Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extracorporeal Circulation During Lung Transplantation Procedures: A Meta-Analysis

Extracorporeal circulation (ECC) is an invaluable tool in lung transplantation (lutx). More than the past years, an increasing number of centers changed their standard for intraoperative ECC from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) – with differing results. This meta-analysis reviews the existing evidence. An online literature research on Medline, Embase, and PubMed has been performed. Two persons independently judged the papers using the ACROBAT-NRSI tool of the Cochrane collaboration. Meta-analyses and meta-regressions were used to determine whether veno-arterial ECMO (VA-ECMO) resulted in better outcomes compared with CPB. Six papers – all observational studies without randomization – were included in the analysis. All were considered to have serious bias caused by heparinization as co-intervention. Forest plots showed a beneficial trend of ECMO regarding blood transfusions (packed red blood cells (RBCs) with an average mean difference of −0.46 units [95% CI = −3.72, 2.80], fresh-frozen plasma with an average mean difference of −0.65 units [95% CI = −1.56, 0.25], platelets with an average mean difference of −1.72 units [95% CI = −3.67, 0.23]). Duration of ventilator support with an average mean difference of −2.86 days [95% CI = −11.43, 5.71] and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay with an average mean difference of −4.79 days [95% CI = −8.17, −1.41] were shorter in ECMO patients. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment tended to be superior regarding 3 month mortality (odds ratio = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.21–1.02) and 1 year mortality (odds ratio = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.37–1.13). However, only the ICU length of stay reached statistical significance. Meta-regression analyses showed that heterogeneity across studies (sex, year of ECMO implementation, and underlying disease) influenced differences. These data indicate a benefit of the intraoperative use of ECMO as compared with CPB during lung transplant procedures regarding short-term outcome (ICU stay). There was no statistically significant effect regarding blood transfusion needs or long-term outcome. The superiority of ECMO in lutx patients remains to be determined in larger multi-center randomized trials.
Effluent monitoring at a bleached kraft mill: Directions for best management practices for eliminating effects on fish reproduction

A long-term monitoring study was conducted on effluents from a bleached kraft pulp and paper mill located in Eastern Canada. The study was designed to gain insights into temporal effluent variability with respect to fish reproduction as it related to production upsets, mill restarts and conditions affecting biological treatment performance. Final effluent quality was monitored between February 2007 and May 2009 using biochemical and chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, resin and fatty acids, a gas chromatographic profiling index, and the presence of methyl substituted 2-cyclopentenones. Selected effluent samples were evaluated for effects on fish reproduction (egg production) using a shortened version of the adult fathead minnow reproductive test. The events relating to negative effects on fish reproduction were upsets of the pulping liquor recovery system resulting in black liquor losses, operational upsets of the hardwood line resulting in the loss of oxygen delignification filtrates, and conditions that reduced the performance of biological treatment (e.g., mill shutdown and low ambient temperatures). The reductions in egg production observed in fathead minnow were associated with biochemical oxygen demand values > 20 mg/L, GC profiling indices > 1.2 and the presence of methyl-substituted 2-cyclopentenones at concentrations > 100 μg/L. This study demonstrated the importance of both in-plant measures for controlling the loss of organics as well as the optimum operation of biological effluent treatment for eliminating effluent-related effects on fish reproduction (egg production) in the laboratory.
Electronic nursing documentation as a strategy to improve quality of patient care.

PURPOSE Electronic health records are expected to improve the quality of care provided to hospitalized patients. For nurses, use of electronic documentation sources becomes highly relevant because this is where they obtain the majority of necessary patient information. METHODS An integrative review of the literature examined the relationship between electronic nursing documentation and the quality of care provided to hospitalized patients. Donabedian's quality framework was used to organize empirical literature for review. RESULTS To date, the use of electronic nursing documentation to improve patient outcomes remains unclear. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Future research should investigate the day-to-day interactions between nurses and electronic nursing documentation for the provision of quality care to hospitalized patients. CLINICAL RELEVANCE The majority of U.S. hospital care units currently use paper-based nursing documentation to exchange patient information for quality care. However, by 2014, all U.S. hospitals are expected to use electronic nursing documentation on patient care units, with the anticipated benefit of improved quality. However, the extent to which electronic nursing documentation improves the quality of care to hospitalized patients remains unknown, in part due to the lack of effective comparisons with paper-based nursing documentation.
Dynamic morphometrics reveals contributions of dendritic growth cones and filopodia to dendritogenesis in the intact and awake embryonic brain

Using in vivo rapid and long‐interval two‐photon time‐lapse imaging of brain neuronal growth within the intact and unanesthetized Xenopus laevis tadpole, we characterize dynamic dendritic growth behaviors of filopodia, branches, and dendritic growth cones (DGCs), and analyze their contribution to persistent arbor morphology. The maturational progression of dynamic dendritogenesis was captured by short‐term, 5 min interval, imaging for 1 h every day for 5 days, and the contribution of short‐term growth to persistent structure was captured by imaging at 5 min intervals for 5 h, and at 2 h intervals for 10 h during the height of arbor growth. We find that filopodia and branch stability increases with neuronal maturation, and while the majority of dendritic filopodia rapidly retract, 3% to 7% of interstitial filopodia transition into persistent branches with lifetimes greater than 90 min. Here, we provide the first characterization of DGC dynamics, including morphology and behavior, in the intact and awake developing vertebrate brain. We find that DGCs occur on all growing branches indicating an essential role in branch elongation, and that DGC morphology correlates with dendritic branch growth behavior and varies with maturation. These results demonstrate that dendritogenesis involves a remarkable amount of continuous remodeling, with distinct roles for filopodia and DGCs across neuronal maturation. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 72: 615–627, 2012
Delineation of self-care and associated concepts.

PURPOSE The purpose of this paper is to delineate five concepts that are often used synonymously in the nursing and related literature: self-care, self-management, self-monitoring, symptom management, and self-efficacy for self-care. METHOD Concepts were delineated based on a review of literature, identification of relationships, and examination of commonalities and differences. FINDINGS More commonalities than differences exist among self-care, self-management, and self-monitoring. Symptom management extends beyond the self-care concepts to include healthcare provider activities. Self-efficacy can mediate or moderate the four other concepts. Relationships among the concepts are depicted in a model. CONCLUSIONS A clearer understanding of the overlap, differences, and relationships among the five concepts can provide clarity, direction and specificity to nurse researchers, policy makers, and clinicians in addressing their goals for health delivery. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Concept clarity enables nurses to use evidence that targets specific interventions to individualize care toward achieving the most relevant goals.
Motoneuron programmed cell death in response to proBDNF

Motoneurons (MN) as well as most neuronal populations undergo a temporally and spatially specific period of programmed cell death (PCD). Several factors have been considered to regulate the survival of MNs during this period, including availability of muscle‐derived trophic support and activity. The possibility that target‐derived factors may also negatively regulate MN survival has been considered, but not pursued. Neurotrophin precursors, through their interaction with p75NTR and sortilin receptors have been shown to induce cell death during development and following injury in the CNS. In this study, we find that muscle cells produce and secrete proBDNF. ProBDNF through its interaction with p75NTR and sortilin, promotes a caspase‐dependent death of MNs in culture. We also provide data to suggest that proBDNF regulates MN PCD during development in vivo. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 72: 699–712, 2012
The comparison of two recovery room warming methods for hypothermia patients who had undergone spinal surgery.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to compare the time needed to reach a specified temperature and the efficiency of two warming methods-warm cotton blankets and a radiant warmer-for hypothermia patients in a postanesthetic care unit (PACU) after spinal surgery. DESIGN This study was conducted according to a quasi-experimental design. Data were collected from a medical referral center in northern Taiwan. A total of 130 post-spinal surgery patients with hypothermia were recruited in the study. METHODS Of the 130 patients in the PACU, 65 were warmed by the radiant warmer (group R); whereas the other 65 patients were warmed by warm cotton blankets (group B). Tympanic temperature was measured for each patient every 10 min until it reached 36 °C in the PACU. Analysis of covariance and generalized estimating equation regression analysis were performed to compare the time needed to reach a specified temperature and the efficiency of the two warming methods, respectively. FINDINGS Both groups were similar in their baseline characteristics. After adjusting for temperature upon arrival at the PACU, group R needed a significantly shorter time for rewarming to 36 °C than group B (F [1, 125]= 58.17, p < .001). The results of the generalized estimating equation also showed that the radiant warmer was more efficient than warm cotton blankets in increasing patients' body temperatures to 36 °C (χ2 = 37.44, p < .001). None of the patients appeared to have wound infections, and there were no differences in the length of hospital stay or medical costs for current hospitalization in both groups. CONCLUSIONS Using the radiant warmer may be a more efficient method than providing warm cotton blankets for warming post-spinal surgery hypothermia patients in the PACU. CLINICAL RELEVANCE For hospitals that are unable to use forced-air warming to warm postsurgical hypothermia patients in the PACU, the radiant warmer is a more efficient device to rewarm patients.
Applicability of poorly crystalline aluminum oxide for adsorption of arsenate

This study examined the characteristics of arsenate adsorption on poorly crystalline oxide (PCAO) which was obtained from recycling of dry sanding powders (DSP) produced during sanding and sawing process in a decorative interior company. After calcinating DSP at 550°C, poorly crystalline oxide (PCAO) was obtained as an adsorbent. From the batch adsorption experiments, arsenate was completely removed up to the concentration of 10 mg/L by PCAO. The stability of PCAO as an adsorbent was evaluated at pH 7 and found that the arsenate adsorbed on PCAO was stable for 24 h. The predominant interaction between arsenate and PCAO was thought to be a strong chemical bond by spectroscopic analysis. The arsenate adsorption behavior onto PCAO was satisfactorily simulated with MINEQL+, suggesting that arsenate formed inner-sphere complexes with the surface of PCAO by chemisorption. Meanwhile, the presence of competitive anions such as PO4 3−, SO4 2− and CO3 2− decreased somewhat the removal efficiency of arsenate and the effects of competing anions on the adsorption of arsenate were in the order of PO4 3− > SO4 2− > CO3 2− under pH 6. The application of PCAO to the real mine drainage was also carried out. Although the adsorption of arsenic on the PCAO was slightly decreased rather than that removed from synthetic wastewater due to competitive sorption by multiple ions, it was possible to meet the national discharge standard limit with increasing adsorbent concentration.
The Importance of Glutamate in Skeletal Muscle Metabolism Under Differrent Exercise Conditions

THE IMPORTANCE OF GLUTAMATE IN SKELETAL MUSCLE METABOLISM UNDER DIFFERENT EXERCISE CONDITIONS Marina Mourtzakis Advisor: University of Guelph, 2004 Dr. T. E. Graham The tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle provides a central process for not only fat and carbohydrate pathways to merge but also for amino acids to integrate and play a putative role in regulating oxidative metabolism. Muscle glutamate is a central amino acid for all transamination reactions that integrate with the TCA cycle. However, at the onset of exercise muscle glutamate decreases despite a constant uptake from the circulation. This thesis investigated whether: 1) glutamate affects metabolic homeostasis in skeletal muscle and potential tissue interactions, 2) alterations in glutamate availability impose changes on oxidative metabolism, and 3) whether the interactions between glutamate and other amino acids impact on oxidative metabolism. The first study examined whether glutamate affects oxidative metabolism during prolonged exercise since pyruvate flux decreases under these conditions. Muscle biopsies and direct Fick measurements revealed that the largest net exchanges in glutamate and alanine occurred in the first hour of exercise while glutamate was consistently taken up for the rest of exercise. Pyruvate flux remained constant implying that it may not affect glutamate metabolism. The second study examined whether increased glutamate availability via glutamate ingestion would perturb oxidative metabolism. With increased circulating glutamate, pulmonary VO2 was elevated during moderate cycling and the proportions of nitrogen sources released were altered. The final study isolated endurance training to the quadriceps muscle of one thigh for 5 weeks while the other thigh remained untrained. Following training, each thigh underwent maximal work tests. Direct Fick measurements and muscle biopsies were obtained from each thigh at rest and maximal work rate during control and glutamate conditions. Muscle glutamate was not different between thighs at rest or during exercise under either conditions. However, glutamate uptake was increased with glutamate infusion compared to control. Training enhanced VO2peak, attenuated the increase in fumarate and malate, and lessened the decrease in 2-oxoglutarate. In contrast, glutamate administration resulted in ~20% and ~50% decreased muscle VO2peak and 2-oxoglutarate levels, respectively, while enhancing fumarate and malate concentrations in the trained thigh only. Collectively, these results suggest that alterations in glutamate availability can impact the regulation of oxidative energy provision in human skeletal muscle.
Genomics and autism spectrum disorder.

PURPOSE To present the current state of the evidence regarding translation of genetics (the study of single genes) and genomics (the study of all genes and gene-gene or gene-environment interactions) into health care of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS This article presents an overview of ASD as an international health challenge, the emerging science related to broad diagnostic criteria, and the role of the nurse in research, education, and practice. FINDINGS Much progress is being made in the understanding of genetics and genomics of ASD. Environmental factors are thought to contribute to the risk of developing ASD by interacting with a number of genes in different ways, thus suggesting causal heterogeneity. The rising identified prevalence of ASD, the changing diagnostic criteria for ASD, and the complexity of the core and associated features have made it difficult to define the ASD phenotype (observable behaviors that result from gene-environment interaction). Because early identification improves opportunities for intervention, researchers are looking for a useful biomarker to detect ASD. This search is complicated by the likelihood that there are multiple causes for multiple expressions that are defined as the autism spectrum. CONCLUSIONS To date, genetic and genomic research on ASD have underscored the complexity of the causes of ASD indicating that there are very complex genetic processes involved that are still not well understood. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Nurses will benefit from new knowledge related to early identification, diagnosis, and implications for the family to promote early intervention. Families who have a child with ASD will require nursing support for advocacy for optimal health outcomes.
Egg Consumption and Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Adults: Based on 2007-2008 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

There is a great public concern that higher consumption of eggs may increase the risk of chronic disease due to high levels of cholesterol in eggs. In contrast to this concern, limited studies have examined this relationship, and the study results have been inconsistent. This study was to evaluate the cross-sectional associations between egg consumption, blood markers and metabolic syndrome in Korean adults. We analyzed data from the combined 2007-2008 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Egg intakes were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Metabolic syndrome was ascertained using criteria of the NCEP ATP III (2001) and abdominal obesity criteria of the WHO. In 5,548 subjects, 937 subjects were defined as having metabolic syndrome. In linear regression models, subjects reporting one or more egg consumption per day had significantly lower levels of triglyceride, fasting blood glucose and blood pressure, and a higher level of HDL cholesterol, compared to those who rarely consumed eggs (P-trends < 0.05). After adjustments for potential confounding factors, the associations were no longer significant except for total cholesterol, showing higher levels with frequent egg consumption. More frequent intakes of egg (1 egg or more/day) were associated with lower risk of metabolic syndrome in a logistic regression model (OR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.50-0.96), but this association also became insignificant after adjustments for multiple confounding factors (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.71-1.57). In healthy Korean adults, frequent intakes of eggs did not adversely affect the risk of metabolic syndrome. Further studies are needed to confirm this finding. (Korean J Community Nutr 16(3) : 364~374, 2011)
Mercury in soil and perennial plants in a mining-affected urban area from Northwestern Romania

The mercury (Hg) concentrations were evaluated in soils and perennial plants sampled in four districts of Baia Mare city, a historical mining and ore processing center in Northwestern Romania. The results showed that the Hg concentration exceeded the guideline value of 1.0 mg kg−1 dry weight (dw) established by the Romanian Legislation, in 24 % of the analyzed soil samples, while the median Hg concentration (0.70 mg kg−1 dw) was lower than the guideline value. However, Hg content in soil was generally higher than typical values in soils from residential and agricultural areas of the cities all over the world. The median Hg concentration was 0.22 mg kg−1 dw in the perennial plants, and exceeded the maximum level of Hg (0.10 mg kg−1) established by European Directive 2002/32/EC for plants used in animal feed in order to prevent its transfer and further accumulation in the higher levels of food chain. No significant correlations were found between soil Hg and other analyzed metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) resulted from the non-ferrous smelting activities, probably due to the different physicochemical properties, that led to different dispersion patterns.
Divergent Roles of Glutathione Peroxidase‐1 (Gpx1) in Regulation of Leukocyte‐Endothelial Cell Interactions in the Inflamed Cerebral Microvasculature

Please cite this paper as: Wong, Abeynaike, Crack and Hickey (2011). Divergent Roles of Glutathione Peroxidase‐1 (Gpx1) in Regulation of Leukocyte‐Endothelial Cell Interactions in the Inflamed Cerebral Microvasculature. Microcirculation18 (1), 12–23.
Sexually dimorphic expression and estradiol mediated up‐regulation of a sex‐linked ribosomal gene, RPS6, in the zebra finch brain

Sex‐linked genes are considered to be a major contributor to neural sex differences in zebra finches. While several candidates have been identified, additional ones are continuously being discovered. Here we report on a novel Z‐linked ribosomal gene (rpS6) that is enhanced in the male brain as compared to the female's throughout life. In both sexes, expression of rpS6 is highest at P3 and P8 (just before the onset of morphologically detectable sex differences), decreases around P15, and then remains decreased through adulthood. Analysis of rpS6 mRNA revealed widespread distribution throughout the brain. However, within song regions HVC and RA, mRNA containing cells were greater in males as compared to females. Hormones are also involved in the development of neural dimorphisms, so we additionally investigated whether rpS6 might interact with estradiol (E2). An up‐regulation of rpS6 gene was observed in both sexes following treatment with E2 and the effect was approximately twice as large in males as compared with females. These data suggest that rpS6 may be involved in sexual differentiation of the zebra finch brain, and that the effect is facilitated by E2. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 73: 599–608, 2013
Arachidonic acid closes innexin/pannexin channels and thereby inhibits microglia cell movement to a nerve injury

Pannexons are membrane channels formed by pannexins and are permeable to ATP. They have been implicated in various physiological and pathophysiological processes. Innexins, the invertebrate homologues of the pannexins, form innexons. Nerve injury induces calcium waves in glial cells, releasing ATP through glial pannexon/innexon channels. The ATP then activates microglia. More slowly, injury releases arachidonic acid (ArA). The present experiments show that ArA itself reduced the macroscopic membrane currents of innexin‐ and of pannexin‐injected oocytes; ArA also blocked K+‐induced release of ATP. In leeches, whose large glial cells have been favorable for studying control of microglia migration, ArA blocked glial dye‐release and, evidently, ATP‐release. A physiological consequence in the leech was block of microglial migration to nerve injuries. Exogenous ATP (100 µM) reversed the effect, for ATP causes activation and movement of microglia after nerve injury, but nitric oxide directs microglia to the lesion. It was not excluded that metabolites of ArA may also inhibit the channels. But for all these effects, ArA and its non‐metabolizable analog eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA) were indistinguishable. Therefore, ArA itself is an endogenous regulator of pannexons and innexons. ArA thus blocks release of ATP from glia after nerve injury and thereby, at least in leeches, stops microglia at lesions. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 73: 621–631, 2013