Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevention of radiocontrast nephropathy with N-acetylcysteine in patients with chronic kidney disease: a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials.

BACKGROUND Radiocontrast nephropathy (RCN) is a common cause of hospital-acquired acute renal failure. Results of several studies using N-acetylcysteine (NAC) for the prevention of RCN have yielded conflicting results. We performed a meta-analysis of group data extracted from previously published studies to assess the effect of NAC on the prevention of RCN in patients with pre-existing chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS Ovid's multidatabase search for MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and HealthSTAR were used to identify candidate articles. Abstracts from proceedings of scientific meetings also were screened. We selected blinded and unblinded randomized controlled trials (RCTs) performed in humans 18 years and older with pre-existing CKD, defined by a mean baseline serum creatinine level of 1.2 mg/dL or greater (> or =106.1 micromol/L) or creatinine clearance less than 70 mL/min (<1.17 mL/s). The overall risk ratio (RR) for the development of RCN was computed using a random-effects model. RESULTS Eight RCTs (n = 885 patients) published in full-text articles were included in the primary analysis. In the control group, the overall rate of RCN was 18.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 15 to 22). In the primary analysis, overall RR for RCN associated with the use of NAC was 0.41 (95% CI, 0.22 to 0.79; P = 0.007). In a sensitivity analysis that included 4 additional RCTs published in abstract form, RR remained significant at 0.55 (95% CI, 0.34 to 0.91; P = 0.020). CONCLUSION NAC reduces the risk for RCN in patients with CKD.
Life-time investigation of mica-based insulation for high voltage machines subjected to converter-like voltages

The industrial use of converter fed high-voltage machines is steadily growing. The driver behind the growth is the possibility to control the output power from the machine to be adjusted to the actual needed power of the load. This leads to a more cost- and energy efficient use of the assets. For some applications the development of the converter topology has gone from 2-level to multi-level, which has changed the voltage waveshape from a square-wave looking voltage to a sinusoidal looking voltage superimposed with a ripple of pulses, characterized by their discrete pulse voltage amplitudes, the pulse repetition frequency, and the pulse rise-time. The question is how this type of converter-like voltage will affect the aging of the machine insulation in comparison to power frequency ac voltage. This paper presents the test set-up for generating voltage wave-shapes similar to multi-level converter output voltages. The flexibility of the test set-up to combine ac and pulsed voltages into converter-like voltages with different ripple contents, has enabled a study of the influence of the ripple content on the lifetime of mica-based insulation. We define the ripple content as the ratio between the pulse voltage amplitude and the total peak-to-peak voltage. It is shown that the peak-to-peak voltage and the fundamental frequency, and not the pulse repetition frequency, influence the insulation aging rate up to a ripple content of at least 43 %.
Gastric stromal tumors.

Los tumores estromales son poco frecuentes y constituyen la segunda neoplasia no epitelial más frecuente, luego del linfoma en el estómago. Su comportamiento no es fácil de predecir y depende la mayoría de las veces del tamaño del tumor y del número de mitosis. El tratamiento habitual es la cirugía. Se presentan 13 enfermos operados, 7 hombres y 6 mujeres, con una edad de 63,4 ± 14,8 años. La manifestación clínica más frecuente fue la hemorragia digestiva alta en 8 pacientes. Se sospechó, luego del estudio endoscópico, un tumor estromal en 5 (38,5%) de ellos. Se realizaron 9 resecciones gástricas en cuña (una por vía laparoscópica), 2 gastrectomías totales y 2 subtotales. El estudio anatomopatológico mostró 7 tumores benignos y 6 malignos. La sobrevida a 54 meses de seguimiento promedio fue de 92%.
Circulating long non-coding RNAs in plasma of patients with gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND We examined the levels of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the plasma of patients with gastric cancer to assess their clinical significance for diseases diagnosing and monitoring. MATERIALS AND METHODS We investigated the stability of plasma lncRNAs, and then confirmed the appropriateness of the lncRNA assay with a pre-amplification method. The levels of plasma lncRNAs, H19, HOX antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR), and metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript-1 (MALAT1), were then analyzed in patients with gastric cancer (GC) and healthy controls. RESULTS Plasma lncRNAs exhibited minimal gradual instability only under several severe conditions. Analysis showed that samples with pre-amplification had a higher level of linearity in the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay than those without pre-amplification. Plasma H19 levels were significantly higher in patients than in healthy controls. Plasma H19 levels were significantly reduced in postoperative samples. CONCLUSION Circulating lncRNAs can be detectable in plasma, and the detection of circulating lncRNAs may provide new complementary tumor markers for gastric cancer.
Multivariate analysis of the Croatian clusters

Clusters have an important role in fostering regional and national economic development. Clustering can help the members to take advantages of the benefits discussed in this article. The aim of the article is to identify the reasons why some of the cluster members in Croatia do not recognise the benefits of clustering? In this article the authors use a multivariate analysis to obtain results to confirm if there are significant differences among firms that: (1) think that clustering helps them; (2) believe that the idea is good but does not function in practice; and (3) consider that clusters are not necessary. Our analysis suggests that different attitudes toward satisfaction with exchange of information, joint promotion, education and market research are the main reasons why these observed cluster members differ. The result of our study can be useful in formulating policies for the future cluster development programmes in Croatia.
UHPLC/PDA-ESI/MS analysis of the main berry and leaf flavonol glycosides from different Carpathian Hippophaë rhamnoides L. varieties.

INTRODUCTION Sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides L.) is known to be rich in many bioactive compounds (such as vitamins, phenolics, carotenoids) important for human health and nutrition. Among the phenolics, berries and leaves contain a wide range of flavonols that are good quality and authenticity biomarkers. OBJECTIVE To compare the composition of the main flavonols of Romanian sea buckthorn berry and leaf varieties and to identify the specific biomarkers that contribute to sample differentiation among varieties. MATERIAL AND METHODS Six varieties of cultivated sea buckthorn (ssp. Carpatica) berries and leaves were analysed by UHPLC/PDA-ESI/MS. RESULTS Berries and leaves contained mainly isorhamnetin (I) glycosides in different ratios. Whereas I-3-neohesperidoside, I-3-glucoside, I-3-rhamnosylglucoside, I-3-sophoroside-7-rhamnoside and free isorhamnetin were predominant for berries (out of 17 compounds identified), I-3-rhamnosylglucoside, I-3-neohesperidoside, I-3-glucoside, quercetin-3-pentoside, kaempferol-3-rutinoside, and quercetin-3-glucoside were predominant in leaves (out of 19 compounds identified). Berries contained, on average, 917 mg/100 g DW flavonol glycosides. Leaves had higher content of flavonol glycosides than berries, on average 1118 mg/100 g DW. The variation of the quantitative dataset analysed using principal component analysis accounted for 91% of the total variance in the case of berries and 73% in case of leaves, demonstrating a good discrimination among samples. CONCLUSION Based on quantitative analysis, by principal component analysis, the flavonol derivatives can be considered as biomarkers to discriminate among varieties and to recognise specifically the berry versus leaf composition.
Standardized quick en bloc technique for procurement of cadaveric liver grafts for pediatric liver transplantation

This paper describes a quick procedure for cadaveric liver graft retrieval during multiple organ harvesting. The technique is based on minimal preliminary dissection, absence of in situ direct portal perfusion, and en bloc removal of the liver and pancreas, with an aortic patch encompassing the coeliac trunk and superior mesenteric artery. The results of 110 pediatric liver transplantations with 109 organs harvested using this technique are reported. There were no graft harvesting injuries. The liver graft primary nonfunction rate was 4.5% (5/110). The 3-month retransplantation rate was 10%. The actual patient survival rates were 93% at 3 months and 90% at 1 year; actual graft survival rates were 85.5% and 78%, respectively. The technique described was at least as safe as conventional procedures. A major advantage of the procedure is its flexibility, which allows for the easily combined procurement of other organs (whole pancreas and intestine).
Current profile modification with electron cyclotron current drive in the DIII-D tokamak

Proof-of-principle experiments on the suitability of electron cyclotron current drive (ECCD) for active current profile control are reported. Experiments with second harmonic extraordinary mode absorption at power levels near 1 MW have demonstrated ability to modify the current profile. This modification is manifested in changes in the internal inductance and the time at which sawteeth appear. Measurements of the local current density and internal loop voltage using high resolution motional Stark effect spectroscopy to half of the minor radius in discharges with localized deposition clearly demonstrate localized off-axis ECCD at the predicted location. Comparison with theory indicates the detrimental effect of trapped electrons on the current drive efficiency is less than predicted. Modification of the theory for finite collisionality is the leading candidate to explain the observations.
Mucosal-associated invariant T-cell function is modulated by programmed death-1 signaling in patients with active tuberculosis.

RATIONALE Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells have been proven to play an important role in host defense against mycobacterial infection in animal infection models; however, the functional role of MAIT cells in patients with active tuberculosis (TB) is still largely unknown. OBJECTIVES To understand the clinical features and functions of MAIT cells in patients with active TB. METHODS MAIT cells were analyzed in patients with pulmonary TB, tuberculous pleurisy, and tuberculous peritonitis by flow cytometry. The functions of MAIT cells were compared between patients with active TB and healthy control subjects. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The frequency of MAIT cells was significantly reduced both in peripheral blood from patients with active pulmonary TB (P < 0.0001) and in tuberculous pleural effusions compared with healthy control subjects but not in ascitic fluids from patients with tuberculous peritonitis. A comparison of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-stimulated cytokine production showed that patients with active TB had significantly higher production of IFN-γ (P = 0.0034) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (P = 0.0399) compared with healthy control subjects. In contrast, when MAIT cells were stimulated with Escherichia coli, patients with active TB had significantly lower production of IFN-γ (P = 0.0007) and TNF-α (P = 0.0032). MAIT cells in patients with active TB exhibited elevated expression of programmed death-1 (PD-1) (P = 0.0015), and blockade of PD-1 signaling resulted in a significantly higher frequency of BCG-stimulated IFN-γ production in MAIT cells (P = 0.0178). CONCLUSIONS MAIT-cell immune response to antigen stimulation in patients with active TB is regulated by PD-1, which could be a potential target for TB immunotherapy.
Childhood adversities associated with risk for eating disorders or weight problems during adolescence or early adulthood.

OBJECTIVE A community-based prospective longitudinal study was conducted to investigate the association between childhood adversities and problems with eating or weight during adolescence and early adulthood. METHOD A community-based sample of 782 mothers and their offspring were interviewed during the childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood of the offspring. Childhood maltreatment, eating problems, environmental risk factors, temperament, maladaptive parental behavior, and parental psychopathology were assessed during childhood and adolescence. Eating disorders and problems with eating or weight in the offspring were assessed during adolescence and early adulthood. RESULTS A wide range of childhood adversities were associated with elevated risk for eating disorders and problems with eating or weight during adolescence and early adulthood after the effects of age, childhood eating problems, difficult childhood temperament, parental psychopathology, and co-occurring childhood adversities were controlled statistically. Numerous unique associations were found between specific childhood adversities and specific types of problems with eating or weight, and different patterns of association were obtained among the male and female subjects. Maladaptive paternal behavior was uniquely associated with risk for eating disorders in offspring after the effects of maladaptive maternal behavior, childhood maltreatment, and other co-occurring childhood adversities were controlled statistically. CONCLUSIONS Childhood adversities may contribute to greater risk for the development of eating disorders and problems with eating and weight that persist into early adulthood. Maladaptive paternal behavior may play a particularly important role in the development of eating disorders in offspring.
Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm

A 72-year-old elderly male smoker with a known history of hypertension presented with a six day history of chest pain. His blood pressure at presentation was 110/70 mmHg and there was no audible murmur. ECG showed Q waves in the inferior leads (Figure 1A) and troponin level was elevated (14 μg/L). Chest X-ray showed cardiomegaly with linear atelectasis in both lung bases.  The working diagnosis was a delayed presentation of inferior myocardial infarction (MI) and was treated with antithrombotic therapy. He was scheduled to undergo an urgent coronary angiography the next day. Prior to radial artery puncture, he developed a generalized tonic clonic seizure in
Characterization of glutathione conjugates of reactive metabolites of 3'-hydroxyacetanilide, a nonhepatotoxic positional isomer of acetaminophen.

3'-Hydroxyacetanilide (AMAP) is a nonhepatotoxic regioisomer of acetaminophen (APAP) that nonetheless does form reactive metabolites which bind to hepatic proteins. Because differences in the nature of reactive metabolites formed from AMAP and APAP may explain differences in their propensity to cause hepatotoxicity, characterization of the reactive metabolites of AMAP was undertaken. The naturally occurring sulfhydryl-containing tripeptide glutathione (GSH) was used to trap the reactive metabolites. Four mono-GSH conjugates and one di-GSH conjugate of oxidative AMAP metabolites were characterized by 1H NMR and soft ionization (LSIMS or FAB) mass spectral techniques, as well as by comparison of liquid chromatographic and spectral characteristics with synthetic standards. Two isomeric mono-GSH conjugates of 2-acetamidohydroquinone (2-AcHQ) are formed as well as a bis-GSH conjugate. A mono-GSH conjugate of 3',4'-dihydroxyacetanilide (3-OH-APAP) also was formed. Thus, these GSH conjugates most likely arise by reaction of GSH with 2-acetamido-p-benzoquinone (2-APBQ) and 4-acetamido-o-benzoquinone (4-AOBQ), respectively, as oxidation products of the known AMAP metabolites 2-AcHQ and 3-OH-APAP. Finally, a GSH conjugate of 3'-methoxy-4'-hydroxy-acetanilide (3-OMe-APAP) was detected in bile of mice administered AMAP. This conjugate probably arises by oxidation of 3-OMe-APAP, another known metabolite of AMAP. The presumed oxidation product, N-acetyl-3-methoxy-p-benzoquinone imine (MAPQI), was synthesized and found to react with GSH to give the same GSH conjugate as that detected in bile and in incubations of 3-OMe-APAP with mouse liver microsomes plus GSH. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Cell‐type specific alterations of cortical interneurons in schizophrenic patients

&NA; In the human brain, cortical GABAergic interneurons represent an important population of local circuit neurons responsible for the intrinsic modulation of neuronal information and have been supposed to be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. We conducted a quantitative study on the differentiated three‐dimensional morphological structure of two types of parvalbumin‐immunoreactive interneurons in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) of schizophrenic patients versus controls. While type A interneurons (’small bipolar cells‘) showed a significant reduction of their soma size in schizophrenics, type B interneurons (’small multipolar cells‘) of schizophrenic patients exhibited a marked decrease in the extent of their dendritic system. These results further support the assumption of a considerable significance of the ACC, an important limbic relay centre, for the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenic psychoses.
Métriques riemanniennes qui admettent le plan comme surface minimale

Deux problemes relatifs aux metriques riemanniennes de l'espace ambiant sont abordes dans ce memoire : etude des surfaces minimales pour la metrique de Heisenberg et determination des metriques riemanniennes qui admettent tous les plans comme surfaces minimales. Le probleme des surfaces minimales est toujours d'actualite dans l'espace euclidien. Le plus celebre est celui qui est illustre par la bulle de savon. Le cas non euclidien est jusqu'a ce jour tres peu aborde (excepte le cas hyperbolique et le cas des metriques induites sur les spheres). Ici on s'interesse aux metriques riemanniennes issues des algebres de Heisenberg. Ces metriques sont une generalisation tres naturelle de la metrique euclidienne. La premiere partie de cette these concerne la determination des surfaces minimales dans l'espace de Heisenberg. Cette etude met en evidence l'existence de certaines surfaces qui sont minimales aussi bien dans l'espace de Heisenberg que dans l'espace euclidien. Elle montre que tous les plans euclidiens sont des surfaces minimales pour la metrique de Heisenberg. Ceci m'a conduit tout naturellement a examiner quelles sont les metriques riemanniennes qui jouissent de cette propriete. Ce probleme fait l'objet de la deuxieme partie de ce memoire. Il est entierement resolu pour toutes les metriques qui admettent une symetrie axiale
Phylogeography of field voles (Microtus agrestis) in Eurasia inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences

In a distribution‐wide phylogeographic survey of the field vole (Microtus agrestis), 75 specimens from 56 localities across Eurasia were examined for DNA sequence variation along the whole 1140 base pair (bp) mitochondrial (mt) cytochrome b gene. The species is subdivided into three main mtDNA phylogeographic groups — western, eastern and southern — with largely allopatric distributions. The western phylogeographical group is found in west and central Europe and spread most probably from a glacial refugium in the Carpathians. The eastern group covers a large range from Lithuania to central Asia, and probably originated from a southeast European source (e.g. the southern Urals or the Caucasus). The southern group occupies an area from Portugal to Hungary, with division into two distinct mtDNA sublineages that presumably derive from separate glacial refugia in the Iberian Peninsula. Molecular clock estimates suggest that the western and eastern field vole populations separated during the last glaciation, whereas the southern population dates back 0.5–0.9 Myr. High levels of mtDNA variation indicate relatively large population sizes and subdivisions within phylogeographic groups during the last glaciation. We report a possible new suture zone in east Europe.
A Variant Form of Mucolipidosis IV: Report on 4 Patients From the Indian Subcontinent

The clinical manifestations and histopathologic and neuroimaging findings in 4 Indian patients with a variant form of mucolipidosis IV are described. The presenting symptoms were psychomotor delay, spastic paraplegia, and mild mental retardation. One patient also had visual deterioration due to optic atrophy. None had corneal or retinal abnormalities. Magnetic resonance imaging in 3 patients showed a uniformly thin corpus callosum in all patients and white matter changes in 2 patients. Electron microscopic examination of skin biopsy specimens revealed storage bodies characteristic of mucolipidosis IV. These patients differ from previously described patients with this disorder in the absence of corneal abnormalities and in their presentation with spastic paraplegia during the second decade of life. Correct diagnosis is needed for genetic counseling, prognostication. and reduction of additional familial burden of this rare disease.
Ursolic Acid Inhibits the Proliferation of Gastric Cancer Cells by Targeting miR-133a

Ursolic acid (UA), a potential chemotherapeutic agent, has the properties of inhibition of the growth of many human cancer cell lines. Whether UA can inhibit the growth and metastasis of human gastric cancer cells remains unknown. In this study, it was found that UA inhibited the growth and metastasis of human gastric cancer cells in vitro. Our results showed the increase of the percent of apoptotic cells and G1 phase, the inhibition of cell migrations well as the decrease of the expression of Bax, caspase 3 and Bcl-2 in BGC-823 cells after the treatment with UA. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis showed that UA treatment upregulated the level of miR-133a in BGC-823 cells. Overexpression of miR-133a increased the G1 phase of cell cycle and decreased Akt1 expression in BGC-823 cells. These outcomes might be secondary to the increased expression of miR-133a after the treatment with UA.
Power, Risk, and the Status Quo

Two experiments suggest that the experience of power can interact with a person's level of power motivation to produce effects on risky decision making. In Study 1, assignment to a position of power increased risk taking among participants with low levels of power motivation but reduced risk taking among participants with high levels of power motivation. In Study 2, participants high in power motivation again made more conservative decisions, but only under circumstances in which the dominance hierarchy was unstable and there was potential for losing their power. When power was irrevocable and participants' choices had no bearing on their ability to retain power, both high and low power-motivated participants responded by making riskier decisions. Findings suggest that although power may generally lead to riskier decisions, power may lead to more conservative decisions among power-motivated individuals, especially when the status quo is perceived to be in jeopardy.