Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Water‐deprivation‐induced expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of rat

This study was conducted to define the molecular mechanism by which dehydration induces expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Rats were deprived from water for 48 hr and then sacrificed immediately or 1 hr after ad libitum access to water. Another group of rats had free access to food and water and was included as euhydrate control group. The PVN sections fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde were processed for nNOS immunohistochemistry and NADPH‐diaphorase (NADPH‐d)/pCREB or NADPH‐d/c‐Fos double staining. nNOS‐ir neurons significantly increased with water deprivation and decreased with rehydration, both in the posterior magnocellular (pM)‐ and the medial parvocellular (mP)‐PVN. Most NADPH‐d histostained neurons in the PVN appeared to exhibit pCREB‐ir as well. Water deprivation markedly increased, and rehydration decreased, NADPH‐d/pCREB neurons both in the pM‐ and in the mP‐PVN. Gel shift assay demonstrated that dehydration may promote CREB binding to nNOS promoter in the PVN neurons. Significant amounts of NADPH‐d‐stained neurons in the PVN of water‐deprived rats (67–68% in both the mP and the pM) exhibited c‐Fos‐ir. NADPH‐d/c‐Fos neurons in the pM‐PVN were increased by water deprivation but not changed by rehydration. NADPH‐d/c‐Fos double‐stained neurons in the mP‐PVN did not significantly change depending on different water conditions. These results suggest that pCREB may play a role in dehydration‐induced nNOS gene expression in the PVN neurons, and c‐Fos might not be implicated in the regulatory pathway. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Difference in the in vivo influence of serotonin1A autoreceptors on serotonin release in prefrontal cortex and dorsal hippocampus of the same rat treated with fluoxetine.

Recent studies have demonstrated that antagonism of somatodendritic serotonin1A (5-HT1A) autoreceptors can potentiate the increase of extracellular 5-HT concentrations induced by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors including fluoxetine. The present study was conducted to uncover any functional difference between the 5-HT1A autoreceptors located on the cell bodies of 5-HT neurons in the dorsal (DRN) and median (MRN) raphe nuclei. The investigational approach used in the present study was to detect extracellular 5-HT concentrations in two terminal areas, prefrontal cortex (Pfc) and dorsal hippocampus (Dhp), which are mainly innervated by the 5-HT neurons located in the DRN and MRN respectively. To avoid possible variation between individual animals a dual-probe microdialysis procedure was applied to determine 5-HT concentrations in both brain areas of the same rat. Fluoxetine (10 mg/kg, s.c.) alone produced a smaller increase in the extracellular 5-HT concentration in the Pfc than Dhp of the same rat (maximal 5-HT concentrations were 183% and 223% of the baseline values in Pfc and Dhp respectively). However, an antagonist of 5-HT1A receptors, WAY100635, subsequently injected (s.c.) at 1 mg/kg brought the 5-HT concentrations to similar levels in the Pfc (332%) and Dhp (308%). Since the 5-HT concentrations immediately before the injection of WAY100635 were lower in the Pfc (102%) than Dhp (186%), WAY100635 induced a larger 5-HT net increase in the Pfc (332%-102%=230%) than Dhp (308%-186%=122%). On the other hand, WAY100635 alone did not significantly change the extracellular 5-HT concentrations in both areas. Furthermore, extracellular concentrations of dopamine (DA) and two DA metabolites, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid, in both areas were not altered by the administrations of fluoxetine and WAY100635. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that the antagonist of 5-HT1A receptors, WAY100635, produced a more robust potentiation in the fluoxetine-induced 5-HT increases in the Pfc than Dhp. Since Pfc and Dhp are predominately innervated by 5-HT neurons located in the DRN and MRN respectively, this result may indicate a functional difference between the 5-HT1A autoreceptors located on the cell bodies of 5-HT neurons in the DRN and MRN.
Metabolic Issues in Patients with Severe Mental Illness

This article reviews the epidemiology of weight gain and diabetes mellitus in general and in patients with severe mental illness in particular. Body mass index is defined, and possible predictors for weight gain in patients receiving antipsychotic medications are also enumerated. Information on risk of association with type 2 diabetes mellitus is described, as well as information on dyslipidemias within the rubric of the metabolic syndrome. Recent consensus panel reports and their recommendations for ongoing patient monitoring are reviewed. The issue of switching antipsychotic medication in the context of a developing metabolic disorder is discussed with regard to appropriately balancing risk and benefits. Collaborative treatment between a psychiatrist and an endocrinologist is encouraged. The primary care physician may be required to fulfill both roles.
The tropics, helminth infections and hygiene hypotheses

ABSTRACT The Tropics is very appropriate to test the hypotheses raised to explain the increasing trends of allergy and other inflammatory diseases worldwide. The absence of parasite infection as a possible cause of the increase of allergic diseases was proposed by J. Gerrard a long time ago; however, the idea that helminth infections, which induce a strong Th2 could reduce allergy symptoms seems counterintuitive; but the fact is that they have a dual effect: they increase the Th2 responses but also exert immunosuppression and both effects influence the symptoms of allergy. Basic experimentation has provided valuable information about the mechanisms of allergic inflammation and more recently, about its control by helminth induced immunomodulation, discovering helminth molecules with anti-inflammatory properties that are meant to replace the live helminth therapeutic approaches. The immunosuppressive power of helminths makes them excellent candidates to be considered in the hygiene hypotheses. Future comprehensive studies evaluating simultaneously the role of microbial infections, helminth infections, microbiota, pollution and biodiversity will help to elucidate the causes of the increasing trends of allergic disorders. Doing this in the tropics, where all these variables are still present could be difficult but no doubt that will be more informative.
Individual changes in preclinical spinocerebellar ataxia identified via increased motor complexity

Movement changes in autosomal‐dominant spinocerebellar ataxias are suggested to occur many years before clinical manifestation. Detecting and quantifying these changes in the preclinical phase offers a window for future treatment interventions and allows the clinician to decipher the earliest dysfunctions starting the evolution of spinocerebellar ataxia. We hypothesized that quantitative movement analysis of complex stance and gait tasks allows to (i) reveal movement changes already at early stages of the preclinical phase when clinical ataxia signs are still absent and to (ii) quantify motor progression in this phase.
A decade post WHI, menopausal hormone therapy comes full circle – need for independent commission

ABSTRACT The sudden decision by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health to terminate the estrogen–progestogen therapy arm of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Study a decade ago now begs two questions: – has women's health after menopause been helped or harmed as a result of the findings and the way in which they were presented, and, if harmed, what needs to be done to put things right? Time and multiple reviews of specific publications from the WHI lead to the serious question whether a project designed to be of benefit to women's health has boomeranged, and instead may have resulted in significant impairment to both the quality of life and physical health of postmenopausal women. It is therefore urgent to confirm whether this is so and whether corrective action needs be taken to prevent even more harm. There are two obvious and immediate actions to be called for: (1) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) needs to revisit the black-box warnings on postmenopausal hormones. Specifically, there needs to be a separation of the advisories for estrogen alone from estrogen and progestogen combined usage. (2) Justification is given to call for an independent commission to scrutinize every major WHI paper to determine whether the data justified the conclusions drawn. Women progressing through and beyond menopause in the next decade need to be spared the unnecessary harm that may have been inflicted on their sisters of the previous decade.
Wrist-bridging versus non-bridging external fixation for displaced distal radius fractures: A randomized assessor-blind clinical trial of 38 patients followed for 1 year

Background Non-bridging external fixation has been introduced to achieve better fracture fixation and functional outcomes in distal radius fractures, but has not been specifically evaluated in a randomized study in the elderly. The purpose of this trial was to compare wrist-bridging and non-bridging external fixation for displaced distal radius fractures. Method The inclusion criteria were women ≥ 50 or men ≥ 60 years, acute extraarticular or intraarticular fracture, and dorsal angulation of ≥20° or ulnar variance ≥ 5 mm. The patients completed the disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) questionnaire before and at 10, 26 and 52 weeks after surgery. Pain (visual analog scale), range of motion and grip strength were measured by a blinded assessor. Results 38 patients (mean age 71 years, 31 women) were randomized at surgery (19 to each group). Mean operating time was shorter for wrist-bridging fixation by 10 (95% CI 3–17) min. There was no significant difference in DASH scores between the groups. No statistically significant differences in pain score, range of motion, grip strength, or patient satisfaction were found. The non-bridging group had a significantly better radial length at 52 weeks; mean difference in change in ulnar variance from baseline was 1.4 (95% CI 0.1–2.7) mm (p = 0.04). Volar tilt and radial inclination were similar in both groups. Interpretation For moderately or severely displaced distal radius fractures in the elderly, non-bridging external fixation had no clinically relevant advantage over wrist-bridging fixation but was more effective in maintaining radial length.
A novel CXCR4 antagonist for hematopoietic stem cell mobilization

Background: Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation is a treatment option for hematological malignancies. Current mobilization regimes frequently result in inadequate numbers of HSC for transplant therefore alternative methods of mobilization are required. Objective: The chemokine receptor CXCR4 and ligand SDF-1 are integrally involved in HSC homing and mobilization. Disruption of the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis by the CXCR4 anatagonist, plerixafor, is shown to improve HSC mobilization. Methods: The molecular and in vivo pharmacology of plerixafor and subsequent clinical development is reviewed. Results/conclusion: Preclinical studies demonstrate that plerixafor is a selective antagonist of CXCR4 and can rapidly mobilize HSC. Clinical trials demonstrated improved HSC mobilization when plerixafor was included in the mobilization regimen. These data suggest the potential for a significant role for plerixafor in hematological disease.
A Quantum-Inspired Fuzzy based Evolutionary algorithm for data clustering

In this paper, a Quantum-Inspired Evolutionary Fuzzy C-Means (QIE-FCM) algorithm is proposed. The proposed approach find the true number of clusters and the appropriate value of weighted exponent (m) which is required to be known in advance to perform clustering using Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) algorithm. However, the selection of inappropriate value of m and C may lead the algorithm to converge to the local optima. To address the issue of selecting the appropriate value of m and corresponding value of C. In QIE-FCM, the quantum concept is used in classical computer where m is represented in terms of quantum bits (qubits). The QIE-FCM is based on generations. At each generation (g), quantum gates are used to generate a new value of m. For each generated value of m, FCM algorithm is executed by varying values of C. Then, corresponding to m value appropriate value of C is identified by evaluating local fitness function for generation g. To achieve the global best value of m and C, the global fitness function is evaluated by comparing the local best fitness value in current generation with the best fitness value obtained among all the previous generations. To judge the efficacy of QIE-FCM algorithm, it is compared with two well-known indices and three evolutionary fuzzy based clustering algorithm and their performance is evaluated on four benchmark datasets. Furthermore, the sensitivity of QIE-FCM is also experimentally investigated in this paper.
Risk assessment of ischemic stroke associated pneumonia.

BACKGROUND Cerebral stroke is a disease with a high disability rate and a high fatality rate. This study was undertaken to assess the risk of stroke associated pneumonia (SAP) in patients with ischemic stroke using A2DS2 score. METHODS Altogether 1 279 patients with ischemic stroke who were treated in our department from 2009 to 2011 were retrospectively analyzed with A2DS2 score. A2DS2 score was calculated as follows: age ≥75 years=1, atrial fibrillation=1, dysphagia=2, male sex=1; stroke severity: NIHSS score 0-4=0, 5-15=3, ≥16=5. The patients were divided into three groups according to A2DS2 score: 620 in score 0 group, 383 in score 1-9 group, and 276 in score ≥10 group. The three groups were comparatively analyzed. The diagnostic criteria for SAP were as follows: newly emerging lesions or progressively infiltrating lesions on post-stroke chest images combined with more than two of the following clinical symptoms of infection: (1) fever ≥38 °C; (2) newly occurred cough, productive cough or exacerbation of preexisting respiratory tract symptoms with or without chest pain; (3) signs of pulmonary consolidation and/or wet rales; (4) peripheral white blood cell count ≥10×10(9)/L or ≤4×10(9)/L with or without nuclear shift to left, while excluding some diseases with clinical manifestations similar to pneumonia, such as tuberculosis, pulmonary tumors, non-infectious interstitial lung disease, pulmonary edema, pulmonary embolism and atelectasis. The incidence and mortality of SAP as well as the correlation with ischemic stroke site were analyzed in the three groups respectively. Mean± standard deviation was used to represent measurement data with normal distribution and Student's t test was used. The chi-square test was used to calculate the percentage for enumeration data. RESULTS The incidence of SAP was significantly higher in the A2DS2 score≥10 group than that in the score 1-9 and score 0 groups (71.7% vs. 22.7%, 71.7% vs. 3.7%, respectively), whereas the mortality in the score≥10 group was significantly higher than that in the score 1-9 and score 0 groups (16.7% vs. 4.96%, 16.7% vs. 0.3%, respectively). The incidences of cerebral infarction in posterior circulation and cross-MCA, ACA distribution areas were significantly higher than those in the SAP group and in the non-SAP group (35.1% vs.10.1%, 11.4% vs. 7.5%, respectively). The incidence of non-fermentative bacteria infection was significantly increased in the score≥10 group. CONCLUSIONS A2DS2 score provides a basis for risk stratification of SAP. The prevention of SAP needs to be strengthened in acute ischemic stroke patients with a A2DS2 score≥10.
Factors Associated With Hyperphagic Behavior in Patients With Dementia Living at Home

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and patterns of and factors associated with hyperphagic behavior in Taiwanese patients with dementia living at home. Methods: A cross-sectional and correlational design was used. A total of 104 patients with dementia and their primary caregivers were recruited from the geriatric, neurology, and memory clinics of a regional hospital, a medical center and two day-care centers in central Taiwan. The data related to hyperphagic behavior, functional abilities, medical conditions, body weight, and demographic characteristics of patients as well as the demographic characteristics of their primary caregivers were collected between January and May 2013. Results: Based on a strict criterion (a median score of 3 for the hyperphagic subscale), the prevalence of hyperphagia in patients with dementia was 53.8%. Specific hyperphagic patterns exhibited included increased food intake (49% of patients with dementia), hoarding (8.7%), oral exploration (6.8%), and pica (3.9%). Years of education of the patient, the use of antipsychotics in patients, and the age of primary caregivers explained 16.3% of the variance in hyperphagic behavior subscale scores (F = 6.47, p < .001). Conclusions: For the early identification and treatment of hyperphagic behavior in patients with dementia in home care or in clinic services provided by health professionals, specific attention should be paid to the usual eating behaviors of patients with lower levels of education or who are taking antipsychotic medication or those who have a female primary caregiver.
Omega-3 fatty acids and low carbohydrate diet for maintenance of remission in Crohn's disease. A randomized controlled multicenter trial. Study Group Members (German Crohn's Disease Study Group).

BACKGROUND There is no established therapy for maintaining remission in patients with Crohn's disease. Following different suggestions from the literature, two potential interventions for maintaining remission were tested against placebo, using either 5 g/day of a highly concentrated omega-3 fatty acid compound or a carbohydrate-reduced diet (84 g/day). METHODS A total of 204 patients were recruited after they had had an acute relapse. After remission (CDAI < or = 150) was attained with steroid therapy, patients were randomized to receive either omega-3 fatty acids (n = 70), placebo (n = 65), or diet (n = 69). Low-dose prednisolone was given to all patients for the first 8 weeks of intervention. CDAI and an acute-phase protein (CRP) were used as criteria for a relapse. RESULTS The proportion of patients without relapse within a year were similar in the placebo and active treatment group (intention-to-treat analysis: placebo, 30%; active treatment, 30%; protocol-adhering patients, 29% versus 28%). Patients did gain benefit (53%; p = 0.023) for as long as they maintained the diet. However, intention-to-treat analysis (diet group, 40%) did not show a noticeable difference when compared with placebo. CONCLUSIONS Omega-3 fatty acids did not show an effect on extending the remission in Crohn's disease. For the diet patients the question remains whether the noncompliant patients dropped out early because they sensed a relapse approaching or whether their condition deteriorated because they failed to comply with the diet.
Inter-Annotator Agreement and the Upper Limit on Machine Performance: Evidence from Biomedical Natural Language Processing

Human-annotated data is a fundamental part of natural language processing system development and evaluation. The quality of that data is typically assessed by calculating the agreement between the annotators. It is widely assumed that this agreement between annotators is the upper limit on system performance in natural language processing: if humans can't agree with each other about the classification more than some percentage of the time, we don't expect a computer to do any better. We trace the logical positivist roots of the motivation for measuring inter-annotator agreement, demonstrate the prevalence of the widely-held assumption about the relationship between inter-annotator agreement and system performance, and present data that suggest that inter-annotator agreement is not, in fact, an upper bound on language processing system performance.
Increased Expression of Phosphorylated c-Jun Amino-terminal Kinase and Phosphorylated c-Jun in Human Cerebral Aneurysms: Role of the c-Jun Amino-terminal Kinase/c-Jun Pathway in Apoptosis of Vascular Walls

OBJECTIVE Vascular remodeling via apoptotic mechanisms is an important factor in vascular diseases. c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) is a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family and initiates apoptosis mainly via phosphorylation of the c-Jun transcription factor. We performed this study to clarify the roles of the JNK/c-Jun pathway and apoptosis in the pathogenesis of cerebral aneurysms. METHODS Cerebral aneurysms from 12 patients and control vessels from 5 patients were studied. We analyzed the expression of phosphorylated JNK and phosphorylated c-Jun in cerebral aneurysms by using immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS Immunoreactivity for phosphorylated JNK and phosphorylated c-Jun was increased in the vascular walls of the cerebral aneurysms studied. Immunoreactivity for single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (a marker of deoxyribonucleic acid damage) was also increased in aneurysmal tissue, compared with control vessels, and was colocalized with that for phosphorylated JNK and phosphorylated c-Jun in smooth muscle cells. CONCLUSION These observations may lead to better understanding of the role of the JNK/c-Jun pathway in the development of cerebral aneurysms and to new strategies for treatment.
Schizotypal Traits and the Dark Triad From an Ecological Perspective: A Nonclinical Sample Study

The Dark Triad is a collection of socially aversive personality traits, namely subclinical psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and subclinical narcissism. These deviant traits, however, contribute to the success of individuals with dark personality traits. Therefore, Dark Triad traits can be conceived as pseudopathologies. Schizotypal traits have also been studies from the perspective of behavioral adaptations. In this study, we investigated whether schizotypal traits were associated with the Dark Triad traits and how schizotypal symptoms can be considered as parts of dark interpersonal strategies that contribute to the individual success of people with dark personality traits. A sample of 277 university students (198 females and 79 males; Mage = 20.64; SDage = 2.15) were recruited to fill out the Short Dark Triad and the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief Revised. Statistical analyses revealed that Machiavellianism was positively associated with restricted emotional and social life. Narcissism was negatively associated with interpersonal problems. Psychopathy was positively associated with distorted perceptions/cognitions and disorganization. Results of the study are discussed within a behavioral ecology framework. This perspective emphasizes the adaptive values connected to schizotypal personality traits. We further discuss how these adaptive traits fit into strategies of individuals with Dark Triad traits, and how these schizotypal traits might restrict or further promote their individual success.