Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of a 3-month course of rosuvastatin in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with a highly increased cardiovascular risk. Statins can reduce this risk, but may possess additional anti-inflammatory effects that are relevant for the treatment of SLE. In a preliminary study, we investigated the effects of a 3-month course of rosuvastatin on lipids and markers of inflammation using a randomised cross-over design. The study was approved by the institutional medical and ethical committee and written informed consent was obtained from all subjects. Based upon a previous, representative study,1 a sample size of 14 patients would be necessary to demonstrate a 25% reduction in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (power = 80%). A dropout level of 35% (n = 5) was estimated.2 Patients with stable …
Pulp Response following Direct Pulp Capping with Dentin Adhesives and Mineral Trioxide Aggregate; An Animal Study

Introduction: Pulp vitality and its continuous dentin prodution are essential for long-term success of direct pulp capping (DPC). The aim of present study was to evaluate the histopathological response of the canine pulp following DPC using either different dentin adhesive resins (DAR), calcium hydroxide (CH) or mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). Methods and Materials: DPC was done on 72 dog’s teeth using 6 types of dental materials (n=12) (4 types of DAR, white MTA and CH). Therefore, six healthy dogs were anesthetized and 2 teeth from each dog were allocated to either type of mentioned DPC agents. The dental pulps were exposed mechanically by drilling in the center of class V cavities. The different types of capping materials included DARS (Clearfil S3 Bond, Optibond FL, Single Bond and Clearfil SE Bond), white MTA and CH. After 7, 21 and 63 days, two dogs were euthanized in each interval. Microscopic evaluations were done according to following criteria: intensity of inflammation, presence of necrosis and formation of hard tissue. The recorded data were analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis, Friedman, Cochran’s and Fisher’s exact tests using SPSS software version 12 at significant level of 0.05. Results: No significant differences were found regarding necrosis among DPC materials (P>0.05). However, MTA caused higher amount of hard tissue formation after 63 days in comparison with 21 days. Conclusion: MTA provided the highest degree of hard tissue formation after 63 days. However, further studies should be performed for administering a definitive material.
Influence of treatment parameters on selectivity of verteporfin therapy.

PURPOSE To improve selectivity of verteporfin therapy (PDT) in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using modified treatment parameters. METHODS Nineteen consecutive patients with predominantly classic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in AMD were treated with 6 mg/m2 verteporfin given as bolus infusion. Patients received PDT with a fluence of either 25 or 50 J/cm2. Choroidal perfusion changes were evaluated by indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) at baseline, day 1, week 1, week 4, and month 3. Secondary outcomes were CNV closure rate and therapy-induced leakage documented by fluorescein angiography (FA). The safety of the treatment was assessed with ETDRS visual acuity. RESULTS Complete CNV closure was achieved in all patients at day 1. Choroidal hypoperfusion was minimal in eyes treated with a reduced fluence of 25 J/cm2. Most patients treated with 50 J/cm2 showed significant choriocapillary nonperfusion at week 1, lasting as long as 3 months. A transient PDT-induced increase in leakage area in FA at day 1 was found to be more extensive in the 50-J/cm2 group. CONCLUSIONS Bolus administration of verteporfin combined with a reduced light dose achieved improved selectivity of photodynamic effects, avoiding collateral alteration of the physiologic choroid while obtaining complete CNV closure. An increased selectivity with decreased effect on the surrounding choroid should be of advantage in verteporfin monotherapy as well as in combination strategies.
Management of urinary incontinence following radical prostatectomy.

INTRODUCTION The impact of a urology oncology nurse specialist in the practice environment to assist with both pre and postoperative education needs of men undergoing genitourinary surgery for cancer was evaluated. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to improve the preoperative process and teaching for men planning surgery for genitourinary cancers, including the delivery of pathology results. A secondary aim was to decrease the incidence of postoperative incontinence. METHODS Male patients undergoing a radical prostatectomy were recruited. Patients who underwent surgery were evaluated both before and after the urology oncology nurse specialist role was established. Followup was via phone call interview and International Prostate Symptom Score questionnaire. RESULTS Men who received the personalized education from the urology oncology nurse specialist had a higher return of continence postoperatively, as well as higher satisfaction scores with the outcome of their surgery, including higher quality of life scores. CONCLUSION The urology oncology nurse specialist role had a significant impact on the postoperative incontinence rate and provided a missing patient education piece that improved the overall patient satisfaction rate with oncology-related care.
Post-thrombolysis intracerebral hemorrhage: Data from the Spanish Register ARIAM*

Objective:Our objective was to investigate the predisposing factors in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated with thrombolysis and complicated by intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), as well as the factors associated with death for patients whose conditions were complicated by ICH. Design:A retrospective study. Setting:An intensive care/critical care unit. Patients:All patients with AMI listed in the Spanish ARIAM register. Interventions:None. Measurements and Main Results:The study period was from June 1996 to December 2003. The follow-up period was limited to the time spent in the intensive care unit/coronary care unit. Associations with the development of ICH were studied by univariate analysis. Another univariate analysis was used to evaluate the differences between patients affected by AMI complicated by ICH who died and those who survived. Two multivariate analyses were also used: one to evaluate the factors related to the development of ICH and the other to evaluate the factors associated with the death of patients with ICH. A total of 17,111 patients with AMI were included in the study. ICH occurred in 151 (0.9%) of these patients during their stay in the intensive care unit/coronary care unit. The multivariate analysis showed that the variables associated with ICH development were smoking (odds ratio [OR], 0.684; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.478–0.979); oral b-blockers (OR, 0.488; CI, 0.337–0.706); angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (OR, 0.480; CI, 0.340–0.678); arterial hypertension (OR, 4.900; CI, 2.758–8.705); age of 55–64 yrs (OR, 2.253; CI, 1.117–4.546); age of 65–74 yrs (OR, 4.240; CI, 2.276–7.901); age of 75–84 yrs (OR, 4.450; CI, 2.319–8.539); and age of >84 yrs (OR, 2.997; CI, 1.039–8.647). The mortality rate among patients with ICH was 48.3%, vs. 8.3% among patients without ICH. The multivariate study showed that the mortality rate among patients with ICH was associated with age (OR, 1.086; CI, 1.033–1.143), arterial hypertension cardiovascular risk factor (OR, 2.773; CI, 1.216–6.324), and the need for mechanical ventilation (OR, 4.324; CI, 1.665–11.230) or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (OR, 12.258; CI, 1.268–118.523). However, the administration of b-blockers (OR, 0.369; CI, 0.136–0.997) or ACE inhibitors (OR, 0.367; CI, 0.149–0.902) was associated with a reduction in the mortality rate. Conclusions:Factors associated with the development of ICH in our population were age and arterial hypertension, whereas smoking and the administration of b-blockers or ACE inhibitors were associated with a reduction in incidence. Among patients with AMI complicated by ICH, mortality was associated with age, arterial hypertension, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the use of mechanical ventilation, whereas the administration of oral b-blockers and ACE inhibitors could be associated with a reduction in mortality.
Vibrational Spectra and Natural Bond Orbital Analysis of Temozolomide Acid

The structural and spectroscopic analysis of Temozolomide acid (TMZA) have been performed using computation technique. The DFT computation of TMZA was done using Gaussian '09 program package using B3LYP method with the 6-311G(D,P) basis set, which has been successfully applied in order to derive the optimized geometry and vibrational wavenumber of the normal modes. Vibrational spectroscopy is an efficient tool for the charecterization of bioactive materials. This work focuses on the spectral investigation using FT-Raman and IR spectra along with the density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The hydrogen bonding interaction is well demonstrated by the natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. The Mulliken population analysis on atomic charges and the HOMO-LUMO energy were also calculated.
Rapidly Increasing Prevalence of β-Lactamase-Nonproducing, Ampicillin-Resistant Haemophilus influenzae Type b in Patients with Meningitis

ABSTRACT A total of 395 Haemophilus influenzae strains from 226 Japanese institutions participating in the Nationwide Surveillance Study Group for Bacterial Meningitis were received from 1999 to 2002. All strains were analyzed by PCR to identify the resistance genes, and their susceptibilities to β-lactam agents were determined. Of these strains, 29.1% were β-lactamase nonproducing and ampicillin (AMP) susceptible (BLNAS) and lacked all resistance genes; 15.4% were β-lactamase producing and AMP resistant and had the blaTEM-1 gene; 30.6% were β-lactamase nonproducing and AMP resistant (low-BLNAR) and had a Lys-526 or His-517 amino acid substitution in ftsI encoding PBP 3; 13.9% were β-lactamase nonproducing and AMP resistant (BLNAR) and had an additional substitution of Thr-385 in ftsI; 9.1% were amoxicillin-clavulanic acid resistant (BLPACR I) and had the blaTEM-1 gene and a Lys-526 or His-517 amino acid substitution in ftsI; and 1.8% showed resistance similar to that of the BLPACR I group (BLPACR II) but had blaTEM-1 gene and ftsI substitutions, as was the case for the BLNAR strains. All but three strains were serotype b. The prevalence of BLNAR strains has increased rapidly: 0% in 1999, 5.8% in 2000, 14.1% in 2001, and 21.3% in 2002. The MICs at which 90% of BLNAR isolates were inhibited were as follows: AMP, 16 μg/ml; cefotaxime, 1 μg/ml; ceftriaxone, 0.25 μg/ml; and meropenem, 0.5 μg/ml. All of these values were higher than those for the BLNAS counterpart strains. The relatively wide distributions of the β-lactam MICs for BLNAR strains presumably reflect variations in ftsI gene mutations. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis suggested the rapid spread of specific H. influenzae type b strains throughout Japan. Expedited vaccination, rapid identification, and judicious antibiotic use could slow their spread.
Structure of Shock Fronts in Argon and Nitrogen

The optical reflectivity method was used to investigate the structure of shock fronts in argon from Mach 1.70 to Mach 4.85 and in nitrogen from Mach 2.01 to Mach 3.72. Experimental data were obtained at two wavelengths and over a wide range of initial pressures. The reflectivities, corrected empirically for shock curvature, were fitted to a bimodal profile to yield a maximum‐slope density thickness. The reciprocal of the thickness in argon (expressed in terms of the Maxwellian mean free path in the undisturbed gas) rises rapidly to a maximum of approximately 0.31 at about Mach 3.5 and decreases gradually thereafter. Above Mach 3 the thickness is about 50% greater than calculated from the Navier‐Stokes equations, using a realistic viscosity‐temperature relationship. There is excellent agreement, especially at the higher shock strengths, with recent bimodal calculations carried out by Muckenfuss, using realistic intermolecular potentials. In nitrogen, the shocks are thinner than in argon and appear to attain a minimum value of 2.5 initial mean free paths at about Mach 3.7. Rotational relaxation appears to be as rapid in the strong shocks as previously observed in weak shocks; it appears to be completed within the shock front. The experimental density thicknesses are approximately 50% greater than those calculated from the Navier‐Stokes equations, using the experimental shear viscosity μ and a bulk viscosity of 2μ/3. The agreement with these Navier‐Stokes solutions is about as good as those in argon.
Developmental Alterations in 5-Hydroxytryptamine Concentration and Turnover after Treatment of Neonatal Rats with 5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine

Early disruption of the serotonin neurotransmitter system may have important consequences for normal neuro-physiological development. In order to further understand the neurochemical changes which occur after early insults to the system, intracerebroventricular injections of the serotonin-selective toxin, 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine were given to Sprague-Dawley rat pups on day 3 of life. Serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid concentration in cortex, striatum, hippocampus, and brainstem were measured after 4, 8, and 12 weeks. In controls, serotonin concentration in the striatum and cortex increased from 4 to 12 weeks, while it reached adult levels by 4 weeks in the hippocampus. 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic acid increased in cortex and hippocampus and was unchanged after 4 weeks in the striatum. An index of serotonin turnover (5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid/serotonin) decreased in striatum and cortex, but increased in the hippocampus over time. 5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine treatment induced permanent decreases in serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid concentration in all three forebrain regions, but had no region- and time-specific effects on serotonin turnover. In the brainstem of controls, serotonin concentration increased from 4 to 12 weeks, while 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid concentration was unchanged, resulting in decreasing turnover. After 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine treatment, the brainstem did not show depletions of serotonin concentration in spite of significant serotonin neuronal loss, suggesting that compensatory mechanisms in remaining neurons may permit increased serotonin production. Regional and time-dependent responses to serotonin depletion may have functional implications for the developmental regulation of serotonin transmission after early insults to this neurotransmitter system.
Mitogenic Activities in the Protein Fractions of Crude Drugs

Eighteen different crude drugs were extracted with hot water and saline, and protein fractions were prepared from the extracts by ammonium sulfate precipitation. Mitogenic activities of the protein fractions were examined both on human peripheral blood lymphocytes and on mouse spleen cells. Potent mitogenic activities for both human and/or mouse lymphocytes were found in the protein fractions of four crude drugs, namely, Bupleuri radix, Pinelliae tuber, Sophorae radix, and Zedoariae rhizoma. Target specificities of these mitogens were investigated by using isolated T and B cells and lymphocytes from athymic nude mice. Sensitivity to protease digestion as well as water-soluble, ammonium sulfate precipitable nature assures that the substances responsible for the mitogenic activities are proteins.
Assessing Police Community Readiness to Work on Youth Access and Possession of Tobacco

Researchers are only beginning to investigate how to measure a community's readiness to engage in an intervention. In this study, we investigated the readiness of police departments to deal with tobacco policies about youth access to tobacco and youth possession of tobacco. Police officers in 24 towns completed structured interviews designed to assess each police department's community readiness to enforce tobacco sales and possession laws. Community readiness ratings were compared to outcome measures in the community, such as tobacco sales and possession enforcement activity, youth knowledge of such activities, and youth reports of smoking history. Higher readiness ratings on the youth tobacco possession enforcement scale was related to higher youth possession citation rates, higher number of youth reporting knowing someone who received a possession ticket, and a smaller number of youth reporting seeing minors smoking in their community. Youth in communities with higher possession readiness ratings in Efforts and Knowledge Regarding the Efforts had lower reports of youth reporting ever having smoked. Higher readiness ratings in the Leadership dimension of tobacco sales enforcement was related to lower tobacco commercial sales rates in the community. Higher tobacco sales readiness ratings in the Efforts, Knowledge Regarding the Efforts, and Knowledge Regarding the Problem dimensions were related to a lower number of youth reporting ever having smoked. The implications of these findings are discussed.
The differences in the relationship between diastolic dysfunction, selected biomarkers and collagen turn-over in heart failure patients with preserved and reduced ejection fraction.

BACKGROUND The aim of the study was to assess the correlation of the selected biomarkers and collagen turn-over indices with advanced echocardiographic parameters among patients with preserved and reduced ejection fraction (EF). METHODS We included 62 patients with the symptomatic heart failure. The patients were divided in to two groups according to the evaluated ejection fraction (EF - Simpson method): heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) group - 30 patients with low EF - 35-50% (16 male, mean age 54.9 ± 12.6), heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) group - 32 patients with EF > 50% (16 male, mean age 62.3 ± 7.6). Clinical evaluation included 6-min walk test, biochemistry, procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (PINP), procollagen type III N-terminal propetide (PIIINP), matrix metaloproteinase-2 (MMP2), ghrelin, and galectin-3 levels measurements. Echocardiographic examination was performed with analysis of diastolic function and global longitudinal strain (GLS). RESULTS The GLS in the HFrEF group was significantly lower than in the HFpEF group at the baseline (GLS: 9.56 vs. 16.03, p < 0.01). There was a strong negative correlation of the PIIINP and GLS in HFrEF group (r = -0.74, p = 0.005), but only a moderate negative correlation in HFpEF (r = -0.55, p = 0.02). In the HFrEF group, there was a moderate negative correlation between the baseline level of galectin-3 and GLS (r = -0.59, p = 0.03). The correlation of ghrelin and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 with EF in the HFrEF group was moderate and statistically significant (r = 0.62, p = 0.02 and r = -0.63, p = 0.02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Procollagen type III peptide has a strong negative correlation with left ventricular GLS. Galectin-3 relationship with strain may indicate novel pathophysiological pathways and requires further investigation.
A new technique for measuring lateral distribution of oxide charge and interface traps near MOSFET junctions

A technique to measure the lateral distribution of both interface traps and trapped oxide charge near the source-drain junctions in MOSFETs is presented. Its basic principle is described. This technique derives from the charge-pumping method, is easy to implement, and allows ready separation of the interface-trap and oxide charge components. Examples are shown for hot-carrier stressed MOS transistors. <<ETX>>
A High Speed IC Truly Random Number Generator Based on Chaotic Sampling of Regular Waveform

A novel random number generation method based on chaotic sampling of regular waveform is proposed. A high speed IC truly random number generator based on this method is also presented. Simulation and experimental results, verifying the feasibility of the circuit, are given. Numerical binary data obtained according to the proposed method pass the four basic tests of FIPS-140-2, while experimental data pass the full NIST-800-22 random number test suite without post-processing.
Water loss at normal enamel histological points during air drying at room temperature

This in vitro study aimed to quantify water loss at histological points in ground sections of normal enamel during air drying at room temperature (25°C) and relative humidity of 50%. From each of 10 ground sections of erupted permanent human normal enamel, three histological points (n = 30) located at 100, 300 and 500 μm from enamel surface and along a transversal following prisms paths were characterized regarding the mineral, organic and water volumes. Water loss during air drying was from 0 to 48 h. Drying occurred with both falling and constant‐drying rates, and drying stabilization times (Teq) ranged from 0.5 to 11 h with a mean 0.26 (±0.12)% weight loss. In some samples (n = 5; 15 points), Teq increased as a function of the distance from the enamel surface, and drying occurred at an apparent diffusion rate of 3.47 × 10−8 cm2 s−1. Our data provide evidence of air drying resulting in air replacing enamel's loosely bound water in prisms sheaths following a unidirectional water diffusion rate of 3.47 × 10−8 cm2 s−1 (from the original enamel surface inward), not necessarily resulting in water evaporating directly into air, with important implications for transport processes and optical and mechanical properties.
Treatment with leflunomide slows radiographic progression of rheumatoid arthritis: results from three randomized controlled trials of leflunomide in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. Leflunomide Rheumatoid Arthritis Investigators Group.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether treatment with leflunomide (LEF), methotrexate (MTX), or sulfasalazine (SSZ) for 6-12 months retards progression of radiographic damage and to identify clinical variables that correlate with radiographic progression. METHODS Radiographs of the hands and feet were performed at baseline and at the end of study or early exit in 3 randomized controlled trials. Protocol US301 was a 12-month controlled trial of LEF or MTX treatment compared with placebo in 482 patients randomized in a 3:3:2 ratio. Protocol MN301 compared 6 months of LEF or SSZ treatment with placebo in 358 patients, randomized in a 3:3:2 ratio, with continued blinded treatment in the active control arms for 12 months. Protocol MN302 compared 12 months of LEF treatment with MTX in 999 patients. Radiographs were blinded for sequence and treatment and were scored for erosions and joint space narrowing. All analyses were by intent-to-treat. Sensitivity analyses were performed to account for missing data. RESULTS LEF, MTX, and SSZ treatment resulted in statistically significantly less radiographic progression compared with placebo at 6 and 12 months: for protocol US301, LEF versus placebo P = 0.0007 and MTX versus placebo P = 0.0196; for protocol MN301, LEF versus placebo P = 0.0004 and SSZ versus placebo P = 0.0484. The effect of LEF treatment was similar to that of MTX and SSZ. CONCLUSION These are the first 6- and 12-month randomized placebo- and active drug-controlled trials to demonstrate retardation of radiographic progression by a new disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD), LEF, as well as 2 commonly used DMARDs, MTX and SSZ.