Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms of persistent atrial fibrillation

Purpose of review Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained arrhythmia, but its mechanisms are poorly understood. In particular, little is known about the factors that contribute to the establishment of persistent or permanent atrial fibrillation. This review addresses possible common signaling pathways that might promote both structural and electrical remodeling of the atria, thus contributing to atrial fibrillation perpetuation. Recent findings Sustained atrial fibrillation may trigger an inflammatory response leading to activation of myofibroblasts and to the release of cytokines such as transforming growth factor-&bgr; and platelet-derived growth factor, as well as profibrotic proteins such as galectin-3. Activation of signaling cascades involving such proteins is critical for the development of fibrosis and may also lead to ion channel dysfunction, which, along with myocyte apoptosis and extracellular matrix generation and turnover, likely contributes to both electrical and structural remodeling and predisposes to atrial fibrillation. Summary Identifying upstream strategies targeting molecular pathways that are common to fibrosis and electrical remodeling leading to atrial fibrillation perpetuation is highly desirable. This would facilitate finding new target genes with pleiotropic effects on the expression of ion channel proteins in myocytes and profibrotic molecules in nonmyocyte cells that are important for pathologic remodeling, which could become an important goal in persistent atrial fibrillation therapy.
Effect of epidermal growth factor and insulin on DNA, RNA, and cytoskeletal protein labeling in primary rat astroglial cell cultures

The effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulin on DNA, RNA, and cytoskeletal protein labeling in primary rat astroglial cell cultures was investigated. Cultures were grown for 15–30 days in vitro in 10% fetal calf serum (FCS)‐supplemented medium and then maintained in serum‐free basal medium (DMEM) supplemented with fatty acid‐free bovine serum albumin (BSA) for a starvation period of 24 hr before the addition of factors. The effect of factors was tested at different times (4, 10, 22, and 28 hr). At each time, [methyl‐3H]thymidine or [5, 6 ‐3H]uridine was added to the control and treated cells; the incubation time after the addition of labeled precursors was 2 hr at 37°C. The results obtained indicated that the addition of EGF or FCS significantly stimulated [methyl‐3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA, reaching the maximum effect after 22 hr. EGF alone significantly stimulated [3H]uridine incorporation into RNA, and this effect was already maximum at 4 hr and remained constant up to 22 hr.
A Principled Approximation Framework for Optimal Control of Semi-Markov Jump Linear Systems

We consider continuous-time, finite-horizon, optimal quadratic control of semi-Markov jump linear systems (S-MJLS), and develop principled approximations through Markov-like representations for the holding-time distributions. We adopt a phase-type approximation for holding-time distributions, which is known to be consistent, and translates an S-MJLS into a specific MJLS with partially observable modes (MJLSPOM), where the modes in a cluster have the same dynamic, the same cost weighting matrices, and the same control policy. For a general MJLSPOM, we give necessary and sufficient conditions for optimal (switched) linear controllers. When specialized to our particular MJLSPOM, we additionally establish the existence of an optimal linear controller, as well as its optimality within the class of general controllers satisfying standard smoothness conditions. The known equivalence between phase-type distributions and positive linear systems allows us to leverage existing modeling tools, but possibly with large computational costs. Motivated by this, we propose a matrix-exponential approximation of holding-time distributions, resulting in pseudo-MJLSPOM representation, wherein the transition rates could be negative. Such a representation is of relatively low order, and maintains the same optimality conditions as for the MJLSPOM representation, but could violate nonnegativity of holding-time density functions. A two-step procedure consisting of a local pulling-up modification and a filtering technique is constructed to enforce nonnegativity.
Effect of acute paracetamol overdose on changes in serum and urine electrolytes.

AIMS To investigate the effects of acute paracetamol overdose on renal function, serum and urine electrolyte excretion in man. METHODS Two studies were performed in patients admitted with paracetamol overdose: a retrospective study examining changes in serum electrolytes, and a prospective study evaluating changes in serum and urine electrolytes. A control group with SSRI overdose was included in the prospective study. RESULTS There was a significant dose-dependent relationship between admission (4 h) paracetamol concentration and fall in serum potassium in the retrospective study (P < 0.01) and a significant positive relationship between serum paracetamol at 4 h and fractional excretion of potassium at 12 h postingestion (P < 0.01) in the prospective study. No changes were seen in the control group. No cases developed renal failure. CONCLUSIONS Paracetamol overdose is associated with dose-related hypokalaemia, and kaliuresis of short duration (<24 h), suggesting a specific renal effect of paracetamol in overdose perhaps via cyclo-oxygenase inhibition. This effect seems distinct from any nephrotoxic effect of paracetamol.
Neutron powder diffraction study of hydrogarnet to 9 . 0 GPa

The crystal structure of synthetic, deuterated katoite [CarAIr(OoDo)r] has been refined at 0.0001, 0.78, 3.6, 6.1,7.9, and 9.0 GPa using the opposed-anvil Paris-Edinburgh cell and the POLARIS powder diffractometer at the U.K. pulsed spallation source, ISIS. A constrained Birch-Murnaghan fit to the unit-cell volume yields Ko : 52(l) GPa for K[= 4.0. The lower bulk modulus of katoite relative to anhydrous Ca-bearing garnets (Ko : 159-179 GPa) is due to the greater compressibility of the Ca dodecahedron and OoDo tetrahedron. At high pressure, corner-sharing tetrahedra and octahedra undergo a rigidbody rotation, which causes a shift in the O position. This rotation, coupled with the large compression ofthe two tetrahedral edges shared with the dodecahedron, changes the relative lengths of the Ca-O bonds at high pressure, such that Ca2-O < Cal-O for P > 6 GPa. With increasing pressure, the O-D.O angles widen slightly, as the O-D vector rotates toward the tetrahedral face. Both O-D and O.D bond lengths decrease as a function ofpressure, which was unexpected in view ofthe results ofrecent high-pressure studies. Comparison of crystallographic and spectroscopic data collected at high pressure for hydrogarnets suggests that empirical relationships derived for hydrogen-bond systems at ambient conditions, where a relaxed, equilibrium state is attained, may not always apply to O-D"'O hydrogen bonds under compression.
Durational information in word-initial lexical embeddings in spoken Dutch

There is a growing body of research showing the importance of durational information for the disambiguation of temporarily ambiguous speech due to lexical embedding (e.g., rye in rises ) in laboratory settings. The current research investigates whether durational differences are present in non-laboratory speech. We focus on two types of speech: read speech and speech taken from interviews. Durations of thousands of instances of monosyllabic words and the same phonemic string embedded as the first syllable of a polysyllabic word (so-called embedded words) were obtained from the Spoken Dutch Corpus. These durations were first adjusted to many known sources of durational differences. A subsequent statistical analysis on these adjusted durations showed a significant difference in durations between monosyllabic words and embedded words for both speaking styles, suggesting that the presence of durational differences between monosyllabic words and embedded words is a general characteristic of spoken Dutch. Although the differences are small, it is argued that these durational differences are perceptually relevant.
The association between alcohol consumption and morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.

OBJECTIVE Moderate alcohol consumption appears protective against cardiovascular events and mortality in community-based epidemiologic studies, but whether its consumption affects perioperative outcomes remains unknown. Therefore, the authors tested the hypothesis that alcohol consumption of 3 or more drinks per week improves postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. DESIGN A propensity-matched retrospective cohort study. SETTING A major cardiovascular surgical institute, tertiary care teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS Data from 13,065 patients undergoing elective CABG surgery at the Cleveland Clinic were analyzed. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Propensity scores were used to match alcohol users with infrequent/nonusers. From the matched subset, the relationship between alcohol use and the composite outcome (any major cardiac, renal, respiratory, infectious, or neurologic morbidity and mortality) was determined univariably with the Pearson chi-square test and multivariably using stepwise logistic regression. Estimation of the relationship between such alcohol use and hospital length of stay was of secondary interest. Patients who reported consuming at least 3 drinks per week experienced similar odds of the composite outcome (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval] of 1.13 [0.96-1.34], p = 0.14) to infrequent or nonusers. In a secondary analysis, the hospital length of stay was unrelated to alcohol use (adjusted hazard ratio [95% CI] of 1.03 [0.97-1.09], p = 0.28). CONCLUSION The present results showed that alcohol consumption was not associated with the risk for postoperative complications in patients undergoing CABG surgery. Alcohol abusers could not be separated in this study, and, based on previous literature, this result might not be applied to them.
Acupuncture for chronic nonpulsatile tinnitus: A randomized clinical trial

Background: There is challenge to find an effective treatment for tinnitus. Few studies were done on the effects of acupuncture on tinnitus. This study evaluated the effect of acupuncture on chronic non-pulsatile tinnitus. Methods: This randomized double-blind clinical trial was conducted from December 2014 to September 2015. Patients suffering from chronic non-pulsatile tinnitus were randomly allocated into two groups: acupuncture vs. placebo. They were treated in 15 sessions and at the end of the fifteenth sessions and 3 weeks after completion of the treatment, visual analog scale (VAS) for tinnitus loudness and tinnitus severity index (TSI) questionnaires were completed. Results: The case group included 26 males and 18 females, and in the control group there were 27 males and 17 females: with mean age of 49.11±1.07 and 55.20±8.33 years, respectively (p=0.005). TSI and VAS before treatment were 43.84±2.81 and 9.56±0.43 in cases and 43.52±2.94 and 9.54±0.45 in controls, respectively. Both measures improved after 15 sessions in cases to 24.82±1.04 and 2.88±0.33, and to 33.16±1.24 and 7.86±0.23 in controls. The changes of TSI and VAS were significant in all groups (p<0.001). TSI and VAS in acupuncture group were lower than placebo group in each session (p<0.001), except TSI in the tenth session (p=0.392). Conclusions: Acupuncture is effective in reducing the loudness and severity of tinnitus and can be a useful treatment for nonpulsatile chronic tinnitus.
Edta‐dependent pseudothrombocytopenia: A clinical study of 18 patients and a review of the literature

EDTA‐dependent pseudothrombocytopenia (EDTA‐PTCP) is the phenomenon of a spurious low platelet count due to the appearance of antibodies that cause platelet agglutination in blood anticoagulated with EDTA. We review here the clinical features of 18 patients with EDTA‐PTCP treated in our hospital from 1984 to 1987 as well as those of 34 patients reported in the literature. This phenomenon appears more frequently in severely ill patients, in association with autoimmune, neoplastic, atherosclerosis‐related, and liver diseases. In the majority of our patients, EDTA‐PTCP appeared during hospitalization, indicating that the antibody is an acquired one. Neither splenomegaly nor the presence of autoimmune markers were features of this entity. Unlike true thrombocytopenias, EDTA‐PTCP is associated with a normal mean platelet volume. Awareness of this entity is essential since EDTA‐PTCP is frequently misdiagnosed and therefore incorrectly treated.
Ultrastructural and molecular identification of a Wolbachia endosymbiont in a spider, Nephila clavata

Wolbachia‐like bacteria were observed in the egg cells of golden orb‐weaving spider, Nephila clavata, by means of transmission electron microscopy. The bacteria exhibited the typical morphology of Wolbachia, including three enveloping membranes. Based on the amplification and sequencing of partial 16S rDNA and ftsZ gene, the bacteria were identified as Wolbachia, intracellular, transovarially inherited α‐proteobacteria in invertebrates. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rDNA and ftsZ gene sequences invariably indicated that the intracellular bacteria from N. clavata belonged to group A Wolbachia, which were found only from insects. Clustering of Wolbachia from N. clavata with group A Wolbachia indicates that the bacteria were probably transferred horizontally between insects and the spider.
The Hottentot Venus : The Life and Death of Saartjie Baartman, Born 1789 - Buried 2002, Rachel Holmes : book review

The fictional aspects of Holmes's work are what places it in the category of a popular historical biography rather than an academic text. Despite this, the biography is the first comprehensive text about Baartman where her entire life and post-repatriation experiences are discussed, and presents a solid introduction for those unfamiliar with her life story and its significance in South African history.
Resilience and the Narratives of Parents of Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) is on the rise; the most recent report from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network (2012) indicated a prevalence of ASDs of one in 88 children. This was a 78% increase from reported prevalence rates in 2002, when the rate was one in 150. Major health organizations have been emphasizing the importance of early identifi cation (Johnson, Myers, & Council on Children with Disabilities, 2007) to increase access to early intervention services, which are most effective when implemented before age three (Rogers & Vismara, 2008). The bulk of autism research has been focused on children, particularly young children. Given the growing identifi cation and prevalence of ASDs, there will be more and more adolescents and adults with ASDs in the near and long term future. This issue of Narrative Inquiries in Bioethics is important because of its focus on an underrepresented area in the literature. The constraints of current health care delivery systems do not allow for providers to spend signifi cant amounts of time with their patients. Furthermore, hearing fi rst person narratives can be valuable by informing health care professionals about the experiences that parents (and by extension, the individual with an ASD) have experienced. As a licensed clinical psychologist with over two decades of experience with children, adolescents, and adults with ASDs in a variety of settings, I have a professional perspective on autism. As the older brother of Omar, a 38–year–old adult male with autistic disorder, I also have a lifetime of personal experiences of autism. As long as I can remember, I have had a brother with autism. I hope this unique perspective as both a behavioral health care provider and a family member of an adult with an ASD allows me to comment on these narratives in a thoughtful manner.
How Far Is the Ideal Destination? Distance Desire, Ways to Explore the Antinomy of Distance Effects in Tourist Destination Choice

This study aims to explore the antinomy of distance effects in tourist destination choice by demonstrating its catalytic effect and functionary mechanism. The concept of “distance desire” is proposed to express the catalytic effect of distance, while the attributes and subdivisional dimensions of this concept are also analyzed. A tourist destination decision model is constructed to explore the relationships between the related behavior variables and tourist travel intention. The results of this study indicate that distance desire as well as tourist attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control are important variables that positively affect tourist travel intention. Distance desire has also been demonstrated to play an intermediary role between tourist attitudes and travel intention and tourist subjective norms and travel intention. The introduction of distance desire can improve and enhance the interpretation and forecasting capabilities of the tourist destination decision model.
The delivery of futile care is harmful to other patients

Objective:Intensive care units (ICUs) in different parts of the world provide care to patients with advanced age and terminal illness at different rates and in different patterns. In the United States, ICU beds make up a disproportionate number of acute care beds. Nearly half of all patients who die in U.S. hospitals have received ICU, some of which may be futile. The objective of this study was to examine ways in which the delivery of futile care in the ICU can cause harm to patients other than those receiving the futile care. Design:Review of available studies of patient and family attitudes about cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other supportive modalities, including antibiotic therapy, and the relationship of the delivery of such care to the outcomes of others treated in the ICU. Patients:Those treated in ICUs and those receiving futile care. Measurements and Main Results:Compared with younger patients, the elderly in the United States use more ICU care, at higher cost, have more serious comorbidities, and have a higher mortality rate. Certain populations demand ICU care more than others and often with less benefit than less-demanding populations. In a situation of unlimited resources, the provision of ICU care, even when futile, has been viewed as an individual patient decision with no harm to others within the hospital. However, even with unlimited resources, the use of antibiotics for those who are receiving futile care can be considered unethical by egalitarian theory because it can lead to antibiotic resistance that may make the treatment of other patients impossible. In the setting of limited resources, like in pandemic influenza, or with the potential limiting of resources, in a pay-for-performance environment, the provision of futile care can also harm the hospital population as a whole. Conclusions:The delivery of futile care is not only an individual patient decision, but must be viewed in a broader context. Societal awareness of this problem is necessary, and better scoring systems to identify when ICU care has limited benefit are needed to address these difficult and challenging realities.
The implications of P‐glycoprotein in HIV: friend or foe?

P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp), coded by the ABCB1 gene, has a wide tissue distribution. The drug transporter is known to limit the bioavailability of a plethora of drugs and xenobiotics including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitors. There remains a considerable degree of debate in the literature with respect to the role of ABCB1 polymorphisms in HIV‐treatment outcome and some studies have also implicated antiretroviral drugs as inducers of P‐gp. Recent evidence indicates a role for P‐gp in the inhibition of viral infectivity and/or release and cellular relationships with other infection‐related proteins (and cholesterol). It is becoming increasingly clear that future studies on P‐gp in HIV should consider both pharmacological and virological issues.
Adenosine inhibition via A1 receptor of N‐type Ca2+ current and peptide release from isolated neurohypophysial terminals of the rat

Effects of adenosine on voltage‐gated Ca2+ channel currents and on arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) release from isolated neurohypophysial (NH) terminals of the rat were investigated using perforated‐patch clamp recordings and hormone‐specific radioimmunoassays. Adenosine, but not adenosine 5′‐triphosphate (ATP), dose‐dependently and reversibly inhibited the transient component of the whole‐terminal Ba2+ currents, with an IC50 of 0.875 μm. Adenosine strongly inhibited, in a dose‐dependent manner (IC50= 2.67 μm), depolarization‐triggered AVP and OT release from isolated NH terminals. Adenosine and the N‐type Ca2+ channel blocker ω‐conotoxin GVIA, but not other Ca2+ channel‐type antagonists, inhibited the same transient component of the Ba2+ current. Other components such as the L‐, Q‐ and R‐type channels, however, were insensitive to adenosine. Similarly, only adenosine and ω‐conotoxin GVIA were able to inhibit the same component of AVP release. A1 receptor agonists, but not other purinoceptor‐type agonists, inhibited the same transient component of the Ba2+ current as adenosine. Furthermore, the A1 receptor antagonist 8‐cyclopentyltheophylline (CPT), but not the A2 receptor antagonist 3, 7‐dimethyl‐1‐propargylxanthine (DMPGX), reversed inhibition of this current component by adenosine. The inhibition of AVP and OT release also appeared to be via the A1 receptor, since it was reversed by CPT. We therefore conclude that adenosine, acting via A1 receptors, specifically blocks the terminal N‐type Ca2+ channel thus leading to inhibition of the release of both AVP and OT.
Screening for chromosomal abnormalities in an unselected population by fetal nuchal translucency

The aim of this prospective study was to examine the value of nuchal translucency measurement for the detection of fetal aneuploidies in an unselected population of an Austrian National Health Service hospital. A total of 1972 women with singleton pregnancies who attended at 10–13 weeks for the initiation of routine antenatal care at our hospital were examined. Chromosomal abnormalities were found in 11 fetuses, four of them with Down's syndrome. Eight of the 11 chromosomally abnormal fetuses, including two of the four with Down's syndrome, were detected by a nuchal translucency thickness of ≥ 2.5 mm. Three of the fetuses with abnormal karyotype had a nuchal translucency thickness of < 2.5 mm. Two of these were fetuses with Down's syndrome, one of which was identified by karyotyping for maternal age, the second one by positive biochemistry testing (triple test). The additional chromosomal abnormality was identified by karyotyping for maternal age. These data suggest that nuchal translucency screening for aneuploidies is efficient even in an unselected population. Copyright © 1995 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology