Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ketamine Potentiates Analgesic Effect of Morphine in Postoperative Epidural Pain Control

Background and Objectives Ketamine is currently the only N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor channel blocker in clinical use. This study evaluated the analgesic efficacy of epidurally coadministered ketamine and morphine in postoperative pain control. Methods The patient population consisted of ASA class I and II patients undergoing major joint replacement. Epidural lidocaine was used as the primary anesthesia for the surgery. In phase I of the study, either ketamine (10-30 mg) or morphine (0.5-2 mg) was administered via epidural catheter immediately after surgery. This was done to evaluate the dose-response effect of these drugs when used for postoperative pain relief, and the results were applied to phase II of the study, in which all patients received ketamine pretreatment (total 30 mg) with each dose of lidocaine administered before and during surgery. Forty patients were randomly divided into four groups, each of which received one of three different pain control regimens mixed with 10 mL of saline: group B received 10 mg ketamine, group C 2 mg morphine, and group D 10 mg ketamine plus 0.5 mg morphine while the control group A received 10 mL of saline with no additive. The intensity of pain expressed by patients, as well as the number of intramuscular meperidine (1 mg/kg) injections administered and any side effects that may have occurred, were recorded. Results Ketamine produced no significant pain relief. A 2-mg morphine dose did produce significant analgesia but was accompanied by a high incidence of side effects. Coadministration of subanalgesic doses of ketamine, 10 mg and morphine, 0.5 mg, however, also produced a strong analgesic effect. Conclusions Ketamine, although not itself an epidural analgesic agent, potentiates the analgesic effect of morphine, especially when administered as a pretreatment. The resulting lowered dosage of epidural morphine needed for postoperative pain relief reduces, in turn, the incidence of side effects. Pretreatment of patients with ketamine epidurally, followed by injections of combined morphine and ketamine could be a promising new analgesic regimen.
Thyroid Dysfunction And Pregnancy Outcome

Several studies conducted across the globe have reported a high prevalence of thyroid disorders in pregnant women. However evidence relating to adverse fetal and pregnancy consequences of maternal thyroid disorders are less well defined and not consistent. This study was thus conducted to find out the prevalence of thyroid disorders in pregnant ladies and to evaluate the adverse pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with such disorders.This study was conducted in the Central Clinical Laboratory,of Gauhati Medical College & Hospital. Records of TSH reports of samples received from the obstetrics ward and the labour room were maintained and analysed. Follow up of all the cases included in the study was done with regards to fetal and pregnancy outcome with the help of labour room records.During the 1 year period of study 9117 samples were received . Of them 1671 (18.33%) were found to be hypothyroid and 137(1.5%) hyperthyroid. Pre-eclampsia was the most common adverse outcome observed in 20.83% of hypothyroid ladies as compared to 9.1% in ladies with normal TSH levels.Other adverse outcome was preterm birth in 14.8%, low birth weight 17.14% and fetal death in 3.89% of hypothyroid cases. In pregnant ladies with hyperthyroidism significantly high percentage of adverse outcome was also noted. Preeclampsia 15.33%, preterm delivery 10.21%, low birth weight 33.06%,and fetal death 2.19%. The findings of this study are in accordance with those of previous studies which have reported high incidence of adverse outcome in pregnant ladies with thyroid disorders. Considering the findings of this and other similar studies it is highly appropriate to consider routine screening of pregnant ladies with TSH test so that thyroid disorders can be diagnosed early in pregnancy and adequately treated to avoid the adverse consequences.
Prestin topology: localization of protein epitopes in relation to the plasma membrane

Computer modeling of the outer hair cell (OHC) motor protein prestin produces ambiguous results regarding transmembrane regions and localization of its termini. To determine the location of prestin's N- and C-termini, we created prestin constructs with synthetic epitopes located immediately upstream or downstream of prestin. The spatial distribution of these epitopes was studied in prestin-transfected cells using immunofluorescence. In permeabilized cells, antibodies label the plasma membrane of 30% of the cells, reflecting transfec- tion efficiency. Under non-permeabilizing conditions, the few labeled cells also displayed a lack of plasma membrane integrity. These data suggest that prestin's N-and C-termini are cytoplasmic. Furthermore, prestin staining in OHCs was observed only under permeabilizing conditions. These results implicate prestin's N- and C-termini as portions that may interact with other cytoplasmic proteins. A model of prestin membrane topology is also considered based on the results.
INTER-EFFECT ORTHOGONALITY AND OPTIMALITY IN HIERARCHICAL MODELS

SUMMARY. It is shown that in hierarchical models if a fractional factorial plan allows inter‐eect orthogonality then it is also universally optimal. It is also demonstrated that this phenomenon does not necessarily hold in non‐hierarchical models. A combinatorial characterization for inter‐eect orthogonality is given for hierarchical models and its applications are indicated.
Expression of the Type II Iodothyronine Deiodinase in Cultured Rat Astrocytes Is Selenium-dependent*

The iodothyronine deiodinases are a family of selenoproteins that metabolize thyroxine and other thyroid hormones to active and inactive metabolites in a number of tissues including brain. Using primary cultures of rat astroglial cells as a model system, we demonstrate that the mRNA for the type II iodothyronine deiodinase (DII) selenoenzyme is rapidly and markedly induced by forskolin and 8-bromo-cAMP. The induction of DII activity, however, was significantly impaired by culturing cells in selenium-deficient medium for 7 days. Under such conditions, the addition of selenium resulted in a rapid increase in cAMP-induced DII activity that was dose-dependent, with maximal effects noted within 2 h. Cycloheximide blocked this effect of selenium on restoring cAMP-induced DII activity, whereas actinomycin D did not. These data demonstrate that the DII selenoenzyme is expressed in cultured astrocytes and that the induction of DII activity by cAMP analogues appears to be mediated, at least in part, by pretranslational mechanisms. Furthermore, selenium deprivation impairs the expression of DII activity at the level of translation.
Faber polynomials in the theory of univalent functions

Introduction. The Faber polynomials play an important role in the theory of univalent functions. Grunsky [ l] succeeded in establishing a set of conditions for a given function which are necessary and in their totality sufficient for the uni valency of this function, and in these conditions the coefficients of the Faber polynomials play an important role. Schiffer [2] gave a differential equation for univalent functions solving certain extremum problems with respect to the coefficients of such functions ; in this differential equation appears again a polynomial which is just the derivative of a Faber polynomial (cf. Schiffer [3]; see also Schaeffer-Spencer [4]). It seems, therefore, of interest to study these Faber polynomials more closely, in particular their dependence on the given function with respect to which they are defined, their variation with the latter and certain characteristic inequalities for them and their coefficients. This investigation is carried out in the present paper. In §1 we establish a generating function for all Faber polynomials with respect to a given function. In §2 we establish variation formulas for the Faber polynomials and their coefficients. In §3 we solve certain extremum problems with respect to the coefficients of these polynomials and find again all the inequalities which have been established by Grunsky. In §4 we use our method in order to generalize our results and to find inequalities for the Faber polynomials themselves.
Management of the patient with a large anterior mediastinal mass: recurring myths.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW This editorial review summarizes the current anesthetic management of patients with anterior mediastinal masses. RECENT FINDINGS With increased appreciation of the correct intraoperative management of these cases severe intraoperative respiratory or cardiovascular collapse is less likely to occur during general anesthesia. Maintenance of spontaneous ventilation is the anesthetic goal whenever possible. Major life-threatening complications now occur more frequently postoperatively. SUMMARY General anesthesia is not safe in patients with severe positional symptoms from an anterior mediastinal mass. With modern imaging techniques, general anesthesia is rarely needed for diagnostic procedures in these patients. Preoperative flow-volume loops are not useful in the management of these patients and the concept of cardiopulmonary bypass on 'standby' is not appropriate during induction of anesthesia.
Patterns of Health Care Use That May Identify Young Children Who Are at Risk for Maltreatment

Objectives. Early identification of children who are at risk for maltreatment continues to pose a challenge to the medical community. The objective of this study was to determine whether children who are at risk for maltreatment have characteristic patterns of health care use before their diagnosis of abuse or neglect that distinguish them from other children. Methods. We performed a case-control study among Medicaid-enrolled children to compare patterns of health service among maltreated children in the year before a first report for abuse or neglect that led to an immediate placement into foster care, with patterns of health service use among matched control subjects. Exposure variables, obtained from Medicaid claims, included the total number of non–emergency department (ED) outpatient visits, the total number of ED visits, the frequency of injury-related diagnoses, the frequency of nonspecific diagnoses that have been previously linked to abuse, and the number of changes in a child’s primary care provider. Multivariate models were performed adjusting for cash assistance eligibility, race, and child comorbidities. Results. We characterized the health service use patterns, during the year before their first maltreatment report, of 157 children with serious and substantiated abuse or neglect. Health service use during the same period was also characterized among 628 control subjects who were matched by age, gender, and number of months of Medicaid eligibility. Sixteen percent of cases changed their primary care providers, compared with 10% of the control subjects. Multivariable modeling demonstrated that maltreated children were 2.62 (95% confidence interval: 1.40–4.91) times more likely than control subjects to have had 1 previous change in primary care provider and 6.87 (95% confidence interval: 1.96–24.16) times more likely to have changed providers 2 or more times during the year before their first maltreatment report. There were no differences between case patients and control subjects in the frequency of ED visits and rates of diagnoses of injury or nonspecific somatic complaints. Conclusions. Victims of serious and substantiated physical abuse and neglect change ambulatory care providers with greater frequency than nonabused children. Recognition of this patient characteristic may allow for earlier identification of children who are at risk for additional or future maltreatment.
Expression of nerve growth factor mRNA and its translation products in the anagen hair follicle

Abstract: The cellular localization of NGF mRNA and its translation products have been identified in ovine hair follicles. NGF mRNA was detected in the proliferating cells of the follicle bulb and differentiating cells of the suprabulbar region, but was absent from the outer root sheath. Western analysis revealed the presence of a 73 kDaNGF prohormone in extracts of ovine flank skin, but the mature 13 kDaNGF was absent. Immunohistochemical analysis with antibodies specific to mouse NGF and a pro‐ NGF specific domain localized the NGF prohormone to outer root sheath cells in the upper bulb region of the follicle, adjacent to the zone of keratinization. Antibody binding was also associated with the luminal epithelium of the apocrine sweat gland and the pilary canal of the follicle at its junction with the epidermis. These observations, together with the reported presence of high‐ and low‐affinity NGF receptors in the follicle, implicate the NGF prohormone‐responsive neuronal system in the regulation of hair growth.
Mechanisms of Drug Sensitization to TRA-8, an Agonistic Death Receptor 5 Antibody, Involve Modulation of the Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway in Human Breast Cancer Cells

TRA-8, a monoclonal antibody to death receptor 5 induces apoptosis in various cancer cells; however, the degree of sensitivity varies from highly sensitive to resistant. We have previously shown that resistance to TRA-8 can be reversed by using chemotherapeutic agents, but the mechanism underlying this sensitization was not fully understood. Here, we examined the combination of TRA-8 with doxorubicin or bortezomib in breast cancer cells. In TRA-8–resistant BT-474 and T47D cells, both chemotherapy agents synergistically sensitized cells to TRA-8 cytotoxicity with enhanced activation of apoptosis shown by cleavage of caspases and PARP, reduced Bid, increased proapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins, and increased mitochondrial membrane depolarization. Doxorubicin or bortezomib combined with TRA-8 also reduced Bcl-XL and X-linked inhibitors of apoptosis (XIAP) in treated cells. Furthermore, targeting these proteins with pharmacologic modulators, AT-101, BH3I-2′ and AT-406, produced sensitization to TRA-8. TRA-8 combined with AT-101 or BH3I-2′, inhibitors of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins, produced synergistic cytotoxicity against ZR-75-1, BT-474, and T47D cells. The IAP-targeting compound, AT-406, was synergistic with TRA-8 in BT-474 cells, and to a lesser extent T47D cells. Activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway was a common mechanism associated with sensitization of TRA-8–resistant breast cancer cell lines. Collectively, these studies show that the Bcl-2 and IAP families of proteins are involved in TRA-8 and chemotherapy resistance via their modulation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Targeting these proteins with novel agents sensitized TRA-8–resistant breast cancer cells, suggesting this approach may represent a potent therapeutic strategy in the treatment of breast cancer. Mol Cancer Res; 9(4); 403–17. ©2011 AACR.
The Contribution of Homeroom Teachers' Attachment Styles and of Students' Maternal Attachment to the Explanation of Attachment-like Relationships between Teachers and Students with Disabilities

Over the past 25 years, numerous studies have sought to explore the ways in which the quality of teacher-student relationship develops. Such relationships are considered particularly significant in the case of students diagnosed with learning disabilities (LD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The study involved 65 dyads of Israeli homeroom teachers and their students (mean age = 10.9) with disabilities (LD, ADHD, and LD/ADHD comorbidity) in regular educational settings, receiving special assistance from "integration teachers. " The study examined the effect of student-teacher attachment features on day-to-day student-teacher "attachment- like" relationships. Students reported on their felt security with their mother using a maternal attachment security scale. Appraisal of the teacher as a secure base was conducted using availability/acceptance and rejection scales. Teachers completed the attachment style (secure, avoidant, and ambivalent) questionnaire and the teacher-student relationship scale concerning emotional closeness, conflict, and student dependency. Findings show that elementary and junior high school teachers and their students develop relational perceptions of secure and insecure attachment- like relationships. The teachers' caregiver perception of the relationship was explained strictly by the students' reports of day-to-day security in the teacher-student relationship. Student care receiver perception of the actual teacher-student relationship was explained with greater sensitivity by maternal attachment security, teacher attachment style, and teacher-reported day-to-day security in the teacher-student relationship. Finally, the teachers' attachment level of security was found to moderate the association between student maternal attachment security and the students' appraisal of teacher as a secure base. Students of teachers with a mid-to-high level of attachment security exhibited a positive association, whereas students of teachers with mid-to-low level of attachment security exhibited no association. Implications for teacher education and research are discussed.
Causes of death behind low life expectancy of Danish women

Aims: The authors examined causes of death contributing to the relatively high mortality of Danish women born 1915—45, and evaluated the impact of smoking related causes of death. Methods: Age—period—cohort analysis of mortality of Danish women aged 40—89 in 1960—98. Estimate of the negative curvature in parabola patterns for 50 causes of death. Results: A total of 34 causes of death contributed to the relatively high mortality for women born 1915—45. The main contribution came from smoking-related causes of death. Conclusion: The results indicate a high smoking prevalence to be the main explanation behind the relatively low life expectancy of Danish women born 1915—45.
HIV infection and the gastrointestinal tract.

Gastrointestinal mucosa and other mucous membranes occupy a unique anatomical niche: the interface between a sterile, internal environment and a contaminated, external environment. There is a polarity in epithelia that is different from all other tissues, in which one side of the epithelial cell faces ‘self ’, whereas the other side faces ‘non-self ’. Epithelial cells require intimate contact with the external environment in order to carry out their primary functions, e.g. nutrient absorption in the intestine, gas exchange in the lungs, etc. The need for such contact with the external environment makes mucous membranes inherently vulnerable to infectious organisms, because of the lack of a strong physical barrier. The problem is compounded by a large surface area that characterizes most mucous membranes. For example, in the intestine, adaptations such as mucosal folds, villi and microvilli lead to a 600-fold increase in surface area beyond that present in a simple tube.
Young black UK women are less likely than young white women to survive breast cancer

Black women in the United Kingdom who have breast cancer that was diagnosed before they reached 41 years of age have poorer overall survival than white women of the same age, a study has found. Black women are more likely to have larger tumours and to have more aggressive and recurrent disease, it found. Previous studies from the United States have identified tumour biology and unequal access to healthcare as causes of higher mortality from breast cancer among black ethnic groups. But the researchers from Southampton University wanted to find out whether pathology, treatment, and outcomes among young women with breast cancer differed across ethnic groups in the UK, where there is equal access to healthcare through the NHS. Because the women were under the age …
The Association Between Serious Mental Health Problems and Violence: Some Common Assumptions and Misconceptions

The media, the general public, and politicians often emphasize that mental illness is a precursor and a cause of violence, particularly emphasizing an assumed relationship between mental illness, including psychopathy and psychosis, and the use of guns to commit violence. We report which individuals with serious mental health problems have an increased risk to commit violence (including gun violence). Second, we answer the question to what extent serious mental health problems explain most violence and especially gun-related violence. And what is the opinion of experts on these questions? Third, we review which effective screening instrument can help to identify individuals with mental health problems who are at risk to carry a gun and commit violence. For policy makers and legislators, this article points out that most psychiatric disorders are not related to violence, with some exceptions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and often only in conjunction with substance use. We show that the attributable risk of mental illness to explain violence in general is low. We also emphasize that conduct disorder in late childhood or adolescence is a better predictor of violence than is mental illness at a later age. Empirically based screening methods to identify individuals with mental health problems who are prone to violence appear to have limited utility. Implications are discussed for clinicians and practitioners working in the justice system, researchers, and policy makers.
Rho Kinase Inhibitor Fasudil Protects against β‐Amyloid‐Induced Hippocampal Neurodegeneration in Rats

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, and Aβ‐induced neuronal damage is the major pathology of AD. There is increasing evidence that neuroinflammation induced by Aβ is also involved in the pathogenesis of AD. Fasudil is a Rho kinase inhibitor and has been reported to have neuroprotective effects. In this study, the main purpose is to investigate whether fasudil has beneficial effects on cognitive impairment and neuronal toxicity induced by Aβ.
A 700-μW single-chip IC for wireless continuous-time health monitoring in 0.18-μm CMOS

A sensor node was designed and implemented in 0.18 μm CMOS process. The sensor node consists of a sensor interface circuit, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a digital signal processor (DSP) unit and a radio-frequency (RF) transmitter unit. The sensor node was designed for use in a wireless health monitoring system. Minimal off-chip components are allowed in this implementation for improved user experience, which are antenna, crystal resonator and supply decoupling capacitors. Low-power low-voltage design techniques such as sub-threshold design were employed intensively to minimize the power consumption of the sensor node IC and maximize the battery life. The sensor consumes only about 700 µW at 0.7 V supply and it enables continuous-and real-time electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring for more than 200 hours without changing the battery when a typical button-cell battery is used.
Managing tuberculosis in patients with diabetes mellitus: why we care and what we know

As the global prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) increases, especially in low-to-middle income countries where tuberculosis (TB) remains endemic, we will encounter a growing number of TB patients with DM. This is a major concern for TB control programs, clinicians and patients alike because DM patients are at an increased risk of TB and are more likely to face poor TB treatment outcomes, including treatment failure, relapse and even death. Priority should be placed on early detection of both diseases through active screening, monitoring of adherence to medications for both diseases, and integration of TB and DM management strategies that would facilitate the provision of more comprehensive services that TB patients with DM require.