Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thymus vulgaris supplementation attenuates blood pressure and aorta damage in hypertensive rats

In the present study, we investigated the possible antihypertensive effect of Thymus vulgaris (T. vulgaris) and its possible protective role against hypertension-induced aorta damage in hypertensive rats. Hypertension was induced by ligation of left renal artery, andT. vulgaris aqueous extract was administered (100 mg/kg/day, orally) for 8 consecutive weeks. Systolic blood pressure, body weight, and the serum concentrations of creatinine and cholesterol were measured at the beginning and at the end of the study. Thoracic aorta was isolated at the end of the study for both light and electron microscopic examinations. The antihypertensive effect of T. vulgaris was clearly observed here, as well its significant reducing effect on hypertension-induced increases in serum levels of creatinine and cholesterol. The light microscopic findings indicated that the surface endothelium of thoracic aorta of hypertensive-untreated rats was coarse, wrinkled and protuberant, and its lumen adsorbed more debris and red blood cells; however, these phenomena were almost disappeared when these animals were treated with T. vulgaris. Similarly, the electron microscopic examinations showed a remarkable increase in aortic extracellular matrix with dispersion of their cell nuclei in hypertensive-untreated rats but not in rats treated with T. vulgaris. Therapy with T. vulgaris also reduced hypertension-induced aortic smooth muscle cell mass hypertrophy and normalized both aortic lumen diameter and media thickness. In conclusion, our results indicate that hypertension induced in rats was associated with injury of aortic tissue that may accelerate the arterial dysfunction in uncontrolled hypertensive conditions. More importantly, supplementation with T. vulgaris as herbal remedy has shown remarkable antihypertensive effect and marked improvement on hypertension-related biochemical changes and aortic vascular damage in rats. Key words: Aorta, hypertensive, thymus vulgaris, rat.
Eye Movements Drive Steering: Reduced Eye Movement Distribution Impairs Steering and Driving Performance

On a winding open road, a driver consistently looks to the inside of each bend before turning the steering wheel. When researchers disrupt this coordination by instructing drivers not to move their eyes, drivers' performance is impaired and their completion time during racing increases. The present authors examined whether changing internal states in a way that also restricts eye movements reduces coordination and affects performance. Participants (N = 24) completed a simulated rally stage under manipulation of their anxiety state through ego threat. Performance decreased under pressure, and the decrement was associated with a narrowing of the range of eye movements and a reduced correlation of eye movements with steering. The authors discuss the possibility that the deterioration in performance is a cost of maintaining steering when eye-movement driving input to the steering controller is reduced.
Genetics of β2‐adrenergic receptor variants in asthma

c receptors (/̂ ^ A R) are cell surface receptors which bind endogenous catecholamincs as well as a number of exogenously admitiistered agonists and antagonists used thcrapcutically for a variety of purposes, JAR accomplish signal transduction via coupling to the membrane bound heterotrimeric stimulatory guaninc nucleotide regulatory binding protein, denoted G^. Activated G^ in turn stimulates adenylyl cyclase which catalyses the conversioti of ATP to cAMP, cAMP acts as a classic intracellular second messenger, activating protein kinases and eliciting an extensive array of responses depending on the cell. In the lung . ̂ ^AR are expressed on many cells. Pertinent to asthma. /iiAR are expressed on bronchial smooth muscle, various itnmune cells, epithelial cells. and presynaptic muscarinic nerve terminals. Activation of/:^TAR on bronchial smooth muscle results in smooth muscle relaxation, increasing effective bronchial diameter and decreasing airway resistance. These bronchodilating effects appear to be independent of the stimulus that elicits bronchoconstriction. Clearly, the therapeutic actions of exogenously administered . ^agonists In the treatment of asthma are predominantly via their action at these smooth muscle receptors, but other eflects such as decreasing inflammation by aflecting immune cell function, increasing niucocilliary clearance, and decreasing acetylcholine release may also play a role in the ultimate therapeutic effectiveness of such agents. The primary arnino acid sequence and proposed membrane topography ofthe human . ̂ ^AR are shown in Fig. 1. As is typical of other G-protein coupled receptors, the liiAR has an extracellular amino-terminus. seven transmembrane spanning domains (TM I TM7). three extracellular (ECLI-ECL3) and three intracellular (ICLl ICL3) loops, and an intraceliular carboxy-terminus. Using site-directed mutagenesis and recombinant expression a number of key domains required for receptor function have been identified. Representative approaches utilized by our group in such structure function analyses are presented [see 1 4j. Domains ofthe receptor have been
Vascular anatomy of the spleen: The basis for organ‐preserving surgery

The increased susceptibility to infection following splenectomy calls for a partial organ‐preserving operative procedure. The basis for this conservative surgery depends on a thorough knowledge of the vascular anatomy of the organ. With this in mind 32 spleens were studied by angiographies and corrosion casts. The organs were classified into four groups according to their vascular pattern with special emphasis on the blood supply of the polar segments. Two, three, and four segments were found in 3.1%, 15.6%, and 81.3%, respectively. A bifurcation of the splenic artery was noted in 93.8%, and a trifurcation in 6.2%. A Y‐type of branching of the hilar vessels with easier access for surgical procedures was noticed in 84.4%, and a T‐type in 9.4%; in 6.2% a classification was not possible. Intersegmentary anastomoses, as a potential hazard for operations on the spleen, were present in 15.6%. Arteries and veins coincided. The exact diagnosis of the specific individual vascular anatomy and segmental organization of the spleen are necessary presuppositions for a successful partial spleen‐preserving technique. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sudden cardiac death secondary to antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs

A number of antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs are known to increase the risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Based largely on a concern over QT prolongation and the development of life-threatening arrhythmias, a number of antipsychotic drugs have been temporarily or permanently withdrawn from the market or their use restricted. Some antidepressants and antipsychotics have been linked to QT prolongation and the development of Torsade de pointes arrhythmias, whereas others have been associated with a Brugada syndrome phenotype and the development of polymorphic ventricular arrhythmias. This review examines the mechanisms and predisposing factors underlying the development of cardiac arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death, associated with antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs in clinical use.
Dietary magnesium and potassium intakes and circulating magnesium are associated with heel bone ultrasound attenuation and osteoporotic fracture risk in the EPIC-Norfolk cohort study.

BACKGROUND In our aging population, maintenance of bone health is critical to reduce the risk of osteoporosis and potentially debilitating consequences of fractures in older individuals. Among modifiable lifestyle and dietary factors, dietary magnesium and potassium intakes are postulated to influence bone quality and osteoporosis, principally via calcium-dependent alteration of bone structure and turnover. OBJECTIVE We investigated the influence of dietary magnesium and potassium intakes, as well as circulating magnesium, on bone density status and fracture risk in an adult population in the United Kingdom. DESIGN A random subset of 4000 individuals from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-Norfolk cohort of 25,639 men and women with baseline data was used for bone density cross-sectional analyses and combined with fracture cases (n = 1502) for fracture case-cohort longitudinal analyses (mean follow-up 13.4 y). Relevant biological, lifestyle, and dietary covariates were used in multivariate regression analyses to determine associations between dietary magnesium and potassium intakes and calcaneal broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), as well as in Prentice-weighted Cox regression to determine associated risk of fracture. Separate analyses, excluding dietary covariates, investigated associations of BUA and fractures with serum magnesium concentration. RESULTS Statistically significant positive trends in calcaneal BUA for women (n = 1360) but not men (n = 968) were apparent across increasing quintiles of magnesium plus potassium (Mg+K) z score intake (P = 0.03) or potassium intake alone (P = 0.04). Reduced hip fracture risk in both men (n = 1958) and women (n = 2755) was evident for individuals in specific Mg+K z score intake quintiles compared with the lowest. Statistically significant trends in fracture risk in men across serum magnesium concentration groups were apparent for spine fractures (P = 0.02) and total hip, spine, and wrist fractures (P = 0.02). None of these individual statistically significant associations remained after adjustment for multiple testing. CONCLUSIONS These findings enhance the limited literature studying the association of magnesium and potassium with bone density and demonstrate that further investigation is warranted into the mechanisms involved and the potential protective role against osteoporosis.
Exome Array Analysis Identifies a Common Variant in IL27 Associated with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

RATIONALE Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) susceptibility is in part related to genetic variants. Most genetic studies have been focused on genome-wide common variants without a specific focus on coding variants, but common and rare coding variants may also affect COPD susceptibility. OBJECTIVES To identify coding variants associated with COPD. METHODS We tested nonsynonymous, splice, and stop variants derived from the Illumina HumanExome array for association with COPD in five study populations enriched for COPD. We evaluated single variants with a minor allele frequency greater than 0.5% using logistic regression. Results were combined using a fixed effects meta-analysis. We replicated novel single-variant associations in three additional COPD cohorts. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS We included 6,004 control subjects and 6,161 COPD cases across five cohorts for analysis. Our top result was rs16969968 (P = 1.7 × 10(-14)) in CHRNA5, a locus previously associated with COPD susceptibility and nicotine dependence. Additional top results were found in AGER, MMP3, and SERPINA1. A nonsynonymous variant, rs181206, in IL27 (P = 4.7 × 10(-6)) was just below the level of exome-wide significance but attained exome-wide significance (P = 5.7 × 10(-8)) when combined with results from other cohorts. Gene expression datasets revealed an association of rs181206 and the surrounding locus with expression of multiple genes; several were differentially expressed in COPD lung tissue, including TUFM. CONCLUSIONS In an exome array analysis of COPD, we identified nonsynonymous variants at previously described loci and a novel exome-wide significant variant in IL27. This variant is at a locus previously described in genome-wide associations with diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and obesity and appears to affect genes potentially related to COPD pathogenesis.
Dental Trauma and Mouthguard Usage among Soccer Players in Izmir, Turkey

The aims of this study were to verify the occurrence of dental injuries in 343 amateur Turkish soccer players in Izmir and the level of knowledge of the teams’ soccer players about mouthguards. The soccer players were interviewed to determine the occurrence of dental trauma during soccer and mouthguard usage level. The data were analyzed with descriptive analysis to determine absolute and relative frequencies of answers for each one of the questions. Only 35 (10.2%) soccer players reported the occurrence of some type of dental injury during soccer practice. Regarding emergency conducts, approximately 84 players (24.48%) answered that replantation could be obtained after teeth avulsion, 23 players (27.38%) answered that successful replantation could be obtained within 2 hours immediately after injury, and 60.71% were not able to answer this question. Regarding mouthguard use, 61.8% of soccer players did not know about mouthguards. It was possible to conclude that dental injuries are common during amateur soccer practice and that there is a lack of information in the soccer players related to the emergency conducts and prevention of dental trauma.
Physician agreement with evidence-based recommendations for the treatment of severe traumatic brain injury in children.

OBJECT The aim of this study was to evaluate physician agreement with published recommendations and guidelines for the management of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children and to identify markers associated with physician responses matching published guidelines. METHODS An Internet survey was created based on recommendations and guidelines published in 2003 and was sent to US physicians and neurosurgeons caring for pediatric patients with severe TBI. Agreement with each recommendation was tabulated. Characteristics of the surveyed physicians and their institutions were compared to identify markers of conformity with first-tier recommendations (intracranial pressure [ICP] treatment threshold, monitoring cerebral perfusion pressure, use of sedation/neuromuscular blockade, and use of hyperosmolar therapy). RESULTS One hundred ninety-four US physicians responded: 36 neurosurgeons and 158 nonsurgeons. Overall, physician responses matched most recommendations more than 60% of the time. The serum osmolality threshold of hypertonic saline, use of prophylactic hyperventilation, and differences in ICP thresholds based on a child's age comprised the recommendations with the least agreement. No physician variable was linked to increased agreement with first-tier recommendations. CONCLUSIONS Overall, physician responses coincided with the published guidelines and recommendations. Examples of variable conformance most likely reflect the paucity of available data and lack of randomized controlled trials in the field of severe TBI.
P221 Advance care planning in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a qualitative study of patients' views

Introduction and objectives There are concerns that end of life care for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is inadequate. Advance care planning is recommended for these patients, with an aim of reducing unwanted interventions and influencing place of death, but it is currently rarely done. Healthcare professionals' perspectives on the reasons for this have been sought, but there is little information about patients' views. This research explores the opinions of patients with severe COPD on advance care planning, and how they feel it could be integrated into their care. Methods A qualitative interview strategy was adopted, drawing from grounded theory techniques. Patients with severe COPD (according to Gold Standards Framework criteria1) were recruited from two primary and secondary care settings (n=10, 9M, 1F). Interviews using a broad topic guide were conducted in participants' homes, audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Analysis was inductive, generating themes using techniques of constant comparison. Results People with severe COPD wanted more information about diagnosis, and more discussion of their prognosis and future. They very much wanted to be involved in decisions about their current care. They were happy to discuss general treatment preferences for the future, but not to make binding advance decisions. They expected the initiation of these discussions to come from the healthcare team, especially those they feel they know. When information was inadequate or they felt they had not been included in decisions, the relationship with their healthcare team was damaged. Discussing these issues does not cause undue distress. Conclusions A focus on encouraging formal binding advance decisions for people with severe COPD is not helpful. An advance care planning approach involving repeated discussions of disease status, prognosis and general preferences for future care would be more effective. Healthcare professionals should take responsibility for initiating these discussions. As well as improving end of life care, this improved information provision could improve relationships between patients and healthcare professionals, as well as enabling patients to be more involved in current decisions about their care.
A Hazard Model of the Probability of Medical School Dropout in The United Kingdom

From individual-level longitudinal data for two entire cohorts of medical students in UK universities, we analyse the probability that an individual student will ‘drop out’ of medical school prior to the successful completion of their studies. We examine the cohort of students enrolling for a medical degree at the start of the academic years 1985 or 1986. We find evidence that medical student completion is influenced by measures of academic preparedness, sex, and age as well as by the characteristics of the medical school itself. On the basis of our results, we also comment on the construction of institutional performance indicators against the criterion of student dropout.
Discussion: Gender Differences in Self-Rated Health, in Mortality, and in the Relationship Between the Two

The set of articles making up this special section were all driven by the authors’ interest in self-ratings of health and these ratings’ potential for indicating risk for mortality. Studies of this association began to appear in the mid 1980s, and in a relatively short time, dozens had been published, primarily in North America, Europe, and Asia. There was a consistent finding, with few exceptions, that respondents to health surveys who rated their health as ‘‘poor,’’ ‘‘fair,’’ or sometimes just ‘‘good’’ had a significantly higher risk of mortality than those who considered their health ‘‘excellent’’ or the equivalent, even when other measures of health were considered. In some of these studies, the effects were similar for men and women; in others, there were differences. Contributors to this special section have chosen to look at their data with an eye to the differences and with the hope that an analysis of the differences may help reseachers better understand the similarities. Should one expect a gender difference? For multiple reasons, beginning with the dependent variable (mortality), the answer would be yes. Life expectancy is greater for women in virtually every country on earth, at birth and at every other age. It is certainly true for all of the countries for which there are published reports of self-rated health–mortality analyses (Benyamini & Idler, 1999; Idler & Benyamini, 1997). As a result, the age-adjusted risk of mortality in these samples will be lower for the women than for the men, and the number of deaths among women will be proportionately fewer given the number of women in the sample. Another consequence of gender differentials in mortality risk is that (unless sampling weights are used) the number of women in a representative sample will be larger, providing more statistical power and reducing the possibility of Type II errors in subsamples of women compared with subsamples
Inducible Activation of MyD88 and CD40 in CAR T Cells Results in Controllable and Potent Antitumor Activity in Preclinical Solid Tumor Models.

Adoptive immunotherapy with T cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) has had limited success for solid tumors in early-phase clinical studies. We reasoned that introducing into CAR T cells an inducible costimulatory (iCO) molecule consisting of a chemical inducer of dimerization (CID)-binding domain and the MyD88 and CD40 signaling domains would improve and control CAR T-cell activation. In the presence of CID, T cells expressing HER2-CARζ and a MyD88/CD40-based iCO molecule (HER2ζ.iCO T cells) had superior T-cell proliferation, cytokine production, and ability to sequentially kill targets in vitro relative to HER2ζ. iCO T cells without CID and T cells expressing HER2-CAR. CD28ζ. HER2ζ. iCO T cells with CID also significantly improved survival in vivo in two xenograft models. Repeat injections of CID were able to further increase the antitumor activity of HER2ζ. iCO T cells in vivo Thus, expressing MyD88/CD40-based iCO molecules in CAR T cells has the potential to improve the efficacy of CAR T-cell therapy approaches for solid tumors.Significance: Inducible activation of MyD88 and CD40 in CAR T cells with a small-molecule drug not only enhances their effector function, resulting in potent antitumor activity in preclinical solid tumors, but also enables their remote control post infusion. Cancer Discov; 7(11); 1306-19. ©2017 AACR.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1201.
Avoidance of wrong-level thoracic spine surgery: intraoperative localization with preoperative percutaneous fiducial screw placement.

OBJECT The accurate intraoperative localization of the correct thoracic spine level remains a challenging problem in both open and minimally invasive spine surgery. The authors describe a technique of using preoperatively placed percutaneous fiducial screws to localize the area of interest in the thoracic spine, and they assess the safety and efficacy of the technique. METHODS To avoid wrong-level surgery in the thoracic spine, the authors preoperatively placed a percutaneous 5-mm fiducial screw at the level of intended surgery using CT guidance. Plain radiographs and CT images with reconstructed views can then be referenced in the operating room to verify the surgical level, and the fiducial screw is easily identified on intraoperative fluoroscopy. The authors compared a group of 26 patients who underwent preoperative (often outpatient) fiducial screw placement prior to open or minimally invasive thoracic spine surgery to a historical group of 26 patients who had intraoperative localization with fluoroscopy alone. RESULTS In the treatment group of 26 patients, no complications related to fiducial screw placement occurred, and there was no incidence of wrong-level surgery. In comparison, there were no wrong-level surgeries in the historical cohort of 26 patients who underwent mini-open or open thoracic spine surgery without placement of a fiducial screw. However, the authors found that the intraoperative localization fluoroscopy time was greatly reduced when a fiducial screw localization technique was employed. CONCLUSIONS The aforementioned technique for intraoperative localization is safe, efficient, and accurate for identifying the target level in thoracic spine exposures. The fiducial marker screw can be placed using CT guidance on an outpatient basis. There is a reduction in the amount of intraoperative fluoroscopy time needed for localization in the fiducial screw group.