Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plasma Corticosterone in Rats Is Specifically Increased at Recovery from Propofol Anesthesia without Concomitant Rise of Plasma ACTH

General anesthesia combined with surgery is commonly associated with post-operative stress-response in humans. Effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) during and after anesthesia are correlated with the magnitude of surgery and choice of anesthetics. The aim of our study in rats was to characterize the effects of general anesthesia without any surgery on HPA regulation of corticosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretions. First, to assess whether the acute effects of general anesthesia on corticosterone concentration depend on time of day, rats were anesthetized with propofol at three different Zeitgeber times (ZT6, ZT10, and ZT16; with lights-on and -off at ZT0 and ZT12, respectively). Second, to determine the prolonged effects of general propofol anesthesia on daily corticosterone and ACTH concentrations, rats were anesthetized at ZT16 (4 h after lights-off) and euthanized either 1, 4, 12, 16, 20, or 24 h later. Third, the effects of propofol anesthesia on corticosterone and ACTH secretion were studied in rats instrumented with intracarotid cannulation. This permitted us to examine the individual patterns of corticosterone responses to propofol anesthesia as compared to their respective baseline corticosterone secretion. All of the results obtained showed that general propofol anesthesia, independent of the time-of-day of its administration, induces a significant increase of corticosterone secretion during the early recovery period without effect on ACTH secretion (i.e., no pituitary mediated stress-response). (Author correspondence: yvan.touitou@upmc.fr)
Complications of trauma care: risk analysis of pneumonia in 10,001 adult trauma patients.

Five year's experience recorded in the adult registry of a Level I trauma center was reviewed to identify all recorded complications. Patients in whom pneumonia occurred were further analyzed for associated risk factors and for potentially preventable occurrence. Of 10,001 patients, 1027 (10%) sustained a total of 1905 complications. Patients with complications were more severely injured (mean Injury Severity Score = 27.5 versus 9.6;P < 0.01). Pneumonia occurred in 392 patients and was the most frequently encountered complication. Mortality for patients with uncomplicated care was 5.8 per cent in comparison with 46 per cent for those with any complications (P < 0.001), and 30.3 per cent for the pneumonia group (P <0.05). Age >65 years, Injury Severity Score >15, Glasgow coma scale score <8, cervical spine fracture with spinal cord injury, Abbreviated Injury Scale >3 for head, chest, and abdomen regions were associated with an increased risk of pneumonia (P < 0.001). Forty-four patients who developed pneumonia (11%) presented without any risk factor. Two of five related deaths could be considered potentially preventable. We conclude that the incidence of complications related to trauma care increases with injury severity and that complications are associated with a significantly higher mortality. The frequency of pneumonia, 11 percent of which were potentially preventable, emphasizes the critical importance of infection control and aggressive pulmonary toilet in the early care of injured patients.
Performance Analysis of the Distribution-Transform-Based PAR Reduction Method for OFDM Signal

Recently, a very effective peak-to-average power ratio (PAR) reduction scheme based on the distribution transform (DT) for OFDM signals is proposed. Key idea of DT is to transform the distribution of the OFDM signal amplitudes into a target distribution, which has limited dynamic range and very low PAR. But, the PAR-reduction performance and the BER performance of DT are conflicting with each other similar to other signal-distortion-type PAR-reduction schemes. In this paper, the trade-off between the PAR and BER performances of DT is addressed. An analysis framework is proposed to select the optimum transform function for DT with minimum consumed energy-to-noise ratio (SNRC). Simulation shows DT with the optimum transform function can obtain about 2dB SNRC gain compared to the original OFDM signal.
The Relationship of Lumbar Multifidus Muscle Morphology to Previous, Current, and Future Low Back Pain: A 9-Year Population-Based Prospective Cohort Study

Study Design. Population based prospective cohort study. Objective. We explored the cross-sectional relationships between lumbar multifidus (LM) intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) infiltration and low back pain (LBP) at 3 successive time points and investigated the role of IMAT in predicting the occurrence of LBP after 5 and 9 years. Summary of Background Data. Although LBP is a major source of disease burden, the biological determinants of LBP are poorly understood. Methods. Participants were 40-year-old adults randomly sampled from a Danish population and followed up at 45 and 49 years of age. At each time point, participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging and reported ever having had LBP, LBP in the previous year, nontrivial LBP in the previous year, or a history of pain radiating into the legs. Pixel intensity and frequencies from T1-weighted magnetic resonance images identified the greatest proportion of LM IMAT at the L4 and L5 spinal levels. IMAT infiltration was categorized as normal/mild, moderate, or severe based on tertile divisions. Associations were explored with crude and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) from logistic regression models. Model covariates included sex, body mass index, and occupational and leisure time physical activity. Results. A total of 401 participants were enrolled, with 331 (83%) and 286 (71%) participants followed up at 5 and 9 years, respectively. The cross-sectional analyses demonstrated that at the age of 40 years, participants with severe IMAT infiltration demonstrated increased odds of ever experiencing LBP (aOR [95% confidence interval, 95% CI] = 3.16 [1.45–6.89]), nontrivial LBP (aOR [95% CI] = 2.82 [1.36–5.81]), LBP in the past year (aOR [95% CI] = 1.95 [1.07–3.53]), and leg pain (aOR [95% CI] = 2.08 [1.19–3.62]). There were no consistent cross-sectional associations between LBP/leg pain and LM IMAT at 45 or 49 years of age and LM IMAT did not predict future LBP or leg pain. Conclusion. The relationship between LM IMAT and LBP/leg pain is inconsistent and may be modified by age. Level of Evidence: N/A
Hyperbaric oxygen treatment prevents nitric oxide‐induced apoptosis in articular cartilage injury via enhancement of the expression of heat shock protein 70

Heat shock proteins (HSPs), inflammatory cytokines, nitric oxide (NO), and localized hypoxia‐induced apoptosis are thought to be correlated to the degree of cartilage injury. We investigated the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on (1) interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β)‐induced NO production and apoptosis of rabbit chondrocytes and (2) healing of articular cartilage defects. For the in vitro study, RT‐PCR and Western blotting were performed to detect mRNA and protein expressions of HSP70, inducible NO synthase (iNOS), and caspase 3 in IL‐1β‐treated chondrocytes. To clarify that the HSP70 was necessary for anti‐iNOS and anti‐apoptotic activity by HBO, we treated the cells with an HSP70 inhibitor, KNK437. For the in vivo study, cartilage defects were created in rabbits. The HBO group was exposed to 100% oxygen at 2.5 ATA for 1.5 h a day for 10 weeks. The control group was exposed to normal air. After sacrifice, specimen sections were sent for examination using a scoring system. Immunohistochemical analyses were performed to detect the expressions of iNOS, HSP70, and caspase 3. Our results suggested that HBO upregulated the mRNA and protein expressions of HSP70 and suppressed those of iNOS and caspase 3 in chondrocytes. KNK437 inhibited the HBO‐induced downregulation of iNOS and casapase 3 activities. The histological scores showed that HBO markedly enhanced cartilage repair. Immunohistostaining showed that HBO enhanced HSP70 expression and suppressed iNOS and caspase 3 expressions in chondrocytes. Accordingly, HBO treatment prevents NO‐induced apoptosis in articular cartilage injury via enhancement of the expression of heat shock protein 70. © 2012 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 31: 376–384, 2013
When is meaning making unhealthy for the self? The roles of neuroticism, implicit theories, and memory telling in trauma and transgression memories

The aim of this study was to examine how three factors—neuroticism, implicit theories of personality, and memory telling—relate to patterns of healthy and unhealthy meaning making in two kinds of negative memories: traumas and transgressions. Healthy meaning making was defined as self-growth, whereas unhealthy meaning making was defined as viewing the self as damaged in traumas (damaged self) and as a bad person in transgressions (bad self). A total of 85 adult participants completed survey measures of personality and memory telling (retrospective reports of extent to which memory was shared with others) and wrote a narrative of a trauma and a transgression which were coded for specific forms of meaning making. Results revealed distinct patterns of associations for trauma and transgression memories. The combination of low neuroticism and an incremental theory (belief that personality can change) predicted self-growth in traumas, whereas memory telling was predictive of self-growth in transgressions, especially among incremental theorists. For unhealthy forms of meaning making, an entity theory (belief that personality is fixed) was associated with the bad self in transgressions, and viewing the self as damaged by traumas was more common among younger adults than older adults.
Long-term Outcome in Chest Trauma

Background: Currently, there are limited data available describing the long-term outcomes of chest trauma survivors. Here, the authors sought to describe chest trauma survivor outcomes 6 months and 1 yr after discharge from the intensive care unit, paying special attention to pulmonary outcomes. Methods: A cohort of 105 multiple trauma patients with blunt chest trauma admitted to the intensive care unit was longitudinally evaluated. After 6 months, a chest computed tomography scan, pulmonary function testing (PFT), and quality of life were collected in 55 of these patients. A subgroup of 38 patients was followed up for 1 yr. Results: At least one abnormal PFT result was found in 39 patients (71%). Compared with normalized data of the age- and sex-matched population, physical function was decreased in 38 patients (70%). The 6-min walk distance was reduced for 29 patients (72%). Although pathologic images were observed on the chest computed tomography scan from 33 patients (60%), no relation was found between PFT and computed tomography. A ratio of arterial oxygen pressure to inspired oxygen fraction less than 200 at admission to the intensive care unit predicted an abnormal PFT result at 6 months. One year after discharge from the intensive care unit, paired comparisons showed a significant increase in forced vital capacity (P = 0.02) and Karnofsky Performance Status (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Survivors of multiple traumas including chest trauma demonstrate a persistent decrease in the 6-min walk distance, impairment on PFT, and reduced pulmonary-specific quality of life.
Does FIN 48 Improve Firms' Estimates of Tax Reserves?

This paper examines whether the increased accounting guidance and reporting requirements of FIN 48 impact the adequacy and accuracy of tax reserves and the effect of auditor-provided tax services on tax reserves. While we do not find FIN 48 affected the adequacy or accuracy of tax reserves on average, FIN 48 eliminated the differences in the tax reserve adequacy of firms with and without auditor-provided tax services that existed prior to its adoption. We also find evidence of more timely recording and less premature releasing of tax reserves post-FIN 48. Our evidence is consistent with an increase in comparability of reserves for firms that do and do not purchase auditor-provided tax services, consistent with one of the FASB’s objectives for FIN 48.
Elevated serum 8-OHdG is associated with poor prognosis in epithelial ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND 8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) is a marker of oxidative stress in DNA. This study was undertaken to reveal whether serum 8-OHdG could be a prognostic factor in epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC). PATIENTS AND METHODS Preoperative serum 8-OHdG levels were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 84 stage I-IV EOC patients. Immunohistochemical (IHC) 8-OHdG expression was determined in 78 of these patients. RESULTS Strong 8-OHdG immunostaining predicted poor survival. High serum 8-OHdG (>140 pg/ml) was associated with poor ovarian cancer-specific survival (p<0.05) in patients with grade 1-2 EOC (p<0.05), but was not observed among the grade 3 patients. High 8-OHdG levels both in the serum and in the tumour tissue was associated with traditional factors of poor prognosis and serous histology. CONCLUSION Both serum and IHC 8-OHdG assessment may serve as prognostic tools in EOC and the role of oxidative stress as a carcinogenic factor in ovarian cancer pathogenesis is also suggested.
Effects of Influenza Immunization on Humoral and Cellular Alloreactivity in Humans

Background. Alloreactive T cells and anti-human leukocyte antigen antibodies mediate transplant injury. Environmental exposures, including vaccinations, may activate the alloimmune repertoire leading to accelerated allograft injury. To test whether vaccination impacts human alloimmunity, we analyzed humoral and cellular immune reactivity in subjects undergoing influenza vaccination. Methods. We serially obtained blood samples from 30 healthy subjects and 8 kidney and 9 lung transplant recipients who received influenza vaccination, and from 20 healthy unvaccinated controls. We measured cellular and humoral anti-influenza responses, anti-human leukocyte antigen antibodies, and alloreactive T-cell immunity (interferon-&ggr; ELISPOT) at 0, 2, 4, and 12 weeks after vaccination. Results. Vaccination induced influenza-reactive humoral and cellular responses in control subjects and in transplant recipients. Only two of 30 vaccinated volunteers developed new alloantibodies, but none of the transplant patients. Vaccination also specifically and significantly augmented cellular alloimmunity based on reactivity to a panel of stimulators in both healthy subjects and in transplant recipients within 4 weeks of vaccination. The enhanced cellular alloresponse waned toward prevaccine levels by week 12. Conclusion. Our findings newly demonstrate that influenza vaccination can have a significant impact on the potency of the alloimmune repertoire. Because the strength of the alloresponse influences long-term graft function, our results suggest that further investigation of alloimmune monitoring after vaccination is needed.
Oscillometric blood pressure measurement: a simple method in screening for peripheral arterial disease

Blood pressure at the ankle level is a reliable indicator of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and the ankle brachial index (ABI) is a useful non‐invasive screening tool for the early detection of atherosclerosis. In the first part of the study, systolic blood pressures obtained by oscillometry and plethysmography were compared in 80 subjects referred for possible vascular disease. In the second part of the study, 31 general practitioners enrolled 1258 consecutive patients aged more than 60 years. ABI was estimated by oscillometry. Patients with an ABI lower than 0·9 were referred to the local hospital for standardized measurements. In the first part, oscillometry showed a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 62% with a positive and negative predictive value of 71% and 96%, respectively. In the second part, significant PAD was found in 111 cases corresponding to a prevalence of 12·2%. In this population, the oscillometry showed a positive predictive value of 47%. The presence of PAD was significantly correlated to exercise related leg pain, a diagnosis of hypertension and smoking, whereas no correlation could be found with a diagnosis of heart disease, stroke, or with the presence of diabetes. The prevalence of PAD was sufficiently high in subjects over the age of 60 years to warrant screening. The ankle brachial index based on measurements with an oscillometric device was shown reliable in the exclusion of PAD, thereby fulfilling an important criterion for the use in screening.
Response of the Mouse Circadian System to Serotonin 1A/2/7 Agonists in vivo: Surprisingly Little

Serotonin (5-HT) is thought to play a role in regulating nonphotic phase shifts and modulating photic phase shifts of the mammalian circadian system, but results with different species (rats vs. hamsters) and techniques (in vivo vs. in vitro; systemic vs. intracerebral drug delivery) have been discordant. Here we examined the effects of the 5-HT1A/7 agonist 8-OH-DPAT and the 5-HT1/2 agonist quipazine on the circadian system in mice, with some parallel experiments conducted with hamsters for comparative purposes. In mice, neither drug, delivered systemically at a range of circadian phases and doses, induced phase shifts significantly different from vehicle injections. In hamsters, quipazine intraperitoneally (i.p.) did not induce phase shifts, whereas 8-OH-DPAT induced phase shifts after i.p. but not intra-SCN injections. In mice, quipazine modestly increased c-Fos expression in the SCN (site of the circadian pacemaker) during the subjective day, whereas 8-OH-DPAT did not affect SCN c-Fos. In hamsters, both drugs suppressed SCN c-Fos in the subjective day. In both species, both drugs strongly induced c-Fos in the paraventricular nucleus (within-subject positive control). 8-OH-DPAT did not significantly attenuate light-induced phase shifts in mice but did in hamsters (between-species positive control). These results indicate that in the intact mouse in vivo, acute activation of 5-HT1A/2/7 receptors in the circadian system is not sufficient to reset the SCN pacemaker or to oppose phase-shifting effects of light. There appear to be significant species differences in the susceptibility of the circadian system to modulation by systemically delivered serotonergics.
Participatory research, people with intellectual disabilities and ethical approval: making reasonable adjustments to enable participation.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The aim of this paper is to explore how making reasonable adjustments to the process of securing ethical approval for research can facilitate the meaningful involvement of people with intellectual disabilities as members of a research team. This is achieved through critical reflection upon the approach taken within one participatory research study whose objective was to explore how people with intellectual disabilities understand abuse. BACKGROUND Internationally participatory research studies (in which active involvement of community members in all stages of the research process is sought) are becoming increasingly common in the context of health care and, more specifically, within research involving people with intellectual disabilities. However, whilst it is acknowledged that participatory research gives rise to specific ethical challenges, how (or if) involvement in securing ethical approval is facilitated, is not discussed in most research reports. The significance of this paper is that it seeks to address this gap by exploring how meaningful participation can be promoted by making reasonable adjustments. METHODS Within the study, the research team worked in collaboration with the ethics committee to identify potential barriers that could prevent the participation of members of the research team who had intellectual disabilities. Reasonable adjustments (such as redesigning forms) were made to the processes involved in securing ethical approval. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that it is possible to ensure that ethical standards are upheld and the requirements of ethics committees met whilst also facilitating the meaningful involvement of people with intellectual disabilities. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE The reasonable adjustments approach explored within this paper can be translated into the context of clinical practice: making changes to the way that services are delivered can promote greater involvement of people with intellectual disabilities in their own health care.
Impact of high-speed railroad on regional income inequalities in China and Korea

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to analyse the impact of opening high-speed railroad (HSR) on the regional income inequality in China and Korea. The convergence models are applied to test the effect of the HSR on regional growth in terms of GRDP per capita across 455 cities and counties along the Beijing–Shanghai HSR corridor and 112 cities and counties along the Seoul–Busan HSR corridor, respectively. The results indicate that at the national level, a trend of convergence emerges during the three-year period of analysis in both China and Korea. At the HSR passing area level, HSR contributes to accelerate regional economic convergence and reduce the regional income disparities in China and Korea; however, HSR has different impacts on reducing the regional income inequality in China and Korea considering the HSR station cities. In Korea, the regional inequality is rather wider among the cities where HSR station located.
Gold Plated Carbon Nanotube Bundle Antenna for Millimeter-Wave Applications

A gold plated carbon nanotube (CNT) bundle antenna, which is integrated with a voltage control oscillator (VCO) is reported. Gold plating reduces ohmic loss and improves radiation efficiency of the CNT antenna. Reflection measurements of the antenna show a return loss of 12 dB at 67 GHz and -6 dB impedance bandwidth at 53-87.5 GHz, 140-168 GHz, and 207-220 GHz, respectively. The VCO implemented in 65-nm CMOS technology is designed to be integrated with the antenna for the measurement of antenna gain. The measurement result of the antenna gain is -9.7 dBi at 50.7 GHz. These experimental results demonstrate that the proposed antenna is very promising for millimeter-wave applications.
A micropuncture study of renal tubular lithium reabsorption in sodium‐depleted rats.

1. The marked reduction in fractional lithium excretion (FELi) which accompanies chronic sodium depletion was investigated using free‐flow micropuncture in anaesthetized rats which had been maintained in a sodium‐depleted state for 8‐10 days. 2. Compared with previous values in sodium‐replete rats, sodium depletion was associated with small reductions in total and superficial nephron glomerular filtration rate and enhanced fractional reabsorption of water, sodium and lithium in the proximal convoluted tubule. 3. In untreated (sodium‐depleted) rats, fractional deliveries of lithium (FDLi) to the late proximal convoluted tubule, early distal tubule and late distal tubule were 0.41 +/‐ 0.02, 0.20 +/‐ 0.01 and 0.18 +/‐ 0.02 (means +/‐ S.E.M.), respectively. Fractional lithium excretion (0.08 +/‐ 0.01) was significantly lower than late distal FDLi (P < 0.001). 4. Treatment with amiloride did not affect segmental lithium handling up to the late distal tubule. Frusemide had no effect on lithium reabsorption in the proximal convoluted tubule, but early distal FDLi (0.30 +/‐ 0.01) was raised compared with the untreated group (P < 0.001). Both diuretics eliminated the difference between late distal FDLi and FELi, respective values being 0.17 +/‐ 0.02 and 0.15 +/‐ 0.01 (amiloride‐treated rats) and 0.31 +/‐ 0.02 and 0.34 +/‐ 0.02 (frusemide‐treated rats). 5. These data indicate that part of the reduction in FELi in chronic sodium depletion is due to enhanced fractional fluid (and lithium) reabsorption in the proximal convoluted tubule. In addition, however, they provide direct evidence for amiloride‐sensitive lithium reabsorption in the collecting ducts. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)