Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Opioid-sparing Effects of Ketorolac and Its Correlation With the Recovery of Postoperative Bowel Function in Colorectal Surgery Patients: A Prospective Randomized Double-blinded Study

ObjectivesPostoperative ileus (PI) is one of many common complications in major abdominal surgery. PI results in patient discomfort, increased gastrointestinal leakage, prolonged hospital stay, and increased medical expenses. In this study, we have investigated the morphine-sparing effects of ketorolac and its correlation with the duration of PI in patients with colorectal surgeries. MethodsWe collected data from 102 patients who had received elective colorectal resection. The patients were randomly allocated into 2 groups and received intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IVPCA) morphine (M group) or IVPCA morphine plus ketorolac (M+K group). Time-scale morphine consumption (per 12 h), recovery of bowel functions (the first bowel movement and passage of flatus), pain scores, and opioid-related side effects were then recorded. ResultsPatients in the M+K group received 18.3% less morphine than those in the M group within 72 postoperative hours. The maximal opioid-sparing effects of ketorolac appeared in 12 to 24 postoperative hours. The onset of the first bowel movement and passage of flatus was significantly less in the M+K group than in the M group. The M group showed a 5.25 times greater risk of inducing PI, a result comparable with the M+K group in colorectal surgery patients. DiscussionThe addition of ketorolac to IVPCA morphine has demonstrated a clear opioid-sparing effect and benefits in regards to the shortening of the duration of bowel immobility. We suggest that adding ketorolac to morphine IVPCA be included in the multimodal postoperative rehabilitation program for the early restoration of normal bowel function.
Left Ventricular Contractility Indices

CONTENTS 3.1 Scope . 68 3.2 Left Ventricular Shape Factor Based Contractility Index . 68 3.2. 1 LV Model Geometry Development . 69 3.2. 2 Determination of LV Model Wall Stress. 70 3.2. 3 Normalized Wall Stress based Shape Factor Index . 71 3.2. 4 Optimal Left Ventricle Shape Factor and Corresponding Shape Factor Index 2 . 73 3.2. 5 Optimally Shaped LV(s) Compared to Abnormally Shaped LV(s) for Different Age Groups . 77 3.2. 6 Clinical Applications . 78 3.2. 6.1 Measurements . 78 3.2. 6.2 Subjects . 78 3.2. 6.3 Results . 78 3.2. 7 Comparison with Traditional Invasive LV (dP=dt)max . 84 3.2. 8 Discussion and Conclusion . 84 3.3 Left Ventricular Sarcomere Contractile Characteristics and Associated Power Index . 85 3.3.1 Left Ventricle Cylindrical Model (Incorporating the Myocardial Fibers within Its Wall) . 85 3.3.2 Myocardial Structural Unit (MSU) Model . 87 3.3.3 Determination of Fiber Density, Length, and Force; Fiber Angle a and MSU Force (Ft); Torque Produced on the LV due to Fiber Activation . 88 3.3.3.1 Fiber Density, Length, and Force . 88 3.3.3.2 Determining the Fiber Pitch Angle a . 90 3.3.3.3 Torque Imparted to the LV by Fiber Contraction . 91 3.3. 4 Dynamics of a Myocardial Structural Unit . 92 3.3. 4.1 Governing Equation of MSU Dynamics and Its Solution . 92 3.3. 4.2 Phase I: Solving Equation 3.31 for Isovolumic Contraction Phase (during 0< t< t). 95 Ghista/Applied Biomedical Engineering Mechanics DK8315_C003 Final Proof page 67 29.5. 2008 12:00am Compositor Name: MSubramanian
Identification of the metabolites of irinotecan, a new derivative of camptothecin, in rat bile and its biliary excretion.

1. To investigate the metabolites and biliary excretion of new camptothecin analogue, irinotecan, the drug was administered i.v. to rats (10 mg/kg) and bile, urine and faeces were collected. 2. In rat bile, unchanged irinotecan, the metabolite 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (EHCPT) and unknown metabolite M-1 were found by t.l.c. and h.p.l.c. From beta-glucuronidase hydrolysis, n.m. r. spectrometry and mass spectrometry, M-1 was identified as EHCPT-glucuronide (EHCPT Glu). Other metabolites in the bile were negligible. 3. The cumulative biliary and urinary excretion of radioactivity after dosage of rats with irinotecan were 62.2% and 33.3% dose, respectively, and 9.0% of the radioactivity was excreted in the faeces. 4. Approx. 55% of the biliary radioactivity excreted in 24 h was unchanged irinotecan, 22% was EHCPT Glu, and 9% was EHCPT. 5. Approx. 18% of the biliary radioactivity was reabsorbed from the intestine.
Court Efficiency and Procurement Performance

Disputes over penalties for breaching a contract are often resolved in court. A simple model illustrates how inefficient courts can sway public buyers from enforcing a penalty for late delivery in order to avoid litigation, therefore inducing sellers to delay contract delivery. By using a large dataset on Italian public procurement, we empirically study the effects of court inefficiency on public work performance. We find that where courts are inefficient: i) public works are delivered with longer delays; ii) delays increase for more valuable contracts; iii) contracts are more often awarded to larger suppliers; and iv) a higher share of the payment is postponed after delivery. Other interpretations receive less support from the data.
Can Competition in the Credit Market be Excessive

We study how market power affects investment and welfare when banks choose between restricting loan sizes and monitoring, in order to alleviate an underlying moral hazard problem. The impact of market power on aggregate welfare is the result of two countervailing effects. An increase in banks' market power results in: (i) higher lending rates, which worsens the borrower's incentive problem and reduces investment by unmonitored firms, (ii) higher monitoring effort, which reduces the proportion of credit-constrained firms. Whenever the second effect dominates, it is optimal to provide banks with some degree of market power.
INHIBITION OF NUCLEIC ACID SYNTHESIS IN CELLS EXPOSED TO 200 MICROMETER RADIATION FROM THE FREE ELECTRON LASER

Vertebrate tissue culture cells were exposed to 200 um wavelength radiation (1CO W/cm2) from a free electron laser (FEL) of the electrostatic generator type. Cell cultures demonstrated no morphological alterations but a statistically significant (P .05) proportion of the cells exhibited inhibition of DNA synthesis. This study demonstrates the first biological effects of the FEL and the feasibility of performing biological investigations with this device.
Sudden Cardiac Arrests, Automated External Defibrillators, and Medical Emergency Response Plans in Tennessee High Schools

Objectives Schools are important public locations of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), and the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends medical emergency response plans (MERPs), which may include an automated external defibrillator (AED) in schools. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of SCA and the prevalence of AEDs and MERPs in Tennessee high schools. Methods Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association member schools were surveyed regarding SCA on campus within 5 years, AED presence, and MERP characteristics. Results Of 378 schools, 257 (68%) completed the survey. There were 21 (5 student and 16 adult) SCAs on school grounds, yielding a 5-year incidence of 1 SCA per 12 high schools. An AED was present at 11 of 21 schools with SCA, and 6 SCA victims were treated with an AED shock. A linear increase in SCA frequency was noted with increasing school size (<500 students: 3.3% incidence, 500–1000: 6.5%, 1000–1500: 12.5%, ≥1500: 18.2%; P = 0.003). Of 257 schools, 71% had an MERP, 48% had an AED, and only 4% were fully compliant with AHA recommendations. Schools with a history of SCA were more likely to be compliant (19% vs 3%, P = 0.011). Conclusions The 5-year incidence of SCA in Tennessee high schools is 1 in 12, but increases to 1 in 7 for schools with more than 1000 students. Compliance with AHA guidelines for MERPs is poor, but improved in schools with recent SCA. Future recommendations should encourage the inclusion of AED placement in schools with more than 1000 students.
FDI Contribution to Technical Efficiency in the Tunisian Manufacturing Sector

This paper investigates the contribution of FDI to firms’ technical efficiency by applying two empirical methodologies over the same sample of firms. Using a panel data for 674 firms belonging to the Tunisian manufacturing sector and observed over the period 1997-2001, we show statistically and econometrically that the robustness of FDI spillover effects is affected by the empirical methodology adopted. On the basis of TFP growth decomposition, our results also show that when spillover effects could be confirmed, they are, for a large proportion of firms, counterbalanced by internal technical inefficiency. This last result confirms the idea that FDI contribution to technical efficiency relies mainly on the firm’s internal organizational and absorptive capacities.
Cholangiocarcinoma and dominant strictures in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis: a 25-year single-centre experience

Background Dominant biliary strictures occur commonly in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), who have a high risk of developing cholangiocarcinoma (CC). The natural history and optimal management of dominant strictures remain unclear, with some reports suggesting that endoscopic interventions improve outcome. Methods We describe a 25-year experience in patients with PSC-related dominant strictures at a single tertiary referral centre. Results A total of 128 patients with PSC (64% men, mean age at referral 49 years) were followed for a mean of 9.8 years. Eighty patients (62.5%) with dominant biliary strictures had a median of 3 (range 0–34) interventions, compared with 0 (0–7) in the 48 patients without dominant strictures (P<0.001). Endoscopic interventions included the following: (i) stenting alone (46%), (ii) dilatation alone (20%), (iii) dilatation and stenting (17%) and (iv) none or failed intervention (17%, of whom most required percutaneous transhepatic drainage). The major complication rate for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was low (1%). The mean survival of those with dominant strictures (13.7 years) was worse than that for those without dominant strictures (23 years), with much of the survival difference related to a 26% risk of CC developing only in those with dominant strictures. Half of those with CC presented within 4 months of the diagnosis of PSC, highlighting the importance of a thorough evaluation of new dominant strictures. Conclusion Repeated endoscopic therapy in PSC patients is safe, but the prognosis remains worse in the subgroup with dominant strictures. In our series, dominant strictures were associated with a high risk of developing CC.
Depression Influences Intellectual Impairment in Stroke Patients

Patients with ischaemic lesions of the left cerebral hemisphere were examined for depression and intellectual impairment: in non-depressed patients, the severity of impairment was related to both lesion volume and location, as assessed by CT scan analysis. Cognitive impairment in patients with major depression was greater than predicted by lesion volume alone, and when patients were matched for severity of impairment, depressed patients had smaller lesion volumes than the non-depressed. After six months, non-depressed patients had significantly less cognitive impairment than depressed patients who showed no improvement. Both depression and lesion volume were significantly and independently related to cognitive impairment. These findings suggest that post-stroke depression can produce a true dementia in Its own right, and that treatment of post-stroke depression might benefit cognitive function.
Pregnancy outcome after hysteroscopic myomectomy

Abstract The objective of this longitudinal retrospective study was to evaluate the influence of submucosal myomas on pregnancy outcome in infertile patients after resectoscopic myomectomy. One-hundred and four women with at least a 1-year-long history of infertility and the presence of submucosal myomas as the only cause of infertility were selected after surgical treatment. Pregnancy, delivery and abortion rates were investigated. Patients were divided into three groups according to the myoma classification (G0, G1 and G2). Gestational outcomes were analyzed in the three groups correlated by size, location and number of fibroids. The total pregnancy rate was 85.8% and no difference was shown regarding myoma classification (G0 82.05% versus G1 87.09% versus G2 88.2%; p = ns). Pregnancy and delivery rates were not significantly related to the number, localization or diameter of the fibroids. The abortion rate was not statistically influenced by myoma type, but it was significantly interelated with myomas situated in the anterior uterine wall (p = 0.03). Pre-term delivery was significantly influenced by myomas localized in the fundic wall (p = 0.02). Caesarean section rates were not affected by the characteristics of the myomas. Our results support the idea that resectoscopic myomectomy should be offered to infertile women who wish to become pregnant independently of their localization and number.
Psychosocial adjustment 17 years after severe brain injury

Objectives: To examine very long term psychosocial outcome following severe brain injury in a large cohort, with the aim of evaluating Thomsen’s observation that even after very serious head trauma the long term outcome in some patients is reasonably good. Methods: The cohort consisted of 80 patients who had suffered severe brain injury evaluated at a mean time of 17 years post injury (range 10–32 years). Information regarding employment status and relationship status was obtained during clinical interview. Psychosocial outcome measures included the Supervision Rating Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Patient Competency Rating Scale, and Community Integration Questionnaire. Results: Of the cohort, 72.0% lived independently, 28.7% were in full time employment, and 60.0% were married or cohabiting. The mean rating of life satisfaction was “slightly dissatisfied”, but no serious emotional problems were evident from self report ratings on the HADS. Mean functional competency ratings and community integration levels were just below those reported for non-disabled patients. Conclusions: Results indicate that although long term psychosocial functioning in patients with severe head injury remains compromised, long term adjustment may be better than expected from data reported by studies assessing psychosocial outcome at earlier stages of recovery.
Direct interaction between protein kinase C theta (PKC theta) and 14-3-3 tau in T cells: 14-3-3 overexpression results in inhibition of PKC theta translocation and function

Recent studies have documented direct interactions between 14-3-3 proteins and several oncogene and proto-oncogene products involved in signal transduction pathways. Studies on the effects of 14-3-3 proteins on protein kinase C (PKC) activity in vitro have reported conflicting results, and previous attempts to demonstrate a direct association between PKC and 14-3-3 were unsuccessful. Here, we examined potential physical and functional interactions between PKC theta, a Ca(2+)-independent PKC enzyme which is expressed selectively in T lymphocytes, and the 14-3-3 tau isoform in vitro and in intact T cells. PKC theta and 14-3-3 tau coimmunoprecipitated from Jurkat T cells, and recombinant 14-3-3 tau interacted directly with purified PKC theta in vitro. Transient overexpression of 14-3-3 tau suppressed stimulation of the interleukin 2 (IL-2) promoter mediated by cotransfected wild-type or constitutively active PKC theta, as well as by endogenous PKC in ionomycin- and/or phorbol ester-stimulated cells. This did not represent a general inhibition of activation events, since PKC-independent (but Ca(2+)-dependent) activation of an IL-4 promoter element was not inhibited by 14-3-3 tau under similar conditions. Overexpression of wild-type 14-3-3 tau also inhibited phorbol ester-induced PKC theta translocation from the cytosol to the membrane in Jurkat cells, while a membrane-targeted form of 14-3-3 tau caused increased localization of PKC theta in the particulate fraction in unstimulated cells. Membrane-targeted 14-3-3 tau was more effective than wild-type 14-3-3 tau in suppressing PKC theta-dependent IL-2 promoter activity, suggesting that 14-3-3 tau inhibits the function of PKC theta not only by preventing its translocation to the membrane but also by associating with it. The interaction between 14-3-3 and PKC theta may represent an important general mechanism for regulating PKC-dependent signals and, more specifically, PKC theta-mediated functions during T-cell activation.
Coexistence of CD14-dependent and independent pathways for stimulation of human monocytes by gram-positive bacteria

The cell wall is a key inflammatory agent of gram-positive bacteria. Possible receptors mediating cell wall-induced inflammation include CD14 and platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor. To delineate the conditions under which these various receptors might be used, human monocytic THP-1 cells and heparinized whole human blood were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), intact Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, or purified pneumococcal cell wall. THP-1 culture supernatant or cell-free plasma was analyzed for the presence of tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), and IL-6. For the cultured monocytes, anti-CD14 inhibited induction of the inflammatory cytokines by the cell wall and LPS but not by intact pneumococcal bacteria. Despite the difference in CD-14 usage, the intracellular pathways induced by the three agents demonstrated similarities, as revealed in the presence of specific signal transduction inhibitors such as cholera toxin, pertussis toxin, and genistein. Cytokine production in whole human blood indicated that anti-CD14 failed to block responses to cell wall and intact pneumococci, whereas while LPS-induced responses were inhibited. PAF receptor antagonist had no effect under any conditions in both assays. These results indicate that although cell walls bind to both CD14 and PAF receptor, only CD14 appears to engender a cytokine response under restricted conditions. Furthermore, host cell responses to intact pneumococci are consistently independent of CD14 and PAF receptor.
EARLY SOCIAL ISOLATION DECREASES THE EXPRESSION OF CALBINDIN D-28K AND DENDRITIC BRANCHING IN THE MEDIAL PREFRONTAL CORTEX OF THE RAT

Social isolation in rodents is the most well characterized animal model for early stressful experiences and their neurobehavioral consequences. The present study analyzed the effects of early social isolation on the expression of the calcium binding protein calbindin-D28k (CAD) and dendritic arborization in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of the rat. Sprague-Dawley male rats were reared either under isolation or social conditions from 21 to 51 postnatal days. At the end of this period the animals were behaviorally evaluated in the open-field test, sacrificed, and mPFC serial sections were processed either for immunocytochemical labeling against CAD or Golgi-Cox-Sholl staining. Isolated-reared rats exhibited a dramatic decrease in the number of CAD immunoreactive neurons and a significant dendritic atrophy of layer II/III pyramidal cells in association with a reduced exploratory behavior.
Comparative rates of lower jaw diversification in cichlid adaptive radiations

The lower jaw (LJ) provides an ideal trophic phenotype to compare rates and patterns of macroevolution among cichlid radiations. Using a novel phylogeny of four genes (ND2, dlx2, mitfb, and s7), we examined the evolutionary relationships among two of the most phylogenetically disparate cichlid radiations: (i) the Central America Heroines; and (ii) the East African Lake Malawi flock. To quantify jaw morphology, we measured two LJ lever systems in approximately 40 species from each lineage. Using geologic calibrations, we generated a chronogram for both groups and examined the rates of jaw evolution in the two radiations. The most rapidly evolving components of the LJ differed between the two radiations. However, the Lake Malawi flock exhibited a much faster rate of evolution in several components of the LJ. This rapid rate of divergence is consistent with natural selection, promoting unparalleled trophic diversification in Lake Malawi cichlids.
Comparison of Compressional-wave Velocity-depth Profiles from Surface and Downhole Detectors in the Near Surface in the Southeast Niger Delta, Nigeria

Seismic refraction survey was conducted in the south-east Niger Delta at 27 stations using surface-detectors, and estimated near-surface compressional-wave velocities. At each station, a borehole was drilled with casing down to 60-m depth, and determined downhole compressional-wave velocities. Compressional-wave velocities estimated by surface-detectors were then compared with those estimated by downhole survey. The acquisition system includes 0.2kg dynamite, 12-channel-geophone and 11-channel-hydrophone receiver cables for surface-detectors and downhole surveys respectively. The soil layers in the Niger Delta has 2 distinct layers specified as follows, namely, top weathered layer of loose sand sediments with compressional wave velocity ranging from 213 to 763 ms-1 with an average of 503ms-1. Weathered-layer thickness ranges from 2.7 to 16.50m, with an average of 8.1m. Consolidated-layer compressional wave velocity ranges from 1580 to 1906ms-1, with an average of 737ms-1. A vertical velocity gradient of 30.5s-1 was calculated for the area. There exists a 7-18% difference between the velocities determined by the surface-wave and downhole methods. The surface-wave method gives spatially-averaged velocities along the line of traverse coincident with the geophone spread. In the case of downhole seismic method, velocities are specifically applicable only to the borehole location. The implication is that downhole measurements can be adversely affected by the local borehole factors and conditions resulting from casings and excessive collapse around the flushed-zone of the borehole. The spatially-averaged velocities and depths estimated by surface-detector method are more reliable for the site-specific characterization for reflection seismology, geotechnical engineering and groundwater.