Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Qualitative research on pain

Purpose of reviewThis review brings together developments over the past year in pain research using qualitative methodologies. In line with the goals of the current biopsychosocial model of pain, such a research framework offers in-depth understanding of the experience of pain within its cultural, familial and socioeconomic environmental context. Recent findingsUsing ‘qualitative’ and ‘pain’ as title and keyword Medline and CSA database searches, the pain literature revealed four main areas where qualitative studies have contributed significantly to knowledge development. These are: general chronic pain care: perspectives of patients and practitioners; pain experience across the lifespan; psychosocial aspects of back pain; and experience of underresearched conditions. SummaryThe detailed insight into subjective experiences of the pain sufferer or healthcare provider offered by qualitative research can make important contributions to evaluating and improving practice and also in theory development.
Psychosomatic Medicine: A Name to Keep

In Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics , it has been repeatedly underscored that the term ‘psychosomatic medicine’ appears to be more timely than ever [2, 3] . The issue is to define psychosomatic medicine, which is more the task of those who are involved in psychosomatic research and practice than those who are not familiar with it (the respondents of a survey in two American medical centers). Lipowski [4] gave an invaluable contribution to setting the scope, mission and methods of psychosomatic medicine. He criticized the obsolete notion of psychogenesis, since it was incompatible with the concept of multicausality, which constitutes a core postulate of current psychosomatic medicine [5] . Lipowski’s definition was subsequently updated [6] . Accordingly, psychosomatic medicine may be defined as a comprehensive interdisciplinary framework for: (1) assessment of psychosocial factors affecting individual vulnerability, course and outcome of any type of disease; (2) holistic consideration of patient care in clinical practice; (3) integration of psychological therapies in the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of medical disease. In the US, psychosomatic medicine has recently become a psychiatric subspecialty recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. This may lead to identifying psychosomatic medicine with consultation-liaison psychiatry [7] . Consultation-liaison psychiatry is clearly within the field of psychiatry, its setting is the medical or surgical clinic or ward, and it focuses on the comorbid states of patients with medical disorders [8] . The opening editorial of the first 2009 issue of Psychosomatic Medicine [1] suggested replacing the term ‘psychosomatic medicine’ with ‘biobehavioral medicine’, introducing the latter initially as a subtitle. Several reasons were provided. One was the fear that keeping the current title may be a significant impediment to increasing the journal’s impact and readership. Another was concerned with the results of a survey conducted in two university medical centers in the United States suggesting that biobehavioral medicine was a better term for the type of research that was published in the journal. Reference was made to Psychosomatics , the official journal of the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine, primarily identified with the psychiatric subspecialty of psychosomatic medicine, and, in a note, to the recently launched Japanese journal Biopsychosocial Medicine . An international perspective, however, would provide a more appropriate framework for the debate. In Europe, there are two major English-speaking psychosomatic journals, which are both affiliated with the International College of Psychosomatic Medicine: Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics and the Journal of Psychosomatic Research . Further, a number of psychosomatic journals in other languages are available, such as the German Zeitschrift für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie , the Italian Medicina Psicosomatica and the Portuguese Revista Portuguesa de Psicosomática . Finally, there is a series of volumes Advances in Psychosomatic Medicine that is listed in Current
ATP assay: ability to distinguish cytostatic from cytocidal anticancer drug effects.

A bioluminescence assay for ATP was adapted to human cancer cell lines and used to study the effect of anticancer drugs on malignant cell growth by following serial ATP measurements. Eleven drugs were tested against a colon cancer cell line (WiDR). Excellent correlation was observed between simultaneously performed soft-agar colony-forming assays and the ATP assay. In addition, cytostatic (growth inhibitory) drug effects could be distinguished from cytocidal (lethal) effects by using the ATP assay. Cytocidal drugs resulted in a reduction of ATP level below baseline levels, whereas cytostatic drugs merely yielded a reduction in the rate of increase in ATP level, i.e., slower growth. Such characterizations are not possible in colony-forming assays. Changes in ATP were correlated with the number of viable cells present. Drug concentration and duration of exposure both were important. Some drugs became cytocidal only when exposures longer than the customary 1 hour were used. The ATP assay has excellent potential as a simple, inexpensive, and rapid technique for new drug screening in cell lines, with classification of drug effects as cytostatic or cytocidal.
Status and management of hypertension in Greece: role of the adoption of a Mediterranean diet the Attica study

Objective To evaluate the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension, in a random sample of adults free of cardiovascular disease, in Greece. A secondary goal was to evaluate the association between hypertension status and adoption of the Mediterranean diet. Design Cross-sectional survey. Participants On the basis of multistage sampling, 1128 men and 1154 women older than 18 years were enrolled. Main outcome measures The survey included a detailed interview and, among other clinical measurements, status and management of blood pressure were recorded. Adoption of the Mediterranean diet was assessed through a special questionnaire. Results The prevalence of hypertension was 38.2% in men and 23.9% in women (P < 0.05). The majority of men (65%) and women (40%) were untreated, and of those who were treated, only 109 of 319 (34%) had their blood pressure adequately controlled. Thus only 15% of the hypertensive population had their blood pressure well controlled. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that consumption of a Mediterranean diet was associated with a 26% (odds ratio = 0.74, P = 0.008) lower risk of being hypertensive, and with a 36% (odds ratio = 1.36, P = 0.021) greater probability of having the blood pressure controlled. Conclusions A considerable proportion of the general population remain unaware of having hypertension or do not have their blood pressure well controlled. However, consumption of a Mediterranean type of diet seems to reduce rates of hypertension in the population, and may contribute to the control of hypertension at the population level.
Measurement of Normal Lumbar Spine Range of Motion in the College-Aged Turkish Population Using a 3D Ultrasound-Based Motion Analysis System Üniversite Çağindaki Türk Popülasyonunda Normal Lumbal Omurga Hareket Kapasitesinin Ultrason Tabanli Üç Boyutlu Hareket Analiz Sistemi Kullanilarak Ölçümü

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine range of motion values of lumbar spine in Turkish people by using 3D motion analysis method. Patients and Methods: The study included 100 subjects (50 males, 50 females; range 18 to 22 years). The Zebris® 3D Motion Analysis System was used for the measurement. Lateral bending, flexion, extension, pelvic tilt were evaluated in the measurements. Results: The average value for total lateral flexion at lumbar spine was found to be 51.3°±7.5 in males and 52.7°±9.9 in females. Total flexion-extension was 81.0°±11.1 in males and 80.2°±10.2 in females. L4-L5 flexion, L5-S1 extension values were statistically high in women (p<0.05) while L3-L4 total flexion-extension and L1-L2 total lateral flexion values were statistically high in men (p<0.05). The support of pelvic tilt to total lumbosacral flexion was 46.6% in males and 42.1% in females. The support was 36.8% in males and 26.2% in females during extension. Flexion and extension of pelvic tilt values in men were found to be significantly higher than that in women (p<0.05). Conclusion: The normal values of movements of lumbar spine in Turkish people have been determined with 3D motion analysis system.
Primary Renal Neoplasms of the Dog

Of 48 canine primary renal neoplasms found in the files of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, 36 were of tubular cell origin (five adenomas and 31 carcinomas), six of transitional cell origin (two papillomas and four carcinomas), two were nephroblastomas and four were nonepithelial. With the exception of nephroblastomas, renal neoplasms occurred in dogs older than 5 years and were most common in males. No breed predilection was apparent. Eight of the neoplasms were classified by histologic criteria as benign and 40 as malignant. Seventeen of the malignant neoplasms had metastasized. The neoplasms of tubular cell origin contained solid, tubular and papillary patterns, often mixed within the same tumor.
Efficacy and side effects of antibiotics in the treatment of acute rhinosinusitis: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND Acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) is one of the most common diagnoses for which an antibiotic is prescribed. Although the usage of antibiotics in the treatment of mild, moderate or uncomplicated ARS is not recommended by most international guidelines, overuse of antibiotics is still an alarming problem among patients and healthcare practitioners. We thus sought to review the evidence available through a systematic review of the existing literature on antibiotic usage in ARS. METHODOLOGY A search of the PubMed database was conducted for studies on antibiotic and placebo usage in the treatment of ARS. RESULTS A total of 31 random control trials (RCT) reporting the clinical efficacy of treating ARS and side effects of using cefuroxime axetil, telithromycin, amoxicillin/potassium clavulanate, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin and clarithromycin were included in the review. Among them, 9 studies were performed double-blinded with placebo controls. The results showed that while antibiotics are more efficacious than placebos in the treatment of ARS, the risks of potential side effects need to be weighed against the potential benefit that antibiotics give to the patient. This is especially pertinent as usage of the placebo has shown to be almost as efficacious as using the antibiotic therapy, and also much safer. CONCLUSION The usage of antibiotics in ARS is widespread and there seems to be only slight added benefit in the usage of antibiotics over placebo in the treatment of ARS. Hence, larger scale studies should be done in the future to confirm the results of these studies.
Probiotic therapy in the prevention of pouchitis onset: decreased interleukin-1beta, interleukin-8, and interferon-gamma gene expression.

BACKGROUND Probiotic therapy has been shown to prevent the onset of pouchitis and to improve the quality of life in ulcerative colitis patients who required ileal pouch anal anastomosis. Pouchitis has been associated with elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. METHODS In this retrospective analysis of archived endoscopic samples from responding patients enrolled in the above-mentioned trial, we were interested in studying mucosal gene expression of the pleiotropic proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6), TH1 cytokines (interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-12), regulatory cytokines (interleukin-10, transforming growth factor-beta), and the chemokine interleukin-8. In addition to assessment of cytokine gene expression, the presence of polymorphonuclear cells in the mucosal tissue was evaluated. RESULTS Data show that patients who were treated with probiotics had significant lower mucosal mRNA expression levels of interleukin-1beta, interleukin-8, and interferon-gamma compared with placebo-treated patients. In addition, a lower number of polymorphonuclear cells was present in the tissue of patients within the probiotic group compared with the number of polymorphonuclear cells in the tissue of patients receiving placebo and patients having an episode of pouchitis. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that probiotic treatment regulates the mucosal immune response by reducing mucosal levels of neutrophil-chemoattractant IL-8 and tissue influx of polymorphonuclear cells, and may further act by inhibition of T-cell activation, by reinforcement of barrier function and by a tight control of the potent pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1beta.
Effects of exogenous recombinant ovine interferon tau on circulating concentrations of progesterone, cortisol, luteinizing hormone, and antiviral activity; interestrous interval; rectal temperature; and uterine response to oxytocin in cyclic ewes.

Interferon tau (IFN tau) is the conceptus-produced antiluteolytic signal in ruminants. Three experiments examined the effects of s.c. administration of recombinant ovine (ro)IFN tau on interestrous interval (IEI), oxytocin (OT)-induced uterine prostaglandin F2alpha metabolite (PGFM) production, rectal temperature (RT), respiration rate (RR), and plasma concentrations of progesterone, cortisol, LH, and antiviral activity (AVA) in plasma and uterine flushings. In experiment I, 20 ewes were treated s.c. with either 0, 1, 2, or 4 mg/day roIFN tau (0.7 x 10(8) U/mg; 5 ewes/dosage) from Days 11 to 15 of the estrous cycle (estrus = Day 0) and were challenged with OT (30 IU) on Day 15. Jugular blood samples were collected at -10, 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 min relative to the OT challenge and assayed for PGFM. Recombinant oIFN tau increased IEI (16.7, 18.7, and 22.6 +/- 0.6 days for 0, 2, and 4 mg roIFN tau, respectively, p < 0.01). Recombinant oIFN tau did not affect peak PGFM response to OT (2309 +/- 172 pg/ml; p > 0.1). However, the 4 mg/day dosage delayed the time to peak PGFM (32.4 vs. 47.5 +/- 3.4 min; p < 0.01, 0 vs. 4 mg) and resulted in approximately 200% higher concentrations of PGFM at 60 min post-OT (0 vs. 4 mg/day, p < 0.07). Experiment II was similar to experiment I, except that only the 0- and 4-mg/day dosages of roIFN tau were administered. Ewes were hysterectomized on Day 16, and assay of uterine flushes detected no AVA from ewes treated with either 0 or 4 mg/day roIFN tau. In experiment III, 20 ewes were treated s.c. with either 0, 2, 4, or 6 mg roIFN tau on Day 12. Blood samples, RT, and RR were obtained at frequent intervals for 24 h, and plasma was assayed for progesterone, cortisol, LH, and AVA. Plasma AVA, which increased in a dose-dependent manner, was detectable within 60 min and remained elevated at 24 h compared to control values. RT (elevated 0.5-1.0 degrees C), RR, and cortisol increased in response to all dosages of roIFN tau, with peak values occurring 150-180 min postinjection. For all dosages of roIFN tau, plasma progesterone declined from 120 to 360 min posttreatment and then returned to pretreatment values by 24 h (p < 0.01) as compared to controls. Overall, exogenous roIFN tau altered uterine PGFM response to OT from a pulse to a gradual and sustained elevation and extended IEI with only a transient decline in progesterone and mild hyperthermia, effects that are not expected to compromise pregnancy.
Studies on the affinity of methanol--and methane--utilizing bacteria for their carbon substrates.

Methanol- and methane-utilizing organisms were grown in chemostat culture and the response of respiration rate to different concentrations of substrate was measured. Cells of Pseudomonas extorquens NCIB 9399 grown on methanol demonstrated a high affinity for methanol (Km=20·4 μM). The affinities for formaldehyde and formate were 104 μM and 228 μM, respectively. The maximum respiration rate was similar for all 3 substrates. Methanol concentrations of 100 times the Km for formaldehyde so that inhibition by formaldehyde formed as an intermediate in methanol oxidation would be very unlikely. The Km for methane of a culture of a pseudomonad grown on methane was very low, 26 μM; that of the same organism for methanol was 50 μM. The maximum respiration on methanol was c. twice that on methane so that no methanol accumulation would be expected in a methane limited chemostat culture of this organism.
Polyamine Metabolism in Differentiating Friend Erythroleukemia Cells 1

Changes occur in polyamine metabolism which are associated with differentiation of Friend erythroleukemia cells in culture. The intracellular distribution of the polyamines changes, the absolute level of each of the major polyamines falls, and the uptake and metabolism of exogenous putrescine is altered during the course of differentiation. We have examined the labeling of putrescine metabolites after the administration of radioactive putrescine, either as a single dose added at the onset of induction, or as a pulse label added at various times during the course of differ entiation. In these experiments we measured both acid-soluble and acid-precipitable radioactivity. The conversion of putrescine to -y-aminobutyric acid is enhanced in the cell induced to differ entiate, and the acid-precipitable fraction rises as the percentage of total cell-associated radioactivity in the induced cell. We have identified hypusine |/V-,-(4-amino-2-hydroxybutyl)lysine| as a ma jor radioactive component of a single radioactive M, 18,000 protein band in both the noninduced and the induced cells.
Distribution of collagenase and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP) in colorectal tumours

Increased collagenase activity in colorectal carcinomas has recently been shown to be associated with increased malignant potential. To determine the tissue distribution of collagenase and its specific inhibitor, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP), we carried out an immunohistochemical study on colorectal carcinomas (n = 20), adenomas (n = 7) and normal mucosa (n = 6). We found increased staining for collagenase in the connective tissue stroma of carcinomas, as compared with adenomas and normal mucosa. Little evidence of epithelial cell staining for collagenase was seen in any tissue. In carcinomas, both stromal fibroblasts and collagen fibres stained strongly and stromal staining was strongest close to neoplastic glands. Vascular staining was more prominent in neoplastic than normal tissues, perhaps reflecting the increased proteolytic activity during tumour angiogenesis. The pattern of TIMP immunostaining was similar to that of collagenase, although basement membrane staining for TIMP was generally more intense. Another difference was that, unlike TIMP, staining for collagenase was often increased at the invasive edge of carcinomas, perhaps reflecting increased collagenase activity at this location.
Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome : the intermediate state between autoimmune diseases of blood system and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma : a report of two cases and review of the literature

Autoimmune diseases (ADs) have close relationship with the onset of malignant lymphoma. They closely tie to lymphoma. Immune disorders might play an important role in transformation from ADs to lymphoma. DLBCL occurred after autoimmune hematological diseases and autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) was rare. The interval between ADs and DLBCL was long and the pathogenesis might be related to the immune dysfunction and so on. ALPS might be a bridge. It starts with immune disorders, benign lymphocytic proliferation and infiltration, and at last it progresses malignant histologic variants. We reported two cases of hematological autoimmune disorders developed into DLBCL and ALPS was diagnosed before it evolved into DLBCL. It might help us to predict the risk of lymphoma when the patients are suffered from ADs. New therapeutic methods need to be explored to treat autoimmune hematological diseases. Whether they could prevent ADs from malignant transformation needs further research.
Two distinct genes drive expression of seven tomosyn isoforms in the mammalian brain, sharing a conserved structure with a unique variable domain

Tomosyn was previously identified as a syntaxin‐binding protein that inhibits soluble NSF (n‐ethylmaleimide‐sensitive fusion protein) attachment protein receptor (SNARE)‐mediated secretion. We set out to investigate the distribution of tomosyn mRNA in the mammalian brain and found evidence for the presence of two paralogous genes designated tomosyn‐1 and ‐2. In a collection of tomosyn‐2 cDNA clones, we observed four splice variants (named xb‐, b‐, m‐ and s‐tomosyn‐2) derived from the skipping of exons 19 and 21. This feature is conserved with tomosyn‐1 that encodes three splice variants. To compare the expression pattern of tomosyn‐1 and ‐2, we performed in situ hybridization experiments with gene‐specific probes. Both genes were expressed in the nervous system, clearly following distinct spatial and developmental expression patterns. Real‐time quantitative PCR experiments indicated that tomosyn‐1 expression was up‐regulated less than threefold between developmental stages E10 and P12, whereas tomosyn‐2 expression increased 31‐fold. Not only the transcription level, but also the splice composition of tomosyn‐2 mRNA shifted during development. We conclude that two distinct genes drive expression of seven tomosyn isoforms. Their expression patterns support a role in regulating neuronal secretion. All isoforms share conserved WD40 and SNARE domains separated by a hypervariable module, the function of which remains to be clarified.
Cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis: a review of recent developments.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Nearly half of all patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis will develop cognitive dysfunction, a symptom associated with significant decline in activities of daily living. The purpose of this review is to discuss recent literature investigating issues related to cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis. RECENT FINDINGS Recent studies, examined in this review, have provided increased understanding regarding specific cognitive processes affected in multiple sclerosis, as well as a characterization of its natural history. Studies have also continued to emphasize the extent to which cognitive deficits in the condition are associated with decline in daily living skills. Recent concerns regarding driving performance have been documented among cognitively impaired individuals. Studies have also examined correlates of cognitive dysfunction, with particular emphasis on neuroimaging techniques reflecting disease activity or lesion burden. With increased understanding of neurobiological correlates of cognitive deficits, investigators have begun to examine potential treatments for managing cognitive dysfunction. SUMMARY This area of research has suggested that disease modifying medications can have an impact on magnetic resonance imaging disease activity by altering the cerebral demyelinating process resulting in a slower decline in cognitive functions over time and improved activities of daily living for patients with multiple sclerosis.