Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clomiphene citrate effects on testosterone/estrogen ratio in male hypogonadism.

AIM Symptomatic late-onset hypogonadism is associated not only with a decline in serum testosterone, but also with a rise in serum estradiol. These endocrine changes negatively affect libido, sexual function, mood, behavior, lean body mass, and bone density. Currently, the most common treatment is exogenous testosterone therapy. This treatment can be associated with skin irritation, gynecomastia, nipple tenderness, testicular atrophy, and decline in sperm counts. In this study we investigated the efficacy of clomiphene citrate in the treatment of hypogonadism with the objectives of raising endogenous serum testosterone (T) and improving the testosterone/estrogen (T/E) ratio. METHODS Our cohort consisted of 36 Caucasian men with hypogonadism defined as serum testosterone level less than 300 ng/dL. Each patient was treated with a daily dose of 25 mg clomiphene citrate and followed prospectively. Analysis of baseline and follow-up serum levels of testosterone and estradiol levels were performed. RESULTS The mean age was 39 years, and the mean pretreatment testosterone and estrogen levels were 247.6 +/- 39.8 ng/dL and 32.3 +/- 10.9, respectively. By the first follow-up visit (4-6 weeks), the mean testosterone level rose to 610.0 +/- 178.6 ng/dL (P < 0.00001). Moreover, the T/E ratio improved from 8.7 to 14.2 (P < 0.001). There were no side effects reported by the patients. CONCLUSIONS Low dose clomiphene citrate is effective in elevating serum testosterone levels and improving the testosterone/estradiol ratio in men with hypogonadism. This therapy represents an alternative to testosterone therapy by stimulating the endogenous androgen production pathway.
Effect of Nebulized Arformoterol on Airway Function in COPD: Results from Two Randomized Trials

Rationale: Arformoterol, a single isomer long-acting β2-agonist, was developed as an inhalation solution for the maintenance treatment of bronchoconstriction in COPD. Methods: The pulmonary function efficacy of nebulized arformoterol (15 μ g BID, 25 μ g BID, 50 μ g QD) and salmeterol MDI (42 μ g BID) versus placebo was assessed in 1456 subjects (mean FEV1 1.2L, mean predicted 41%). Data were pooled from 2 identical, 12-week, double-blind, randomized trials. The percent change in trough FEV1, percent change in FEV1 average AUC(0 - 12 hrs) and peak percent change FEV1 from predose were analyzed. Results: Improvement in trough FEV1 averaged over 12 weeks was greater for arformoterol and salmeterol versus placebo (mean differences from placebo [95% CI] arformoterol–15 μ g BID: 11.4% [8.4, 14.3]; 25 μ g BID: 15.4% [12.2, 18.6]; 50 μ g QD: 10.9% [7.9, 13.9]); salmeterol: (11.6% [8.8, 14.4]). Greater improvements versus placebo occurred after the first dose (mean differences between arformoterol and placebo for trough FEV1: 13–19%; FEV1 AUC(0 - 12 hrs): 19–24%; peak percent change: 20–25%) and at week 12 (trough FEV1: 10–13%; FEV1 AUC(0 - 12 hrs): 6–13%; peak percent change: 7–14%); all 95% CIs excluded zero. Increases in FEV1 AUC(0 - 12 hrs) and peak percent change were greater for arformoterol than for salmeterol (95% CIs excluded zero). After 12 weeks, 78–87% of arformoterol subjects had ≥ 10% increases in FEV1 from pre-dose (56% salmeterol, 44% placebo); the median time to response was 3–13 minutes (142 minutes salmeterol). Conclusions: In these trials, COPD subjects administered nebulized arformoterol demonstrated significant and sustained improvement in lung function over 12 weeks.
Lymphatic vessel density and its prognostic value in stage I colorectal carcinoma

Aims The assessment of lymphatic vessel density (LVD) has been suggested as a tool to determine the metastatic risk of neoplasias. On this premise, the authors aimed to verify whether progression risk of stage I colorectal cancer may be related to LVD. The authors also evaluated and correlated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A expression with LVD revealed in the same cases in order to investigate its potential lymphangiogenic role in the early stage colorectal cancer. Methods LVD and VEGF immunoexpression were analysed and compared in series of 29 stage I surgically resected colorectal carcinomas obtained from patients showing disease progression and in a cohort of 23 stage I colorectal cancers from patients with no evidence of disease progression. The prognostic value of LVD and of VEGF expression on the progression-free survival to colorectal cancer was investigated. Results A high density of peritumoural lymphatics (P-LVD) was significantly associated with high VEGF expression and disease progression. Moreover, high P-LVD and high VEGF expression were significant negative prognostic parameters associated with a shorter disease-free interval in stage I colorectal cancer. Conclusions If our findings are further confirmed in other studies, the assessment of P-LVD on surgical specimens might be used as a tool to identify patients with stage I colorectal cancer at higher risk of progression in order to submit them to adjuvant therapies. Since P-LVD seems to show a VEGF-A mediated regulation in stage I colorectal cancer, therapies targeting this factor might be exploited to reduce lymphangiogenesis and the progression risk of this neoplasia.
Expression of Membrane Progestin Receptors (mPRs) in Granulosa Cells of Medaka Preovulatory Follicles

Membrane progestin receptor (mPR) &agr; on the cell membrane of the oocyte is involved in the meiotic maturation of vertebrates, including teleosts, but little is known about the role of this membrane-bound follicular receptor. We investigated the ovarian expression of membrane progestin receptor (mPR) mRNA in medaka. In follicles that were destined to ovulate, transcripts of mPR&agr; and mPR&ggr; were expressed in the oocytes as well as the granulosa cells. Transcripts of mPR&agr; and mPR&ggr; were expressed at relatively constant levels in the whole ovary and in the preovulatory follicles throughout the 24-h spawning cycle. In vitro incubation of the preovulatory follicles with recombinant medaka luteinizing hormone caused no significant changes in the expression of mPR&agr; and mPR&ggr; mRNA, suggesting LH-independent follicular expression of these mPR genes. Using HEK293T cells expressing medaka mPRs, forskolin-elevated intracellular cAMP levels were found to be reduced on treatment of the cells with ligand 17&agr;, 20ß-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP), but only in the cells expressing mPR&agr;. These results indicate that activation of mPR&agr; and mPR&ggr; with DHP may cause differential effects on the granulosa cells. Information obtained from the present study may help to elucidate the role of mPR&agr; and mPR&ggr; in the granulosa cells of the follicles.
The patients' perspective on physical symptoms after radiotherapy for cervical cancer.

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to describe the physical symptoms experienced by patients with advanced stages of cervical cancer during the first 2 years after radiotherapy. METHODS A questionnaire about health-related quality of life was used. It consisted of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and additional specific questions. The patients were assessed at the end of treatment and 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months later. The scores from the 118 patients were compared to those from 236 healthy controls. RESULTS Most patients had acute physical symptoms at the end of treatment and up to 3 months later. Local symptoms such as frequent voiding and diarrhea may become chronic symptoms. CONCLUSION Assessment of health-related quality of life includes information about milder side effects that is not usually included in physician scoring of morbidity. Information about possible side effects improves the patient's ability to cope with the symptoms should they occur.
Psychosocial Interventions for Patients and Caregivers in the Age of New Communication Technologies: Opportunities and Challenges in Cancer Care

Interactive health communication technologies (IHCTs) present a new opportunity and challenge for cancer control researchers who focus on couple- and family-based psychosocial interventions. In this article, the authors first present findings from a systematic review of 8 studies that used IHCTs in psychosocial interventions with cancer patients and their caregivers. Although this research area is still in its infancy, studies suggest that it is feasible to incorporate IHCTs in such interventions, that IHCTs are generally well accepted by patients and caregivers, and that the choice of technology is largely dependent on intervention target (i.e., patient, caregiver, or both) and outcomes (e.g., decision making, symptom management, lifestyle behaviors). A major research gap has been the lack of integration of Web 2.0 technologies (e.g., social media), despite the fact that social support and communication are frequently targeted components of interventions that involve cancer patients and their caregivers. Given this, the authors next present findings from a qualitative study that they conducted to describe the different needs and preferences of 13 cancer survivors and 12 caregivers with regard to social media use. Last, the authors discuss some of the opportunities and challenges of using IHCTs in psychosocial interventions for cancer patients and their caregivers and propose directions for future research.
Olfactory Associative Discrimination: A Model for Studying Modifications of Synaptic Efficacy in Neuronal Networks Supporting Long-term Memory

This review summarizes research that correlates behavioral performance and cellular physiology leading to modifications in the neuronal networks supporting long-term memory in the mammalian brain. Rats were trained in an olfactory associative discrimination task in which natural odors were replaced by mimetic olfactory stimulations. Olfactory learning induced synaptic modifications that affected behavioral performance along the central olfactory pathways. Starting with an early increase in monosynaptic efficacy in the dentate gyrus on the first session, a polysynaptic modification appeared later on in this hippocampal network, when rats began to make associations between cues and rewards. Therefore, only when rats made consistent associations did a long-term potentiation in the synapses of the piriform cortex pyramidal neurons appear. These modifications may correspond to the long-term storage of the meaning of the cue-reward association in a specific cortical area. Based on these cumulative results, a hypothesis is proposed to account for how, when, and where synaptic modifications in neural networks are required to constitute long-term memory.
Functional Status in Children With ADHD at Age 6–8: A Controlled Community Study

OBJECTIVES: To examine the functional status (mental health, academic performance, peer problems) of a community-based sample of children who have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and non-ADHD controls, and to investigate gender and subtype differences. METHODS: Children aged 6 to 8 years were recruited through 43 Melbourne schools, using a 2-stage screening (parent and teacher Conners 3 ADHD index) and case confirmation (Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children, Version IV; [DISC-IV]) procedure. Outcome measures were mental health disorders (DISC-IV), academic performance (Wide Range Achievement Test 4), and peer problems (Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire). Unadjusted and adjusted linear and logistic regression were used to compare ADHD and non-ADHD controls. RESULTS: A total of 179 children who have ADHD and 212 non-ADHD controls were recruited. Compared with controls, children who had ADHD had higher odds of externalizing (odds ratio [OR], 11.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.6–21.6; P < .001) and internalizing (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.2–7.2; P = .02) disorders; poorer reading (effect size, −0.66) and mathematics (effect size, −0.69) performance; and more peer problems (P < .001). Boys and girls who had ADHD were equally impaired. Only 17% of children in our ADHD group had been previously diagnosed. Previous diagnosis was higher in the Combined group and for boys. CONCLUSIONS: In their second year of school, children who had ADHD performed worse than controls across all functional domains, yet only a minority had been formally diagnosed with ADHD. Findings highlight the need for earlier diagnosis and intervention.
Protective effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) administration on cisplatin‐induced oxidative damage to liver in rat

Cisplatin is one of the most active cytotoxic agents in the treatment of cancer. High doses of cisplatin have also been known to produce hepatotoxicity. Several studies suggest that supplementation with an antioxidant can influence cisplatin‐induced hepatotoxicity. The present study was designed to determine the effects of cisplatin on the liver oxidant/antioxidant system, and the possible protective effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on liver toxicity induced by cisplatin. Twenty‐four adult female Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups of six rats each: control, cisplatin, CAPE, and cisplatin+CAPE. Cisplatin and CAPE were injected intraperitoneally. Liver tissue was removed to study the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px), myeloperoxidase (MPO), xanthine oxidase (XO), adenosine deaminase (ADA), and the levels of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide (NO). The activities of SOD and GSH‐Px increased in the cisplatin+CAPE and CAPE groups compared with the cisplatin group. CAT activity was higher in the cisplatin +CAPE group than the other three groups. XO activity was lower in the cisplatin group than the control group. MPO activity was also increased in the cisplatin group compared to the control and CAPE groups. It can be concluded that CAPE may prevent cisplatin‐induced oxidative changes in liver by strengthening the antioxidant defence system by reducing reactive oxygen species and increasing antioxidant enzyme activities. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mental Accounts with Horizon and Asymmetry Preferences

The paper extends the mental accounting framework in behavioral finance with investors' time horizon and with asymmetric consideration between extreme gains and losses. This generalized Horizon-Asymmetry Mental Accounting framework (HAMA) has important implications for the determination of investors' risk preferences. Risk aversion and the bond-to-stock ratio are found to decline with investment horizon. Investors who assign a high value to upside potential tend to select portfolios with more important asymmetric and leptokurtic distributions. In its general version, the model does not rely on any specific utility function nor any functional shape for the return distribution. The model is shown to be flexible enough to encompass optimal allocations from the mean-variance portfolio theory, the expected power utility criterion, and a non-Gaussian utility framework.
Protein Quality and Growth in Malnourished Children

Background: Protein quality refers to the amounts and ratios of essential amino acids in a food. Two methods most commonly used for determining protein quality are the protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) and the digestible indispensible amino acid score (DIAAS). Objective: To use existing literature to compare different amino acid profiles and PDCAAS and DIAAS scores in individuals with acute inflammation and to assess their relationship with weight gain in children with severe acute malnourished (SAM). Methods: A series stable isotope studies were previously conducted in children with SAM and acute infection, and these data were reviewed with respect to protein synthesis. Eleven published treatment trials for SAM with different therapeutic foods were analyzed to examine the relationship between protein quality scores with weight gain (g/kg/d). Protein scores were calculated with the PDCAAS and DIAAS amino acid reference patterns. A DIAAS score adjusted for the higher weight gain expected in malnourished children was also used. Bivariate correlation analysis was used to examine this relationship. Results: The protein kinetic data supported the hypothesis that a balance of amino acids that matches the composition of acute-phase proteins maximizes amino acid synthesis. Protein quality scores were highly correlated with the rate of weight gain in recovery from SAM, and the DIAAS scoring system adjusted for the higher expected weight gain had the strongest correlation with the observed weight gain. Conclusion: Protein quality scores must account for physiologic status so that they better match with needs and thus better promote health.
Setting Boundaries: Brain Dynamics of Modal and Amodal Illusory Shape Completion in Humans

Normal visual perception requires differentiating foreground from background objects. Differences in physical attributes sometimes determine this relationship. Often such differences must instead be inferred, as when two objects or their parts have the same luminance. Modal completion refers to such perceptual “filling-in” of object borders that are accompanied by concurrent brightness enhancement, in turn termed illusory contours (ICs). Amodal completion is filling-in without concurrent brightness enhancement. Presently there are controversies regarding whether both completion processes use a common neural mechanism and whether perceptual filling-in is a bottom-up, feedforward process initiating at the lowest levels of the cortical visual pathway or commences at higher-tier regions. We previously examined modal completion (Murray et al., 2002) and provided evidence that the earliest modal IC sensitivity occurs within higher-tier object recognition areas of the lateral occipital complex (LOC). We further proposed that previous observations of IC sensitivity in lower-tier regions likely reflect feedback modulation from the LOC. The present study tested these proposals, examining the commonality between modal and amodal completion mechanisms with high-density electrical mapping, spatiotemporal topographic analyses, and the local autoregressive average distributed linear inverse source estimation. A common initial mechanism for both types of completion processes (140 msec) that manifested as a modulation in response strength within higher-tier visual areas, including the LOC and parietal structures, is demonstrated, whereas differential mechanisms were evident only at a subsequent time period (240 msec), with amodal completion relying on continued strong responses in these structures.
Pengaruh Kualitas Pelayanan terhadap Niat Ulang dengan Menggunakan Produk yang Lain melalui Kepercayaan Nasabah Bank Syariah Mandiri Kantor Cabang Boulevard di Surabaya

This study aims to determine the effect of service quality on intention to re-use products other Bank Syariah Mandiri through the trust as an intervening variable. The method used is quantitative approach. Characteristics of the sample used is 30 customers of Bank Syariah Mandiri Boulevard branch in Surabaya who use a particular product. Sampling is using nonprobability sampling with purposive sampling procedure. The analytic technique is used path analysis or path analysis. The results showed that the quality of services significantly influence customer confidence in Bank Syariah Mandiri Boulevard in Surabaya. Other results show that trust significantly influence purchase intention by re-using the products of Bank Syariah Mandiri others. While service quality does not significantly influence customers' purchase intention by re-using the products of Bank Syariah Mandiri others. Advice for Bank Syariah Mandiri branch in Surabaya Boulevard to always improve the quality of service to customers through good SERVQUAL and maintain the trust that exists between the customer and the bank to always be honest and maintain the trust that has been given by the customer to the bank. For further research can add variable customer loyalty in the Islamic perspective.
The effects of neonatal median nerve injury on the responsiveness of Tactile neurones within the cuneate nucleus of the cat

1 The capacity of cuneate neurones to attain normal functional properties following neonatal median nerve injury was investigated with single neurone recording in anaesthetized cats, 12–24 months subsequent to a controlled crush injury. Effectiveness of the peripheral nerve injury was confirmed by the abolition of the median nerve compound action potential following the crush. 2 Cuneate recording was carried out after denervation of the forearm, apart from the median nerve, to ensure that neurones studied had receptive fields within the distribution zone of the regenerated median nerve. Controlled and reproducible tactile stimuli were used to evaluate the functional capacities of neurones to determine whether they were consistent with those reported earlier for cuneate neurones in cats that had normal peripheral nerve development. 3 Twenty‐two cuneate neurones with well‐defined tactile receptive fields within the distribution zone of the regenerated median nerve were classified according to their adaptation characteristics and functional properties. Slowly adapting neurones responded throughout static skin indentations and had graded and approximately linear stimulus–response relations over indentation ranges up to 1.5 mm. Rapidly adapting neurones responded to the dynamic phases of skin indentations and could be divided into two broad classes, one most sensitive to vibrotactile stimuli at 200–400 Hz which appeared to receive a predominant input from Pacinian corpuscle receptors, and a non‐Pacinian group that included neurones most sensitive to skin vibration at 5–50 Hz which appeared to receive glabrous skin input from the rapidly adapting class of afferent fibres. 4 Based on the stimulus‐response relations and on measures of phase locking in the responses to vibrotactile stimuli, it appears that the functional properties of cuneate neurones activated from the field of a regenerated median nerve subsequent to a neonatal nerve crush injury were consistent with those reported previously for ‘control’ cuneate neurones. The results indicate that cuneate neurones can acquire normal tactile coding capacities despite the disruption caused by prior crush injury to their peripheral nerve source.
Analysis of the Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrum of Staphylococcus aureus Identifies Mutations That Allow Differentiation of the Main Clonal Lineages

ABSTRACT Nosocomial infections involving epidemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains are a serious problem in many countries. In order to analyze outbreaks, the infectious isolates have to be typed; however, most molecular methods are expensive or labor-intensive. Here, we evaluated matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) of cell extracts for the molecular characterization of S. aureus strains. The peak patterns of 401 MRSA and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) strains, including clinical and laboratory strains, were analyzed. Database searches indicated the peptides that were represented by the corresponding peaks in the spectra. The identities of the peptides were confirmed by the sequencing of mutants, the expression of antisense RNA fragments that resulted in the knockdown of the peptide of interest and the concomitant loss of the signal, or tandem MALDI-TOF MS (MALDI-TOF/TOF MS). It was shown that the signals derive mainly from stress proteins and ribosomal proteins. Peak shifts that differentiate the main S. aureus clonal complexes CC5, CC22, CC8, CC45, CC30, and CC1 correlate to point mutations in the respective genes. Retrospective typing of an MRSA outbreak showed that it is possible to differentiate unrelated MSSA, MRSA, and borderline resistant S. aureus (BORSA) strains isolated from health care workers. In conclusion, this method allows for the detection of the epidemic lineages of S. aureus during species identification by MALDI-TOF MS analysis.