Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Natural surfactant combined with beclomethasone decreases oxidative lung injury in the preterm lamb

We performed a randomized study in preterm lambs to assess the hypothesis that the treatment with natural surfactant combined with beclomethasone might decrease pulmonary oxidative stress in an animal model of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Animals received 200 mg/kg of porcine natural surfactant or 200 mg/kg of natural surfactant combined with 400 or 800 µg/kg of beclomethasone. Lung tissue oxidation was studied by measuring total hydroperoxide (TH), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), and non‐protein bound iron (NPBI) in bronchial aspirate samples. In addition, lung mechanics was evaluated. TH was lower in the groups treated with surfactant plus 400 or 800 µg/kg of beclomethasone than in the surfactant group; AOPP was lower in the group treated with surfactant plus 800 µg/kg of beclomethasone than in the other groups; NPBI was similar in all groups. Surfactant treatment was followed by a sustained improvement of tidal volume (TV) and airway resistance, while dynamic compliance did not vary. However, the mean airway pressure needed to obtain similar values of TV was lower in the group treated with surfactant plus 800 µg/kg of beclomethasone than in other groups. We concluded that natural surfactant combined with beclomethasone at 800 µg/kg is effective in reducing the oxidative lung stress and improving the respiratory function in an animal model of RDS. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2009; 44:1159–1167. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Small sample and selection bias effects in calibration under latent factor regression models

We study bias of predictors when a multivariate calibration procedure has been applied to relate a scalar y (concentration of an analyte, say) to a vector x (spectral intensities, say). The model for data is assumed to be of latent factor regression type, with multiple regression models and errors‐in‐variables models as special cases. The calibration procedures explicitly studied are OLSR, PLSR and PCR. Often a practical device to increase precision in the calibration is to select y more or less systematically, in order to achieve increased variation (overdispersion). However, this leads to biased coefficients in the predictor, possible to see when observed it y is regressed on predicted ŷ (x) for a separate validation set. Another bias effect is a sample size effect, increasing with reduced calibration sample size and with increasing dimension of x (absent when x is univariate). Formulae are given for these bias effects, both separately and in combination, and the formulae are illustrated and compared with simulation results. As a qualitative example, PLSR and PCR are less sensitive than OLSR to small samples, but equally sensitive to selection. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surgical and medical management of patients with pulmonary metastasis from parathyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to characterize patients with pulmonary metastasis of parathyroid carcinoma and to evaluate the long-term effect of surgical and medical therapy. METHODS Seven patients with pulmonary metastasis of parathyroid carcinoma were treated between 1980 and 1992. Six patients underwent resection of pulmonary metastases, and one patient has had long-term bisphosphonate therapy alone. Bisphosphonate was also given before or after operation to three patients. RESULTS Two patients underwent a unilateral thoracotomy for a single pulmonary lesion, and four other patients with multiple lesions underwent staged bilateral thoracotomies. The postoperative serum calcium level returned to normal after each thoracotomy in three patients who were alive and well 3, 8, and 12 years after the first thoracotomy. Hypercalcemia persisted in the other three patients. In two of the patients, bisphosphonate therapy was also unable to control hypercalcemia. In one patient the serum calcium level has been maintained in the 13 mg/dl range by bimonthly bisphosphonate therapy alone for 3 years. CONCLUSIONS The aggressive surgical approach to pulmonary metastasis of parathyroid carcinoma was shown to be effective for palliation in selected patients. Bisphosphonate therapy is an alternative to resection but has only a temporary calcium-lowering effect.
Insights into pharmacotherapy of malignant glioma in adults

Malignant gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors in adults. In the past 10 years significant advances in the treatment of this entity have been made, mainly owing to a better understanding of molecular pathways and biological behavior of the oncogenetic process. This review treats the proven effective and promising approaches with chemotherapy. The standard care for glioblastoma is surgery and concomitant radio- and chemotherapy with temozolomide (TMZ), followed by adjuvant treatment with TMZ. It has been demonstrated to be the most effective treatment protocol. This standardized care allows the application and study of new types of treatment mainly in recurrences and nonresponding patients. Many different approaches have been investigated: the combination of cytotoxic and cytostatic agents as well as molecular targeted therapies have given some encouraging results. Further intensified regimens with TMZ and the local postsurgical application of slow-release polymers loaded with carmustine remain to be defined. The characterization of molecular markers thus becomes particularly important for the stratification of patients raising the possibility to individualize treatment.
Direct Observation of Behavioral Disturbances of Dementia and Their Environmental Context

The cognitive domain has long been the focus of clinical and scientific efforts in dementia research. Only recently has behavior, and more specifically behavioral problems, been recognized as a legitimate focus of research. In its summary statement of September 1991, the Alzheimer's Association Task Force on Behavior Management noted the following with regarding behavioral disturbances: “(a) the study of assessment and treatment of behavioral problems must develop in its own right as well as complement studies on improving cognition; (b) controlled clinical trials of behavioral treatments of behavioral disturbances are desperately needed; and (c) both standardized rating scales and direct behavioral observations should be used to assess problems and determine treatment efficacy. ” [Emphasis added by author. ]
gyrA and gyrB mutations in quinolone-resistant strains of Escherichia coli

The proportion of gyrA and gyrB mutations in quinolone-resistant Escherichia coli strains was examined by introducing cloned wild-type gyrA and gyrB genes. In 25 spontaneous mutants of strain KL16, 13 had gyrA and 12 had gyrB mutations. In eight clinical isolates, five had gyrA mutations and one had a gyrB mutation; mutations in two isolates remained unidentified.
PURULENT MENINGITIS IN CHILDHOOD

There are many complications which can arise. Owing to the great dissection by the bleeding and by the surgery of the posterior abdominal wall, a degree of ileus is usual. However, this has been readily managed in orthodox ways. Post-operative ischremia of the legs from thrombosis or embolism is frequently reported (Farrar et alii, 1956; Shumacker and King, 1955). The state of the pulses and the presence of acute ischremic and leg pain must be closely watched in the first 24 hours after operation, as in some instances it is possible to perform successfully an embolectomy or thrombectomy. Wound healing may be imperfect, owing partly to the age and general condition of the patient, and to some extent to the elimination of the lumbar contribution to the abdominal wall blood supply. Technical failure at the anastomotic line with a delayed heemor rhage is uncommon and probably usually follows infection at this site. Mavor et alii (1959) report colonic necrosis after resection which is attributable to the division of the inferior mesenteric artery, infiltration of the mesentery with blood, hypotension and interference with the internal iliac circulation. Severe pre-operative or operative hypotension may lead, as in Cases II and IV, to immediate or delayed death from cardiac, cerebral or renal causes.
Doxorubicin-Induced Cross-Resistance to Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Related to Differential TNF Processing

Summary: To evaluate whether cells selected for doxorubicin resistance were cross-resistant to tumor necrosis factor, the effects of doxorubicin and recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) on doxorubicin-sensitive (WT) and 40-fold doxorubicin-resistant (40F) MCF-7 cell proliferation were assessed. The median dose (MD) for doxorubicin was 14.5 nM for WT cells and 474 nM for 40F cells. The MD for TNF was 0.18 nM for WT cells, while 40F cells were highly resistant to TNF concentrations up to 60 nM. Doxorubicin and TNF in combination were synergistic against WT cells, but not 40F cells. Glutathione depletion by buthionine sulfoxamine sensitized WT cells threefold to TNF, with no change in their response to doxorubicin, while 40F cells showed a twofold increase in doxorubicin sensitivity, with no apparent change in their resistance to TNF. No significant differences in TNF receptor number, Kd, or capacity for TNF internalization were noted between the two cell types. WT cells produced a single 15 kDa TNF degradation product, while the 40F cells produced three lower molecular weight degradation products. We conclude that cross-resistance to TNF in doxorubicin-resistant MCF-7 cells may be explained in part by altered TNF degradation.
Associations of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and outcomes of labor induction with prostaglandin vaginal inserts

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the association between hypertensive (HTNsive) disorders of pregnancy and outcomes of labor induction, in two cohorts of women induced with either misoprostol vaginal insert (MVI) or dinoprostone vaginal insert (DVI). Study Design: This investigation was a post-hoc analysis of data from three Phase II and III, multi-center, double blind, randomized controlled trials of women induced with identical efficacy endpoints. A competing risk framework investigated the association between HTNsive disorders of pregnancy and the time-to-event endpoints of onset of active labor and vaginal delivery. We analyzed the overall incidence of the competing risk, cesarean delivery, by logistic regression to identify potential differences between the proportion of patients with cesarean and vaginal deliveries for each cohort. Results: 401 women with HTNsive disorders during pregnancy underwent induction of labor in these studies (175 with DVI and 226 with MVI). Significant differences were noted in the cumulative incidence of vaginal delivery 24 hours following insertion between the non-HTNsive and HTNsive groups for both treatments, (57.1% vs. 47.4% (p=0.023) among MVI patients and 39.9% vs. 27.2% (p=0.017) among DVI patients). However, upon adjusting for potential confounders, the estimated relative rates of vaginal delivery among HTNsive vs. non-HTNsive patients was 0.947 (95% CI (0.637, 1.371), p=0.631) and 0.904 (95% CI (0.735, 1.113) p=0.341) within the MVI and DVI sub-groups respectively. Conclusion: After adjustment for confounders, such as BMI, baseline modified Bishop score and gestational age, time-to-event outcomes for induction of labor using MVI or DVI in HTNsive women are not significantly different from non-HTNsive women
Machine Learning Techniques in Optical Communication

Machine learning techniques relevant for nonlinearity mitigation, carrier recovery, and nanoscale device characterization are reviewed and employed. Markov Chain Monte Carlo in combination with Bayesian filtering is employed within the nonlinear state-space framework and demonstrated for parameter estimation. It is shown that the time-varying effects of cross-phase modulation (XPM) induced polarization scattering and phase noise can be formulated within the nonlinear state-space model (SSM). This allows for tracking and compensation of the XPM induced impairments by employing approximate stochastic filtering methods such as extended Kalman or particle filtering. The achievable gains are dependent on the autocorrelation (AC) function properties of the impairments under consideration which is strongly dependent on the transmissions scenario. The gain of the compensation method are therefore investigated by varying the parameters of the AC function describing XPM-induced polarization scattering and phase noise. It is shown that an increase in the nonlinear tolerance of more than 2 dB is achievable for 32 Gbaud QPSK and 16-quadratic-amplitude modulation (QAM). It is also reviewed how laser rate equations can be formulated within the nonlinear state-space framework which allows for tracking of nonLorentzian laser phase noise lineshapes. It is experimentally demonstrated for 28 Gbaud 16-QAM signals that if the laser phase noise shape strongly deviates from the Lorentzian, phase noise tracking algorithms employing rate equation-based SSM result in a significant performance improvement (>8 dB) compared to traditional approaches using digital phase-locked loop. Finally, Gaussian mixture model is reviewed and employed for nonlinear phase noise compensation and characterization of nanoscale devices structure variations.
Monitoring of Anti-transglutaminase Autoantibodies in Pediatric Celiac Disease Using a Sensitive Radiobinding Assay

Objectives: The diagnosis of celiac disease (CD) is based on the histological identification of gluten-sensitive enteropathy and detection of anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTGA) and/or endomysial antibodies. Serial measurements of tTGA are now recommended as a follow-up strategy to monitor compliance with a gluten-free diet (GFD). We evaluated the performances of a quantitative radiobinding assay (RBA) of tTGA immunoglobulin A at diagnosis and during monitoring of GFD in pediatric CD. Methods: Eighty children with confirmed CD were selected. Levels of serum tTGA measured by RBA and a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were compared at diagnosis. The relation between RBA-tTGA levels and histological damage was analyzed, as well as the time course of tTGA clearance during GFD. Results: Both RBA and ELISA showed high sensitivity and specificity for tTGA detection at diagnosis. There was no relation between RBA-tTGA levels at diagnosis and severity of mucosal damage. Upon initiation of GFD, the rate of RBA-tTGA positivity declined slower than that of endomysial antibodies positivity, with >50% of the children still tTGA positive at year 5; however, tTGA levels decreased rapidly during the first year of GFD and more slowly thereafter. Children who seroreverted had lower tTGA levels at diagnosis (2080±1554 cpm) than those who remained tTGA positive throughout follow-up (3688±1435 cpm). Conclusions: The high sensitivity of RBA is likely responsible for higher tTGA positivity rates during GFD than previously reported with ELISA. A decreasing trend for tTGA levels may represent a better surrogate marker of compliance with GFD than absolute normal tTGA levels.
Biological Hydrogen Production: Not So Elementary

Many organisms metabolize hydrogen gas by means of an enzyme called hydrogenase. The nature of the catalytic sites in the hydrogenases has long been a subject of conjecture and debate. In their Perspective, Adams and Stiefel discuss results reported in the same issue by [ Peters et al . ][1] in which x-ray crystallography was used to provide the first structural glimpse of the iron-only hydrogenase from the hydrogen-producing, anaerobic bacterium Clostridium pasteurianum . With this information, it is hoped that the properties of the hydrogenase enzyme can now be understood and possibly mimicked for chemical processing applications. [1]: http://www.sciencemag. org/cgi/content/short/282/5395/1853
Solar cycle variations of the energetic H/He intensity ratio at high heliolatitudes and in the ecliptic plane

We study the variability of the heliospheric en- ergetic proton-to-helium abundance ratios during different phases of the solar cycle. We use energetic particle, so- lar wind, and magnetic field data from the Ulysses, ACE and IMP-8 spacecraft to compare the H/He intensity ra- tio at high heliographic latitudes and in the ecliptic plane. During the first out-of-ecliptic excursion of Ulysses (1992- 1996), the HI-SCALE instrument measured corotating ener- getic particle intensity enhancements characterized by low values (.10) of the 0.5-1.0 MeV nucleon 1 H/He intensity ratio. During the second out-of-ecliptic excursion of Ulysses (1999-2002), the more frequent occurrence of solar energetic particle events resulted in almost continuously high (.20) values of the H/He ratio, even at the highest heliolatitudes reached by Ulysses. Comparison with in-ecliptic measure- ments from an identical instrument on the ACE spacecraft showed similar H/He values at ACE and Ulysses, suggest- ing a remarkable uniformity of energetic particle intensities in the solar maximum heliosphere at high heliolatitudes and in the ecliptic plane. In-ecliptic observations of the H/He intensity ratio from the IMP-8 spacecraft show variations be- tween solar maximum and solar minimum similar to those observed by Ulysses at high heliographic latitudes. We sug- gest that the variation of the H/He intensity ratio throughout the solar cycle is due to the different level of transient solar activity, as well as the different structure and duration that corotating solar wind structures have under solar maximum and solar minimum conditions. During solar minimum, the interactions between the two different types of solar wind streams (slow vs. fast) are strong and long-lasting, allow- ing for a continuous and efficient acceleration of interstellar pickup He + . During solar maximum, transient events of so- lar origin (characterized by high values of the H/He ratio) are able to globally fill the heliosphere. In addition, during solar maximum, the lack of strong recurrent high-speed solar wind streams, together with the dynamic character of the Sun, lead to weak and short-lived solar wind stream interactions. This
Implementation of primary HPV testing in Japan

Cervical cancer screening has been shifting from primary cytology to primary HPV testing worldwide as primary HPV testing is more sensitive than primary cytology. To the best of our knowledge, the current study is the first in Japan to examine the feasibility of primary HPV testing. One of the disadvantages of this shift is that hrHPV-/≥LSIL/CIN2+ (high-risk HPV negative cancers or pre-cancerous lesions with abnormal cytology results) can be missed. The objectives of the present study are to clarify in detail CIN2+ missed by this shift and to evaluate the feasibility of primary HPV testing in Japan. Data from 115,273 women who underwent co-testing with cytology and HPV testing in cancer screening were used in the current study. The cases with hrHPV-/≥LSIL (‘hrHPV-/≥L-SIL’ include CIN2-, in contrast, ‘hrHPV-/≥L-SIL/CIN2+’ doesn't include CIN2-) were analysed in detail. Women with hrHPV-/≥LSIL comprised 0.3% of the total. The prevalence of CIN2, CIN3, SCC or cervical adenocarcinomas in the lesions with HPV-/≥LSIL was 0.03% in the cancer screening group. Only one case of 14 cervical adenocarcinomas in ≥LSIL was hrHPV-. The prevalence of cancer missed by the shift in patients >50 years of age was significantly higher compared with patients younger than 49 years. In conclusion, the prevalence of CIN2+, which might be missed by the shift from primary cytology to primary HPV testing, was remarkably low in this Japanese cancer screening. The data indicated that primary HPV testing, which was more sensitive for CIN2+ than primary cytology, was a feasible method that can be used in Japan. In particular, primary HPV testing should be introduced for women <50 years old.
Different in vivo properties of three new inhibitors of catechol O‐methyltransferase in the rat

1 We compared three new catechol O‐methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors (OR‐611, Ro 40–7592 and CGP 28014; 10 and 30 mg kg−1, i.p.) in male rats given levodopa (l‐DOPA, 50 mg kg−1, i.p.) and carbidopa ((−)‐l‐α‐methyl dopa, 50 mg kg−1, i.p.). In some studies pretreatment with pargyline (80 mg kg−1, i.p.) was used to block the function of monoamine oxidase (MAO). 2 Decreases of hypothalamic and striatal 3‐O‐methyl‐dopa (3‐OMD) levels were used as measures of the inhibition of peripheral COMT. The inhibition of brain COMT activity was estimated by decreases of hypothalamic and striatal homovanillic acid (HVA) and 3‐methoxytyramine (3‐MT; after pargyline) levels. 3 The three COMT inhibitors studied had different individual characteristics. OR‐611 was primarily a peripherally acting COMT inhibitor, decreasing 3‐OMD levels in the striatum (to 31–52%) and in the hypothalamus (to 16–27%) both in the control and pargyline‐treated animals at 1 and 3 h. It did not have any effect on brain HVA and 3‐MT. 3 Ro 40–7592 was a broad spectrum COMT inhibitor decreasing striatal and hypothalamic 3‐OMD (always to < 30%), HVA (to < 50%) and 3‐MT levels (to < 23%) significantly both at 1 and 3 h. It was more potent than OR‐611. 4 CGP 28014 functioned as a weak COMT inhibitor in the periphery inhibiting 3‐OMD formation only at 3 h. In contrast, it was fairly potent in decreasing the brain HVA and 3‐MT levels at 1 h (to 37–22% and 42–35% in the striatum, and to 57–33% and 64–35% in the hypothalamus, respectively) but not at 3 h. Since CGP 28014, unlike OR‐611 and Ro 40–7592, did not generally increase the brain DOPA, dopamine or DOPAC levels, it was not a typical COMT inhibitor.
Accuracy assesment of material measurements with a quasi-optical free-space test bench

In this paper accurate material measurements at sub-millimetre wave frequencies performed with two different systems are compared. Transmission and reflection results of high quality samples measured with a quasi-optical open resonator and a quasi-optical free-space bench are presented. Based on the comparison between the two results, an accuracy assessment of the transmission set-up is performed.
ENVIRONMENTAL COVARIATES OF ANOPHELES ARABIENSIS IN A RICE AGROECOSYSTEM IN MWEA, CENTRAL KENYA

ABSTRACT Water quality of aquatic habitats is an important determinant of female mosquito oviposition and successful larval development. This study examined the influence of environmental covariates on Anopheles arabiensis mosquito abundance in the Mwea Irrigation Scheme, Central Province of Kenya, prior to implementation of a malaria vector control program. Experimental rice plots were used to examine the environmental covariates responsible for regulating abundance and diversity of the aquatic stages of malaria vectors. Mosquito larval sampling and water quality analysis were done weekly from the flooding stage to the rice maturation stage. Sampling for mosquito larvae was conducted using standard dipping technique. During each larval collection, environmental covariates such as pH, temperature, conductivity, salinity, dissolved oxygen, water depth, and rice stage were measured. Anopheles arabiensis larval density was highest between 1 wk before transplanting and 4 wk after transplanting with peaks at weeks 0, 3, and 8. The fluctuation in values of the various environmental covariates showed characteristic patterns in different rice growth phases depending on the changes taking place due to the agronomic practices. Using a backward linear regression model, the factors that were found to be associated with abundance of An. arabiensis larvae at any of the rice growing phases included the following: dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, water depth, rice height, number of rice tillers, salinity, conductivity, and temperature. The environmental covariates associated with abundance of An. arabiensis were associated with early vegetative stage of the rice growth. For effective control of developmental stages of mosquito larvae, the application of larvicides should be done at the vegetative stage and the larvicides should persist until the beginning of the reproductive stage of the rice.