Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Review: TRP family proteins in the lower urinary tract: translating basic science into new clinical prospective

The lower urinary tract (LUT) is densely innervated by capsaicin-sensitive primary afferent neurons, a sub set of sensory nerves, in a number of species including humans. These fibers exhibit both a sensory (afferent) function, including the regulation of the micturition reflex and the perception of pain, and an `efferent' function, involved in the detrusor smooth muscle contractility and plasma protein extravasation. The discovery of specific binding sites for capsaicin, the pungent ingredient of red chilli, initiated a rush that ended up with the cloning of the `vanilloid receptor', which belongs to the TRP (transient receptor potential) family. Here we reviewed the knowledge about the presumable functions of TRP family proteins in the LUT as regulators of bladder reflex activity, pain perception and cell differentiation. This review will focus on experimental evidence and promising clinical applications of targeting these proteins for the treatment of detrusor overactivity and bladder pain syndrome. As TRP receptor ligands may promote cellular death, and inhibit the growth of normal and neoplastic cells, the translation of basic science evidence into new clinical prospective for bladder and prostate cancer will be shown.
Factors associated with the use of violence among urban black adolescents.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to examine social and psychological factors associated with the use and nonuse of violence among Black adolescents living in a community with a high level of violent crime. METHODS Adolescents (n = 225, 44% male) 11 to 19 years of age living in or around nine housing projects in an urban area were administered an anonymous questionnaire. RESULTS Self-reported use of violence was associated with exposure to violence and personal victimization, hopelessness, depression, family conflict, previous corporal punishment, purpose in life, self-assessment of the probability of being alive at age 25, and age and was higher among males. CONCLUSIONS These data support the hypothesis that exposure to violence is associated with adolescents' self-reported use of violence. However, adolescents with a higher sense of purpose in life and less depression were better able to withstand the influence of exposure to violence in the home and in the community.
Low-voltage companding current-mode integrators

A family of differential companding current-mode integrators is proposed, which can be used as building blocks for high frequency continuous-time filters. They offer a tuning range of several decades and can be driven by signal currents which are much larger than the biasing currents (class AB operation). The minimum supply voltage ranges from 1.8 V down to 1 V, depending on the circuit architecture.
Sub-therapeutic Antibiotics and Productivity in U.S. Hog Production

Antimicrobial drugs are fed to hogs at sub-therapeutic levels to prevent disease and promote growth. However, there is concern that the presence of antimicrobial drugs in hog feed is a factor promoting the development of antimicrobial drug-resistant bacteria. This study uses a sample-selection model to examine the impact that use has on the productivity of U.S. hog operations. The analysis did not find a relationship between productivity and sub-therapeutic antibiotics fed during finishing, but productivity was significantly improved when fed to nursery pigs. Restrictions on feeding antimicrobial drugs during the nursery phase would likely impose significant economic costs on U.S. hog producers.
Counting Bones: Environmental Cues That Decrease Food Intake

At an all-you-can eat buffet in a sports bar, it was tested whether people would eat less if they knew how much they had already eaten. 50 graduate students (34 women; M age = 24.1 yr.) were seated at 21 tables randomly assigned to be bussed (leftover wings removed) or unbussed (wings left on table). The 31 students at the bussed tables ate more than those at the unbussed tables (7 wings vs 5.5 wings), with the effect being stronger for men than women. In distracting eating environments, environmental cues may provide an effective means of reducing consumption. Implications for controlling alcohol intake were also noted.
High Serum Levels of CXC (CXCL10) and CC (CCL2) Chemokines in Untreated Essential Hypertension

Hypertension has been suggested to exert pro-inflammatory actions through increased expression of several mediators, including chemokines. Chemokines are involved in inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, and in the formation of atherosclerotic lesions through promotion of inflammatory cell migration. The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of high blood pressure on circulating levels of the prototype chemokines C-X-C motif ligand (CXCL)10 and C-C motif ligand (CCL)2 in 140 patients with essential hypertension not affected by thyroid disorders or overt autoimmune or inflammatory diseases, and 140 gender- and age-matched healthy controls. Mean CXCL10 and CCL2 levels were significantly higher in hypertensive patients than in controls. Among hypertensive patients, chemokines levels were higher in those with systo-diastolic hypertension compared to those with isolated systolic hypertension. In a multiple linear regression model using CXCL10 or CCL2 as dependent variables and age, body mass index, glycemia, serum creatinine, high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, and systolic or diastolic blood pressure values as covariates, only systolic or diastolic blood pressure values were significantly related to CXCL10 or CCL2 levels. In conclusion, this study demonstrates increased circulating levels of the prototype chemokines CXCL10 and CCL2 in patients with hypertension.
The international legal order 1919–2019

Despite repeated claims during the past century that the international legal order has been radically transformed, the contours of that order are in many ways the same in 2019 as they were in 1919. New laws govern international institutions, human rights, trade, and the environment and new institutions have emerged that affect how international law is interpreted and applied. War has lost legitimacy as a tool of foreign policy and individual responsibility for aggression and crimes against humanity has been affirmed. Yet these changes build on ideas and practices that may have been rudimentary but were not absent a century ago. Underlying them are persistent differences involving a shifting cast of old and new states as well as differences between local and universal ideals and between instrumental and noninstrumental conceptions of law. The traditional understanding of state sovereignty on which the international legal order rests has been qualified but not discarded, and its persistence confirms that the system it orders remains a system of states.
Social and human capital as determining factors of entrepreneurship in the Spanish Regions

Entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity are considered key fac- tors of the economic growth because they usually bring on behaviors aligned with the market development, productivity and social cohesion. This study aims to ana- lyze the factors that influence the entrepreneurial role, and provide a better under - standing of this behavior from a dynamic perspective, in order to support policies for encouraging entrepreneurship. To do this we used the data presented in the report of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), in its 2011 edition, which is based on an empirical analysis of a sample of 27,000 Spanish citizens. The results confirm that the perception of market opportunities, and having the skills and knowledge required to create new companies are explanatory factors of the entrepreneurial activity. However, it is also possible to assert that the increase of the entrepreneurial activity rate motivated by the need of self-employment of the entrepreneur influences the increase of fear of failure, and this could generate a dynamic harmful to the business creation in the medium term. Our model aims to support the decisions of public institutions about the incentive measures for entrepreneurs. This work contributes to the study of entrepreneurship and business creation from a multidisciplinary perspective, incorporating psycho- logical, sociological and economic approaches from a dynamic perspective. It also allows an in-depth analysis of factors undetected with other methodologies. We examined the determining factors of entrepreneurship by estimating a logit model based on entrepreneur's social capital (networking) and the geographical lo- cation (region) of the business activity. This analysis has shown significant differ - ences of these factors according to the stage of the entrepreneurial process. These results have let discuss the implications for the entrepreneurial dynamic, in order to support new policies in favor of entrepreneurship.
The Influence of Foot Abduction on Differences between Two-Dimensional and Three-Dimensional Rearfoot Motion

The advantage of a three-dimensional over a two-dimensional approach to rearfoot analysis has been questioned in the past. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in typical rearfoot variables obtained using a two-dimensional analysis compared with a three-dimensional approach. In addition, the influence of foot placement angle on these differences was assessed. Two- and three-dimensional rearfoot kinematics were collected from 18 recreational runners. Two-dimensional values for eversion at toe-off and time to peak eversion were found to be significantly different from the three-dimensional results. Differences between two-dimensional and three-dimensional variables were magnified with increased toe-out. Differences between eversion values were found to be minimal when the foot was abducted between 7 and 10°. The premise that excessive pronators have more pronounced toe-out was not supported by this study. Results suggest that caution should be exercised when assessing two-dimensional rearfoot motion in subjects with excessive toe-out.
Prevalence of High Blood Pressure among Young Rural Adults in Relation to Height in Childhood and Adult Body Mass Index

Objective: Evidence, mostly based on developed countries, indicates that disease risks may be associated with changes in growth processes rather than a one-point phenomenon. In view of the increasing prevalence of hypertension in India, there is a need to understand how patterns of growth during early childhood and adolescence influence blood pressure in adulthood, particularly among rural populations in India. Methods: The risk of hypertension was examined in 378 rural men older than 20 years who were measured for anthropometry during early childhood, adolescence, and as young adults in a community-based cohort study. Results: At the young age of 24 years, 33.9% of men had either high systolic blood pressure (≥130 mmHg) or high diastolic blood pressure (≥85 mmHg), even in absence of obesity. The growth of the subjects during childhood, in whom blood pressure developed later in young adulthood, was characterized by higher body mass index (BMI) throughout early childhood and adolescence as compared with those who had normal blood pressure. The prevalence of high blood pressure, especially diastolic, at this adult age was strongly associated with stunting at 3+ years of age (<−2 SD height of the World Health Organization standard), and risk increased (odds ratio, 12.21; 95% confidence interval, 2.93–50.90; p < 0.001) among those having high BMI (≥23 kg/m2) at adult age as compared with those who were not stunted in early life with a low BMI at adult age. Conclusions: The primary prevention of the epidemic of high blood pressure in India may require measures to prevent children from being stunted in early childhood and also prevent them from being overweight at young adulthood.
Serum Adipokine Levels in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis and Their Relationship to Clinical Parameters and Radiographic Spinal Progression

Adipokines have metabolic and inflammatory functions but can also affect bone metabolism. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between serum levels of adiponectin, resistin, and visfatin and markers of inflammation, disease activity, and radiographic spinal progression in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
Digoxin increases peripheral chemosensitivity and the ventilatory response to exercise in normal subjects

1. The contribution of peripheral chemoreceptors to the regulation of ventilation during exercise remains incompletely understood. Digoxin has been reported to increase chemoreflex sensitivity in humans. In the present randomized, cross‐over, double‐blind study, we tested the hypothesis that this increases the ventilatory response to exercise in normal subjects, as assessed by changes in minute ventilation (VE) in response to the rate of CO2 production (Vco2).
Stereological changes in the capillary network of the aging dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus.

In this work we studied the effect of aging on the capillaries of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus in 3-, 18-, 24-, and 28-month-old rats. The parameters analyzed were the capillary profile density, capillary volume fraction, length and surface area per unit volume, and capillary average diameter. The quantitative analysis showed in all parameters an increase between 3 and 18 months, and a significant decrease in capillary volume fraction (-18.75%) and diameter (-5.5%) between 18 and 24 months. No changes from 24 months onwards were observed. The increase observed in capillary profile density and capillary volume fraction between 3 and 18 months may indicate an increase of the capillary network. Furthermore, we observed an increase in the length and surface area per unit volume, which we interpret as an expansion of the exchange surface between blood and nerve tissue. The reduction in the capillary parameters that takes place between 18 and 24 months is slight, and may indicate the onset of decline characteristic of aging.
A novel synthetic peptide vector system for optimal gene delivery to bone marrow stromal cells

A 23‐amino acid, bifunctional, integrin‐targeted synthetic peptide was evaluated for ex vivo gene delivery to rabbit bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). The peptide (K)16GRGDSPC consists of an amino terminal domain of 16 lysines for electrostatic binding of DNA, and a 7‐amino acid integrin‐binding domain at the carboxyl terminal. PcDNA3‐EGFP plasmids were transfected into BMSCs by (K)16GRGDSPC and the positive cells gave out a bright green fluorescence. High levels of gene delivery of pcDNA3‐TGF‐β1 plasmids were obtained with 2 to 4 µg/ml DNA concentration, with (K)16GRGDSPC at an optimal peptide: DNA w/w ratio of 3:1, with a required exposure time of more than 4 h but shorter than 24 h for BMSC exposure to the peptide/DNA complexes with completely absent serum in the initial stage; with 100 µM chloroquine and at least 8 h exposure for BMSC exposure to chloroquine; with a fusogenic peptide at an optimal (K)16GRGDSPC/DNA/fusogenic peptide w/w ratio of 3:1:5; and with Lipofectamine 2000 at an optimal (K)16GRGDSPC/DNA/Lipofectamine 2000 w/w ratio of 3:1:2 at a constant DNA concentration of 2 µg/ml. Chloroquine, the fusogenic peptide and Lipofectamine 2000 all significantly promoted gene delivery, but chloroquine was more effective than the fusogenic peptide and had obvious synergistic effects with Lipofectamine 2000. Under optimal conditions, TGF‐β1 gene was transfected into BMSCs without observable toxicity, and the stable expression was examined by RT‐PCR and Western blot analysis. The stable transgenic cells showed obvious bands. This novel synthetic peptide, providing a new way for the use of polylysine and RGD motif in DNA vector system, is potentially well suited to ex vivo gene delivery to BMSCs for experimental and clinical applications in the field of bone tissue engineering. Copyright © 2006 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Osmotic fragility of red blood cells, lipid peroxidation and Ca2+-ATPase activity of placental homogenates and red blood cell ghosts in salt-loaded pregnant rats

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the osmotic fragility of red blood cells and the level of lipid peroxidation, the Ca2+-ATPase activity of red cell ghosts and placental homogenates from salt-loaded pregnant rats. Methods: Salt-loaded pregnant rats received 1.8% NaCl solution ad libitum as a beverage for seven days, starting on 15th day of pregnancy. Then, it was evaluated the level of lipid peroxidation and the Ca2+-ATPase activity of placental homogenates and red blood cell ghosts from control and experimental rats. Furthermore, the osmotic fragility of the red blood cells was evaluated by measuring the lysis of these cells when incubated with a NaCl solution with different osmolarities. Results: It was found that placental homogenates and red blood cell ghosts from experimental pregnant rats showed an increased level of lipid peroxidation and a lowered Ca2+-ATPase activity, as compared to control pregnant rats. They also presented an increased osmotic fragility of their red blood cells. Conclusions: Salt-loaded pregnant rats showed, similar to preeclamptic women, an increased level of lipid peroxidation and a lowered Ca2+-ATPase activity in placental and red blood cells membranes, as well as an increased osmotic fragility of the red blood cells.
A systematic review on robotic coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

BACKGROUND Robotic-assisted coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) has been performed over the past decade. Despite encouraging results from selected centres, there is a paucity of robust clinical data to establish its clinical safety and efficacy. The present systematic review aimed to identify all relevant clinical data on robotic CABG. The primary endpoint was perioperative mortality, and secondary endpoints included perioperative morbidities, anastomotic complications, and long-term survival. METHODS Electronic searches were performed using three online databases from their dates of inception to 2016. Relevant studies fulfilling the predefined search criteria were categorized according to surgical techniques as (I) totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass without cardiopulmonary bypass (TECAB off-pump); (II) TECAB on-pump; and robotic-assisted mammary artery harvesting followed by minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (robotic MIDCAB). RESULTS The present systematic review identified 44 studies that fulfilled the study selection criteria, including nine studies in the TECAB off-pump group and 16 studies in the robotic MIDCAB group. Statistical analysis reported a pooled mortality of 1.7% for the TECAB off-pump group and 1.0% for the robotic MIDCAB group. Intraoperative details such as the number and location of grafts performed, operative times and conversion rates, as well as postoperative secondary endpoints such as morbidities, anastomotic complications and long-term outcomes were also summarized for both techniques. CONCLUSIONS A number of technical, logistic and cost-related issues continue to hinder the popularization of the robotic CABG procedure. Current clinical evidence is limited by a lack of randomized controlled trials, heterogeneous definition of techniques and complications, as well as a lack of robust clinical follow-up with routine angiography. Nonetheless, the present systematic review reported acceptable perioperative mortality rates for selected patients at specialized centres. These results should be considered as a useful benchmark for future studies, until further data is reported in the form of randomized trials.
Expression of cyclooxygenase‐2 in primary and remnant gastric carcinoma: Comparing it with p53 accumulation, Helicobacter pylori infection, and vascular endothelial growth factor expression

Cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) expression may contribute to the synthesis of prostanoids, which have been related to carcinogenesis and tumor progression. It is well known that the gastric remnant is at greater risk of the development of gastric cancer than is the whole stomach; incidence rates for gastric cardia adenocarcinoma are rising in the United States and Europe. Our objective was to determine the involvement of COX‐2 in primary and remnant gastric cancer tissues as well as in adjacent noncancerous mucosa.
Evaluation of the validity of a rapid method for measuring high and low haemoglobin levels in whole blood donors.

BACKGROUND Haemoglobin screening methods need to be highly sensitive to detect both low and high haemoglobin levels and avoid unnecessary rejection of potential blood donors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of measurements by HemoCue in blood donors. MATERIALS AND METHODS Three hundred and fourteen randomly selected, prospective blood donors were studied. Single fingerstick blood samples were obtained to determine the donors' haemoglobin levels by HemoCue, while venous blood samples were drawn for measurement of the haemoglobin level by both HemoCue and an automated haematology analyser as the reference method. The sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and correlation between the reference method and HemoCue were assessed. Cases with a haemoglobin concentration in the range of 12.5-17.9 g/dL were accepted for blood donation. RESULTS Analysis of paired results showed that haemoglobin levels measured by HemoCue were higher than those measured by the reference method. There was a significant correlation between the reference method and HemoCue for haemoglobin levels less than 12.5 g/dL. The correlation was less strong for increasing haemoglobin levels. Linear correlation was poor for haemoglobin levels over 18 g/dL. Thirteen percent of donors, who had haemoglobin levels close to the upper limit, were unnecessarily rejected. DISCUSSION HemoCue is suitable for screening for anaemia in blood donors. Most donors at Yazd are males and a significant percentage of them have haemoglobin values close to the upper limit for acceptance as a blood donor; since these subjects could be unnecessarily rejected on the basis of HemoCue results and testing with this method is expensive, it is recommended that qualitative methods are used for primary screening and accurate quantitative methods used in clinically suspicious cases or when qualitative methods fail.
Liver pathology following hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy: Hepatic toxicity with FUDR

The authors reviewed the liver histopathology and the clinical features of eight patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer who were treated by hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) via an implantable pump (Infusaid). Before HAIC, these patients had no evidence of hepatitis, and results of liver biopsies performed on three patients showed only minor morphologic alterations. All the liver tumors responded to HAIC, but all patients developed hepatitis. Clinical findings included nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and jaundice. Serum transaminases, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin levels were increased. Clinical observations suggested that 5‐fluoro‐2′‐deoxyuridine (FUDR), the predominant drug given, was the hepatotoxic agent. Toxic effects were hepatocyte necrosis, steatosis, cholestasis, central vein sclerosis, and alterations in the portal triad. In addition, central vein lesions like those in veno‐occlusive disease, and micronodular cirrhosis resembling that induced by alcohol, were encountered. Although individual susceptibility to FUDR appeared to vary, portal triad fibrosis was present in all eight cases and, together with central vein sclerosis and cirrhosis, appeared to be related to the dose and duration of HAIC.