Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ketoconazole in cutaneous leishmaniasis

shampoo was mainly used for scalp psoriasis, but lesions on the trunk, and in the axillae and groins have also been treated. Applications were made once a day for about i to 3 weeks and thereafter the frequency of application was reduced gradually. At each application, Selsun* was left on the skin surface for 15 min and then washed off. The overall results have been good and selenium sulphide shampoo is now frequently used by our psoriatic patients. Two severe cases have responded so quickly that we would like to report them in detail. Case I was a 41-year-old woman who had had psoriasis since 1970. Her scalp lesions increased in intensity between March and September 1986, when they had a 'tinea amiantacea' appearance. Dithranol cream and high-potency corticosteroids had no effect. In March 1987 application of Selsun® once a day resulted in marked improvement within 5 days and almost complete healing in 8 days. Her inguinal psoriasis, which was also treated, improved in 4 days and cleared completely in 6 days. One month later the psoriasis remains healed on once or twice weekly maintenance treatment. Case 2 was a 40-year-old man who had had psoriasis for 28 years. Since 1982 his constant inguinal psoriasis had developed into a lichen simplex-like state with intense pruritus, lichenification and fissures. Topical corticosteroids had had very little effect. Application of Selsun® every other day relieved the pruritus completely in 6 days. One month later the pruritus had not returned, the lichenification had diminished and the plaques were paler. He retnains on once weekly maintenance therapy with Selsun*. Our clinical impression, gained during the last 3 years at various out-patient clinics for the treatment of psoriasis in the Stockholm area, is that selenium sulphide shampoo is beneficial for many psoriatics. Extraordinarily good responses in severe cases such as those reported here have strengthened this impression. The types of psoriasis that we have found most likely to respond favourably are: scalp psoriasis, where we commonly found a clearly diminishing need for other topical treatment; psoriasis of the slowly evolving, profuse dispersed guttate type, (in these patients typical lesions suggestive of pityrosporum foUiculitis'' are usually found); psoriasis of the inverse type and stable plaque psoriasis where itch is predominant; and in patients with expanding nummular psoriatic lesions, especially if pruritic. We believe a controlled study of topical selenium sulphide should be carried out to determine more exactly its potential value in the treatment of psoriasis and to further define its mode of action.
Novel Heme-based Oxygen Sensor with a Revealing Evolutionary History*

To monitor fluctuations in oxygen concentration, cells use sensory proteins often containing heme cofactors. Here, we identify a new class of heme-binding oxygen sensors, reveal their unusual phylogenetic origin, and propose a sensing mode of a member of this class. We show that heme is bound noncovalently to the central region of AppA, an oxygen and light sensor from Rhodobacter sphaeroides. The addition of oxygen to ferrous AppA discoordinated the heme, and subsequent oxygen removal fully restored the heme coordination. In vitro, the extent of heme discoordination increased gradually with the rise in oxygen levels over a broad concentration range. This response correlated well with the gradual decrease in transcription of photosynthesis genes regulated by AppA and its partner repressor PpsR. We conclude that the AppA-PpsR regulatory system functions as an oxygen-dependent transcriptional rheostat. We identified a new domain embedded in the central region of AppA and designated it SCHIC for sensor containing heme instead of cobalamin. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that SCHIC domain proteins form a distinct cluster within a superfamily that includes vitamin B12-binding proteins and other proteins that may bind other kinds of tetrapyrroles.
Dose-response effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone on plasma concentrations of gonadotropins and testosterone in fertile and subfertile stallions.

Five fertile and five subfertile stallions were treated with a single intravenous injection of saline the first week followed by a single intravenous injection of varying doses of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (5, 10, 25, 100, 500 micrograms) given in a randomized fashion over the next 5 weeks during the nonbreeding season. Blood samples were collected periodically before and after treatment for analysis of luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, and testosterone content by radioimmunoassay. Before treatment, semen samples were collected every other day for 3 weeks for analysis of volume, concentration, motility, pH, and morphology. Basal plasma levels of luteinizing hormone were higher (P < 0.05) in the subfertile group, follicle stimulating hormone levels tended to be higher (P < 0.10) in the subfertile group, and testosterone levels were similar in the two groups. A significant linear-log dose-response relationship was observed for plasma luteinizing hormone (P < 0.05) and follicle stimulating hormone (P < 0.05) to exogenous gonadotropin-releasing hormone in both the fertile and subfertile group. A linear-log dose-response relationship was also observed for plasma testosterone (P < 0.05) in the fertile group. The magnitude of the luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone across doses was similar in both groups of stallions. A significant testosterone response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone in the subfertile group of stallions was not observed (P > 0.05). Mean testosterone concentrations after treatment in terms of net increase and percent of baseline were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the subfertile group compared to the fertile group. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Repeated pressure‐flow studies in the evaluation of bladder outlet obstruction due to benign prostatic enlargement

Test‐retest reliability of repeated voids in pressure‐flow studies and the influence on maximum flow rate (QmaxpQ), detrusor pressure at maximum flow rate (pdetQmax), voided volume, and residual urine were studied. Also the agreement in interpretation of pressure‐flow tracings between investigators and a single blinded central reader acting as a quality control center (QCC) were assessed. In addition, correlations between pdetQmax and patient age, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), free maximum flow rate (Qmax), and prostate volume were calculated. Using suprapubic pressure recording, 216 men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) were investigated in 11 centers. In each pressure‐flow study, three sequential voids were performed, and quality controlled recordings were analyzed for QmaxpQ and pdetQmax by the QCC. Trans‐ rectal ultrasound was used to measure the prostate volume. Mean QmaxpQ did not change, but pdetQmax decreased significantly in the second and third sequential voids. Using the Abrams‐Griffiths nomogram definition of obstruction, 125 patients (67%) were classified as obstructed from the first void, but only 111 patients (59%) from the third void. The agreement between the investigator assessment and that of a single blinded reader was good. There was no significant correlation between pdetQmax and patient age, IPSS, and Qmax, whereas a modest correlation was found between pdetQmax and prostate volume. In summary, there was no significant change in QmaxpQ, but pdetQmax decreased for the three consecutive voids, which can be explained by a decrease in outlet resistance. The agreement between the investigator and QCC interpretations shows the value of a standardized technique, supporting the feasibility of multicenter urodynamic studies. There is a modest, but statistically significant, correlation between detrusor pressure and prostate size, supporting the hypothesis that prostate size is a contributing factor in symptomatic BPH. Neurourol. Urodynam. 18:17–24, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Antimicrobials as Potential Adjunctive Agents in the Treatment of Biofilm Infection with Staphylococcus epidermidis

Background: This study was performed to evaluate the interaction of erythromycin or rifampin with vancomycin against Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms. Methods: Biofilm-forming S. epidermidis strains (ATCC 35983, 35984) and polyurethane (PU) sheets were incubated for the formation of bacterial biofilms. Biofilms on PU sheets were treated with various antibiotic regimens. The number of viable bacteria on the sheets was counted. Results: While erythromycin or vancomycin alone did not significantly reduce the biofilm bacterial concentration, the combination of vancomycin and erythromycin resulted in a clear reduction in bacterial concentration compared with the single agents. Rifampin was the most active single agent against biofilm-forming S. epidermidis, while the combination of rifampin and vancomycin showed further reduction in bacterial concentration. Conclusions: These data suggest that the combination of erythromycin or rifampin and vancomycin is more effective than vancomycin alone in the treatment of biofilm infections caused by biofilm-forming S. epidermidis.
From E-Learning 1.0 to E-Learning 2.0: Threats & Opportunities for Higher Education Institutions in the Developing Countries

The effective use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in higher education institutions (HEIs) is a global issue for individual researchers, institutions, governments and societies as a whole. New technologies offer opportunities for the developing countries to resolve their long standing problems of national/international isolation and mass-education. Researchers are posting reports of positive results of e- Learning applications around the world; however, using digital gadgets for teaching, learning and education management is neither automatic nor devoid of challenges and problems. There are both development and use problems for the developers, users and institution. Broadly there are three e-Learning systems available to the HEIs: traditional computer-based learning, blended learning and virtual learning with relative merits and demerits but their choice is based on the availability of resources and professionalism. Most of the developing countries (DCs) have started experimenting with traditional and blended systems while developed world is practicing and researching the virtual systems. This paper is an effort to portray a picturesque of the same evolution of e-Learning from e-Learning 1.0 to e-Learning 2.0 in the HEIs of developing states like Pakistan. Critical analyses and argumentation were the research tools used for examination and analysis and to interpret the results of the analysis. Keywords : HEI, ICTs, Traditional, Blended, and Virtual e-Learning, e-Teachers, e- Students e-Administrators.
Low Baseline Bispectral Index of the Electroencephalogram in Patients with Dementia

The baseline value of the Bispectral Index (BIS) is 96–99 in the awake state. Patients with Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia may show an increase in slow wave and a decrease in fast wave activity of the electroencephalogram (EEG). BIS is presumed to decrease with EEG slowing. We hypothesized that the baseline “awake” BIS is lower in dementia than in normal elderly patients. We studied 36 patients with Alzheimer’s disease or multiinfarct dementia and 36 control patients aged >75 yr. Both groups were assessed with a Mini-Mental State Test. BIS (version 3.4) was recorded from a frontal derivation using an Aspect A-2000 EEG monitor. Off-line data analysis was also performed with the newer version 4.0 of the BIS algorithm. Fourteen of 36 (38%) dementia patients and 4 of 36 (11%) controls had mean baseline BIS 3.4 <93 (P = 0.006). Eighteen of 36 (50%) dementia patients and 8 of 36 (22%) controls had mean BIS 4.0 <93 (P = 0.026). Mean (95% confidence interval) BIS 3.4 was 92.9 (91–95) in the dementia and 96.1 (95–97) in the control group (P = 0.02). Values with BIS 4.0 were, respectively, 89.1 (86–92) and 94.7 (93–96) (P = 0.002). No significant difference was found in age, sex, activity from the electromyogram, and signal quality index. As expected, the difference in Mini-Mental State Test scores was significant (P < 0.0001). A significant proportion of patients with dementia shows a low baseline BIS. The utility of the BIS monitor in detecting dementia warrants further investigation.
Differences in lymphocyte gene expression between tolerant and syngeneic liver grafted rats

Induction of tolerance to allogeneic donor grafts is a clinically desirable goal in bone marrow and solid organ transplantation. We have taken the advantage of DNA microarray technology to investigate gene expression mechanism in regulatory cells. In the present study, using a tacrolimus (FK506) induced tolerance of the fully mismatched liver allograft rat model, we demonstrated that, in contrast with peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from syngeneic recipients, PBLs taken from tolerant recipients 100 days after transplantation were able to suppress the in vitro proliferation of allogeneic PBLs and to prolong the survival of second syngeneic recipients. We also compared messenger RNA profiles in PBLs from tolerant recipients with those from syngeneic recipients using a DNA microarray with probe sets corresponding to more than 8000 rat genes. There were 96 up‐regulated and 103 down‐regulated genes in the tolerant recipients. In the up‐regulated group, there were 76 known genes and 20 expressed sequence tags (ESTs). In the down‐regulated groups, there were 87 known genes and 16 ESTs. Our data indicated that FK506 treatment induced tolerance and expansion of regulatory cells and the DNA microarray technology was useful for this application and provided many informative insights into the mechanism of lymphocyte regulation. (Liver Transpl 2004;10:379–391.)
Oral Clefts and Academic Performance in Adolescence: The Impact of Anesthesia-Related Neurotoxicity, Timing of Surgery, and Type of Oral Clefts

Objective Early life exposure to anesthesia and surgery is suspected to associate with cognitive impairment later in life. We compared academic achievement among adolescents with cleft lip only (CL), cleft palate only (CP), and cleft lip and cleft palate (CLP) with a noncleft control group to investigate whether outcome depends on timing and number of operations during childhood and/or type of oral cleft. Design Nationwide register-based follow-up study. Setting Danish birth cohort 1986 to 1990. Participants Five hundred fifty-eight children with isolated CL (n = 171), CLP (n =222), or CP (n = 195), of which 509 children had been exposed to anesthesia and one or more cleft operation(s), and a 5% sample of the birth cohort (n = 14,677). Main Outcome Measure(s) Test score in the Danish standardized ninth-grade exam and proportion of nonattainment, defined as “results for ninth-grade exam unavailable. ” Data adjusted for sex, birth weight, parental age, and parental level of education. Results Compared to controls, children with CL achieved higher scores (mean difference 0.12, 95% CI –0.05; 0.29) and children with CLP presented with lower scores (mean difference –0.06, 95% CI –0.21; 0.09), albeit both statistically insignificant. Children with CP achieved significantly lower scores, mean difference –0.20 (95% CI –0.38; –0.03). Odds ratios for nonattainment at final exam were: CL 0.79 (95% CI 0.46; 1.35), CLP 1.07 (95% CI 0.71; 1.61), CP 2.59 (95% CI 1.78; 3.76). Conclusions Oral cleft type rather than number and timing of anesthesia and operations associate to poorer academic performance. Although a potential neurotoxic effect due to anesthetic agents is not reflected in the data, it cannot be completely excluded.
Conference ( FIE ) Mobile open online laboratories A way towards conectionist massive online laboratories with x-API ( c-MOOLs )

This In this paper, we will present and compare the typology of online labs now accepted in the various standardization of online laboratory components working groups and show how they evolved over time and become indispensable tools for teaching, training and learning in science, engineering and technology. We will demonstrate why, among all other described below, mobile laboratories constitute today the most appropriate to implement Massive Open Online Laboratories (MOOLs) or Mobile Open Online Laboratories (MOOLs) using a lab@home or portable laboratory concepts thanks to miniaturized open source electronic devices and cloud computing
Hybrid electro-optical MCM as multi-flow generation enabler for elastic optical networks

The advent of elastic optical networking, enabled by the adoption of the flexible channel grid and programmable/multi-flow transmission systems allows a dynamic management of optical networks. Multicarrier modulation (MCM), such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), arises as a suitable technology for increasing flexibility and advanced functionalities, thanks to its super-/sub-wavelength granularity [1].
Vancomycin susceptibility as an aid to the identification of lactobacilli

Forty strains of lactobacilli isolated from probiotic supplements or functional foods, and two clinical isolates, have been identified by API 50 CHL and tested for susceptibility to vancomycin. All the Lactobacillus acidophilus (16) and Lact. delbreuckii (two) strains were sensitive to vancomycin, while all the other strains (mainly Lact. rhamnosus, 15) were resistant. Susceptibility to other antibiotics was not species‐specific. Differential susceptibility to vancomycin may be helpful in speciation of lactobacilli.
Evidence for a GABAergic interface between cortical afferents and brainstem projection neurons in the rat central extended amygdala

The synaptic circuitry of the intrinsic GABAergic system of the central extended amygdala (CEA) in relation to efferent neurons and cortical afferents was examined in the present study. Neurons in the CEA projecting to the dorsal vagal complex and the parabrachial complex were identified by the retrograde transport of wheat germ agglutinin‐horseradish peroxidase (WGA‐HRP). Postembedding GABA‐immunocytochemistry revealed that GABA‐immunoreactive (GABA‐IR) terminals formed largely symmetrical synaptic contacts with the perikarya and proximal dendritic processes of almost all WGA‐HRP‐labeled neurons in the CEA. To determine the relationship between cortical afferents and CEA GABAergic neurons, WGA‐HRP was used to anterogradely label afferents from the insular cortex in combination with postembedding immunogold detection of GABA. Cortical afferents formed asymmetrical synaptic contacts predominantly on small dendrites and dendritic spines. Many of the dendrites postsynaptic to cortical terminals in the central nucleus were immunoreactive for GABA although only relatively few spines were GABA‐IR. Combining pre‐embedding GAD‐immunocytochemistry with cortical lesions resulted in approximately 40% of degenerating terminals of insular cortical origin in the central nucleus in contact with small, GAD‐IR dendrites and spines.
Genetic structure and transforming sequence of avian sarcoma virus UR2

We have recently shown that a newly isolated avian sarcoma virus, UR2, is defective in replication and contains no sequences homologous to the src gene of Rous sarcoma virus. In this study, we analyzed the genetic structure and transforming sequence of UR2 by oligonucleotide fingerprinting. The sizes of the genomic RNAs of UR2 and its associated helper virus, UR2AV, were determined to be 24S and 35S, respectively, by sucrose gradient sedimentation. The molecular weight of the 24S UR2 genomic RNA was estimated to be 1.1 x 10(6), corresponding to 3,300 nucleotides, by gel electrophoresis under the native and denatured conditions. RNase T1 oligonucleotide mapping indicated that UR2 RNA contains seven unique oligonucleotides in the middle of the genome and shares eight 5'- and six 3'-terminal oligonucleotides with UR2AV RNA. From these data, we estimated that UR2 RNA contains a unique sequence of about 12 kilobases in the middle of the genome, and contains 1.4 and 0.7 kilobases of sequences shared with UR2AV RNA at the 5' and 3' ends, respectively. Partial sequence analysis of the UR2-specific oligonucleotides by RNase A digestion revealed that there are no homologous counterparts to these oligonucleotides in the RNAs of other avian sarcoma and acute leukemia viruses studied to date. UR2-transformed non-virus-producing cells contain a single 24S viral RNA which is most likely the message coding for the transforming protein of UR2. On the basis of the uniqueness of the transforming sequence, we concluded that UR2 is a new member of the defective avian sarcoma viruses.
Residence times and half-lives of nicotine metabolites in rat brain after acute peripheral administration of [2'-(14)C]nicotine.

The residence times of nicotine and its metabolites in rat brain after acute peripheral nicotine administration were determined. We hypothesize that nicotine metabolites will reach pharmacologically significant concentrations in brain. Cotinine, nornicotine, and norcotinine were structurally identified by dual label radiochemical and gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis as biotransformation products of nicotine present in rat brain after s. c. injection of S(-)-nicotine. Two unidentified minor metabolites were also detected in brain. The half-lives in brain of nicotine metabolites were determined after a single s.c. injection of [2'-(14)C]-(+/-)nicotine (0.8 mg/kg) and analysis of radiolabeled metabolites by high pressure-liquid radiochromatography. The brain half-lives of nicotine, cotinine, and nornicotine were 52, 333, and 166 min, respectively. Peak brain concentrations of nicotine metabolites were 300, 70, and 7 nM for cotinine, nornicotine, and norcotinine, respectively. Even with potential accumulation of cotinine in brain after chronic nicotine administration, it is likely that the brain concentration of cotinine will be insufficient to produce neuropharmacological effects resulting from activation of nicotinic receptors to induce dopamine release. Conversely, the concentration of nornicotine in brain after acute nicotine approaches the range found to be neuropharmacologically active. It is likely that nornicotine will accumulate in brain on chronic nicotine administration based on the brain half-life of this metabolite. Importantly, nornicotine is also a major alkaloidal component of tobacco. Thus, as a consequence of tobacco use, alkaloidal and metabolically formed nornicotine may reach concentrations in brain sufficient to produce pharmacological effects.
Evaluation of Oral Health in a Community of Native Brazilians of the Umutina Reservation, Mato Grosso State

La ocurrencia de enfermedades y variaciones de normalidad son muy comunes en el complejo maxilofacial. Este fenomeno se asocia estrechamente a determinantes geneticos peculiares y son influenciados a traves del aislamiento genetico. Estudios sobre la distribucion de enfermedad oral y variaciones de la normalidad en nativos Sudamericanos son generalmente dirigidos al estudio de la caries dental en ninos y enfermedad periodontal en adultos, dejando de lado una amplia gama de otras enfermedades orales. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la distribucion de lesiones y las variaciones anatomicas de normalidad en ocho grupos etnicos indigenas pertenecientes a la reserva Umutina, Estado de Mato Grosso, Brasil, a traves del examen fisico y oral, ademas de la evaluacion citologica y valoracion de dieta y habitos como tabaco y consumo de alcohol. Un total de 291 indigenas de ambos sexos, con edades que van de 1 a 96 anos fueron examinados, identificandose 132 variaciones de normalidad, evidenciando una alta ocurrencia de anquiloglosia, la cual se presento en 108 casos (37,1%), seguido por glositis migratoria benigna en 5 casos (1,7%); torus mandibular y candidiasis en 3 casos (1,0%). Ninguna lesion maligna se identifico en la poblacion.