Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Consumer interpretation of ramipril and clopidogrel medication risk information – implications for risk communication strategies

Purpose Side effects and side-effect risk information can be provided using written medicine information. However, challenges exist in effectively communicating this information to consumers. This study aimed to explore broad consumer profiles relevant to ramipril and clopidogrel side-effect risk information interpretation. Methods Three focus groups were conducted (n=18 consumers) exploring consumer perspectives, understanding and treatment decision making in response to ramipril and clopidogrel written medicine information leaflets containing side effects and side-effect risk information. All discussions were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed to explore consumer profiles pertaining to side-effect risk appraisal. Results Three consumer profiles emerged: glass half-empty, glass half-full, and middle-of-the-road consumers, highlighting the influence of perceived individual susceptibility, interpretation of side-effect risk information, and interindividual differences, on consumers’ understanding of side-effect risk information. All profiles emphasized the importance of gaining an understanding of individual side-effect risk when taking medicines. Conclusion Written side-effect risk information is not interpreted uniformly by consumers. Consumers formulated their own construct of individual susceptibility to side effects. Health care professionals should consider how consumers interpret side-effect risk information and its impact on medication use. Existing risk communication strategies should be evaluated in light of these profiles to determine their effectiveness in conveying information.
A Meta-Analysis of Factors Influencing the Development of Trust in Automation

Objective: We used meta-analysis to assess research concerning human trust in automation to understand the foundation upon which future autonomous systems can be built. Background: Trust is increasingly important in the growing need for synergistic human–machine teaming. Thus, we expand on our previous meta-analytic foundation in the field of human–robot interaction to include all of automation interaction. Method: We used meta-analysis to assess trust in automation. Thirty studies provided 164 pairwise effect sizes, and 16 studies provided 63 correlational effect sizes. Results: The overall effect size of all factors on trust development was ḡ = +0.48, and the correlational effect was r ¯ = +0.34, each of which represented medium effects. Moderator effects were observed for the human-related (ḡ = +0.49; r ¯ = +0.16) and automation-related (ḡ = +0.53; r ¯ = +0.41) factors. Moderator effects specific to environmental factors proved insufficient in number to calculate at this time. Conclusion: Findings provide a quantitative representation of factors influencing the development of trust in automation as well as identify additional areas of needed empirical research. Application: This work has important implications to the enhancement of current and future human–automation interaction, especially in high-risk or extreme performance environments.
Fatty acid-induced beta cell apoptosis: a link between obesity and diabetes.

Like obese humans, Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats exhibit early beta cell compensation for insulin resistance (4-fold beta cell hyperplasia) followed by decompensation (>50% loss of beta cells). In prediabetic and diabetic ZDF islets, apoptosis measured by DNA laddering is increased 3- and >7-fold, respectively, compared with lean ZDF controls. Ceramide, a fatty acid-containing messenger in cytokine-induced apoptosis, was significantly increased (P < 0.01) in prediabetic and diabetic islets. Free fatty acids (FFAs) in plasma are high (>1 mM) in prediabetic and diabetic ZDF rats; therefore, we cultured prediabetic islets in 1 mM FFA. DNA laddering rose to 19.6% vs. 4.6% in lean control islets, preceded by an 82% increase in ceramide. C2-Ceramide without FFA induced DNA laddering, but fumonisin B1, a ceramide synthetase inhibitor, completely blocked FFA-induced DNA laddering in cultured ZDF islets. [3H]Palmitate incorporation in [3H]ceramide in ZDF islets was twice that of controls, but [3H]palmitate oxidation was 77% less. Triacsin C, an inhibitor of fatty acyl-CoA synthetase, and troglitazone, an enhancer of FFA oxidation in ZDF islets, both blocked DNA laddering. These agents also reduced inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase mRNA and NO production, which are involved in FFA-induced apoptosis. In ZDF obesity, beta cell apoptosis is induced by increased FFA via de novo ceramide formation and increased NO production.
Conventional monotherapy compared to a "sawtooth" treatment strategy in the radiographic progression of rheumatoid arthritis over the first eight years.

OBJECTIVE To describe the treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in two inception cohorts of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to compare their radiographic outcomes. METHODS A recent onset RA cohort was collected in Heinola in 1973-1975, and another in Jyväskylä in 1983-1989. The cohorts were followed up prospectively and treated with available DMARDs. The radiographic outcomes of 103 and 85 seropositive cohort patients from Heinola and Jyväskylä respectively were assigned Larsen scores (0-100) for their wrist, hand and foot radiographs in years 0, 1, 3, and 8, and compared with each other. RESULTS In this study it was seen that DMARD treatment for RA became more extensive over time. The earlier cohort patients were treated with gold sodium thiomalate, chloroquine and D-penicillamine, while 8 additional DMARDs and various DMARD combinations were used for the later cohort patients. At the 8 year visit, 23%, 33%, and 2% of the Heinola patients, and 6%, 45%, and 21% of the Jyväskylä patients respectively were being treated with chloroquine, other single DMARDs, or DMARD combinations. Destruction in the peripheral joints remained lower in the more extensively treated cohort; from 0 to 8 years the median Larsen score increased from 1 to 25.5 and from 0 to 12 (p = 0.001) for the Heinola and the Jyväskylä patients, respectively. CONCLUSION Our result supports a role of DMARDs in preventing joint destruction in RA in the long-term.
Effects of Telmisartan on Arterial Stiffness Assessed by the Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index in Hypertensive Patients

Background/Aims: This study was conducted to determine the effect of telmisartan on the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), a novel blood pressure (BP)-independent marker for arterial stiffness in hypertensive patients. Methods: One hundred consecutive hypertensive patients were randomly assigned either to a group treated with calcium channel blocker (CCB)-based therapy or a group treated with telmisartan-based therapy. Clinical and biological parameters were then measured before and 12 months after the start of this study. Results: CAVI, the logarithm of urinary albumin excretion, and BP were reduced significantly after telmisartan-based therapy. The decreases in 24-hour diastolic BP and daytime systolic BP associated with telmisartan-based therapy were significantly greater than those associated with CCB-based therapy. Both therapies significantly and similarly decreased the clinical BP, 24-hour systolic BP, daytime diastolic BP and serum levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. No significant differences in the metabolic parameters were observed between the two therapies. Conclusion: Telmisartan-based therapy had beneficial effects on arterial stiffness assessed by CAVI, albuminuria, 24-hour BP and metabolism compared with CCB-based therapy. Since these markers are known to influence the future risk of cardiovascular events, telmisartan could be a useful drug for hypertensive patients.
Recurrent neonatal seizures result in long‐term increases in neuronal network excitability in the rat neocortex

Neonatal seizures are associated with a high likelihood of adverse neurological outcomes, including mental retardation, behavioral disorders, and epilepsy. Early seizures typically involve the neocortex, and post‐neonatal epilepsy is often of neocortical origin. However, our understanding of the consequences of neonatal seizures for neocortical function is limited. In the present study, we show that neonatal seizures induced by flurothyl result in markedly enhanced susceptibility of the neocortex to seizure‐like activity. This change occurs in young rats studied weeks after the last induced seizure and in adult rats studied months after the initial seizures. Neonatal seizures resulted in reductions in the amplitude of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents and the frequency of miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents, and significant increases in the amplitude and frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) and in the frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) in pyramidal cells of layer 2/3 of the somatosensory cortex. The selective N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist d‐2‐amino‐5‐phosphonovalerate eliminated the differences in amplitude and frequency of sEPSCs and mEPSCs in the control and flurothyl groups, suggesting that NMDA receptors contribute significantly to the enhanced excitability seen in slices from rats that experienced recurrent neonatal seizures. Taken together, our results suggest that recurrent seizures in infancy result in a persistent enhancement of neocortical excitability.
Flaxseed Suppressed Prostatic Epithelial Proliferation in a Rat Model of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a disease occurring frequently among elderly males, is a slow progressive enlargement of the fibromuscular and epithelial structures of the prostate gland. Dietary factors may influence the prostate and exert an influence on prostatic growth and disease. The current study was undertaken to investigate the protective effect of dietary flaxseed supplementation against testosterone-induced prostatic hyperplasia in male rats. Forty male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups: (1) untreated control; (2) treatment with testosterone propionate (TP) to induce prostate enlargement; (3) TP-treated group fed a diet containing 5% milled flaxseed; (4) TP-treated group fed a diet containing 10% milled flaxseed; and (5) TP-treated group fed a diet containing 20 ppm finasteride. Treatment with TP significantly increased the absolute and relative weights of different prostatic lobes, serum testosterone (T), and testosterone/estradiol ratio, as well as prostatic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, RNA synthesis per cell, and epithelial cell proliferation, detected as Ki67 labeling. Histopathological examination did not reveal marked differences in acinar morphology in ventral prostate, whereas morphometric analysis showed significantly increased epithelial cell height. Co-administration of flaxseed or finasteride with TP significantly reduced prostatic VEFG, epithelial cell proliferation, and RNA/DNA ratio, along with a significant increase in serum T and testosterone/estradiol ratio compared with TP-only-treated rats. Our results indicate that flaxseed, similar to the 5α-reductase inhibitor finasteride, blocked TP-induced prostate enlargement in a rat model of BPH, likely through suppression of prostatic VEFG and cellular proliferation.
Preventing hospital malnutrition: a survey on nutritional policies in an Italian University Hospital.

BACKGROUND A proper strategy for fighting hospital malnutrition should include nutritional screening of all hospitalized patients, adequate utilization of the Hospital facilities - such as Clinical Nutrition Services or Nutrition Teams - and an adequate algorithm for the adoption of proper nutrition support (oral, enteral or parenteral) with proper timing. The main aim of the present study was to investigate the current policies of different non-intensive wards of our institution (a 1100 beds University Hospital) in terms of prevention of hospital malnutrition. METHODS We conducted a one-day survey to verify the current policies of nutritional screening and the indication to nutritional support in adult patients, interviewing nurses and physicians of our non-intensive hospital wards. RESULTS A total of 29 wards were considered, which sum up to 755 hospitalized patients. We found that nutritional screening at admission is routinely assessed only in 41% of wards and that oral nutrient intake is controlled regularly only in 72%. Indication to clinical nutrition support and specifically to artificial nutrition is not consistent with the current international guidelines. Only 14% of patients were receiving artificial nutrition at the moment of the survey and the majority of them were given parenteral nutrition rather than enteral feeding. CONCLUSION Our survey confirmed that in large hospitals the main barriers to the fight against hospital malnutrition are the lack of knowledge and/or commitment by nurses and physicians as well as the lack of well-defined hospital policies on early nutritional screening, surveillance of nutritional status and indication to nutrition support.
Combining reverse genetics and nuclear magnetic resonance‐based metabolomics unravels trypanosome‐specific metabolic pathways

Numerous eukaryotes have developed specific metabolic traits that are not present in extensively studied model organisms. For instance, the procyclic insect form of Trypanosoma brucei, a parasite responsible for sleeping sickness in its mammalian‐specific bloodstream form, metabolizes glucose into excreted succinate and acetate through pathways with unique features. Succinate is primarily produced from glucose‐derived phosphoenolpyruvate in peroxisome‐like organelles, also known as glycosomes, by a soluble NADH‐dependent fumarate reductase only described in trypanosomes so far. Acetate is produced in the mitochondrion of the parasite from acetyl‐CoA by a CoA‐transferase, which forms an ATP‐producing cycle with succinyl‐CoA synthetase. The role of this cycle in ATP production was recently demonstrated in procyclic trypanosomes and has only been proposed so far for anaerobic organisms, in addition to trypanosomatids. We review how nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry can be used to analyze the metabolic network perturbed by deletion (knockout) or downregulation (RNAi) of the candidate genes involved in these two particular metabolic pathways of procyclic trypanosomes. The role of succinate and acetate production in trypanosomes is discussed, as well as the connections between the succinate and acetate branches, which increase the metabolic flexibility probably required by the parasite to deal with environmental changes such as oxidative stress.
Flavin monooxygenases, FMO1 and FMO3, not cytochrome P450 isoenzymes, contribute to metabolism of anti-tumour triazoloacridinone, C-1305, in liver microsomes and HepG2 cells

5-Dimethylaminopropylamino-8-hydroxytriazoloacridinone, C-1305, being the close structural analogue of the clinically tested imidazoacridinone anti-tumour agent, C-1311, expressed high activity against experimental tumours and is expected to have more advantageous pharmacological properties than C-1311. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of selected liver enzymes in the metabolism of C-1305. We demonstrated that the studied triazoloacridinone was transformed with rat and human liver microsomes, HepG2 hepatoma cells and with human recombinant flavin-containing monooxygenases FMO1, FMO3 but not with CYPs. Furthermore, this compound was an effective inhibitor of CYP1A2 and CYP3A4. The product of FMO catalysed metabolism was shown to be identical to the main metabolite from liver microsomes and HepG2 cells. It was identified as an N-oxide derivative and, under hypoxia, it underwent retroreduction back to C-1305, what was extremely effective with participation of CYP3A4. In summary, this work revealed that the involvement of the P450 enzymatic system in microsomal and cellular metabolism of C-1305 was negligible, whereas this agent was an inhibitor of CYP1A2 and CYP3A4. In contrast, FMO1 and FMO3 were crucial for metabolism of C-1305 by liver microsomes and in HepG2 cells, which makes C-1305 an attractive potent anti-tumour agent.
Security Implications of Physical Design Attributes in the Emergency Department

Background: Security, a subset of safety, is equally important in the efficient delivery of patient care. The emergency department (ED) is susceptible to violence creating concerns for the safety and security of patients, staff, and visitors and for the safe and efficient delivery of care. Although there is an implicit and growing recognition of the role of the physical environment, interventions typically have been at the microlevel. Objective: The objective of this study was to identify physical design attributes that potentially influence safety and efficiency of ED operations. Method: An exploratory, qualitative research design was adopted to examine the efficiency and safety correlates of ED physical design attributes. The study comprised a multimeasure approach involving multidisciplinary gaming, semistructured interviews, and touring interviews of frontline staff in four EDs at three hospital systems across three states. Results: Five macro physical design attributes (issues that need to be addressed at the design stage and expensive to rectify once built) emerged from the data as factors substantially associated with security issues. They are design issues pertaining to (a) the entry zone, (b) traffic management, (c) patient room clustering, (d) centralization versus decentralization, and (e) provisions for special populations. Conclusion: Data from this study suggest that ED security concerns are generally associated with three sources: (a) gang-related violence, (b) dissatisfied patients, and (c) behavioral health patients. Study data show that physical design has an important role in addressing the above-mentioned concerns. Implications for ED design are outlined in the article.
Chitosan crosslinked microparticles with encapsulated polyphenols: Water sorption and release properties

Chitosan–glutaraldehyde microparticles were produced by emulsion crosslinking method to be used as drug delivery system for polyphenols from Thymus serpyllum L. aqueous extract. The effect of preparation conditions, chitosan concentration (1.5–3% w/v), and glutaraldehyde/chitosan (GA/Ch) mass ratio (0.15–1.20) on water and polyphenols transport properties was investigated. Swelling ratio of dry particles (68–230 µm) in water ranged from 280% to 530%, depending on the formulation. The decrease in swelling was observed with increased GA/Ch mass ratio (i.e. crosslinking degree) at the same chitosan concentration, or with increased chitosan concentration at the same GA/Ch mass ratio. The increase in GA/Ch mass ratio was also manifested by increased particle compactness i.e. decreased size and reduced surface roughness. The sorption capacity for polyphenols seems to be a complex interplay of swelling behaviour and interactions chitosan–glutaraldehyde–polyphenols identified by Fourier transmission infrared analysis. An increase in crystallinity of chitosan was observed upon crosslinking with glutaraldehyde and encapsulation of polyphenols, as observed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The results obtained from release kinetics of selected polyphenolic compounds (caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, total flavonoids, and total phenol content) showed that polyphenols were released at a lower amount (2–4 times) in water, but more rapidly (45–120 min) in comparison with the release in gastric followed by intestinal simulated fluid (SGF-SIF) (120–240 min). The experimental results of the time-dependent swelling in water and polyphenols release in both, water and SGF-SIF, were analyzed with several mathematical models. The results depicted Fickian diffusion as the water transport mechanism. In the case of polyphenols, only empirical Weibull model could be suggested for describing release kinetics.
Effects of Novelty on Event-Related Potentials: Aging and Stimulus Replacement

Background: Irrelevant unexpected stimuli elicit various types of inhibitory processes modulated by ongoing activity. An index of the inhibitory processes, namely the N2b and P3a event-related potentials (ERP), shows marked age-related differences. Objective: In this experiment, we attempted to separate the effects of inhibitory and working memory processes in older and younger participants on cognitive processes, and we investigated the effect of irrelevant events at different stages of task-related cognitive processes. Methods: In a successive letter-matching task, either the first or the second member of letter pairs were infrequently replaced by a novel stimulus in 2 age groups while ERPs were recorded. Results: Novel stimuli had different effects on ERP in the 2 age groups. In the group of young participants, novel stimuli replacing the first member of the letter pair elicited a long-lasting anterior negative ERP component. In the older group, such stimuli elicited the N2b-P3a complex. In the case of novelties replacing the second member of the pair, the N2b-P3a complex emerged in both groups. Task-relevant letters in both groups elicited the P3b (late positive component). P3b had more a diffuse scalp distribution in the older group. Conclusion: In the different stages of the letter-matching task, ERPs elicited by novel stimuli differed only qualitatively in the older group, whereas in the younger group we obtained differences in the characteristics of the ERPs. The long-lasting anterior negativity in the younger group is considered a correlate of inhibitory activity towards the subsequent events initiated by the central executive system. This process is compromised in the older age group.
Women Arrested for Partner Violence and Substance Use

Discrepancies exist in research examining substance problems within groups of women arrested for intimate partner violence (IPV). In some studies women IPV arrestees have been found to be at high risk for substance-related problems, whereas in others they are found to be at low risk for substance-related problems. The current study explores these discrepancies then compares a sample of women court ordered to a domestic violence diversion program (n = 78) to a matched sample of men (n = 78) in the same program using police report information, self-report measures, the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory—3, and the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory—III alcohol and drug subscales. Women IPV arrestees had a low occurrence of substance use during the arresting incident, a low incidence of substance-related diagnoses, and fewer substance-related problems than did men IPV arrestees. However, women demonstrated personality structures susceptible to nondiagnosable, hazardous drinking patterns.
GC-MS characterization of n-hexane soluble fraction from dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber ex F.H. Wigg.) aerial parts and its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties

Abstract A comparative investigation of n-hexane soluble compounds from aerial parts of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber ex F.H. Wigg.) collected during different vegetative stages was carried out. The GC-MS analysis of the n-hexane (unpolar) fraction showed the presence of 30 biologically active compounds. Phytol [14.7% of total ion current (TIC)], lupeol (14.5% of TIC), taraxasteryl acetate (11.4% of TIC), β-sitosterol (10.3% of TIC), α-amyrin (9.0% of TIC), β-amyrin (8.3% of TIC), and cycloartenol acetate (5.8% of TIC) were identified as the major components in n-hexane fraction. The unpolar fraction exhibited promising antioxidant activity – 46.7 mmol Trolox equivalents/g extract (determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl method). This fraction demonstrated insignificant antimicrobial activity and can be used in cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.