Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of adipose-derived nucleated cell fractions on tendon repair in horses with collagenase-induced tendinitis.

OBJECTIVE To assess the potential of adipose-derived nucleated cell (ADNC) fractions to improve tendon repair in horses with collagenase-induced tendinitis. ANIMALS 8 horses. PROCEDURES Collagenase was used to induce tendinitis in the superficial digital flexor tendon of 1 forelimb in each horse. Four horses were treated by injection of autogenous ADNC fractions, and 4 control horses were injected with PBS solution. Healing was compared by weekly ultrasonographic evaluation. Horses were euthanatized at 6 weeks. Gross and histologic evaluation of tendon structure, fiber alignment, and collagen typing were used to define tendon architecture. Biochemical and molecular analyses of collagen, DNA, and proteoglycan and gene expression of collagen type I and type III, decorin, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), and insulin-like growth factor-I were performed. RESULTS Ultrasonography revealed no difference in rate or quality of repair between groups. Histologic evaluation revealed a significant improvement in tendon fiber architecture; reductions in vascularity, inflammatory cell infiltrate, and collagen type III formation; and improvements in tendon fiber density and alignment in ADNC-treated tendons. Repair sites did not differ in DNA, proteoglycan, or total collagen content. Gene expression of collagen type I and type III in treated and control tendons were similar. Gene expression of COMP was significantly increased in ADNC-injected tendons. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE ADNC injection improved tendon organization in treated tendons. Although biochemical and molecular differences were less profound, tendons appeared architecturally improved after ADNC injection, which was corroborated by improved tendon COMP expression. Use of ADNC in horses with tendinitis appears warranted.
From Fear to Safety and Back: Reversal of Fear in the Human Brain

Fear learning is a rapid and persistent process that promotes defense against threats and reduces the need to relearn about danger. However, it is also important to flexibly readjust fear behavior when circumstances change. Indeed, a failure to adjust to changing conditions may contribute to anxiety disorders. A central, yet neglected aspect of fear modulation is the ability to flexibly shift fear responses from one stimulus to another if a once-threatening stimulus becomes safe or a once-safe stimulus becomes threatening. In these situations, the inhibition of fear and the development of fear reactions co-occur but are directed at different targets, requiring accurate responding under continuous stress. To date, research on fear modulation has focused mainly on the shift from fear to safety by using paradigms such as extinction, resulting in a reduction of fear. The aim of the present study was to track the dynamic shifts from fear to safety and from safety to fear when these transitions occur simultaneously. We used functional neuroimaging in conjunction with a fear-conditioning reversal paradigm. Our results reveal a unique dissociation within the ventromedial prefrontal cortex between a safe stimulus that previously predicted danger and a “naive” safe stimulus. We show that amygdala and striatal responses tracked the fear-predictive stimuli, flexibly flipping their responses from one predictive stimulus to another. Moreover, prediction errors associated with reversal learning correlated with striatal activation. These results elucidate how fear is readjusted to appropriately track environmental changes, and the brain mechanisms underlying the flexible control of fear.
Effects of cytochalasin treatment on short‐term synaptic plasticity at developing neuromuscular junctions in frogs.

1. The role of actin microfilaments in synaptic transmission was tested by monitoring spontaneous and evoked transmitter release from developing neuromuscular synapses in Xenopus nerve‐muscle cultures, using whole‐cell recording of synaptic currents in the absence and presence of microfilament‐disrupting agents cytochalasins B and D. 2. Treatment with cytochalasins resulted in disruption of microfilament networks in the growth cone and the presynaptic nerve terminal of spinal neurons in Xenopus nerve‐muscle cultures, as revealed by rhodamine‐phalloidin staining. 3. The same cytochalasin treatment did not significantly affect the spontaneous or evoked synaptic currents during low‐frequency stimulation at 0.05 Hz in these Xenopus cultures. Synaptic depression induced by high‐frequency (5 Hz) stimulation, however, was reduced by this treatment. Paired‐pulse facilitation for short interpulse intervals was also increased by the treatment. 4. These results indicate that disruption of microfilaments alters short‐term changes in transmitter release induced by repetitive activity, without affecting normal synaptic transmission at low frequency. 5. Our results support the notion that actin microfilaments impose a barrier for mobilization of synaptic vesicles from the reserve pool, but do not affect the exocytosis of immediately available synaptic vesicles at the active zone.
Occurrence of Neospora caninum Antibodies in Capybaras (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) From São Paulo State, Brazil

Capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) is a large rodent distributed throughout tropical America. Antibodies to Neospora caninum in 213 feral capybaras from 11 counties of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, were assessed using the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (titer ≥1:25) and found in 20 (9.4%), with titers of 1:25 in 4, 1:50 in 7, and 1:100 in 9 animals. This is the first report of occurrence of N. caninum antibodies in capybaras.
Chest radiograph scores as potential prognostic indicators in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

OBJECTIVE We analyzed serial chest radiographic scores for lung opacification in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) for temporal changes and differences between fatal and discharged cases. We sought to establish the earliest radiographic scores sensitive as potential prognostic indicators of fatal outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS Chest radiographs that had been obtained from presentation until the death or discharge of 313 patients with SARS were scored on the basis of the percentage area and location of lung opacification. Profile analysis and univariable logistic regression were performed on these radiographic scores. RESULTS Despite the increased mortality risks of advanced age and male sex, no significant difference was seen in the percentage area of opacification (AO%) between the sexes in either the group of patients with fatal outcomes or the group of patients who were discharged. No difference existed between age groups (< 65 years vs >/= 65 years), except for the radiograph showing the peak lung opacification in the deceased group in which the lungs of older patients had less opacification than those of younger patients. The radiographic scores obtained by day 7 were the earliest ones with good performance in prognostic prediction. The model showed good discriminatory performance, indicated by high C-indexes for receiver operator characteristic curves (0.86 for AO% and 0.90 for the number of opacified zones). The predicted proportion of patients with fatal outcomes showed high agreement with percentage of patients who died (goodness-of-fit statistic p = 0.18 for AO%, 0.73 for the number of opacified zones). By day 7, crude odds ratio of death was 1.73 per 5% of AO% (p < 0.0001) or 2.93 per lung zone opacified (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION Chest radiographic scores (percentage of lung or the number of zones opacified) by day 7 could be used as fatal prognostic indicators.
Release of atrial natriuretic factor prohormone peptides 1-30, 31-67 and 99-126 from freshwater- and seawater-acclimated perfused trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) hearts

Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), a 28-amino-acid peptide hormone produced in the heart, circulates in both freshwater and seawater rainbow trout. In mammals, two other peptide hormones, proANF 1-30 and proANF 31-67, derived from the same 126-amino-acid prohormone as ANF (amino acids 99&shyp;126), circulate and have natriuretic and diuretic properties. It has never been determined whether these peptides circulate in fish. The present investigation was designed to determine (1) whether proANF 1-30 and/or proANF 31-67 circulate in perfused hearts from freshwater- and seawater-acclimated rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in situ, and (2) if they do, to determine whether increasing the filling pressure of the heart causes their release in trout as it does in mammals. High-performance gel-permeation chromatography of fish plasma revealed that both proANF 1-30 and 31-67 circulate in freshwater- and seawater-acclimated trout plasma at threefold higher concentrations than does ANF. The basal rates of release of ANF and proANF 1-30 and 31-67 were similar in both freshwater and seawater trout, with the rate of release of proANF 1-30 being 10 times higher and that of proANF 31-67 20 times higher than that of ANF. When the filling pressure was increased to the peak of the Starling curve (max), the rate of release of ANF and proANFs 1-30 and 31-67 increased fivefold for each peptide in the freshwater trout, while in seawater trout the rates of release increased six- to ninefold. We conclude that proANF 1-30 and 31-67, as well as ANF, circulate in both freshwater-and seawater-acclimated trout and do so at concentrations higher than that of ANF. Increasing the filling pressure to the trout heart was found to cause a similar increase in the release rates for each of these peptides, but the maximal increase was higher in the seawater-acclimated trout, apparently because they showed a larger increase in cardiac output.
A comparative study of intrathecal clonidine and intrathecal tramadol for prolongation of neuraxial blockade analgesia with 0.5% bupivacaine in orthopaedic surgery

Background: Spinal anaesthesia is advantageous in that it uses a small dose of the anaesthetic, is simple to perform and offers a rapid onset of action, reliable surgical analgesia and good muscle relaxation. Effective postoperative analgesia can be provided by neuraxially applied local anaesthetics or opioids, which may be accompanied by unwanted side effects like motor block, hypotension or respiratory depression. Aims: A comparative study of Intrathecal Clonidine and Intrathecal tramadol along with 0.5% hyperbaric Bupivacaine for prolongation of Subarachnoid neuraxial blockade. Materials and Methods: Prospective randomized study approval is obtained from ethical committee of Mediciti Institute of Medical Sciences. A written informed consent from the patients consisting of 2 groups, each group of 25 patients. 50 patients were randomly allocated to the following two groups. Group A: SAB with 3.5 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine hydrochloride and 37.5 mcg of clonidine. Group B: SAB with 3.5 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine hydrochloride and 25 mg of Tramadol. Result: Intraoperatively significant differences in BP, pulse rate were noted, like hypotension and bradycardia more in the clonidine group. Time to full motor recovery was not delayed in any of the patients in both the groups. The mean duration of analgesia did differ in both groups. Mean duration of analgesia in Group A was 326.40 + 30.39 mins and in Group B was 302.40 + 12.00 mins. Time for two segment regression did differ in both the groups. The patients in both the groups showed minimal side effects, like nausea, vomiting and pruritis. The incidences of side effects were statistically insignificant. Conclusion: We can thus summarize that both intrathecal clonidine and intrathecal tramadol act synergistically to potentiate bupivacaine induced sensory spinal block. Excellent surgical anesthesia and an extended analgesia was observed in post-operative period with minimum side effects were observed in both groups.
Predicting anxiety and depression among family carers of people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

ABSTRACT Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) can be highly incapacitating, imposing a significant burden on family members, however, limited research has been conducted on psychological health of family carers. Thus, this study examined anxiety and depression symptoms in family carers of people with COPD and their predictors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with family carers and respective patients with COPD. The caregiving situation and the perceived burden, through the Carers’ Assessment of Difficulties Index, were collected from family carers. Patients’ COPD severity and activities limitation were assessed. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to assess anxiety and depression symptoms in family carers and patients. Scores ≥8 were considered clinically significant. Results: A total of 203 family carers (58.2 ± 14.8 years old; 75.4% female) and respective patients with COPD (69.2 ± 11.5 years old; 36.5% female) were included. Clinically significant anxiety symptoms (HADS-anxiety ≥8) were present in 63.5% (n = 129) of family carers, depression symptoms (HADS-depression ≥8) were in 34% (n = 69) and both were in 27.1% (n = 55). Perceived burden [odds ratio (OR) 1.04, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 1.01–1.06; 1.05, 95% CI = 1.03–1.07] and patients’ activities limitation (OR 1.32, 95% CI = 1.01–1.79; 1.41, 95% CI = 1.01–1.96) were significant predictors of anxiety and depression symptoms. Anxiety symptoms were also predicted by female gender (OR 0.33, 95% CI = 0.16–0.66) and depression symptoms by older age (OR 1.03, 95% CI = 1.01–1.06). Conclusion: Family carers of patients with COPD experience anxiety and depression symptoms. Perceived burden, female gender, older age, and patient's activities limitation were predictors of these distressing symptoms. These findings highlight the need to address family carers’ needs, namely by investigating the effectiveness of supportive interventions on family's psychological health.
EVALUATION OF SAFETY FOR BILATERAL SAME-DAY INTRAVITREAL INJECTIONS OF ANTIVASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR THERAPY

Purpose: To explore the incidence of complications after bilateral same-day intravitreal injections of antivascular endothelial growth factor pharmacotherapies in this retrospective interventional case series. Methods: An electronic review of billing records was performed to identify all bilateral same-day intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor injections performed within a single group retina practice between January 6, 2006 and June 1, 2009. The charts were reviewed to identify the complications of endophthalmitis, intraocular inflammation, retinal tear, and retinal detachment. Results: A total of 1,534 bilateral intravitreal injections (326 bevacizumab and 1,208 ranibizumab: 3,068 injections total) were performed in 367 patients. Three complications were identified. Two cases of unilateral culture-proven endophthalmitis occurred after bilateral intravitreal ranibizumab, and one case of unilateral acute intraocular inflammation occurred after bilateral intravitreal bevacizumab. In all three of these eyes, visual acuity returned to its preinjection level. No cases of retinal tear or retinal detachment were identified. The incidence of culture-proven endophthalmitis was 0.065%, and the incidence of acute intraocular inflammation was 0.033%. Conclusion: The complication rates after bilateral same-day intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor injections seem to be similar to those after unilateral injections. Severe acute intraocular inflammation can occur unilaterally after same-day bilateral injections of bevacizumab.
pH-Dependent Stability of Creatine Ethyl Ester: Relevance to Oral Absorption

ABSTRACT Creatine ethyl ester hydrochloride (CEE) was synthesized as a prodrug of creatine (CRT) to improve aqueous solubility, gastrointestinal permeability, and ultimately the pharmacodynamics of CRT. We used high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to characterize the pH-dependent stability of CEE in aqueous solution and compared the permeability of CEE to CRT and creatinine (CRN) across Caco-2 human epithelial cell monolayers and transdermal permeability across porcine skin. CEE was most stable in a strongly acidic condition (half-life = 570 hours at pH 1.0) where it undergoes ester hydrolysis to CRT and ethanol. At pH ≥ 1.0, CEE cyclizes to CRN with the logarithm of the first order rate constant increasing linearly with pH. Above pH 8.0 (half-life = 23 sec) the rate of degradation was too rapid to be determined. The rate of degradation of CEE in cell culture media and simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) was a function of pH and correlated well with the stability in aqueous buffered solutions. The permeability of CEE across Caco-2 monolayers and porcine skin was significantly greater than that of CRT or CRN. The stability of CEE in acidic media together with its improved permeability suggests that CEE has potential for improved oral absorption compared to CRT.
State Government Finances and Legislative Term Limits Revisited

This study estimates the effect of U.S. legislative term limits on state revenue, general expenditure and its main components (welfare, highways, health, education, and state aid to local governments). Two alternative measures of term limits are tested: 1) an original term limit index and 2) average legislative turnover rate. Controlling for economic, institutional, political, and demographic factors, we find that neither of term limits measure has a significant effect on the per capita size of state government. However, the two measures of term limits appear to have a significant effect on the distribution of public funds within the state budget.
In Good Company

Effective self-regulation could involve not only managing internal resources for goal pursuit but also the often-fleeting interpersonal resources that can support goal attainment. In five studies, we test whether people who are effective self-regulators tend to position themselves in social environments that best afford self-regulatory success. Results indicated individual differences in self-regulatory effectiveness predict stronger preferences to spend time with, collaborate with, and be informed by others who were (a) high in self-control or self-regulation themselves or (b) instrumental to one’s goal pursuit. These preferences for supportive social environments appeared to be both targeted and strategic. Together, the findings suggest that effective self-regulation may involve positioning oneself in social environments that support goal pursuit and increase one’s chances of success.
Papaverine-induced polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in relation to QTU and giant T-U waves in four cases.

OBJECTIVE Papaverine is used for the evaluation of functional status of the coronary arteries but it may provoke severe ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTAs). This study compared the clinical and ECG characteristic of patients with papaverine-induced VTAs. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study involved 25 patients who underwent a fractional flow reserve (FFR) study. FFR was determined as the ratio of blood pressure at the distal and the proximal site of stenosis after intracoronary papaverine administration at 12 mg into the left and 8 mg into the right coronary artery. The QT and QTU intervals were measured manually in the limb leads and in the precordial leads, respectively and corrected by the R-R interval to obtain QTc and QTUc. The clinical and ECG data were compared between the patient groups with and without VTAs. RESULTS After papaverine administration into the left (20), right (3) or both coronary arteries (2), the RR interval shortened, but non-significantly however, the QT interval (and QTc) and the QTU interval (and QTUc) were significantly prolonged. VTAs developed in four women: torsade de pointes in 3 followed by ventricular fibrillation and ventricular premature beats in 1 patient. After papaverine administration, QTU and QTUc were more prolonged in women than men and in patients with VTAs compared to those without. Just prior to VTAs, giant T-U waves were observed. CONCLUSION Intracoronary papaverine was used to determine FFR which may induce VTAs. VTAs developed only in women and they were closely related to prolongation of the QTU intervals with prominent T-U waves.
Non‐Residents’ Holdings, Market Volatility and Public Debt Sustainability. An Analysis with Data for Italy

Non‐residents’ holdings (NRH) of debt securities have been large in euro area countries, but during the euro area debt crisis some of those countries experienced a steep contraction of such holdings. The analysis aims to provide a data‐founded explanation of what is behind the decrease observed in 2011 by testing two alternative hypotheses. At the same time, we discuss how that decrease might have endangered the sustainability of public debt and study the empirical relevance of the most important of those processes. The topics presented refer to any advanced economy, but we check the hypotheses discussed by taking Italy as a case study because of data constraints. Italy is an interesting country to consider since it is a very large debt issuer. Our results point towards the importance of market volatility to explain variations of NRH, but those holdings do not seem to influence debt sustainability.
Additive manufacturing of poly[(R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐(R)‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate] scaffolds for engineered bone development

A wide range of poly(hydroxyalkanoate)s (PHAs), a class of biodegradable polyesters produced by various bacteria grown under unbalanced conditions, have been proposed for the fabrication of tissue‐engineering scaffolds. In this study, the manufacture of poly[(R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐(R)‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate] (or PHBHHx) scaffolds, by means of an additive manufacturing technique based on a computer‐controlled wet‐spinning system, was investigated. By optimizing the processing parameters, three‐dimensional scaffolds with different internal architectures were fabricated, based on a layer‐by‐layer approach. The resulting scaffolds were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, which showed good control over the fibre alignment and a fully interconnected porous network, with porosity in the range 79–88%, fibre diameter 47–76 µm and pore size 123–789 µm. Moreover, the resulting fibres presented an internal porosity connected to the external fibre surface as a consequence of the phase‐inversion process governing the solidification of the polymer solution. Scaffold compressive modulus and yield stress and strain could be varied in a certain range by changing the architectural parameters. Cell‐culture experiments employing the MC3T3‐E1 murine pre‐osteoblast cell line showed good cell proliferation after 21 days of culture. The PHBHHx scaffolds demonstrated promising results in terms of cell differentiation towards an osteoblast phenotype. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.