Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative Assessment of Different Dissolution Apparatus for Floating Drug Delivery Systems

INTRODUCTION Dissolution testing is an in vitro technique of great importance in formulation and development of pharmaceutical dosage forms,as it can be used as a substitute for in vivo studies under strictly defined and specified conditions (1). For the comparison of in vitro dissolution data and for use of such data for in vivo bioequivalence testing and in vitro-in vivo correlations (IVIVC) (1),dissolution testing should be carried out under physicochemically and hydrodynamically defined conditions so that results obtained are accurate and reproducible. New modified release formulation technologies and diversity in dosage form design necessitate the development of new procedures or appropriate modification of the existing apparatus to test alternative dosage forms such as a swellable, floatable drug delivery system (2,8). Traditionally, floating dosage forms were evaluated with the aid of USP type 2 (paddle) apparatus (3),which is associated with a number of shortcomings and drawbacks such as adherence of dosage form to the paddle shaft or sample withdrawal aids (pipette), incomplete exposure to the dissolution medium,and failure to mimic in vivo conditions. Literature study has revealed that in order to overcome these drawbacks and shortcomings,researchers have modified the conventional dissolution method and proposed different modified dissolution apparatus (3–6). This study aims to evaluate positioning of the drug delivery system within the dissolution apparatus over the drug release,which was studied with the aid of four different dissolution apparatus:
Semiparametric Analysis of Case–control Genetic Data in the Presence of Environmental Factors

In the past decade, many statistical methods have been proposed for the analysis of case–control genetic data with an emphasis on haplotype-based disease association studies. Most of the methodology has concentrated on the estimation of genetic (haplotype) main effects. Most methods accounted for environmental and gene–environment interaction effects by using prospective-type analyses that may lead to biased estimates when used with case–control data. Several recent publications addressed the issue of retrospective sampling in the analysis of case–control genetic data in the presence of environmental factors by developing efficient semiparametric statistical methods. This article describes the new Stata command haplologit, which implements efficient profile-likelihood semiparametric methods for fitting gene–environment models in the very important special cases of a rare disease, a single candidate gene in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, and independence of genetic and environmental factors.
Monogeneans in Introduced and Native Cichlids in México: Evidence for Transfer

We examined 2 cichlid fish species native to México, Cichlasoma callolepis and C. fenestratum, and 2 introduced African cichlids, Oreochromis aureus and O. niloticus, from 3 localities in southeastern México for monogeneans. Six monogenean species infected the African cichlids: Cichlidogyrus haplochromii, C. dossoui, C. longicornis longicornis, C. sclerosus, C. tilapiae, and Enterogyrus malmbergi. We found all these parasite species, except C. haplochromii and C. dossoui, on the native C. fenestratum and C. callolepis. Prevalences of Cichlidogyrus spp. were 3–10% and abundances ranged from 0.03 ± 0.2 to 0.1 ± 0.3 for native cichlids. We only recovered a single E. malmbergi from 1 C. callolepis. We found Sciadicleithrum bravohollisae, a monogenean of native Cichlasoma spp. , on the gills of the introduced O. aureus from Lake Catemaco (prevalence 3%, abundance 0.03 ± 0.2). Although prevalence and abundance in atypical hosts were fairly low, the present findings provide evidence of monogenean transfer from African to American cichlids and vice versa. This is the first record of exotic monogeneans in the genus Cichlidogyrus and Enterogyrus infecting native American cichlid fish. It is also the first record from southeastern México of a native American monogenean infecting introduced African cichlids.
Biochemical and morphological analysis of cell death induced by Egyptian cobra (Naja haje) venom on cultured cells

We investigated the in vitro process of cell death caused by Egyptian cobra venom on primary human embryonic kidney (293T) and mouse myoblast (C2C12) cell lines. The aim of these studies was to provide further information about triggering cell death, and suggest methods for eliminating unwanted cells, such as tumour cells. Both cell lines were treated with 10, 20, and 50 m g/ml of Egyptian cobra (Naja haje) venom in serum free media (SFM) and incubated for 8 hours. Total activities of the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) released in the culture during venom incubation were used as an indicator of the venom in vitro cytotoxicity. Cell injury was morphologically recognized and apoptosis determined by a Fluorescing Apoptosis Detection System and confirmed by staining nuclear DNA with DAPI. Our data clearly demonstrated marked cytotoxic effects and acute cell injury for both cell lines. Release of LDH and CK into the culture media induced by the venom correlates well with the morphological changes and extent of cell death. Mostly, these consequences were time and dose-dependent in both cell lines. The results obtained from this study indicated that cobra venom cause cell death by two different mechanisms: necrosis and induction of apoptosis. The apoptotic mechanism, accompanied by cell necrosis, mediated cell destruction of both tested cell lines; however, necrosis was predominant in the C2C12 cell line while apoptosis, in 293T cells. This unusual form of cell death induced by cobra venom may represent a combination of apoptosis and necrosis within the same cell. This is a first-hand investigation showing the apoptotic effects of N. haje venom at the cellular level. However, the contribution of the apoptotic pathway may be dependent on concentration and/or time of exposure to snake venom.
Successful treatment with maintenance electroconvulsive therapy for a patient with medication‐resistant rapid cycling bipolar disorder

ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE (ACHE) INHIBITORS are recommended as a first-line therapy for dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB); however, they occasionally cause motor side-effects. Pisa syndrome is characterized by abnormally sustained posturing with a flexion of the body and head to one side and a slight axial rotation of the trunk. Here we report the first case of a patient with DLB who experienced Pisa syndrome following treatment with an AChE inhibitor, donepezil. A 71-year-old Japanese woman who did not have any history of psychiatric illness visited our hospital to seek treatment for visual hallucination that she started to suffer 1 month before. According to her family, she had gradual, but progressive cognitive decline over the previous 1 year. The score in the Hasegawa Dementia Rating Scale – Revised was 22 out of 30, and her full scale of the Intelligence Quotient of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – Revised was 65. She also presented bradykinesia while rigidity and tremor were not observed. A decline in blood flow in the parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes was observed in single photon emission computed tomography. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan revealed brain atrophy in the frontal and temporal lobes while medial temporal structures were preserved. She was therefore diagnosed with possible DLB, according to the consensus guidelines. Following the treatment with donepezil (5 mg/day), the hallucination disappeared. She was then maintained on the same regimen. One year later, she gradually developed right laterocollis with right axial deviation and right side flexion of the body with backward axial rotation. Dystonic spasm of the right sternocleidomastoid muscles and slight rigidity of the upper arms were also observed. There was no abnormal finding in the MRI scan, hematological laboratory tests, electromyographic examination, manual muscle test, sensory perception, or reflexes. Although donepezil was subsequently discontinued, laterocollis has still persisted for 6 months at the time of submission. An imbalance in cholinergic-dopaminergic central pathways has been claimed as a potential mechanism of Pisa syndrome. Discontinuing donepezil did not diminish Pisa syndrome in the present case, which is compatible with the irreversibility of this syndrome reported in the literature. Anticholinergic or dopamine agonists were not administered in this case because of potential cognitive decline or worsening of the hallucination, respectively. Botulinum toxin type-A or deep brain stimulation may need to be considered, instead. Given the widespread use of AChE inhibitors for DLB, thorough attention should be paid to this potentially serious side-effect, irrespective of diagnosis. REFERENCES
Immediate appendectomy for appendiceal mass.

BACKGROUND The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of immediate appendectomy in patients presenting with appendicular mass. METHODS Forty-seven patients with appendicular mass were operated within 24 hours after admission to Vakif Gureba Training and Research Hospital, General Surgery Department, from January 2004 to April 2010. The appendiceal mass was diagnosed with physical examination, abdominal ultrasonography, and computed tomography, or during surgical exploration. Age and sex, duration of symptoms, physical examination findings at admission, operation details, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and length of hospital stay were analyzed for each patient. RESULTS There were 25 males (53.2%) and 22 females (46.8%), with a mean age of 37.23±15.60 (range: 14-75) years. The mean time from the onset of the symptoms to operation was 4.06±2.50 (range: 1-15) days. A simple appendectomy was performed in 38 (80.9%) patients. Twenty-nine (61.8%) patients were discharged and followed up without any complication after surgery. Wound infection was detected in 13 (27.7%) patients. CONCLUSION Immediate appendectomy in appendicular mass is a safe and effective alternative to conservative management.
Keratotic Palmar Papules in a Dermatomyositis Patient Preceding the Development of Interstitial Pneumonia

E-Mail karger@karger.ch www.karger. com generation was not observed in these samples. On the other hand, the histology of the erythematous eruption of the dorsal skin on the metacarpophalangeal joint revealed liquefaction degeneration of the epidermis along with mucin deposition and superficial perivascular lymphocytic infiltration. An electromyogram showed no features of myositic abnormalities. Chest computed tomography disclosed the finding of a ground-glass appearance on the bilateral lower lung fields, which was histologically confirmed as interstitial pneumonia by a transbronchial lung biopsy. Based on the diagnosis of dermatomyositis associated with interstitial pneumonia, she was initially treated with 60 mg/day of prednisolone, with which her skin changes, fever and pulmonary shadow all gradually improved, allowing us to lower the dose to 37.5 mg/day over 7 days. However, she suddenly developed fever together with marked deterioration of the pulmonary shadow on computed tomography. Although we initiated steroid pulse therapy consisting of methylprednisolone 1,000 mg/day followed by cyclosporine 500 mg/day, she died of multiple organ failure 2 weeks after the deterioration. During the clinical course, Jo-1 antibody had been persistently negative. The value of KL-6, the marker for interstitial lung diseases, was elevated to 1,580 U/ml (normal range 100–458 U/ml) shortly before death.
Molecular characterization of Portuguese populations of the pinewood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus using cytochrome b and cellulase genes

Abstract Bursaphelenchus xylophilus is the causal agent of pine wilt disease and a worldwide pest with high economic impact. Since its first diagnosis in Portugal in 1999, it has been subjected to quarantine measures with impact on forest health and ecosystem stability, significantly affecting international trade of wood products. The disease was detected in the north and centre of continental Portugal and, since 2008, the whole country has been considered an affected area. Recently, it was detected in Madeira Island. In order to avoid new outbreaks, it has become of major importance to understand the patterns of spread, introduction points and to characterize the new populations from continental Portugal and Madeira Island. Mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) and parasitic cellulase gene sequences were used to evaluate the genetic relationships among isolates that could indicate possible origins of the new outbreaks. Portuguese isolates were compared with isolates from USA, China, Japan and South Korea, in order to investigate possible infection pathways and disease spread patterns in Portugal. Phylogenetic trees based on both genes show that Portuguese isolates group with Asian isolates. Isolates from USA are in a separate position in both gene trees. However, the phylogenetic tree based on the cellulase gene sequences shows higher differentiation among Portuguese isolates than that of cytb. These results agree with those previously obtained using inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR). This was the first study to use cytb and cellulase genes to characterize pinewood nematode (PWN) populations. This study suggests that cellulase is a better marker than cytb to study genetic diversity in B. xylophilus.
A meta-analysis of factors predicting cyberbullying perpetration and victimization: From the social cognitive and media effects approach

Cyberbullying has become a critical social issue, which severely threatens children and adolescents’ physical and psychological health. The current research systematically examined the predictors of cyberbullying from the social cognitive and media effects approach. Specifically, this study identified 16 predictors of cyberbullying perpetration and victimization and examined the magnitude of the effects of these predictors by meta-analyzing 81 empirical studies, which represented a total sample of 99,741 participants and yielded 259 independent correlations. The results revealed that risky information and communications technology (ICT) use, moral disengagement, depression, social norms, and traditional bullying perpetration were the main predictors of cyberbullying perpetration, while risky ICT use and traditional bullying victimization were the major contributors of cyberbullying victimization. According to the moderator analyses, country of the sample, sampling method, age, and media platform were significant moderators of the relationships between some specific predictors and cyberbullying perpetration and victimization. Implications for future cyberbullying research were discussed.
The rapid X-ray variability of NGC 4051

We present an analysis of the high-frequency X-ray variability of NGC 4051 (MBH? 1.7 × 106 M? ) based on a series of XMM–Newton observations taken in 2009 with a total exposure of ? 570 ks (EPIC pn). These data reveal the form of the power spectrum over frequencies from 10? 4 Hz, below the previously detected power spectral break, to ? 10? 2 Hz, above the frequency of the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO) around the black hole (? ISCO? 10? 3–10? 2 Hz, depending on the black hole spin parameter j). This is equivalent to probing frequencies of ? 1 kHz in a stellar mass (MBH? 10 M? ) black hole binary system. The power spectrum is a featureless power law over the region of the expected ISCO frequency, suggesting no strong enhancement or change in the variability at the fastest orbital period in the system. Despite the huge amplitude of the flux variations between the observations (peak-to-peak factor of ? 50), the power spectrum appears to be stationary in shape and varies in amplitude at all observed frequencies following the previously established linear rms–flux relation. The rms–flux relation is offset in flux by a small and energy-dependent amount. The simplest interpretation of the offset is in terms of a very soft spectral component that is practically constant (compared to the primary source of variability). One possible origin for this emission is a circumnuclear shock energized by a radiatively driven outflow from the central regions and emitting via inverse-Compton scattering of the central engine’s optical–UV continuum (as inferred from a separate analysis of the energy spectrum). A comparison with the power spectrum of a long XMM–Newton observation taken in 2001 gives only weak evidence for non-stationarity in power spectral shape or amplitude. Despite being among the most precisely estimated power spectra for any active galaxy, we find no strong evidence for quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) and determine an upper limit on the strength of a plausible QPO of ? 2 per cent rms in the 3 × 10? 3 -0.1 Hz range and ? 5–10 per cent in the 10? 4 -3 × 10? 3 Hz range. We compare these results to the known properties of accreting stellar mass black holes in X-ray binaries, with the further aim of developing a ‘black hole unification’ scheme.
Adverse metabolic phenotype in low-birth-weight lambs and its modification by postnatal nutrition

Both high and low maternal dietary intakes adversely affect fetal nutrient supply in adolescent sheep pregnancies. Aims were: (a) to assess the impact of prenatal nutrition on pregnancy outcome, offspring growth and offspring glucose metabolism and (b) to determine whether the offspring metabolic phenotype could then be altered by modifying postnatal nutrition. Dams carrying a single fetus were offered either an optimal control (C) intake to maintain adiposity throughout pregnancy, undernourished to maintain weight at conception but deplete maternal reserves (UN), or overnourished to promote rapid maternal growth and adiposity (ON). Placental weight and gestation length were reduced in ON dams and lamb birth weights were C>UN>ON (P < 0·001). All offspring were fed ad libitum from weaning to 6 months of age. ON offspring exhibited rapid catch-up growth and had increased fasting glucose and relative glucose intolerance compared with C offspring (P < 0·05). Irrespective of prenatal diet and sex, birth weight correlated negatively with these indices of glucose metabolism. From 7 to 12 months offspring either had continued ad libitum diet (ADLIB; to induce an obesogenic state) or a decreased ration appropriate for normal growth (NORM). At 12 months, the negative relationship between birth weight and indices of glucose metabolism persisted in ADLIB females (for example, fasting glucose, r − 0·632; P < 0·03) but was absent in NORM females and in both male groups. Therefore, low-birth-weight offspring from differentially achieved prenatal malnutrition exhibit an early adverse metabolic phenotype, and this can apparently be ameliorated by postnatal nutrition in females but not in males.
Effects of hypothermia for perinatal asphyxia on childhood outcomes.

BACKGROUND In the Total Body Hypothermia for Neonatal Encephalopathy Trial (TOBY), newborns with asphyxial encephalopathy who received hypothermic therapy had improved neurologic outcomes at 18 months of age, but it is uncertain whether such therapy results in longer-term neurocognitive benefits. METHODS We randomly assigned 325 newborns with asphyxial encephalopathy who were born at a gestational age of 36 weeks or more to receive standard care alone (control) or standard care with hypothermia to a rectal temperature of 33 to 34°C for 72 hours within 6 hours after birth. We evaluated the neurocognitive function of these children at 6 to 7 years of age. The primary outcome of this analysis was the frequency of survival with an IQ score of 85 or higher. RESULTS A total of 75 of 145 children (52%) in the hypothermia group versus 52 of 132 (39%) in the control group survived with an IQ score of 85 or more (relative risk, 1.31; P=0.04). The proportions of children who died were similar in the hypothermia group and the control group (29% and 30%, respectively). More children in the hypothermia group than in the control group survived without neurologic abnormalities (65 of 145 [45%] vs. 37 of 132 [28%]; relative risk, 1.60; 95% confidence interval, 1.15 to 2.22). Among survivors, children in the hypothermia group, as compared with those in the control group, had significant reductions in the risk of cerebral palsy (21% vs. 36%, P=0.03) and the risk of moderate or severe disability (22% vs. 37%, P=0.03); they also had significantly better motor-function scores. There was no significant between-group difference in parental assessments of children's health status and in results on 10 of 11 psychometric tests. CONCLUSIONS Moderate hypothermia after perinatal asphyxia resulted in improved neurocognitive outcomes in middle childhood. (Funded by the United Kingdom Medical Research Council and others; TOBY ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01092637.).
Effect of mechanical chest percussion on intracranial pressure: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND Treatment of brain injury is often focused on minimizing intracranial pressure, which, when elevated, can lead to secondary brain injury. Chest percussion is a common practice used to treat and prevent pneumonia. Conflicting and limited anecdotal evidence indicates that physical stimulation increases intracranial pressure and should be avoided in patients at risk of intracranial hypertension. OBJECTIVES To explore the safety of performing chest percussion for patients at high risk for intracranial hypertension. METHODS A total of 28 patients with at least 1 documented episode of intracranial hypertension who were having intracranial pressure monitored were studied in a prospective randomized control trial. Patients were randomly assigned to either the control group (no chest percussion) or the intervention group (10 minutes of chest percussion at noon). Intracranial pressure was recorded once a minute before, during, and after the intervention. RESULTS Mean intracranial pressures for the control group before, during, and after the study period (14.4, 15.0, and 15.9 mm Hg, respectively) did not differ significantly from pressures in the intervention group (13.6, 13.7, and 14.2 mm Hg, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Mechanical chest percussion may be a safe intervention for nurses to use on neurologically injured patients who are at risk for intracranial hypertension.