Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trajectories of Treatment Response in Late-Life Depression: Psychosocial and Clinical Correlates

Abstract: The authors examined the effect of psychosocial and clinical variables on treatment response trajectory in elderly patients with major depressive disorder. Three studies provided data on treatment response in 360 elderly depressed subjects who participated in protocols using either nortriptyline or paroxetine as monotherapy or, in 2 studies, combined with interpersonal psychotherapy. Treatment response was assessed with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression-17 Item (HRSD-17) score over 12 weeks of acute treatment in each study. The mixture-modeling method of trajectory analysis was used to identify different subpopulations of response, and to determine whether baseline HRSD-17 score, depressive illness course (single or recurrent), current episode duration, Interpersonal Self Evaluation List-Self-esteem factor, age at study entry, and medical burden were risk factor covariates associated with response trajectory. As a contrast, logistic regression was used to assess the association between the same covariates and the probability of response (defined as HRSD-17 ≤10 and 50% reduction from baseline). In each study, there were 2 response trajectories with similar course, but with different speed. We classified the trajectories as "rapid response" and "slower response. " Baseline HRSD-17 score was a significant predictor of response trajectory, with higher initial score related to slower response trajectory. Higher self-esteem was associated with more rapid response trajectory. In the logistic regression analysis, in two of the studies, higher baseline HRSD-17 score was a significant risk factor for nonresponse. In the study without psychotherapy, higher self-esteem was associated with responding to treatment. Thus, trajectory analysis can identify different trajectories of responders and determine psychosocial and clinical variables associated with response trajectory in the acute treatment of geriatric depression. Further study focusing on risk factors associated with slower response may help optimize treatment in elderly patients who do not respond quickly to first-line therapies.
The Insulin-Like Growth Factor System in Kidney Diseases

The insulin-like growth factor system is intimately involved in renal development, growth, function and the pathophysiology of several disease states. Exogenous IGF-I increases GFR and RPF, perhaps mediated by nitric oxide (NO). In chronic renal failure, IGF-I, the binding proteins and their fragments decrease bioavailability. After transplantation, the levels of bioactive IGF-I increase likely due to better nutrition and increased clearance of the binding proteins and their fragments. In the nephritic syndrome, a similar mechanism may be active, in that the binding proteins and their fragments may inhibit IGF-I action.
Serum Natriuretic Peptides as Differential Biomarkers Allowing for the Distinction between Physiologic and Pathologic Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

Given the proven utility of natriuretic peptides as serum biomarkers of cardiovascular maladaptation and dysfunction in humans and the high cross-species sequence conservation of atrial natriuretic peptides, natriuretic peptides have the potential to serve as translational biomarkers for the identification of cardiotoxic compounds during multiple phases of drug development. This work evaluated and compared the response of N-terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide (NT-proANP) and N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in rats during exercise-induced and drug-induced increases in cardiac mass after chronic swimming or daily oral dosing with a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ agonist. Male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 8 to 10 weeks were assigned to control, active control, swimming, or drug-induced cardiac hypertrophy groups. While the relative heart weights from both the swimming and drug-induced cardiac hypertrophy groups were increased 15% after 28 days of dosing, the serum NT-proANP and NT-proBNP values were only increased in association with cardiac hypertrophy caused by compound administration. Serum natriuretic peptide concentrations did not change in response to adaptive physiologic cardiac hypertrophy induced by a 28-day swimming protocol. These data support the use of natriuretic peptides as fluid biomarkers for the distinction between physiological and drug-induced cardiac hypertrophy.
UTILIZATION OF IN‐PATIENT SERVICES BY THE ELDERLY

The authors present descriptive data on the 5,312 patients aged 65 or older, admitted in 1967 to the medical and surgical in‐patient services of the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. These patients accounted for 24 per cent of the total number of adults admitted. The services admitting most of the elderly were General Medicine, General Surgery, Urology, Ophthalmology and Neurology. These patients had a longer average stay in the hospital than the national average for hospitalized elderly; almost 20 per cent of them stayed thirty‐one days or longer. Over four‐fifths of the elderly were admitted to Private and Semi‐Private Pavilion accommodations, and the remainder entered the teaching services of the Semi‐Private Division. The Division patients had longer lengths of stay, on the average, than patients in the Pavilions. The patients referred to Social Service were chiefly from the General Medical, Neurological, and Orthopedic services. The most significant factor determining who was referred to Social Service was extended “length of stay. ” Over half of the elderly receiving social services were patients whose hospital stays were thirty‐one days or longer.
Ameliorating effects of quercetin and chrysin on 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p-dioxin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

The aim of this study is to investigate the beneficial effects of the quercetin (Q) and chrysin (CH) against nephrotoxicity induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), a persistent environmental contaminant, in rats. Rats were divided randomly into six equal groups. TCDD, Q and CH were administered by gavages dissolved in corn oil at the doses of 2 µg/kg/week, 20 mg/kg/day and 50 mg/kg/day, respectively. The kidney samples were taken from all rats on day 60 for the determination of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels by spectrophotometric method. The results indicated that TCDD significantly induced lipid peroxidation and reduced antioxidant activities in rats. In contrast, Q and CH significantly prevented toxic effects of TCDD via increased GSH, CAT, GPx and SOD levels but decreased formation of TBARS. Also, it was determined that exposure to TCDD leads to significant histological damage in kidney tissue, and these effects can be eliminated with Q and CH treatment. In conclusion, the current study showed that exposure to TCDD can exert nephrotoxicity in rats. When Q and CH were given together with TCDD, they prevented nephrotoxic effects of TCDD. Their preventive effect lends more support to the role of oxidative and histological damage in the overall toxicity of TCDD.
Pharmacists' and pharmacy students' ability to identify drug-related problems using TIMER (Tool to Improve Medications in the Elderly via Review).

OBJECTIVE Determine the effectiveness of TIMER (Tool to Improve Medications in the Elderly via Review) in helping pharmacists and pharmacy students identify drug-related problems during patient medication reviews. METHODS In a randomized, controlled study design, geriatric patient cases were sent to 136 pharmacists and 108 third-year pharmacy students who were asked to identify drug related-problems (DRPs) with and without using TIMER. RESULTS Pharmacists identified more tool-related DRPs using TIMER (p = 0.027). Pharmacy students identified more tool-related DRPs using TIMER in the first case (p = 0.02), but not in the second. CONCLUSION TIMER increased the number of DRPs identified by practicing pharmacists and pharmacy students during medication reviews of hypothetical patient cases.
Intra-arterial therapies for liver cancer: assessing tumor response

ABSTRACT Introduction: Intra-arterial therapies (IATs) play an integral role in the management of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma and liver metastases. The ability to accurately assess tumor response to intra-arterial therapies is crucial for clinical management. Several one- and two-dimensional manual imaging-based response assessment techniques, based both on tumor size or enhancement, have shown to be highly subjective and merely surrogate for the actual tumor as a whole. Areas covered: Given the currently existing literature, we will discuss all available tumor assessment techniques and criteria for liver cancer with a strong emphasis on 3D quantitative imaging biomarkers of tumor response in this review. Expert commentary: The growing role of information technology in medicine has brought about the advent of software-assisted, segmentation-based assessment techniques that address the outstanding issues of a subjective reader and provide for more accurate assessment techniques for the locally treated lesions. Three-dimensional quantitative tumor assessment techniques are superior to one- and two-dimensional measurements. This allows for treatment alterations and more precise targeting, potentially resulting in improved patient outcome.
Compatible ABO mismatch and liver transplantation: a single center's experience.

OBJECTIVES The current shortage of suitable donor organs and clinical urgency can lead to implanting grafts from ABO-mismatched donors. One-year graft survival rates for patients in this scenario have been reported as ranging between 25% and 75% less than those for ABO-identical or ABOcompatible grafts. We review and compare our experiences with transplanting ABO-identical and ABO-compatible mismatched livers. MATERIALS AND METHODS Considering orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx), 520 were performed at our institution between November 1992 and May 2003, 55 of which were ABO-compatible mismatched transplants. We retrospectively reviewed the data and compared patient and graft survival rates. RESULTS Overall 1-month and 1-, 5-, and 10-year patient survival rates among identical (group 1) and mismatched (group 2) groups were 97% and 91%, 90%, and 88.5%, and 79%, and 74%, 66%, and 65%, respectively. No significant difference existed between the 2 groups (P>.05). Similarly, 1-month, and 1-, 5-, and 10-year graft survival rates among groups 1 and 2 were 96% and 87%, 89% and 83%, 78% and 71% and 66% and 59%, respectively; these were not significant either (P>.05). All of the patients in the mismatched group had a high status according to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). Only 1 person received an incompatible mismatched graft (B to A), which subsequently developed primary nonfunction. CONCLUSIONS ABO-compatible mismatch OLTx is unavoidable given the current state of organ shortage. Our results suggest that this type of OLTx can be performed with minimal risk among patients who require urgent transplantation and have high rankings according to the UNOS and the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) system.
Novel Structures and Temporal Changes of Arginine Catabolic Mobile Elements in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Genotypes ST5-MRSA-II and ST764-MRSA-II in Japan

ABSTRACT Twenty-two of 1,103 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates containing the type II staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec element (SCCmec) (collected in Hokkaido, Japan, from 2008 to 2011) harbored the arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME). Five genetic variations were identified in the ACME-staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec composite islands, 66 to 79 kb in size. The percentage of ACME carriage temporally increased from 0.85% to 4.5% in parallel with the emergence of shorter variants (66 to 72 kb). Shorter variants may have a selective advantage and accelerate the dissemination of ACME in Japanese MRSA.
Risk factors for asthmatic patients requiring intubation. I. Observations in children.

There are significant concerns regarding the increased mortality of patients with asthma. Indeed the paradox of improved pharmacotherapy but worsening prognosis has been explored in depth in several studies including observations in epidemiology, access to medical care, and drug toxicity. Because of our ability to track all admissions to a tertiary-care hospital, we attempted to define the demographic data from a population of asthmatic children admitted for asthma in order to identify risk factors for intubation. We performed a retrospective cohort study of all asthma admissions excluding patients with cystic fibrosis. This study included all asthmatics aged 5-12 years admitted over a 10-year period (1984-1994) to the University of California at Davis Medical Center, Sacramento. A total of 300 such asthma admissions were reviewed, involving 135 girls and 165 boys, mean age 7.7 +/- 2.4 years. Of this group, 166 children were black, 70 were Caucasian, 49 were Hispanic, 14 were Asian, and 1 was an American Indian. By National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guidelines, this group included 147 mild, 117 moderate, and 36 severe cases. Thirteen children required intubation for their asthma. Significant risk factors identified for children requiring intubation, compared to those who did not require intubation, were secondhand smoke exposure [odds ratio (O.R.) 22.4; 95% confidence interval (C.I.) 7.4, 68.0], psychosocial problems (O.R. 13.5; 95% C.I. 5.1, 36.0), family dysfunction (O.R. 13.0; 95% C.I. 3.9, 43.9), upper respiratory infection (O.R. 10.2; 95% C.I. 3.4, 28.1), little formal education (O.R. 8.7; 95% C.I. 2.4, 31.6), prior asthma emergency room visit in past year (O.R. 7.2; 95% C.I. 1.9, 27.1), prior asthma hospitalization in past year (O.R. 7.1; 95% C.I. 2.2, 22.2), crowding (O.R. 6.9; 95% C.I. 2.5, 19.1), low socioeconomic status (O.R. 6.5; 95% C.I. 2.1, 20.8), steroid-dependent (O.R. 3.8; 95% C.I. 1.2, 12.1), parental history of allergy or asthma (O.R. 3.4; 95% C.I. 1.1, 10.0), and language barrier (O.R. 3.3; 95% C.I. 1.1, 10.6). Nonsignificant mild risk factors included inhaled cromolyn (O.R. 2.7; 95% C.I. 0.7, 10.0), atopy (O.R. 1.9; 95% C.I. 0.6, 5.9), and prior intubation (O.R. 1.6; 95% C.I. 0.2, 13.1). These risk parameters may be important determinants of baseline risk for asthma deaths and their recognition may have a significant impact on preventive measures.
Physical activity limits pulmonary endothelial activation in sickle cell SAD mice.

To the editor: Vaso-occlusion (VOC) in sickle cell disease (SCD) results from many pathophysiological mechanisms including sickling of red blood cells, hemolysis, inflammation, vascular adhesion, and reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. [1][1] All these mechanisms interact together to trap
γ-Aminobutyric Acid Type A α4, β2, and δ Subunits Assemble to Produce More Than One Functionally Distinct Receptor Type

Native γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptors consisting of α4, β1–3, and δ subunits mediate responses to the low, tonic concentration of GABA present in the extracellular milieu. Previous studies on heterologously expressed α4βδ receptors have shown a large degree of variability in functional properties, including sensitivity to the transmitter. We studied properties of α4β2δ receptors employing free subunits and concatemeric constructs, expressed in Xenopus oocytes, HEK 293 cells, and cultured hippocampal neurons. The expression system had a strong effect on the properties of receptors containing free subunits. The midpoint of GABA activation curve was 10 nM for receptors in oocytes versus 2300 nM in HEK cells. Receptors activated by the steroid alfaxalone had an estimated maximal open probability of 0.6 in oocytes and 0.01 in HEK cells. Irrespective of the expression system, receptors resulting from combining the tandem construct β2-δ and a free α4 subunit exhibited large steroid responses. We propose that free α4, β2, and δ subunits assemble in different configurations with distinct properties in oocytes and HEK cells, and that subunit linkage can overcome the expression system-dependent preferential assembly of free subunits. Hippocampal neurons transfected with α4 and the picrotoxin-resistant δ(T269Y) subunit showed large responses to alfaxalone in the presence of picrotoxin, suggesting that α4βδ receptors may assemble in a similar configuration in neurons and oocytes.
Peritoneal fluid proteome in women with different ASRM stages of endometriosis

Objective. Endometriosis has a wide range of severity but molecular factors associated with variable extension of the disease have not been widely investigated. The present study compares the peritoneal fluid (PF) proteome of 109 women with endometriosis and different disease stage as defined by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). Methods. PF samples were subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis; protein spots of interest were identified by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Results. Over 470 protein spots were analyzed. One isoform of haptoglobin α chain, α-1b-glycoprotein and one unknown protein had higher expression in PF of women with ASRM stage I–II endometriosis. Four isoforms of α1-antitrypsin, three isoforms of α-1b-glycoprotein, one isoform of S100-A8 and serotransferrin had higher expression in PF of women with ASRM stage III–IV disease. Conclusions. Several protein isoforms have different expression in PF of women with ASRM stage I–II endometriosis than in those with ASRM stage III–IV disease; most of these molecules are involved in inflammation and immune response.
Quantitative tissue blood flow evaluation of pancreatic tumor: comparison between xenon CT technique and perfusion CT technique based on deconvolution analysis.

PURPOSE There has been one report that tissue blood flow (TBF) quantification with xenon CT was effective in predicting the therapeutic response to an anticancer drug in pancreatic cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the TBF of pancreatic tumors calculated with xenon CT and those with perfusion CT, in order to evaluate whether perfusion CT could replace xenon CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS Nine patients with pathologically proved pancreatic tumors who underwent both xenon CT and perfusion CT were included. RESULTS Quantitative TBF of pancreatic tumors measured by perfusion CT ranged from 22.1 to 196.2 ml/min/100 g (mean+/-SD, 52.6+/-54.8 ml/min/100 g). In contrast, those obtained by xenon CT ranged from 10.3 to 173.6 ml/min/100 g (mean+/-SD, 47.4+/-49.4 ml/min/100 g). There was a good linear correlation between xenon CT and perfusion CT (y=0.8537x+2.48, R2=0.895: p<0.05). CONCLUSION The TBF of pancreatic tumors measured by xenon CT and perfusion CT techniques showed a close linear correlation. We can expect that perfusion CT based on the deconvolution algorithm may replace xenon CT to predict the effect of pancreatic tumor treatment with anticancer drugs.
CHEMICAL STIMULATION OPERATIONS FOR RESERVOIR DEVELOPMENT OF THE DEEP CRYSTALLINE HDR / EGS SYSTEM AT SOULTZ-SOUS-FORÊTS ( FRANCE )

The main objective of the European HDR/EGSproject at Soultz is the installation of a geothermal pilot plant for power production by the end of 2008. After drilling of the three 5000 m deep wells to form a triplet with two producers (GPK2 and GPK3) and a central injector (GPK3), the wells were hydraulically stimulated through massive water injection. In addition to hydraulic stimulation, a series of chemical stimulation operations were undertaken to achieve increasing the performance of the wells and the nearwellbore permeability of the geothermal reservoir. Several acid systems such as hydrochloric acid (HCl), Regular Mud Acid (HCl-HF) and Organic Clay Acid (C6H8O7-HF-HBF4-NH4Cl) were injected to dissolve minerals deposits in the wellbore as well as filling materials of fractures in the vicinity of the wells. Also a high-pH chelating agent (NTA) was tested as alternative to the more usual acid treatments. Whereas acid treatments have resulted in a productivity improvement of the production wells (GPK2 and GPK4) up to 50%, almost no amelioration was obtained in the injection well GPK3. The use of chelating agents resulted in some productivity deterioration of GPK4. The results of stimulation experiments were evaluated using short-term hydraulic tests, conventional pressure transient analysis, interference pressure data, microseismic monitoring, temperature and flow logs. This combination of evaluation techniques helped in getting insight into the origin of the productivity enhancement.
Glycolipid glycosyltransferases in human embryonal carcinoma cells during retinoic acid induced differentiation.

Retinoic acid induced differentiation of TERA-2-derived human embryonal carcinoma cells is accompanied by a dramatic reduction of extended globo-series glycolipids, including galactosyl globoside, sialylgalactosyl globoside, and globo-A antigen (each recognized by specific MoAbs). Associated with these glycolipid changes, the activities of two key enzymes, alpha 1----4 galactosyltransferase (for synthesis of globotriaosyl core structure) and beta 1----3 galactosyltransferase (for synthesis of galactosyl globoside), were found to be reduced 3- to 4-fold. The latter enzyme plays a key role in the synthesis of extended globo-series structures, and its characterization has not been reported previously. Therefore, its catalytic activity was studied in detail, including substrate specificity, detergent and phospholipid effects, pH and cation requirements, and apparent Km. During retinoic acid induced differentiation, a series of Lex glycolipid antigens (recognized by anti-SSEA-1 antibody) and their core structures (lacto-series type 2 chains) increase dramatically. In parallel with these changes in glycolipid expression, the activities of two key enzymes, beta 1----3 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (for extension of lacto-series type 2 chain) and alpha 1----3 fucosyltransferase (for synthesis of Lex structure), were found to increase by 4- and 2-fold, respectively. Similarly, an increase in the expression of several gangliosides (e.g., GD3 and GT3) during retinoic acid induced differentiation was mirrored by a 4-fold increase in the activity of alpha 2----3 sialyltransferase (for synthesis of ganglio core structure, GM3). The results suggest a coordinate regulation of key glycosyltransferases involved in core structure assembly and terminal chain modification. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Adult Physical Activity Counseling by Health Professionals in Brazil: A National Urban Population Survey.

BACKGROUND Physical activity counseling is an attribution of health professionals. As such, this paper aims to analyze the receipt of this form of counseling. METHODS Cross-sectional national study interviewing 12,402 adults living in the urban area of 100 Brazilian municipalities. RESULTS Overall counseling prevalence was 30%, falling to 20% when considering only counseling provided by health professionals. Counseling was significantly more frequent among women and among individuals who were older, married, had higher socioeconomic status, were former smokers, physically active, and reporting hypertension, diabetes, and excess weight. CONCLUSIONS Little counseling was found to be done, this being a missed opportunity for health promotion. Health services and professionals therefore need to be trained and encouraged to provide adequate information to all health service users on the benefits of leading healthy lifestyles.