Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of rivastigmine in the treatment of behavioral disturbances associated with dementia: review of neuropsychiatric impairment in Alzheimer's disease

ABSTRACT Cognitive decline is conventionally regarded as the defining clinical symptom of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but behavioral and neuropsychiatric symptoms are also present throughout the course of the disease. In fact, behavioral symptoms may appear before cognitive decline is diagnosed. The presence of these symptoms may predict an increasing need for community-based services or even nursing home placement. The characteristic behavioral and neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with AD may be related to the same pathophysiology that underlies the cognitive abnormalities. AD is characterized by a loss of cholinergic neurons as well as by the presence of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and senile plaques in brain regions with cholinergic deficits, resulting in a deficiency in acetylcholine (ACh) in areas of the brain that modulate cognition, behavior, and emotion. Cholinesterase inhibitors are thought to augment or maximize the concentration of ACh in the synaptic cleft. Rivastigmine is a dual inhibitor of both acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), enzymes involved in hydrolysis of ACh. Literature searches using MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were performed to identify studies of rivastigmine (through August 2005) that assessed neuropsychiatric aspects of AD. Rivastigmine has been demonstrated to be safe and effective in stabilizing or improving the cognitive symptoms of AD in 3 large, well-controlled, randomized clinical trials, which also demonstrated that rivastigmine improves overall global functioning. Smaller studies and meta-analyses of pooled data from the 3 large trials have suggested that rivastigmine may improve the behavioral and neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with AD.
Sortase enzymes in Gram‐positive bacteria

In Gram‐positive bacteria proteins are displayed on the cell surface using sortase enzymes. These cysteine transpeptidases join proteins bearing an appropriate sorting signal to strategically positioned amino groups on the cell surface. Working alone, or in concert with other enzymes, sortases either attach proteins to the cross‐bridge peptide of the cell wall or they link proteins together to form pili. Because surface proteins play a fundamental role in microbial physiology and are frequently virulence factors, sortase enzymes have been intensely studied since their discovery a little more than a decade ago. Based on their primary sequences and functions sortases can be partitioned into distinct families called class A to F enzymes. Most bacteria elaborate their surfaces using more than one type of sortase that function non‐redundantly by recognizing unique sorting signals within their protein substrates. Here we review what is known about the functions of these enzymes and the molecular basis of catalysis. Particular emphasis is placed on ‘pilin’ specific class C sortases that construct structurally complex pili. Exciting new data have revealed that these enzymes are amazingly promiscuous in the substrates that they can employ and that there is a startling degree of diversity in their mechanism of action. We also review recent data that suggest that sortases are targeted to specific sites on the cell surface where they work with other sortases and accessory factors to properly function.
FVB/NJ Mice Demonstrate a Youthful Sensitivity to Noise-Induced Hearing Loss and Provide a Useful Genetic Model for the Study of Neural Hearing Loss

The hybrid mouse diversity panel (HMDP), a panel of 100 strains, has been employed in genome wide association studies (GWAS) to study complex traits in mice. Hearing is a complex trait and the CBA/CaJ mouse strain is a widely used model for age-related hearing impairment (ARHI) and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). The youthful sensitivity to noise and limited age-related hearing loss of the CBA/CaJ strain led us to attempt the identification of additional strains segregating a similar phenotype for our panel. FVB/NJ is part of the HMDP and has been previously described as having a similar ARHI phenotype to CBA/CaJ. For these reasons, we have studied the FVB/NJ mouse for ARHI and NIHL phenotypes in the hopes of incorporating its phenotype into HMDP studies. We demonstrate that FVB/NJ exhibits ARHI at an earlier age than CBA/CaJ and young FVB/NJ mice are vulnerable to NIHL up to 10-12 weeks. This suggests that FVB/NJ may be used as an additional genetic model for neural forms of progressive hearing loss and for the study of youthful sensitivity to noise.
Effect of Isolation‐Rearing on Conditioned Dopamine Release In Vivo in the Nucleus Accumbens of the Rat

Abstract: Intracerebral microdialysis in conjunction with HPLC coupled to electrochemical detection was used to investigate the effect of isolation‐rearing in the rat on extracellular dopamine (DA) and its metabolites in vivo, in the shell region of the nucleus accumbens, in response to footshock and in relation to a conditioned emotional response. Male Lister hooded rats were reared from weaning for 6–8 weeks in either social isolation or groups of five. In the training phase, rats were exposed to a novel environment for 10 min where they experienced mild footshock. Footshock caused an immediate increase in basal extracellular DA levels in both rearing groups relative to control rats. However, the increase in extracellular DA was prolonged in the case of the isolation‐reared rats and significantly greater than in group‐reared rats. Exposure to the novel environment without shock (control groups) did not significantly alter basal extracellular DA in the nucleus accumbens shell; 140 min later rats were returned to the testing box (contextual stimulus) without receiving footshock. The contextual stimulus increased basal extracellular DA in the nucleus accumbens of both groups of rats with respect to controls; however, this increase was significantly greater and more prolonged in isolates. Extracellular levels of the metabolites 3,4‐dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid did not differ between isolation‐ and group‐reared rats, and they were not significantly affected by either footshock or the contextual stimulus. These results suggest that exposure to footshock and a contextual stimulus are associated with increases in basal extracellular DA levels in the nucleus accumbens shell. The results also support evidence in favour of an isolation‐induced enhancement in dopaminergic activity in the nucleus accumbens, which probably underlies aspects of the behavioural syndrome associated with isolation.
Myocardial sulfhydryl pool alterations occur during reperfusion after brief and prolonged myocardial ischemia in vivo.

Myocardial sulfhydryl (SH)-containing compounds, including reduced glutathione (GSH), are both defenses against and potential markers of reactive oxygen metabolite injury during ischemia and reperfusion. We examined the alterations in GSH and other myocardial SH pools during reperfusion in anesthetized dogs exposed to brief (15 minutes, n = 7) or prolonged (90 minutes, n = 6) regional ischemia caused by occlusion of the left anterior descending artery. Ninety minutes of ischemia followed by 5 hours of reperfusion, which resulted in myocardial necrosis of 43.9 +/- 4.0% of the area at risk, caused a 22% reduction in total myocardial SH groups (p less than 0.01), a 57% decrease in nonprotein myocardial SH groups (p less than 0.01), a 56% decrease in GSH (p less than 0.01), and a 62% decrease in non-GSH, nonprotein SH groups (p less than 0.02). However, protein SH groups were not significantly reduced (12% decrease, p = NS). Also, myocardial release of GSH and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) into the coronary venous effluent occurred during early reperfusion. In contrast, 15 minutes of ischemia, followed by 30 minutes of reperfusion, did not alter myocardial total SH groups, protein SH groups, or GSH (9% decrease, p = NS); nor was there reperfusion release of GSH or GSSG. However, even with brief ischemia, nonprotein SH groups decreased 23% (p less than 0.05), due mainly to a 59% decrease in the non-GSH, nonprotein SH pool (p less than 0.05). These changes after brief ischemia occurred without alterations in myocardial GSSG or the GSH/GSSG ratio. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Effects of Wind Turbine Noise on Self-Reported and Objective Measures of Sleep.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To investigate the association between self-reported and objective measures of sleep and wind turbine noise (WTN) exposure. METHODS The Community Noise and Health Study, a cross-sectional epidemiological study, included an in-house computer-assisted interview and sleep pattern monitoring over a 7 d period. Outdoor WTN levels were calculated following international standards for conditions that typically approximate the highest long-term average levels at each dwelling. Study data were collected between May and September 2013 from adults, aged 18-79 y (606 males, 632 females) randomly selected from each household and living between 0.25 and 11.22 kilometers from operational wind turbines in two Canadian provinces. Self-reported sleep quality over the past 30 d was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Additional questions assessed the prevalence of diagnosed sleep disorders and the magnitude of sleep disturbance over the previous year. Objective measures for sleep latency, sleep efficiency, total sleep time, rate of awakening bouts, and wake duration after sleep onset were recorded using the wrist worn Actiwatch2® from a subsample of 654 participants (289 males, 365 females) for a total of 3,772 sleep nights. RESULTS Participant response rate for the interview was 78.9%. Outdoor WTN levels reached 46 dB(A) with an arithmetic mean of 35.6 and a standard deviation of 7.4. Self-reported and objectively measured sleep outcomes consistently revealed no apparent pattern or statistically significant relationship to WTN levels. However, sleep was significantly influenced by other factors, including, but not limited to, the use of sleep medication, other health conditions (including sleep disorders), caffeine consumption, and annoyance with blinking lights on wind turbines. CONCLUSIONS Study results do not support an association between exposure to outdoor WTN up to 46 dB(A) and an increase in the prevalence of disturbed sleep. Conclusions are based on WTN levels averaged over 1 y and, in some cases, may be strengthened with an analysis that examines sleep quality in relation to WTN levels calculated during the precise sleep period time.
Do Changes in Reserve Balances Still Influence the Federal Funds Rate?

Over the past decade, the implementaton of U.S. monetary policy has changed significantly. Rather than adjusting the quantity of reserves in the banking system, policymakers now primarily use the interest rate paid on reserve balances, the IOR rate, to bring the federal funds rate within the target range. However, the recent rise in the federal funds rate relative to the IOR rate has raised questions about the primary drivers of the spread between the federal funds rate and the IOR rate in the Federal Reserve? s new operating framework. {{p}} A. Lee Smith examines the role declining reserve balances have played in influencing the federal funds-IOR spread. He finds that declining reserve balances have placed upward pressure on the federal funds rate in recent years despite the payment of interest on reserve balances. His findings suggest that the funds rate may continue to move higher relative to the IOR rate as reserve balances decline, potentially motivating further adjustments to the implementation of U.S. monetary policy.
Canadian Occupational Performance Measure: Impact of Blinded Parent-Proxy Ratings on Outcome

Background. There is potential for unintended effects on intervention outcome when using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) in intervention studies. Purpose. To determine the effect of blinded parent-proxy ratings of the COPM on outcomes at later endpoints. Methods. Data were drawn from a randomized trial of 50 children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy aged 19 months to seven years. Outcomes were measured at baseline, post-intervention, and six months. Parents of 36 children were randomly allocated to complete six-month COPM proxy ratings blinded or unblinded to previous ratings. A group of 32 parents rated the six-month COPM blinded and then re-rated it after access to previous ratings. Findings. There was no statistically significant difference in ratings between those completing the COPM blinded compared to unblinded. Implications. The COPM should continue to be rated blinded at post-intervention endpoints in the absence of further research to the contrary.
Modeling the Unobserved Heterogeneity in E-bike Collision Severity Using Full Bayesian Random Parameters Multinomial Logit Regression

Understanding the risk factors of e-bike collisions can improve e-bike riders’ safety awareness and help traffic professionals to develop effective countermeasures. This study investigates risk factors that significantly contribute to the severity of e-bike collisions. Two months of e-bike collision data were collected in the city of Ningbo, China. A random parameters multinomial logit regression (RP-MNL) is proposed to account for the unobserved heterogeneity across observations. A fixed parameters multinomial logit regression (FP-MNL) is estimated and compared with the RP-MNL under the Bayesian framework. The full Bayesian approach based on Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation is employed to estimate the model parameters. Both parameter estimates and odds ratio (OR) are used to interpret the impact of risk factors on the severity of e-bike collisions. The model comparison results show that RP-MNL outperforms FP-MNL, indicating that accommodating the unobserved heterogeneity across observations could improve the model fit. The model estimation results show that age, gender, e-bike behavior, license plate, bicycle type, location, and speed limit are statistically significant and associated with the severity of e-bike collisions. Furthermore, four risk factors, i.e., gender, e-bike behavior, bicycle type, and speed limit, are found to have heterogeneous effects on severity of e-bike collisions, appearing in the form of random parameters in the statistical model.
Clinical significance and detection of microRNA‐21 in serum of patients with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma in Chinese population

Expression patterns of microRNAs in serum are involved in potentially non‐invasive biomarkers for various diseases. The purpose of this study is to examine the expression of miR‐21 in serum of patients with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and to validate the significance of miR‐21 in early diagnosis, genotyping, treatment options as well as its prognosis estimates of Chinese DLBCL.
Elevated troponin I levels in acute liver failure: Is myocardial injury an integral part of acute liver failure?

Although rare instances of cardiac injury or arrhythmias have been reported in acute liver failure (ALF), overall, the heart is considered to be spared in this condition. Troponin I, a sensitive and specific marker of myocardial injury, may be elevated in patients with sepsis and acute stroke without underlying acute coronary syndrome, indicating unrecognized cardiac injury in these settings. We sought to determine whether subclinical cardiac injury might also occur in acute liver failure. Serum troponin I levels were measured in 187 patients enrolled in the US Acute Liver Failure Study Group registry, and correlated with clinical variables and outcomes. Diagnoses were representative of the larger group of >1000 patients thus far enrolled and included 80 with acetaminophen‐related injury, 26 with viral hepatitis, 19 with ischemic injury, and 62 others. Overall, 74% of patients had elevated troponin I levels (>0.1 ng/ml). Patients with elevated troponin I levels were more likely to have advanced hepatic coma (grades III or IV) or to die (for troponin I levels >0.1 ng/ml, odds ratio 3.88 and 4.69 for advanced coma or death, respectively). Conclusion: In acute liver failure, subclinical myocardial injury appears to occur more commonly than has been recognized, and its pathogenesis in the context of acute liver failure is unclear. Elevated troponin levels are associated with a significant increase in morbidity and mortality. Measurement of troponin I levels may be helpful in patients with acute liver failure, to detect unrecognized myocardial damage and as a marker of unfavorable outcome. (HEPATOLOGY 2007;45:1489–1495.)
Identifying Prognostic Criteria for Survival after Resuscitation Assisted by Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

To improve survival rates during CPR, some patients are put on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Among children who have undergone ECMO cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR), the overall rate of survival to discharge is close to 40%. However, despite its wide acceptance and use, the appropriate indications and organizational requirements for ECPR have yet to be defined. Our objective was to assess the clinical outcomes of children after ECPR and to determine pre-ECPR prognostic factors for survival to guide its indication. Among the 19 patients who underwent ECPR between 2008 and 2014 in our center, 16 patients (84%, 95% confidence interval: 62–95%) died during their hospital stay, including nine (47%) who were on ECMO and seven (37%) after successful weaning from ECMO. All three survivors had normal cognitive status, but one child suffered from spastic quadriplegia. Survivors tended to have lower lactate, higher bicarbonate, and higher pH levels before ECMO initiation, as well as shorter length of resuscitation. In conclusion, in our center, ECPR has a poorer outcome than expected. Therefore, it might be important to identify, a priori, patients who might benefit from this treatment.
Household Debt and Delinquency over the Life Cycle

This paper uses loan-level data from Thailand's National Credit Bureau to study household debt over the life cycle of borrowers. We decompose two aggregate and commonly used measures of debt—debt per capita and delinquency rate—into components that unveil the extensive and intensive margins of household indebtedness. We find a striking inverted-U life-cycle pattern of indebtedness as predicted by economic theories. However, peaks are reached at different ages for different loan products and different lenders. We also find that debt has expanded over time for all age groups. Younger cohorts seem to originate debt earlier in their lives than older generations. Meanwhile, older borrowers remain indebted well past their retirement age. Finally, we find a downward pattern of delinquency over the life cycle. Our findings have important policy implications on financial access and distress of households as well as on economic development and financial stability of the economy.
Convergence towards better working and living conditions: The crucial role of industrial relations in Sweden

The European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) was jointly adopted by the European Parliament, the European Council and the European Commission in November 2017 at the Social Summit for Fair Jobs and Growth in Gothenburg. The EPSR contains a number of key principles and rights to support fair and well-functioning labour markets and social protection systems. The 20 principles and rights adopted in Gothenburg cover the areas of employment, social protection, education and equal opportunities. In addition to promoting better performing economies and more equitable, cohesive and resilient societies, the main objective of the EPSR is to stimulate a renewed process of convergence towards better working and living conditions across the European Union (EU). The primary aim of this chapter is to identify and describe the policies implemented in Sweden related to the principles and rights enshrined in the EPSR. Furthermore, using a set of common social and economic indicators, including the social scoreboard that will monitor the implementation of the three chapters of the EPSR – namely, equal opportunities and access to the labour market, fair working conditions and social protection – the second objective of this chapter is to assess Sweden’s relative position and achievement in these areas since its accession to the EU in 1995. One fundamental and constitutive element of the Swedish model is the crucial role played by the two sides of industry in regulating the labour market, working conditions and wage formation. Social dialogue in Sweden is well developed, and regular consultations between the parliament and government are a key element regarding the design of educational, employment income and social policies. Against this background, particular attention is paid to the key role of the social partners in the process of convergence towards better working and living conditions. It should be stressed that at the time of its entry into the EU Sweden had attained several of the EPSR and EU2020 objectives, particularly regarding gender equal opportunities, educational attainment, labour market access and fair working conditions. Not only did Sweden score highly on many social and economic indicators, but the orientation of its policies was already well in accordance with EPSR and EU2020 aims. The chapter is structured as follows. After a description of the main features of the Swedish industrial relations system in section 2, section 3 describes the development of economic growth relative to other EU member states and the fiscal and monetary policies implemented to create conditions of sustainable economic growth. Special attention is
Formulation, evaluation, and comparison of bilayered and multilayered mucoadhesive buccal devices of propranolol hydrochloride

The purpose of this research work was to establish mucoadhesive buccal devices of propranolol hydrochloride (PRH) in the forms of bilayered and multilayered tablets. The tablets were prepared using sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC) and Carbopol-934 (CP) as bioadhesive polymers to impart mucoadhesion and ethyl cellulose (EC) to act as an impermeable backing layer. Buccal devices were evaluated by different parameters such as weight uniformity, content uniformity, thickness, hardness, surface pH, swelling index, ex vivo mucoadhesive strength, ex vivo mucoadhesion time, in vitro drug release, and in vitro drug permeation. As compared with bilayered tablets, multilayered tablets showed slow release rate of drug with improved ex vivo bioadhesive strength and enhanced ex vivo mucoadhesion time. The mechanism of drug release was found to be non-Fickian diffusion (value of n between 0.5 and 1.0) for both the buccal devices. The stability of drug in both the optimized buccal devices was tested for 6 hours in natural human saliva; both the buccal devices were found to be stable in natural human saliva. The present study concludes that mucoadhesive buccal devices of PRH can be a good way to bypass the extensive hepatic first-pass metabolism and to improve the bioavailability of PRH.