Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Short-term augmentation of fluoxetine with clonazepam in the treatment of depression: a double-blind study.

OBJECTIVE Because selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) require 2-4 weeks to reach efficacy, the authors determined whether clonazepam augmentation of fluoxetine is superior to fluoxetine alone at the beginning of treatment for major depression. METHOD Eighty adult outpatients with major depression who were rated as "moderately ill" or "markedly ill" on the Clinical Global Impression of Severity underwent 8 weeks of double-blind, randomized treatment with fluoxetine, 20 mg/day for all patients initially and 40 mg/day if needed after 6 weeks. One-half of these patients received clonazepam, 0.5 mg h.s. adjusted to two tablets by day 10 if needed, and the remainder received placebo, likewise adjusted. Clonazepam/placebo was gradually discontinued during days 21-33. Efficacy was evaluated by means of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Clinical Global Impression of Improvement, and a patient rating of global improvement. RESULTS The patients taking clonazepam improved significantly more during the first 3 weeks of treatment according to ratings on the Hamilton scale (> or =50% improvement) and the clinician- and patient-rated global improvement measures ("much" or "very much" improved). Analysis of variance confirmed a significant effect of clonazepam for average Hamilton depression scores. No serious adverse events were found in either treatment group. Taper effects appeared modest and transitory. CONCLUSIONS Clonazepam augmentation of fluoxetine was superior to fluoxetine alone in the first 3 weeks of treatment. This strategy may reduce suffering during early SSRI treatment, may partially suppress SSRI side effects, may increase compliance, and could possibly reduce the risk of suicide.
Evaluation of epicardial adipose tissue, carotid intima-media thickness and ventricular functions in obese children and adolescents

Abstract Background: Childhood obesity is a cardiovascular risk factor. Objective: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness, carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and cardiac functions of obese children and their correlations were evaluated. Subjects: Five hundred obese children and 150 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Methods: Anthropometric, laboratory data and echocardiographic measurements of IMT, EAT and cardiac functions were determined. Results: Increased M-mode echocardiographic measurements, E/e′ ratios, Tei index values and decreased E/A and e′/a′ ratios (where E and A are early and late mitral/tricuspid diastolic velocities, respectively, and e′ and a′ are peak early diastolic and peak atrial systolic myocardial velocities, respectively), were determined in the obese group. Also, carotid artery IMT and EAT thickness were significantly higher in obese children. Carotid artery IMT, EAT thickness and left ventricular mass (LVM) were found to be strongly associated with Tei index values. Conclusion: Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. In our study, we showed that obese children have early subclinical systolic and diastolic dysfunctions. Also, these cardiac impairments are correlated with the increase in IMT, EAT thickness and LVM.
Framing Written Emotional Expression from a Religious Perspective: Effects on Depressive Symptoms

Objective: Previous research has found an inverse association between exposure to emotional trauma and well-being. More recently, studies on written emotional expression found that repeated expression of a traumatic experience is beneficial to physical health. However, possible mechanisms through which written emotional expression may work to influence health are still under investigation. Recent research on psychological stress has also found associations among religion, meaning, and health. This study evaluated the effects of taking a religious perspective while engaged in written emotional expression. Method: Participants included 215 college students, who were assigned randomly to one of three experimental groups. One was given conventional written emotional expression instructions for writing about a traumatic experience; another was instructed to write about the trauma from a religious/spiritual perspective; a control group wrote about a trivial topic. Results: Compared with control participants, those in the trauma-religion condition experienced significantly greater reductions in depressive symptoms at 1-month follow-up. Conventional trauma writing had no effect on dependent measures. Conclusion: These findings encourage further investigation of religion as a factor that may augment the health-promoting effects of written emotional expression.
Effect of transportation during periods of high ambient temperature on physiologic and behavioral indices of beef heifers.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of transportation during periods of high ambient temperature on physiologic and behavioral indices of beef heifers. ANIMALS 20 heifers (mean body weight, 217.8 kg). PROCEDURES Ten heifers were transported 518 km when the maximum ambient temperature was ≥ 32.2°C while the other 10 heifers served as untransported controls. Blood samples were collected from transported heifers at predetermined intervals during the transportation period. For all heifers, body weights, nasal and rectal temperatures, and behavioral indices were measured at predetermined intervals for 3 days after transportation. A week later, the entire process was repeated such that each group was transported twice and served as the control twice. RESULTS Transported heifers spent more time near the hay feeder on the day of transportation, had lower nasal and rectal temperatures for 24 hours after transportation, and spent more time lying down for 2 days after transportation, compared with those indices for control heifers. Eight hours after transportation, the weight of transported heifers decreased 6%, whereas that of control heifers increased 0.6%. At 48 hours after initiation of transportation, weight, rectal temperature, and time spent at various pen locations did not differ between transported and control heifers. Cortisol concentrations were higher 4 hours after initiation of transportation, compared with those determined just prior to transportation. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated transportation during periods of high ambient temperatures caused transient changes in physiologic and behavioral indices of beef heifers.
Constructed Wetlands for Water Pollution Management of Aquaculture Farms Conducting Earthen Pond Culture

This study established farm‐scale constructed wetlands integrated to shrimp ponds, using existing earthern pond areas, with a wetland‐to‐pond ratio of only 0.086 for shrimp culture. The constructed wetlands were used as practice for aquaculture water and wastewater treatment, to regulate the water quality of shrimp ponds and manage pollution from pond effluents. The results of water quality monitoring for influent and effluent showed that constructed wetlands significantly reduced total suspended solids (59 to 72%), turbidity (55 to 65%), chlorophyll a (58 to 72%), 5‐day biochemical oxygen demand (29 to 40%), and chemical oxygen demand (13 to 24%) from pond water. The wetland treatment sufficiently regulated water quality of the recirculating shrimp pond, which was significantly (p<0.05) better than that in a control shrimp pond, without the connection of constructed wetlands. Furthermore, the wetland‐treated effluent satisfied the national effluent standards for aquaculture farms (R.O.C. Environmental Protection Administration, 2007). Accordingly, wetland treatment applications were proposed to implement the best management practices to reduce pollution from aquaculture farms in Taiwan.
Changes in adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase as a mechanism of visceral obesity in Cushing's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE Features of the metabolic syndrome such as central obesity with insulin resistance and dyslipidemia are typical signs of Cushing's syndrome and common side effects of prolonged glucocorticoid treatment. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a key regulatory enzyme of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism as well as appetite, is involved in the development of the deleterious metabolic effects of excess glucocorticoids, but no data are available in humans. In the current study, we demonstrate the effect of high glucocorticoid levels on AMPK activity of human adipose tissue samples from patients with Cushing's syndrome. METHODS AMPK activity and mRNA expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism were assessed in visceral adipose tissue removed at abdominal surgery of 11 patients with Cushing's syndrome, nine sex-, age-, and weight-matched patients with adrenal incidentalomas, and in visceral adipose tissue from four patients with non-endocrine-related abdominal surgery. RESULTS The patients with Cushing's syndrome exhibited a 70% lower AMPK activity in visceral adipose tissue as compared with both incidentalomas and control patients (P = 0.007 and P < 0.001, respectively). Downstream targets of AMPK fatty acid synthase and phosphoenol-pyruvate carboxykinase were up-regulated in patients with Cushing's syndrome. AMPK activity was inversely correlated with 0900 h serum cortisol and with urinary free cortisol. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that glucocorticoids inhibit AMPK activity in adipose tissue, suggesting a novel mechanism to explain the deposition of visceral adipose tissue and the consequent central obesity observed in patients with iatrogenic or endogenous Cushing's syndrome.
Elevated cadmium concentrations in potato tubers due to irrigation with river water contaminated by mining in Potosí, Bolivia.

Risk of cadmium (Cd) in the human food chain in Cd-contaminated areas is often limited by phytotoxicity from zinc (Zn) that is associated with the Cd contamination. A semiarid area, 60 km downstream of a tin mine in Bolivia, was surveyed where irrigation with Cd-contaminated river water (65-240 microg Cd L(-1)) has increased median soil Cd to 20 mg kg(-1) while median soil Zn was only about 260 mg kg(-1). Cadmium concentrations in potato tubers increased from background values (0.05 mg kg(-1) dry wt. ) in soils irrigated with spring water to a median value of 1.2 mg kg(-1) dry wt. in the affected area. Median concentration of Cd in soil solutions was 27 microg L(-1) and exceeded the corresponding value of Zn almost twofold. Soil-extractable chloride ranged from 40 to 1600 mg Cl(-) kg(-1) and was positively correlated with soil total Cd. Increasing soil solution Cl(-) decreased the solid-liquid distribution coefficient of Cd in soil. Soil total Cd explained 64% of the variation of tuber Cd concentration while only 3% of the variation was explained by soil extractable Cl(-) (n = 49). The estimated dietary Cd intake from potato consumption by the local population is about 100 microg d(-1) which exceeds the WHO recommended total daily intake. It is concluded that the food chain risk of Cd in the irrigation water of the semiarid area is aggravated by the association with Cl(-) and, potentially, by the relatively large Cd/Zn ratio.
THE 3.3 μm POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON EMISSION AS A STAR FORMATION RATE INDICATOR

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission features dominate the mid-infrared spectra of star-forming galaxies and can be useful to calibrate star formation rates (SFRs) and diagnose ionized states of grains. However, the PAH 3.3 μm feature has not been studied as much as other PAH features since it is weaker than others and resides outside of Spitzer capability. In order to detect and calibrate the 3.3 μm PAH emission and investigate its potential as an SFR indicator, we carried out an AKARI mission program, AKARI mJy Unbiased Survey of Extragalactic Sources (AMUSES), and compared its sample with various literature samples. We obtained 2–5 μm low-resolution spectra of 20 flux-limited galaxies with mixed spectral energy distribution classes, which yielded the detection of the 3.3 μm PAH emission from 3 out of 20 galaxies. For the combined sample of AMUSES and literature samples, the 3.3 μm PAH luminosities correlate with the infrared luminosities of star-forming galaxies, albeit with a large scatter (1.5 dex). The correlation appears to break down at the domain of ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs), and the power of the 3.3 μm PAH luminosity as a proxy for the infrared luminosity is hampered at log[LPAH3.3 erg−1 s−1] > ∼42.0. Possible origins for this deviation in the correlation are discussed, including contributions from active galactic nuclei and strongly obscured young stellar objects, and the destruction of PAH molecules in ULIRGs.
AREGU May 47/5

Nowak, Monika, Gregory C. Gaines, Jason Rosenberg, Rebecca Minter, F. R. Bahjat, John Rectenwald, Sally L. D. MacKay, Carl K. Edwards III, and Lyle L. Moldawer. LPS-induced liver injury in D-galactosaminesensitized mice requires secreted TNF-a and the TNF-p55 receptor. Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol 278: R1202–R1209, 2000. —Lipopolysaccharide and D-galactosamine induced lethality and apoptotic liver injury is dependent on endogenously produced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a. The present study was undertaken to determine whether membrane-associated or secreted TNF-a signaling through the p55 or p75 receptor was responsible for survival and hepatic injury after lipopolysaccharide administration in D-galactosamine-sensitized mice. Transgenic mice expressing null forms of TNF-a, the p55 and p75 receptor, and mice expressing only a cell-associated form of TNF-a were challenged with 8 mg D-galactosamine and 100 ng lipopolysaccharide. Mortality and apoptotic liver injury were only seen in wild-type and p75 knockout mice. p75 Knockout mice had significantly higher concentrations of plasma TNF-a than any other experimental group (P # 0.05) and tended to have the highest mortality and liver injury. In contrast, p55 and TNF-a knockout mice and animals expressing only a cellassociated form of TNF-a exhibited no mortality or liver injury. We conclude that survival and apoptotic liver injury in response to lipopolysaccharide and D-galactosamine are dependent exclusively on secreted TNF-a signaling through the p55 receptor.
The Spatial Representation of Numerical and Non-Numerical Ordered Sequences: Insights from a Random Generation Task

It is widely believed that numbers are spatially represented from left to right on the mental number line. Whether this spatial format of representation is specific to numbers or is shared by non-numerical ordered sequences remains controversial. When healthy participants are asked to randomly generate digits they show a systematic small-number bias that has been interpreted in terms of “pseudoneglect in number space”. Here we used a random generation task to compare numerical and non-numerical order. Participants performed the task at three different pacing rates and with three types of stimuli (numbers, letters, and months). In addition to a small-number bias for numbers, we observed a bias towards “early” items for letters and no bias for months. The spatial biases for numbers and letters were rate independent and similar in size, but they did not correlate across participants. Moreover, letter generation was qualified by a systematic forward direction along the sequence, suggesting that the ordinal dimension was more salient for letters than for numbers in a task that did not require its explicit processing. The dissociation between numerical and non-numerical orders is consistent with electrophysiological and neuroimaging studies and suggests that they rely on at least partially different mechanisms.
CORONARY ARTERY EMBOLISM

Mitral valve disease with atrial fibrillation is undoubtedly the commonest cause of arterial embolism (Wood, 1956). In any large series of living patients with mitral stenosis the incidence of systemic embolism may be 9 to 14 per cent (Sellors et al., 1953; and Wood, 1954). In many patients embolism is either multiple or recurrent, and in 1951 Daley et al. and Jordan et al. reported 245 patients with rheumatic heart disease in whom there had been 489 episodes of arterial embolism: in none of these were the coronary arteries involved. Study of the reported cases shows that only 3 examples of coronary artery embolism associated with rheumatic heart disease have been reported (Rolleston, 1896; Cheng et al., 1953; and Segall and Harris, 1954). A further case is, therefore, described.
Phenotypic heterogeneity in hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies associated with chromosome 17p11.2-12 deletion

Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP) is commonly associated with a 1.5-megabase deletion on chromosome 17p11.2-12. We analyzed the phenotypic expression of the deletion in 39 HNPP patients from 16 families carrying the deletion. Two-thirds of the individuals had episodes of acute mononeuropathy, often involving nerve territories of the upper limbs or brachial plexus; however, 41% of affected subjects were unaware of their disease, and 25% were almost or totally free of symptoms; one-third complained of chronic symptoms and four older patients had a picture of polyneuropathy. Electrophysiologic abnormalities differed among affected subjects, ranging from conduction abnormalities localized at common entrapment sites to diffuse conduction slowing, usually more evident at entrapment sites; patients from one family had preeminent proximal involvement. The spectrum of phenotypic expression of deletion-associated HNPP appears to be broader than previously thought. The prevalence of the disease is probably underestimated, and the availability of molecular diagnosis should increase disease detection. NEUROLOGY 1996;46: 1133-1137
Fitness reduction and potential extinction of wild populations of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, as a result of interactions with escaped farm salmon

The high level of escapes from Atlantic salmon farms, up to two million fishes per year in the North Atlantic, has raised concern about the potential impact on wild populations. We report on a two-generation experiment examining the estimated lifetime successes, relative to wild natives, of farm, F1 and F2 hybrids and BC1 backcrosses to wild and farm salmon. Offspring of farm and ‘hybrids’ (i.e. all F1, F2 and BC1 groups) showed reduced survival compared with wild salmon but grew faster as juveniles and displaced wild parr, which as a group were significantly smaller. Where suitable habitat for these emigrant parr is absent, this competition would result in reduced wild smolt production. In the experimental conditions, where emigrants survived downstream, the relative estimated lifetime success ranged from 2% (farm) to 89% (BC1 wild) of that of wild salmon, indicating additive genetic variation for survival. Wild salmon primarily returned to fresh water after one sea winter (1SW) but farm and ‘hybrids’ produced proportionately more 2SW salmon. However, lower overall survival means that this would result in reduced recruitment despite increased 2SW fecundity. We thus demonstrate that interaction of farm with wild salmon results in lowered fitness, with repeated escapes causing cumulative fitness depression and potentially an extinction vortex in vulnerable populations.
Associations between normative and self-perceived orthodontic treatment needs in young-adult dental patients

Objective: Our aim was to determine the correlation between dental treatment need as assessed by the components of the index of orthodontic treatment need (IOTN) and a self-evaluation questionnaire in a population selected from the dental clinics of Shiraz, Iran. Methods: The dental treatment needs of 240 participants (120 men and 120 women) were measured on the basis of the IOTN dental health component (IOTN-DHC), IOTN aesthetic component (IOTN-AC), IOTN AC determined by the examiner (IOTN-ACE), and a self-evaluation questionnaire (SEQ). The correlations between the treatment needs assessed by all the methods as well as the correlations of the treatment needs with age and gender were assessed using a Spearman’s correlation coefficient (α = 0.01). Results: All methods were significantly correlated (p ≤ 0.001). The associations of IOTN-ACE with IOTN-DHC and SEQ were moderately significant (rho = 0.49 and 0.41, respectively). The associations of IOTN-AC with IOTN-DHC and SEQ were weakly significant (rho = 0.24 and 0.35, respectively). The IOTN-DHC was moderately associated with SEQ (rho = 0.53). Gender and age were not associated with treatment needs estimated by any of the methods used (p ＞ 0.06). Conclusions: The correlations between the self-evaluation and the IOTN components in young adults were close to those reported in children, and IOTN-ACE was more reliable than IOTN-AC. (Korean J
Lower physician estimate of underlying asthma severity leads to undertreatment.

BACKGROUND Asthma undertreatment has been linked to poor outcomes. National guidelines recommend that physicians classify asthma severity based on pretreatment symptoms and titrate care as the disease changes in the individual patient. This study evaluated the extent to which the physician estimate of underlying severity affects a patient's asthma care. METHODS Data used were collected from a cohort of adults with asthma enrolled in managed care. Eligible patients were adults enrolled in managed care with medical encounters coded for asthma. Physicians were eligible if they were main asthma providers. The patient survey covered demographics, symptoms, asthma treatment, and self-management knowledge. Physicians were asked to assess the underlying severity of their patients' asthma. RESULTS There were 4005 patients with asthma with physician estimates of underlying severity. Of the patients, 70.1% were female (mean age, 44.8 years) and 83.5% were white. Most patients' current asthma symptoms were moderate (39.4%) and severe (50.1%). Most physician estimates of underlying severity were mild (44.6%) and moderate (44.5%). Among those patients reporting moderate symptoms, daily inhaled corticosteroid use was reported in 35.2% when physician estimates were mild, 53.0% when moderate, and 68.1% when severe (P =.001). Rates of peak flowmeter ownership, allergy testing, and self-management knowledge tracked similarly with physician estimates of underlying severity. CONCLUSIONS Physician estimates of underlying asthma severity appear to determine asthma care. For patients with inadequate symptom control, lower physician estimates of underlying severity were associated with care that is less consistent with national guidelines. To improve the quality of asthma care, physicians need to update treatment based on their patients' current symptoms and adapt care accordingly.