Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rebound thymic enlargement on CT in adults

The objective of this study is to report the development of thymic enlargement in adults, mainly associated with chemotherapy for malignancy. The typical CT features of this phenomenon are described. The clinical data and CT studies of 13 adult patients with newly appearing thymic enlargement on CT were reviewed. These patients were followed‐up mainly for malignancy. Further follow‐up CTs were studied when available. Medical records were reviewed as to the primary disease, its medical treatment and the time of initial appearance of the enlarged thymus in relation to treatment. The study group included 13 adult patients, 12 with malignant disease and one with a slowly resolving pneumonia. The enlarged thymus appeared as a triangular, arrowhead‐shaped structure, with a bilobed configuration and convex borders. Density measurements were consistent with homogeneous soft tissue. Location was in the anterior mediastinum, in the normal site of the thymus. In nine patients, follow‐up studies were available. The observation period ranged from 5 months to 8 years from the initial appearance of the enlarged thymus. In five of the nine patients, the thymic enlargement resolved after 1–4.5 years. In four of the nine patients, the thymus remained enlarged during a follow‐up ranging from 5 months to 2.5 years. Thymic enlargement, while a rare phenomenon in adults, may occur, mainly after chemotherapy. This pheno‐menon should be included in the differential diagnosis of a soft tissue mass appearing in the anterior mediastinum on follow‐up CT in adult patients particularly following treatment for malignancy.
Alzheimer’s disease and glaucoma: Is there a causal relationship?

Evidence of a link between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and glaucoma has emerged from studies showing that patients with AD may have a significantly increased rate of glaucoma occurrence. In addition, it has been reported that patients with AD exhibit optic nerve degeneration and loss of retinal ganglion cells. In spite of intensive research, the clinical and genetic relationships between AD and glaucoma remain obscure. It is unclear whether the clinical correlation between the two diseases might be due to shared risk factors or the influence of one disorder on the other. Interestingly, certain observations may provide a clue towards a better understanding of the high rate of comorbidity reported between AD and glaucoma. In this article, we hypothesise that there may be a causal relationship between AD and glaucoma that may be explained by decreased cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSFP) in patients with AD. A very recent study reported the intriguing new observation that mean CSFP was 33% lower in subjects with primary open-angle glaucoma than that of non-glaucomatous controls. It was noted that this observation supports the concept that an abnormal high trans-lamina cribrosa pressure difference, whether the result of elevated intraocular pressure, reduced CSFP, or both, plays an important role in glaucomatous optic nerve damage. Interestingly, it was also reported that a substantial proportion of AD patients have very low CSFP. Therefore, we hypothesise that an abnormal high trans-lamina cribrosa pressure difference may explain why patients with AD have a greater risk for developing glaucoma.
DESIGN OF NONWOVEN SCAFFOLD STRUCTURES FOR TISSUE ENGINEERING OF THE ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT

Abstract This work is concerned with improving the design of textile scaffolds used to tissueengineer anterior cruciate ligaments. Two important design criteria of a scaffold are internal structure and cell-fibre compatibility. This paper considers both of these criteria, providing a review of scaffold design and structural parameters, followed by experiments on the biocompatibility of various generic fibres. In this paper, the influence of surface area to volume ratio and polymer morphology on cell-surface interactions is discussed, together with a consideration of the effect of poresize and scaffold porosity on cell proliferation, migration and nutrient supply. Another structural factor discussed is the role of fibre orientation as a means of guiding and organising new tissue growth. It is possible to manipulate these scaffold parameters to produce a scaffold of optimal structural design for the tissue engineering of the anterior cruciate ligament. A review of current scaffold types classified according to manufacturing method is presented. These manufacturing methods include solvent casting/particulate leaching, three-dimensional printing and fibre bonding. Scaffolds in fibrous form include woven, knitted, braided, embroidered and more recently nonwoven. Biocompatibility tests performed by the authors study the reaction of fibroblast cells to the surface of different generic fibre types; including para-aramid, polyester, polypropylene, polyglycolic acid and viscose rayon. The results of these tests are discussed in relation to cell attachment and fibre morphology.
A grid-based Bader analysis algorithm without lattice bias

A computational method for partitioning a charge density grid into Bader volumes is presented which is efficient, robust, and scales linearly with the number of grid points. The partitioning algorithm follows the steepest ascent paths along the charge density gradient from grid point to grid point until a charge density maximum is reached. In this paper, we describe how accurate off-lattice ascent paths can be represented with respect to the grid points. This improvement maintains the efficient linear scaling of an earlier version of the algorithm, and eliminates a tendency for the Bader surfaces to be aligned along the grid directions. As the algorithm assigns grid points to charge density maxima, subsequent paths are terminated when they reach previously assigned grid points. It is this grid-based approach which gives the algorithm its efficiency, and allows for the analysis of the large grids generated from plane-wave-based density functional theory calculations.
Similar levels of infectivity in the blood of mice infected with human‐derived vCJD and GSS strains of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy

BACKGROUND: The possible transmission of variant CJD (vCJD) through blood transfusion or use of plasma‐derived products prompted this study comparing infectivity in murine models of vCJD and Gerstmann‐Sträussler‐Scheinker (GSS) disease, a non‐vCJD form of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE).
Older Women with Controlled Isolated Systolic Hypertension: Exercise and Blood Pressure.

INTRODUCTION Exercise is generally regarded as beneficial for health, but the consequent increases in blood pressure might pose a risk for hypertensive subjects. The purpose of this study was to determine blood pressure responses to dynamic exercise and sustained handgrip in patients with isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) who were stable on medication. METHODS Nineteen female ISH patients (66 ± 5 yr) and 19 age-matched normotensive (NT) female controls undertook a 5-min cycle exercise (60% heart rate reserve [HRR]) and a 2-min handgrip exercise (30% maximum voluntary contraction). Blood pressure responses were measured using an oscillometric cuff, together with heart rate and resting brachial pulse transit times. RESULTS Systolic blood pressure (SBP) levels after cycle exercise were 194 ± 18 and 153 ± 19 mm Hg for ISH and NT, respectively, with the increase above resting being greater for ISH (P < 0.001), and only small changes were found in diastolic blood pressure (DBP). During handgrip exercise, SBP rose to 168 ± 19 and 140 ± 8 mm Hg for ISH and NT, respectively. The increases above baseline were greater for ISH both during the exercise and postexercise circulatory occlusion (P = 0.017). The increase in DBP levels during exercise and postexercise occlusion were similar in ISH and NT, suggesting little difference in metaboreflex sensitivity. Pulse transit time was shorter for ISH compared with NT (166 ± 6 ms and 242 ± 24 ms, respectively, P < 0.001), indicating stiffer arteries, which would increase SBP but not DBP. CONCLUSION Despite being well controlled and normotensive control subjects at rest, ISH patients had high SBP responses to both dynamic and static exercises, which may constitute a risk for cardiovascular incidents.
Bounds on new Majoron models from the Heidelberg-Moscow experiment.

In recent years several new Majoron models were invented to avoid the shortcomings of the ordinary models while leading to observable decay rates in double {beta} experiments. We give the first experimental half-life bounds on double {beta} decays with new Majoron emission and derive bounds on the effective neutrino-Majoron couplings from the data of the {sup 76}Ge Heidelberg-Moscow experiment. While stringent half-life limits for all decay modes and the coupling constants of the ordinary models were obtained, small matrix elements and phase space integrals result in much weaker limits on the effective coupling constants of the new Majoron models. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society. }
Associations of work–family conflicts with food habits and physical activity

Abstract Objective This study examines the relationship between family–work conflicts with food habits and physical activity, and whether the relationship is dependent on family structure and work-related factors. Design and setting Cross-sectional postal surveys were carried out in 2001 and 2002 among employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland, aged 40–60 years (n = 5346, response rate 66%; for women 70% and for men 60%). Dependent variables in logistic regression analyses were nationally recommended food habits and physical activity. Independent variables were work–family conflicts and family–work conflicts. Covariates included age, marital status, number of children, occupational class, working hours, time travelling to work, and physical and mental work load. Results Women reporting strong work–family conflicts were more likely to follow recommended food habits (odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals 1.49 (1.19–1.86)), but this relationship weakened when adjusting for work-related factors (OR 1.20 (0.93–1.55)). Women and men with strong family–work conflicts were less likely to report recommended food habits after adjusting for family structure and work-related factors (women OR 0.75 (0.61–0.92), men OR 0.57 (0.34–0.96)). Women and men with strong work–family conflicts were less likely to follow the recommended amount of physical activity (women OR 0.76 (0.60–0.96), men OR 0.54 (0.34–0.87)). Additionally, women with strong family–work conflicts were less likely to follow the recommended amount of physical activity (OR 0.77 (0.63–0.94)). Adjusting for family and work-related factors did not affect these associations. Conclusions Conflicts between paid work and family life are likely to constitute barriers for a physically active lifestyle and possibly also for healthy food habits. Improving the balance between work and family may provide a route for promoting health-related behaviours.
Two-pore channels provide insight into the evolution of voltage-gated Ca2+ and Na+ channels

Molecular modeling, pharmacology, and comparative genomics reveal secrets of ion channel evolution. Exploring Channel Evolution Voltage-gated ion channels are critical regulators of multiple aspects of physiology, including muscle contractility and nerve activity. The animal voltage-gated calcium channels (CaVs) and sodium channels (NaVs) are complex proteins that have four repeated regions that each include six transmembrane domains and a P-loop segment that partially penetrates the membrane and is involved in forming the pore. These four regions assemble into a pseudotetramer to create the ion channel. Another family of voltage-gated channels is the two-pore channel (TPC) family, members of which only have two of the repeated regions and are believed to form dimers that assemble into a pseudotetrameric structure similar to that of CaV and NaV channels. Rahman et al. constructed a model of TPCs using the crystal structure of a bacterial NaV that only has one, instead of four, of the repeated domains. Molecular docking analysis indicated that TPCs could bind pharmacological antagonists or agonists of CaVs or NaVs, and functional studies confirmed that TPC activity was altered. The predicted biophysical properties of the molecular docking experiments; sequence analysis of the predicted ion-selectivity filters of the CaVs, NaVs, and TPCs; and phylogenetic analysis of TPCs from unicellular organisms suggested that the evolution of ion specificity may have predated a gene duplication event that resulted in the evolution of CaVs and NaVs with the four repeated regions structure. Four-domain voltage-gated Ca2+ and Na+ channels (CaV, NaV) underpin nervous system function and likely emerged upon intragenic duplication of a primordial two-domain precursor. To investigate if two-pore channels (TPCs) may represent an intermediate in this evolutionary transition, we performed molecular docking simulations with a homology model of TPC1, which suggested that the pore region could bind antagonists of CaV or NaV. CaV or NaV antagonists blocked NAADP (nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate)–evoked Ca2+ signals in sea urchin egg preparations and in intact cells that overexpressed TPC1. By sequence analysis and inspection of the model, we predicted a noncanonical selectivity filter in animal TPCs in which the carbonyl groups of conserved asparagine residues are positioned to coordinate cations. In contrast, a distinct clade of TPCs [TPCR (for TPC-related)] in several unicellular species had ion selectivity filters with acidic residues more akin to CaV. TPCRs were predicted to interact strongly with CaV antagonists. Our data suggest that acquisition of a “blueprint” pharmacological profile and changes in ion selectivity within four-domain voltage-gated ion channels may have predated intragenic duplication of an ancient two-domain ancestor.
Brain serotonin turnover in alcoholic mice.

Mice were made alcoholic on an alcohol liquid diet. The rate of serotonin synthesis in the brains of chronically alcoholic mice was found to be almost half that of the control group. However, the effect of acute alcoholism demonstrated a tendency to increase the rate of serotonin synthesis. Brain levels of 5HIAA were decreased during chronic alcohol ingestion, however, the brain levels of serotonin in alcoholic mice were similar to those in the untreated mice. These data suggest that serotonergic units in the central nervous system are inhibited during chronic alcoholism.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of the possible association between pharmacological gastric acid suppression and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

Background Observational studies have presented conflicting results with regard to an association between gastric acid suppression and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). Our aim was to carry out a meta-analysis investigating the possible association between the use of proton pump inhibitors or H2-receptor antagonists and SBP. Methods We searched several databases from inception through 15 December 2014 to identify observational studies that provided data on the association of gastric acid suppression with SBP as their primary outcome, and carried out random effects meta-analyses. Results Fourteen observational studies (six case–control and eight cohort) evaluating the association between proton pump inhibitors and SBP revealed a pooled odds ratio (OR) of 2.32 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.57–3.42, I2=82%]. The subgroup analysis based on study design revealed a pooled OR of 2.52 (95% CI 1.71–3.71, I2=16%) for case–control studies, and a pooled OR of 2.18 (95% CI 1.24–3.82, I2=89%) for cohort studies. Sensitivity analysis including only the peer-reviewed publications in the cohort subgroup revealed a pooled OR of 1.49 (95% CI 1.15–1.95, I2=27%). The subgroup analysis for high-quality studies revealed a pooled OR of 1.49 (95% CI 1.19–1.88, I2=21%). The pooled OR for H2-receptor antagonists and SBP was 1.93 (95% CI 1.15–3.24, I2=0%). Conclusions There appear to be statistically significant, but quantitatively small, associations between gastric acid suppression and SBP. However, the magnitude of the possible association diminished when analysis focused on higher quality data that were more robust. Furthermore, the quality evidence in support of the association, as per the GRADE framework, was very low.
Liposomal delivery of photosensitising agents

Photodynamic therapy is a clinically approved treatment for cancer and noncancer diseases. This modality utilises light-activatable chemicals (photosensitising agents) to capture photons and use light energy for the production of cytotoxic reactive molecular species. Most photosensitisers that are in use clinically or in preclinical development are hydrophobic and tend to aggregate in the aqueous environment, which limits their delivery and photosensitising efficiency. Liposomal delivery of photosensitisers will often overcome or decrease these problems. In addition, as with chemotherapeutic agents, liposomal formulations of photo-sensitising agents may help to achieve better selectivity for tumour tissue compared with normal tissue. Over the past years, liposomal photosensitisers have emerged as therapeutic agents in many experimental studies, and have obtained approval for clinical applications. Recent progress in liposomal technology further opens up the possibility of generating more selectively targeted photosensitisers encapsulated in liposomes. This review will cover progress in the use of liposomal photosensitisers, summarise current liposomal formulations, and project future directions for the liposomal delivery of photosensitising agents.
A Comparison of the Local Anesthetic Properties of Bupivacaine and Two New Long‐Acting Agents, HS 37 and Etidocaine, in Epidural Analgesia

Two new local anesthetics, HS 37 and etidocaine, were evaluated in epidural analgesia and compared with bupivacaine. Initially, a dose‐response study was conducted in which concentrations of etidocaine of 0.75%, 1% and 1.5% and concentrations of HS 37 of 0.75% and 1% were employed.
Platelet function in dogs: breed differences and effect of acetylsalicylic acid administration.

BACKGROUND Clinical studies investigating platelet function in dogs have had conflicting results that may be caused by normal physiologic variation in platelet response to agonists. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to investigate platelet function in clinically healthy dogs of 4 different breeds by whole-blood aggregometry and with a point-of-care platelet function analyzer (PFA-100), and to evaluate the effect of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) administration on the results from both methods. METHODS Forty-five clinically healthy dogs (12 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels [CKCS], 12 Cairn Terriers, 10 Boxers, and 11 Labrador Retrievers) were included in the study. Platelet function was assessed by whole-blood aggregation with ADP (1, 5, 10, and 20 microM) as agonist and by PFA-100 using collagen and epinephrine (Col + Epi) and Col + ADP as agonists. Plasma thromboxane B(2) concentration was determined by an enzyme immunoassay. To investigate the effect of ASA, 10 dogs were dosed daily (75 or 250 mg ASA orally) for 4 consecutive days. RESULTS A higher platelet aggregation response was found in CKCS compared to the other breeds. Longer PFA-100 closure time (Col + Epi) was found in Cairn Terriers compared to Boxers. Plasma thromboxane B(2) concentration was not statistically different between groups. Administration of ASA prolonged the PFA-100 closure times, using Col + Epi (but not Col + ADP) as agonists. Furthermore, ASA resulted in a decrease in whole-blood platelet aggregation. CONCLUSIONS Platelet function is influenced by breed, depending upon the methodology applied. However, the importance of these breed differences remains to be investigated. The PFA-100 method with Col + Epi as agonists, and ADP-induced platelet aggregation appear to be sensitive to ASA in dogs.
Biogenetic Temperament and Character and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Korean Children

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and biogenetic temperament, as assessed by the Junior Temperament and Character Inventory (JTCI) in Korean elementary school children. Sampling and Methods: Five hundred and sixteen elementary school students (254 boys and 262 girls; age range 9–14 years, mean age 11.0 ± 1.0 years) were studied. The Junior Temperament and Character Inventory, both the self-rating and parent rating scales, the DuPaul ADHD rating scale (ARS-IV) for parents and teachers and the Child Behavior Checklist have been completed by study subjects. Children with high ARS-IV scores (the upper 10th percentile, n = 52) were defined to have ADHD. Fifty-two age- and sex-matched non-ADHD control subjects were selected randomly from a pool of 464 subjects. Results: Inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms correlated positively with Novelty Seeking in both children and parent ratings. These symptoms correlated negatively with Persistence, Self-Directedness and Cooperativeness. Novelty Seeking also had significant correlations with attention problems, delinquent behavior, aggressive behavior, externalizing problems and social problems in the Child Behavior Checklist. The ADHD group (n = 52) had higher scores of Novelty Seeking and lower scores of Self-Directedness and Cooperativeness, compared with the control group. Conclusions: There were significant correlations between ADHD symptoms and Novelty Seeking. Current findings suggest that Novelty Seeking and ADHD share biogenetic backgrounds.
Features of crossing-over in virus-infected tomato

The evidence of increased crossing over rate in tomato hybrids infected with TAV (Tomato aspermy virus), PVX (Potato virus X), TMV (Tobacco mosaic virus), TMV+PVX indicates the recombinogenic effect of viral infection. Cytological studies of the early diakinesis in healthy and virus-infected tomato revealed significant changes in chiasma number and position. The most significant changes were established for bivalents with two interstitial chiasmata and with one terminal and one interstitial. The data obtained indicate redistribution of the chiasmata position and induction of additional exchanges. The virus-induced recombination is segment-specific and depends on the host plant genotype, virus infection and the interaction between them.