Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rosuvastatin versus pravastatin in dyslipidemic HIV-1-infected patients receiving protease inhibitors: a randomized trial

Background:HIV infection and its treatment with protease inhibitors, especially when boosted with ritonavir, can cause lipid disorders. Statins, with the exception of fluvastatin, pravastatin and rosuvastatin, interact with protease inhibitor metabolism via CYP450. Pravastatin is recommended for patients with protease inhibitor-associated dyslipidemia. Rosuvastatin is the statin most effective on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) in non-HIV patients. Methods:HIV-1-infected patients treated with boosted protease inhibitor were randomized to receive either rosuvastatin 10 mg/day or pravastatin 40 mg/day for dyslipidemia (LDL-c >4.1 mmol/l and triglycerides <8.8 mmol/l). The percentage change in LDL-c, triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels, measured in a central laboratory, was determined after 45 days of statin treatment. Results:Eighty-eight patients were randomized and 83 took the study drugs, 41 rosuvastatin and 42 pravastatin. The median duration of prior antiretroviral treatment was 9 years. At baseline, the median LDL-c level was 4.93 mmol/l, the triglyceride level 2.29 mmol/l, and the high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level 1.27 mmol/l. The median percentage changes in the rosuvastatin and pravastatin arms were −37 and −19% for LDL-c (P < 0.001), respectively, and −19 and −7% for triglycerides (P = 0.035), respectively. The change in the high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level was not significantly different between the two arms. None of the four severe adverse events was attributed to the statins; in particular, there were no renal, hepatic or muscular events. Conclusion:Rosuvastatin 10 mg/day was more effective than pravastatin 40 mg/day on LDL-c and triglyceride levels in HIV-1-infected patients receiving a boosted protease inhibitor.
Occult vascular malformations of thespinal cord: report of four cases notdetected by angiography

Angiographically occult vascular malformations (AOVMs) are reported. Although cavernous malformations, the most common type among the spinal intramedullary AOVMs, have been well documented, the natural history and clinical features of non‐cavernous type AOVMs of the spinal cord remain obscure. We have evaluated four cases of non‐cavernous AOVMs in the past 9 years. Although the clinical features and magnetic‐resonance imaging (MRI) of three cases were similar to those previously reported, the other one had unusual features of insidious onset with limb asymmetry. The natural history of intramedullary occult AVMs remains enigmatic. One speculation for the neurological deterioration is that it results from repeated hemorrhages around the vessels or from intralumenal thrombosis.
Left stellate ganglion block impairs left ventricular function.

Stellate ganglion block (SGB) is an established procedure for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain. SGB results in an acute sympathetic denervation of a part of the left ventricular (LV) wall innervated by the blocked ganglion, which may impair regional contractility. The resulting imbalance of myocardial contractility in different LV regions may affect LV function adversely by increasing LV asynchrony. Seven anesthetized open chest dogs were instrumented for measurement of aortic and LV pressure (tip manometers), cardiac output (CO, thermodilution), and regional LV wall thickness (WT, sonomicrometry) in the anteroapical (predominantly innervated by the right stellate ganglion) and posterobasal wall (left stellate ganglion). The contractility of both regions was assessed using the relationship between preload recruitable stroke work and end-diastolic WT relationship (MW). The timing of regional myocardial wall motion was evaluated by means of the phase of the first harmonic of the Fourier transform of the WT signals, LV asynchrony by the phase difference (PD) between both regions, and LV diastolic function by the time constant of isovolumic relaxation (tau). Measurements were performed before and after left SGB (LSGB). Mean arterial pressure was 105 +/- 25 (mean +/- SD) before and 97 +/- 10 mm Hg after LSGB (not significant). CO remained unchanged (3.09 +/- 1.03 vs 2.93 +/- 1.07 L/min). LSGB significantly reduced contractility in the posterobasal myocardium (MW -162 +/- 26 vs -80 +/- 7 mm Hg; P < 0.01), accompanied by a delay of regional wall motion within the cardiac cycle (phase 202 +/- 18 vs 223 +/- 17 degrees; P < 0.01). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Changes in resting‐state brain networks in writer's cramp

Writer's cramp (WC) is characterized by excessive cocontractions of agonist and antagonist hand and forearm muscles during writing. Changes in functional magnetic resonance imaging activation patterns in such conditions can be ambiguous as they might either reflect some aspect of the primary pathophysiological mechanism or, alternatively, may be the result of adaptive actions during task execution. To circumvent this problem, we examined WC patients during rest, i.e., without a task, using independent component analysis (ICA) applied to the blood oxygen level‐dependent time series.
T cell tolerance in transplantation: possibilities for therapeutic intervention

It is now possible to induce donor-specific transplantation tolerance in adult rodents using a number of therapeutic strategies. These include the use of non-depleting monoclonal antibodies against T cell co-receptor and costimulation molecules, and immunisation with tolerogenic antigen-presenting cells. It is a common finding to all of these models of peripheral tolerance, as well as to various mouse models of autoimmune disease, that regulatory CD4+ T cells are the principle mediators. There are currently no specific markers for regulatory T cells and their activity has been associated with different T cell subsets defined by the expression of activation markers, such as CD25 and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), or anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-10 and TGF-β. Differential gene expression analyses have been used to identify potential new markers for regulatory T cells and to find novel targets for therapeutic manipulation of the immune system. The challenge now is to understand the biological principles that allow such immune reprogramming so that they can be safely applied to clinical situations.
Brain proteomics identifies potential simvastatin targets in acute phase of stroke in a rat embolic model

Finding an efficient neuroprotectant is of urgent need in the field of stroke research. The goal of this study was to test the effect of acute simvastatin administration after stroke in a rat embolic model and to explore its mechanism of action through brain proteomics. To that end, male Wistar rats were subjected to a Middle Cerebral Arteria Occlusion and simvastatin (20 mg/kg s.c) (n = 11) or vehicle (n = 9) were administered 15 min after. To evaluate the neuroprotective mechanisms of simvastatin, brain homogenates after 48 h were analyzed by two‐dimensional fluorescence Difference in Gel Electrophoresis (DIGE) technology. We confirmed that simvastatin reduced the infarct volume and improved neurological impairment at 48 h after the stroke in this model. Considering our proteomics analysis, 66 spots, which revealed significant differences between groups, were analyzed by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐time of flight mass spectrometry allowing the identification of 27 proteins. From these results, we suggest that simvastatin protective effect can be partly explained by the attenuation of the oxidative and stress response at blood–brain barrier level after cerebral ischemia. Interestingly, analyzing one of the proteins (HSP75) in plasma from stroke patients who had received simvastatin during the acute phase, we confirmed the results found in the pre‐clinical model.
The Effect of Hearing Aid Signal-Processing Schemes on Acceptable Noise Levels: Perception and Prediction

Objectives: The acceptable noise level (ANL) test determines the maximum noise level that an individual is willing to accept while listening to speech. The first objective of the present study was to systematically investigate the effect of wide dynamic range compression processing (WDRC), and its combined effect with digital noise reduction (DNR) and directional processing (DIR), on ANL. Because ANL represents the lowest signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) that a listener is willing to accept, the second objective was to examine whether the hearing aid output SNR could predict aided ANL across different combinations of hearing aid signal-processing schemes. Design: Twenty-five adults with sensorineural hearing loss participated in the study. ANL was measured monaurally in two unaided and seven aided conditions, in which the status of the hearing aid processing schemes (enabled or disabled) and the location of noise (front or rear) were manipulated. The hearing aid output SNR was measured for each listener in each condition using a phase-inversion technique. The aided ANL was predicted by unaided ANL and hearing aid output SNR, under the assumption that the lowest acceptable SNR at the listener’s eardrum is a constant across different ANL test conditions. Results: Study results revealed that, on average, WDRC increased (worsened) ANL by 1.5 dB, while DNR and DIR decreased (improved) ANL by 1.1 and 2.8 dB, respectively. Because the effects of WDRC and DNR on ANL were opposite in direction but similar in magnitude, the ANL of linear/DNR-off was not significantly different from that of WDRC/DNR-on. The results further indicated that the pattern of ANL change across different aided conditions was consistent with the pattern of hearing aid output SNR change created by processing schemes. Conclusions: Compared with linear processing, WDRC creates a noisier sound image and makes listeners less willing to accept noise. However, this negative effect on noise acceptance can be offset by DNR, regardless of microphone mode. The hearing aid output SNR derived using the phase-inversion technique can predict aided ANL across different combinations of signal-processing schemes. These results suggest a close relationship between aided ANL, signal-processing scheme, and hearing aid output SNR.
Acetylsalicylic Acid and Sodium Salicylate Inhibit LPS-lnduced NF-kB/c-Rel Nuclear Translocation, and Synthesis of Tissue Factor (TF) and Tumor Necrosis Factor alfa (TNF-a) in Human Monocytes

Summary We have investigated the effects of acetylsalicylic acid and sodium salicylate on the LPS-induced synthesis of the pro-coagulant protein tissue factor (TF) and the pro-inflammatory protein tumor necrosis fac-tor-a (TNF-a), as well as the prostaglandin PGE2 in human monocytes. Both drugs dose-dependently inhibited LPS-induced TF and TNF-a synthesis at the mRNA and the protein level, and reduced PGE2 production. As evidenced by electro mobility shift assay (EMSA) and the use of a NF-kB prototypic probe, these drugs probably exert their inhibitory effects by interference with the nuclear translocation of NF-KB/c-Rel proteins. These data may expand the understanding of the anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory effects of these drugs when activation of monocytes occurs.
Pediatric epilepsy surgery: the earlier the better

Epilepsy surgery is the only curative treatment currently available for focal lesional pharmacoresistant epilepsy. New antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), the ketogenic diet, or vagal nerve stimulation each lead to a worthwhile reduction of seizures in only 40-50% of patients and rarely achieve complete seizure freedom. In sharp contrast, long-term – five or more years complete seizure freedom rates of around 60% are reached following epilepsy surgery [1]. Although clinicians who take care of children with refractory epilepsy have been convinced of the beneficial effects of surgery for at least two decades [2], it was recently that a randomized controlled trial unequivocally proved the superiority of epilepsy surgery over continued medical treatment in pediatric surgical candidates [3]. Not only is surgery more effective, it is also less costly in the long term than medical treatment in children who are suitable for epilepsy surgery [4]. Surgical outcome depends on several factors, which include age, duration of epilepsy, results and concordance of presurgical investigations, type and lobe of surgery, completeness of resection, and type of pathology [2,5].
DHA : docosahexaenoic acid EPA : eicosapentaenoic acid FAME : fatty acid methyl esters FFA : free fatty acids MUFA : monounsaturated fatty acids NL : neutral lipids PL : phospholipids POL : polar lipids

ojo 206) 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 The present study focuses on the lipid composition of angler (Lophius piscatorius) muscle. Distribution of lipid classes and groups and fatty acid composition of neutral and polar lipid fractions corresponding to two edible sites (head and tail) were investigated. Proximate composition and essential and toxic mineral contents were also analysed. Moisture, total lipid and protein contents ranged from 828-845, 3.0-3.7 and 135-170 g kg muscle, respectively. Phospholipids were found to be the most abundant lipid group (690-720 g kg total lipids) and triacylglycerol presence was very low (3.27.7 g kg total lipids). The most abundant fatty acid group comprised polyunsaturated fats. In both neutral and polar lipid fractions, 22:6 n-3 was found to be the major fatty acid, followed by 16:0 and 18:1 n-9. Nutritionally valuable high concentrations of Zn and Mn were observed, and As was the most abundant toxic element. Higher protein and trimethylamine oxide values were observed in the tail site, but lower in moisture, sterol and triacylglycerol contents; however, an inhomogeneous muscle distribution could not be demonstrated with regards to total lipids, phospholipids, free fatty acids or α-tocopherol contents. Mean concentrations of essential and toxic elements were higher in the head site in most cases, especially for Zn, Cd, Cr and V. Running Title: Chemical composition of angler muscle 55
Simultaneous achievement of high-speed and low-noise performance of pseudomorphic InGaAs/InAlAs HEMTs

We achieved a minimum noise figure (NFmin) of 1.0 dB at a frequency of 90 GHz, a current gain cutoff frequency (f<sub>T</sub>) of 520 GHz and a maximum oscillation frequency (f<sub>max</sub>) of 425 GHz for a 35-nm-gate pseudomorphic In<sub>0.7</sub>Ga<sub>0.3</sub>As/In<sub>0.52</sub>Al<sub>0.48</sub>As high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) biased at a drain-source voltage (V<sub>ds</sub>) of 0.8 V and a gate-source voltage (V<sub>gs</sub>) of 0.0 V. The simultaneous achievement of high f<sub>T</sub>, high f<sub>max</sub> and low NF<sub>min</sub> is the first demonstration for InGaAs/InAlAs HEMTs with over 500-GHz-f<sub>T</sub>. Furthermore, an NF<sub>min</sub> of 0.8 dB at 90 GHz was also obtained at V<sub>ds</sub> = 0.8 V and V<sub>gs</sub> = -0.1 V, which is one of the lowest values ever reported.
Heyting Algebras with Operators

In this paper, we will give a general description of subdirectly irreducible Heyting algebras with operators under some weak conditions, which includes the finite case, the normal case and the case for Boolean algebras with diamond operator. This can be done by normalizing these operators. This answers the question posed in Wolter [4].
Isolation and Characterization of Glycolipids from Some Photosynthetic Bacteria

Glycosyl glycerides have been found in substantial amounts in Chloropseudomonas ethylicum but could not be detected in two strains of Rhodopseudomonas palustris. Rhodospirillum molischianum possibly contains small amounts of monoglycosyl diglyceride. The glycolipids of C. ethylicum have been separated into two components. One of these, glycolipid I, is a monogalactosyl diglyceride. Glycolipid II, upon acid hydrolysis, yields galactose, rhamnose, and a third, unidentified sugar. The glycolipids or total lipids of the photosynthetic bacteria examined contained saturated and monounsaturated, but none of the more highly unsaturated, fatty acids.
Spectral and Hodge theory of “Witt” incomplete cusp edge spaces

Incomplete cusp edges model the behavior of the Weil-Petersson metric on the compactified Riemann moduli space near the interior of a divisor. Assuming such a space is Witt, we construct a fundamental solution to the heat equation, and using a precise description of its asymptotic behavior at the singular set, we prove that the Hodge-Laplacian on differential forms is essentially self-adjoint, with discrete spectrum satisfying Weyl asymptotics. We go on to prove bounds on the growth of $L^2$-harmonic forms at the singular set and to prove a Hodge theorem, namely that the space of $L^2$-harmonic forms is naturally isomorphic to the middle-perversity intersection cohomology. Moreover, we develop an asymptotic expansion for the heat trace near $t = 0$.
Neuropsychology of perpetrators of domestic violence: the role of traumatic brain injury and alcohol abuse and/or dependence.

INTRODUCTION Neuropsychological impairments of the executive functions, memory, attention, intelligence quotient, and empathy have been found in perpetrators of domestic violence (intimate partner violence). These impairments could be partially explained by alcohol abuse, dependence, or traumatic brain injuries. AIMS This study reviews the neuropsychological deficits of perpetrators of intimate partner violence. At the same it seeks to integrate and relate these main points with their neuroanatomical correlates. We have also established the relationship between alcohol abuse, dependence, brain damage (including traumatic brain injuries) and those deficits. DEVELOPMENT Scientific literature has been reviewed by means of Google Scholar, PsycINFO, PubMed, Medline and ISI Web of Knowledge. CONCLUSIONS Perpetrators of domestic violence present high mental rigidity, as well as low levels of inhibition, processing speed, verbal and attention skills, and abstract reasoning. Additionally, perpetrators show working and long play memory impairments. Moreover, those deficits could be impaired by traumatic brain injuries and alcohol abuse and/or dependence. Nonetheless, these both variables are not enough to explain the deficits. Functional abnormalities on the prefrontal and occipital cortex, fusiform gyrus, posterior cingulate gyrus, hippocampus, thalamus and amygdala could be associated with these impairments. An analysis of these mechanisms may assist in the development of neuropsychological rehabilitation programmes that could help improve current therapies.
Mesenchymal expression of nuclear factor-kappaB inhibits epithelial growth and branching in the embryonic chick lung.

It is becoming increasingly recognized that the ubiquitous, inducible transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) is involved in developmental processes. For example, NF-kappaB acts as a mediator of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions in the developing chick limb. We investigated the role of NF-kappaB in directing the branching morphogenesis of the developing chick lung, a process which relies on epithelial-mesenchymal communication. High level expression of relA was found in the mesenchyme surrounding the nonbranching structures of the lung but was not detected either in the mesenchyme surrounding the branching structures of the distal lung or in the developing lung epithelium. Specific inhibition of mesenchymal NF-kappaB in lung cultures resulted in increased epithelial budding. Conversely, expression of a trans-dominant activator of NF-kappaB in the lung mesenchyme repressed budding. Ectopic expression of RelA was sufficient to inhibit the ability of the distal mesenchyme to induce epithelial bud formation. Cellular proliferation in the mesenchyme was inhibited by hyperactivation of NF-kappaB in the mesenchyme of lung cultures. Interestingly, increased NF-kappaB activity in the mesenchyme also decreased the proliferation of the associated epithelium, while inhibition of NF-kappaB activity increased cellular proliferation in lung cultures. Expression patterns of several genes which are known to influence lung branching morphogenesis were altered in response to changes in mesenchymal NF-kappaB activity, including fgf10, bmp-4, and tgf-beta1. Thus NF-kappaB represents the first transcription factor reported to function within the lung mesenchyme to limit growth and branching of the adjacent epithelium.
Ectosylvian visual area of the cat: Location, retinotopic organization, and connections

We have mapped out the ectosylvian visual area (EVA) of the cat in a series of single‐ and multiunit recording studies. EVA occupies 10–20 mm2 of cortex at the posterior end of the horizontal limb of the anterior ectosylvian sulcus. EVA borders on somatosensory cortex anteriorly, auditory cortex posteriorly, and nonresponsive cortex laterally. EVA exhibits limited retinotopic organization, as indicated by the fact that receptive fields shift gradually with tangential travel of the microelectrode through cortex. However, a point‐to‐point representation of the complete visual hemifield is not present.
Abnormalities of body fat distribution in HIV-infected persons treated with antiretroviral drugs: The Swiss HIV Cohort Study.

We prospectively assessed the 1-month prevalence of abnormal body fat distribution in HIV-infected individuals. Of 1,359 patients treated with antiretroviral drugs, 578 (43%) had signs of abnormal fat distribution. Peripheral fat loss was observed in 382 patients (28%), whereas 412 (30%) had signs of fat accumulation. The presence of lipodystrophy (peripheral fat loss with or without fat accumulation) was found to be independently associated with increasing age (less than 35 years of age as a reference group: 35 to 41 years of age, OR = 1.5 [95% CI, 1.1-2.3]; and older than 41 years of age, OR = 2.4 [95% CI, 1.7-3.5]), current use of stavudine (OR = 2.4 [95% CI, 1.8-3.3]), current use of abacavir (OR = 2.1 [95% CI, 1.3-3.4]), and elevated lactate level (OR = 1.6 [95% CI, 1.1-2.4]). The prevalence of lipodystrophy was higher among patients who had received stavudine for a longer period (no stavudine in the current combination as a reference group: <6 months, OR = 1.1 [95% CI, 0.6-1.8]; 6-24 months, OR = 2.4 [95% CI, 1.7-3.5]; and >24 months, OR = 3.2 [95% CI, 2.4-4.3]). This study confirms the association between the use of stavudine and lipodystrophy.
Serum Paraoxonase 1 Activity and Lipid Peroxidation Levels in Patients with Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Our objective was to investigate antioxidant paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity together with malondialdehyde (MDA) levels to evaluate oxidative stress in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an important cause of blindness in the elderly population. Serum PON1 activity and MDA levels were analyzed in 37 patients with AMD and compared with 29 healthy controls using a spectrophotometric method. Serum MDA levels were significantly higher in the patient group (2.76 ± 1.28 nmol/ml) than controls (1.00 ± 0.36 nmol/ml; p < 0.001), whereas PON1 activity was lower in the patient group (132.27 ± 63.39 U/l) than controls (312.13 ± 136.23 U/l; p < 0.001). There was a negative correlation between MDA and PON1 levels (r = –0.470, p < 0.001). We conclude that the observed increase in MDA levels may be related to decreased PON1 activity; the present data also demonstrated that an obvious negative correlation between PON1 activity and MDA levels exists in patients with AMD. PON1 is also an antioxidant agent, therefore effective antioxidant therapy to inhibit lipid peroxidation is necessary and agents to increase PON1 activity may be a therapeutic option in AMD.
Paradoxical embolism associated with patent foramen ovale

Two patients are described in whom paradoxical embolism was diagnosed during life. One patient with cerebral embolism died and the other, with peripheral embolization, survived after treatment with streptokinase. Thrombolytic therapy has not previously been described in the treatment of patients with paradoxical embolism.