Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TSH and free thyroxine concentrations are associated with differing metabolic markers in euthyroid subjects.

OBJECTIVE To examine the association between thyroid function and the components of the metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in an Hispanic population. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. METHODS Subjects with no history of thyroid disease or diabetes were included. Thyroid function was stratified as euthyroid or subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) status and subsequently by free thyroxine (FT(4)) and TSH tertiles. The association of the metabolic syndrome components (defined by 2004 Adult Treatment Panel III criteria) and insulin resistance with thyroid status, TSH, and FT(4) were examined. RESULTS A total of 3148 subjects were analyzed. The prevalence of SCH was 8.3%. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was similar in euthyroid and SCH patients (31.6 vs 32.06%, P=0.89). Total cholesterol was higher in patients with SCH (5.51+/-1.19 vs 5.34+/-1.05 mmol/l, P<0.032). Serum TSH values showed a positive correlation (adjusted for age and sex) with total cholesterol, triglycerides, and waist circumference. In contrast, FT(4) showed a positive correlation with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and an inverse correlation with waist circumference, insulin, and HOMA-IR. CONCLUSION SCH is not associated with an increased risk for the metabolic syndrome (as conceived as a diagnostic category defined by the National Cholesterol, Education Program, Adult Treatment Panel III criteria). Despite this, low thyroid function (even in the euthyroid state) predisposes to higher cholesterol, glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR levels. The combined use of TSH and FT(4), compared with the assessment based on only FT(4), is a more convenient approach to evaluate the association between thyroid function and metabolic variables.
Connective tissue growth factor expression in endocrine tumors is associated with high stromal expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin.

OBJECTIVE Complications due to fibrosis development are common in patients with well-differentiated endocrine carcinomas in the small intestine (ileal carcinoids). Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression in ileal carcinoids may be related to this fibrosis development. This study aimed to examine CTGF expression in relation to local myofibroblast differentiation in a large series of ileal carcinoids and in different types of endocrine tumors. METHODS Immunoreactivity (IR) for CTGF and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), a marker for myofibroblasts, was compared in serial tumor tissue sections from 42 patients with ileal carcinoids and from 80 patients with other endocrine tumors. Western blot was performed on an additional 21 patients with ileal carcinoids. RESULTS CTGF IR was present in >50% of tumor cells in all 42 ileal carcinoids and in 2 out of 14 endocrine pancreatic tumors, 4 out of 6 rectal carcinoids, and 1 out of 5 lung carcinoids. Tumors with abundant CTGF expression also displayed α-SMA IR in stromal fibroblast-like cells, whereas other endocrine tumors displayed less or no CTGF and α-SMA IR. Protein bands corresponding to full-length CTGF (36-42 kDa) were detected in protein lysates from ileal carcinoids. CONCLUSION CTGF is uniquely prevalent in ileal carcinoids when compared with most other endocrine tumor types. Immunoreactive cells are adjacent areas with increased fibrovascular stroma that express α-SMA. This supports a potential role for CTGF in myofibroblast-mediated fibrosis associated with ileal carcinoids, and indicates that CTGF should be investigated as a target for future therapy.
Global Exponential Stability and Periodic oscillations of Reaction-diffusion BAM Neural Networks with Periodic Coefficients and General Delays

For a large class of reaction–diffusion bidirectional associative memory (RDBAM) neural networks with periodic coefficients and general delays, several new delay-dependent or delay-independent sufficient conditions ensuring the existence and global exponential stability of a unique periodic solution are given, by constructing suitable Lyapunov functionals and employing some analytic techniques such as Poincare mapping. The presented conditions are easily verifiable and useful in the design and applications of RDBAM neural networks. Moreover, the employed analytic techniques do not require the symmetry of the bidirectional connection weight matrix, the boundedness, monotonicity and differentiability of activation functions of the network. In several ways, the results generalize and improve those established in the current literature.
Dexamethasone Produces Dose-Dependent Inhibition of Sugammadex Reversal in In Vitro Innervated Primary Human Muscle Cells

BACKGROUND:Corticosteroids are frequently used during anesthesia to provide substitution therapy in patients with adrenal insufficiency, as a first-line treatment of several life-threatening conditions, to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting, and as a component of multimodal analgesia. For these last 2 indications, dexamethasone is most frequently used. Due to the structural resemblance between aminosteroid muscle relaxants and dexamethasone, concerns have been raised about possible corticosteroid inhibition in the reversal of neuromuscular block by sugammadex. We thus investigated the influence of dexamethasone on sugammadex reversal of rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block, which could be relevant in certain clinical situations. METHODS:The unique co-culture model of human muscle cells innervated in vitro with rat embryonic spinal cord explants to form functional neuromuscular junctions was first used to explore the effects of 4 and 10 &mgr;M rocuronium on muscle contractions, as quantitatively evaluated by counting contraction units in contraction-positive explant co-cultures. Next, equimolar and 3-fold equimolar sugammadex was used to investigate the recovery of contractions from 4 and 10 &mgr;M rocuronium block. Finally, 1, 100, and 10 &mgr;M dexamethasone (normal, elevated, and high clinical levels) were used to evaluate any effects on the reversal of rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block by sugammadex. RESULTS:Seventy-eight explant co-cultures from 3 time-independent experiments were included, where the number of contractions increased to 10 days of co-culturing. Rocuronium showed a time-dependent effect on depth of neuromuscular block (4 &mgr;M rocuronium: baseline, 10, 20 minutes administration; P < 0.0001), while the dose-dependent effect was close to nominal statistical significance (4, 10 &mgr;M; P = 0.080). This was reversed by equimolar concentrations of sugammadex, with further and virtually complete recovery of contractions with 3-fold equimolar sugammadex (P < 0.0001). Dexamethasone diminished 10 &mgr;M sugammadex-induced recovery of contractions from rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block in a dose-dependent manner (P = 0.026) with a higher sugammadex concentration (30 &mgr;M) being close to statistically significantly improving recovery (P = 0.065). The highest concentration of dexamethasone decreased the recovery of contractions by equimolar sugammadex by 26%; this effect was more pronounced when 3-fold equimolar (30 &mgr;M) sugammadex was used for reversal (48%). CONCLUSIONS:This is the first report in which the effects of rocuronium and sugammadex interactions with dexamethasone have been studied in a highly accessible in vitro experimental model of functionally innervated human muscle cells. Sugammadex reverses rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block; however, concomitant addition of high dexamethasone concentrations diminishes the efficiency of sugammadex. Further studies are required to determine the clinical relevance of these interactions.
Influence of preterm birth and small birth size on serum anti-Müllerian hormone levels in young adult women.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Preterm birth has been associated with reduced reproduction rates, and controversies remain regarding the effect of being born small for gestational age (SGA) on ovarian function. Recent findings in young men showed no effect of preterm and SGA birth on testis function. We hypothesised that follicle pool size in young adult women is also not affected by preterm and SGA birth. DESIGN/METHODS In 279 young women of the PROGRAM/PREMS study, aged 18-24 years, the influence of gestational age, birth length and birth weight on serum levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) was analysed with multiple regression modelling. Additionally, AMH levels were analysed in preterm- versus term-born females and in three subgroups: females born SGA with either short stature or catch-up growth (SGA-CU), and females born term and appropriate for gestational age with normal stature (AGA controls). RESULTS Preterm and SGA birth did not affect AMH and other hormone levels. Older age at menarche and oral contraceptive pill use (OC-use) were related to lower AMH levels, and maternal smoking during gestation was related to higher AMH levels. After correction for maternal smoking, lower socioeconomic status (SES) was associated with lower AMH levels. In subgroup comparisons, SGA-CU women showed higher AMH levels than AGA controls, also after adjustment for several factors. CONCLUSION Preterm and SGA birth did not affect AMH levels. Factors associated with serum AMH levels were OC-use, age at menarche, maternal smoking during gestation and SES. We conclude that preterm- and/or SGA-born females are not likely to have a reduced follicle pool size.
Nonstandard Discretization Schemes Applied to the Conservative Hénon-heiles System

The discretization of ordinary differential equations is investigated for the case of the conservative Henon–Heiles system. Starting from a discrete Hamiltonian function, which is invariant under time reversal, discrete equations of motion are analytically obtained using three different discretization schemes recently proposed and investigated in the literature. In the case where the discretization scheme successfully provide discrete systems in which the trace of the Jacobian matrix corresponding to the property required by a conservative system is preserved, it is shown that they are not necessarily invariant to time reversal. Such models are however quite robust when the time step is increased. For the schemes where the trace of Jacobian matrix does not match the condition required by conservative systems, it is shown that energy conservation is not achieved and the original dynamics is lost. Steps toward the solution to this problem are given.
Guidelines for the Management of Drug-resistant Tuberculosis

Preparing the books to read every day is enjoyable for many people. However, there are still many people who also don't like reading. This is a problem. But, when you can support others to start reading, it will be better. One of the books that can be recommended for new readers is guidelines for the management of drug resistant tuberculosis. This book is not kind of difficult book to read. It can be read and understand by the new readers.
Coherence Resonance in a Fitzhugh-nagumo Electronic System

We investigate Coherence Resonance phenomenon in an electronic circuit obeying the FitzHugh–Nagumo dynamics. The phenomenon is induced with a noise source exhibiting different nature. The resonance behavior results are significantly reinforced when experimental parameters are tuned in order to place the stable fixed point closer to the excitability threshold of spiking behavior, as well as when the time scales of the circuit are properly modified.
Accuracy of Continuous Noninvasive Hemoglobin Monitoring: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND:Noninvasive hemoglobin (Hb) monitoring devices are available in the clinical setting, but their accuracy and precision against central laboratory Hb measurements have not been evaluated in a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS:We conducted a comprehensive search of the literature (2005 to August 2013) with PubMed, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library, reviewed references of retrieved articles, and contacted manufactures to identify studies assessing the accuracy of noninvasive Hb monitoring against central laboratory Hb measurements. Two independent reviewers assessed the quality of studies using recommendations for reporting guidelines and quality criteria for method comparison studies. Pooled mean difference and standard deviation (SD) (95% limits of agreement) across studies were calculated using the random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. RESULTS:A total of 32 studies (4425 subjects, median sample size of 44, ranged from 10 to 569 patients per study) were included in this meta-analysis. The overall pooled random-effects mean difference (noninvasive—central laboratory) and SD were 0.10 ± 1.37 g/dL (−2.59 to 2.80 g/dL, I2 = 95.9% for mean difference and 95.0% for SD). In subgroup analysis, pooled mean difference and SD were 0.39 ± 1.32 g/dL (−2.21 to 2.98 g/dL, I2 = 93.0%, 71.4%) in 13 studies conducted in the perioperative setting and were −0.51 ± 1.59 g/dL (−3.63 to 2.62 g/dL, I2 = 83.7%, 96.4%) in 5 studies performed in the intensive care unit setting. CONCLUSIONS:Although the mean difference between noninvasive Hb and central laboratory measurements was small, the wide limits of agreement mean clinicians should be cautious when making clinical decisions based on these devices.
EPIDEMIOLOGY OF COLDS IN INFANTS: STUDIES ON RESPIRATORY DIVISION: XII

The degree of infectivity of the common cold has never been definitely ascertained. Indeed, the share of any outside infecting agent as a determining factor has often been questioned, and stress laid instead on temporary lowering of resistance, protein sensitization and similar factors. The ordinary method of establishing transfer of infection by tracing a new case to contact with a preexisting case is obviously difficult to apply to adult colds because of the numerous contacts that the average adult has in everyday life. It was thought that a study of colds in infants in whom contacts are fewer and comparatively easily traced might afford data of some value. During the months of October and November, 1921, and January and February, 1922, careful records were obtained on the occurrence of colds among babies between the ages of 1 month and 2 years brought to infant welfare conferences in Chicago. Five hundred
A Chaotic System with One saddle and Two Stable Node-Foci

This paper reports the finding of a chaotic system with one saddle and two stable node-foci in a simple three-dimensional (3D) autonomous system. The system connects the original Lorenz system and the original Chen system and represents a transition from one to the other. The algebraical form of the chaotic attractor is very similar to the Lorenz-type systems but they are different and, in fact, nonequivalent in topological structures. Of particular interest is the fact that the chaotic system has a chaotic attractor, one saddle and two stable node-foci. To further understand the complex dynamics of the system, some basic properties such as Lyapunov exponents, bifurcations, routes to chaos, periodic windows, possible chaotic and periodic-window parameter regions, and the compound structure of the system are analyzed and demonstrated with careful numerical simulations.
Circulating proinflammatory peptides related to abdominal adiposity and cardiometabolic risk factors in healthy prepubertal children.

OBJECTIVES To analyze the circulating levels of proinflammatory peptides in healthy prepubertal children in relation to abdominal obesity, measured by waist circumference (WC), and to investigate their interactions with cardiometabolic risk factors. DESIGN AND METHODS A cross-sectional study of 137 healthy prepubertal children with a mean age of 8.0±0.1 years divided into three groups according to their WC as a measure of abdominal obesity: 'normal-WC' children (25th-75th percentile, n=48), 'children at risk' (75th-90th percentile, n=39), and 'abdominally obese' (≥90th percentile, n=50) children. Auxological measurements and blood pressure (BP) were taken. Fasting levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin 6 (IL6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), glucose, insulin, and lipid profile were measured. Insulin resistance (IR) was assessed by homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR). RESULTS Abdominally obese children had significantly higher BP, insulin, HOMA-IR, total cholesterol and triglycerides (TG) compared with their normal-WC counterparts (P<0.05). HsCRP concentrations increased proportionally with the degree of abdominal obesity (r=0.443, P<0.0001), whereas IL6 and TNF-α were not significantly associated with any of the adiposity variables. After controlling for adiposity, hsCRP was significantly correlated with systolic BP (r=0.257, P=0.004), TNF-α levels were related to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C; r=-0.216, P=0.016) and TG (r=0.196, P=0.029), whereas the relationship between IL6 and HDL-C reduced its magnitude to an insignificant level (r=-0.173, P=0.055). CONCLUSIONS Healthy prepubertal children with abdominal obesity have associated inflammatory and cardiometabolic alterations, interacting with each other.
A Further Understanding of Phase Space Partition Diagrams

This paper deals with dynamic systems described by sets of ordinary differential equations. As described in a previous paper [Thomas & Kaufman, 2005], phase space can be partitioned according to the signs of the eigenvalues of the Jacobian matrix and the slopes of its eigenvectors, using "frontiers" described by simple analytic expressions. In the present paper, we develop this approach with special emphasis on: — a preliminary, qualitative, yet quite efficient, description based simply on the sign patterns of elements of the Jacobian matrix — the identification and characterization of two additional frontiers based on the relative slopes of the eigenvectors (in two dimensions only) — the applicability to systems of higher dimensionalities — programs (in Mathematica) that provide immediately the phase space frontier diagrams from the ODE's for two- (Appendix 2) and n-dimensional systems (Appendix 3) For systems of sufficiently low dimensionality, the resulting diagrams give a global view of the structure of phase space, partitioned into domains each consistent as regards to the nature of any steady state that might be present in that domain. Fortunately, the dimensionality of phase space frontier diagrams depends not on the overall dimensionality of the system but on the number of variables that carry nonlinearity; an n-variable system in which only two variables carry nonlinearity can be described by a two-dimensional diagram.
Peptide-nanowire hybrid materials for selective sensing of small molecules.

The development of a miniaturized sensing platform for the selective detection of chemical odorants could stimulate exciting scientific and technological opportunities. Oligopeptides are robust substrates for the selective recognition of a variety of chemical and biological species. Likewise, semiconducting nanowires are extremely sensitive gas sensors. Here we explore the possibilities and chemistries of linking peptides to silicon nanowire sensors for the selective detection of small molecules. The silica surface of the nanowires is passivated with peptides using amide coupling chemistry. The peptide/nanowire sensors can be designed, through the peptide sequence, to exhibit orthogonal responses to acetic acid and ammonia vapors, and can detect traces of these gases from "chemically camouflaged" mixtures. Through both theory and experiment, we find that this sensing selectivity arises from both acid/base reactivity and from molecular structure. These results provide a model platform for what can be achieved in terms of selective and sensitive "electronic noses. "
Assessment of androgen concentration in women: liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and extraction RIA show comparable results.

OBJECTIVE The measurement of serum testosterone in women is challenging due to lack of trueness, precision, and sensitivity of various available testosterone assays. Accurate assessment of testosterone in women is crucial especially in conditions associated with alleged over- or under-production of testosterone, such as in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). The aim of this study was to measure and compare androgen concentrations in women with PCOS, POI, and female controls and to evaluate the performance of extraction RIA and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in these women. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. METHODS Carefully phenotyped women with POI (n=208) or PCOS (n=200) and 45 healthy, regularly cyclic female controls were included. Method comparison analyses were performed for total testosterone, androstenedione (AD), and DHEA, as measured by LC-MS/MS and extraction RIA. RESULTS All androgen levels were significantly elevated in women with PCOS compared with POI patients (P<0.05) and controls (P<0.05). Women with POI presented with similar androgen concentrations as controls, except for AD. Compared with measurements by extraction RIA, testosterone, DHEA, and AD concentrations measured by LC-MS/MS were systematically lower. However, using extraction RIA and LC-MS/MS, testosterone, DHEA, and AD measurements were shown to have good agreement as assessed by Bland-Altman analysis and intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.95 (95% confidence interval 0.94-0.91), 0.83 (0.79-0.86), and 0.96 (0.95-0.97) respectively. CONCLUSIONS LC-MS/MS, compared with a labor-intensive extraction RIA, shows good precision, sensitivity, and high accuracy for measuring female testosterone, DHEA, and AD concentrations under various clinical conditions. LC-MS/MS, therefore, represents a convenient and reliable assay for both clinical and research purposes, where androgen measurement in women is required.
Decreased concentration of adiponectin together with a selective reduction of its high molecular weight oligomers is involved in metabolic complications of myotonic dystrophy type 1.

OBJECTIVE The hormone adiponectin exerts beneficial pleiotropic effects on biological and metabolic processes. Although a well-recognized insulin sensitizer, its characteristic has yet to be clearly defined. Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a rare genetic disorder that features muscle wasting and metabolic comorbidity, and patients have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. We analyzed circulating levels of adiponectin and its oligomers to determine whether their expression correlates with metabolic alterations in DM1 patients. DESIGN AND METHODS We measured the anthropometric and biochemical features and three insulin resistance (IR) indices (homeostasis model assessment, quantitative insulin sensitivity check index, and McAuley) of 21 DM1 patients and of 82 age-, sex-, and weight-matched controls. In the blood samples of patients and controls, adiponectin levels were measured by ELISA, and its oligomers were characterized by using western blotting and gel filtration. The adiponectin gene was molecularly analyzed in patients. RESULTS DM1 patients had significantly higher body mass index, waist circumference, triglycerides (TGs), glucose, tumor necrosis factor α, and IR; conversely, they had significantly lower concentrations of total serum adiponectin with a selective, pronounced decrease of its high molecular weight (HMW) oligomers. There was a strong negative correlation between adiponectin and TGs in DM1 patients. CONCLUSIONS Our results endorse the hypothesis that decreased expression of adiponectin together with a selective reduction of its HMW oligomers contributes to the worsening of IR and its metabolic complications in DM1 patients. These findings suggest that adiponectin and HMW oligomers may serve as biomarkers and are promising therapeutic agents for IR and its consequences in DM1.