Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hormonal, renal, and autonomic nerve factors involved in the excretion of sodium and water during dynamic salt and water loading in hypoxaemic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND Some patients with hypoxaemic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) develop sodium and water retention and a subclinical autonomic neuropathy. The possibility that these might be associated has been investigated. METHODS The ability of 24 patients with COPD to excrete a 6 ml/kg 2.7% intravenous saline or 15 ml/kg oral water load was studied and changes in plasma electrolyte levels, osmolality, plasma aldosterone and vasopressin levels, urinary volume and sodium content, glomerular filtration rate, renal blood flow, and cardiovascular autonomic nerve function were measured. Patients were divided into groups of eight: those in group A (controls) had mild COPD with a Pa02 of > 9 kPa and no oedema, patients in group B were more hypoxaemic but had never been oedematous, whilst those in group C were hypoxaemic and mildly oedematous at the time of the study. RESULTS Patients in groups B and C excreted less sodium and water during saline loading and a lesser proportion of the water load. Patients in group C had a reduction in renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate and all had a subclinical autonomic neuropathy, which was also found in three patients in group B. Their plasma aldosterone level was raised but did suppress appropriately on saline loading. Vasopressin levels were abnormally raised for the osmolality in patients in group C and in those with autonomic dysfunction throughout the water load and at 240 minutes after the salt load. Sodium and urine excretion was highly correlated with autonomic dysfunction, aldosterone levels at time zero, and renal blood flow. The 11 patients with autonomic dysfunction were more likely to be oedematous, more hypoxaemic, excreted much less urine and sodium, had lower glomerular filtration rate and renal blood flow, and higher aldosterone and vasopressin levels than the remaining patients. CONCLUSIONS In patients with COPD the inability to excrete sodium and water is multifactorial. This is the first study to show that autonomic dysfunction is at least associated and might play an important part in the impaired sodium and water homeostasis seen in patients with severe COPD.
Changing Patterns of Initial Drug Therapy for the Treatment of Hypertension in a Medicaid Population, 2001–2005

Thiazide diuretics have been recommended as one preferred choice for the initial treatment of hypertension. This study was undertaken to determine whether Maine physicians initiating monotherapy for newly diagnosed hypertensive patients from 2001–2005 used this guideline. The Maine Medicaid database was searched for the drug classes used to initiate monotherapy for patients followed for at least 6 months. A total of 5373 patients were included. In 2001, the use of β‐blockers was 23.5%, diuretics 17.5%, angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors 37.5%, calcium channel blockers 9.5%, angiotensin receptor blockers 3.8%, and others 8.2%. By 2005, the use of β‐blockers was 27.8%, diuretics 25.5%, angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors 30.9%, calcium channel blockers 6.4%, angiotensin receptor blockers 1.6%, and others 7.7%. There was an increase in the use of angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers in diabetics but no other condition affected drug choice. Although there was an increase in the use of diuretics as initial therapy in 2003 and 2004, this decreased in 2005. The increase in initial diuretic use was not reflected in patterns of ongoing antihy per tensive use from 1997 to 2005. There appears to have been limited impact from the guidelines on initial drug choice and even less so on ongoing drug therapy.
Radiographic analysis of the transcrestal sinus floor elevation: short-term observations.

BACKGROUND There are some limitations for implant placement in the posterior maxilla when there is an extended sinus. Various techniques for sinus floor elevation allow an increase in implant length. PURPOSE The aim of the present radiographic study was to assess the augmented site in the sinus around implants that were installed by means of an osteotome-mediated transcrestal sinus floor elevation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-three patients with 44 implants were available. In 39% of the implants the sinus floor elevation was performed exclusively with bone chips. Bone fill material (Bio-Oss, Geistlich Söhne AG, Wolhusen, Switzerland) was additionally used to increase the volume and stability of the lifted area at 61% of the implants. The visibility and morphology of the augmentation were assessed and compared by means of intraoral radiography (long-cone technique). RESULTS All implants were stable and were considered to be successful when they were reexamined in the context of the present study. The mean residual bone height was 5.78 +/- 1.4 mm. The increase of the implant length as compared to the original bone height resulted in a mean value of 3.87 +/- 2.0 mm. The volume and density of the lifted area were more visible if Bio-Oss was added. A shrinkage and/or condensation of the grafted material was visible at 37% of the implants after a minimum loaded period of 200 days. Equally, a decreased visibility of the original sinus floor was noted at 61% of implants. The formation of a cortical bone layer at the apex of the implants was detected at 35% of implants. CONCLUSIONS The surgical procedure appears to be a safe method with rare complications. Radiographic assessment of the augmentation procedure proved to be difficult, and measurements are not fully reliable.
Polymethylmethacrylate Facial Implant: A Successful Personal Experience in Brazil for More Than 9 Years

BACKGROUND Synthetic permanent fillers for soft‐tissue augmentation have acquired an important role in cosmetic improvement of patients with facial aging, facial atrophic scars, or lipoatrophy leading to facial defects. Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is a filler introduced to the market as one option for long‐lasting treatment. PMMA microspheres are purified, and the particles are larger than 20 μm. The product used as a filler has proven to be safe, effective, and long lasting. OBJECTIVE To determine the efficacy and safety of PMMA as a facial filler. METHODS Two hundred sixty‐six patients (aged 17–72; 154 women) received injections of PMMA to correct facial defects. The number of sessions ranged from one to four, with an interval of 40 to 60 days between applications. RESULTS Seventy‐nine subjects (30%) had facial atrophy related to HIV infection, 159 (60%) had photoaging signs with deep wrinkles and atrophic areas, 25 (9%) had depressive scars from acne process, and three (1%) had residual depressions from lupus profundus. The results were satisfactory and long lasting. Side effects were transient. No late complications were observed. CONCLUSION PMMA used for the treatment of atrophy, depressions, and facial wrinkles has been shown to be effective, long lasting, safe, and gratifying to patients and physicians. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.
Exploring Neural Text Simplification Models

We present the first attempt at using sequence to sequence neural networks to model text simplification (TS). Unlike the previously proposed automated TS systems, our neural text simplification (NTS) systems are able to simultaneously perform lexical simplification and content reduction. An extensive human evaluation of the output has shown that NTS systems achieve almost perfect grammaticality and meaning preservation of output sentences and higher level of simplification than the state-of-the-art automated TS systems
PENGARUH SIKAP DAN KESADARAN WAJIB PAJAK TERHADAP KEPATUHAN WAJIB PAJAK BUMI DAN BANGUNAN DI KELURAHAN TARA-TARA KOTA TOMOHON

Pajak bumi dan bangunan merupakan jenis pajak yang sangat potensial dan strategis sebagai sumber penghasilan negara dalam rangka membiayai penyelenggaraan pemerintahan dan pembangunan. Sistem pemungutan pajak Indonesia adalah s elf a ssesment s ystem . Dalam pelaksanaan sistem tersebut, wajib pajak dituntut keaktifannya. Tujuan penelitian untuk menganalisis pengaruh sikap dan kesadaran wajib pajak terhadap kepatuhan wajib pajak dalam membayar pajak bumi dan bangunan secara parsial maupun simultan. Metode yang digunakan adalah asosiatif untuk mengetahui hubungan antar variabel dengan teknik analisis regresi berganda. Hasil penelitian menunjukan sikap dan kesadaran wajib pajak memiliki pengaruh yang signifikan terhadap kepatuhan wajib pajak secara simultan. Pimpinan kantor pelayanan pajak Tomohon sebaiknya meningkatkan kinerja dan pelayanan pajak agar berdampak positif dalam memenuhi kewajiban dan kepatuhan perpajakan. Kata kunci: pajak bumi dan bangunan, perpajakan, wajib pajak, kepatuhan
Large-artery elastic properties in young men : relationships to serum lipoproteins and oxidized low-density lipoproteins.

Measures of arterial elasticity have been proposed as surrogate markers for asymptomatic atherosclerosis. We investigated the relations of serum lipoproteins, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), and familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) to arterial elasticity among young men. As a marker of arterial elasticity we measured compliance in the thoracic aorta by using magnetic resonance imaging and in the common carotid artery by using ultrasound. LDL diene conjugation was used as a marker of ox-LDL. In study I, 25 healthy men (aged 29 to 39) were classified into 2 extreme groups according to previously measured high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to total cholesterol ratio (HDL-C/TC ratio). In study II, the healthy men were used as controls for 10 age matched asymptomatic patients with FH. In healthy men, the group with low HDL-C/TC ratio had decreased carotid artery compliance (2. 3+/-0.4% versus 1.9+/-0.5%/10 mm Hg, P=0.034). In univariate analysis, the compliance of the carotid artery associated with ox-LDL (r =-0.49, P=0.016) and HDL-C/TC ratio (r=0.41, P=0.040). In multivariate regression analyses, ox-LDL was the only independent determinant for compliance of the carotid artery (P=0.016). Aortic elasticity was not related to standard lipid variables, but the compliance of the ascending aorta associated with ox-LDL (r=-0.44, P=0.030). In FH patients, arterial elasticity was similar to that in controls. We conclude that elasticity of the common carotid artery is affected by serum lipid profile in young men. The current study demonstrates for the first time an in vivo association between ox-LDL and arterial elasticity suggesting that oxidative modification of LDL may play a role in the alteration of arterial wall elastic properties.
Tissue Engineering--Current Challenges and Expanding Opportunities

Tissue engineering can be used to restore, maintain, or enhance tissues and organs. The potential impact of this field, however, is far broader—in the future, engineered tissues could reduce the need for organ replacement, and could greatly accelerate the development of new drugs that may cure patients, eliminating the need for organ transplants altogether.
In vivo determination of the effect of shoulder pads on tackling forces in rugby

Abstract Tackling in rugby is now a major cause of injury. The use of rugby shoulder pads is intended to reduce injury from front-on tackles, although the pad's ability to reduce injury has not been examined. This paper strives to present a novel method, using Tekscan sensors, for measuring in vivo impact intensities during a front-on tackle to assess the effectiveness of rugby shoulder padding in reducing peak force during impact. It was hypothesized that padding would not significantly reduce peak impact force. Rugby pads were instrumented with thin film force sensors to measure impact intensities during tackles with and without pads. Sensors were first statically then dynamically calibrated using force plate data. Results showed that the pad significantly reduced peak impact force by up to 35% when impacted with an object and by 40% overall for all tackles. The hypothesis that the shoulder pad could not significantly reduce peak force at impact was rejected, since the pad reduced peak force by 41% in tackles with a run-up and 40% overall for all tackles. However, this reduction in force was localized directly above the acromioclavicular joint, while forces in the surrounding areas were not reduced.
RECALCITRANT POST-SURGICAL NEUROPATHY OF THE ULNAR NERVE AT THE ELBOW: TREATMENT WITH AUTOGENOUS SAPHENOUS VEIN WRAPPING

Surgical decompression or transposition is generally efficacious for cubital tunnel syndrome. However, recurrence is not rare and its management is both challenging and difficult. Four patients with refractory cubital tunnel syndrome were operated on with the vein-wrapping technique, using the autologous saphenous vein. A total of 16 operative procedures were performed on these patients prior to wrapping the ulnar nerve with a saphenous vein graft. The mean patient age was 43 years (range: 30 to 54 years) and the mean follow-up was 34 months (range: 24 to 44 months). All patients reported significant pain relief and improvement in sensation. Two-point discrimination and EMG findings also improved. This is the first study reporting long-term results of the vein-wrapping technique for the treatment of recalcitrant cubital tunnel syndrome.
The intermediate stage and paradoxical sleep in the rat: influence of three generations of hypnotics

Paradoxical sleep in the rat, cat and mouse is preceded and sometimes followed by a short‐lasting intermediate stage characterized by high‐amplitude anterior cortex spindles and low‐frequency hippocampal theta rhythm. Several neurophysiological arguments suggest that the intermediate stage corresponds to a brief functional disconnection of the forebrain from the brainstem. This paper is devoted to the review of quantitative and qualitative influences of three generations of hypnotics on the intermediate stage–paradoxical sleep couple. Barbiturates, first‐generation hypnotics, extend the intermediate stage at the expense of paradoxical sleep. Three benzodiazepines are compared, two with a short half‐life (triazolam and midazolam) and one with a long half‐life (diazepam). They also decrease sleep occurrence latency and increase the intermediate stage at the expense of paradoxical sleep, except for midazolam, which increases both the intermediate stage and paradoxical sleep at low dose. Zolpidem and zopiclone, hypnotics of third generation, decrease paradoxical sleep but the intermediate stage never substitutes for paradoxical sleep. The results are discussed in relationship to the functional aspects of this turning‐point period of sleep.
Animal models for the study of the developmental origins of health and disease

Human epidemiological studies have indicated that the risk of developing non-communicable diseases in later life may be related to exposures during the developmental period. Developmental life is a vulnerable period of the lifespan during which adverse environmental factors have the potential to disturb the processes of cell proliferation and differentiation or to alter patterns of epigenetic remodelling. Animal models have been instrumental in demonstrating the biological plausibility of the associations observed in human populations, providing proof of principle to the theory of the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD). A variety of large- and small-animal models have made important contributions to the field, providing strong evidence of a causal relationship between early-life exposures and metabolic risk factors in later life. Studies of animal models are continuing to contribute to improving the understanding of the mechanisms of the developmental origins of disease. All models have their advantages and disadvantages, and the model that is most appropriate for any particular study is hypotheses dependent. The present review aims to briefly summarise the contributions that animal models have made to the DOHaD field, before reviewing the strengths and weaknesses of these animal models. It is proposed that the integration of evidence from a variety of different models is required for the advancement of understanding within the field.
Locations of hook-associated proteins in flagellar structures of Salmonella typhimurium

Hooks of the flagella of Salmonella typhimurium were purified from an flaL mutant. Hook-associated proteins, namely HAP1, HAP2, and HAP3, were separated from them, and the antibody against each HAP was prepared. By immunoelectron microscopic observation, these three kinds of antiHAP antibodies were found to bind on the distal ends of hooks of filamentless mutants consistently with their composition of HAPs. The antiHAP2 antibody bound to the very tops of the claw-shaped ends of the hooks which contain all three HAPS. The antibodies against HAP1 and HAP3 bound to the basal areas and the middle areas, respectively, of the claw-shaped ends. The order of disassembly of the component proteins by heat treatment of the hook structure from the filamentless mutants was (HAP2, HAP3) greater than HAP1 greater than hook protein. These observations were consistent with our layered structure model: HAP1, HAP3, and HAP2 are assembled at the distal end of the hook in this sequence. All three HAPs were detected in the hook-filament complexes prepared from a flagellate strain. When the hook-filament structure was treated with antibody against HAP1 and with the anti-rabbit immunoglobulin G antibody, the antibody aggregate was observed in the region corresponding to the boundary between filament and hook. This observation strongly suggests that HAP1 is the protein connecting filament with hook. The locations of HAP2 and HAP3 in the hook-filament structure were not clarified with the same procedure.
Expression of an Nkx3.1‐CRE gene using ROSA26 reporter mice

The genetic locus of Nkx3.1, an early murine marker of sclerotome and prostate development, was disrupted by a knock in of CRE recombinase via homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells. Cell fate mapping revealed previously unidentified cell lineages expanded from Nkx3.1‐expressing cell populations and recapitulated reported Nkx3.1 expression patterns. In lineage trace experiments of E18.5 Nkx3.1‐CRE; R26R embryos novel staining was observed in areas of the lungs, portions of the duodenum, and vertebral elements of the skeleton. β‐galactosidase activity measured in Nkx3.1‐CRE; R26R and Nkx3.2‐CRE; R26R embryos was observed in overlapping regions of the sclerotome but no apparent change in Nkx3.1 expression was seen in the Nkx3.2 mutants by in situ hybridization. genesis 44:550–555, 2006 Published 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Gene Expression–Based Recurrence Prediction of Hepatitis B Virus–Related Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Purpose: The poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is, in part, due to the high rate of recurrence even after “curative resection” of tumors. Therefore, it is axiomatic that the development of an effective prognostic prediction model for HCC recurrence after surgery would, at minimum, help to identify in advance those who would most benefit from the treatment, and at best, provide new therapeutic strategies for patients with a high risk of early recurrence. Experimental Design: For the prediction of the recurrence time in patients with HCC, gene expression profiles were generated in 65 HCC patients with hepatitis B infections. Result: Recurrence-associated gene expression signatures successfully discriminated between patients at high-risk and low-risk of early recurrence (P = 1.9 × 10−6, log-rank test). To test the consistency and robustness of the recurrence signature, we validated its prognostic power in an independent HCC microarray data set. CD24 was identified as a putative biomarker for the prediction of early recurrence. Genetic network analysis suggested that SP1 and peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor-α might have regulatory roles for the early recurrence of HCC. Conclusion: We have identified a gene expression signature that effectively predicted early recurrence of HCC independent of microarray platforms and cohorts, and provided novel biological insights into the mechanisms of tumor recurrence.
Gender and disease

In this issue of Acta Paediatrica there is a paper on hospitalization of children under age 15 in the Barcelona area providing salient evidence that boys are hospitalized more often than girls. What are the reasons for this difference? The authors are wise enough to be rather vague about this. Reviews of current scientific literature may offer some explanations. Two main lines of reasoning are possible. There may be biological differences indicating that boys are more vulnerable to disease; or northern Spanish culture including that of the medical community may value boys more highly and give them preferential medical treatment. Perhaps people in most cultures value boys more highly and apply for medical care earlier or for slighter symptoms than in girls. A well-known example of such preferential treatment comes from China where more female foetuses are voluntarily aborted than male ones since families prefer to have sons when they are allowed only one child per family. Similar trends can also be noted in western societies today including Sweden according to daily newspapers. (excerpt)
Review of Occupational Hazards Associated With Aquaculture

ABSTRACT Aquaculture is an emerging sector that is associated with most of the same hazards that are present in agriculture generally, but many fish farming tasks entail added danger, including working around water and working at night. Comprehensive studies of these hazards have not been conducted, and substantial uncertainty exists as to the extent of these hazards. The question addressed in this investigation was, “What is known about potential hazardous occupational exposures to aquatic plant and animal farmers? ” In this review, causes of death included drowning, electrocution, crushing-related injury, hydrogen sulfide poisoning, and fatal head injury. Nonfatal injuries were associated with slips, trips, and falls; machines; strains and sprains; chemicals; and fires. Risk factors included cranes (tip over and power line contact), tractors and sprayer-equipped all-terrain vehicles (overturn), heavy loads (lifting), high-pressure sprayers, slippery surfaces, rotting waste (hydrogen sulfide production), eroding levees (overturn hazard), storm-related rushing water, diving conditions (bends and drowning), nighttime conditions, working alone, lack of training, lack of or failure to use personal flotation devices, and all-terrain vehicle speeding. Other hazards included punctures or cuts from fish teeth or spines, needlesticks, exposure to low temperatures, and bacterial and parasitic infections .
Biochemical Identification of Dynein-ATPase Activity in Human Sperm

Dynein-ATPase is the intracellular motor for sperm motility. In the present work we assayed the dynein-ATPase activity in an axoneme-containing fraction of human sperm, free of plasma membranes, in normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic donors. Axonemecontaining fractions were isolated from semen samples obtained from healthy donors with either normozoospermia or asthenozoospermia, as indicated by a sperm motility lower than 50% (WHO grade a + b). The dynein-ATPase activity was assayed and partially characterized. The dynein-ATPase activity in the axoneme-containing fractions was identified as Mg2+-dependent ATPase activity inhibited by 10 μM vanadate. This inhibition was not seen when the assay was done in the presence of 1 mM norepinephrine. The dynein-ATPase activity is Mg2+-dependent, Li+-sensitive, and insensitive to 2 mM ouabain, 1 μM oligomycin, and 1 μM thapsigargin. The dynein-ATPase activity was significantly lower (p < 0.001) for asthenozoospermic donors as compared to normozoospermic donors. This is a straightforward dynein-ATPase assay that can be used to obtain data of functional interest in clinical or experimental settings