Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Arjunolic acid: beneficial role in type 1 diabetes and its associated organ pathophysiology

Abstract In this review article, we describe the most recent development of the beneficial effect of arjunolic acid (AA) in reducing type 1 diabetic pathophysiology. Diabetic mellitus is a serious and growing health problem worldwide. Increasing evidence suggest that oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of diabetes and its associated complications. Use of antioxidant supplements as a complimentary therapeutic approach in diabetes has, therefore, been seriously considered worldwide. AA, a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid saponin, is well known for various biological functions including antioxidant activity. It could prevent the increased production of ROS, RNS, AGEs, and the 8OHdG/2dG ratio and increase the intracellular antioxidant defence system. Signal transduction studies showed that AA could prevent hyperglycaemia induced activation of MAPKs, PKC, NF-κB signalling cascades and apoptotic cell death. Combining, AA supplements could be regarded as beneficial therapeutics in the treatment of diabetes and its associated complications.
Apoptosis-mediated neurotoxicity and altered gene expression induced by silver nanoparticles

Although not fully recognized, the neurotoxic effects of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) are thought to occur through induction of oxidative stress and apoptosis. To investigate the exact underlying molecular mechanism, we aimed to explore the apoptotic effects of intraperitoneal injection of Ag-NPs and investigated the possible attributed changes in the mRNA expression of Bcl-2 and Bax genes in the rat hippocampus. Two in vivo sets of experiments, one to demonstrate apoptosis and the other to assess gene expression, were conducted on male Wistar rats. In each set, the first group, acting as control, received saline and the other three groups received Ag-NP at doses of 100, 200, and 400 ppm for five successive days. Ten days after the last injection, hippocampal tissue of the first set of rats was assessed for apoptosis using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxy uridine triphosphate nick-end labeling staining. In the second set of experiments, mRNA expression of Bcl-2 and Bax genes was evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Ag-NP treatment was shown to induce apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, Ag-NP reduced mRNA level of Bcl-2 in the rat hippocampal cells at all investigated doses compared to the control group (p < 0.001). The mRNA level of Bax, on the other hand, was increased in these cells. The increase was significant compared to the control group at the doses of 200 ppm (p < 0.05) and 400 ppm (p < 0.001). Our results show that Ag-NPs reduce Bcl-2 and increase Bax genes expression, resulting in increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratios in rat hippocampal cells. This altered gene expression induces cell apoptosis and contributes to the neurotoxicity of Ag-NPs.
Change in mineral nutrients contents of five ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb.) varieties affected by root-knot nematode

Mineral nutrient changes in 5 Ridge gourd varieties inoculated with root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita were investigated. Five ridge gourd varieties, namely Priya, BSS-1009, Aneeta, Aarti and Harsha were inoculated with root-knot nematode and studied their effects on the changes of mineral nutrients contents of shoots and roots. The contents of Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn varied greatly among the varieties in both shoot and root. Some changes in mineral nutrients were observed due to the inoculation of root-knot nematode. The percentage of Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn were found lower in inoculated shoot and root samples than the healthy counterpart in most cases. The lowest Ca content was found in Priya in both shoot and root but Mg content was minimum in Aarti variety.
Histochemistry of primate extraocular muscles and the changes of denervation.

The morphological and physiological classification of the fibres of the extraocular muscles has been the subject of some controversy, not to say confusion. It is well known that in mammals the oblique and rectus muscles consist of a peripheral layer of smaller fibres overlying a deeper zone with larger diameters (Kato, I938; Kern, I965). Many morphological and ultrastructural studies have described a dual type system in several species, including man, but later reports have suggested that this is an oversimplification. The application of histochemical methods to skeletal muscle has clarified the typing of the fibres and has enabled certain physiological properties to be inferred from their relative staining intensities. The purpose of the present study was to examine systematically control and denervated extraocular muscles in the baboon and control human material with a variety of histochemical and morphological techniques and to attempt to correlate the findings with those of other workers.
Rente pétrolière et disparité des revenus au Tchad

Cet article analyse l’influence des ressources petrolieres sur les inegalites au Tchad entre 2003, date de debut de l’exploitation petroliere et 2011. Les resultats des analyses menees indiquent un creusement des inegalites au niveau national, avec un coefficient de Gini ayant augmente de 17% sur la periode. La decomposition de l’indice de Gini en sous-groupes effectuee montre que les inegalites interregionales ont augmente. En outre, les resultats econometriques suggerent qu’une augmentation de 1% des revenus petroliers contribue a augmenter les inegalites de 0,09%. Cette augmentation des inegalites est d’autant plus importante que la repartition des revenus petroliers coincide avec des considerations d’ordre politique. Classification JEL : D63, O13, Q32
A Trial of Transcranial Polarization in Chronic Schizophrenics

Considerable evidence has accumulated that alterations in the direct current fields of the brain can produce alterations in function (O'Leary and Goldring, 1964). In view of this a group of investigators instituted a clinical trial of the possible usefulness of transcranial polarization (Lippold and Redfearn, 1964; Redfearn et al., 1964; Costain et al., 1964). In the approach used a current was passed between electrodes attached just superior to the eyebrows and an electrode on the leg. The principal changes reported consisted of an elevation of mood and an increase in involvement with the environment when the head was positive relatively to the leg and a withdrawal and quietness when the head was negative relatively to the leg. The current level reported as effective was generally of the order of 250 microamperes. Among Lippold and Redfearn's subjects were seven schizophrenics, in six of whom brief D.C. polarization produced the expected effects. Among the subjects of Redfearn et al. were four schizophrenics, in all of whom some favourable effect from D.C. head positive polarization was reported. This study was uncontrolled. In a blind controlled trial, Costain et al. found head-positive polarization to be of therapeutic efficacy in a group of 24 depressed patients. Their interpretation of results was challenged by Dawson and Montagu (1965). In view of these reports, we decided that a pilot study of the possible efficacy of transcranial polarization in altering the non-responsive state of chronic schizophrenic patients was warranted. It was decided that a more longitudinal study would be of greater value in determining possible therapeutic usefulness than a shorter trial on a larger number of patients. The experiment was conducted on one of the research wards of Rockland State Hospital.
Validation of a new measure of concept of a good death.

BACKGROUND The concept of a good death is central to end-of-life care research. Despite its importance and the high interest in the topic, there are few measures currently available for use in clinical research. PURPOSE The present work describes the development and testing of a set of items intended to measure the importance of several components posited to be critical to the concept of a good death. It is intended for use with health care providers and lay people in the context of end-of-life care research and education. POPULATION Four cohorts (n = 596) were recruited to participate, representing two helping profession disciplines, nonhelping professionals, and a range of ages, specifically: (1) undergraduate medical students; (2) master's degree students in nursing; (3) graduate students from the life sciences; and (4) practicing hospice nurses. METHODS Participants completed self-report questionnaires at baseline and retest. Psychometric analyses included item frequency distributions, factor analysis, alpha reliability, intraclass correlation, and measures of association. RESULTS The new Concept of a Good Death measure demonstrated good item frequency distributions, acceptable internal consistency reliability, and test-retest stability. Its factor structure revealed that three distinct domains are measured, reflecting the psychosocial/spiritual, physical, and clinical aspects of a good death. An examination of patterns of correlations showed differential associations with death anxiety, spiritual beliefs and practices, anxious mood, and sociodemographic characteristics. CONCLUSIONS The new Concept of a Good Death instrument appears to measure three distinct factors which people consider important to a Good Death. Ratings of the importance of these factors are reliable and valid. The instrument has the advantage of being a brief, self-report index for use in end-of-life care research.
Prevalence of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms After Childbirth: Does Ethnicity Have an Impact?

The purpose of this descriptive, correlational study was to examine the prevalence of posttraumatic stress symptoms in mothers during the first 6 months after giving birth, as well as to investigate whether ethnicity has an impact on the occurrence of such symptoms. Twenty-two women completed the Perinatal Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Questionnaire at a community health center. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, correlations, and independent sample t-tests. Higher total Perinatal PTSD Questionnaire scores were related to higher numbers of both perinatal and postpartum complications. In addition, Hispanic women were found to be less likely to experience avoidance than Caucasian women. Although more research is needed, findings from this study demonstrate a preliminary relationship between the two variables, ethnicity and avoidance.
Laparoscopic Choledochoduodenostomy in the Management of Obstructive Biliary Tract in the ERCP Era

Background: With the advent of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), indications for choledochoduodenostomy have been drastically reduced. Furthermore, and even although laparoscopic common bile duct (CBD) exploration (LCBDE) is being increasingly used for management of CBD stones, due to the technical challenge associated with a laparoscopic biliaryenteric anastomosis, laparoscopic choledochoduodenostomy (LCDD) has not widely adopted. Patients and Methods: A review of the literature limited to studies published from 1989 to 2013, reported in English language and performed on humans was conducted on Pubmed using the following key words: “laparoscopic choledochoduodenostomy”. Operative details, perioperative outcomes and follow-up data were examined. Results: A total of 5 studies reporting the outcomes of 90 patients undergoing LCDD for benign (choledocholithiasis, cholangitis, chronic pancreatitis and distal CBD stricture) and malignant (unresectable pancreatic neoplasm) indications were included. The mean age of patients was 60.34 years. There were 69 female and 21 male patients. Mean operative time was 180.16 minutes. Average hospital stay was 6 days. The overall success rate in achieving a CBD clearance was 100%, with a morbidity rate of 11% and a mortality rate of 3.3%. Recurrence of symptoms was reported in only one patient(1%). Conclusions: Laparoscopic choledochoduodenostomy is a safe and feasible surgical procedure in the management of obstructive biliary duct with a low morbidity and mortality rates. However, the number of cases of LCDD in our review is small and more long-terms and randomized studies in compare with ERCP and open surgery should be done to validate the results.
Stem Cell Factor/c-kit Signaling Promotes the Survival, Migration, and Capillary Tube Formation of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells*

c-kit receptor tyrosine kinase is a marker of progenitor cells, which differentiate into blood and/or vascular endothelial cells, and has an important role in the amplification/mobilization of progenitor cells. c-kit is expressed in mature endothelial cells, but its role there is unclear. Stem cell factor, a c-kit ligand, dose-dependently promoted survival, migration, and capillary tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. These effects mimicked those of vascular endothelial growth factor, except that stem cell factor did not sufficiently support proliferation of these cells. After exposing cells to this factor, Akt, Erk1/2, and c-kit were immediately (≤5 min) and dose-dependently tyrosinephosphorylated. STI-571, a c-kit inhibitor, dose-dependently attenuated these phosphorylations and inhibited stem cell factor-promoted survival and capillary tube formation over the same dose range. Wortmannin and LY294002, inhibitors of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, and PD98059, an inhibitor of MEK, abrogated survival and capillary tube formation, indicating that Akt and Erk1/2 should promote survival and capillary tube formation of these endothelial cells at a locus downstream to stem cell factor/c-kit signaling. Akt was more strongly phosphorylated, whereas Erk1/2 and p38 were more weakly phosphorylated with stem cell factor than with vascular endothelial growth factor. Phospholipase Cγ was phosphorylated only with the latter, indicating that stem cell factor/c-kit signaling is somewhat different.
Measurement of the working parameters of an air-post vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser

We present a complete experimental evaluation of the effective parameters necessary to describe the dynamical behavior of an air-post vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers, on the basis of theoretical equations which are also derived in this paper. The experimental investigation is composed of several steps, including power versus current measurement, noise spectrum analysis, linewidth evaluation. The complete set of parameters derived, in particular the linewidth-enhancement factor and the spontaneous emission factor, is particularly important for accurate comparisons of theoretical models on the laser dynamics with experiments.
[Modern CT diagnosis of acute thoracic and abdominal trauma].

PURPOSE To evaluate a modified algorithm in the diagnostic management of polytraumatized patients by using whole body multislice CT (MSCT) as primary diagnostic tool. MATERIAL AND METHODS Between June 1999 and October 2000 532 polytraumatized patients were referred to the emergency department. 336 polytraumatized patients were primarily evaluated using whole body MSCT according to the "Innsbruck Emergency Algorithm. " MSCT is performed immediately after cardiovascular stabilization of the patient. During the initial stabilization period free intraabdominal fluid is excluded or demonstrated by abdominal ultrasound. Time-consuming conventional radiographs are omitted with exception of an optimal chest X-ray. In patients with suspected or obvious arterial injuries or fractures the multislice-CT-dataset is used to perform 2D and 3D reconstructions in order to optimize visualization of additional skeletal and vascular injuries. RESULTS By means of whole body MSCT it was possible to detect all injuries. The diagnostic advantage of whole body MSCT as compared to conventional X-ray was analyzed in 111 consecutive polytraumatized patients with an injury severity score (ISS) of 34.77. The early use of MSCT shortened the time for diagnostic work-up substantially (approximately 50%). CONCLUSION Whole body multislice-CT used as primary diagnostic tool in the management of polytraumatized patients allows for a fast, accurate and comprehensive diagnostic work-up.
Tea Catechins and Polyphenols: Health Effects, Metabolism, and Antioxidant Functions

Increasing interest in the health benefits of tea has led to the inclusion of tea extracts in dietary supplements and functional foods. However, epidemiologic evidence regarding the effects of tea consumption on cancer and cardiovascular disease risk is conflicting. While tea contains a number of bioactive chemicals, it is particularly rich in catechins, of which epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant. Catechins and their derivatives are thought to contribute to the beneficial effects ascribed to tea. Tea catechins and polyphenols are effective scavengers of reactive oxygen species in vitro and may also function indirectly as antioxidants through their effects on transcription factors and enzyme activities. The fact that catechins are rapidly and extensively metabolized emphasizes the importance of demonstrating their antioxidant activity in vivo. In humans, modest transient increases in plasma antioxidant capacity have been demonstrated following the consumption of tea and green tea catechins. The effects of tea and green tea catechins on biomarkers of oxidative stress, especially oxidative DNA damage, appear very promising in animal models, but data on biomarkers of in vivo oxidative stress in humans are limited. Larger human studies examining the effects of tea and tea catechin intake on biomarkers of oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA are needed. Referee: Dr. Jeffrey Blumberg, USDA HNRC on Aging, Tufts University, Antioxidants Research Lab, 711 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111-1524
Four Studies Extending the Utility of the Schwartz Outcome Scale (SOS-10)

The Schwartz Outcome Scale (SOS-10; Blais et al., 1999) is a brief, cost free, and easy to administer assessment device designed to measure a broad domain of psychological health. The 4 studies using the SOS-10 reported here extend the initial reliability and validity studies beyond psychiatric patients in a hospital setting to examine (a) test-retest reliability in a college student population, (b) concurrent validity with college students using an indirect technique assessing maladjustment, (c) concurrent validity with college counseling center clients using a self-report measure of client distress, and (d) sensitivity to treatment changes with outpatient clients. These studies lend further support for using the SOS-10 as a measure of psychological well-being and as an outcome measure in varied settings.
Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy causing cystoid macular edema and the response to Ranibizumb intravitreal treatment

OBJETIVO: Relatar um caso de paciente com Vasculopatia coroidiana polipoidal com edema macular cistoide e a resposta ao tratamento com Ranibizumab intravitrea como monoterapia METODOS: Uma paciente com 62 anos foi referida por seu oftalmologista para avaliacao retiniana . Apresentava acuidade visual com correcao de 20/100 no olho esquerdo e 20/20 no olho direito. A avaliacao do segmento anterior era normal em ambos os olhos. No exame de fundo de olho e retinografia fluoresceinica apresentava numerosas drussas pequenas e edema macular cistoide devido a vazamentos de alguns polipos vasculares coroidianos na arcada vascular superior e ainda fluido sub-retiniano e alteracao cistica no OCT . O olho direito apresentava angiografia fluoresceinica da retina e OCT normais.A paciente recusou-se a se submeter a videoangiografia com indocianina verde. A paciente foi tratada com injecao intravitrea de Ranibizumab como monoterapia, sendo uma injecao a cada quatro semanas, tres injecoes em tres meses. RESULTADOS: A paciente apresentou resolucao da alteracao cistica e do fluido sub-retiniano, ambos presentes no OCT previo ao tratamento no olho esquerdo. A acuidade visual melhorou para 20/25 apos 6 meses de tratamento. A paciente permanence com acuidade visual estavel de 20/25 apos 18 meses de acompanhamento. CONCLUSAO: Reportamos um caso de paciente com edema macular cistoide originada da vasculopatia coroidiana polipoidal que respondeu ao tratamento com Ranibizumab intravitrea, como monoterapia com desaparecimento do fluido sub-retiniano e da alteracao cistica no OCT tendo cessado o vazamento dos polipos que eram a causa do edema macular cistode.
Pharmacokinetics of intravenous amodiaquine.

Amodiaquine hydrochloride (3 mg base kg-1) was given by constant rate intravenous injection over 10 min to seven healthy adult male volunteers, and by constant rate infusion (10 mg base kg-1) over 4 h to 10 adult patients admitted to hospital with falciparum malaria. After intravenous injection in volunteers there was considerable variation in plasma concentration profiles between subjects; peak plasma concentrations ranged between 65 and 1921 ng ml-1. A biexponential equation was fitted to the plasma concentration time data and the following estimated pharmacokinetic parameters (geometric mean; range) were derived; lambda 1 = 24.4 (7.6-95.0) h-1, lambda 2 = 0.33 (0.12-0.79) h-1, V1:1.1 (0.3-3.6) 1 kg-1, Vss: 17.4 (2.3-95.9) 1 kg-1 and systemic clearance 13.0 (4.7-56.6) 1 kg-1 h-1. After intravenous infusion there was also considerable variability between patients with post-infusion plasma concentrations ranging between 82 and 836 ng ml-1. The plasma concentration-time profiles were biphasic with the following estimated pharmacokinetic parameters (geometric mean; range) alpha = 1.87 (0.60-8.52) h-1, beta = 0.069 (0.021-0.265) h-1, V1: 4.6 (0.5-29.3) 1 kg-1, Vss: 38.3 (3.7-127.9) 1 kg-1 and systemic clearance CL (1.6-17.3) 1 kg-1 h-1. There was no measurable long terminal elimination phase, and the principal metabolite desethyl amodiaquine was not detected in the plasma samples. There was no serious toxicity in either group. During intravenous injection there was a significant fall in systolic blood pressure in four subjects (mean fall 16 mm Hg) but there was no significant change in heart rate. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Load adjustment in adaptive real-time systems

A framework is given for discussing how to adjust load in order to handle periodic processes whose timing parameters vary with time. The schedulability of adjustable periodic processes by a preemptive fixed priority scheduler is formulated in terms of a configuration selection problem. Specifically, two process transformations are introduced for the purpose of deriving a bound for the achievable utilization factor of processes whose periods are related by harmonics. This result is then generalized so that the bound is applicable to any process set and an efficient algorithm to calculate the bound is provided. When the list of allowable configurations is implicitly given by a set of scalable periodic processes, the corresponding period assignment problem is shown to be NP-complete. The authors present an approximation algorithm for the period assignment problem for which some encouraging experimental results are included. <<ETX>>
Morbidly adherent placenta: evaluation of ultrasound diagnostic criteria and differentiation of placenta accreta from percreta

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of two‐dimensional (2D) gray‐scale and color Doppler and three‐dimensional (3D) power Doppler sonographic criteria for morbidly adherent placenta (MAP), and to identify criteria to help distinguish placenta accreta from placenta percreta.
Equine viral encephalomyelitis in Canada: a review of known and potential causes.

Rabies, equine herpesvirus type I, and eastern and western encephalomyelitis viruses, known causes of equine neurological disease, are reviewed with emphasis on epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical signs, and diagnosis.Several arboviruses known to be active in Canada and capable of producing neurological disease in humans (Powassan, St. Louis encephalitis, snowshoe hare, and Jamestown Canyon viruses) are discussed as potential causes of encephalomyelitis in horses.