Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prediction of Functional Outcome and In-Hospital Mortality After Admission With Oral Anticoagulant–Related Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Background and Purpose Early survival of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage in general is known to be most strongly dependent on the Glasgow Coma Scale score on admission. The aim of this study was to examine the factors determining functional outcome and in-hospital mortality of patients admitted with an intracerebral hemorrhage related to oral anticoagulant (OAC) use. Methods Correlation studies and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed on data from a retrospective series of 42 patients admitted with OAC-related intracerebral hemorrhages over a 6-year period to a tertiary care center in the north of Scotland. Results The functional outcome after an OAC-related intracerebral hemorrhage was dependent on maximum diameter of hematoma on CT scan (R =−0.72, P <0.001) and international normalized ratio (INR) (R =−0.35, P =0.024). Hematoma diameter and INR were not themselves strongly correlated (R =0.31, P =0.099). In-hospital mortality can be predicted by the Glasgow Coma Scale score alone (R2=0.36, overall predictive accuracy 68%) but more accurately by a logistic regression model including hematoma diameter and CT signs of cerebrovascular disease (R2=0.70, predictive accuracy 83%). Conclusions Neither functional outcome nor in-hospital mortality appears to be strongly dependent on INR measured on admission. CT scan, however, provides essential information and allows accurate predictions about the short-term outcome of OAC-related intracerebral hemorrhages.
Evolution of Alachlor-Induced Nasal Neoplasms in the Long-Evans Rat

The chloracetanilide herbicide alachlor (2-chloro-2',6-diethyl-N-(methoxymethyl)-acetanilide) induces nasal neoplasms in rats following chronic dietary exposure. The present study sought to identify the cellular origin and mechanisms of tumor induction and progression. Male Long-Evans rats were fed alachlor (0 or 126 mg/kg/day) beginning at 6 weeks of age. Following 1 month of alachlor ingestion, neither histological abnormalities nor enhanced cell division (assessed by BrdU incorporation) occurred in any region of the nasal cavity. Six months of alachlor exposure resulted in proliferation of basal and nonbasal cells in the olfactory mucosa while inducing nasal masses in 7 of 15 animals. Tumors ranged from dysplastic plaques to polypoid adenomas and originated in the olfactory regions of the nasal cavity. Neoplasms were associated with regions of respiratory metaplasia and were often covered with a low cuboidal, poorly ciliated epithelium. Tumor cells did not express characteristics of the olfactory mucosa, including olfactory marker protein (OMP, for neurons) and NMa (antibody recognizing cytochrome P450 [CYP] 2A3, found in Bowman's glands). Sites of plaque and tumor development coincided with regions of NMa immunoreactivity. These data suggest that local metabolism is important in alachlor-induced olfactory tumors and support the concept that metaplastic respiratory epithelial cells give rise to the observed neoplasms.
Effect of cold water immersion on repeated cycling performance and limb blood flow

The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of cold water immersion (CWI) and active recovery (ACT) on resting limb blood flow, rectal temperature and repeated cycling performance in the heat. Ten subjects completed two testing sessions separated by 1 week; each trial consisted of an initial all-out 35-min exercise bout, one of two 15-min recovery interventions (randomised: CWI or ACT), followed by a 40-min passive recovery period before repeating the 35-min exercise bout. Performance was measured as the change in total work completed during the exercise bouts. Resting limb blood flow, heart rate, rectal temperature and blood lactate were recorded throughout the testing sessions. There was a significant decline in performance after ACT (mean (SD) −1.81% (1.05%)) compared with CWI where performance remained unchanged (0.10% (0.71%)). Rectal temperature was reduced after CWI (36.8°C (1.0°C)) compared with ACT (38.3°C (0.4°C)), as was blood flow to the arms (CWI 3.64 (1.47) ml/100 ml/min; ACT 16.85 (3.57) ml/100 ml/min) and legs (CW 4.83 (2.49) ml/100 ml/min; ACT 4.83 (2.49) ml/100 ml/min). Leg blood flow at the end of the second exercise bout was not different between the active (15.25 (4.33) ml/100 ml/min) and cold trials (14.99 (4.96) ml/100 ml/min), whereas rectal temperature (CWI 38.1°C (0.3°C); ACT 38.8°C (0.2°C)) and arm blood flow (CWI 20.55 (3.78) ml/100 ml/min; ACT 23.83 (5.32) ml/100 ml/min) remained depressed until the end of the cold trial. These findings indicate that CWI is an effective intervention for maintaining repeat cycling performance in the heat and this performance benefit is associated with alterations in core temperature and limb blood flow.
Neuropsychological Outcome After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention or Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Results From the Stent or Surgery (SoS) Trial

Background—Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) has been associated with a range of neurological and neuropsychological complications from stroke to cognitive problems such as memory and problem solving disturbance. However, little is known about the impact of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on neuropsychological outcome. Methods and Results—In the Stent or Surgery Trial (SoS), 988 patients were randomized in equal proportions between PCI supported by stent implantation and CABG. As a substudy of this trial, we undertook an evaluation of neurological and neuropsychological outcomes after intervention. A clinical examination and neuropsychological assessment consisting of 5 tests (Digit Span Forwards and Backwards, Visual Reproduction, Bourdon, and Block Design) were performed at baseline and 6 and 12 months after the procedure. A total of 145 patients were included in the substudy analysis: 77 in the PCI group and 68 in the CABG group. One patient in the PCI arm had a stroke. There was no significant difference between treatment groups at 6 and 12 months for any of the 5 tests. The mean change from baseline was also similar in both groups. Conclusions—We were not able to demonstrate an important and significant difference in neuropsychological outcome in patients treated with different revascularization strategies. This important finding needs to be examined in further research.
Racial differences in demographics, acute complications, and outcomes in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage: a large patient series.

OBJECT Few studies have focused on the impact of racial differences in demographics, clinical characteristics, acute complications, and outcomes of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The purpose of this study was to examine this issue. METHODS The authors evaluated prospectively collected data on 1711 adult patients with aneurysmal SAH who were entered into two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials conducted at neurosurgical centers in North America between 1991 and 1997. Admission characteristics, treatment modalities, in-hospital complications, and 3-month outcomes assessed by application of the Glasgow Outcome Scale were compared using the chi-square test, a t-test, the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, and multiple logistic regressions based on a significance level of 0.05 in 241 African-American, 1342 Caucasian, and 128 other racial minority patients. Caucasian patients were significantly older than patients of other races (p < 0.0001). African-American patients more frequently had a history of hypertension (p < 0.0001) and an elevated blood pressure at the time of admission (p < 0.0001). African-Americans and other racial minorities were more likely to have internal carotid artery aneurysms and Caucasians were more likely to have posterior circulation aneurysms (p = 0.0002). Rates of in-hospital complications were not significantly different except that pulmonary edema occurred more commonly in Caucasians (p = 0.036). After an adjustment was made for significant admission characteristics, the 3-month outcome was not significantly different among the races. CONCLUSIONS Race was not found to be a prognostic factor for outcome after aneurysmal SAH. The higher SAH mortality rate previously observed in African-American patients is likely a result of a higher incidence of SAH in this group. These findings highlight the importance of primary prevention programs aimed at modifying risk factors for SAH.
Physician Integration Strategies and Hospital Output: A Comparison of Rural and Urban Institutions

Physician integration strategies are attempts to bring physicians into hospital administration by giving them a role on the hospital board, employing them in administrative or clinical capacities, or expanding the administration issues dealt with by medical staff committees. This study used a production function model to examine whether such strategies affect hospital output, measured as case mix-adjusted discharges. The article hypothesizes that less management depth, smaller medical staffs, and an absence of nearby hospitals make physician integration a more important strategy for rural than urban hospitals. American Hospital Association data on 1,309 hospitals from 1982 showed there is no statistically significant evidence that physician integration affects the output of urban hospitals. However, four of the five measures were associated with more patient discharges in rural hospitals. Furthermore, rural and urban hospitals differ in their use of other inputs. It was concluded that physician integration can be an effective mechanism to enhance rural hospital output and that more research on rural hospitals is needed.
Ki-ras gene mutations, LOH of the APC and DCC genes, and microsatellite instability in primary colorectal carcinoma are not associated with micrometastases in pericolonic lymph nodes or with patients’ survival

Aims: The primary aim of this study was to look for possible correlations between molecular genetic changes in primary colorectal cancer and the presence or absence of micrometastases in the accompanying pericolonic lymph nodes. The secondary aim was to correlate the data on these molecular genetic changes and micrometastases with survival. Methods: One hundred and twenty five Dukes’s stage B colorectal cancers from 1989 to 1992 were analysed. The primary tumours were evaluated for Ki-ras mutation, adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) loss of heterozygosity (LOH), deleted in colon cancer (DCC) LOH, and microsatellite instability using standard molecular techniques. All available lymph nodes were immunohistochemically stained for micrometastases. Results: Micrometastases were present in 41% of patients. There were significantly more lymph nodes removed in the patients with micrometastases. Micrometastases were not associated with Ki-ras mutation, APC LOH, DCC LOH, or microsatellite instability, even when controlling for the number of lymph nodes removed. None of the molecular variables considered had a significant impact on either overall survival or on death with disease. Conclusions: There are insufficient data to justify using molecular genetic changes in primary colorectal carcinomas as prognostic markers. Micrometastases do not provide prognostic information on survival. There is value in increasing the numbers of lymph nodes removed and analysed along with the primary tumour.
Differential membrane antioxidant effects of immediate and long-term estradiol treatment of MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Previous studies have documented the direct antioxidant effects of estradiol, and it is tempting to ascribe the antiapoptosis effects of estradiol to its scavenging of reactive oxygen species. However, recent reports have also demonstrated that long-term exposure of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells to estradiol results in estrogen receptor- and estradiol dose-dependent overexpression of the antiapoptosis gene, bcl-2. We have used the pattern of protection of membrane phospholipids from oxidation as a probe to separate these direct and indirect effects of estradiol from one another. Immediate exposure to estradiol non-specifically protects all membrane phospholipids from oxidation by the diazo radical initiator, AMVN. This implies the direct antioxidant activity of estradiol in this system. In contrast, long-term exposure, with associated increased expression of bcl-2, protects only phosphatidylserine, the oxidation of which is a critical component of the final common pathway for apoptosis. This bcl-2-mediated indirect effect of estradiol is accompanied by prevention of apoptosis in MCF-7 cells.
No association between MGP rs1800802 polymorphism and stenosis of the coronary artery

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Matrix Gla protein (MGP) was originally isolated from bone but it is known to be expressed in several tissues including kidney, lung, heart, cartilage and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) of the blood vessel wall. Since it inhibits calcification in subendothelial space of vessels thus, we evaluated the association of rs1800802(T>C) polymorphism and stenosis of the coronary artery. DESIGN AND SETTING Cross-sectional case-control. SUBJECTS AND METHODS One hundred eighty two subjects recruited on the basis of study protocol from who underwent coronary angiography. The controls (n=70) had normal coronary arteries (up to 5% stenosis). The patients (n=112) subdivided into three subgroups; single-vessel disease (SVD), two-vessel disease (2VD) and three-vessel disease (3VD) based on the number of stenosed coronary vessels (at least 50% stenosis). rs1800802 (T>C) polymorphism was determined by PCR-RFLP technique. RESULTS Genotype distribution was not significant between control and patient groups. In addition, there were no significant differences between rs1800802 (T>C) frequency and gender (P=.092), and also patient subgroups (one-, two- and three vessel disease) (P=.840). CONCLUSION We concluded that rs1800802 (T>C) polymorphism within the MGP promoter is not related to stenosis of the coronary artery.
Repeated Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Treatment during Adolescence Increases Vasopressin V1A Receptor Binding in Syrian Hamsters: Correlation with Offensive Aggression

Repeated anabolic-androgenic steroid treatment during adolescence increases hypothalamic vasopressin and facilitates offensive aggression in male Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). The current study investigated whether anabolic-androgenic steroid exposure during this developmental period influenced vasopressin V(1A) receptor binding activity in the hypothalamus and several other brain areas implicated in aggressive behavior in hamsters. To test this, adolescent male hamsters were administered anabolic steroids or sesame oil throughout adolescence, tested for offensive aggression, and examined for differences in vasopressin V(1A) receptor binding using in situ autoradiography. When compared with control animals, aggressive, adolescent anabolic steroid-treated hamsters showed significant increases (20-200%) in the intensity of vasopressin V(1A) receptor labeling in several aggression areas, including the ventrolateral hypothalamus, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and lateral septum. However, no significant differences in vasopressin V(1A) receptor labeling were found in other brain regions implicated in aggressive responding, most notably the lateral zone from the medial preoptic area to anterior hypothalamus and the corticomedial amygdala. These data suggest that adolescent anabolic steroid exposure may facilitate offensive aggression by increasing vasopressin V(1A) receptor binding in several key areas of the hamster brain.
The Impact of Selected Factors on the Quality of Business Environment Assessment in the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic

Abstract The paper’s aim is to examine the dependence of the quality of the business environment on defined technological factors (availability of human capital and research and development infrastructure) and to define and quantify significant technological factors that create the quality of the business environment in the SMEs segment. Part of its goal was the comparison of the defined factors between the Czech Republic (CR) and the Slovak Republic (SR). In connection with the stated research goal, a questionnaire survey was conducted among businesses operating in the SME segment. Through this research, 312 companies were surveyed in the Czech Republic and 329 companies in the Slovak Republic. To achieve the primary goal of the article, methods such as correlation analysis and multiple linear regression modelling (t-tests, F-ratio, adjusted coefficient of determination, and so on) were applied. The results of the research have brought interesting findings. Research and development infrastructure, as well as the availability of human capital are important factors that have a positive impact on the business environment in both countries.
Performance evaluation and channel modeling of IEEE 802.15.4c in urban scenarios

The IEEE802.15. 4 is a low-bit-rate wireless communicate standard that enables global inter-connectivity and inter-operability amongst Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) transceivers from different manufacturers. It is also considered as the PHY and MAC technology for Wireless Sensor Networks, which can be widely used for sensing, gathering and operating information in future smart cities. In Jan. 2009, the 802.15. 4c amendment was approved to address the Chinese regulatory changes which have opened new bands for Wireless PAN using within China. However, the urban environments' impacts over its performance in the new band are still not clear. We demonstrate the viability of using IEEE 802.15. 4c in urban scenarios by a series of real field experiments and result analysis. Results show that at 4dBm transmission power over 780MHz channel and with typical antenna setups, the effective transmission range is 200 meters in open scenario, 60 and 40 meters in light and heavy traffic scenarios respectively. We also show that the performance is not affected evidently by the mobility of transceivers up to the speed of 80 km/h. The most important performance factors are the availability of line-of-sight between sender and receiver in urban scenarios. We also use the famous Rappaport channel model for field experimental data fitting, and show that the model is valid even with moving massive reflectors. The empirical data and model fitting will benefit upper layer protocol design based on 802.15. 4c in China in the future.
The Political Influence of Voters’ Interests on SEC Enforcement

I examine whether political influence by the government as a response to voters’ interest in employment conditions is reflected in the enforcement actions of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). I find that large employers are less likely to be subject to an SEC enforcement action, after controlling for firm size, accounting quality, distance to SEC office, and political contributions, among other factors. Next, I show that large employers are less likely to face an SEC enforcement action in presidential election years if they are headquartered in politically important states. I also find that firms that employ a larger proportion of a congressional district’s total workforce and are located in districts with high unemployment rates are less likely to be subject to an SEC enforcement action if the incumbent congressman serves on a committee that oversees the SEC. These findings suggest that voters’ interests are reflected in SEC enforcement.
A forced switching technique for current controlled three-level NPC ac-dc converter

In this paper forced switching control of three-level Neutral Point Clamped (NPC) ac-dc converter having rectification and regeneration capability is presented. This converter is utility friendly and maintains the dc-link voltage constant. Hysteresis current controller (HCC) is used for current control because of its simplicity, easy implementation and good dynamic performance. The comparison of a high frequency carrier signal at the input to the nonlinear element serves as an effective method of sustaining or quenching the limit cycles present in the system. This method ensures the advantages of HCC and guarantees constant switching frequency operation. This switching technique is called forced switching algorithm. Magnitude conditions of carrier signals are developed for proper switching of the converter. The closed-loop control scheme with hysteresis current control is implemented using Lab VIEW based data acquisition system. The performance of the proposed three-level ac-dc converter has been studied using MATLAB/Simulink and experimental results are presented to validate the proposed control scheme.
Providing cardiovascular risk management information to acute coronary syndrome patients: a randomized trial.

OBJECTIVES Cardiac patients have been shown to have inaccurate understanding of their cardiovascular risk. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether a guideline-based risk assessment and management intervention could facilitate understanding of cadiovascular risk and appropriate illness perceptions in cardiac patients. DESIGN Randomized trial. METHODS A total of 106 patients with MI or unstable angina were randomized to receive standard care with or without a 30-min nurse-led computerized Predict CVD-Diabetes (where CVD is cardiovascular disease) session. Patients' risk perceptions (using categorical and numerical measures), and perceptions of their heart condition were assessed at admission, discharge, and 3 months. RESULTS The intervention group rated the risk information as more easily understood than the control group. At discharge, they had increased perceptions of personal control, higher perceptions that a low-fat diet and regular exercise could help their condition, and believed their current illness would be shorter compared to the control group. At 3 months, no group differences were significant. The intervention had no effect on risk perceptions, which were high in both groups. Patients' perceptions of 'high' risk corresponded to numerical estimates of over 50%, which differs from clinical guidelines (over 20%). CONCLUSIONS A computerized cardiovascular risk assessment and management session can help acute coronary syndrome patients understand CVD risk information and improve perceptions of control in the short term, but not change risk perceptions. In-hospital risk factor assessment and management information may help patients understand the importance of key lifestyle changes. STATEMENT OF CONTRIBUTION WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ON THIS SUBJECT? : • Many members of the public, as well as patients with diagnosed coronary heart disease (CHD), have poor understanding of their cardiovascular disease risk. • Giving risk information can improve accuracy of risk perceptions, and may increase intentions to start preventive risk reduction treatments but more research is needed with patients with established CHD. WHAT DOES THIS STUDY ADD? : • Providing acute coronary syndrome patients with individualised risk assessment and risk management information may be beneficial over the short term by increasing patients' perceptions of control and the importance of key lifestyle changes. • A difficulty in communicating cardiovascular risk levels is the poor correspondence between patients' understanding of very high risk and the clinical definition of very high risk.