Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Results With Syncardia Total Artificial Heart Beyond 1 Year

Mechanical circulatory support devices have been increasingly used for long-term support. We reviewed outcomes in all patients supported with a SynCardia total artificial heart (TAH) for more than 1 year to assess its safety in long-term support. As of December 2011, all 47 patients who received the TAH from 10 centers worldwide were included in this retrospective study. Clinical data were collected on survival, infections, thromboembolic and hemorrhagic events, device failures, and antithrombotic therapy. The mean age of patients was 50 ± 1.57 years, the median support time was 554 days (range 365–1373 days). The primary diagnosis was dilated cardiomiopathy in 23 patients, ischemic in 15, and “other” in 9. After a minimum of 1 year of support, 34 patients (72%) were successfully transplanted, 12 patients (24%) died while on device support, and 1 patient (2%) is still supported. Five patients (10%) had a device failure reported. Major complications were as follows: systemic infections in 25 patients (53%), driveline infections in 13 patients (27%), thromboembolic events in 9 patients (19%), and hemorrhagic events in 7 patients (14%). SynCardia TAH has proven to be a reliable and effective device in replacing the entire heart. In patients who reached a minimum of 1 year of support, device failure rate is acceptable and only in two cases was the leading cause of death. Infections and hemorrhagic events were the major causes of death. Patients who remain supported beyond 1 year are still likely to survive to transplantation.
Primary seed shadow generated by gibbons in the rain forests of Barito Ulu, central Borneo

Gibbons are one of the main frugivores in the forests of Southeast Asia, and consequently have long been considered to be good seed dispersers. This is the first study in which the primary seed shadow they create by their ranging and foraging activities is evaluated in detail. I studied two gibbon groups over 12 months in lowland dipterocarp forest in central Borneo. The gibbons dispersed up to 81% of the species they consumed and destroyed the seeds of only 12%. Fruit with elongated seeds (up to 20 mm wide) were more likely to be dispersed than round seeds. Considering that the survival rate of seeds in the forest to one year was 8%, the gibbons effectively dispersed 13 seedlings ha–1 group–1 year–1. Their effect on germination was very variable, although most species did eventually germinate. Most seeds were deposited along their major ranging routes and close to or under feeding trees. Am. J. Primatol. 52:13–29, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
ALD titanium nitride coated carbon nanotube electrodes for electrochemical supercapacitors

We present titanium nitride (TiN) coated carbon nanotube (CNT) forest electrodes by means of atomic layer deposition (ALD) to store charges in the electrochemical supercapacitors for the first time. The specific achievements as compared with the state-of-art supercapacitor electrodes include: (1) 400 times higher capacitance than a flat-shape electrode; (2) conformal and uniform coating of TiN; and (3) greater than 500% enhancement of electrochemical capacitance at 81mF/cm2 than CNT electrodes without TiN at 14mF/cm2 due to increased oxygen vacancies on the TiN surfaces. As such, this work presents a new path to increase energy density of supercapacitors using TiN-based porous materials.
Validation of accuracy and precision of dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry for infants

There is limited information on the validity of bone mineral content measurement by dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA BMC) for use in subjects with low body mass. We evaluated the accuracy and precision of DXA in piglets (body weight 886–5526 g, median 2096 g). Stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that ash weight is the major determinant of DXA BMC (adjusted r2 = 0.98, RMS residual = 3.61 g). The intercept was not significantly different from zero. DXA BMC measurements of other piglets under various clinical situations showed no significant effect from the use of cotton blanket, diaper, or positioning (prone, supine, lateral). In vivo replication of DXA BMC measurements of infants at a postnatal age of from 1–350 days showed a slope of 0.99 and high correlation coefficient (r2 = 0.99, RMS residual = 3.59 g). The intercept was not significantly different from zero, and the average coefficient of variation of duplicate DXA BMC in infants was 2.8%. We conclude that DXA BMC reliably but proportionately underestimates ash weight and is a highly precise method for measuring bone mineral status in young pediatric subjects.
Follow-up studies of somatosensory evoked potentials and auditory brainstem evoked potentials in patients with post-coma unawareness (PCU) of traumatic brain injury.

Some patients who suffer severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) fail to recover higher brain functions in spite of giving the appearance of sleep-wake cycles. Such a state is called post-coma unawareness (PCU) and varies in type and degree. Patients may remain in this state for months or even years. This study focused on the follow-up of upper-limb somatosensory evoked potential (USEP) measurements and auditory brainstem responses (ABR), with an emphasis on dynamic changes, in 10 patients with PCU resulting from TBI. The prognostic value of USEP and ABR was evaluated. Results showed that the presence of ABR in PCU patients had no prognostic value, because ABRs were found both in patients who recovered and those who did not, even a year after the trauma. The presence of normal ABR in PCU patients may suggest that the brainstem has been spared in the pathoanatomy of the PCU condition, with the significant damage occurring above this level, in cortical and subcortical (that is, hemispheral) areas. USEP was graded using the new system of Houlden [1] for 'acute' comatose patients. It was found that USEP measurements had some prognostic value in PCU patients. Most of the patients who remained in the PCU state had grade 2 or less initially, whereas most of the patients who later recovered or achieved at least a 'reduced life' state were grade 4 or more. On initial testing (when all patients were still in the PCU state), defined cortical potential (mainly in the slope of the building NI potential) was seen in only some of the patients who later recovered. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Immunohistochemical analysis of macroautophagy

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is an indispensable standard method to monitor macroautophagy in tissue samples. Because TEM is time consuming and not suitable for daily routine, many groups try to identify macroautophagy in tissue by conventional immunohistochemistry. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether immunohistochemical assessment of macroautophagy-related marker proteins such as LC3, ATG5, CTSD/cathepsin D, BECN1/Beclin 1 or SQSTM1/p62 is feasible and autophagy-specific. For this purpose, livers from starved mice were used as a model because hepatocytes are highly sensitive to autophagy induction. ATG7-deficient mouse livers served as negative control. Our findings indicate that unambiguous immunodetection of LC3 in paraffin-embedded tissue specimens was hampered due to low in situ levels of this protein. Maximum sensitivity could only be obtained using high-quality, isoform-specific antibodies, such as antibody 5F10, in combination with Envision+ signal amplification. Moreover, LC3 stains were optimal in neutral-buffered formalin-fixed tissue, immersed in citrate buffer during antigen retrieval. However, even when using this methodology, LC3 monitoring required overexpression of the protein, e.g., in GFP-LC3 transgenic mice. This was not only the case for the liver but also for other organs including heart, skeletal muscle, kidney and gut. Immunohistochemical detection of the autophagy-related proteins ATG5, CTSD or BECN1 is not recommendable for monitoring autophagy, due to lack of differential gene expression or doubtful specificity. SQSTM1 accumulated in autophagy-deficient liver, thus it is not a useful marker for tissue with autophagic activity. We conclude that TEM remains an indispensable technique for in situ evaluation of macroautophagy, particularly in clinical samples for which genetic manipulation or other in vitro techniques are not feasible.
Grape seed proanthocyanidins induce mitochondrial pathway-mediated apoptosis in human colorectal carcinoma cells

Grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSPs) have been reported to possess a wide array of pharmacological and biochemical properties. Recently, GSPs have been reported to inhibit various types of colorectal cancer; however, the mechanism(s) involved remain unclear. The present study investigated the effects of GSPs on HCT-116 human colorectal carcinoma cell line. Exposure of these cells to GSPs for 48 h resulted in a significant concentration-dependent inhibition of cell viability. Further investigation indicated that GSPs induced apoptosis of these cells. Analyses of mRNA expression levels using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and protein expression levels by western blotting revealed that this was associated with increased expression levels of p53 tumor suppressor protein, cytochrome c, and pro-apoptotic proteins, apoptosis regulator Bax (Bax) and Bcl-2 homologous antagonist/killer. Furthermore, decreased expression levels of the anti-apoptotic protein, B cell lymphoma-2 and activation of caspase-2, caspase-3 and caspase-9 were demonstrated. GSP-induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential was also detected by JC-1 assay. These findings suggested that GSPs induced colon cancer cell apoptosis via the mitochondrial signaling pathway. This provided evidence indicating that GSPs may provide potential chemotherapeutic agents for colorectal cancer.
Topoisomerase IIβ Deficiency Enhances Camptothecin-induced Apoptosis*

Background: The sensitivity of non-S-phase cells to Top1-targeting drugs has been under-explored. Results: Quiescent Top2β-deficient cells are specifically hypersensitive to Top1-targeting drugs. Conclusion: Top2β deficiency promotes camptothecin-induced apoptosis as a result of RNA polymerase II depletion and p53 accumulation. Significance: This study has identified Top2β as a novel determinant for camptothecin sensitivity. Camptothecin (CPT), a topoisomerase (Top) I-targeting drug that stabilizes Top1-DNA covalent adducts, can induce S-phase-specific cytotoxicity due to the arrest of progressing replication forks. However, CPT-induced non-S-phase cytotoxicity is less well characterized. In this study, we have identified topoisomerase IIβ (Top2β) as a specific determinant for CPT sensitivity, but not for many other cytotoxic agents, in non-S-phase cells. First, quiescent mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) lacking Top2β were shown to be hypersensitive to CPT with prominent induction of apoptosis. Second, ICRF-187, a Top2 catalytic inhibitor known to deplete Top2β, specifically sensitized MEFs to CPT. To explore the molecular basis for CPT hypersensitivity in Top2β-deficient cells, we found that upon CPT exposure, the RNA polymerase II large subunit (RNAP LS) became progressively depleted, followed by recovery to nearly the original level in wild-type MEFs, whereas RNAP LS remained depleted without recovery in Top2β-deficient cells. Concomitant with the reduction of the RNAP LS level, the p53 protein level was greatly induced. Interestingly, RNAP LS depletion has been well documented to lead to p53-dependent apoptosis. Altogether, our findings support a model in which Top2β deficiency promotes CPT-induced apoptosis in quiescent non-S-phase cells, possibly due to RNAP LS depletion and p53 accumulation.
Effects of lengthening contraction on calcium kinetics and skeletal muscle contractility in humans.

AIM We have tested the hypothesis that the altered muscle contractility after lengthening contractions (LC) is caused by altered calcium (Ca2+) kinetics. METHODS Subjects (n = 8) performed 100 drop jumps and muscle contractility was measured pre- and post-exercise by maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and transcutaneous electrical stimulation (1, 20 and 50 Hz). Muscle biopsies were analysed for muscle metabolites, rates of SR Ca(2+) uptake (CaU) and release (CaR) and myosin heavy chain (MHC) composition. RESULTS The rates of torque relaxation and CaU were positively related to muscle fibre type composition (% MHC II). Muscle creatine (Cr) decreased and the ratio between phosphocreatine (PCr) and Cr increased 3 and 24 h post-exercise (P < 0.05 vs. pre-exercise). LC resulted in reduced MVC (-19%), twitch torque (-41%) and 20/50 Hz torque ratio (-30%) and a faster relaxation rate (P < 0.05). The contractile parameters recovered partially but remained altered 24 h post-exercise (P < 0.05). The average CaR was unchanged after LC (P > 0.05). However, the response varied between subjects and the relative post-exercise CaR was significantly related to the degree of LFF (post/pre 20/50 Hz force ratio) and to the decline in twitch force (post/pre twitch ratio). CaU was lower in seven of eight subjects after LC (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION The decline in torque after LC could not be explained by metabolic factors since PCr/Cr ratio increased. The relation between CaR and fatigue suggests that the mechanism of fatigue in part may be attributed to intrinsic changes in the SR Ca2+ release channel. The faster torque relaxation after LC could not be explained by an increased rate of CaU.
Isotretinoin therapy for acne vulgaris: a re‐evaluation of the need for measurements of plasma lipids and liver function tests

A retrospective analysis of patients receiving isotretinoin for acne was performed, in order to determine the necessity for routine testing of lipid profiles and liver function tests during therapy. Data were analysed from 209 individuals. 113 (69 males, 44 females) of whom had been treated with 1 mg/kg/day, and 96 (67 males, 29 females) with 0.5 mg/kg/day. There were no significant changes in any of the tests of liver function. There were significant elevations in both plasma cholesterol and triglycerides at 8 and 16 weeks (P<0.0l) for both dose schedules, which were significant in both male and female subjects (P<0.001). All the individuals with elevated cholesterol (>6.5 mmol/1) at 16 weeks had elevated cholesterol at the onset of therapy. Triglyceride concentrations were elevated at 8 weeks, but there was no further increase thereafter. It was not possible to predict which subjects would become hypertriglyceridaemic from pretreatment lipid estimations. In conclusion, there appears to be little evidence to support the previously recommended regular biochemical monitoring of liver function and lipid profiles in patients who are treated with isotretinoin for 16 weeks. It would appear prudent to ensure that there is neither liver disease nor hyperlipidaemia prior to the onset of therapy, and to determine the triglyceride response to therapy on one occasion after 4 weeks' treatment. This change in patient management should result in considerable savings both in patient time and in blood collection and analysis.
Residential exposure to magnetic fields and acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children.

BACKGROUND Previous studies found associations between childhood leukemia and surrogate indicators of exposure to magnetic fields (the power-line classification since known as "wire coding"), but not between childhood leukemia and measurements of 60-Hz residential magnetic fields. METHODS We enrolled 638 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who were under 15 years of age and were registered with the Children's Cancer Group and 620 controls in a study of residential exposure to magnetic fields generated by nearby power lines. In the subjects' current and former homes, data collectors measured magnetic fields for 24 hours in the child's bedroom and for 30 seconds in three or four other rooms and outside the front door. A computer algorithm assigned wire-code categories; based on the distance and configuration of nearby power lines, to the subjects' main residences (for 416 case patients and 416 controls) and to those where the family had lived during the mother's pregnancy with the subject (for 230 case patients and 230 controls). RESULTS The risk of childhood ALL was not linked to summary time-weighted average residential magnetic-field levels, categorized according to a priori criteria. The odds ratio for ALL was 1.24 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.86 to 1.79) at exposures of 0.200 mu T or greater as compared with less than 0.065 mu T. The risk of ALL was not increased among children whose main residences were in the highest wire-code category (odds ratio as compared with the lowest category, 0.88; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.48 to 1.63). Furthermore, the risk was not significantly associated with either residential magnetic-field levels or the wire codes of the homes mothers resided in when pregnant with the subjects. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide little evidence that living in homes characterized by high measured time-weighted average magnetic-field levels or by the highest wire-code category increases the risk of ALL in children.
[Effects of preconditioning and postconditioning on emergency percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute myocardial infarction].

OBJECTIVE Postconditioning is a novel approach to myocardial protection during ischemia reperfusion. To investigate the effects of preconditioning and postconditioning on coronary blood flow velocity and prognosis of the patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS Ninety-six patients with AMI underwent revascularization by primary PCI within 12 h after the onset. The 35 patients with preinfarction angina were treated with preconditioning (Precond group). The other 61 patients without preinfarction angina were randomized into two groups: 29 patients undergoing PCI without postconditioning [reinfusion (IR) group], and 32 patients undergoing PCI with postconditioning (3 cycles of reinfusion for 30 s/re-occlusion for 30 s beginning within 1 minute after reinfusion, Postcond group). Corrected thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count (CTFC) was used to evaluate the velocity of coronary blood after PCI. Creatine phosphokinase (CK), CK-MB, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured before and after PCI. Wall motion score index (WMSI) was assessed by two-dimensional echocardiography before and 8 weeks after angioplasty. RESULTS There were no significant differences between the three groups with regard to age, sex, presence of angiographically visible collaterals, and elapsed time from the onset of symptoms until perfusion. The CTFC values of the patients of the Precond and Postcond groups were both 27 +/- 6, 27 +/- 6, both significantly faster than that of the patients of the IR group (31 +/- 7, both P < 0.05). The CK peak values of the Precond and Postcond groups were 1242 U/L +/- 801 U/L and 1237 U/L +/- 813 U/L respectively, both significantly lower than that of the IR group (1697 U/L +/- 966 U/L, P < 0.05). The CK-MB peak values of the Precond and Postcond groups were 122 U/L +/- 78 U/L and 117 U/L +/- 76 U/L respectively, both significantly lower than that of the IR group (172 U/L +/- 93 U/L, P < 0.05). The MDA of the Precond and Postcond groups at all time points were all significantly lower than that of the IR group (all P < 0.05). The WMSI values 8 weeks after PIC of the Precond and Postcond groups were 1.2 +/- 0.2, and 1.2 +/- 0.2 respectively, both significantly lower than that of the IR group (1.4 +/- 0.3, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION A simple and operative procedure to improve the coronary blood flow velocity and heart function and reduce the production of free oxygen radicals, postconditioning can be used clinically widely so as to better the prognosis of AMI.
Frontline nurse managers' confidence and self-efficacy.

AIM This study was focused on determining relationships between confidence levels and self-efficacy among nurse managers. BACKGROUND Frontline nurse managers have a pivotal role in delivering high-quality patient care while managing the associated costs and resources. The competency and skill of nurse managers affect every aspect of patient care and staff well-being as nurse managers are largely responsible for creating work environments in which clinical nurses are able to provide high-quality, patient-centred, holistic care. METHOD A descriptive, correlational survey design was used; 85 nurse managers participated. RESULTS Years in a formal leadership role and confidence scores were found to be significant predictors of self-efficacy scores. CONCLUSIONS Experience as a nurse manager is an important component of confidence and self-efficacy. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT There is a need to develop educational programmes for nurse managers to enhance their self-confidence and self-efficacy, and to maintain experienced nurse managers in the role.
Resting state synchrony in anxiety-related circuits of abstinent alcohol-dependent patients

Abstract Background: Anxiety has been linked to initiation, maintenance and relapse of alcohol dependence. Neurobiological models of anxiety have proposed important roles for amygdala–insula and amygdala–medial prefrontal cortex interactions in the generation and regulation of anxiety states, respectively. Objectives: This study tested the hypotheses that abstinent alcohol-dependent patients would show a disruption of synchrony in these circuits as measured by resting state functional MRI. Methods: The study examined recently abstinent (n = 13), longer-term abstinent (n = 16) alcohol-dependent patients and healthy controls (n = 22). Resting-state synchrony (RSS) was examined in specific circuits, where degree of synchrony has been found to correlate with state anxiety levels in previous studies. Results: Alcohol-dependent patients showed significantly elevated scores on anxiety and depression inventories compared with controls. No significant group differences in synchrony were observed between right amygdala and right ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), between left amygdala and left vmPFC, or, after correction for multiple comparisons, right amygdala and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC). However, significantly decreased positive synchrony was found between left basolateral amygdala and left anterior insula, in patients relative to controls. Conclusion: Both early and longer-term abstinent alcohol-dependent patients showed increased anxiety levels relative to controls and altered resting state synchrony in circuits previously linked to state anxiety. Notably, the significant group differences in synchrony were in the opposite direction to our predictions based on the literature. These results may point to a lack of generalizability of models derived from young healthy homogeneous samples.