Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chemotherapy cardiotoxicity: cardioprotective drugs and early identification of cardiac dysfunction

Background Chemotherapy cardiotoxicity is an emerging problem and it is very important to prevent cardiac dysfunction caused by anticancer drugs. The aim of this study was to assess the alterations of the cardiac function induced by chemotherapy in a follow-up of 2 years and to evaluate the cardioprotective role of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) in the prevention of cardiac dysfunction. Methods A prospective study was carried out using patients with breast cancer (85 women; median age 57 ± 12 years) and other inclusion and exclusion criteria. On the basis of treatment, patients were divided into six groups: fluorouracil-epirubicincyclophosphamide, FEC (group A); FEC and trastuzumab (B); trastuzumab (C); FEC and taxotere (D); FEC, paclitaxel and trastuzumab (E); and chemotherapy and cardioprotective drugs (F). Cardiological evaluation including electrocardiogram and conventional echocardiogram with tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) was carried out at T0 (before starting chemotherapy), T1 (after 6 months from the start of chemotherapy) and T2 (2 years after the end of chemotherapy). Results Significant changes in the TDI parameters of systolic and diastolic function were observed at T1 and T2 in all patients. A significant reduction of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was observed only at T2. In the patients treated with ACEI (F), these changes were less significant than in other groups and they do not have significant changes in the indices of diastolic function. Conclusion TDI is more sensitive than conventional echocardiogram in the early diagnosis of cardiac dysfunction and ACEIs seem to have an important role in the prevention of cardiotoxicity.
What to expect and when: benznidazole toxicity in chronic Chagas’ disease treatment

Background Benznidazole is one of the two most effective antiparasitic drugs for Chagas' disease treatment. However, knowledge about its toxicity profile is mostly based on post-marketing observational studies. Objectives Our study combines data from two prospective clinical trials designed to assess the safety of the drug newly produced by ELEA Laboratories (Abarax®). Methods Eligible participants were selected using a consecutive sampling strategy in the CINEBENZ and BIOMARCHA studies between 2013 and 2016 (EUDRACT 2011-002900-34 and 2012-002645-38, respectively, and clinicaltrials.gov NCT01755403 and NCT01755377, respectively). Enrolled subjects received treatment with 5 mg/kg/day benznidazole orally in two divided doses for 8 weeks and were followed up fortnightly. Results We observed 305 adverse reactions in 85 of 99 participants (85.9%). Each patient had a median of three adverse reactions, 89.5% were mild and the median duration was 12 days. Most adverse reactions appeared in the first month of treatment except arthritis and peripheral neuropathy. Twenty-six patients did not complete treatment: 2 were withdrawn, 1 for ectopic pregnancy and 1 for epilepsy relapse due to cysticercosis; 2 were lost to follow-up; and 22 were owing to adverse reactions, two of them severe. We observed some unexpected adverse reactions that have not been described previously, such as psychiatric symptoms, erectile dysfunction, menstrual cycle alterations and lung infiltration. Conclusions There is a very high frequency of adverse reactions to benznidazole. Most adverse reactions are mild, but the treatment burden is significant and unexpected reactions are not rare. Severe reactions are uncommon, but they can be life-threatening. Further studies are necessary to optimize treatment.
Adapter proteins and promoter regulation of the angiotensin AT2 receptor — implications for cardiac pathophysiology

The angiotensin AT 2 receptor (AT2R) represents an important component of the renin-angiotensin system since it is involved in the (patho) physiology of different cardiovascular and neuronal diseases. Furthermore, AT2 receptors can partly mediate beneficial effects of angiotensin AT 1 receptor (AT1R) blockers, and direct pharmacological AT 2 receptor agonism emerges as a novel therapeutic strategy. This review discusses the constitutive and ligand-mediated activity as well as the signal transduction of the AT2 receptor, focusing on adapter proteins which directly bind to this receptor. Direct protein-protein interaction partners of the AT2 receptor described so far include the transcription factor promyelocytic zinc finger protein, AT2 receptor binding protein and the AT1 receptor. In addition, the putative crosstalk of the AT2 receptor with the renin/ prorenin receptor (RER) via the promyelocytic zinc finger protein (PLZF) and the role of oestrogens on the regulation of the AT2 receptor are presented. Conceiving the coupling of the AT2 receptor to different adapter proteins with distinct and partly opposing cellular effects and the implications of its constitutive activity might help to overcome the current controversies on the (patho)physiological role of the AT2 receptor.
Cambio cultural y desarrollo humano en contextos minoritarios

Esta tesis es un estudio, desde el marco epistemologico de la Psicologia Cultural, de los procesos de cambio cultural en una comunidad minoritaria. Parte de los datos recogidos en un proyecto de investigacion - accion participante, de datos etnograficos y de entrevistas grupales. Adopta un enfoque evolutivo al afrontar el estudio de los procesos de socializacion y de formacion de la identidad en el marco las comunidades gitanas, orientandose a partir de los postulados teoricos y los trabajos practicos de autores como Vygotsky, Bruner, Rogoff, Cole , Greenfield y Valsiner. Se aborda, desde un enfoque psicosocial, el estudio de los procesos de identidad minoritaria, de relaciones interculturales y de relaciones de poder, todo ello desde una perspectiva situada. Las conclusiones del estudio son las siguientes: 1. Existe actualmente un marcado proceso de cambio cultural en las sociedades gitanas. 2. Este proceso de cambio no puede desligarse de la condicion de minorias culturales de las sociedades gitanas. 3. Esta nueva organizacion de roles supone cambios importantes en el proyecto de desarrollo de los miembros de esta cultura. 4. Este cambio, entre otras cosas, supone una nueva organizacion de los roles de genero. 5. La nueva orientacion del desarrollo de los sujetos en la cultura gitana (grupo minoritario) no puede asimilarse a la orientacion del desarrollo de los sujetos del grupo dominante. 6. Los cambios en las estrategias educativas dan lugar a nuevos sujetos que contribuyen al cambio cultural.
The Nude Mouse vs. The Hypothesis of Immunological Surveillance

Are malignant clones, generated by somatic mutation, the selective pressure that has maintained cell-mediated immunity, as expressed in graft rejection, during the process of evolution? It may seem awkward to open a contribution to 'Experiments and the concept of immune surveillance' with such a Darwinian question since evolution is a long-term experiment and the period of our observation is confined to a small segment of it. However, the answer to this question is crucial for the acceptance or rejection of the hypothesis of Immunological Surveillance. Three sets of observations made in the athymic nude mouse are directly related to this issue: First, is the ready and permanent acceptance of foreign tissue grafts in nude mice. Second, the near total absence of spontaneous malignant tumours in nude mice. Third, the life span of the nude mouse is inversely proportional to the amount of environmental stress contributed by the microbiological milieu that the animal is exposed to. In view of this evidence we argue that the microbiological milieu and not spontaneous tumour generation is the selective pressure that has maintained cell-mediated immunity during evolution. In the following, we char-
Function and survival of macroencapsulated syngeneic islets transplanted into streptozocin-diabetic mice.

BACKGROUND Macroencapsulation is a strategy to protect transplanted islets from rejection and autoimmune attack. This study addresses questions about the survival and function of macroencapsulated syngeneic islets. METHODS Planar immunobarrier membrane diffusion devices were used for syngeneic islet transplantation. After being mixed with a 1% alginate solution, a total of 250, 500, 750 or 1000 islets were loaded into the devices, which were implanted into the epididymal fat pad(s) of streptozocin diabetic mice. RESULTS The success rate for restoration of normoglycemia at week 4 was highest for the recipients receiving two devices, each with 500 islets. Loading 750 or 1000 islets provided no improvement over loading 500 islets in a single device. Devices containing 250 islets were rarely successful. There was a striking tendency of transplants to either bring glucose levels into the near normal range or to fail with marked hyperglycemia. After an overnight fast at 1 and 4 weeks, but not at 12 weeks, hypoglycemia was found. The insulin content of devices from animals with normalized glucose values was higher than the insulin content in failed devices. Islet volume was maintained for 12 weeks, and fibrosis did not increase. CONCLUSIONS A relatively small mass of macroencapsulated islet tissue can survive and function well enough to normalize glucose levels for at least 12 weeks. Maintenance of glucose levels in the near-normal range seems to have a beneficial influence on graft success. The finding of fasting hypoglycemia raises important clinical questions about islet dysfunction. Important limitations in the requirements for islet packing density in macroencapsulation have been defined. New approaches for improving islet packing density must be developed to make diffusion-dependent macroencapsulation more practical.
Evaluation of an adenosine 5'-triphosphate assay as a screening method to detect significant bacteriuria

The bioluminescent reaction of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) with luciferin and luciferase has been used in conjunction with a sensitive photometer (Lab-Line's ATP photometer) to detect significant bacteriuria in urine. This rapid method of screening urine specimens for bacteriuria was evaluated by using 348 urine specimens submitted to the clinical microbiology laboratory at the University of Minnesota Hospitals for routine culture using the calibrated loop-streak plate method. There was 89.4% agreement between the culture method and the ATP assay, with 7.0% false positive and 27.0% false negative results from the ATP assay using 10(5) organisms/ml of urine or greater as positive for significant bacteriuria and less than 10(5) organisms/ml as negative for significant bacteriuria.
Parkinsonism in a Nursing Home: Underrecognition

Parkinsonism is a very common condition in the elderly, particularly the elderly demented. The authors’ experience in both the in-and outpatient settings suggested that parkinsonism was generally underdiagnosed in the elderly. They evaluated the residents at a local nursing home to assess for parkinsonian signs. They then compared the findings to those noted in the charts. Blinded assessment of all nursing home residents for signs of parkinsonism was performed. A standardized evaluation instrument was used, followed by a chart review to determine if patients were taking medications that might induce the parkinsonism and whether the parkinsonism had been recognized. The authors looked separately at those patients receiving antipsychotics because of their increased risk. Twenty-seven out of 100 residents had “probable” parkinsonism, 12 of whom were severe, and 33 had “possible” parkinsonism. Of 27 residents on antipsychotics, 23 showed parkinsonian features versus 43 of 73 not on such drugs (P< .02). Only 1 patient with drug-induced parkinsonism and 3 residents with previously diagnosed Parkinson’s disease had chart notes indicating that parkinsonism had been recognized.
Comparison of supply noise and substrate noise reduction in SiGe BiCMOS and FDSOI processes

In this paper, substrate noise suppression for 0.18¿m SiGe BiCMOS and fully-depleted silicon on insulator (FDSOI) processes is evaluated and compared. For both technologies, the most effective way for substrate noise reduction is assessed to identify the best approach for noise mitigation. The results show that the FDSOI process with large separation between analog and digital blocks is a more efficient substrate crosstalk suppression method compared to the best case in the SiGe BiCMOS process.
Mortality Rate and Outcome among Patients Admitted to General Intensive Care Unit during “Morning-Hour” Compared with “Off-Hour”

Aim: This study aim to evaluate the effect of time of admission on mortality of patients admitted to the ICU. Method: This retrospective study included 391 of patients admitted to the ICU of an academic hospital during one year. Patients were categorized according to time of admission: working-hours and off-hours. Mortality was compared in the groups and associated factors of mortality were examined. Results: Two third of patients were admitted during off-hours. There was no significant difference in the GCS, age and length of stay among patients admitted during working-hours and off-hours. There was no difference in mortality among patients admitted during working-hours and off-hours Mortality was significantly higher in older and more severe cases, regardless of time of admission. Conclusion: Time of ICU admission does not have significant effect on patient’s outcome.
Laminar and areal differences in the origin of the subcortical projection neurons of the rat somatosensory cortex

Fluorescent retrograde tracing techniques were employed in a double‐labelling paradigm to determine the distribution of corticospinal, corticotectal, and corticotrigeminal projection neurons in layer Vb of the adult and neonatal rat somatosensory cortex. The double‐labelling paradigm allowed a direct comparison of the cortical distribution of neurons projecting to each target and identification of neurons projecting to more than one target.
Immunohistochemical Study of P 53 and Ki 67 Expression in Surface Epithelial Tumor of the Ovary

Surface epithelial tumors of the ovary account for approximately two-thirds of all ovarian neoplasms and their malignant forms represent about 90% of ovarian cancers. For years, efforts to identify reliable prognostic factors have focused on molecular markers; large number of them has been investigated to date, usually by immunohistochemistry. Mutation of the p53 gene has been reported in a variety of human malignant tumors and it has been claimed to be a marker of poor prognosis. Aim of the study is to assess the immunoexpression of p53 and Ki 67 in surface epithelial tumors of the ovary and to evaluate their correlation with the clinicopathological parameters. There were 60 cases of surface epithelial tumors encountered over the period of 7 years from 2007 to 2014 in addition to10 samples of nonneoplastic ovarian tissues were included as a control. The samples were collected from Hawler Maternity Teaching Hospital. Formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens were studied and sections were prepared for immunohistochemical staining for both p53 and Ki 67 markers. Ethical consent has been obtained from Hawler Medical University. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 19). High immunoexpression of p53 and Ki 67 were seen in patients with ovarian tumor aged more than 40 years. Statically highly significant correlation was found in the immunoexpression of both p53 and Ki 67 marker between benign, borderline and malignant surface epithelial tumors ( P value < 0.05); while no significant correlation was found between their expression in relation to tumor grade and stage in epithelial ovarian cancer. Maximal immunoexpression of p53 and Ki-67 immunohistochemical markers was seen in epithelial ovarian cancer, this emphasizes their important carcinogenic role in surface epithelial tumor of the ovary. Their over expressions are not correlated with tumor grade and stage.
Effects of Ventilation on Hemodynamics and Myocardial Blood Flow during Active Compression‐Decompression Resuscitation in Pigs

Background Active compression‐decompression (ACD) improves hemodynamics and vital organ blood flow during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The effects of intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) on ACD have not been studied. This study was designed to compare the effects of ACD with and without IPPV on gas exchange, hemodynamics, and myocardial blood flow. Methods After 30 s ventricular fibrillation, 14 tracheally intubated pigs were allocated to receive either ACD combined with IPPV (ACD‐IPPV) or ACD alone. In animals treated with ACD‐IPPV, the lungs were ventilated using a servo ventilator. Animals treated with ACD received 100% oxygen by a reservoir but ventilation was not assisted. Results Minute ventilation (median) was 6.5 and 6.1 l/min after 1 and 7 min of ACD‐IPPV, and was 4.2 and 1.6 l/min after 1 and 7 min of ACD. In contrast to ACD‐IPPV, PaO2 was less and PaCO2 was greater with ACD. Mean arterial (53 and 40 mmHg; P < 0.05) and mean central venous pressure (25 and 14 mmHg; P < 0.01) were greater during ACD‐IPPV as compared with ACD. After administration of epinephrine 0.2 mg/kg, myocardial blood flow increased only in ACD‐IPPV treated animals, and 5 min after epinephrine administration, myocardial blood flow was greater during ACD‐IPPV (33 ml *symbol* min sup ‐1 *symbol* 100 g sup ‐1) as compared with ACD (15 ml *symbol* min sup ‐1 *symbol* 100 g sup ‐1; P < 0.05). Restoration of spontaneous circulation could be achieved only in animals subjected to ACD‐IPPV. Conclusions Gas exchange was critically impaired during the late phase of ACD. Compared with ACD‐IPPV, myocardial blood flow was less preserved with ACD and was too low to achieve restoration of spontaneous circulation.
Comprehensive genome- and transcriptome-wide analyses of mutations associated with microsatellite instability in Korean gastric cancers

Microsatellite instability (MSI) is a critical mechanism that drives genetic aberrations in cancer. To identify the entire MS mutation, we performed the first comprehensive genome- and transcriptome-wide analyses of mutations associated with MSI in Korean gastric cancer cell lines and primary tissues. We identified 18,377 MS mutations of five or more repeat nucleotides in coding sequences and untranslated regions of genes, and discovered 139 individual genes whose expression was down-regulated in association with UTR MS mutation. In addition, we found that 90.5% of MS mutations with deletions in gene regions occurred in UTRs. This analysis emphasizes the genetic diversity of MSI-H gastric tumors and provides clues to the mechanistic basis of instability in microsatellite unstable gastric cancers.
Immunohistochemical comparison of gastrointestinal stromal tumor and solitary fibrous tumor.

CONTEXT The differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) and solitary fibrous tumors (SFT) may be a diagnostic challenging because of overlapping clinicopathologic features. Many studies have shown consistent immunoreactivity for CD117 (c-Kit) in GIST. However, only a few studies have evaluated CD117 expression in SFT, and these studies have used an antibody from Santa Cruz Biotechnology. In non-GIST lesions, reactivity with this antibody has been shown to differ from that with a CD117 antibody from Dako Corporation. The immunoreactivity of SFT with the Dako CD117 antibody has not been reported. Conversely, CD99 is a marker for SFT, and its expression in GIST has not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE To study the immunohistochemical profiles of GIST and SFT to evaluate their diagnostic overlap. DESIGN We studied the immunoreactivity of 27 unequivocal GIST and 19 unequivocal extra-abdominal SFT for CD117, CD34, CD99, alpha-smooth muscle actin, vimentin, CD31, S100 protein, and muscle-specific actin. All antibodies, including CD117, were from Dako Corporation. RESULTS We found positive immunoreactivity for CD117 in 100% of GIST and none of SFT; for CD34 in 89% of GIST, and 100% of SFT; for CD99 in 89% of GIST and 100% of SFT; for alpha-smooth muscle actin in 48% of GIST and 31% of SFT; for vimentin in 89% of GIST and 90% of SFT; and for muscle-specific actin in 22% of GIST and none of SFT. None of the GIST or SFT showed immunoreactivity for CD31 and S100 protein. CONCLUSIONS The major difference between GIST and SFT was strong CD117 immunoexpression in all GIST and an absence of this expression in all SFT. With the exception of muscle-specific actin, the prevalence of immunoreactivity for the markers studied did not differ substantially between these 2 tumors. We conclude that GIST and SFT show distinctly divergent immunoprofiles with respect to CD117 and muscle-specific actin.
Essential medicine policy in China: pros and cons

Abstract Objective: To analyze the achievements, issues and policy recommendations for implementing essential medicine system in China after a 3-year effort. Methods: Policy documents analysis and Literature reviews are conducted. Results: From 2009–2011, a series of national essential medicine (EM) policies has been established which contain EM list, organizing production, quality assurance, pricing, tendering and procurement, distribution, rational use, monitoring and evaluation, etc. About 98.8% government-run primary healthcare institutions and 41.5% village health posts are conducting zero-mark-up policy while buying EMs. The average cost per visit, per admission, and per description in outpatient and inpatient departments has declined. The Issues with the national EM list cannot meet the requirements of clinical practice at the local level, all provinces have to increase additional 64–455 EMs in their local supplementary list; the limitation of EML in primary healthcare institutions causes patients to transfer directly to secondary or tertiary hospitals to search appropriate treatment; there is no defined regulation or legislation regarding the responsibility and accountability of government to compensate for the financial loss after implementing a zero mark-up policy in primary healthcare institutions. In the future, some innovative reform should be taken into account, such as revising EML, quality assurance, control margins within the distribution system, differential pricing and internal reference-based pricing, waive taxes and import duties of EMs, and separation between prescribing and dispensing in public hospital reform. Conclusions: Establishing a national essential medicine system is a difficult task to accomplish. The role of the zero-mark-up policy of EMs is to cut off the economic profit chain among different stakeholders. Using pharmaceutical profit to subsidize hospital revenue will be gradually eliminated in China.
Needs of Elderly Patients in Palliative Care

A pilot study on elderly patients' end-of-life needs was performed at a Swedish geriatric palliative ward. Thirty patients (15 men and 15 women; mean age, 79 years) with a primary diagnosis of cancer and admitted for palliative care were interviewed by a nurse using semistructured interviews. The study included demographic data, physical and psychologic status, and naming and ranking of individual needs. Elimination of physical pain was ranked as the primary need of half of the patients. Only when pain was eliminated or absent did other important needs (psychological, social, spiritual) appear frequently.