Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Clinical study in treating intractable ulcerative colitis with traditional Chinese medicine].

UNLABELLED Clinical double blind study in treating 153 intractable ulcerative colitis with Chinese medicinal herbs was conducted, the patients were randomly assigned to three groups. Group I is administered with Jian Pi Ling (JPL) tablet with retention-enema of Radix Sophorae Flavescentis and Flos Sophora (RSF-FS) decoction per night, group II with salicylazosulfapyridine (SASP) and retention-enema of dexamethasone, group III with placebo and retention-enema of decoction as that in group I. After 90 days every patients were checked by means of fibro-enteroscope, pathologic and immunologic parameters. THE RESULTS the curative rates of group I, II, III, were 53.1%, 27.7% and 19.0%, the total effective rates were 85.9%, 59.6% and 45.2% respectively. By comparison among groups, the efficacy of group I was the best (P < 0.01). The check of T and B lymphocyte subpopulation showed the B lymphocyte of group I markedly decreased, OKT3 and OKT8 obviously increased, the ratio of OKT4 and OKT8 approached normal value. The amount of IgG, IgM, C3 increased abnormally, decreased dramatically after medication, while those of group II and III have not changed significantly. The bacteriostatic test in vitro showed the bacteriostatic effect of RSF-FS on pathogenic B. coli, Shigella dysenteriae and Staphylococcus aureus was the best, that of solution Jian Pi Ling the next, that of SASP was the least effective. Therefore, the principle and method of group I seems to be the best therapeutic programme.
Hepatitis C advances in antiviral therapy: What is accepted treatment now?

Abstract The vast number of patients with hepatitis C represent a huge medical and economic burden. While 20–30% of these patients progress and develop advanced liver disease, the majority do not. Thus, it is crucial to identify patients suitable for treatment and those who may benefit most from therapy. Anti‐viral therapy is recommended for those patients with chronic hepatitis C who also have elevated liver tests, detectable hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid and significant inflammation and/or fibrosis on liver biopsy. Currently, the most effective initial therapy is the combination of interferon plus ribavirin. The sustained viral response rate (SVR) is 36–41% following a 24‐ or 48‐week course of therapy. In general, patients with the genotype 1 infection should receive 48 weeks of therapy, and those with genotypes 2 or 3 infection only 24 weeks. Viral load estimations are problematic because of normal fluctuations (up to 0.5–10 log), assay variability and lack of a universally accepted standard; thus, viral load testing is not recommended routinely at present. The sustained viral response rate produces improvements in quality of life and liver histology (including reversal of bridging fibrosis and cirrhosis is some), and durable responses lasting 5–11 years in 95–97% of cases. While the optimal dose of ribavirin is currently unknown, available data suggest that higher doses increase efficacy (albeit with a greater degree of anemia). The dose of 800 mg/day may be the most appropriate lower dose for those patients who require dosage modification for anemia or other side‐effects. Patients who have relapsed after interferon monotherapy can be successfully retreated with higher doses of interferon for 1 year or the combination of interferon and ribavarin for 24–48 weeks. Preliminary data suggest that patients with an unfavorable profile, including those with genotype 1 infection, should probably be retreated with interferon and ribavirin for 48 rather than 24 weeks.
The prevalence and trends of overweight, obesity and nutrition‐related non‐communicable diseases in the Arabian Gulf States

This paper reviews studies on the prevalence of overweight, obesity and related nutrition‐related non‐communicable diseases in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Obesity is common among women; while men have an equal or higher overweight prevalence. Among adults, overweight plus obesity rates are especially high in Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and especially among 30–60 year olds (70–85% among men; 75–88% among women), with lower levels among younger and elderly adults. The rate of increase in obesity was pronounced in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Prevalence of obesity is high among Kuwaiti and Saudi pre‐schoolers (8–9%), while adolescent overweight and obesity are among the highest in the world, with Kuwait having the worst estimates (40–46%); however, comparison of child data is difficult because of differing standards. Among nutrition‐related non‐communicable diseases, hypertension and diabetes levels are very high and increase with age, with the UAE performing the worst because of a rapid rate of increase between 1995 and 2000. Additional monitoring of the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and cancers is necessary. Nationally representative longitudinal surveys with individual, household and community‐level information are needed to determine the importance of various factors that contribute to these troubling trends.
The inhibition of cell proliferation by mitomycin C does not prevent transdifferentiation of outer cornea into lens in larval Xenopus laevis.

The aim of the present work is to evaluate the relationship between cell proliferation and transdifferentiation (TS) of the outer cornea into lens in larval Xenopus laevis. Data obtained from corneal fragments treated with Mitomycin C (MMC) (0.1 mg/ml, 50 min) and implanted into the vitreous chamber (MMC/v ch) were compared with those obtained from untreated corneal fragments implanted into the vitreous chamber (contr/v ch) or between outer and inner corneas (contr/o c). Results demonstrated that in contr/v ch implants, which transdifferentiated into lenses or lentoid bodies in 88% of cases, the mitotic index (MI) showed a sharp increase during the period of lens vesicle formation (3 days) and became very low when the formation of lens fibres was under way (7 days). In contro c implants, which did not undergo any lens forming transformations, the MI remained unchanged in comparison to time O. In MMC/v ch implants, the inhibition of the mitotic activity was 100% up to the third day after implantation. On the fifth and seventh days, scant mitotic activity was observed in some cases, but the MI was much lower than the MI of contr/o c implants. The MMC/v ch implants transdifferentiated into lentoid bodies in 26% of cases. The lentoid bodies were much smaller than those observed in control implants, but they reacted positively with the lens antibodies at the same time after implantation as controls. Even the complete inhibition of proliferation due to stronger MMC treatments (e.g. 0.15 mg/ml, 50 min) did not prevent lens TS. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Learning Model-Agnostic Counterfactual Explanations for Tabular Data

Counterfactual explanations can be obtained by identifying the smallest change made to an input vector to influence a prediction in a positive way from a user’s viewpoint; for example, from ’loan rejected’ to ’awarded’ or from ’high risk of cardiovascular disease’ to ’low risk’. Previous approaches would not ensure that the produced counterfactuals be proximate (i.e., not local outliers) and connected to regions with substantial data density (i.e., close to correctly classified observations), two requirements known as counterfactual faithfulness. Our contribution is twofold. First, drawing ideas from the manifold learning literature, we develop a framework, called C-CHVAE, that generates faithful counterfactuals. Second, we suggest to complement the catalog of counterfactual quality measures using a criterion to quantify the degree of difficulty for a certain counterfactual suggestion. Our real world experiments suggest that faithful counterfactuals come at the cost of higher degrees of difficulty.
Participatory Prevention Research Model Promotes Environmental Change for Healthier Schools

Barriers exist to healthy eating and physical activity for children in the school environment. Modifiable school environmental factors have led to the development of the Nutrition Friendly Schools and Communities (NFSC) model to prevent the development of overweight in school children and adolescents. The design of the NFSC environmental intervention is to actively engage the school community to prevent overweight in school-aged children. This article presents data measuring the environmental changes achieved by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) elementary schools participating in a 3-year participatory research pilot study funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). An objective of the pilot study is to determine whether any or all of the 15 steps developed for the NFSC model could be implemented. Further, researchers want to know if any of the study schools could implement the NFSC model as a whole during the allotted time of the pilot study.
Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma with marked liver deformity and secondary Budd–Chiari syndrome: Pathological and radiological correlation

A case of malignant epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the liver in a 48‐year‐old woman with severe portal hypertension and marked deformity of the liver is presented. This woman had a history of mild liver dysfunction since the age of 30 years, and abdominal distention, esophageal varices, splenomegaly and ascites since October 1996. Imaging examinations revealed liver deformity with severe atrophy of the left lobe and the anterior segment of the right lobe. Celiac arteriography showed narrowing and upward deviation of the proper hepatic artery, and occlusion of the left and right anterior hepatic arteries. Since March 1997, hepatic venography showed stenosis in the right hepatic vein truncus. Budd–Chiari syndrome was clinically diagnosed. She died in June 1997. The autopsy disclosed massive tumor embolism in the left and right anterior portal branches, few in the hepatic artery, and occlusion of the left and right anterior hepatic arteries. The extensive tumor embolism resulted in portal hypertension, and atrophy of the left lobe. The anterior segment of the right lobe was probably caused by the occlusion of both the hepatic arteries and the portal veins. The posterior segment of the right lobe, without massive tumor embolism in its portal branch, appeared hypertrophic.
Modulation of the sympathetic response to acute hypoxia by the caudal ventrolateral medulla in rats

Hypoxia elevates splanchnic sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) with differential effects during inspiration and expiration by unresolved central mechanisms. We examined the hypothesis that cardiovascular‐related neurones in the caudal ventrolateral medulla (CVLM) contribute to the complex sympathetic response to hypoxia. In chloralose‐anaesthetized, ventilated, vagotomized rats, acute hypoxia (10% O2, 60 s) evoked an increase in SNA (103 ± 12%) that was characterized by a decrease in activity during early inspiration followed by a prominent rise during expiration. Some recorded baro‐activated CVLM neurones (n= 13) were activated by hypoxia, and most of these neurones displayed peak activity during inspiration that was enhanced during hypoxia. In contrast, other baro‐activated CVLM neurones were inhibited during hypoxia (n= 6), and most of these neurones showed peak activity during expiration prior to the onset of hypoxia. Microinjection of the glutamate antagonist kynurenate into the CVLM eliminated the respiratory‐related fluctuations in SNA during hypoxia and exaggerated the magnitude of the sympathetic response. In contrast, microinjection of a GABAA antagonist (bicuculline or gabazine) into the CVLM dramatically attenuated the sympathetic response to hypoxia. These data suggest the response to hypoxia in baro‐activated CVLM neurones is related to their basal pattern of respiratory‐related activity, and changes in the activity of these neurones is consistent with a contribution to the respiratory‐related sympathetic responses to hypoxia. Furthermore, both glutamate and GABA in the CVLM contribute to the complex sympathetic response to acute hypoxia.
Generalized H2/H infinity Filtering for Discrete-Time Nonlinear System with T-S Fuzzy Models

This paper investigates the generalized H2/H∞ filtering problem for a class of discrete-time nonlinear systems with Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy models. The purpose of the generalizedH2/H∞ filtering is to design a filter guaranteeing prescribed noise attenuation level in both generalized H2and H∞ sense. The filter design makes use of different basis-dependent Lyapunov functions respect to different performances, which can derive less conservative result than the common Lyapunov function approach does. Sufficient conditions of the solvability of the problem are given in the form of linear matrices inequality. A numerical example is presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Evidence-based medicine in otolaryngology journals

OBJECTIVE: We set out to assess, within the context of evidence-based medicine, the levels of supporting evidence for therapeutic recommendations made in leading otolaryngology journals. DESIGN: We used a cross-sectional survey of clinical research articles published in 1999 in 4 high-circulation otolaryngology journals. OUTCOME MEASURES: We used study design methodology and level of evidence for clinical research articles with therapeutic recommendations. Outcomes were stratified by type of recommendation (positive vs negative) and by study focus (medical vs surgical therapy). RESULTS: Of the 1019 articles identified, 737 (72%) were clinical research and 268 (36%) made therapeutic recommendations. Median sample size was modest (27 subjects), with only 38% of studies reflecting planned research and 22% including an internal control or comparison group. positive studies were 20 times more prevalent than negative ones, but were 69% less likely to have an internal control group (P = .042) and 93% less likely to include confidence intervals (P = .020). Moreover, the level of evidence for positive studies was lower than for negative studies (P = .037), with twice as many negative recommendations supported by analytic research. Similarly, the level of evidence for operation was lower than for medical therapy (P < .001), with 3 times as many medical recommendations supported by analytic research. CONCLUSIONS: Most therapeutic recommendations in otolaryngology journals are on the basis of descriptive case series (80%) and least often on randomized controlled trials (7%). A dual standard appears to exist for negative versus positive studies and for medical versus surgical recommendations. Greater scrutiny of the breadth and quality of evidence levels supporting therapeutic recommendations is likely to occur as the popularity of—and demand for—evidence-based medicine increases. SIGNIFICANCE: Evaluation of levels of evidence in otolaryngology decision making.
HBV and HIV co‐infection: Prevalence and clinical outcomes in tertiary care hospital Malaysia

According to WHO, Malaysia has been classified as a concentrated epidemic country due to progression of HIV infection in the population of injecting drug users. The main objectives of current study are to determine the prevalence of HBV among HIV‐positive individuals in a tertiary care hospital of Malaysia and to assess the predictors involved in the outcomes of HIV–HBV co‐infected patients. A retrospective, cross‐sectional study is conducted at Hospital Palau Pinang, Malaysia. The collection of socio‐demographic data as well as clinical data is done with the help of data collection form. Data were analyzed after putting the collected values of required data by using statistical software SPSS version 20.0 and P > 0.05 is considered as significant. Results show that the overall prevalence of HBV was 86 (13%) including 495 (74.5%) males and 169 (25.5%) females among a total of 664 HIV‐infected patients. It was observed that there is a high prevalence of HIV–HBV co‐infection in males 76 (11.4%) as compared to females 10 (1.5%) (P = 0.002). The median age of the study population was 39 years. The statistical significant risk factors involved in the outcomes of HIV–HBV co‐infected patients were observed in the variables of gender, age groups, and injecting drug users. The findings of the present study shows that the prevalence of HBV infection among HIV‐positive patients was 13% and the risk factors involved in the outcomes of HIV–HBV co‐infected patients were gender, age, and intravenous drug users. J. Med. Virol. 88:455–460, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparative effects of tamoxifen and bromocriptine on prolactin and pituitary weight in estradiol‐treated male rats

Male ACI rats were treated with estradiol to induce hyperprolactinemia and pituitary hypertrophy and hyperplasia. Animals received estradiol alone or with tamoxifen or bromocriptine for 4, 8, or 12 weeks. Estradiol treatment resulted in time‐dependent increases in pituitary wet weight and serum prolactin concentrations. Tamoxifen completely blocked the increase in both variables; bromocriptine decreased but did not prevent time‐dependent increases. Animals were also treated for 8 weeks with estradiol alone, followed by 4 weeks with estradiol and tamoxifen or bromocriptine. Neither compound reversed the hyperprolactinemia, although the pituitary wet weight of animals treated with bromocriptine was slightly but significantly reduced. These findings suggest that in this model if treatment is initiated simultaneously with estrogen stimulation, tamoxifen is more effective than bromocriptine at the doses studied; and, if therapy is initiated subsequent to the establishment of estrogen‐induced hyperprolactinemia and pituitary hyperplasia, bromocriptine is more effective than tamoxifen at the doses studied.
Society and Its Influences on Drug Use Among Young Individuals in Tehran, Iran

AbstractIllicit Drug use poses a substantial public health problem around the world, mainly affecting young people. Current estimates suggest that Iran has the highest rate of opium addiction per capita in the world. It has been suggested that multiple elements contribute to the process of drug use. The aim of this study is to explore the probable components in the society that might play a role in the initiation of drug use among young adults. The study is qualitative in nature. Twenty four in-depth interviews were conducted with drug-using young men (n = 10) and women (n = 10) and their family members (n = 4). Based on our data analysis, developing a pro-drug attitude, conformist attitude of society toward treating youth and young individuals, and having weak approach toward prevention were identified as important determinants of substance use. We recommend the need for early intervention, especially for at-risk communities. The results of this research suggest that dealing with a major problem such as drug use needs a comprehensive assessment of the context in which young people live and use substances. According to our findings, exploring young drug users experiences is not only important but also useful for policy makers to develop more effective prevention and intervention programs.
Gene Expression of Osteoclast Differentiation Factor Is Induced by Lipopolysaccharide in Mouse Osteoblasts Via Toll-Like Receptors1

Osteoclast differentiation factor (ODF), a recently identified cytokine of the TNF family, is expressed as a membrane-associated protein in osteoblasts and stromal cells. ODF stimulates the differentiation of osteoclast precursors into osteoclasts in the presence of M-CSF. Here we investigated the effects of LPS on the gene expression of ODF in mouse osteoblasts and an osteoblast cell line and found that LPS increased the ODF mRNA level. A specific inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated kinase or protein kinase C inhibited this up-regulation, indicating that extracellular signal-regulated kinase and protein kinase C activation was involved. A protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, rather enhanced the LPS-mediated increase of ODF mRNA, and both a neutralizing Ab of TNF-α and a specific inhibitor of PGE synthesis failed to block the ODF mRNA increase by native LPS. Thus, LPS directly induced ODF mRNA. Mouse osteoblasts and an osteoblast cell line constitutively expressed Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 and 4, which are known as putative LPS receptors. ODF mRNA increases in response to synthetic lipid A were defective in primary osteoblasts from C3H/HeJ mice that contain a nonfunctional mutation in the TLR4 gene, suggesting that TLR4 plays an essential role in the process. Altogether, our results indicate that ODF gene expression is directly increased in osteoblasts by LPS treatment via TLR, and this pathway may play an important role in the pathogenesis of LPS-mediated bone disorders, such as periodontitis.
Role of Phospholipase C- (cid:1) Domains in Ca 2 (cid:2) -dependent Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Bisphosphate Hydrolysis and Cytoplasmic Ca 2 (cid:2) Oscillations*

The sperm-specific phospholipase C- (cid:1) (PLC (cid:1) ) elicits fer-tilization-like Ca 2 (cid:2) oscillations and activation of embryo development when microinjected into mammalian eggs (Saunders, C. M., Larman, M. G., Parrington, J., Cox, L. J., Royse, J., Blayney, L. M., Swann, K., and Lai, F. A. (2002) Development ( Camb. ) 129, 3533–3544; Cox, L. J., Larman, M. G. , Saunders, C. M. , Hashimoto, K. , Swann, K. , and Lai, F. A. (2002) Reproduction 124, 611–623). PLC (cid:1) may represent the physiological stimulus for egg activation and development at mammalian fertilization. PLC (cid:1) is the small-est known mammalian PLC isozyme, comprising two EF hand domains, a C2 domain, and the catalytic X and Y
The right hemisphere fails to orient to the negative valence of visually presented words

To assess cerebral functional asymmetry for accessing the meaning of emotional words, native English speakers were asked to make lexical decisions to emotional words, neutral words and nonwords briefly flashed in their left or right visual field, that is, perceived by their right or left visual cortex, respectively. Emotionally negative words had an overall probability of occurrence of 12.5% in each visual field and were expected to elicit a P3b event-related potential modulation indexing shifts of attention. Emotionally negative words elicited a P3b when perceived by the left visual cortex but failed to trigger such attention-related response when perceived by the right hemisphere. The results suggest relative insensitivity on the part of the right hemisphere in registering the negative emotional valence of written words.
Clinicopathological Significance of CD133 and ALDH1 Cancer Stem Cell Marker Expression in Invasive Ductal Breast Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Biomarkers in breast neoplasms provide invaluable information regarding prognosis and help determining the optimal treatment. We investigated the possible correlation between cancer stem cell (CSC) markers (CD133, and ALDH1) in invasive ductal breast carcinomas with some clinicopathological parameters. AIM To assess the correlation between expression of cancer stem cell (CSC) markers (CD133, and ALDH1) and clinicopathological parameters of invasive ductal breast carcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS Immunohistochemical analysis of CD133 and ALDH1 was performed on a series of 120 modified radical mastectomy (MRM) specimens diagnosed as invasive ductal breast carcinoma. RESULTS Expression of both CD133 and ALDH1 was significantly changed and related to tumor size, tumor stage (TNM), and lymph node metastasis. A negative correlation between CD133 and ALDH1 was found. CONCLUSIONS Detecting the expression of CD133 and ALDH1 in invasive ductal breast carcinomas may be of help in more accurately predicting the aggressive properties and determining the optimal treatment.