Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low‐dose oral fludarabine plus cyclophosphamide as first‐line treatment in elderly patients with indolent non‐Hodgkin lymphoma

Twenty‐five elderly patients with untreated indolent non‐Hodgkin lymphoma were treated with oral fludarabine 25 mg/m2/d (40 mg total dose) and cyclophosphamide 150 mg/m2/d, both for four consecutive days, repeated every 28 d for four cycles. In all, 21 (84%) patients were responsive: 10 patients achieved complete remission while partial response was obtained in 11. During an observation period of 37 months, there was an overall survival rate of 70% and a median event‐free survival of 20 months. Haematological and extra‐haematological toxicity were mild. This reduced‐dose Flu‐based oral regimen showed good efficacy and was simple to administer on an outpatient basis.
[Studies on the constituents in rhizome of Homalomena occuta].

OBJECTIVE Bio-active constituents were expected to abstain from Homalomena occuta. METHODS Extracts from the plant with 95% alcohol were distributed by several solvents and isolated via column chromatography on silica and Saphadex 20-LH gel. RESULTS Thirteen compounds were isolated from this plant. Among them seven natural products were identified via spectral methods as beta-stigmastol(H1) beta-D-Glucopyranoside(3)- stigmast-5-en-3-yl(H2); oplodiol(1); oplopanone(2); homalomenol(3); bullatantriol(4); 1 beta, 4 beta, 7 alpha-trihydroxyeudesmane(5). CONCLUSION All these compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Visual Characteristics Of Aspirates from Feeding Tubes as a Method for Predicting Tube Location

A sample of 880 feeding tube aspirates were classified as being primarily clear or cloudy and as having one of six colors. Gastric aspirates were most frequently cloudy and green, tan or off-white, or bloody or brown. Intestinal fluids were primarily clear and yellow to bile-colored. In the absence of blood, pleural fluid was usually pale yellow and serous, and tracheobronchial secretions were usually tan or off-white mucus. However, respiratory aspirates often contained blood and therefore failed to have the expected characteristics of respiratory fluid. Staff nurses were shown photographs of a sample of 106 aspirates and asked to predict tube position. Their ability to identify 50 gastric aspirates improved significantly after reading a list of suggested characteristics of feeding tube aspirates (81.33% to 90.47%, p < .0001). Similarly, their ability to identify 50 intestinal aspirates improved from 64.07% to 71.53% after reading the list of criteria. However, nurses were often unable to identify respiratory aspirates; the accuracy of their predictions decreased after reading the list of suggested characteristics (from 56.67% to 46.11%). The appearance of aspirates is often helpful in distinguishing between gastric and intestinal placement, but is of little value in ruling out respiratory placement.
Influence des facteurs paysagers sur la flore des habitats herbacés sous influence urbaine : approche taxonomiques et fonctionnelles

Le processus d’urbanisation conduit a un ensemble de transformations et perturbations qui peuvent avoir des consequences sur la flore spontanee. Ce travail de these porte sur les communautes vegetales des espaces herbaces ordinaires distribues au sein 3 aires urbaines de l’ouest de la France : Angers, Nantes et la Roche-sur-Yon. A travers deux approches, taxonomique et fonctionnelle, l’objectif est d’analyser les variations de diversites et de composition floristiques le long de gradients paysagers (notamment d’urbanisation et de connectivite des habitats). Ces milieux apparaissent diversifies, tout en ne presentant qu’un faible nombre d’especes exotiques. Le gradient urbain-rural structure les communautes, etablissant notamment de fortes distinctions dans leurs compositions specifiques, et ce, malgre l’absence de variations en terme de richesse et d’homogeneisation. Ces distinctions sont en lien avec des traits relatifs a leurs exigences ecologiques (habitat, pH, humidite, lumiere)et au niveau de perturbation plus eleve en ville. Ces relations varient malgre tout selon que l’on considere l’abondance locale ou regionale des especes suggerant que d’autres mecanismes viennent s’ajouter a ces processus de filtre. La mesure in situ de trois traits fonctionnels (hauteur, SLA et phenologie) montre egalement l’importance de ce processus de filtre sur les especes a un niveau intraspecifique. L’ensemble des resultats montre la facon dont ces especes communes s’assemblent au regard des processus ecologiques a l’oeuvre dans des environnements urbains, et permet d’ouvrir des perspect
The Acute Effect of a Commercial Bite-Aligning Mouthpiece on Strength and Power in Recreationally Trained Men

Abstract Allen, CR, Dabbs, NC, Zachary, CS, and Garner, JC. The acute effect of a commercial bite-aligning mouthpiece on strength and power in recreationally trained men. J Strength Cond Res 28(2): 499–503, 2014—Because of the relative newness of mouthpieces, there are few investigations into using performance mouthpieces during sport and physical activity to substantiate claims of performance enhancement. The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effect of a commercially available, noninjury preventive, performance mouthpiece on practical acute performance measures of power and strength. A within-subjects design was used to evaluate 21 (N = 21) recreationally trained college aged males on the performance of a maximum countermovement vertical jump (CMVJ) from a force platform and 1 repetition maximum (1RM) bench press exercise for the following conditions: with mouthpiece (MP) and without mouthpiece (noMP). Rate of force development (RFD) and peak vertical force (PF) were derived from force platform data. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between conditions for CMVJ height (p = 0.13), RFD at 200 ms (p = 0.09), PF (p = 0.08), and 1RM bench press (p = 0.45). These data indicate that the use of this particular jaw aligning mouthpiece specifically in an attempt to produce an ergogenic effect on performance is unwarranted.
Characterization of freezing of gait subtypes and the response of each to levodopa in Parkinson's disease

To assess the effect of levodopa on distinct freezing of gait (FOG) subtypes in patients with ‘off’ FOG. Nineteen patients (12 men, mean age 62.0 ± 8.4 years) with Parkinson's disease and clinically significant FOG during ‘off’ states were videotaped whilst walking 130 m during ‘off’ and ‘on’ states. Three independent observers characterized the type, duration, and clinical manifestations and quantified FOG by analyzing the videotapes. Their combined mean scores were used for statistical analysis. The intra‐class correlation coefficient assessed inter‐observer reliability. Wilcoxon and Friedman tests evaluated differences in mean frequencies of FOG characteristics. During ‘off’ states, FOG was elicited by turns (63%), starts (23%), walking through narrow spaces (12%) and reaching destinations (9%). These respective values were only 14, 4, 2 and 1% during ‘on’ states (P < 0.011). Moving forward with very small steps and leg trembling in place were the most common manifestations of FOG; total akinesia was rare. Most FOG episodes took <10 s and tended to be shorter during ‘on’ states. Levodopa significantly decreased FOG frequency (P < 0.0001) and the number of episodes with akinesia (P < 0.001). Distinction amongst FOG subtypes enables evaluation of distinctive therapeutic response. Levodopa helps in reducing the frequency and duration of ‘off’‐related FOG.
Block Markov Superposition Transmission of BCH Codes With Iterative Erasures-and-Errors Decoders

In this paper, we present the block Markov superposition transmission of BCH (BMST-BCH) codes, which can be constructed to obtain a very low error floor. To reduce the implementation complexity, we design a low complexity iterative sliding-window decoding algorithm, in which only binary and/or erasure messages are processed and exchanged between processing units. The error floor can be predicted by the proposed genie-aided lower bounds, while the waterfall performance can be analyzed by the density evolution method. To evaluate the error floor of the constructed BMST-BCH codes at a very low bit error rate (BER) region, we propose a fast simulation approach. Numerical results show that, at a target BER of $10^{-15}$ , the proposed BMST-BCH code with hard-decision can achieve a net coding gain (NCG) of 10.55 dB with 25% overhead, while a soft-decision design can yield an NCG of 10.74 dB. The construction of BMST-BCH codes is flexible to trade off latency against performance at all overheads of interest and may find applications in optical transport networks as an attractive candidate.
A Note on Timing of Endogenous Wage Bargaining: The Case of Complements *

By introducing Cournot and Bertrand competition in adifferentiated goods with the case of complements into Nash bargaining solution problem, we investigate timing of endogenous wage setting where wages can be negotiated either simultaneously or sequentially. Contrary to the case of substitutes, we show that regardless of the bargaining power, the type of product market competition (Cournot or Bertrand) and the degree of complementarity, 1) bargaining over wages is always simultaneous when the goods are complements; and 2) the social welfare under both Cournot and Bertrand competitions can improve when bargaining over wages is simultaneous.
Rellevància del TNF i l'esfingomielinasa àcida en la fibrogènesi hepàtica

Memoria per optar al titol de Doctora en Biologia per la Universitat de Barcelona (Programa de Doctorat de Biomedicina). -- Aquesta tesi ha estat realitzada l'departament de Mort i Proliferacio Cel·lular de l'Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques de Barcelona, Consell Superior d'Investigacions Cientifiques.
Serum Neopterin Level in Early Onset Neonatal Sepsis

Objective: The Aim of the study is to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic values of serum neopterin level in neonatal sepsis and to evaluate risk factors for neonatal sepsis in neonatal intensive care unit of Menoufyia University hospital. Background: Neonatal sepsis has been used to describe the systemic response to infection in the newborn infant younger than one month age. Neopterin is one of biochemical markers of immune activity, which seems to be useful in monitoring inflammatory diseases. Increased concentration of neopterin in serum is observed in conditions with involvement of cellmediated immune response. Methods: Our study was conducted on 88 neonates recruited from NICU of and divided to Group І (suspected sepsis), It includes 35 neonates with symptoms and signs suggestive of sepsis or at high risk of infection. Group ІІ (proven sepsis), It includes 38 neonates who are septic with clinical picture of sepsis and laboratory data showing sepsis, Group Ш (Controls), It includes 15 healthy neonates with no evidence of sepsis, all groups were subjected to history taking, clinical examination and laboratory Investigations included complete blood count, blood cultures, Quantitative C-reactive protein (CRP) and Serum neopterin level. Results: Serum neopterin was significantly high in Group I (44.46±24.72) and Group II (108.37±22.38) than in controls and the best cutoff value of serum neopterin to detect sepsis is 70.56 nmol/L with sensitivity 94.7% and specificity 88.6% . and that neopetrin correlated well with mortalities due to sepsis. Conclusion: Neopterin found to be a diagnostic and prognostic factor in patients with sepsis.
New Insights on OX40 in the Control of T Cell Immunity and Immune Tolerance In Vivo

OX40 is a T cell costimulatory molecule that belongs to the TNFR superfamily. In the absence of immune activation, OX40 is selectively expressed by Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), but not by resting conventional T cells. The exact role of OX40 in Treg homeostasis and function remains incompletely defined. In this study, we demonstrate that OX40 engagement in vivo in naive mice induces initial expansion of Foxp3+ Tregs, but the expanded Tregs have poor suppressive function and exhibit features of exhaustion. We also show that OX40 enables the activation of the Akt and Stat5 pathways in Tregs, resulting in transient proliferation of Tregs and reduced levels of Foxp3 expression. This creates a state of relative IL-2 deficiency in naive mice that further impacts Tregs. This exhausted Treg phenotype can be prevented by exogenous IL-2, as both OX40 and IL-2 agonists drive further expansion of Tregs in vivo. Importantly, Tregs expanded by both OX40 and IL-2 agonists are potent suppressor cells, and in a heart transplant model, they promote long-term allograft survival. Our data reveal a novel role for OX40 in promoting immune tolerance and may have important clinical implications.
Determination of spin direction in the spin-flop phase of Cr2O3.

Despite a number of experimental investigations the determination of the orientation of spins in the spin-flop phase of antiferromagnetic ~AFM! Cr2O3 is still an open problem. We show that one has to take into account magnetic domains in order to clarify the magnetic structure. Domains can be distinguished optically by the interference of time-invariant and time-noninvariant contributions to the second harmonic. With use of this technique the domain structure in the spin-flop phase of Cr2O3 is determined with high resolution in only a few minutes. Three images with light polarized parallel to the respective twofold axes ~y axes! of the crystal are sufficient to identify the six possible domains. It was found that the AFM vector is oriented along the y axes of the crystal.
SYNERGISM BETWEEN IL-10 GENOTYPE OF PATIENT AND IL-10 RECEPTOR-β GENOTYPE OF DONOR

GENETIC VARIATION IN THE IL-10 PATHWAY MODULATES SEVERITY OF ACUTE GRAFT-VERSUS-HOST DISEASE FOLLOWING HEMATOPOIETIC CELL TRANSPLANTATION. SYNERGISM BETWEEN IL-10 GENOTYPE OF PATIENT AND IL-10 RECEPTOR-β GENOTYPE OF DONOR Ming-Tseh Lin, Barry Storer, Paul J. Martin, Li-Hui Tseng, Bryan Grogan, Pei-Jer Chen, Lue P Zhao and John A. Hansen 1 The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA; 2 the University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA; 3 National Taiwan University Hospital, Department of Medical Genetics and Internal Medicine, and National Taiwan University, College of Medicine, Graduate Institutes of Clinical Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; and 4 The Albany Medical Center, Department of Pathology, Albany, NY, USA.
Inhibitor and Substrate Binding by Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme: Quantum Mechanical/Molecular Mechanical Molecular Dynamics Studies

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is an important zinc-dependent hydrolase responsible for converting the inactive angiotensin I to the vasoconstrictor angiotensin II and for inactivating the vasodilator bradykinin. However, the substrate binding mode of ACE has not been completely understood. In this work, we propose a model for an ACE Michaelis complex based on two known X-ray structures of inhibitor-enzyme complexes. Specifically, the human testis angiotensin-converting enzyme (tACE) complexed with two clinic drugs were first investigated using a combined quantum mechanical and molecular mechanical (QM/MM) approach. The structural parameters obtained from the 550 ps molecular dynamics simulations are in excellent agreement with the X-ray structures, validating the QM/MM approach. Based on these structures, a model for the Michaelis complex was proposed and simulated using the same computational protocol. Implications to ACE catalysis are discussed.
Associations among SPARC mRNA expression in adipose tissue, serum SPARC concentration and metabolic parameters in Korean women

Objective: Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is expressed in most tissues and is also secreted by adipocytes. The associations of SPARC mRNA expression in visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (SAT), serum SPARC concentration, and metabolic parameters in Korean women are investigated.
Clostridial enteric diseases of domestic animals

INTRODUCTION 216 CLOSTRIDIUM PERFRINGENS 216 Introduction 216 Major Toxins 216 Disease and Pathogenesis by Toxin Type 217 Type A 218 Type B 219 Type C 219 Type D 220 Type E 220 Enterotoxigenic C. perfringens 221 Reports of untyped C. perfringens 221 Prophylaxis and Therapy 222 Diagnosis 222 CLOSTRIDIUM SEPTICUM 223 Introduction 223 Virulence Attributes and Pathogenesis of Enteric Disease 223 Prophylaxis and Therapy 224 Diagnosis 224 CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE 224 CLOSTRIDIUM SPIROFORME 225 CLOSTRIDIUM COLINUM 226 REFERENCES 226
The Function of Each Lung of Anesthetized and Paralyzed Man during Mechanical Ventilation

Intrapulmonary gas distribution of individual lungs was studied in five healthy anesthetized, paralyzed, and mechanically ventilated adult volunteers in the supine and both lateral decubitus positions. Comparison of the results with previous findings in conscious and spontaneously-breathing man indicated that the distribution of inspired gas during mechanical ventilation in anesthetized subjects is different. Inspired gas was more uniformly distributed within the individual lungs of mechanically ventilated anesthetized subjects in the supine position. There was a preferential distribution of tidal volume to the nondependent lung, in contrast to the preferential ventilation of the dependent lung in conscious, spontaneously-breathing man in the lateral position. Although relative end-expiratory lung volumes (that is, functional residual capacity) of individual lungs in persons ventilated mechanically in both positions were similar to those reported for the conscious, spontaneously-breathing subject, preferential ventilation of the nondependent lung and lesser ventilation of the dependent lung resulted in similar nitrogen clearances from the two lungs when the subjects were in the lateral position. This finding is in contrast to the significant differences between nitrogen clearances of the two lungs in spontaneously-breathing man in the lateral position.
Student veterans: A national survey exploring psychological symptoms and suicide risk.

The current study explored psychological symptoms, symptom severity, and suicide risk in a national sample (N 628) of student veterans. We hypothesized that the rates, types, and severity of problems experienced by student veterans on campus would in many ways mirror those reported by active duty service members as well as the Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom veteran population. Almost 35% of the sample experienced “severe anxiety,” 24% experienced “severe depression,” and almost 46% experienced significant symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. Of particular concern, there were significant numbers of participants thinking about suicide (46%), with 20% having a plan, 10.4% thinking about suicide “often or very often,” 7.7% making an attempt, and 3.8% believing that suicide is either “likely” or “very likely. ” Implications of the findings are discussed, with a particular focus on college and university campuses.
Analysis on DNA Methylation of Various Tissues in Chicken

DNA methylation is known to be associated with the transcriptional silencing in eukaryotes. In this study, the genome-wide DNA methylation patterns of CCGG sites were detected with fluorescent-labeled methylation sensitive amplified polymorphism (F-MSAP) in three chicken strains (White Leghorn, White Plymouth Rock, and their F1 hybrids). The average incidence of DNA methylation was approximately 29.4% in muscle, 27.2% in liver, 27.2% in heart, and 26.1% in kidney, respectively. Also, the significant differences of the DNA methylation levels were found among the different tissues (P < 0.05) or strains (P < 0.05), implying that such differences may be related to gene expression during tissue differentiation, growth, and development though the relation between methylation and gene expression is currently hard to assess.
The hereditary stomatocytoses

Hereditary stomatocytosis describes a wide spectrum of autosomal dominantly inherited hemolytic disorders in which the basal red cell membrane cation permeability is increased. In this perspective article, Drs. Flatt and Bruce summarize our current knowledge in the field. See related article on page 1049.
STRATEGIES to Promote Success on the NCLEX-RN®: An Evidence-Based Approach Using THE ACE STAR MODEL OF KNOWLEDGE TRANSFORMATION

This article describes an evidence-based project undertaken to develop and implement educational strategies to improve NCLEX-RN® scores in a baccalaureate nursing program. The ACE Star Model of Knowledge Transformation®, a tool used to assist in understanding the process of knowledge discovery and transformation in evidence-based practice, guided this project. A review of the literature revealed a downward trend in successful completion of the NCLEX-RN along with anecdotal reports of educational strategies intended to improve success on the exam. The literature review failed to uncover evaluations of the effectiveness of reported strategies. Resultant recommendations included an integrated strategy consisting of assessment testing, independent study, and simulated NCLEX examinations. Evaluation of the strategies revealed improved success on the NCLEX-RN. Pass rates from rose from 87.76 percent in fall 2001 to 94.81 percent in fall 2004.
Hypometabolism in the limbic system of cancer patients observed by positron emission tomography

Brain images obtained by a positron emission tomography with 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose from 19 pretreatment cancer patients with variable cancers except brain cancers were compared with those from 17 inpatients with benign diseases. Relative reduction in regional cerebral metabolism of glucose was found mainly in the limbic structures including the bilateral orbitofrontal cortex, lateral frontal cortex, cingulate gyrus, thalamus, hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus, insulae, and basal ganglia. The regional metabolism tended to be low in the patients who had severe pains which required opiates and morphines, and tended to be preserved in the patients who were already disclosed of their malignancy based on previous studies such as biopsy. Our findings would support that psychological deficits in cancer patients are associated with abnormalities in regional brain metabolism in the limbic system. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cardioverter defibrillator therapy in the primary and secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are the mainstay of modern device-based therapy for ventricular arrhythmias. Originally developed for patients resuscitated from cardiac arrest, the vast majority of today’s ICDs are implanted prophylactically in patients with heart failure at increased risk for ventricular arrhythmias. The objective of this review is to provide a concise overview of current ICD indications and device selection criteria. Furthermore, remaining limitations of ICD therapy are discussed and current trends are outlined.