Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nuclear medicine and positron emission tomography imaging in cardiology.

[Received 22 IV 2003; Accepted 23 IV 2003] Myocardial perfusion abnormalities detected during either exercise or pharmacological stress are due to differential blood flow between normal and stenotic arteries. The determination of these disparities is dependent on the ability of different tracers to reflect the changes in increased blood flow produced by the stressors. All myocardial perfusion imaging agents available for clinical use have shown a linear relationship with up to approximately twofold higher than baseline. Beyond this level, there appears to be a decrease in the uptake of most agents in relation to blood flow. The plateau effect of various tracers has been demonstrated to be different. It should be considered that exercise is typically accompanied by two to threefold increase in myocardial blood flow that typically increases three to eightfold (compared with resting blood flow) in response to all pharmacological agents. Myocardial perfusion tracers available for clinical use include thallium-201 and technetium-99m (Tc-99m) labelled agents: sestamibi and tetrofosmin. The relationship between blood flow and these tracers has been widely studied. Blood flow and thallium activity shows a linear relationship to at least 3 ml/min/gm. However, at approximately 3 ml/min/gm, there appears to be a plateau effect such that, despite increases in blood flow, thallium activity does not change. The extraction fraction of sestamibi is less than thallium. Data from animal studies demonstrate a linear relationship of sestamibi uptake to approximately 2 ml/min/gm. Above this level, uptake is not linear with increasing flow. Similar data are emerging for tetrofosmin but this tracer demonstrates a plateau during stress at a blood flow level lower than that of sestamibi. Thus, thallium as well as sestamibi and tetrofosmin exhibits a plateau effect that is generally above the blood flow range of exercise or most pharmacological stress. The Tc-99m labeled tracer with the best extraction fraction (higher than thallium) is teboroxime, that has shown a linear correlation within the range of pharmacological stress. However, the rapid clearance of this tracer from the myocardium has made this agent difficult to use clinically. All these tracers have different kinetic characteristics that must be considered to maximize their clinical applications for stress imaging. Moreover, it should be also considered that in clinical imaging ideal conditions do not always exist. Despite the differences in tracer kinetic among these tracers, comparative studies involving thallium and Tc-99m labeled agents have failed to show significant differences. Several clinical studies have documented the clinical impact of thallium imaging in the detection of patients with coronary artery disease. In particuCorrespondence to: Alberto Cuocolo, MD Department of Biomorphological and Functional Sciences University Federico II Via Pansini 5, 80131 Napoli, Italy Tel: (+39 081) 746 2044, fax: (+39 081) 545 7081 e-mail: cuocolo@unina.it Nuclear medicine imaging in cardiology
Age effects on the nucleus of the lateral olfactory tract of the rat

The olfactory deficits that occur during aging influence the quality of life and have been regarded as a risk factor for malnutrition in the elderly. The nucleus of the lateral olfactory tract (nLOT) is a cortical nucleus of the pallial amygdala that has been implicated in feeding behavior. Here we present quantitative data on the anatomy of the nLOT in the adult rat and on the effects of age on its structure and neurochemistry. Total neuron numbers, neuronal volumes, and volumes of layers 1–3 of the nLOT were estimated in adult and old male rats using stereological techniques. We also estimated the total number of interneurons expressing neuropeptide Y (NPY) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), and the numerical density of the nLOT cholinergic varicosities. Our data show that aging is associated with a reduction of the total neuron numbers in the nLOT, due to cell loss in layers 2 and 3. There were no age‐related variations in neuronal volumes. Similarly, the volume of the nLOT was unchanged in aged rats, except in layer 3 where it was reduced. The numerical density of cholinergic varicosities was also unchanged in aged rats. Conversely, the total numbers of NPY‐ and VIP‐immunoreactive neurons were reduced by 55% and 30%, respectively, in aged rats. These findings include the nLOT in the list of cortical olfactory structures susceptible to aging and raise the possibility that the age‐related changes that occur in the nLOT might contribute for the decline in olfactory functions reported in normal aging. J. Comp. Neurol. 524:759–771, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Synergistic antiglioma activity of radiotherapy and enzastaurin

Radiotherapy is an essential treatment modality for malignant gliomas, but it exerts adverse effects via promotion of glioma cell invasion in experimental glioma. Furthermore, irradiation induces vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in gliomas, which is associated with poor prognosis. Here, we investigate the combination of the protein kinase C‐β inhibitor enzastaurin (ENZA) and radiotherapy in vitro and in vivo in comparison with either treatment alone.
Variations in molar enamel thickness among primates.

Because of its hardness, resistance to abrasion and its influence on crown morphology, molar enamel thickness is an important factor in adaptation of the dentition to the diet. Enamel thickness has also been discussed extensively in relation to the phylogenetic relationships among the hominoids. The aims of this study were: (1) to analyse enamel thickness/tooth size relationships among primates as a whole, and (2) to evaluate variations in enamel thickness among hominoids against the background of the other primates. We employed measures of tooth size, and of enamel thickness and quantity based on measurements of areas in longitudinal sections of 125 molars of 39 species. Among primates, there were two grades of enamel thickness, prosimians having thinner enamel for a given tooth size or body weight than anthropoids. The scaling of enamel thickness with tooth size and body weight tended to show positive allometry among anthropoids. Comparison of hominoid enamel thicknesses with that in anthropoids led to the conclusion that Hylobates has enamel of average thickness, Homo has thick enamel and Gorilla has thin enamel, while Pan and Pongo had average or thin enamel, depending on tooth type. These results may be relevant to considerations of hominoid evolution.
Accumulation and transport of cadmium by tolerant and susceptible strains of Mycobacterium scrofulaceum

Cadmium accumulation and transport were studied in two strains of Mycobacterium scrofulaceum differing in their susceptibility to Cd2+ toxicity. A 10-fold excess of either Zn2+ or Mn2+ partially antagonized inhibition of growth by Cd2+. 109Cd2+ uptake by both the tolerant and susceptible strains was temperature dependent and inhibited by a 10-fold excess of either Zn2+ or Mn2+. There were no significant differences in either the kinetics of 109Cd2+ uptake or the retention of accumulated 109Cd2+ by the tolerant and susceptible strains. Both tolerant and susceptible strains removed most of the cadmium from the culture medium, but significantly more was removed by cells of the tolerant strain. Most of the accumulated Cd2+ in the tolerant strain was in the particulate fraction, rather than in the soluble fraction. Intracellular accumulated Cd2+ was primarily in the soluble fraction of the susceptible strain. Increased Cd2+ in culture medium resulted in decreased Mn2+ and Zn2+ in cells of the susceptible strain but did not reduce the Mn2+ and Zn2+ content of cells of the tolerant strain.
Iris phenotypes and pigment dispersion caused by genes influencing pigmentation

Spontaneous mutations altering mouse coat colors have been a classic resource for discovery of numerous molecular pathways. Although often overlooked, the mouse iris is also densely pigmented and easily observed, thus representing a similarly powerful opportunity for studying pigment cell biology. Here, we present an analysis of iris phenotypes among 16 mouse strains with mutations influencing melanosomes. Many of these strains exhibit biologically and medically relevant phenotypes, including pigment dispersion, a common feature of several human ocular diseases. Pigment dispersion was identified in several strains with mutant alleles known to influence melanosomes, including beige, light, and vitiligo. Pigment dispersion was also detected in the recently arising spontaneous coat color variant, nm2798. We have identified the nm2798 mutation as a missense mutation in the Dct gene, an identical re‐occurrence of the slaty light mutation. These results suggest that dysregulated events of melanosomes can be potent contributors to the pigment dispersion phenotype. Combined, these findings illustrate the utility of studying iris phenotypes as a means of discovering new pathways, and re‐linking old ones, to processes of pigmented cells in health and disease.
Reduced hemoglobin and increased C-reactive protein are associated with upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

AIM To investigate the early upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (endoscopy) significantly reduces mortality resulting from upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. METHODS Upper GI bleeding was defined as 1a, 1b, 2a, and 2b according to the Forrest classification. The hemoglobin (Hb), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were examined at around the day of endoscopy and 3 mo prior to endoscopy. The rate of change was calculated as follows: (the result of blood examination on the day of endoscopy - the results of blood examination 3 mo prior to endoscopy)/(results of blood examination 3 mo prior to endoscopy). Receiver operating characteristic curves were created to determine threshold values. RESULTS Seventy-nine men and 77 women were enrolled. There were 17 patients with upper GI bleeding: 12 with a gastric ulcer, 3 with a duodenal ulcer, 1 with an acute gastric mucosal lesion, and 1 with gastric cancer. The area under the curve (AUC), threshold, sensitivity, and specificity of Hb around the day of endoscopy were 0.902, 11.7 g/dL, 94.1%, and 77.1%, respectively, while those of CRP were 0.722, 0.5 mg/dL, 70.5%, and 73%, respectively. The AUC, threshold, sensitivity, and specificity of the rate of change of Hb were 0.851, -21.3%, 76.4%, and 82.6%, respectively, while those of CRP were 0.901, 100%, 100%, and 82.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION Predictors for upper GI bleeding were Hb < 11.7 g/dL, reduction rate in the Hb > 21.3% and an increase in the CRP > 100%, 3 mo before endoscopy.
Soft tissue sarcomas: Preoperative versus postoperative radiotherapy

External beam radiation may be given either before or after excision of a primary soft tissue sarcoma. This study was undertaken to determine whether or not the timing of radiotherapy was associated with any difference in either local control, survival, or incidence of complications. The files of 112 patients with a primary, nonmetastatic, extremity soft tissue sarcoma, treated with limb salvage surgery and irradiation were evaluated. Data regarding tumor stage, grade, site, surgical margin, dosage and timing of radiotherapy, treatment complications, disease relapse, and relapse‐free survival (RFS) were analyzed. Kaplan‐Meier lifetable analysis was used to determine survival estimates. There was no significant difference in the 5‐year RFS between patients receiving radiotherapy (RT) preoperatively versus postoperatively; 56 ± 15% and 67 ± 12% (P = 0.12, Mantel‐Cox), respectively. There was no significant difference in the overall survival between patients receiving RT preoperatively versus postoperatively; 75 ± 15% and 79 ± 11% (P = 0.94), respectively. Actuarial local control at 5 years for preoperative versus postoperative RT patients was not statistically different; 83 ± 12% versus 91 ± 8% (P = 0.41), respectively. Wound complications were more frequent in preoperative RT patients (31%) compared to postoperative RT patients (8%) (P = 0.0014, chi‐square). Preoperative irradiation was not associated with any benefit in terms of relapse‐free survival, overall survival or actuarial local control in this series. A higher incidence of major wound complications was found among patients treated with preoperative irradiation. We recommend that patients with a resectable extremity soft tissue sarcoma be treated with postoperative irradiation, reserving preoperative irradiation for those situations in which either the tumor is initially thought to be unresectable or the original tumor boundaries are obscured. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Double strand RNA‐guided endogeneous E‐cadherin up‐regulation induces the apoptosis and inhibits proliferation of breast carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo

E‐cadherin plays a crucial role in epithelial cell–cell adhesion and in the maintenance of tissue architecture. Down‐regulation of E‐cadherin expression correlates with a strong invasive potential, resulting in poor prognosis in many human carcinomas, including breast cancer. Restoration of E‐cadherin can inhibit cell invasion and metastasis in many types of tumors. It has been demonstrated that promoter hypermethylation causes transcriptional down‐regulation of E‐cadherin. Here, using an RNAa technique specifically activating the expression of E‐cadherin through transcriptional regulation, we assessed the phenotype changes of a breast carcinoma cell line with transfection of small‐activating RNAs (saRNAs). We observed cell apoptosis, proliferation inhibition and reduction in human breast cancer migration in vitro. Animal experiment results showed that saRNA could inhibit tumor growth in vivo compared with scramble double‐small RNA (dsRNA). This study provides a new potential strategy for breast cancer therapy, and also demonstrates the potential for saRNA as a therapeutic option for enhancing tumor suppressor gene expression in breast cancer. (Cancer Sci 2010)
Optical-Bloch-equation method for cold-atom collisions: Cs loss from optical traps.

We develop an optical-Bloch-equation approach for modeling ultracold-atom collisions in optical traps. The method incorporates a molecular picture of the atomic collision, laser-field dressing of the molecular states participating in the dynamics, and decay of the population and polarization due to spontaneous emission of excited states. The last is important to incorporate because the duration of the cold collisions is longer than the excited-state lifetimes. The relative motion of the atoms during the course of the collision is treated semiclassically with corrections for the time-dependent relative motion of the atoms in the various channels. An application of the method to Cs trap loss due to fine-structure-changing collisions is presented. Good agreement with experiment is obtained.
The debate over residents' work hours.

After years of discussion, the system of training resident physicians in the United States is about to undergo substantial changes. As of July 1, 2003, more — but not all — residents will be limited to 80 hours of work per week, averaged over a four-week period.1,2 The new requirements are part of a general effort to improve the safety of patients and the working conditions and education of residents. They are also designed to forestall federal regulation that could take away some of the authority of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the organization that accredits .
Effects of Strength and Endurance Training on Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor and Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 in Humans

Blood neurotrophins like insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are discussed to mediate health benefits of physical activity in humans. The aim of the study was to analyze the training effects of moderate endurance training (Em) and strength training with high loads (Sh) on blood plasma concentrations of IGF-1 and BDNF in humans. Venous blood samples were obtained from 27 healthy students, randomly assigned to an Em, Sh, and a control group, before and after a 12-week training intervention. Sh resulted in an increase in isometric (14.5%) and dynamic (8.3%) strength of the knee extensor muscles in the Sh group and Em led to a significant increase in the endurance performance in the Em group (p<0.05). IGF-1 basal plasma concentrations decreased (p<0.05) after the intervention in all groups. There were no significant changes for BDNF. Despite specific functional adaptations induced by Em and Sh there are no correspondingly different adaptations in the basal blood concentrations of the neurotrophins IGF-1 and BDNF. Additionally, exercise per se does not result in changes in basal plasma concentrations of BDNF, suggesting that the mode of the exercise programme is a decisive factor.
Enacting Integrated Information Technology: A Human Agency Perspective

Recent perspectives on organizational change have emphasized human agency, more than technology or structure, to explain empirical outcomes resulting from the use of information technologies in organizations. Yet, newer technologies such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems continue to be associated with the agenda of organizational transformation, largely because they are assumed to constrain human action. We report an interpretive case study of an ERP system after its implementation in a large government agency. Despite the transformation agenda accompanying the new system, users initially chose to avoid using it as much as possible (inertia) and later to work around system constraints in unintended ways (reinvention). We explain the change in enactments with the concept of improvised learning, which was motivated by social influence from project leaders, "power users," and peers. Our results are consistent with arguments regarding the enactment of information technology in organizations and with temporal views of human agency. We conclude that an integrated technology like ERP, which potentially represents a "hard" constraint on human agency, can be resisted and reinvented in use.
Hepatic arterial diameter measured with US: adjunct for US diagnosis of biliary atresia.

PURPOSE To prospectively evaluate the accuracy of hepatic artery diameter and hepatic artery diameter-to-portal vein diameter ratio for ultrasonographic (US) diagnosis of biliary atresia, with cholangiographic or clinical information as reference standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS Institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained. US was performed in 68 neonates and infants with cholestatic jaundice (mean age, 61 days; male-to-female ratio, 38:30). Biliary atresia (n = 38) was confirmed with cholangiography, and hepatitis (n = 30) was diagnosed with clinical (n = 24) or cholangiographic (n = 6) findings. Diameter of the right hepatic artery was measured with US. Right hepatic artery diameter-to-right portal vein diameter ratio was measured to determine relative enlargement of the hepatic artery. As a control group, 17 neonates and infants (mean age, 67 days; male-to-female ratio, 12:5) without jaundice underwent US of the porta hepatis. Statistical analysis was performed to compare US parameters among three groups with one-way analysis of variance. Optimal cutoff values of the hepatic artery diameter and hepatic artery diameter-to-portal vein diameter ratio for biliary atresia diagnosis were obtained with receiver operating characteristic analysis. RESULTS The diameter of the right hepatic artery in biliary atresia group (1.9 mm +/- 0.4 [standard deviation]) was significantly larger than that in the hepatitis (1.4 mm +/- 0.3) and control (1.2 mm +/- 0.2) groups (P < .001). Hepatic artery diameter-to-portal vein diameter ratio in the biliary atresia group (0.52 +/- 0.12) was larger than that in hepatitis (0.40 +/- 0.07) and in control (0.40 +/- 0.10) groups (P < .001). Optimum cutoff values for diagnosis of biliary atresia were 1.5 mm (sensitivity, 92%; specificity, 87%; accuracy, 89%) for hepatic artery diameter and 0.45 for hepatic artery diameter-to-portal vein diameter ratio (sensitivity, 76%; specificity, 79%; accuracy, 78%). CONCLUSION Measurement of hepatic artery diameter can be helpful in the US diagnosis of biliary atresia.
Outcomes of trauma care at centers treating a higher proportion of older patients: The case for geriatric trauma centers

BACKGROUND The burden of injury among older patients continues to grow and accounts for a disproportionate number of trauma deaths. We wished to determine if older trauma patients have better outcomes at centers that manage a higher proportion of older trauma patients. METHODS The National Trauma Data Bank years 2007 to 2011 was used. All high-volume Level 1 and Level 2 trauma centers were included. Trauma centers were categorized by the proportion of older patients seen. Adult trauma patients were categorized as older (≥65 years) and younger adults (16–64 years). Coarsened exact matching was used to determine differences in mortality and length of stay between older and younger adults. Risk-adjusted mortality ratios by proportion of older trauma patients seen were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression models and observed-expected ratios. RESULTS A total of 1.9 million patients from 295 centers were included. Older patients accounted for one fourth of trauma visits. Matched analysis revealed that older trauma patients were 4.2 times (95% confidence interval, 3.99–4.50) more likely to die than younger patients. Older patients were 34% less likely to die if they presented at centers treating a high versus low proportion of older trauma (odds ratio, 0.66; 95% confidence interval, 0.54–0.81). These differences were independent of trauma center performance. CONCLUSION Geriatric trauma patients treated at centers that manage a higher proportion of older patients have improved outcomes. This evidence supports the potential advantage of treating older trauma patients at centers specializing in geriatric trauma. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic and epidemiologic study, level III.
Reinforcement of Vocal Correlates of Auditory Hallucinations by Auditory Feedback: A Case Study

Summary Although auditory hallucinations in schizophrenic patients are usually thought to be private events, several early writers observed vocalizations concurrent with hallucinations. The content of such vocalizations corresponded to what the voices were reported to have said. A schizophrenic patient is described whose whispers were increased to an intelligible level by the use of auditory feedback. This has implications for the self-control of hallucinations, and for neurological theories of verbal hallucinations.
Characterization of patients with recurrent ischaemic stroke using the ASCO classification

The ASCO score has the advantage of allowing a more comprehensive characterization of ischaemic stroke patients and their risk factors, as reflected in different grades of evidence of atherosclerotic changes (A), small vessel disease (S), potential cardiac (C) or other (O) sources. It might also help to characterize patients with recurrent ischaemic stroke and document the etiology of stroke recurrence as well as the further development of risk factor constellations.