Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fenoterol: Pharmacology and Clinical Use

Fenoterol is a selective b2-adrenoceptor agonist that has been in clinical use for decades. It belongs to a family of compounds that have comparable pharmacological properties, such as terbutaline or salbutamol. The well-characterized, therapeutically useful pharmacological effects are bronchodilation and relaxation of the pregnant uterus. Therefore, fenoterol’s most important indications are bronchodilation (by inhalation, i.v., or p.o.) and tocolysis during premature labor (by i.v. infusion or p.o.). Fenoterol may also be used in states of acute hyperkalemia in patients with chronic renal failure, an indication that has not been thoroughly investigated. The side effects of fenoterol are typical for b2-adrenoceptor agonists, e.g., hypokalemia, cardiac acceleration, hypotension, and tremor. This review will summarize the current basic and clinical knowledge about fenoterol with a focus on the features that are most important therapeutically. It is surprising that human pharmacokinetics has received little attention. At the time of the development and initial marketing of fenoterol, it was technically difficult to detect small concentrations of the drug, particularly if it was administered by inhalation. Although this technical problem has been overcome, there are still no sensitive and enantioselective methods for detecting small amounts of fenoterol in the plasma to study its pharmacokinetics. Concerns over the safety of short-acting b2-adrenoceptor agonists, particularly fenoterol, have surfaced mainly in relation to their inhalation by asthmatics. This debate appears to be resolved after confusing and lengthy investigations and commentaries. The present review will attempt to report the current views on the use of short-acting b2adrenoceptor agonists in asthma, with a focus on fenoterol.
Prevalence and correlates of dementia: survey of the last days of life.

OBJECTIVES To estimate the prevalence and correlates of dementia at death and to assess the usefulness of death certificate data in the reporting of dementia. METHODS The authors analyzed next-of-kin interviews for 599 male and 628 female decedents using data from the National Institute on Aging's Survey of the Last Days of Life. RESULTS Death certificate data in this population show the prevalence of dementia to be less than 1%, consistent with previous reports based on death certificates but a substantial underestimate compared to the 11.9% reported in a national survey. Using a dementia index based on the informant's report of whether the decedent had been diagnosed with a dementing illness and the extent of her or his cognitive and functional limitations, this study found a prevalence of dementia of 8.5%. A high score on the dementia index was significantly associated with older age, Parkinson's disease, and incontinence. Lower relative odds for dementia at death were found for people with either a lifetime history or a death certificate report of cancer. Similarly, people with a lifetime history of coronary heart disease were found to have lower relative odds for dementia at death. CONCLUSION These results suggest that informant interviews may be a useful source of data to examine factors associated with dementia and to estimate the prevalence of dementia in the last year of life.
Multidimensional Perfectionism and Academic Procrastination: Relationships with Depression in University Students1

Depression in university students is associated with numerous problematic outcomes. Unidimensional perfectionism and academic procrastination have each independently been related with depression and with one another in university students. Multidimensional perfectionism, consisting of self and social dimensions, and academic procrastination have not been simultaneously examined for their interrelationships with one another and with depression. Measures of multidimensional perfectionism, academic procrastination, and depression were administered to 150 undergraduate and graduate students. Analyses showed that only one dimension of perfectionism was correlated with procrastination, although both perfectionism and procrastination were important in accounting for depression in these students. Findings are discussed as they relate to the treatment of university students for the symptoms of depression.
Culture and Anonymity in GSS Meetings

Anonymity is an important aspect of group support systems (GSS). However, as to the overall effectiveness of the use of anonymity, findings have been inconclusive. Some studies show positive effects in the number of ideas generated, quality of ideas, and uniqueness of ideas, whereas other studies show negative or neutral effects. An examination of social psychology literature indicates that the effect of public self-awareness on evaluation apprehension in different cultural groups may play a crucial role. Thus, social psychology and Hofstede's model of cultural differentiation are used in this chapter to explain the different effects of anonymity on the behavior of Hong Kong and Canadian groups during GSS sessions. It is hoped that understanding the effects of anonymity in different cultural contexts will better inform the design and facilitation of GSS in increasingly diverse global settings.
Gastric Carcinoids: Biologic Behavior and Prognosis After Differentiated Treatment in Relation to Type

Objective:To analyze tumor biology and the outcome of differentiated treatment in relation to tumor subtype in patients with gastric carcinoid. Background:Gastric carcinoids may be subdivided into ECL cell carcinoids (type 1 associated with atrophic gastritis, type 2 associated with gastrinoma, type 3 without predisposing conditions) and miscellaneous types (type 4). The biologic behavior and prognosis vary considerably in relation to type. Methods:A total of 65 patients from 24 hospitals (51 type 1, 1 type 2, 4 type 3, and 9 type 4) were included. Management recommendations were issued for newly diagnosed cases, that is, endoscopic or surgical treatment of type 1 and 2 carcinoids (including antrectomy to abolish hypergastrinemia) and radical resection for type 3 and 4 carcinoids. Results:Infiltration beyond the submucosa occurred in 9 of 51 type 1, 4 of 4 type 3, and 7 of 9 type 4 carcinoids. Metastases occurred in 4 of 51 type 1 (3 regional lymph nodes, 1 liver), the single type 2 (regional lymph nodes), 3 of 4 type 3 (all liver), and 7 of 9 type 4 carcinoids (all liver). Of the patients with type 1 carcinoid, 3 had no specific treatment, 40 were treated with endoscopic or surgical excision (in 10 cases combined with antrectomy), 7 underwent total gastrectomy, and 1 underwent proximal gastric resection. Radical tumor removal was not possible in 2 of 4 patients with type 3 and 7 of 9 patients with type 4 carcinoid. Five- and 10-year crude survival rates were 96.1% and 73.9% for type 1 (not different from the general population), but only 33.3% and 22.2% for type 4 carcinoids. Conclusion:Subtyping of gastric carcinoids is helpful in the prediction of malignant potential and long-term survival and is a guide to management. Long-term survival did not differ from that of the general population regarding type 1 carcinoids but was poor regarding type 4 carcinoids.
Neurocognitive Impairment in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Is Correlated With Sexually Transmitted Disease History

Background and Objectives: Neurocognitive impairment is common in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected subjects. The relationship of sexually transmitted diseases to neurocognitive changes is unknown. Goal: To establish whether HIV‐infected patients with a history of syphilis or gonorrhea have a higher rate of neurocognitive dysfunction. Study Design: Neurocognitive function was measured by a battery of quantitative tests in a 453‐person HIV‐infected cohort and a 219‐person HIV‐seronegative control group. Neurocognitive function was then correlated with histories of either syphilis or gonorrhea to assess for possible relationships between these sexually transmitted diseases and neurologic impairment. Results: Human immunodeficiency virus‐infected subjects with a history of either syphilis or gonorrhea tended to perform worse on neurocognitive testing than their counterparts. This difference could not be explained by educational attainment, age, race or CD4 cell count, and was not noted in the HIV‐uninfected control subjects. Conclusions: Sexually transmitted diseases in HIV‐infected subjects are correlated with neurocognitive impairment through an unidentified mechanism.
Two new species of the genus Goezia, G. brasiliensis sp. n. and G. brevicaeca sp. n. (Nematoda: Anisakidae), from freshwater fishes in Brazil.

Examination of freshwater fishes from the Paraná River in southern Brazil during March 1992, revealed the presence of two new, previously undescribed species of the genus Goezia: G. brasiliensis sp. n. is described from the stomach of Brycon hilarii (family Characidae) (type host) and the intestine of Pseudoplatystoma coruscans (Pimelodidae) and it is characterized mainly by the length (0.802 mm) of spicules, number and arrangement of male caudal papillae (10 pairs of preanals and 4 pairs of postanals) and body measurements (male 11 mm, female 10-16 mm); the main characteristics of G. brevicaeca sp. n. , described from the stomach of Brycon hilarii, are a short anterior intestinal caecum reaching anteriorly only to the posterior end of oesophagus, comparatively short spicules (0.367 mm), number of male caudal papillae (20 pairs of preanals and 4 pairs of post-anals) and an elongate, rather long body (male 17 mm, female 23 mm).
Nature and function of endocytosis in Sertoli cells of the rat.

The endocytic activity taking place at the apex of Sertoli cells was analyzed by using various tracers to demonstrate fluid-phase and adsorptive endocytosis. Native ferritin and protein-gold complexes, used to demonstrate fluid-phase endocytosis, were internalized by Sertoli cells at all stages of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium. At 5 min after injection, the tracers were found in the large spherical or C-shaped vesicles seen in the apical processes; at 15 and 30 min, the tracers accumulated in light multivesicular bodies, and at 60 min in dense multivesicular bodies and lysosomes. At later time intervals, an increasing number of lysosomes contained the tracers. Following injection of cationic ferritin or concanavalin A-ferritin, these tracers, used to demonstrate adsorptive endocytosis, were found to be found to the plasma membrane of Sertoli-cell apical processes but were not collected by the large cytoplasmic apical vesicles, multivesicular bodies, or lysosomes. As an exception, a few special multivesicular bodies seen in the large apical processes which encapsulate the heads of late spermatids at stage VII of the cycle contained these tracers. During stage VIII of the cycle, the residual bodies which detach from the mature spermatids are phagocytosed by Sertoli cells. Such residual bodies do not contain their own hydrolytic lysosomal enzymes. However, it was observed that the lysosomes which form as a result of the fluid-phase endocytic activity of the Sertoli cells fuse with the phagocytosed residual bodies and by means of their hydrolytic enzymes contribute to the rapid disintegration of these bodies. Thus, during stage VIII of the cycle, the Sertoli cells integrate two distinct processes, i.e., fluid-phase endocytosis and phagocytosis.
An eighteen-month follow-up study on the effects of Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant in diabetic macular edema refractory to anti-VEGF therapy.

AIM To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of dexamethasone implants in subjects affected by diabetic macular edema (DME) resistant to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy. METHODS Thirty-two DME patients were enrolled. A 700 microgram slow release Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant (Ozurdex®) was placed in the vitreous cavity. All patients were followed for 18mo. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measured with Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) and central macular thickness (CMT) exams were carried out at baseline (T0) and after 1 (T1), 3 (T3), 4 (T4), 6 (T6), 9 (T9), 12 (T12), 15 (T15), and 18mo (T18) post injection. RESULTS Repeated measures ANOVA showed an effect of treatment on ETDRS (P<0.0001). Post hoc analyses revealed that ETDRS values were significantly increased at T1, T3, T4, T9, and T15 (P<0.001) as compared to baseline value (T0). At T6, T12, and T18, ETDRS values were still statistically higher than baseline (P<0.001 vs T0). However, at these time points, we observed a trend to return to baseline conditions. ANOVA also showed an effect of treatment (P<0.0001). CMT decreased significantly at T1, T3, T4, T9, and T15 (P<0.001). At T6 (P<0.01), T12 and T18 (P<0.001) CMT was also significantly lower than T0 although a trend to return to the baseline conditions was also observed. CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrate that Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant is a good option to improve BCVA and CMT in DME patients resistant to anti-VEGF therapy. Our data also show that the use of drugs administered directly into the vitreous allows achieving appropriate and long-lasting concentration at the site of disease without systemic side effects.
The butler did it: search for killer(s) of Kaposi's sarcoma cells in preparations of human chorionic gonadotropin.

Since its original description more than a century ago, Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) was considered to be a rare dermatologic condition, and it attracted only limited attention. The association with immune deficiency, first noticed in patients who had undergone renal transplantation, started to generate more interest in this disease. The turning point, however, was the finding of a relationship between KS and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). KS is now recognized as the most prominent tumor of patients with AIDS, particularly common (>30%) among homosexual men. It is not surprising, therefore, that the interest in its etiology, pathogenesis, and therapy is widespread. Unfortunately, the treatment options for KS are limited. Radiotherapy or chemotherapy as well as the administration of interferon alfa have little impact on the disease. Furthermore, these treatments are toxic, especially when used in combination with antiviral therapies. It is not surprising, therefore, that the finding that sera from pregnant women, as well as commercial preparations of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), exhibit in vitro and in vivo activity against KS (1,2) stirred wide interest and raised hope for more efficient treatment. Phase I clinical trials of hCG demonstrated that partial remissions and stabilization of the disease could be achieved in more than half of the patients, with no evidence of toxicity (3). In a study reported in this issue of the Journal, Samaniego et al. (4) show that hCG preparations affect the expression of the apoptosis-modulating proteins c-Myc and c-Rel and induce apoptosis in KS cells in vitro and in vivo. It is interesting that hCG preparations were also shown to induce apoptosis in leukemia cells, as detected in vivo in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia, and to suppress proliferation of HL-60 leukemia cells (5). Reduced expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was also observed in hCG-treated leukemia cells (5). The mechanism of hCG’s anti-KS activity is clouded in mystery. Since highly purified or recombinant hCG is inactive, it is presumed that the activity is not associated with hCG itself but with one or more factors that are co-purified with the hormone. These anti-KS factors are present in the urine of pregnant women and mice and are found in different proportions in hCG preparations from different vendors (6‐8).
Team diversity structure and team task-related performance: A mediated moderation model

The study explored the underlying mechanism of how team diversity structure exerts its influences on team task-related performance from the perspective of the demographic characteristics diversity. The author collects data by behavior experimental approach in four-person teams and followed Wen, Chang and Hou's method(2006)to test a mediated moderation model. As expected, the findings are as follows: Firstly, team diversity structure has a significant effect on team task-related performance. Secondly, hierarchical regression analysis indicates that this effect is moderated by team members' attitude towards diversity. Thirdly, information elaboration conveys the effect of team diversity structure, attitude towards diversity and their interaction on team task-related performance. The present study helps explain the contradictory conclusions about team diversity and discusses the implications for managing demographically diverse teams.
A model for the dynamics of spins 3/2 in biological media: signal loss during radiofrequency excitation in triple-quantum-filtered sodium MRI.

We have derived the differential equations that describe the dynamics of spin-3/2 nuclei in the presence of radiofrequency (RF) fields and both static and fluctuating quadrupolar interactions. The formalism presented was used to predict the sodium triple-quantum-filtered (TQ-filtered) signal loss in a whole-body scanner, where the widths of the hard 90 degrees RF pulses are on the same order of magnitude as the transverse relaxation times. A small piece of bovine nasal cartilage, known for exhibiting residual quadrupolar splittings, was used to test the theory. The sample was modeled as consisting of small domains, each characterized by a static quadrupolar interaction constant, with an overall Gaussian distribution across the sample. An increase of about 15% in the TQ-filtered signal strength, as the 90 degrees RF pulse width was decreased from 500 to 100 micros, was predicted and demonstrated experimentally for this particular sample.
Crystallization kinetics of glasses

Thermophysical bases of vitrification and crystallization are discussed in terms of the enthalpy versus temperature diagram and its derivative (DTA) illustrating relaxation and glass transformation as well as crystallization of glassy and amorphous states to form stable and metastable phases. Non-isothermal kinetics are thoroughly discussed and the use of one(JMAEK) and two(SB) parameter equations is described. The practical case of the complementary 70SiO 2 10A1203 20ZnO glass treatment is demonstrated for both standard nucleation-growth curves and corresponding DTA recordings; these show a good coincidence of the activation energies obtained.
Dendritic cell maturation in active immunotherapy strategies

Dendritic cells (DCs) loaded with tumour antigen have become the centrepiece of clinical trials testing active immunotherapy strategies. Important variables include the source of DCs, the choice of antigens, the method of antigen loading and the route and timing of administration. Recently, the requirement for and the method of, DC maturation have been receiving particular attention. This is due to observations from in vitro studies and animal models demonstrating that mature DCs induce more potent antigen-specific T-cells responses than immature DCs. Furthermore, preliminary observations in human studies suggest that immature DCs might actually downregulate antigen-specific T-cell responses but mature DCs may augment them. Current studies are addressing how to define DC maturation, whether the variety of methods for maturation result in DCs with similar T-cell stimulatory capacity, how to maintain the maturational status and whether maturation in vitro before immunisation, or in vivo, after immunisation, results in better DC function.
GENETIC COVARIANCE BETWEEN OVIPOSITION PREFERENCE AND LARVAL PERFORMANCE IN AN INSECT HERBIVORE

An experimental study determined that females of the herbivorous fly species Liriomyza sativae (Diptera: Agromyzidae) preferentially oviposit on the plant species on which their female progeny attain the greatest pupal weight. A modified parent/offspring regression was used to quantify this relationship as an additive genetic covariance between host‐plant preference and relative performance of female larvae on different plant species. The implications of a genetic covariance between preference and performance on the course of evolution in herbivores are discussed. Several females from one population refused to oviposit on one of the plant species; this population also suffered the only significant larval mortality on this plant. These results corroborate the avoidance of unsuitable host plants seen in the genetic analyses of individuals, but relative to the genetic data, such population‐level data are of limited usefulness in the study of evolutionary mechanisms by which insect populations become adapted to their host plants.
Sexual Behavior , and Microbiological Profiles of Men Attending Public Health Laboratories for Testing for Sexually Transmitted Diseases

In order to identify the groups at risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), we assessed the sociodemographic profiles of men testing for STD, their sexual habits, and the results of microbiological analysis. During a three-year period, a total of 700 men older than 18 years of age completed the questionnaire regarding sociodemographic and sexual behavior. Urethral swabs were taken for microbiological analysis. Thirty-three percent of respondents reported not using condoms. Those that do not use condoms were predominantly less educated, unmarried but in steady relationships, employed, with children, and smokers. Alcohol or drug usage before sexual intercourse was disclosed by 21.4% of respondents, and 10.3% respondents reported sexual intercourses with commercial sex workers. Finally, 24.0% respondents reported sexual relations abroad. In 28.1% of subjects, one or more pathogens were observed in urethral swabs. The most commonly diagnosed microorganism was Ureaplasma urealyticum, followed by Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma hominis, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This study identified several factors that may contribute to the general risk of STD transmission, which will serve to better understand the transmission dynamics and implementation of adequate prevention programs.
Title Production of domoic acid by laboratory culture of the red alga Chondriaarmata

24 To clarify the production mechanisms and biologic functions of domoic acid (DA) by 25 the red alga Chondria armata, we established a laboratory culture of C. armata. The alga 26 grew better in modified PES medium (mPES) without trace metals or manganese than in 27 unmodified mPES (seawater + nitrate, phosphate, iron, trace metals, vitamins, and 28 2-[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazinyl]-ethanesulfonic acid), suggesting that C. armata is 29 especially hypersensitive to the toxicity of excessive manganese. C. armata cultured in 30 N·P·Fe medium (seawater + nitrate, phosphate, and iron) grew best (mean growth rate 31 828.4%) at a relative nutrient concentration of 50%. Liquid chromatography-mass 32 spectrometry analysis of the algal extracts revealed that the DA content of the cultured 33 explants (2273-3308 ppm) was 4 to 5 fold higher than that of wild specimens. The extract of 34 pooled explants (60 g) was purified by activated charcoal treatment and several types of 35 column chromatography to afford ca. 10 mg DA. The 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance 36 spectrum of the preparation was indistinguishable from the previously reported spectrum of 37 DA, indicating that C. armata itself has an ability to produce DA. 38