imposed (Clark 2009). However, a direct comparison of the loss of muscle mass and strength between both models is currently lacking. To test the hypothesis that bed rest would lead to greater muscle loss when compared with single leg immobilization, we subjected twenty healthy, ageand BMI-matched males (age 23 1 years, BMI 23.2 0.7 kg m ) to either 7 days of leg immobilization via a full leg cast (n = 10), or 7 days of strict bed rest (n = 10). Here, we present novel data showing that quadriceps cross-sectional area (CSA), as a measure of skeletal muscle mass, declines during 7 days of disuse in both models (P < 0.001), with no differences observed between the immobilized leg (from 7646 399 to 7229 373 mm) and the leg(s) in the bed rest model (from 7900 315 to 7664 354 mm; P > 0.05 for time x treatment interaction). These declines in quadriceps CSA represent 5.4 1.0 and 3.2 0.9% leg muscle atrophy following leg immobilization and bed rest, respectively (Fig. 1). Muscle atrophy during disuse was accompanied by a mean 7 2% decline in maximal leg strength (P < 0.01, measured as one-repetition maximum (1RM)), which also did not differ between the two models (6 3 vs. 8 2% following leg immobilization and bed rest, respectively; P > 0.05). In contrast with previously published data (Clark 2009) and contrary to our hypothesis, we report an equivalent decline in leg muscle mass following shortterm muscle disuse in both models. Irrespective of the model, we show that seven days of disuse leads to ~0.6% leg muscle loss per day. These data are in line with previous work showing an approximate 0.5– 0.7% muscle loss per day during muscle disuse (as reviewed in (Wall & van Loon 2013)). By way of
Comparative survey of the six-minute walk test on the treadmill and on the corridor in cardiac patients

Introduction The six minute walk test (6MWT) is considered an important tool in the evaluation of physical capacity, monitoration and the effectiveness of treatment in cardiac patients.Objective To compare the 6MWT on the treadmill and corridor in cardiac patients.Methods Participated 24 cardiac patients, being 12 male and 12 female with 56.7 ± 12.7 years age average, submitted to the six-minute walk test on the treadmill (6MWTT) and on the corridor (6MWTC) in an interval of seven days. The analyzed variables were: walked distance, respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and oxygen saturation (SatO2). Results It was statistically significant difference in the comparison between the tests for the variables: walked distance, SBP, DBP and SatO2 (p > 0.05). The only statistically significant variable was the HR after the test application (p = 0.03). Conclusion After the two tests application, there was similarity in the variables: walked distance, SBP, DBP and SatO2 with no significant statistical differences. Only the HR presented statistical significance between groups at the end of the tests.
Pharmacokinetics of Gentamicin and its Interaction with Paracetamol after i.v. Administration in Buffalo Calves (Bubalus bubalis)

The disposition kinetics was conducted in fi ve healthy female buffalo calves following single i.v dose (5mg/kg) of gentamicin alone and with paracetamol (40mg/kg,i.v.). The study revealed that the plasma concentrations of gentamicin were signi fi cantly higher when it was given with paracetamol as compared to alone between 0.042 to 0.333 hrs and at 24 hrs. Serum concentrations of gentamicin was detected for longer period (48 hrs) in urine in both groups of experimental animals. In case of urine drug attained its peak level at the same time interval (1.5 hrs) in both groups with the concentration of 83.42±3.14 i­ g/ml after alone and 545.1±25.85 i­ g/ml with paracetamol administration. The extrapolated zero time plasma concentrations during distribution phase (A) and theoretical zero time plasma concentrations (Cop) were signi fi cantly (p< 0.01) higher 34.48±2.35 and 39.03±2.40 i­ g/ml respectively. Also signi fi cantly higher distribution rate constant ( ii ) of 1.935±0.1119 h -1 and lower distribution half life (t 1/2 ii ) of 0.36±0.02 hrs were observed, when gentamicin was given with paracetamol. Elimination half life (t 1/2 i¢ ) of 6.67±0.11 hrs was not signi fi cantly higher when gentamicin was given with paracetamol. AUC (62.16±2.82 mg/L.hrs) was signi fi cantly (p< 0.05) higher while MRT (6.93±0.36hrs) was not signi fi cantly higher when gentamicin was given with paracetamol. The values of K 12 , K 21 and Kel were calculated to be 1.088±0.111 h -1 , 0.323±0.028 h -1 and 0.628±0.024 h -1 respectively when gentamicin was given concurrently with paracetamol. T~P (5.04±0.16) was signi fi cantly (p< 0.01) higher, while Vd area (0.78±0.03L/Kg) and ClB (1.35±0.06 ml/Kg/min) were not signi fi cantly higher when gentamicin was given with paracetamol. The present investigation established that both gentamicin and paracetamol interacted with altered their kinetic behaviour. The combination with paracetamol may be beni fi cial because paracetamol reduced the maintenance doses of gentamicin which may be much advantageous in the fi eld of veterinary practice in the dose of 5 mg/kg daily by systemic route and 36 hourly when given with paracetamol in urinary tract infection.
Aiding the transition from vet school to practice

The RCVS Charitable Trust is undertaking a project that aims to make a range of online resources available to support new graduates as they make the move from veterinary school to practice. Clare Boulton, the project's manager and Librarian at the trust, and Jennifer McIntyre, the project's coordinator, explain the thinking behind the initiative
Novel routes of albumin passage across the glomerular filtration barrier

Albuminuria is a hallmark of kidney diseases of various aetiologies and an unambiguous symptom of the compromised integrity of the glomerular filtration barrier. Furthermore, there is increasing evidence that albuminuria per se aggravates the development and progression of chronic kidney disease. This review covers new aspects of the movement of large plasma proteins across the glomerular filtration barrier in health and disease. Specifically, this review focuses on the role of endocytosis and transcytosis of albumin by podocytes, which constitutes a new pathway of plasma proteins across the filtration barrier. Thus, we summarize what is known about the mechanisms of albumin endocytosis by podocytes and address the fate of the endocytosed albumin, which is directed to lysosomal degradation or transcellular movement with subsequent vesicular release into the urinary space. We also address the functional consequences of overt albumin endocytosis by podocytes, such as the formation of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, which might eventually result in a deterioration of podocyte function. Finally, we consider the diagnostic potential of podocyte‐derived albumin‐containing vesicles in the urine as an early marker of a compromised glomerular barrier function. In terms of new technical approaches, the review covers how our knowledge of the movement of albumin across the glomerular filtration barrier has expanded by the use of new intravital imaging techniques.
Tracking the workforce: the American Society of Clinical Oncology workforce information system.

PURPOSE In anticipation of oncologist workforce shortages projected as part of a 2007 study, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) worked with a contractor to create a workforce information system (WIS) to assemble the latest available data on oncologist supply and cancer incidence and prevalence. ASCO plans to publish findings annually, reporting on new data and tracking trends over time. METHODS THE WIS REPORT IS COMPOSED OF THREE SECTIONS: supply, new entrants, and cancer incidence and prevalence. Tabulations of the number of oncologists in the United States are derived mainly from the American Medical Association Physician Masterfile. Information on fellows and residents in the oncology workforce pipeline come from published sources such as Journal of the American Medical Association. Incidence and prevalence estimates are published by the American Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute. RESULTS The WIS reports a total of 13,084 oncologists working in the United States in 2011. Oncologists are defined as those physicians who designate hematology, hematology/oncology, or medical oncology as their specialty. The WIS compares the characteristics of these oncologists with those of all physicians and tracks emerging trends in the physician training pipeline. CONCLUSION Observing characteristics of the oncologist workforce over time allows ASCO to identify, prioritize, and evaluate its workforce initiatives. Accessible figures and reports generated by the WIS can be used by ASCO and others in the oncology community to advocate for needed health care system and policy changes to help offset future workforce shortages.
Impact of physician assistants on the outcomes of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia receiving chemotherapy in an academic medical center.

PURPOSE Inpatient academic medical center care historically has been delivered by faculty physicians in conjunction with physicians in training (house officers [HOs]). Alternative staffing models have emerged secondary to American Counsel for Graduate Medical Education work-hour restrictions. The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) care provided by a physician assistant (PA) service compared with a traditional model. PATIENTS AND METHODS Data were retrospectively collected on patients admitted with AML for reinduction chemotherapy from 2008 to 2012. Primary outcome measures were inpatient mortality and length of stay (LOS). Secondary measures included readmissions, intensive care unit (ICU) transfers, consults requested, and radiologic studies ordered. RESULTS Ninety-five patients with AML were reviewed. Forty-seven patients (49.5%) were admitted to the HO service, and 48 patients (50.5%) were admitted to the PA service. Demographic data were similar between services. LOS was significantly different between the services, with a mean of 36.8 days with the HO model compared with 30.9 days with the PA service (P=.03). The 14-day readmission rate also differed significantly; it was 10.6% (five of 47 patients) and zero for the HO and PA models, respectively (P=.03). The mean number of consults with the HO model was 2.11 (range, zero to five) versus 1.47 (range, zero to four) with the PA service (P=.03). Mortality and ICU transfers were not significantly different. CONCLUSION The data demonstrate equivalent mortality and ICU transfers, with a decrease in LOS, readmission rates, and consults for patients cared for in the PA service. This suggests that the PA service is associated with increased operational efficiency and decreased health service use without compromising health care outcomes.
SUBFOVEAL NEOVASCULAR MEMBRANES IN SENILE MACULAR DEGENERATION: Relationship Between Membrane Size and Visual Prognosis

Neovascular membranes that lie under the geometric center of the foveal avascular zone are larger than neovascular membranes completely outside the foveal avascular zone. Thirty-eight (66%) of 58 subfoveal membranes were greater than 1500 microns in diameter while only seven (12%) of 58 extrafoveal membranes were greater than 1500 microns (P<.000001). Of all eyes with subfoveal membranes and an initial visual acuity of 20/100 or better.acuity remained the same or improved in 5 (38%) of 13 eyes with small membranes and in none (0%) of 13 eyes with large membranes (P<0.02) after an average follow-up of 22 months. Furthermore, nine (70%) of the 13 eyes with large membranes and an initial visual acuity of 20/100 or better were 20/200 or worse at follow-up. For eyes whose initial visual acuity was 20/126 or worse, a statistically significant difference could not be demonstrated in the visual prognosis between eyes with small vs large membranes. Nevertheless, all but one of these eyes remained 20/126 or worse at follow-up, including 80% that were 20/200 or worse at follow-up regardless of membrane size. Because of the uniformly poor visual prognosis for eyes with large subfoveal membranes, a randomized trial of krypton red photocoagulation seems justifiable if careful low-vision assessments are done before and after the trial.
Clinical ethics consultation in oncology.

PURPOSE There is limited empirical research exploring the nature of clinical ethical consultations within the oncology population. Our objective was to review and describe clinical ethics consultations at two National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers to identify opportunities for systems improvement in clinical care and opportunities for staff education. METHODS This case series is derived from two institutional prospectively maintained clinical ethics consultation databases. All ethics consultations from 2007 through 2011 that related to adult patients with cancer were included. RESULTS A total of 208 eligible patient cases were identified. The most common primary issues leading to ethics consultation were code status and advance directives (25%), surrogate decision making (17%), and medical futility (13%). Communication lapses were identified in 45% of patient cases, and interpersonal conflict arose in 51%. Before ethics consultation, 26% of patients had do-not-resuscitate orders, which increased to 60% after ethics consultation. Palliative care consultation occurred in 41% of patient cases. CONCLUSION Ethics consultations among patients with cancer reflect the complexities inherent to their clinical management. Appropriately honoring patients' wishes within the context of overall goals of care is crucial. Thoughtful consideration of the role of and relationship with palliative care experts, communication barriers, sources of interpersonal conflict, symptom control, and end-of-life care is paramount to optimal management strategies in this patient population.
Importance of surveillance

SQUAMOUS cell carcinoma is a common oral malignancy in dogs and may arise from the gingiva, tongue or tonsils. The mean age of dogs with gingival squamous cell carcinoma is eight to 10 years, but very occasionally these tumours are seen in much younger dogs. It is suspected that the metastatic rate and the overall survival rate …
DESIPRAMINE IN TREATMENT OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE

Several studies have recently confirmed the finding of Sigwald et al. (1959) that imipramine has a beneficial effect on the Parkinsonian symptoms and signs, alleviating not only the depression but also the tremor, rigor, and akinesia (S t rauss 1959, Blotnberg & Eriksson 1961, D e n m a r k et al. 1961, Gillhespy & Mustard 1963, S f r a n g 1965). In 1965, Pohlmeier and Matussek carried out a pilot study on the effect of desmethylimipramine, desipramine, in Parkinsonism and found that it improved the rigor, akinesia, and psychic activity of the patients. In order to test these findings I performed a double-blind placebo-controlled study on the effect of desipramine in Parkinson’s disease.
THE EFFECT OF PROPRANOLOL ON AIRWAY RESISTANCE

The effect of propranolol on the airway resistance (AWR) of eighteen normal and seven asthmatic subjects has been studied by whole body plethysmography. In normal subjects there was a significant mean rise in AWR which was never accompanied by any respiratory upset. In asthmatic subjects there was a greater mean rise in AWR which usually resulted in dyspnoea and occasionally wheezing. In nine subjects, the studies were repeated after the prior administration of atropine which almost completely abolished the rise in AWR after propranolol in normal subjects and markedly reduced the rise in asthmatic subjects. The mode of action of propranolol in producing bronchoconstriction is discussed and the protective effect of atropine is stressed.
Implementation of a hospital-based quality assessment program for rectal cancer.

PURPOSE Quality improvement programs in Europe have had a markedly beneficial effect on the processes and outcomes of rectal cancer care. The quality of rectal cancer care in the United States is not as well understood, and scalable quality improvement programs have not been developed. The purpose of this article is to describe the implementation of a hospital-based quality assessment program for rectal cancer, targeting both community and academic hospitals. METHODS We recruited 10 hospitals from a surgical quality improvement organization. Nurse reviewers were trained to abstract rectal cancer data from hospital medical records, and abstracts were assessed for accuracy. We conducted two surveys to assess the training program and limitations of the data abstraction. We validated data completeness and accuracy by comparing hospital medical record and tumor registry data. RESULTS Nine of 10 hospitals successfully performed abstractions with ≥ 90% accuracy. Experienced nurse reviewers were challenged by the technical details in operative and pathology reports. Although most variables had less than 10% missing data, outpatient testing information was lacking from some hospitals' inpatient records. This implementation project yielded a final quality assessment program consisting of 20 medical records variables and 11 tumor registry variables. CONCLUSION An innovative program linking tumor registry data to quality-improvement data for rectal cancer quality assessment was successfully implemented in 10 hospitals. This data platform and training program can serve as a template for other organizations that are interested in assessing and improving the quality of rectal cancer care.