Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of adenosine agonists on consumptive behaviour and body temperature

This study was designed to determine the effects of the A1‐receptor selective agonist N6‐ cyclopentyladenosine (CPA), and the A2‐selective agonist, 2‐p‐(2‐carboxyethyl)‐phenethyl‐amino‐5′‐N‐ethylcarboxamidoadenosine‐hydrochloride (CGS‐21680) on consumptive behaviour and body temperature in rats in relation to the non‐selective A1/A2 adenosine agonist, N‐ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA), and to morphine. It was shown that two subcutaneous injections of 0.1 and 0.3 mg kg−1 CPA caused a similar decrease in food consumption to NECA (2 × 0.03 mg kg−1) and morphine (2 × 10 mg kg−1). However, two doses of 0.03 mg kg−1 CPA and 0.1 and 0.3 mg kg−1 CGS‐21680 enhanced feeding. These effects were not directly correlated to faecal output at all doses of the selective agonists, as NECA and morphine induced constipation. The doses of CPA and 0.1 and 0.3 mg kg−1 of CGS‐21680 enhanced water consumption, as did NECA, but not morphine. The stimulation of drinking by CPA was not absolutely associated with diuresis. Instead, urine output was reduced by 0.03 and 0.1 mg kg−1 and increased by 0.3 mg kg−1. CGS‐21680 at 0.1 and 0.3 mg kg−1 and NECA also induced diuresis, which was opposite to the effect of morphine. CPA and CGS‐21680 both caused significant dose‐dependent decreases in body temperature after the two‐injection treatment, but their effects were significantly less after 36 h when four doses had been administered. The study indicates that highly selective A1 and A2A adenosine agonists might have the ability to interfere with consumptive behaviour, induce constipation, affect renal function and to lower body temperature.
Translocation of plutonium from rat and monkey lung after inhalation of industrial plutonium oxide and mixed uranium and plutonium oxide.

This study was designed to compare the translocation from lung of the Pu contained in the pure and mixed industrial oxides PuO2 and (U,Pu)O2. The latter had a Pu content of 20% w/w. For this purpose, young adult male rats and male and female baboons were exposed to a single inhalation of these oxides. Two baboons were exposed to the reference PuO2, i.e. 239PuO2. Rats were killed under anaesthesia 1, 15, 30, 90 and 180 days after exposure, and baboons, also under anaesthesia, 1 year thereafter. The results indicate that lung retention of Pu was independent of the oxide inhaled, but was smaller in rat (12-15% of the initial pulmonary burden, 6 months after exposure) than in baboon (56-80% of this burden, 1 year after exposure). In rat, Pu translocation kinetics were similar for the two industrial oxides, but as from day 15 after inhalation until 6 months thereafter, measurement of Pu deposits in the liver and skeleton showed that translocation of Pu from the mixed oxide was 2-3 times greater than that from the industrial Pu oxide. In baboon, the largest amounts of Pu were retained in the lung and thoracic lymph nodes for the three oxides inhaled. Pu translocation to the liver, skeleton and kidneys, and also urinary Pu excretion, were greater after inhalation of the mixed oxide than after inhalation of the industrial and reference Pu oxides. Nevertheless, the amount of mixed oxide Pu translocated to these sites and excreted in urine remained under 3% of the initial pulmonary burden.
Expression of N-cadherin by skeletal muscle in the degenerationand the degeneration/regeneration processes after nerve injury

We investigated the expression of N-cadherin by skeletal muscle during the degeneration and degeneration/regeneration processes using the rat sciatic nerve and gastrocnemius muscle model. The right sciatic nerve was exposed in the mid-thigh region, and the nerve was transsected with small scissors. After then, nerve was sutured (sutured group), or both edges of the resected nerve were turned and sutured to the muscle of each side (unsutured group). At various periods up to 24 weeks after the operation the middle portion of the gastrocnemius muscle of the treated hindlimbs was removed. Expression of N-cadherin was detected by western blot analysis and immunofluorescent staining with an anti N-cadherin antibody. In the both groups, the degree of expression had already increased by the end of the first postoperative week, but there were no significant differences between the first and second postoperative weeks between the two groups. However, the values recorded at the fourth, sixth, ninth, and twelfth postoperative weeks were significantly higher in the unsutured group than in the sutured group. Immunofluorescent staining was present around the muscular membrane in all specimens including the control. These results indicated that there was a difference in the kinetics of expression of N-cadherin in skeletal muscle between the degeneration and degeneration/regeneration processes of the muscle after injury to the nerve. It was also clear that N-cadherin has a role at the surface of the muscle cell in skeletal muscle, not in the satellite and inflammatory cells, in both groups.
Deletion of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 attenuates acetaminophen-induced liver injury by inhibiting c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is the most frequent cause of drug-induced liver failure. C-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is thought to play a central role in APAP-induced liver injury, although its upstream activator has not yet been identified. Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) is a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase family and is important for stress-induced JNK activation. We tested the hypothesis that ASK1 was involved in APAP-induced JNK activation and liver injury. METHODS ASK1-deficient (ASK1(-/-)) mice and wild-type (WT) mice were given 300 mg/kg of APAP. Serum alanine aminotransferase levels and liver histology were assessed. To investigate the involvement of ASK1 in direct hepatocellular damage and the subsequent inflammatory response, we used primary hepatocytes and splenocytes from WT and ASK1(-/-) mice. RESULTS In ASK1(-/-) mouse liver, APAP toxicity was attenuated significantly and the prolonged activation of JNK was inhibited. In addition, thioredoxin, a direct ASK1 inhibitor, dissociated from ASK1 after APAP overdose with concomitant ASK1 activation. Although the prolonged activation of p38 also was attenuated in ASK1(-/-) mice, the p38 signaling pathway was not likely to be involved in APAP-induced liver injury. Primary hepatocyte culture also revealed that ASK1 and JNK, but not p38, contributed to direct APAP-induced cellular damage. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that ASK1 is activated by APAP overdose, most likely via a mechanism involving thioredoxin-ASK1 dissociation, and that it plays a role in APAP-induced liver injury through JNK activation.
Retention and effectiveness of fissure sealants in Kuwaiti school children.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the retention and effectiveness of fissure sealants in permanent first molars in a public programme. METHODS Sealant retention in permanent first molars was evaluated in 452 children aged 6-8 years in 20 primary schools under the care of the School Oral Health Programme, Kuwait-Forsyth. The sealants were placed using rubber dam or cotton roll isolation, after cleaning with pumice and rubber cup, and 15 seconds etching. Sealant retention was evaluated at one and two years and scored as complete, partial or complete loss of sealant. Caries was scored when sealant was partially or completely lost. RESULTS A total of 2,744 sealants were applied, with 2,324 and 2,288 sealants examined at the end of the first and second year respectively. In two years, 75% of the sealants were completely retained, 2.9% partially lost, 7.3% completely lost, and 14.8% resealed or restored. A small proportion of teeth (0.9%) were carious. Multivariate analyses showed that occlusal surfaces were 2.8 times more likely to retain a sealant than the buccal and palatal pits (95% CI 2.7-3.9, p<0.0001), and maxillary teeth were 1.3 times more likely to retain their sealant than the mandibular teeth (95% CI 1.01-1.5, p=0.04). Maxillary teeth were less likely to be carious (OR=0.6, 95% CI 0.4-0.97), p=0.03) and occlusal surfaces were 2.8 times more likely to be carious (95% CI 1.9-4.3), p<0.0001). No differences in sealant retention (p=0.24) and caries (p=0.19) were seen between teeth isolated using rubberdam or cotton roll. CONCLUSIONS Sealant retention was high, and sealants were effective in preventing caries.
Strategies of Legitimisation and Delegitimisation in Selected American Presidential Speeches

[full article and abstract in English] Politicians invest a lot of time and effort to win elections and present themselves in the best possible manner. They use language strategies to present and legitimise themselves as the right choice. And if they are the right choice, then their opponent is obviously not, so while they are trying to acclaim themselves and their political party, they use strategies to delegitimise and attack their opponents and the policy they represent. This paper aims to conduct a critical discourse analysis of the speeches of the two main political opponents in the last elections in the USA, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. The research gives an insight into the manipulative function of language and covers two aspects: the lexical-semantic and pragmatic aspect and is based on the supposition that the strategies politicians use while talking about themselves and describing their opponents differ. As expected, they use more positive terminology to talk about themselves and their policies, and negative terminology to criticise the opponent’s policy. They also employ different pragmatic strategies, such as intensifiers and inclusive pronouns, to involve the audience into the discourse and convince them in their arguments. Finally, although carried out on a relatively small corpus, the analysis gives an insight into the language techniques employed by politicians to legitimise themselves and delegitimise their opponent and thus win the elections.
Nonparametric Population Pharmacokinetic Analysis of Amikacin in Neonates, Infants, and Children

ABSTRACT The therapeutic and toxic effects of amikacin are known to depend on its concentration in plasma, but the pharmacokinetics of this drug in neonates, infants, and children and the influences of clinical and biological variables have been only partially assessed. Therapeutic drug monitoring data collected from 155 patients (49 neonates, 77 infants, and 29 children) receiving amikacin were analyzed by a nonparametric population-based approach, the nonparametric maximum-likelihood method. We assessed the effects of gestational and postnatal age, weight, Apgar score, and plasma creatinine and urea concentrations on pharmacokinetic parameters. There is no specific formulation of amikacin for neonates and infants. We therefore used an error model to account for errors due to dilution during preparation of the infusion. The covariates that reduced the variance of clearance from plasma and the volume of distribution by more than 10% were postnatal age (43 and 28%, respectively) and body weight (30.4 and 17.4%, respectively). The expected reduction of clearance was about 10% for the plasma creatinine concentration. The other covariates studied (Apgar scores, plasma urea concentration, gestational age, sex) were found to have little effect. Simulations showed that a smaller percentage of patients had a maximum concentration in plasma/MIC ratio greater than 8 with a regimen of 7.5 mg/kg of body weight twice daily than with a regimen of 15 mg/kg once a day for MICs of 1 to 8 mg/liter.
Decreased quality of life and treatment satisfaction in patients with latent autoimmune diabetes of the adult

Objectives Our main aim was to assess the quality of life (QoL) and treatment satisfaction (TS) of subjects with LADA (latent autoimmune diabetes of the adult) and compare these measures with those of patients with other diabetes types, i.e., type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods This was a cross-sectional study with a total of 48 patients with LADA, 297 patients with T2DM and 124 with T1DM. The Audit of Diabetes-Dependent Quality of Life (ADDQoL-19) questionnaire and the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ) were administered. Relevant clinical variables were also assessed. The data analysis included comparisons between groups and multivariate linear models. Results The LADA patients presented lower diabetes-specific QoL (p = 0.045) and average weighted impact scores (p = 0.007) than the T2DM patients. The subgroup of LADA patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) who were treated with insulin had a lower ADDQoL average weighted impact score than the other diabetic groups. Although the overall measure of TS was not different between the LADA and T2DM (p = 0.389) and T1DM (p = 0.091) groups, the patients with LADA showed a poorer hyperglycemic frequency perception than the T2DM patients (p < 0.001) and an improved frequency of hypoglycemic perception compared with the T1DM patients (p = 0.021). Conclusions The current findings suggest a poorer quality of life, especially in terms of DR and insulin treatment, among patients with LADA compared with those with T1DM and T2DM. Hyperglycemia frequency perception was also poorer in the LADA patients than in the T1DM and T2DM patients. Further research with prospective studies and a large number of patients is necessary.
[Application of three-dimensional laparoscopic cholecystectomy for complicated gallstone disease].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the clinical value of three-dimensional (3D) laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the treatment of complicated gallstone disease. METHODS From March 2014 to March 2015, 46 patients underwent cholecystectomy for complicated gallstone disease under 3D laparoscopy (3D group) and 43 received 2D laparoscopic cholecystectomy (2D group). The surgical data including the operative time, intraoperative blood loss, the rate of conversion to open laparotomy, recovery time of postoperative bowel motion and hospital stay were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was successfully completed in 43 patients in 3D group and in 39 patients in 2D group, and the rates of conversion to open laparotomy were similar between the two groups (P>0.05). The median operation time was significantly shorter in 3D group than in 2D group (50.5∓15.2 vs 65.4∓18.1 min, P<0.05), and the median volume of intraoperative blood loss was significantly smaller in 3D group (34.1∓13.6 vs 44.5∓22.3 mL, P>0.05). No significant differences were found in the recovery time of postoperative bowel motion and postoperative hospital stays between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION 3D laparoscopy, which provides three-dimensional vision with a good sense of depth to allow precise surgical manipulation, can shorten the operation time and reduce the rate of conversion to open laparotomy for patients undergoing 3D laparoscopic cholecystectomy for complicated gallstone disease.
Prolonged Thromboprophylaxis With Enoxaparin in Early Neurological Rehabilitation

Prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is essential in neurological patients. Little is known about the optimal duration, efficacy, and safety of prolonged off-label use of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH). We enrolled n = 1176 early neurological rehabilitation cases in a retrospective study. In most cases (n = 1151, 97.9%), 4000 anti-Xa (activated coagulation factor X [factor Xa]) units enoxaparin were administered, only 25 received 2000 units for approximately 2 months (mean of 57.5 days). In 969 cases, enoxaparin was administered for more than 2 weeks. Incidence of symptomatic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) were 0.43% (n = 5) and 1.11% (n = 13), respectively. Hemorrhages during enoxaparin therapy were more frequent. Bleeding occurred in 1.96% (n = 23) of cases, mainly gastrointestinal, urinary tract, and vitreous body bleeding. In short-term (up to 2 weeks) treatment, bleeding and VTE were more frequent than in long-term treatment. Results from this study suggest that prolonged enoxaparin thromboprophylaxis in neurological rehabilitation is safe and effective.
Andrograpanin, a compound isolated from anti‐inflammatory traditional Chinese medicine Andrographis paniculata, enhances chemokine SDF‐1α‐induced leukocytes chemotaxis

Andrographis paniculata is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that has been effectively used for treatment of infection, inflammation, cold, fever, and diarrhea in China. However, mechanism of its therapeutic function is not well known. In the current study, we showed one of its components, andrograpanin, could enhance chemokine stromal cell‐derived factor‐1α (SDF‐1α) induced chemotaxis in Jurkat and THP‐1 cells. Further study demonstrated that this kind of effect was CXC chemokine receptor‐4 (CXCR4) specific, since andrograpanin could not enhance other chemokines, such as RANTES, monocyte chemotactic protein‐1 (MCP‐1), etc. induced cell chemotaxis. Mechanisms of andrograpanin exerting its effect were not directly in the receptor and G protein coupling level because it had no effect on the binding of SDF‐1 to CXCR4, SDF‐1 induced G protein activation and adenyly cyclase inhibition. However, receptor internalization might be involved, since we found it significantly reduced SDF‐1α‐induced CXCR4 internalization. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Intensive interventional maternity care reduces infant morbidity and hospital costs

Objective: The purpose of this study was to introduce an intensive interventional maternity care program, called the Temple Infant and Parent Support Services (TIPSS) program, and to determine whether comprehensive maternal and infant care would reduce the high rate of infant morbidity and mortality. Methods: The TIPSS program was comprehensive, offering multidisciplinary services that were family focused and community based. Program services included community outreach, health education, as well as clinical care for the entire family. The effect of this program was evaluated among a very high-risk group of women who were recruited into care versus a control group of high-risk patients from the same neighborhood who voluntarily sought care at the Temple University School of Medicine. Outcome parameters evaluated included gestational age at delivery, birth weight, neonatal intensive care admission, infant death and cost of infant care. Results: Among the TIPSS study group, 5.2% of infants were below 2500 g versus 11% in the control group (p < 0.05). Similarly, preterm deliveries occurred in 4.2% and 12% of the study and control groups, respectively (p < 0.005). Other significant differences observed included the number of prenatal visits (p < 0.001), maternal weight gain (p < 0.05) and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (2% vs. 6.6%; p < 0.05). The reduced admission rate among neonates from the TIPSS program resulted in significant cost savings: $2849 for neonates in the study group versus $8499 for those in the control group. This corresponds to a $5560 savings per infant born to mothers cared for in the TIPSS study group. Conclusions: The Temple Infant and Parent Support Services program demonstrated that infant morbidity could be reduced when a comprehensive prenatal program was made available to indigent patients, even if there were multiple factors that placed the mother and her infant at high risk for complications.
Quality assurance of progenitor cell content of apheresis products: a comparison of clonogenic assays and CD34+ enumeration

The most common methods used for evaluation of the haematopoietic stem cell content of peripheral blood apheresis products are the colony forming cell assay and the enumeration of CD34+ cells by flow cytometry. The Canadian Apheresis Group and the Canadian Bone Marrow Transplant Group established a multicentre study to compare the reproducibility of colony forming cell assays and CD34+ enumeration by flow cytometry in six transplant centres routinely performing haematopoietic stem cell apheresis. Over a 5‐month period in 1996, 31 fresh apheresis samples were shipped by overnight courier for testing at six centres to perform CD34+ enumeration by flow cytometry and clonogenic assays. The mean coefficient of variation and range for the following assays were: cell count 36% (2.6–148%), CFU‐GM 82% (46–123%), CD34+ absolute/kg 60% (14–174%) and CD34+ per cent 42% (12–84%). The wide variation in cell count in this pilot study highlights the difficulties related to provision of samples for quality assessment programmes. Results showed poor interinstitutional reproducibility even among selected samples with similar cell counts for both CFC and CD34+ assays demonstrating the need for development and implementation of an interinstitutional quality assurance programme for haematopoietic stem cell assessment. Provision of a reliable source of testing material will be a necessary next step.
Achilles Tendon Biomechanics in Response to Acute Intense Exercise

Abstract Joseph, MF, Lillie, KR, Bergeron, DJ, Cota, KC, Yoon, JS, Kraemer, WJ, and Denegar, CR. Achilles tendon biomechanics in response to acute intense exercise. J Strength Cond Res 28(5): 1181–1186, 2014—Achilles tendinopathy is a common disorder and is more prevalent in men. Although differences in tendon mechanics between men and women have been reported, understanding of tendon mechanics in young active people is limited. Moreover, there is limited understanding of changes in tendon mechanics in response to acute exercise. Our purpose was to compare Achilles tendon mechanics in active young adult men and women at rest and after light and strenuous activity in the form of repeated jumping with an added load. Participants consisted of 17 men and 14 women (18–30 years) who were classified as being at least moderately physically active as defined by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Tendon force/elongation measures were obtained during an isometric plantarflexion contraction on an isokinetic dynamometer with simultaneous ultrasound imaging of the Achilles tendon approximate to the soleus myotendinous junction. Data were collected at rest, after a 10-minute treadmill walk, and after a fatigue protocol of 100 toe jumps performed in a Smith machine, with a load equaling 20% of body mass. We found greater tendon elongation, decreased stiffness, and lower Young's modulus only in women after the jumping exercise. Force and stress were not different between groups but decreased subsequent to the jumping exercise bout. In general, women had greater elongation and strain, less stiffness, and a lower Young's modulus during plantarflexor contraction. These data demonstrate differences in tendon mechanics between men and women and suggest a potential protective mechanism explaining the lower incidence of Achilles tendinopathy in women.
Primary cultures from fetal bovine brain

This study describes a method of obtaining primary cultures from the cerebral cortex and the hypothalamus of bovine fetuses. We describe here the influence of tissue origin, developmental stage and culture medium conditions on cell differentiation and prevalence of neurons vs glial cells. To identify optimal conditions for obtaining and growing viable neurons and astrocytes in culture, we tested early, middle and late stages of development. Explants from cortex, early stages (week 10 of pregnancy out of 36) and low fetal calf serum concentration (1%) yielded maximum amounts of neurons. Fresh and thawed tissues gave comparable results.