Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Benefit of Music for the Reduction of Stress and Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Elective Cosmetic Surgery

Stress and anxiety are common responses to illness, hospitalization, and surgery. Increased stress and anxiety during a surgical procedure or recovery can negatively impact health outcomes, leading to longer surgical and recovery times and complications. It is believed that music implementation in the perioperative environment can reduce the stress and anxiety levels of patients. Twenty-six patients electing to have cosmetic surgery participated in this study. Fourteen were provided with preselected music during their preoperative period while 12 were not. Patients receiving the music reported 18% (P 1⁄4 0.002) less anxiety after the intervention. Heart rate and blood pressure were recorded as physiological measures of stress but no significant changes were found. Results suggest that patients waiting for surgery benefit emotionally from hearing music. This low-cost, complementary therapy has the potential to improve the experience and outcomes of patients electing to have cosmetic surgery.
Cloning, expression, and functional analysis of rhesus monkey trace amine‐associated receptor 6: Evidence for lack of monoaminergic association

Several recent studies report an association between trace amine‐associated receptor 6 (TAAR6) and susceptibility to schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder in humans. However, endogenous TAAR6 agonists and the receptor signaling profile and brain distribution remain unclear. Here, we clone TAAR6 from the rhesus monkey and use transfected cells to investigate whether this receptor interacts with brain monoamines and a psychostimulant drug to trigger cAMP signaling or extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation, while investigating its expression profile in the rhesus monkey brain. Unlike TAAR1, rhesus monkey TAAR6 did not alter cAMP levels in response to 10 μM of monoamines (dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, β‐phenylethylamine (β‐PEA), octopamine, tryptamine, and tyramine) or methamphetamine in stably transfected cells in vitro. Real‐time cell electronic sensing analysis indicated that the receptor did not alter cell impedance or change the effect of forskolin on cell impedance at exposure to 20 μM of each monoamine, suggesting a lack of either Gs or Gi‐linked signaling. Whereas κ opioid receptor activation led to ERK phosphorylation at exposure to 1 μM U69593, rhesus monkey TAAR6 had no such effect at exposure to 10 μM of monoamines or methamphetamine. Membrane and cell surface localization of TAAR6 was confirmed by immunocytochemistry, biotinylation, and Western blot testing with a TAAR6 antibody in the transfected cells. Real‐time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction amplification showed that TAAR6 mRNA was undetectable in selected rhesus monkey brain regions. Together, the data reveal that TAAR6 is unresponsive to brain monoamines and is not expressed in rhesus monkey brain monoaminergic nuclei, suggesting TAAR6 lacks direct association with brain monoaminergic neuronal function. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Polyhydroxylated fullerene derivative C60(OH)24 prevents mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage in an MPP+‐induced cellular model of Parkinson's disease

To find effective agents for Parkinson's disease (PD) prevention and therapy, we examined the protective effects of the polyhydroxylated fullerene derivative C60(OH)24 in a 1‐methyl‐4‐phenylpyridinium (MPP+)‐induced acute cellular PD model in human neuroblastoma cells and the free radical scavenging effects in this model with an electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometer. Pretreatment with C60(OH)24 at concentrations greater than 20 μM showed significant protective effects on MPP+‐induced loss in cell viability, decreases in mitochondrial function (including mitochondrial membrane potential and activities of complex I and II), and increases in the levels of reactive oxygen species and oxidative damage to DNA and proteins. In addition, C60(OH)24 acts as a phase 2 enzyme inducer to protect cells from MPP+‐induced decreases in expression of nuclear factor‐E2‐related factor 2, expression and activity of γ‐glutamyl cysteine ligase and level of glutathione. The ESR study showed that C60(OH)24 is a powerful radical scavenger for superoxide, hydroxyl, and lipid radicals. These data suggest that C60(OH)24 is a mitochondrial protective antioxidant with direct radical scavenging activity and indirect antioxidant inducing activity. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Oral innate immunity in HIV infection in HAART era.

Oral innate immunity, an important component in host defense and immune surveillance in the oral cavity, plays a crucial role in the regulation of oral health. As part of the innate immune system, epithelial cells lining oral mucosal surfaces not only provide a physical barrier but also produce different antimicrobial peptides, including human β-defensins (hBDs), secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), and various cytokines. These innate immune mediators help in maintaining oral homeostasis. When they are impaired either by local or systemic causes, various oral infections and malignancies may be developed. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and other co-infections appear to have both direct and indirect effects on systemic and local innate immunity leading to the development of oral opportunistic infections and malignancies. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the standard treatment of HIV infection, contributed to a global reduction of HIV-associated oral lesions. However, prolonged use of HAART may lead to adverse effects on the oral innate immunity resulting in the relapse of oral lesions. This review article focused on the roles of oral innate immunity in HIV infection in HAART era. The following five key questions were addressed: (i) What are the roles of oral innate immunity in health and disease? , (ii) What are the effects of HIV infection on oral innate immunity? , (iii) What are the roles of oral innate immunity against other co-infections? , (iv) What are the effects of HAART on oral innate immunity? , and (v) Is oral innate immunity enhanced by HAART?
Pattern of serum total alkaline phosphatase activity in different stages of normal third trimester pregnancy in Zaria, Northern Nigeria

Background: There are reports from many parts of the world on the increased activity of serum total alkaline phosphatase (TALP) in pregnant women, especially during the last half of pregnancy. There is no such documented finding in this environment. There is the need to determine the serum TALP activity in different stages of normal 3 rd trimester pregnancy in Zaria to allow for proper interpretation of this analyte at this stage of pregnancy. Subjects and Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study carried out among 100 healthy pregnant women in their 3 rd trimester. They were randomly selected from the antenatal clinic of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria. Serum TALP activity was measured using the 4-Nitrophenylphosphate (4-NPP) method. Socio-demographic and obstetrics characteristics were obtained using an administered questionnaire. Microsoft Excel (Microsoft office, 2003) was used for data analysis. Distributions of ALP activities were found to be skewed; hence, non-parametric analyses using percentiles were used in measuring the variation. A P-value of equal to or less than 0.05 (P ≤ 0.05) was considered as statistically significant. Results: The serum TALP activity in normal 3 rd trimester pregnancy was found to be higher when compared to the normal population, with a gradual increase with advancing gestational age. Subjects in the gestational age group of 28 to 30 weeks had a serum TALP activity of 46-138 IU/L, with a continuous increase of up to 213 IU/L at 39 weeks of gestation. A sudden drop in activity was observed at the gestational age of 40 weeks and above. The overall serum TALP activity in normal 3 rd trimester pregnancy was found to be 41-206 IU/L. Conclusion: A higher serum TALP activity for normal 3 rd trimester pregnancy was confirmed for this environment, as has been found elsewhere. There is the need to interpret serum TALP activity in pregnancy with caution.
Effect of an Improved Yasutomi Pressure-Viscosity Relationship on the Elastohydrodynamic Line Contact Problem

This paper presents the application of an improved Yasutomi correlation for lubricant viscosity at high pressure in a Newtonian elastohydrodynamic line contact simulation. According to recent experimental studies using high pressure viscometers, the Yasutomi pressure-viscosity relationship derived from the free-volume model closely represents the real lubricant piezoviscous behavior for the high pressure typically encountered in elastohydrodynamic applications. However, the original Yasutomi correlation suffers from the appearance of a zero in the function describing the pressure dependence of the relative free volume thermal expansivity. In order to overcome this drawback, a new formulation of the Yasutomi relation was recently developed by Bair et al. This new function removes these concerns and provides improved precision without the need for an equation of state. Numerical simulations have been performed using the improved Yasutomi model to predict the lubricant pressure-viscosity, the pressure distribution, and the film thickness behavior in a Newtonian EHL simulation of a squalane-lubricated line contact. This work also shows that this model yields a higher viscosity at the low-pressure area, which results in a larger central film thickness compared with the previous piezoviscous relations.
A Na+/Ca2+ exchanger isoform, NCX1, is involved in retinal cell death after N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate injection and ischemia–reperfusion

We investigated the expression of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) and the functional role of NCX in retinal damage by using NCX1‐heterozygous deficient mice (NCX1+/−) and SEA0400 (2‐[4‐[(2,5‐difluorophenyl)methoxy] phenoxy]‐5‐ethoxyaniline), a selective NCX inhibitor in vivo. We also examined the role of NCX in oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD) stress with a retinal ganglion cell line (RGC‐5) cell culture in vitro. The expression of NCX1 was confirmed and entirely localized in retina by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry, respectively. NCX1+/− mice possessed significant protection against retinal damage induced by intravitreal injection of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA). SEA0400 at 3 and 10 mg/kg significantly reduced NMDA‐ or high intraocular pressure–induced retinal cell damage in mice. Furthermore, SEA0400 reduced the number of TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick‐end labeling)‐positive cells and the expression of phosphorylated mitogen‐activated protein kinases (ERK1/2, JNK, p38) induced by NMDA injection. In RGC‐5, SEA0400 at 0.3 and 1 μM significantly inhibited OGD‐induced cell damage. OGD‐induced cell damage was aggravated by ouabain (a Na+,K+‐ATPase inhibitor) at 100 μM, and this increased damage was significantly reduced by SEA0400 at 1 μM. In conclusion, these results suggest that NCX1 may play a role in retinal cell death induced by NMDA and ischemia–reperfusion. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Study of Knowledge, Awareness and Practices of Infection Control among ICU Staff of a Multispecialty Tertiary Level Teaching Institute of North India

Hospital infections are one of the important factors that adversely affect the image and economy of hospitals and ICU is a hotspot of infections. A descriptive and observational study was conducted in ICUs of a Multispecialty Hospital to analyze the knowledge, awareness and practices among staff about infection control.The study was based on checklist based on Ventilator Bundles and Central Line Bundles (IHI) and WHO. Whole staff of ICU was taken as sample size. A significant gap was noticed between actual practices followed and staff know-how. More than 80 per cent of staff was aware of hand hygiene moments and hand washing steps, but less than 25 per cent actually practised it. While 86 per cent of the staff claimed to wear fresh gloves, 57 per cent (239/418 observations) wore in practice. While 68 per cent claimed to follow oral care protocol, only 44 per cent actually did it. Contrary to 67 per cent who responded that they elevate the head of a patient who requires it, 49 per cent did it. And, 57 per cent of the staff followed catheter care practices as per protocol. Lack of accountability, discipline and focus on curative aspects accounts for poor performance towards infection control practices. So, through open communication, regular trainings and self-accountability, infection control standards and patient safety can be achieved.
Reliability of the Cervical Range of Motion (CROM) Device and Plumb-Line Techniques in Measuring Resting Head Posture (RHP)

Abstract Background: Individuals with forward head posture (FHP) and related postural abnormalities are at increased risk for various musculoskeletal and/or neurovascular related cervical pathologies. The Cervical Range Of Motion (CROM) device has shown to be a reliable tool in measuring total cervical range of motion (ROM) and upper cervical flexion and extension. However, the CROM has yet to be used to evaluate reliability in measuring resting head posture (RHP). Purpose: This study compared reliability of RHP measurements using the CROM instrument with that of a plumb-line measurement. Method: A convenience sample of 122 healthy volunteers (80 women and 42 men, ages 18 to 60 years) was obtained via classroom announcement from the University of Massachusetts Lowell student body. All subjects were screened for cranial, cervical, and/or upper thoracic dysfunction. Both testers performed two CROM and two plumb-line measurements. Results: Moderate intra-tester reliability was demonstrated for measuring RHP using the CROM instrument (ICCs = 0.774, 0.775), whereas high intra-tester reliability was observed using the plumb-line technique (ICCs = 0.830, 0.846). Moderate inter-tester reliability was found for CROM measurement (ICCs = 0.675, 0.723) and the plumb-line technique (ICCs = 0.738, 0.781). Conclusion: Reliable measures of RHP can be obtained using either the CROM device or plumb-line technique.
Prostaglandin EP2 and EP4 receptor agonists in bone formation and bone healing: In vivo and in vitro evidence

Background: Using agonists that selectively stimulate PGE2 receptors, the adverse effects that have limited the clinical utility of PGE2 can be avoided and there may be potential for their use as therapeutic agents in the treatment of bone loss in humans. Objective: A comprehensive review of the recent literature on the effect of prostaglandins and their agonists on bone mineral density and fracture healing. Methods: In vitro and in vivo evidence was collected using medical search engines MEDLINE® (1950 to March 2008) and EMBASE (1980 to March 2008) databases. Results/conclusion: EP4 receptors have been identified in human osteoblast cell lines and have also been shown to activate osteoblast directly and osteoclast indirectly via osteoblastic activation. Although there are strong in vitro and in vivo collective data indicating that EP2 receptors may have a role in mediating the anabolic effects of PGE2 on bone, to date no functional EP2 receptors have been identified on human osteoblasts or osteoclasts. This suggests that PGE2 effect on bone formation and resorption in humans may be governed by activation of the EP4 receptor on osteoblasts. Selective EP4 receptor agonists may therefore provide therapeutic potential for systemic use in the treatment of osteoporosis and fracture healing. Further studies need to be carried out in order fully elicit the role of EP2 receptor agonists in fracture healing and bone formation in humans.
The Efficacy and Tolerability of Mycophenolate Mofetil in Treating Neuromyelitis Optica and Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder in Western China

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) or NMO spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in western China. MethodsWe enrolled 90 patients with NMO or NMOSD who had received MMF between January 1, 2010, and June 15, 2015. ResultsOf 90 patients, 62 (4 men and 58 women; aged 44.6 [11.5] years) were included in the study. After being treated for a median of 1.5 years (range, 0.5–4.1 years), the median annualized relapse rate for these 62 patients decreased from 1.2 (range, 0.2–7.0) pre-MMF to 0 (range, 0–1.7) post-MMF (P = 0.000), and the median Expanded Disability Status Scale score decreased from 4 (range, 0.5–8.0) pre-MMF to 2 (range, 0.5–7.5) post-MMF (P = 0.000). Thirty-six of the 62 patients were relapse free during MMF treatment. In the Cox regression, none of the following were identified as risk factors: disease duration, pre-MMF annualized relapse rate and Expanded Disability Status Scale, sex, concurrent use of prednisolone during MMF treatment, previous use of other immunosuppressive therapies (other than chronic prednisolone), and abnormal autoantibodies (other than NMO-IgG). However, serum NMO-IgG positivity (hazard ratio [HR], 11.408; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.330–97.833; P = 0.026) and older age at onset (HR, 0.957; 95% CI, 0.917–0.999; P = 0.043) were significant risk factors. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated a lower risk of relapse during MMF treatment relative to the pre-MMF period (HR, 0.439; 95% CI, 0.272–0.707; P = 0.001). None of the 62 patients discontinued MMF because of adverse effects. ConclusionsMycophenolate mofetil is an effective and tolerable agent for reducing relapse and improving or stabilizing disabilities resulting from NMO or NMOSD.
Effects of escitalopram on the regulation of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor protein levels in a rat model of chronic stress

Escitalopram (ES‐CIT) is a widely used, highly specific antidepressant. Until now there has been very little evidence on how this drug under pathological conditions affects an important feature within the pathophysiology of stress‐related disorders such as depression: the endogenous neurotrophins. By using a well‐characterized rat model in which chronic stress induces depressive‐like behavior, the levels of neurotrophins brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) were determined in representative brain regions and serum using a highly sensitive improved fluorometric two‐site ELISA system. There was a significant increase of BDNF in the left and right cortices after stress treatment (twofold increase) that was reversed by application of ES‐CIT. An ES‐CIT‐dependent NGF reduction in stressed rats was detectable in the right cortex only (P = 0.027). The left hippocampus revealed significantly higher amounts of BDNF (2.5‐fold increase) protein than the right hippocampus. These interhemispheric differences were unrelated to stress or ES‐CIT treatment in all animals. BDNF and NGF of the frontal cortex, cerebellum, and serum did not change between the study groups. There was a negative correlation between body weight and serum BDNF, independent of stress or ES‐CIT treatment. In conclusion, BDNF and NGF show substantial changes in this rodent model of chronic social stress, which is susceptible to antidepressant treatment with ES‐CIT and therefore may constitute a neurobiological correlate for the disease. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Current update on the diagnosis and management of head and neck hard tissue sarcomas

Head and neck hard tissue sarcomas form a rare group of mesenchymal-derived tumours that comprise less than 1% of all head and neck neoplasms. Hard tissue sarcomas account for 20% of head and neck sarcomas and they form a heterogeneous group with a diverse origin. Unlike head and neck soft-tissue sarcomas, they have lower recurrence and mortality rates. In this study, we review the current management of head and neck hard tissue sarcomas.
Ki67, CD105, and &agr;‐SMA expressions better relate the binary oral epithelial dysplasia grading system of World Health Organization

BACKGROUND The binary system of oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) has never been investigated with reference to the carcinogenesis-related biomarkers. Hence, Ki67, CD105, and α-SMA immune-expressions were studied in oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) to assess their relationship with the binary OED grading system of World Health Organization. METHODS The study was carried out on paraffin-embedded tissues of 30 normal oral mucosa (NOM) and 140 OPMD cases. OPMD cases were classified into two groups "no/questionable/hyperkeratosis/mild"=low-risk epithelial dysplasia (LRED) and "moderate or severe"=high-risk epithelial dysplasia (HRED). The immunohistochemistry was carried out to evaluate the expression of Ki67, CD 105, and α-SMA antigen. RESULTS According to the binary grading system of WHO, 69 (49.28%) cases were LRED, while 71 (50.71%) case showed HRED. There was significant increase in Ki67 labeling index (LI) from NOM to LRED to HRED (P=.000). Similarly, mean vascular density (MVD) also increased significantly from NOM to LRED to HRED (P=.000). The α-SMA expression was significantly higher in HERD compared to LRED and NOM (P=.000). A positive correlation was noted among Ki67 LI, MVD, and α-SMA expressions in NOM, LRED, and HRED (P=.000). CONCLUSION The expressions of ki67, CD105, and α-SMA markers compliment binary grading system of OED in OPMDS, thus justifying its use in clinical practice.
Good deaths, bad deaths: Older people's assessments of the risks and benefits of morphine and terminal sedation in end-of-life care

Little is known about end-of-life preferences or how risks are assessed surrounding doctor-patient or doctor-family relationships during end-of-life decision making. Older people are often excluded from end-of-life care research although there is some evidence that most would express preferences for 'comfort care' rather than life-sustaining interventions if facing terminal illness. This paper draws on data from focus group discussions with older people to illuminate how interpersonal and bodily aspects of the dying process are associated with shifting evaluations of two core techniques of palliative care: morphine administration and terminal sedation. Participants understood an idealised death to be that in which morphine administration and terminal sedation serve to provide dying people with an easy, comfortable and quiet death. In this, bodily symptoms of distress are discreetly controlled and death occurs at an appropriate time and place. At the same time the role of medicine in procuring an idealised death is linked to profound concerns about new risks that flow from the intermarriage of medical science with the basic human obligation of providing compassionate care to those who are dying.