Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Short‐Term Effects of Treatment of Chronic Periodontitis on Circulating Levels of Endotoxin, C‐Reactive Protein, Tumor Necrosis Factor‐α, and Interleukin‐6

Background: The acute-phase response involves molecules including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP). This study aimed to determine whether subgingival scaling resulted in rapid changes in plasma concentrations of these molecules. Methods: Twenty-three non-smoking adults with chronic periodontitis received subgingival scaling for 60 minutes. Venous blood samples were taken at 0, 15, 30, 60, and 120 minutes. TNF- α and IL-6 were assayed from all samples and CRP from the baseline and final samples. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was assayed at 0, 15, and 30 minutes using limulus lysate assay (LAL) and EndoCAb Ig assays. Results: LPS assays were suggestive of a transient low-grade bacteremia, but changes in LPS approaching significance (P = 0.061) were seen with LAL only. There was a significant increase in circulating TNF-α (P = 0.0387) and IL-6 (P <0.0001), and the degree of change in TNF-α was correlated with the severity of periodontal breakdown (P = 0.001). There was also a significant correlation between levels of IL-6 and TNF-α (P <0.001). Conclusions: Chronic periodontitis patients undergoing an episode of subgingival scaling show a significant elevation in circulating TNF-α and IL-6. This may account for anecdotal reports of pyrexia following treatment and may be significant in terms of the relationship between periodontal disease, bacteremia, and cardiovascular disease. J Periodontol 2004;75:420-428.
Work‐related stress and reward: an Australian study of multidisciplinary pediatric oncology healthcare providers

Managing staff stress and preventing long‐term burnout in oncology staff are highly important for both staff and patient well‐being. Research addressing work‐related stress in adult oncology is well documented; however, less is known about this topic in the pediatric context. This study examined sources of work‐related stress and reward specific to multidisciplinary staff working in pediatric oncology in Australia.
TMS activation of interhemispheric pathways between the posterior parietal cortex and the contralateral motor cortex

Using a twin coil transcranial magnetic stimulation (tc‐TMS) approach we have previously demonstrated that facilitation may be detected in the primary motor cortex (M1) following stimulation over the ipsilateral caudal intraparietal sulcus (cIPS). Here we tested the interhemispheric interactions between the IPS and the contralateral motor cortex (M1). We found that conditioning the right cIPS facilitated contralateral M1 when the conditioning stimulus had an intensity of 90% resting motor threshold (RMT) but not at 70% or 110% RMT. Facilitation was maximal when the interstimulus interval (ISI) between cIPS and M1 was 6 or 12 ms. These facilitatory effects were mediated by interactions with specific groups of interneurons in the contralateral M1. In fact, short intracortical inhibition (SICI) was reduced following cIPS stimulation. Moreover, additional comparison of facilitation of responses evoked by anterior–posterior versus posterior–anterior stimulation of M1 suggested that facilitation was more effective on early I1/I2 circuits than on I3 circuits. In contrast to these effects, stimulation of anterior IPS (aIPS) at 90% RMT induced inhibition, instead of facilitation, of contralateral M1 at ISIs of 10–12 ms. Finally, we found similar facilitation between left cIPS and right M1 although the conditioning stimuli had to have a higher intensity compared with stimulation of right cIPS (110% instead of 90% RMT). These findings demonstrate that different subregions of the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) in humans exert both facilitatory and inhibitory effects towards the contralateral primary motor cortex. These corticocortical projections could contribute to a variety of motor tasks such as bilateral manual coordination, movement planning in space and grasping.
The sanitary condition of food and drink establishments in Awash-Sebat Kilo town, Afar Region, Ethiopia

This study was aimed to explore the status and factors affecting food hygiene practice among food and drink establishments using a descriptive cross-sectional study among all existing food establishments in Awash Sebat Kilo Afar Region in the month of December 2003. A total of 66 were studied among which fifty (76%) of them were involved in rendering food and drink services. Sixty (91%) were found to use public water taps at the time of the study while 52 (81%) were found to have some kind of latrines. Basic sanitary practices in liquid and refuse management soiled dish and drinking cups washing were grossly inadequate in at least 25% of them. Personal hygiene of food handlers was observed in very poor status. It is concluded that the sanitary conditions of studied subjects required strict follow up for the provisions of sanitary codes. (authors)
Seeing the hand while reaching speeds up on‐line responses to a sudden change in target position

Goal‐directed movements are executed under the permanent supervision of the central nervous system, which continuously processes sensory afferents and triggers on‐line corrections if movement accuracy seems to be compromised. For arm reaching movements, visual information about the hand plays an important role in this supervision, notably improving reaching accuracy. Here, we tested whether visual feedback of the hand affects the latency of on‐line responses to an external perturbation when reaching for a visual target. Two types of perturbation were used: visual perturbation consisted in changing the spatial location of the target and kinesthetic perturbation in applying a force step to the reaching arm. For both types of perturbation, the hand trajectory and the electromyographic (EMG) activity of shoulder muscles were analysed to assess whether visual feedback of the hand speeds up on‐line corrections. Without visual feedback of the hand, on‐line responses to visual perturbation exhibited the longest latency. This latency was reduced by about 10% when visual feedback of the hand was provided. On the other hand, the latency of on‐line responses to kinesthetic perturbation was independent of the availability of visual feedback of the hand. In a control experiment, we tested the effect of visual feedback of the hand on visual and kinesthetic two‐choice reaction times – for which coordinate transformation is not critical. Two‐choice reaction times were never facilitated by visual feedback of the hand. Taken together, our results suggest that visual feedback of the hand speeds up on‐line corrections when the position of the visual target with respect to the body must be re‐computed during movement execution. This facilitation probably results from the possibility to map hand‐ and target‐related information in a common visual reference frame.
Influence of endogenous angiotensin II on control of sympathetic nerve activity in human dehydration

Arterial blood pressure can often fall too low during dehydration, leading to an increased incidence of orthostatic hypotension and syncope. Systemic sympathoexcitation and increases in volume regulatory hormones such as angiotensin II (AngII) may help to maintain arterial pressure in the face of decreased plasma volume. Our goals in the present study were to quantify muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) during dehydration (DEH), and to test the hypothesis that endogenous increases in AngII in DEH have a mechanistic role in DEH‐associated sympathoexcitation. We studied 17 subjects on two separate study days: DEH induced by 24 h fluid restriction and a euhydrated (EUH) control day. MSNA was measured by microneurography at the peroneal nerve, and arterial blood pressure, electrocardiogram, and central venous pressure were also recorded continuously. Sequential nitroprusside and phenylephrine (modified Oxford test) were used to evaluate baroreflex control of MSNA. Losartan (angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1) antagonist) was then administered and measurements were repeated. MSNA was elevated during DEH (42 ± 5 vs. EUH: 32 ± 4 bursts per 100 heartbeats, P= 0.02). Blockade of AT1 receptors partially reversed this change in MSNA during DEH while having no effect in the control EUH condition. The sensitivity of baroreflex control of MSNA was unchanged during DEH compared to EUH. We conclude that endogenous increases in AngII during DEH contribute to DEH‐associated sympathoexcitation.
Burnout among psychosocial oncologists: an application and extension of the effort–reward imbalance model

Burnout is a significant problem among healthcare professionals working within the oncology setting. This study aimed to investigate predictors of emotional exhaustion (EE) and depersonalisation (DP) in psychosocial oncologists, through the application of the effort–reward imbalance (ERI) model with an additional focus on the role of meaningful work in the burnout process.
Up‐regulation of GLT‐1 severely impairs LTD at mossy fibre–CA3 synapses

Glutamate transporters are responsible for clearing synaptically released glutamate from the extracellular space. By this action, they maintain low levels of ambient glutamate, thus preventing excitotoxic damage, and contribute to shaping synaptic currents. We show that up‐regulation of the glutamate transporter GLT‐1 by ceftriaxone severely impaired mGluR‐dependent long‐term depression (LTD), induced at rat mossy fibre (MF)–CA3 synapses by repetitive stimulation of afferent fibres. This effect involved GLT‐1, since LTD was rescued by the selective GLT‐1 antagonist dihydrokainate (DHK). DHK per se produced a modest decrease in fEPSP amplitude that rapidly regained control levels after DHK wash out. Moreover, the degree of fEPSP inhibition induced by the low‐affinity glutamate receptor antagonist γ‐DGG was similar during basal synaptic transmission but not during LTD, indicating that in ceftriaxone‐treated rats LTD induction did not alter synaptic glutamate transient concentration. Furthermore, ceftriaxone‐induced GLT‐1 up‐regulation significantly reduced the magnitude of LTP at MF–CA3 synapses but not at Schaffer collateral–CA1 synapses. Postembedding immunogold studies in rats showed an increased density of gold particles coding for GLT‐1a in astrocytic processes and in mossy fibre terminals; in the latter, gold particles were located near and within the active zones. In both CEF‐treated and untreated GLT‐1 KO mice used for verifying the specificity of immunostaining, the density of gold particles in MF terminals was comparable to background levels. The enhanced expression of GLT‐1 at release sites may prevent activation of presynaptic receptors, thus revealing a novel mechanism by which GLT‐1 regulates synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus.
Beliefs of yoga practitioners about yoga as a science: A survey in Mumbai

Context: The ancient Indian science of yoga is both an experiential science as well as a set of practices which are very suitable to be evaluated using conventional research methods. Despite the rapidly growing scientific literature on the effects of yoga and its applications, there has been no survey carried out to determine whether yoga practitioners are themselves aware of this research. Aims: The current study aimed at conducting a survey to document the beliefs about yoga as a science among its practitioners. Methods: The current survey was conducted chiefly on graduate students of Mumbai University as well as some of the staff. The study surveyed 972 respondents (with an average age of 26 years and a male-female ratio of 54.8:45.2), out of which 54.7 percent practiced yoga. Results: Among the yoga practitioners, 66.1 percent were aware of scientific research on yoga and 57.6 percent associated yoga with scientific research. Interestingly, 60.4 percent of yoga users were keen to have online yoga courses. Among those who did not practice yoga (45.3 percent), 45.0 percent had no intention of starting to practice yoga. Conclusion: The current survey, which is the first documentation of its type in India, showed interesting trends in beliefs about yoga as a scientific discipline among a predominantly young, educated, and urban Indian sample.
What is the Real Prevalence of HIV-Infection in Saudi Arabia?

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) continues to be transmitted in the developing world. The World Health Organization (WHO) produces an annual report from the United Nations AIDS (UNAIDS) Epidemic Update declaring the new AIDS cases across the world. UNAIDS had to make an estimates from certain countries like Saudi Arabia (SA), due to the fact that there is no adequate reporting of AIDS cases to the WHO. In 2001, the Ministry of Health in SA had created the Saudi AIDS—National Program which became responsible for counting old and new HIV-infection in Saudis and non-Saudis cases and produce an annual report in SA. Data collection shows that obtaining number of AIDS from Saudi—National Program would be more accurate than UNAIDS estimate in SA.
Microbial growth in a mixture of hyperbaric bupivacaine and fentanyl prepared in a multi-dose syringe in the operating theatre environment

Abstract Background: A protocol has been devised in which a 20ml mixture of hyperbaric bupivacaine and fentanyl is prepared in a multi-dose syringe, from which aliquots are withdrawn into individual sterile syringes for use in spinal anaesthesia. The risk of microbial contamination of these multi-dose syringes is unknown and this study was designed to assess such risk. Methods: In this pilot study, each syringe was prepared using non-aseptic technique to contain a mixture comprising fentanyl 10 μg. ml−1, bupivacaine 4mg.ml−1 and dextrose 64mg.ml−1, with a total volume of 20ml. Syringes were then allocated to pairs. Aliquots were withdrawn hourly from one syringe of each pair for a twelve-hour study period, whilst the other syringe was sampled only at the beginning and end of the same period. All aliquots were withdrawn using standard aseptic technique in an operating theatre environment. For each syringe pair, both samples from the control syringe and four of the samples from the multi-dose syringe were submitted for microbiological culture. Results: Of the 120 samples taken, one sample was excluded. Of the remaining 119 samples submitted for microbiological investigation, only one yielded growth. This sample had been taken from a multi-dose syringe at the beginning of the study period. Subsequent samples withdrawn from the same syringe were found to be sterile. The organism which had been cultured from this sample was Staphylococcus aureus. Conclusion: It is possible that the culture medium which yielded the microbial growth was contaminated, which would explain why subsequent samples from the same syringe yielded no microbial growth. Alternatively, bupivacaine is known to be strongly antimicrobial against some pathogens and it is possible that there may have been initial contamination of the syringe by S. aureus, which was inhibited by the bupivacaine to produce subsequent sterile samples. Whilst this may suggest that the use of multi-dose syringes for spinal anaesthesia could be safe, in light of the inconclusive result, further investigation is warranted.
STILL out of Breath

Adult onset Still ’ s disease (AOSD) is a rare inflammatory syndrome mostly seen in young adults. Known for its wide range of clinical manifestations, AOSD often presents with non-remitting systemic signs and symptoms. Many rare case associations have been described with AOSD, but only few with pulmonary hypertension (PAH). We are presenting a sixth known case of a young female adult with AOSD and PAH in the literature. doi: http://dx.doi. org/10.4021/jmc1202w
Cell–cell and intracellular lactate shuttles

Once thought to be the consequence of oxygen lack in contracting skeletal muscle, the glycolytic product lactate is formed and utilized continuously in diverse cells under fully aerobic conditions. ‘Cell–cell’ and ‘intracellular lactate shuttle’ concepts describe the roles of lactate in delivery of oxidative and gluconeogenic substrates as well as in cell signalling. Examples of the cell–cell shuttles include lactate exchanges between between white‐glycolytic and red‐oxidative fibres within a working muscle bed, and between working skeletal muscle and heart, brain, liver and kidneys. Examples of intracellular lactate shuttles include lactate uptake by mitochondria and pyruvate for lactate exchange in peroxisomes. Lactate for pyruvate exchanges affect cell redox state, and by itself lactate is a ROS generator. In vivo, lactate is a preferred substrate and high blood lactate levels down‐regulate the use of glucose and free fatty acids (FFA). As well, lactate binding may affect metabolic regulation, for instance binding to G‐protein receptors in adipocytes inhibiting lipolysis, and thus decreasing plasma FFA availability. In vitro lactate accumulation upregulates expression of MCT1 and genes coding for other components of the mitochondrial reticulum in skeletal muscle. The mitochondrial reticulum in muscle and mitochondrial networks in other aerobic tissues function to establish concentration and proton gradients necessary for cells with high mitochondrial densities to oxidize lactate. The presence of lactate shuttles gives rise to the realization that glycolytic and oxidative pathways should be viewed as linked, as opposed to alternative, processes, because lactate, the product of one pathway, is the substrate for the other.
The Men Who Care: An Analysis of Male Primary Caregivers Who Care for Frail Elderly at Home

The geriatric care literature has paid little attention to a small, yet sizable group of informal caregivers—men who care for a frail elderly relative at home. This lack of attention to male caregivers is not surprising because caregiving is traditionally regarded as a "woman's job," usually assumed by a grown daughter or daughter-in-law of the care recipient. This study finds that 27% of the informal caregivers surveyed by the 1982 to 1984 National Long-Term Care Demonstration (the channeling study) are men. Male caregivers are predominantly the husbands of frail, elderly women, and they are more willing to abandon gender roles than are other male caregivers. Further, male caregivers in general appear to be healthier, more satisfied with life, more active in the labor market, and report less financial and physical stress from caregiving than do female caregivers. With the exception of spouses, our findings support the existing literature regarding the existence of strong gender differences in caregiving tasks and efforts.
Parallelization of an ant-based clustering approach

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose parallelization of a successful sequential ant‐based clustering algorithm (SABCA) to increase time performance.Design/methodology/approach – A SABCA is parallelized through the chosen parallelization library MPI. Parallelization is performed in two stages. In the first stage, data to be clustered are divided among processors. After the sequential ant‐based approach running on each processor clusters the data assigned to it, the resulting clusters are merged in the second stage. The merging is also performed through the same ant‐based technique. The experimental analysis focuses on whether the implemented parallel ant‐based clustering method leads to a better time performance than its fully sequential version or not. Since the aim of this paper is to speedup the time consuming, but otherwise successful, ant‐based clustering method, no extra steps are taken to improve the clustering solution. Tests are executed using 2 and 4 processors on selected sample dat.
Cell‐to‐cell communication in intact taste buds through ATP signalling from pannexin 1 gap junction hemichannels

Isolated taste cells, taste buds and strips of lingual tissue from taste papillae secrete ATP upon taste stimulation. Taste bud receptor (Type II) cells have been identified as the source of ATP secretion. Based on studies on isolated taste buds and single taste cells, we have postulated that ATP secreted from receptor cells via pannexin 1 hemichannels acts within the taste bud to excite neighbouring presynaptic (Type III) cells. This hypothesis, however, remains to be tested in intact tissues. In this report we used confocal Ca2+ imaging and lingual slices containing intact taste buds to test the hypothesis of purinergic signalling between taste cells in a more integral preparation. Incubating lingual slices with apyrase reversibly blocked cell‐to‐cell communication between receptor cells and presynaptic cells, consistent with ATP being the transmitter. Inhibiting pannexin 1 gap junction hemichannels with CO2‐saturated buffer or probenecid significantly reduced cell–cell signalling between receptor cells and presynaptic cells. In contrast, anandamide, a blocker of connexin gap junction channels, had no effect of cell‐to‐cell communication in taste buds. These findings are consistent with the model for peripheral signal processing via ATP and pannexin 1 hemichannels in mammalian taste buds.
Head Over Heels: Impact of a Health Promotion Program to Reduce Falls in the Elderly

RÉSUMÉ Le projet FIT – Falls Intervention Trials (étude sur les essais d'intervention après les chutes) – consistait en une étude clinique avec répartition aléatoire des effets d'un programme visant à réduire l'incidence de chutes et leurs séquelles chez les personnes âgées. L'échantillon se composait de 100 personnes de 60 ans et plus, vivant dans la région de la capitale provinciale (Victoria, C.-B.) et ayant fait une chute au cours des trois mois précédant l'étude. L'intervention prenait la forme d'une évaluation détaillée des risques, de commentaires individuels quant aux risques déterminés, ainsi qu'une bande vidéo accompagnée d'une brochure d'information intitulées Head over Heels. La mesure des résultats comprenait l'incidence des chutes, l'auto-efficacité en cas de chutes, la crainte de chuter, le fonctionnement social, l'utilisation des services de santé et la qualité de vie. Bien que les principales variables de l'étude n'aient révélé aucune différence statistique importante entre le groupe expérimental et le groupe témoin, on a pu constater une amélioration au sein des deux groupes entre le début de l'étude et l'évaluation de suivi, six mois après sa conclusion. L'article traite des différentes raisons possibles expliquant ces résultats et leurs conséquences en fonction de recherches plus approfondies. ABSTRACT The Fit (Falls Intervention Trials) Project was a randomized clinical trial of a program designed to reduce falls and their sequela among older people. The sample consisted of 100 persons who were age 60 and over, who lived in the Capital Region District (Victoria, B.C.) and who had experienced a fall in the preceding three months. The intervention consisted of a comprehensive risk assessment, individualized feedback about identified risks and a motivational video and booklet entitled “Head Over Heels”. Outcome measures included fall incidence, falls self-efficacy, fear of falling, social functioning, health service utilization and quality of life. While there were no statistically significant differences between the intervention and control groups on the key study variables, there were improvements in both groups between the beginning of the study and the six-month follow-up assessment. The paper discusses possible reasons for these findings and their implications for further research.