Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Midazolam (Dormicum) as oral premedication for local anesthesia].

Good physician-patient rapport and an anxiolytic, sedative, and amnesic premedication are necessary for comfortable, stress-free surgery under local anesthesia. Sufficient experience exists with the intramuscular and intravenous administration of the new benzodiazepine midazolam (Dormicum), while knowledge relating to its oral administration is still scant. Therefore, in a randomized double-blind study midazolam was investigated for oral premedication prior to local anesthesia: two dosages of midazolam were studied and compared with diazepam and placebo. One hour prior to ophthalmic surgery under local anesthesia, four randomized groups of 30 patients each, received a tablet of 7.5 or 15 mg midazolam, 10 mg diazepam, or a placebo. Following this medication, the anxiolytic, sedative, amnesic, and side-effects were determined at defined points of time during the day of surgery and the 1st postoperative day. Anxiolysis was determined using the "state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI)" of Spielberger et al.; sedation was assessed according to Pandit et al.; amnesia was determined by recall of picture cards which had been presented to the patients 50 min after premedication; and patients were asked about 13 side-effects typical of benzodiazepines in a standardized way. Anxiety increased little following the placebo; it decreased significantly following 10 mg diazepam and more markedly following 7.5 and 15 mg midazolam. Sedation increased little following the placebo; it increased more and similarly 50 min after the benzodiazepines; after 90 min the sedative effect was most marked for 15 mg midazolam. However, sedation was of shorter duration after midazolam than after diazepam. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Incidence of hepatitis B virus reactivation in patients with resolved infection on immunosuppressive therapy for rheumatic disease: a multicentre, prospective, observational study in Japan

Background Although the reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is recognised as a serious complication in patients with rheumatic disease (RD) receiving immunosuppressive drugs (ISDs), the incidence and risk factors for reactivation remain controversial. Objectives To investigate the incidence and risk factors for HBV reactivation in patients with RD. Methods We performed a multicentre, observational, prospective study over 2 years in patients with resolved HBV infection. Patients with RD treated with a dose of ≥5 mg/day prednisolone and/or synthetic or biological ISDs with negative HB virus surface antigen and positive anti-HB virus surface antibody (HBsAb) and/or anti-HB virus core antibody (HBcAb) were enrolled. Quantitative HBV DNA results and related data were regularly recorded. Results Among 1042 patients, including 959 with rheumatoid arthritis, HBV DNA was detected in 35 (1.93/100 person-years), with >2.1 log copies/mL observed in 10 patients (0.55/100 person-years). None of the reactivated patients, including seven treated with a nucleic acid analogue, showed overt hepatitis. Low HBsAb titres and advanced age seemed to be risk factors for HBV reactivation; however, reactivation was observed in three patients with positive HBsAb and negative HBcAb test results. The risk of reactivation was lower with methotrexate but higher with prednisolone among the different types of ISDs. The intervals from the start of ISD to reactivation were relatively long (3–182 months; median, 66 months). Conclusions The incidence of HBV reactivation with ISD use was 1.93/100 person-years in patients with RD with resolved HBV infection. No overt hepatitis was observed in the reactivated patients.
Entropy Change during Martensitic Transformation in Ni50-xCoxMn50-yAly Metamagnetic Shape Memory Alloys

Specific heat was systematically measured by the heat flow method in Ni50-xCoxMn50-yAly metamagnetic shape memory alloys near the martensitic transformation temperatures. Martensitic transformation and ferromagnetic–paramagnetic transition for the parent phase were directly observed via the specific heat measurements. On the basis of the experimental results, the entropy change was estimated and it was found to show an abrupt decrease below the Curie temperature. The results were found to be consistent with those of earlier studies on Ni-Co-Mn-Al alloys.
Suicide around Anniversary Times

The anniversary of the loss of a loved one is known to induce negative emotions, which for some can be significant. The present study examined the incidence of suicide around the time of such anniversaries using data from the Queensland Suicide Register for the years 1998 to 2008. There were statistically significant increases in suicide events immediately after the loss of a loved one and around the anniversary of the loss. Limitations of the study are noted.
The Efficacy and Safety of 10,600‐nm Carbon Dioxide Fractional Laser for Acne Scars in Asian Patients

BACKGROUND The nonablative 1,550‐nm erbium‐doped fractional photothermolysis system (FPS) has been effectively used for scar treatments, but it seems that several sessions of treatment must be delivered to achieve satisfactory improvement. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combined use of two treatment modes of an ablative 10,600‐nm carbon dioxide fractional laser system (CO2 FS) on acne scars. METHODS Twenty Korean patients with atrophic acne scars treated with a single session of Ultrapulse Encore laser (Lumenis Inc., Santa Clara, CA) were enrolled. The laser fluences were delivered to the scars using the Deep FX mode. Additional treatment using the Active FX mode was performed throughout the entire face. RESULTS Follow‐up results revealed that one patient had clinical improvement of 76% to 100%, nine had improvements of 51% to 75%, seven had moderate improvements of 26% to 50%, and three had minimal to no improvements. The mean duration of post‐therapy crusting or scaling was 6.3±3.0 days, and post‐therapy erythema lasted 2.8±4.6 days. CONCLUSION We suggest that CO2 FS used with a combination of two different treatment modes may provide a new treatment algorithm for acne scars in Asians.
D‐MELD, a Simple Predictor of Post Liver Transplant Mortality for Optimization of Donor/Recipient Matching

Numerous donor and recipient risk factors interact to influence the probability of survival after liver transplantation. We developed a statistic, D‐MELD, the product of donor age and preoperative MELD, calculated from laboratory values. Using the UNOS STAR national transplant data base, we analyzed survival for first liver transplant recipients with chronic liver failure from deceased after brain death donors. Preoperative D‐MELD score effectively stratified posttransplant survival. Using a cutoff D‐MELD score of 1600, we defined a subgroup of donor–recipient matches with significantly poorer short‐ and long‐term outcomes as measured by survival and length of stay (LOS). Avoidance of D‐MELD scores above 1600 improved results for subgroups of high‐risk patients with donor age ≥60 and those with preoperative MELD ≥30. D‐MELD ≥1600 accurately predicted worse outcome in recipients with and without hepatitis C. There is significant regional variation in average D‐MELD scores at transplant, however, regions with larger numbers of high D‐MELD matches do not have higher survival rates. D‐MELD is a simple, highly predictive tool for estimating outcomes after liver transplantation. This statistic could assist surgeons and their patients in making organ acceptance decisions. Applying D‐MELD to liver allocation could eliminate many donor/recipient matches likely to have inferior outcome.
Rapid Visualization of Human Tumor Xenografts through Optical Imaging with a Near-Infrared Fluorescent Anti–Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Nanobody

Given that overexpression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is found in many types of human epithelial cancers, noninvasive molecular imaging of this receptor is of great interest. A number of studies have employed monoclonal antibodies as probes; however, their characteristic long half-life in the bloodstream has encouraged the development of smaller probes. In this study, an anti-EGFR nanobody-based probe was developed and tested in comparison with cetuximab for application in optical molecular imaging. To this aim, the anti-EGFR nanobody 7D12 and cetuximab were conjugated to the near-infrared fluorophore IRDye800CW. 7D12-IR allowed the visualization of tumors as early as 30 minutes postinjection, whereas with cetuximab-IR, no signal above background was observed at the tumor site. Quantification of the IR-conjugated proteins in the tumors revealed ≈ 17% of injected dose per gram 2 hours after injection of 7D12-IR, which was significantly higher than the tumor uptake obtained 24 hours after injection of cetuximab-IR. This difference is associated with the superior penetration and distribution of 7D12-IR within the tumor. These results demonstrate that this anti-EGFR nanobody conjugated to the NIR fluorophore has excellent properties for rapid preclinical optical imaging, which holds promise for its future use as a complementary diagnostic tool in humans.
Inhibition of rat mammary microsomal oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde by plant polyphenols

We previously reported that the microsomal fraction from rat mammary tissue is able to oxidize ethanol to acetaldehyde, a mutagenic-carcinogenic metabolite, depending on the presence of NADPH and oxygen but not inhibited by carbon monoxide or other cytochrome P450 inhibitors. The process was strongly inhibited by diphenyleneiodonium, a known inhibitor of NADPH oxidase, and by nordihydroguaiaretic acid, an inhibitor of lipoxygenases. This led us to suggest that both enzymes could be involved. With the purpose of identifying natural compounds present in food with the ability to decrease the production of acetaldehyde in mammary tissue, in the present studies, several plant polyphenols having inhibitory effects on lipoxygenases and of antioxidant nature were tested as potential inhibitors of the rat mammary tissue microsomal pathway of ethanol oxidation. We included in the present screening study 32 polyphenols having ready availability and that were also tested against the rat mammary tissue cytosolic metabolism of ethanol to acetaldehyde. Several polyphenols were also able to inhibit the microsomal ethanol oxidation at concentrations as low was 10-50 μM. The results of these screening experiments suggest the potential of several plant polyphenols to prevent in vivo production and accumulation of acetaldehyde in mammary tissue.
Borderline personality traits and disorder: predicting prospective patient functioning.

OBJECTIVE Decisions about the composition of personality assessment in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-V) will be heavily influenced by the clinical utility of candidate constructs. In this study, we addressed 1 aspect of clinical utility by testing the incremental validity of 5-factor model (FFM) personality traits and borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptoms for predicting prospective patient functioning. METHOD FFM personality traits and BPD features were correlated with one another and predicted 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-, and 10-year psychosocial functioning scores for 362 patients with personality disorders. RESULTS Traits and symptom domains related significantly and pervasively to one another and to prospective functioning. FFM extraversion and agreeableness tended to be most incrementally predictive of psychosocial functioning across all intervals; cognitive and impulse action features of BPD features incremented FFM traits in some models. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that BPD symptoms and personality traits are important long-term indicators of clinical functioning that both overlap with and increment one another in clinical predictions. Results support the integration of personality traits and disorders in DSM-V.
Depletion of Immunoglobulin M Memory B Cells is Associated with Splenic Hypofunction in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

OBJECTIVES:IgM memory B cells that are responsible for the protection against infections by encapsulated bacteria, require the spleen for their generation and/or survival. Since the association between inflammatory bowel disease and functional hyposplenism is well described, our aim was to verify whether IgM memory B cells mirror the reduced splenic function in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patients.METHODS:Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 32 Crohn's disease and 29 ulcerative colitis patients, 33 healthy controls, and 27 splenectomized patients. Perendoscopic intestinal biopsies were also collected from 15 of 32 Crohn's disease patients, 14 of 29 ulcerative colitis patients and 13 of 33 control subjects. Counting of erythrocytes with membrane abnormalities (pitted red cells) was used as an indicator of splenic function and flow cytometry was performed to analyze both peripheral and mucosal B cells.RESULTS:Twelve of 32 Crohn's disease patients and 13 of 29 ulcerative colitis patients had pitted red cell values >4% and were considered to be hyposplenic. In inflammatory bowel disease patients circulating IgM memory B cells were significantly lower than in control subjects. We observed a significant inverse correlation between the frequency of circulating IgM memory B cell and the pitted red cell values in inflammatory bowel disease patients with hyposplenism. To exclude the possibility that the reduction of circulating IgM memory B cells reflected their recruitment in the inflamed bowel mucosa, lamina propria B-cell populations were also characterized. We found that the frequency of IgM memory B cells was similar in the blood and in the lamina propria of the same patient.CONCLUSIONS:Our findings show that peripheral IgM memory B cells are reduced in inflammatory bowel disease patients and this defect seems to be related to the impairment of splenic function.
A Case of Turner Syndrome with Concomitant Transient Hypogammaglobulinaemia of Infancy and Central Diabetes Insipidus

Turner syndrome (TS) is a genetic disorder that affects development in females and is characterized by the complete or partial absence of the second sex chromosome, or monosomy X. TS is associated with abnormalities in lymphatic and skeletal development, in growth, and in gonadal function. Cardiac and renal malformations and a number of specific cognitive findings may also be encountered in these patients. An increased risk for hypothyroidism, sensorineural hearing loss, hypertension, and other problems has also been reported. We present the case of a patient with TS accompanied by transient hypogammaglobulinaemia of infancy (THI) and central diabetes insipidus, which we believe is the first reported TS patient with these concomitant disorders. Conflict of interest:None declared.
Characterization of calpain I-binding proteins in human erythrocyte plasma membrane.

The calpain-binding components on the plasma membrane were characterized using calpain I. 125I-labeled calpain was bound to inside-out membrane vesicles from human erythrocyte in a Ca2(+)-dependent manner, but not to right-side-out membrane vesicles. The maximum binding was observed at more than 5 microM Ca2+. The binding amount of calpain to the inside-out membrane vesicles was decreased when the vesicles were pretreated with 100 micrograms/ml of trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastase, or pronase P for 30 min at 37 degrees C, although the binding to the vesicles pretreated with 200 micrograms/ml of phospholipase A2 or C was not affected. Calpain-binding proteins in the membrane were analyzed by using a modified immunoblotting for calpain. Immunostained bands of 240, 220, 89, 72, 52, and 36 kDa were detected as the calpain-binding proteins in the native membrane. All of these bands had disappeared in trypsin-treated membrane. The disappearance of bands was dose-dependent with respect to trypsin and paralleled the reduction of binding amount of calpain to the trypsinized membrane. In calpain-treated membrane, the 240 and 36 kDa bands were retained in the blotting, though the other bands disappeared dose-dependently with respect to calpain. These results suggested that the significant component in the inner surface of plasma membrane for binding of calpain was proteinaceous and the calpain-binding proteins could be classified into two species, i.e. substrates of calpain (220, 89, 72, and 52 kDa protein) and non-substrates (240 and 36 kDa protein).
Latent developmental and evolutionary shapes embedded within the grapevine leaf

Across plants, leaves exhibit profound diversity in shape. As a single leaf expands, its shape is in constant flux. Plants may also produce leaves with different shapes at successive nodes. Additionally, leaf shape varies among individuals, populations, and species due to evolutionary processes and environmental influences. Because leaf shape can vary in many different ways, theoretically the effects of distinct developmental and evolutionary processes are separable, even within the shape of a single leaf. Here, we measure the shapes of >3,200 leaves representing >270 vines from wild relatives of domesticated grape (Vitis spp.) to determine if leaf shapes attributable to genetics and development are separable from each other. We isolate latent shapes (multivariate signatures that vary independently from each other) embedded within the overall shape of leaves that can predict developmental stages independent from species identity and vice versa. Shapes predictive of development are then used to stage leaves from 1,200 varieties of domesticated grape (Vitis vinifera), revealing that changes in timing underlie leaf shape diversity. Our results indicate distinct latent shapes combine to produce a composite morphology in leaves, and that developmental and evolutionary contributions to shape vary independently from each other.
Effects of Streptococcus thermophilus TH-4 in a rat model of doxorubicin-induced mucositis

Abstract Background. Mucositis is a debilitating intestinal side effect of chemotherapeutic regimens. Probiotics have been considered a possible preventative treatment for mucositis. Streptococcus thermophilus TH-4 (TH-4), a newly identified probiotic, has been shown to partially alleviate mucositis induced by administration of the antimetabolite chemotherapy drug, methotrexate in rats; likely mediated through a mechanism of folate production. However, its effects against other classes of chemotherapy drug have yet to be determined. Aims. The authors investigated the effects of TH-4 in a rat model of mucositis induced by the anthracycline chemotherapy drug, doxorubicin. Methods. Gastrointestinal damage was induced in female Dark Agouti rats (148.3 ± 1.5 g) by intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin (20 mg/kg). Animals recieved a daily oral gavage of TH-4 at 109 cfu/ml or skim milk (vehicle) from days 0 to 8. At day 6, rats were injected with either saline or doxorubicin. At kill, small intestinal tissues were collected for determination of sucrase and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities and histological assessment. Results. Body weight was significantly decreased by doxorubicin compared with normal controls (p < 0.05). Histological parameters, such as crypt depth and villus height, were also significantly decreased by doxorubicin. TH-4 partially prevented the loss of body weight induced by doxorubicin (2.3% compared with 4%), but provided no further therapeutic benefit. Conclusions. The minimal amelioration of doxorubicin-induced mucositis by TH-4 further supports folate production as a likely mechanism of TH-4 action against methotrexate-induced mucositis. Further studies into TH-4 are required to confirm its applicability to other conventional chemotherapy regimens.
The Costs and Benefits to Participants in Community Partnerships: A Paradox?

This article examines the degree of stakeholder participation in health and social partnership schemes in relation to their perceptions of benefits, costs, satisfaction, commitment, and ownership. The findings suggest that (a) involvement, commitment, and sense of ownership were invariably associated with high benefits and mostly with low costs; (b) benefits, commitment, and ownership might be more sensitive monitors of involvement than costs and satisfaction; (c) an increase in involvement was initially associated with decreased costs and increased satisfaction up to a point beyond which costs increased and satisfaction decreased despite increasing benefits; and (d) favorable cost-benefit ratios were perceived when the benefits were at least 1. 6 times the costs. Partnership initiatives need to explore the involvement “cut-off” point at which the costs (and satisfaction) might change direction. For favorable cost-benefit ratios, benefits need to be at least 60% more than costs (Ansari’s paradox).
Calcium hydroxide reduces lipopolysaccharide-stimulated osteoclast formation.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the direct effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on osteoclastogenesis and to assess the ability of calcium hydroxide-Ca(OH)(2)-to inhibit the osteoclast formation stimulated by LPS. STUDY DESIGN RAW 264.7 cells were cultured with 50 ng/mL recombinant receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) for 72 hours. RANKL was then removed, and the cells were treated with 0, 1, 10, or 100 ng/mL of LPS, Ca(OH)(2)-treated LPS, or 50 ng/mL of RANKL as a positive control for an additional 48 hours. Cells were fixed and stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated phalloidin to detect actin ring formation, and histochemistry was performed to detect multinucleated cells expressing tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity. RESULTS LPS induced osteoclast-like cell (OCL) formation in a dose-dependent manner when osteoclast precursor RAW 264.7 cells were pretreated for 72 hours with RANKL. Ca(OH)(2) significantly inhibited the ability of LPS to stimulate OCL formation. CONCLUSION This study shows that LPS directly stimulates OCL formation. The detoxification of LPS by treatment with Ca(OH)(2) significantly reduced its ability to trigger the differentiation of OCLs.