Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the Effects of Carvedilol, Propranolol, and Verapamil on in vitro Platelet Function in Healthy Volunteers

The effects of the two β-blockers carvedilol and propranolol and the calcium antagonist verapamil on platelet aggregation induced by ADP, epinephrine, or collagen was examined in the serum of eight healthy volunteers. The inhibitory potential of the three drugs on the arachidonic acid-prostaglandin pathway was measured by the assessment of the formation of the stable metabolite thromboxane B2. Furthermore, the influence of drugs on intracellular cAMP levels was measured in platelets aggregated with ADP, epinephrine, or collagen. All three drugs were able to inhibit platelet aggregation induced by a threshold concentration of ADP, epinephrine (10 μM), or collagen (1 μg/ml) in a concentration-dependent manner, preventing aggregation completely in the high micromolar range. Propranolol is 1.6 and 2.3 times more active than verapamil and carvedilol in inhibiting ADP-induced platelet aggregation. Although the two β-blockers were marginally more potent than verapamil in inhibiting platelet aggregation induced by collagen, this was not statistically significant. Both propranolol and verapamil were slightly more active than carvedilol in inhibiting epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation, a trend consistent with the IC50 values. Intracellular cAMP levels decreased in platelets aggregated with ADP, epinephrine, and collagen. The inhibition of platelet aggregation with the three drugs resulted in a return of intracellular cAMP levels to basal values. Carvedilol and propranolol were of similar potency and around 1.5–3 times as potent as verapamil for all agonists. The formation of thromboxane B2, an end product of the arachidonic acid pathway, could be completely inhibited by the three drugs. Propranolol was 2.4 and 2.1 times more potent than carvedilol and verapamil when platelets were aggregated with ADP. The three drugs were found to be equally potent with respect to epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation. Carvedilol was significantly more potent than verapamil and equally potent as propranolol in collagen-aggregated platelets. Propranolol was more potent than its two competitors in inhibiting platelet aggregation and thromboxane B2 formation and restoring cAMP levels. With the exception of epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation and thromboxane formation, verapamil tended to be less potent than carvedilol.
Inverse Boundary Value Problem for Schrödinger Equation in Two Dimensions

We relax the regularity condition on potentials of the Schrodinger equation in uniqueness results on the inverse boundary value problem which were recently proved in [O. Imanuvilov, G. Uhlmann, and M. Yamamoto, J. Amer. Math. Soc. , 23 (2010), pp. 655–691] and [A. Bukhgeim, J. Inverse Ill-Posed Probl. , 16 (2008), pp. 19–34].
Characterization of the ccpA Gene ofEnterococcus faecalis: Identification of Starvation-Inducible Proteins Regulated by CcpA

ABSTRACT Inactivation of ccpA in Enterococcus faecalis leads to reduction of the growth rate, derepression of the galKETR operon in the presence of a mixture of glucose and galactose, and reduction of transcription of ldh in the presence of glucose. Moreover, the E. faecalis ccpA gene fully complements a Bacillus subtilis ccpA mutant, arguing for similar functions of these two homologous proteins. Protein comparison on two-dimensional gels from the wild-type cells and theccpA mutant cells revealed a pleiotropic effect of the mutation on gene expression. The HPr protein of the carbohydrate-phosphotransferase system was identified by microsequencing, and a modification of its phosphorylation state was observed between the wild-type and the mutant strains. Moreover, at least 16 polypeptides are overexpressed in the mutant, and 6 are repressed. Interestingly, 13 of the 16 polypeptides whose synthesis is enhanced in the mutant were also identified as glucose starvation proteins. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of four of them match sequences deduced from genes coding for l-serine dehydratase, dihydroxyacetone kinase (two genes), and a protein of unknown function from Deinococcus radiodurans.
A randomized trial of standard versus partially hyperfractionated radiation with or without concurrent 5-fluorouracil in locally advanced cervical cancer.

The objective of this study was to determine whether the addition of concurrent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and/or a change in radiation fractionation improves pelvic control and survival or decreases complications in advanced cervical cancer, FIGO stages IB/IIA (>=5 cm) to IVA inclusive. After stratification by pelvic disease extent, 234 of a planned 292 patients were randomized to receive one of four possible treatments: (a) standard external beam pelvic irradiation (RT) 5000 cGy in 25 fractions versus (b) RT as in arm (a) with infusional IV 5-FU 1g/m2 daily in the first and last 4 days of RT, (c) partially hyperfractionated RT, 5280 cGy in 33 fractions, two fractions per day on the first and last 4 days of RT, or (d) arm (c) with the same FU. All were followed with a linear source of intracavitary RT to deliver 40 Gy. The median duration of follow-up for the 221 evaluable patients was 59 months. The 5-year Kaplan-Meier disease-free survival (DFS) in arm (a), (c), (d), and (b), respectively, were 45, 53, 58, and 61%. The differences in survival and pelvic control were not statistically significant. An exploratory subset analysis was performed within stratum 1 and stratum 2 to generate hypotheses for future studies. Only for the 99 patients in stratum 1 (IB/IIA or medial parametrial IIB disease) was the 5-year DFS significantly better (long rank P = 0.05) for standard RT and 5-FU. The DFS was 39% for arm (a), 76% for arm (b), 58% for arm (c), and 65% for arm (d). A multivariate analysis of patient, tumor, and treatment related prognostic factors identified only the use of 5-FU to account for the observed difference. The crude serious late bowel or bladder complication rate was 5.9%. Overall concurrent infusional 5-FU was not beneficial when added to standard RT in this study. The possible benefit for patients in stratum 1 requires exploration in a further randomized trial with appropriate accrual.
Left ventricular longitudinal systolic function analysed by 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a meta-analysis

Background The purpose of this meta-analysis was to confirm if the global longitudinal systolic function of the left ventricle (LV) is altered in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Methods We searched in different databases (Medline, Embase and Cochrane) studies that analysed LV global longitudinal systolic strain (GLS) in patients with HFpEF and in controls (such as healthy subjects or asymptomatic patients with arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus or coronary artery disease). Results Twenty-two studies (2284 patients with HFpEF and 2302 controls) were included in the final analysis. Patients with HFpEF had significantly lower GLS than healthy subjects (mean −15.7% (range −12% to −18.9%) vs mean −19.9% (range −17.1% to −21.5%), weighted mean difference −4.2% (95% CI −3.3% to −5.0%), p < 0.001, respectively). In addition, patients with HFpEF had also significantly lower GLS than asymptomatic patients (mean −15.5% (range −13.4% to −18.4%) vs mean −18.3% (range −15.1% to −20.4%), weighted mean difference −2.8%(95% CI −1.9% to −3.6%), p < 0.001, respectively). In line, 10 studies showed that the rate of abnormal GLS was significantly higher in patients with HFpEF (mean 65.4% (range 37%–95%)) than in asymptomatic subjects (mean 13% (range 0%–29.6%)). Regarding the prognostic relevance of abnormal GLS in HFpEF, two multicentre studies with large sample size (447 and 348) and high number of events (115 and 177) showed that patients with abnormal GLS had worse cardiovascular (CV) outcomes than those with normal GLS (HR for CV mortality and HF hospitalisation 2.14 (95% CI 1.26 to 3.66) and 1.94 (95% CI 1.22 to 3.07)), even adjusting these analyses for multiples clinical and echocardiographic variables. Conclusion The present meta-analysis analysing 2284 patients with HFpEF and 2302 controls confirms that the longitudinal systolic function of the LV is significantly altered in high proportion of patients with HFpEF. Further large multicentre studies with the aim to confirm the prognostic role of abnormal GLS in HFpEF are warranted.
APTIDÃO FÍSICA RELACIONDA À SAÚDE DE CRIANÇAS E ADOLESCENTES: AVALIAÇÃO REFERENCIADA POR CRITÉRIO

O objetivo do estudo foi identificar a pro­porcao de criancas e adolescentes pertencentes a populacao escolar do municipio de Londrina - Parana que atendem aos criterios relacionados a saude, estabelecidos a partir de informacoes quan­to aos indices de aptidao fisica. Para tanto, re­correu-se aos criterios de saude sugeridos pelo Physical Best (AAHPERD, 1988), onde sao inclu­idos os resultados dos testes motores “sentar-e- alcancar”, abdominal e corrida/caminhada de longa distância, alem dos valores de espessura de dobras cutâneas. A amostra foi constituida por 4289 sujeitos de ambos os sexos com idades entre 7 e 17 anos, selecionados aleatoriamente. Medi­ante a analise dos resultados, foi possivel obser­var que a proporcao de criancas e adolescentes estudados que atenderam as exigencias motoras minimas estabelecidas que possam satisfazer aos aspectos relacionados a saude, nao foi maior que 15%; e o numero de jovens que alcancaram os criterios tornou-se menor a partir dos 11 anos de idade em ambos os sexos. Com relacao aos as­pectos de adiposidade, os resultados comprovam que, apos os 15 anos de idade, por volta de 23% das mocas analisadas demonstraram indices de gordura corporal que podem vir a provocar al­gum comprometimento de saude. Dessa forma, os resultados encontrados sugerem que grande par­te dos jovens estudados demonstraram indices de aptidao fisica que podem comprometer a obten­cao de um melhor estado de saude, apontando para a necessidade da implementacao de programas direcionados ao incremento da pratica da ativi­dade fisica, na tentativa de alcancar maior impacto quanto ao nivel de qualidade de vida desta popu­lacao escolar.
Expression and localisation of heat shock protein 70 in cultured bovine oocytes and embryos

Effects of elevated in vitro temperature on in vitro produced early bovine embryos were analysed in order to determine its impact on the expression of heat shock protein 70 (hsp70). In vitro matured bovine oocytes, 2-cell and 8-cell embryos, and day 9 hatched blastocysts subjected to control and elevated temperature conditions were analysed by semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction methods for hsp70 mRNA expression. Results revealed the expression of hsp70 mRNA under control conditions and that early embryos can respond to heat stress by transcribing hsp70 mRNA. Confocal laser scanning microscopy used to localise the hsp70 protein in oocytes and embryos revealed that the distribution of hsp70 in the ooplasm of immature and mature oocytes is unaffected by exposure to elevated temperatures and that this protein was closely associated with the meiotic spindle, indicating its possible role in stabilising this structure. In 8-cell embryos derived under control conditions, hsp70 was evenly distributed in the cytoplasm but appeared as aggregates in some embryos exposed to elevated temperature. In heat-stressed hatched blastocysts, a more even distribution was noted following heat stress relative to corresponding controls, indicating their competence to respond to elevated temperature.
Plasma biochemical and PCV ranges for healthy, wild, immature hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles

In recent years, the use of blood chemistry as a diagnostic tool for sea turtles has been demonstrated, but much of its effectiveness relies on reference intervals. The first comprehensive blood chemistry values for healthy wild hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles are presented. Nineteen blood chemistry analytes and packed cell volume were analysed for 40 clinically healthy juvenile hawksbill sea turtles captured from a rocky reef habitat in northern Australia. We used four statistical approaches to calculate reference intervals and to investigate their use with non-normal distributions and small sample sizes, and to compare upper and lower limits between methods. Eleven analytes were correlated with curved carapace length indicating that body size should be considered when designing future studies and interpreting analyte values.
Serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae Isolates from Children with Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in Turkey: Baseline Evaluation of the Introduction of the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Nationwide

ABSTRACT Before use of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine PCV7 became widespread in Turkey, 202 invasive pneumococcus isolates were analyzed. The most common serotypes were 19F and 6B. In children ≤2 years of age, the potential coverage rate of PCV7 was 69.5%. The most frequent non-PCV7 serotypes were 19A, 3, 1, 6A, and 8.
Indomethacin suppresses growth of colon cancer via inhibition of angiogenesis in vivo.

AIM It has been reported that regular consumption of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like indomethacin decreases the incidence and mortality rate of a number of gastrointestinal cancers. We aimed to explore the efficacy and possible mechanisms of indomethacin on tumor growth and tumor angiogenesis of human colon cancer xenografts in nude mice. METHODS MTT (thiazolyl blue) assay was used to assess the effect of indomethacin on cultured human colorectal cancer cell line HCT116. HCT116 cells were inoculated subcutaneously into BALB/c-nu/nu mice. After oral administration of indomethacin, 3 mg/kg.d for 4 wk, animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Immunohistochemical staining was employed to determine the microvessel density (MVD) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in tumor tissues. RESULTS Indomethacin, a non-selective COX inhibitor, significantly decreased the viability of HCT116 cells in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05) with 50% inhibition at approximately 318.2+/-12.7 mumol/L. Growth of HCT116 cell tumor was significantly suppressed by indomethacin. The tumor volume was significantly decreased in the treated group (458.89+/-32.07 mm(3)) compared to the control group (828.21+/-31.59 mm(3)) (P<0.05). The MVD of the treated group (19.50+/-5.32) was markedly decreased compared to the control group (37.40+/-4.93) (P<0.001). The VEGF expression of the treated group (1.19+/-0.17) was obviously reduced as compared to the control group (1.90+/-0.48) (P<0.01). The decrease in MVD was positively correlated with the decrease of VEGF expression (r(s) = 0.714, P<0.05). We did not see gastrointestinal complications in the treated group and no differences were noted in the body weight of the mice between the two groups throughout the study (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Indomethacin can significantly decrease the viability of cultured HCT116 cells and retard human colorectal HCT116 cell tumor growth via inhibiting tumor angiogenesis, which might be through reduction of VEGF expression.
Es Barcelona una ciudad policéntrica

La Region Metropolitana de Barcelona (RMB) ha sido caracterizada como un sistema urbano policentrico. Sin embargo, no existe un criterio comunmente aceptado que haya permitido identificar con claridad los subcentros de la region. La investigacion que aqui se presenta persigue un doble objetivo: en primer lugar identificar los subcentros de empleo de la RMB mediante un metodo objetivo y, en segundo lugar, valorar su grado de policentrismo. Para identificar los subcentros se procede siguiendo dos pasos: primero se identifican los municipios candidatos a subcentro utilizando criterios basados en la densidad de empleo y en el indice Empleos/Poblacion, para a continuacion estimar una funcion de densidad de poblacion utilizando como variables explicativas, ademas de la distancia al CBD, la distancia a cada uno de los candidatos a subcentro. Los municipios identificados mediante este doble filtro solo capturan un porcentaje relativamente reducido del total de puestos de trabajo debido a que el nucleo ampliado (Barcelona mas continuo urbano) concentra un porcentaje de empleos muy significativo, y a que el ratio Empleos/Poblacion presenta unos valores muy homogeneos en todos los municipios con independencia de su tamano.
Identifying the skills gaps in retail : Issues and implications for UK retailers

Purpose: This article sought to identify the skills gaps associated with retail employees in SME and multiple retail companies, and to investigate the potential training and business implications that arise from these skills gaps. Methodology: Research was conducted within one geographical region and across five counties within the United Kingdom. Telephone and face-to-face interviews, focus group workshops and retail forums were conducted, resulting in responses from 121 retailers. Findings: The key issues and areas of concern to emerge were: the industry image and impact on recruitment and retention; employee and management skills gaps; perception of retail qualifications and barriers to training. Implications: The findings highlight the need for UK retail industry to raise the image of the sector, to promote the variety of career options; to clarify the retail qualifications and training available, and to work towards retail’s earlier inclusion in school curriculum. Acknowledgements: The authors wish to thank Skillsmart Retail, the Retail Sector Skills Council for Retail and the Nottinghamshire Learning and Skills Council who commissioned and funded the research study.
Changes in Sense of Control in the Second Half of Life: Results from a 5-Year Panel Study

Very few studies have used longitudinal data to examine whether age variations in the sense of control are due to ageing effects or cohort differences. With data from two waves of the Norwegian NorLAG study, with 2673 respondents aged 40 to 75 we ask: Does the sense of control decline over a 5-year period? Are there factors that accelerate the decline or slow it? We find that while cross-sectional comparisons indicate increases in sense of control up to age 75, longitudinal analysis show little to no change over 5 years. Only those 75 and older experienced a significant decline over the next 5 years. Physical health and agentive orientation at baseline can impede or accelerate decline in the sense of control. We also find that decline in sense of control starts 15 years later in this Norwegian sample than in similar studies in the United States, and discuss this finding in light of differences in welfare systems for elderly in the two countries.
Effects of exogenous growth hormone administration on dexamethasone-induced growth impairment in adolescent male rats

Growth impairment (GI) is one of the adverse effects of dexamethasone (DXM), and growth hormone (GH) has been used clinically to improve GI. The present study aimed to evaluate the manner in which DXM disturbs the growth rate of longitudinal bones, and the recovery effects of GH on DXM-induced GI in the longitudinal bones of adolescent male rats. In the first experiment, DXM (0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 5 mg/kg) was administered subcutaneously to identify a potential dose-dependent activity and calculate the median effective dose (ED50) of DXM-induced GI. The ED50 was identified to be 1.15 mg/kg. In the second experiment, GH (0, 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg) with 1.15 mg/kg DXM was injected subcutaneously to assess the recovery effects of GH on DXM-induced GI. The growth rates of the longitudinal bones, total height of the growth plate, local mRNA expressions of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), GH receptor (GHR) and IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R), and local protein expression of IGF-1 were measured to evaluate the recovery effects of GH on DXM-induced GI. The local expressions of IGF-1, GHR and IGF-1R mRNA, and IGF-1 protein were measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction following laser microdissection and antigen-specific immunohistochemistry, respectively. GH administration partially recovered DXM-induced GI in the longitudinal bones and growth plate. GH significantly increased the levels of IGF-1, GHR and IGF-1R mRNA in the proliferative zone of the control group (P<0.05), whereas it failed to increase them in the proliferative zone of the DXM-treated group. Furthermore, GH increased the levels of IGF-1, GHR and IGF-1R mRNA in the hypertrophic zone of both the vehicle and DXM-treated groups (P<0.05). Immunohistochemical analysis of IGF-1 protein expression revealed a similar pattern to that of IGF-1 mRNA. These results suggest that increased GH insensitivity in the proliferative zone of the growth plate, induced by DXM, leads to GI in longitudinal bones. Thus, combined administration of GH with GH insensitivity-alleviating medications may be more effective in the treatment of DXM-induced GI.
Clinical Features, Endoscopic Management and Outcome of Patients with Non-variceal Upper Digestive Bleeding by Dieulafoy Lesion

Aim and background: Dieulafoy lesion (DL) represents a rare, but important cause of major upper digestive bleeding, especially in elders. The aim of the study consists in identifying the clinico-biological and endoscopic features and the outcome of these patients. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the patients admitted with non-variceal upper digestive bleeding (UDB) in the Department of Gastroenterology, of the Emergency County Hospital Timisoara, from 2003 to 2014. Out of the total number of cases we selected the patients with endoscopic diagnosis of Dieulafoy lesion. In these patients we analyzed the demographic, clinico-biological and endoscopic data, compared to the control group that encountered the rest of the patients with UDB. Results: Out of 2104 patients with non-variceal UDB, 31/2104 (1.5%) presented DL, 19/31(61.3%) male and 12/31(38.7%) female, mean age 63 ± 12.83. Diabetes mellitus was present in 35.5% cases. The mean value of hemoglobin was significantly lower in Dieulafoy group 7 ± 2.69 vs. 8 ± 3.28 in the control group, p=0.05, thus a significantly larger number of blood units per patient were needed in this group (p<0.0001). Re-bleebing was encountered significantly more often in Dieulafoy vs. control group: 7/31(22.6%) vs. 173/2074 (8.34%), p=0.03; surgery was needed in 3/31(9.7%) Dieulafoy patients. Endoscopic haemostasis was achieved most frequently by using combined treatment. The use of anticoagulants had a significant influence in the development of DL (p=0.019). Conclusion: DL may cause massive bleeding and is associated with a high rate of re-bleeding. Patients present comorbidities, diabetes mellitus being mostly associated with this condition. Anticoagulants represent risk factors highly associated with DL.
Letter by Clark Regarding Article, "Clinical Outcomes of Transplanted Modified Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Stroke: A Phase 1/2a Study".

A small open trial that has recently appeared in Stroke ,1 although primarily intended to test the safety of introducing modified adult mesenchymal stem cells (SB623) into the brain of chronic poststroke patients, has unquestionably generated considerable clinical interest. The Stanford-based authors describe striking improvements essentially never seen in untreated patients 6 months after stroke events. Motor function and other parameters are reported to have improved and been maintained, to date of writing, for ≤2 years, even in 70-year-old patients. Clearly, such a treatment outcome has the potential to revolutionize treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in general. This preliminary work certainly shows great promise and rightly attracts attention. Clearly, the reported disappearance of …