Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of methyltestosterone postmenopausal therapy on plasma lipids, inflammatory factors, glucose metabolism and visceral fat: a randomized study.

BACKGROUND There has been a growing interest in treating postmenopausal women with androgens. However, hyperandrogenemia in females has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. OBJECTIVE We aimed to assess the effects of androgen replacement on cardiovascular risk factors. DESIGN Thirty-seven postmenopausal women aged 42-62 years that had undergone hysterectomy were prospectively enrolled in a double-blind protocol to receive, for 12 months, percutaneous estradiol (E2) (1 mg/day) combined with either methyltestosterone (MT) (1.25 mg/day) or placebo. METHODS Along with treatment, we evaluated serum E2, testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), free androgen index, lipids, fibrinogen, and C-reactive protein; glucose tolerance; insulin resistance; blood pressure; body-mass index; and visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat mass as assessed by computed tomography. RESULTS A significant reduction in SHBG (P < 0.001) and increase in free testosterone index (P < 0.05; Repeated measures analysis of variance) were seen in the MT group. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, fibrinogen, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly lowered to a similar extent by both regimens, but high-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased only in the androgen group. MT-treated women showed a modest rise in body weight and gained visceral fat mass relative to the other group (P < 0.05), but there were no significant detrimental effects on fasting insulin levels and insulin resistance. CONCLUSION This study suggests that the combination of low-dose oral MT and percutaneous E2, for 1 year, does not result in expressive increase of cardiovascular risk factors. This regimen can be recommended for symptomatic postmenopausal women, although it seems prudent to perform baseline and follow-up lipid profile and assessment of body composition, especially in those at high risk of cardiovascular disease.
Growth Conditions for the Global Stability of High-Speed Communication Networks With a Single Congested Link

This note considers the design of transmission control protocol (TCP)-like congestion control protocols for deployment in high-speed communication networks. A basic problem in this area is to design congestion control strategies that probe more aggressively than standard TCP, but which coexist with each other and result in globally stable and equitable network behavior. In this note, we take a first step towards this goal, by formulating the TCP dynamics as a discrete linear system with nonlinear feedback gain. Under the assumption of player synchronisation, conditions for global network stability are derived in the form of growth bounds on the local nonlinear probing functions.
Duration of antibiotic therapy for cholangitis after successful endoscopic drainage of the biliary tract.

BACKGROUND Drainage of the obstructed biliary tree is the mainstay of therapy for patients with acute cholangitis; antibiotic therapy is complementary. It is unknown whether it is necessary to continue therapy with antibiotics once biliary drainage is achieved and signs of systemic inflammation have subsided. METHODS Patients who presented with acute cholangitis and were successfully treated at ERCP were studied retrospectively. Patients were followed for 6 months after ERCP. RESULTS Eighty patients fulfilled study criteria. In 46% of patients blood cultures grew microorganisms. All patients recovered from the episode under study. Antibiotic therapy after ERCP was given for a median duration of 3 days (range: 0-42). Forty-one patients received antibiotic therapy for 3 days or less, 19 for 4 or 5 days, and 20 patients longer than 5 days. The 3 groups were well-matched. In none of the patients did the index episode of cholangitis result in a secondary complication not present at the time of ERCP. The percentage of patients with recurrent cholangitis (24%) was not statistically different for the 3 groups (p = 0.80). CONCLUSIONS Short-duration antibiotic therapy (3 days) appears sufficient when adequate drainage is achieved and fever is abating.
Cultivating Research and Information Skills in Civil Engineering Undergraduate Students

The ASCE’s body of knowledge for the 21st century and vision for civil engineering in 2025 outline skills and capabilities necessary for civil engineers to create a sustainable world. An undergraduate course at Georgia Institute of Technology introduces undergraduates to a systems-sustainability approach to civil and environmental engineering, applying systems methods to analyze decisions over the life cycle of large-scale civil-engineered facilities. This paper discusses voluntary and systematic improvements introduced in the course over a 2-year period to develop research and information skills in the students. A workshop on information sources and skills was developed, offered and assessed over multiple semesters using a team-based course project. The term project requires students to select one or two large-scale civil-engineered facilities, evaluate them using the integrated systems-sustainability framework presented in the course, and develop a written report and oral presentation to present their w.
Comparative evaluation of the Roche Cobas IDA and Enterotube II systems for identifying members of the family Enterobacteriaceae

Two Hoffmann-La Roche products were evaluated in parallel for their ability to identify 321 strains of the family Enterobacteriaceae. The first product was the well-established Enterotube II, which correctly identified 90% of the isolates after 24 h of incubation. The second was the ID-E rotor, originally designed for use in the Cobas Bact but here used in the new Cobas IDA system. The Cobas IDA, used with the full data base held in a microcomputer supplied with the product, identified 87% of strains after 4 h of incubation.
Th2 and regulatory immune reactions are increased in immunoglobin G4‐related sclerosing pancreatitis and cholangitis

Immunoglobin G (IgG) 4‐related sclerosing pancreatitis and cholangitis (autoimmune pancreato‐cholangitis [AIPC]) are recently recognized disease entities characterized by high serum IgG4 concentrations and sclerosing inflammation with numerous IgG4‐positive plasma cells, although the underlining immune mechanism remains only speculative. In this study, the immunopathogenesis of AIPC was examined with respect to the production of cytokines in situ and the possible involvement of regulatory T cells (Tregs) using fresh (5 cases) and formalin‐fixed (28 cases) specimens of AIPC and related extra‐pancreatobiliary lesions. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction revealed that AIPC and extra‐pancreatobiliary lesions had significantly higher ratios of interleukin (IL)‐4/interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) (45.8‐fold), IL‐5/IFN‐γ (18.7‐fold), IL‐13/interferon (IFN)‐γ (20.7‐fold), IL‐10/CD4 (45.3‐fold), and tumor growth factor (TGF)‐β/CD4 (39.4‐fold) than did primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Lymphocytes with signals for IL‐4 and IL‐10 were frequently found in AIPC by in situ hybridization. The expression of Foxp3 messenger RNA, a transcription factor specific for naturally arising CD4+CD25+ Tregs, was significantly increased in AIPC and extra‐pancreatobiliary lesions in comparison to PSC and PBC (36.4‐fold). Immunohistochemically, CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ cells were frequently found in AIPC, while few were found in PSC and other disease controls. Taken together, AIPC could be characterized by the over‐production of T helper (Th) 2 and regulatory cytokines. Tregs might be involved in the in situ production of IL‐10 and TGF‐β, which could be followed by IgG4 class switching and fibroplasia. Conclusion: AIPC is a unique inflammatory disorder characterized by an immune reaction predominantly mediated by Th2 cells and Tregs. (HEPATOLOGY 2007.)
Signal transduction of gap junctional genes, connexin32, connexin43 in human hepatocarcinogenesis.

AIM To investigate gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines, and signal transduction mechanism of gap junction genes connexin32(cx32),connexin43(cx43) in human hepatocarcinogenesis. METHODS Scarped loading and dye transfer (SLDT) was employed with Lucifer Yellow (LY) to detect GJIC function in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines HHCC, SMMC-7721 and normal control liver cell line QZG. After Fluo-3AM loading, laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) was used to measure concentrations of intracellular calcium (Ca(2+))i in the cells. The phosphorylation on tyrosine of connexin proteins was examined by immunoblot. RESULTS SLDT showed that ability of GJIC function was higher in QZG cell than that in HHCC and SMMC-7721 cell lines. By laser scanning confocal microscopy, concentrations of intracellular free calcium (Ca(2+))i was much higher in QZG cell line (108.37 nmol/L) than those in HHCC (35.13 nmol/L) and SMMC-7721 (47.08 nmol/L) cells. Western blot suggested that only QZG cells had unphosphorylated tyrosine in Cx32 protein of 32 ku and Cx43 protein of 43 ku; SMMC-7721 cells showed phosphorylated tyrosine Cx43 protein. CONCLUSION The results indicated that carcinogenesis and development of human hepatocellular carcinoma related with the abnormal expression of cx genes and disorder of its signal transduction pathway, such as decrease of (Ca(2+))i, post-translation phosphorylation on tyrosine of Cx proteins which led to a dramatic disruption of GJIC.
miR‐655 suppresses epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition by targeting Prrx1 in triple‐negative breast cancer

Triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive breast cancer subtype that lacks effective targeted therapies. The epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key contributor in the metastatic process. In this study, we found that miR‐655 was down‐regulated in TNBC, and its expression levels were associated with molecular‐based classification and lymph node metastasis in breast cancer. These findings led us to hypothesize that miR‐655 overexpression may inhibit EMT and its associated traits of TNBC. Ectopic expression of miR‐655 not only induced the up‐regulation of cytokeratin and decreased vimentin expression but also suppressed migration and invasion of mesenchymal‐like cancer cells accompanied by a morphological shift towards the epithelial phenotype. In addition, we found that miR‐655 was negatively correlated with Prrx1 in cell lines and clinical samples. Overexpression of miR‐655 significantly suppressed Prrx1, as demonstrated by Prrx1 3′‐untranslated region luciferase report assay. Our study demonstrated that miR‐655 inhibits the acquisition of the EMT phenotype in TNBC by down‐regulating Prrx1, thereby inhibiting cell migration and invasion during cancer progression.
Correlation between cytologic and histopathologic diagnoses of bone lesions in dogs: a study of the diagnostic accuracy of bone cytology.

BACKGROUND The diagnostic value of cytology compared with histopathology varies by tissue, but there is little information regarding this comparison involving canine bone. OBJECTIVES The objective of this retrospective study was to compare primary pathologic processes for cytology and histopathology of canine bone lesions. We adopted a proposed standardized format for reporting studies of diagnostic accuracy. METHODS A computer search of canine medical records at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center from September 2002 through October 2006 identified 52 bone cytology samples that had incisional (IncB) and/or excisional (ExcB) biopsy performed. The primary pathologic process was determined by evaluation of original reports. Cytologic vs IncB and cytologic vs ExcB were compared pairwise for agreement. Agreement was compared for neoplastic and non-neoplastic processes using the combined IncB/ExcB data, which included all ExcB (n=21) and IncB when that was the only biopsy available (n=31). Combined data were used to determine the effect of cytology cellularity on the diagnostic correlation. RESULTS The correlation in primary process between cytology and IncB was 71%, and for ExcB was 71%. For lesions with a cytologic diagnosis of neoplasia compared with the combined IncB/ExcB data set, cytology and histopathology agreed in 92% of cases, which was significantly greater (P<.0001, chi2) than the 27% for non-neoplastic processes. Cytology cellularity significantly affected rates of correlation (P=.026), with high, moderate, and poor cellularity samples having concordant primary processes in 88%, 77%, and 47% of cases, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Cytologic diagnosis of neoplasia for samples collected from canine bone correlates better with histopathology than cytologic diagnosis of non-neoplastic proliferative processes or inflammation. Cytologic diagnoses from highly cellular samples are more likely to correlate with histopathology than those from less cellular samples.
Quality of Life of Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease at Various Stages of the Illness

Abstract This study aimed to examine the quality of life of patients undergoing different types of treatment for End Stage Renal Disease at various points in the course of the disease. The theoretical model that guided the study was based on the work of Rolland (1987) and Wilson and Clearly (1995). Subjects were 72 patients at the largest nephrology center in Israel. Instruments included the SF-36 Health Survey (version 1.0) and Parfrey's health questionnaire for End Stage Renal Disease. The findings indicate that the negative effects of the disease on quality of life can be observed in the pre-dialy-sis stage, and that the strongest predictor of quality of life were patients' symptom reports, independent of objective indicators of their health state. Social workers play a key role in aiding patients and their families to adjust to the disease and its treatment prior to starting dialysis, and in bringing the importance of patients' subjective assessments to the attention of the treatment team.
The Study of Laryngeal Muscle Activity in Normal Human Subjects and in Patients With Laryngeal Dystonia Using Multiple Fine‐Wire Electromyography

The normal human larynx performs numerous complex tasks with nearly complete reliability. These tasks require precise timing of movements that are effected by the laryngeal muscles. The most specific method to examine these muscles is by electromyography. Although many studies on laryngeal electromyography have been reported using multichannel recordings, none has provided a detailed analysis of each laryngeal muscle's role during a variety of common tasks and the spectrum of normative values. Simultaneous eight‐channel, fine‐wire electromyographic recordings were made in 11 human subjects. The timing patterns of the laryngeal muscles during the coordinated efforts for phonation and other common glottic functions were examined. In addition, normative values for latencies and amplitudes of response were determined. During simple phonation, a “set pattern” for the thyroarytenoid, lateral cricoarytenoid, and interarytenoid muscles was found. The thyroarytenoid and lateral cricoarytenoid muscles demonstrated a burst at onset preceding phonation and then decreased activity, whereas the interarytenoid sustained glottic position during phonation. The coordination of the laryngeal muscles was similarly determined for connected speech, respiration, Valsalva maneuver, cough, throat‐clear task, and swallow. These patterns of response, the latencies for activities, and the amplitudes of response in normal subjects provided the basis to examine the abnormal laryngeal function in a group of 59 patients with four clinical varieties of laryngeal dystonia (adductor, tremor, abductor, and mixed). The findings include abnormal patterns of response, increased latencies, and increased amplitudes of recruitment in many tasks including nonphonatory tasks. Although specific distinctions were noted in each group, the responses were remarkably similar, indicating that all clinical varieties of laryngeal dystonia should be classified as mixed dystonia with a clinical preponderance for one or more types of behavior.
Retardation of neuritic outgrowth and cytoskeletal changes accompany acetylcholinesterase inhibitor treatment in cultured rat dorsal root ganglion neurons

Over the past two decades acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has been shown to be present in numerous non‐cholinergic and non‐cholinoceptive tissues. Interestingly, transient expression of AChE in developing nervous tissue corresponds temporally with neuronal migration and neuritic outgrowth. This observation has led our laboratory to investigate a possible novel, non‐cholinergic role for AChE in the development of the nervous system. In a previous study, we demonstrated that the activity of AChE in cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons (DRGN) can be modulated by the substratum. In our current study, we have examined the effects of AChE inhibitor treatment on neuritic outgrowth on the highly permissive substratum MatrigelTM and the less permissive substratum Collagen Type I. DRGN received serial dilutions of the AChE‐specific inhibitor 1,5‐bis‐(4‐allyldimethylammoniumphenyl) pentan‐3‐one dibromide (BW284c51) ranging from 10−4 to 10−7 M. Results showed that neuritic outgrowth was significantly reduced in DRGN grown on MatrigelTM at 10−5 and 10−4 M BW284c51, while outgrowth on Collagen Type I was significantly reduced at 10−6, 10−5, and 10−4 M concentrations of BW284c51. Inhibitor treatment did not affect cell survival and neuritic outgrowth from BW284c51‐treated cells recovered to control levels after removal of the inhibitor from the medium. In addition, massive spiraling accumulations of 10 nm filaments were observed in the cell bodies of treated neurons, which resemble neurofibrillary inclusions observed in neuropathological diseaes such as Pick's disease. This study demonstrates that AChE inhibitor treatment retards neuritic outgrowth and neuronal migration of cultured DRGN which is accompanied by cytoskeletal abnormalities in the cell body. These data further suggest a novel, non‐cholinergic role for AChE in neural development and regeneration. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Women migrant workers’ vulnerability to HIV infection in Hong Kong

Abstract Research on population mobility and HIV/AIDS risk among migrant populations is quite limited, and research on migrant women workers' vulnerability is further limited. Hojig Ko7ig, the Special Administrative Region of China, has currently about 200,000 women migrant workers working as domestic helps. Tliis paper reports migrant women worker's access to AIDS-related health information and health care facilities, perceptions about vulnerability, and risk behaviour profile. Data was collected through a pre-tested questionnaire from a random sample of 2,010 women migrant workers. A majority of the migrant women workers (63.6%) have been living and workmg hi Hong Kong for between 4—10 years. Fifty-four per cent of the respondents felt that being a female they were vidnerable to HIV infection. Overall, the knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS and its route of transmission is inadequate amongst the migrant women workers in Hong Kong. It appears that AIDS-related information education and communication needs of women migrants workers are not met by the current HIV prevention and care activities in Hong Kong. The study indicates that migrant women workers who experienced sexual violence (9%) in Hong Kong perceive themselves to be ‘at risk’ of HIV infection. Seventy per cent of the respondents reported that they have felt discriminated against in Hong Kong, of which 42% felt discriminated against in Hong Kong hospitals. Addressing discrimination in health care settings is an essential element of AIDS prevention. Tlie discussion urges researchers and policy makers to pay more attention to the vulnerability of migrant women workers.
Helicobacter pylori infection in peptic ulcer haemorrhage

In this overview, medical advice for routine clinical practice regarding peptic ulcer haemorrhage (PUH) is given, based on the extensive literature about Helicobacter pylori and the controversial results about the interaction of H. pylori infection and nonsteriodal anti‐inflammatory drug (NSAID) use. PUH remains an important emergency situation with an incidence between 32 and 51/100 000 persons per year. There is a high association between H. pylori infection and peptic ulcer disease. The association between H. pylori infection and PUH is less clear, but a strong argument for the aetiological role is the fact that eradication of H. pylori decreases recurrence of bleeding. NSAID use is another important risk factor for PUH. H. pylori infection and NSAID use seem to act independently, although some studies show a synergistic interaction while other studies report that H. pylori is protective against the development of PUH in NSAID users. All patients with PUH should be tested for H. pylori infection, regardless of the use of NSAIDs. Because invasive tests are less sensitive in PUH patients, negative tests in patients with no other risk factors should be confirmed by serology or urea breath test (UBT). Eradication therapy with a proton pump inhibitor or ranitidine bismuth citrate‐based triple therapy should be given to all H. pylori‐positive patients. Only for nonaspirin–NSAID users does the effect of eradication therapy on the healing of gastric ulcers remain controversial, but currently we also advise eradication of H. pylori in this subgroup. After eradication therapy, acid‐suppressant therapy is advised to heal the ulcer. The success of eradication should always be confirmed because of the risk of recurrence of peptic ulcer disease and bleeding in H. pylori‐infected patients.
A 1-year, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of ziprasidone 40, 80 and 160 mg/day in chronic schizophrenia: the Ziprasidone Extended Use in Schizophrenia (ZEUS) study

We evaluated relapse in patients with stable, chronic schizophrenia over a 1-year period; inpatients were randomized to ziprasidone 40 mg/day (n =72), 80 mg/day (n =68), 160 mg/day (n =67) or placebo (n =71). The probability of relapse (Kaplan–Meier) at 1 year was significantly lower in the ziprasidone 40, 80, and 160 mg/day groups (43%, 35% and 36%, respectively) compared to placebo (77%;P =0.002, P <0.001 and P <0.001, respectively). In those patients who remained on treatment for at least 6 months, only 9% subsequently relapsed on ziprasidone compared to 42% on placebo (P =0.001). All three doses of ziprasidone were significantly superior to placebo on Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) efficacy variables (all P <0.05). Ziprasidone was associated with a significantly greater mean improvement in the PANSS negative symptom subscale compared to placebo (P <0.05). Discontinuation due to adverse events was similar with ziprasidone and placebo. Ziprasidone treatment was indistinguishable from placebo in assessments of movement disorders and was not associated with weight gain or cardiovascular abnormalities. These results demonstrate that ziprasidone was effective in reducing the frequency of relapse and was associated with long-term improvement in negative symptoms. Ziprasidone was well tolerated in this population of patients with chronic, stable schizophrenia.