Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Superluminal propagation at negative group velocity in optical fibers based on Brillouin lasing oscillation.

We report superluminal propagation in optical fibers using Brillouin lasing oscillation in a ring cavity. Negative group velocity propagation through a 10-m single mode fiber has been experimentally demonstrated. An advancement of 221.2 ns was observed before the input signal, which was achieved with a very high slope efficiency of 211.3 ns/dB. This indicates that this way is suitable for long-distance low-loss superluminal propagation via optical fibers. Correspondingly, the group velocity is -0.151c and the group index is -6.636-the highest group velocity ever reported for optical fibers.
The preadolescent acne microbiome: A prospective, randomized, pilot study investigating characterization and effects of acne therapy

Acne, a common pediatric disease, tends to be more comedonal in preadolescents, whereas older individuals are more likely to have inflammatory lesions in addition to comedones. Thus the microbiome of preadolescents may be different. In this pilot study we aimed to characterize the preadolescent acne microbiome, compare the microbiome in preadolescents with and without acne, and investigate changes in the microbiome after topical treatment with benzoyl peroxide or a retinoid in a small cohort of preadolescents.
J/ψ polarization in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV.

The ALICE Collaboration has studied J/ψ production in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV at the LHC through its muon pair decay. The polar and azimuthal angle distributions of the decay muons were measured, and results on the J/ψ polarization parameters λθ and λϕ were obtained. The study was performed in the kinematic region 2.5
Green tea (-)-epigallocatechin gallate inhibits IGF-I and IGF-II stimulation of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte mitogenesis via the 67-kDa laminin receptor, but not AMP-activated protein kinase pathway.

SCOPE This study investigated the pathways involved in epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) modulation of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I-stimulated and IGF-II-stimulated mitogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. METHODS AND RESULTS We found that this process was dose and time dependent, and caused by suppression of IGF-I-stimulated and IGF-II-stimulated phosphorylation of p66Shc and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway proteins, including MEK1 kinase (RAF1), extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) kinase (MEK1), and ERK 1 and ERK 2 (ERK1/2), but not phospho-Jun-N-terminal kinase, protein kinase B, p52Shc, or p46Shc. Furthermore, EGCG inhibited the IGF-I-stimulated phosphorylation of the IGF-I receptor-beta (IGF-IR β), the association of IGF-IR with the p66Shc protein, and the IGF-II-stimulated associations of the IGF-II receptor with G(αi-2) and p66Shc proteins, suggesting that EGCG selectively affects particular types of Shc and MAPK family members. Pretreatment with antiserum against the EGCG receptor (also known as the 67-kDa laminin receptor; 67LR), but not with an adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor, prevented the inhibitory actions of EGCG on IGF-I- and IGF-II-stimulated ERK1/2 phosphorylation and subsequent preadipocyte proliferation. CONCLUSION The results of this study suggest that EGCG mediates anti-IGF-I and anti-IGF-II signals in preadipocyte mitogenesis via the 67LR but not the AMPK pathway.
Outpatient hysteroscopy: indications and hysteroscopic findings in pre- and postmenopausal patients

Objectives We present a large series of outpatient hysteroscopies in order to assess the feasibility of the procedure, the incidence of abnormal findings in pre- and postmenopausal patients and to define a lower age limit for hysteroscopic investigation of patients presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). Setting The Endoscopy Clinic of the Rotherham District General Hospital, Rotherham, UK. Subjects 665 patients with a mean age of 47 years. Only patients presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding were included in the study. Interventions 673 outpatient hysteroscopies were carried out; 469 (69%) procedures were done in premenopausal and 204 (31%) in postmenopausal patients. All procedures were done under local anaesthesia with 4-mm rigid hysteroscopes with a 30° objective, using video endoscopy. Results The failure rate was only 6%, i.e. 2.4% in the premenopausal and 11% in the postmenopausal group. The incidence of intrauterine pathology was similar in those patients presenting with intermenstrual bleeding (33%), those presenting with postcoital bleeding (39%), and in those over the age of 40 who presented with menorrhagia (32%). In younger patients (<40 years) with menorrhagia abnormal hysteroscopic findings were seen in 21%, but these were found in only 4% of patients under the age of 30. The lesions in the patients under the age of 40 were mainly uterine fibroids, which can be easily missed using traditional endometrial sampling alone. Uterine fibroids seem to be the commonest lesion in premenopausal patients. Endometrial polyps and endometrial cancer have a peak incidence in patients over the age of 50. Conclusions Outpatient hysteroscopy is a feasible technique in pre- and postmenopausal patients. The high incidence of pathology in post- and premenopausal patients with abnormal uterine bleeding justifies its use in all patients presenting with postmenopausal, intermenstrual and postcoital bleeding, and in patients with menorrhagia over the age of 30.
Cyanidin-3-O-β-glucoside upregulates hepatic cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase expression and reduces hypercholesterolemia in mice.

SCOPE Although previous studies have shown that consumption of anthocyanin extract from plant foods reduces hypercholesterolemia and the severity of atherosclerosis in different animal models, the mechanisms of these actions remained unclear. This study investigated whether pure anthocyanin inhibit atherosclerosis development and reduce hypercholesterolemia in the apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-deficient mice through enhancement of fecal bile acid excretion, a critical pathway for eliminating circulation cholesterol from the body. METHODS AND RESULTS Five-week-old male ApoE-deficient mice were fed the AIN-93G diet supplemented with or without cyanidin-3-O-β-glucoside (0.06% w/w) for 12 weeks. Results showed that cyanidin-3-O-β-glucoside consumption inhibited the formation of aortic sinus plaque and reduced hypercholesterolemia, along with promoted fecal bile acid excretion and upregulated hepatic cholesterol 7a-hydroxylase expression (CYP7A1). In mouse primary hepatocytes, cyanidin-3-O-β-glucoside treatment increased bile acid synthesis and CYP7A1 expression in a liver X receptor alpha (LXRα)-)-dependent manner. Scintillation proximity and time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer assays revealed that cyanidin-3-O-β-glucoside functions as an agonist of LXRα. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that the hypocholesterolemic activity of cyanidin-3-O-β-glucoside was, at least in part, mediated by activating the potential LXRα-CYP7A1-bile acid excretion pathway, thus contributing to the antiatherogenic effect of cyanidin-3-O-β-glucoside. Importantly, cyanidin-3-O-β-glucoside could activate LXRα in an agonist-dependent manner.
Comparison of organ dysfunction in transfused patients with SCD or β thalassemia

Although it is life saving, transfusion therapy has resulted in the majority of sickle cell anemia and thalassemia patients being at risk for hemosiderosis‐induced organ damage. It is unknown whether the complications of iron overload are affected by the underlying disease. In order to address this problem, we compared the prevalence of organ dysfunction in both groups of patients receiving chronic transfusion therapy (β thalassemia, N = 30; sickle cell anemia, N = 43). Both groups had similar quantitative liver iron. Thalassemia patients had greater cardiac disease (20% vs. 0%), growth failure (27% vs. 9%), and endocrine failure (37% vs. 0%). The strongest predictors of combined endocrine and cardiac disease in multivariate analysis were duration of chronic transfusion (P = 0.03) and diagnosis (P = 0.03). Quantitative liver iron concentration on a single liver biopsy was not predictive of cardiac or endocrine injury. Viral hepatitis is the strongest predictor of hepatocellular damage (P = 0.009), while the development of liver fibrosis is more closely related to liver iron concentration (P = 0.04). In conclusion, sickle cell anemia and thalassemia differ in the prevalence of organ injury. This difference is related to the duration of iron exposure and the specific hemoglobinopathy. A prospective study with a larger number of subjects is needed to confirm the relationships between specific diagnosis, liver iron concentration over time, and organ dysfunction. Am. J. Hematol. 80:70–74, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Technique for Reconstruction of Eyebrows and Eyelashes

Eyebrow and eyelash reconstruction surgery has expanded the options for hair restoration surgeons to assist patients seeking to recover self-esteem by enhancing their appearance. This type of surgery can be performed efficiently and effectively in a properly equipped clinic. This article, in addition to detailing eyebrow and eyelash reconstruction using hair follicular unit transplantation, addresses the etiology of eyebrow and eyelash loss, offers suggestions on evaluating prospective patients, and explains preoperative and postoperative procedures. The author demonstrates how undesirable eyebrow and eyelash conditions can be altered to recuperate their natural design using a technique that has a more natural appearance than scalp hair strips, is easier to perform than temporal artery island flaps, and the results of which are more discreet than punch hair transplantation.
Epidural versus ON-Q local anesthetic-infiltrating catheter for post-thoracotomy pain control.

OBJECTIVE The authors compared thoracic epidural with ON-Q infiltrating catheters in patients having open thoracotomy to determine whether one method better relieves postoperative pain and would allow earlier discharge from the hospital and, hence, cost savings. DESIGN Retrospective chart review. SETTING University hospital. PARTICIPANTS Fifty adult patients (24 to 81 years old) undergoing open thoracotomy by one surgeon. INTERVENTIONS One group had thoracic epidural catheters placed by an anesthesiologist and then managed by the acute pain service. The other group had intraoperative ON-Q (ON-Q; I-Flow; Lake Forest, California) infiltrating catheters placed by the surgeon, wound infiltration with a local anesthetic, plus patient-controlled analgesia with an intravenous opioid. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The authors measured and compared average daily pain rating, maximum pain rating, time to discharge from the hospital, and total bill for hospital stay. Patients who received epidural analgesia had lower average pain scores on day 2 than did patients in the ON-Q group. Patients in the ON-Q group reported higher maximum pain scores on days 1 and 2 and at the time of discharge. Patients in the ON-Q group were discharged an average of 1 day earlier; hence, their average total bill was lower. CONCLUSIONS Even though the maximum pain score was higher in the ON-Q group, patients were comfortable enough to be discharged earlier, resulting in cost savings. ON-Q infiltrating catheters present a good option for providing postoperative analgesia to patients having an open thoracotomy.
An Evaluation of Ombudsman Primary Prevention Program on Student Drug Abuse

This study is designed to measure the outcome of a drug prevention program entitled Ombudsman. Currently, this program is being disseminated nationwide via the National Diffusion Network (NDN) since its approval as a national model by the U.S. Department of Education. In its replication in Charlotte during fall semester 1979, the Ombudsman program (OP) was offered to students in grades 5–9. One-hundred thirteen students were in the treatment group which had three different subgroups. Seventy-two students were in the control group. Utilizing the “high-risk” Student Attitudinal Inventory (SAI), the following results were obtained: 1. at the conclusion of the OP, a significantly larger proportion of students in the treatment group had favorable attitudes toward their regular school teachers than those in the control group; 2. a significantly larger proportion of students in the treatment group reported more favorable attitudes toward the Ombudsman instructors than did either the treatment or control groups with regard to their own classroom teachers; 3. the OP was more effective among students whose regular classroom teachers have had Ombudsman training than those whose teachers did not have such training; and 4. the OP was more effective among elementary than junior high school students.
Nutritional Benefits of Neonatal Screening for Cystic Fibrosis

= 90%). One should note, however, that the positive predictive value is only 43% for delivery before 37 weeks and more work needs to be done to define the exact clinical utility in a larger population. As indicated by the authors, however, the greatest utility for this test may actually come from its very high negative predictive value (99.5%, 99.2%, and 84.5% at <7 days, 7 days, and 14 days, respectively). In a woman with symptoms of premature labor, the absence of fetal fibronectin may prove to be very reassuring, since the chance of delivery within the next 2 weeks is low and the need for any intervention appears to be substantially reduced. -ME' ARS
The Information Needs of Clinicians: a Study of the Doctors Nova Scotia Clinical Library

Background: The Clinical Library (CL) is a virtual library of books, journals, drug information, and patient information. It has no hard copy books or journals to lend. Objectives: On the 10-year anniversary of the CL, feedback from information skills training indicated a need for a user assessment survey to ensure that the CL continues to meet the medical information needs of the modern clinician. The study was conducted to assess the level of electronic information use, the geographical distribution of users, and the frequency of use by various clinical practitioners. The study also contained a survey of health librarians in the United Kingdom to assess whether our information strategies are in line with international practices and needs. Methods: External consultants were hired to conduct interviews and a survey among the membership and to perform an environmental scan of Canadian and U.S. services. A series of interviews was conducted by the health librarian at health libraries in the U.K. Results: Sixty-two percent of survey respondents said they access information to help inform patient diagnosis or treatment at least every 2–3 days, 40% of respondents regularly use web-based medical information services, and 46% of respondents used the CL as part or all of their electronic search strategy. The use of the CL varied widely depending on the location of respondents and their access to a health library. Respondents in rural areas and those unaffiliated with hospital libraries were more likely to use the virtual CL. Family practitioners showed the most familiarity with the CL offerings and reported the highest use of the CL (66.7% of respondents). A significant minority of respondents found the CL difficult to navigate. The U.K. arm of the study showed that services offered there were similar to those offered by the CL. Conclusions: Based on the findings, the CL remains a vital service for members. The CL should maintain its services for members and make the user interface easier to use. A majority of clinicians are seeking evidence to support decisions about patient care. The use of web-based resources, including journals and textbooks, is growing. The CL is meeting the needs of a significant portion of respondents, mainly family physicians. The U.K. study found that librarians there offer similar services to those offered by the CL and that, based on their use, U.K. librarians expect to be offering these services for some time to come. The CL must look for synergies and duplication with affiliated libraries and find ways to collaborate and promote services.
Absorption and metabolic fate of bioactive dietary benzoxazinoids in humans.

SCOPE Benzoxazinoids, which are natural compounds recently identified in mature whole grain cereals and bakery products, have been suggested to have a range of pharmacological properties and health-protecting effects. There are no published reports concerned with the absorption and metabolism of bioactive benzoxazinoids in humans. METHODS AND RESULTS The absorption, metabolism, and excretion of ten different dietary benzoxazinoids were examined by LC-MS/MS by analyzing plasma and urine from 20 healthy human volunteers after daily intake of 143 μmol of total benzoxazinoids from rye bread and rye buns. The results showed that 2-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (HBOA-Glc) and its oxidized analog, 2-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy-4-hydroxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (DIBOA-Glc), were the major circulating benzoxazinoids. After consuming a benzoxazinoid diet for 1 week, morning urine contained eight benzoxazinoids with abundant HBOA-Glc (219 nmol × μmol⁻¹ of creatinine). The sulfate and glucuronide conjugates of 2-hydroxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (HBOA) and 2,4-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (DIBOA) were detected in plasma and urine, indicating substantial phase II metabolism. Direct absorption of lactam glycosides, the reduction of hydroxamic acid glycosides, glucuronidation, and sulfation were the main mechanisms of the absorption and metabolism of benzoxazinoids. CONCLUSION These results indicate that following ingestion in healthy humans, a range of unmetabolized bioactive dietary benzoxazinoids and their sulfate and glucuronide conjugates appear in circulation and urine.
β-Sitosterol attenuates high-fat diet-induced intestinal inflammation in mice by inhibiting the binding of lipopolysaccharide to toll-like receptor 4 in the NF-κB pathway.

SCOPE β-Sitosterol, a common phytosterol, has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects. Here, we investigated the effect of β-sitosterol on high-fat diet (HFD) induced colitis in mice and on LPS-stimulated mouse intestinal macrophages. METHODS AND RESULTS C57BL/6J mice were maintained on an LFD (10 kcal% fat), an HFD (60 kcal% fat), or an HFD with β-sitosterol (20 mg/kg) administration for 8 weeks. The increased levels of body weight and epididymal fat pad weight as well as the concentrations of circulating proinflammatory cytokines and LPS in HFD mice compared with LFD mice were decreased by oral administration of β-sitosterol. The HFD-induced colonic inflammation evidenced by the increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines and the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in the colon was also inhibited by β-sitosterol. In LPS-stimulated intestinal macrophages, β-sitosterol inhibited the production of proinflammatory cytokines and inflammatory enzymes as well as NF-κB activation. In addition, β-sitosterol significantly prevented the binding of LPS to intestinal as well as peritoneal macrophages. Furthermore, β-sitosterol potently inhibited the interaction between LPS and toll-like receptor 4 in intestinal macrophages transfected with control siRNA or MyD88 siRNA. CONCLUSION These findings indicate that β-sitosterol ameliorates HFD-induced colitis by inhibiting the binding of LPS to toll-like receptor 4 in the NF-κB pathway.
Coffee and cancer risk, epidemiological evidence, and molecular mechanisms.

Although early studies suggested that coffee consumption might increase risk of some cancers, more comprehensive epidemiological and experimental data now generally indicate either neutral or beneficial effects. In this review, we summarize the current evidence for associations between breast, prostate, colorectal, and liver cancers and the consumption of coffee, and discuss the experimental evidence for potential chemopreventive mechanisms of coffee and coffee constituents. The epidemiological evidence consistently indicates that coffee protects against liver cancer, and also point toward protective effects for risk of colorectal cancers (with relative risks of 0.50 (95% CI: 0.42-0.59) and 0.83 (95% CI: 0.75-0.92), respectively, in the most recent meta-analyses). There seems to be no association between the overall risk of breast and prostate cancer and coffee intake. However, for subgroups such as postmenopausal breast cancers, advanced prostate cancers, and breast and prostate cancer survivors, an inverse association with coffee intake is indicated. Potential mechanisms for chemopreventive effects of coffee phytochemicals includes inhibition of oxidative stress and oxidative damage, regulation of DNA repair, phase II enzymatic activity, apoptosis, inflammation, as well as having antiproliferative, antiangiogenetic effects and antimetastatic effects. The experimental evidence for effects of coffee and coffee constituents on each of these processes is discussed.
Human endometrial mesenchymal stem cells modulate the tissue response and mechanical behavior of polyamide mesh implants for pelvic organ prolapse repair.

BACKGROUND Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is defined as the descent of one or more of the pelvic structures into the vagina and includes uterine, vaginal vault, and anterior or posterior vaginal wall prolapse. The treatment of POP may include implantation of a synthetic mesh. However, the long-term benefit of mesh surgery is controversial due to complications such as mesh exposure or pain. The aim of this study was to use a tissue engineering (TE) approach to assess the in vivo biological and biomechanical behavior of a new gelatin/polyamide mesh, seeded with a novel source of mesenchymal stem cells in a subcutaneous rat model of wound repair. METHODS W5C5-enriched human endometrial mesenchymal stem cells (eMSC) were seeded onto meshes (gelatin-coated polyamide knit) at 100,000 cells/cm². Meshes, with or without cells were subcutaneously implanted dorsally in immunocompromised rats for 7, 30, 60, and 90 days. Flow cytometry was used to detect DiO labeled cells after explantation. Immunohistochemical assessment of foreign body reaction and tissue integration were conducted. Total collagen and the levels of collagens type III and type I were determined. Uniaxial tensiometry was performed on explanted meshes, originally seeded with and without cells, at days 7 and 90. RESULTS Implanted meshes were well tolerated, with labeled cells detected on the mesh up to 14 days postimplantation. Meshes with cells promoted significantly more neovascularization at 7 days (p<0.05) and attracted fewer macrophages at 90 days (p<0.05). Similarly, leukocyte infiltration was significantly lower in the cell-seeded meshes at 90 days (p<0.05). Meshes with cells were generally less stiff than those without cells, after 7 and 90 days implantation. CONCLUSION The TE approach used in this study significantly reduced the number of inflammatory cells around the implanted mesh and promoted neovascularization. Seeding with eMSC exerts an anti-inflammatory effect and promotes wound repair with new tissue growth and minimal fibrosis, and produces mesh with greater extensibility. Cell seeding onto polyamide/gelatin mesh improves mesh biocompatibility and may be an alternative option for future treatment of POP.