Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship between dietary tyrosine and plasma cholesterol in the rat.

The present study was undertaken to measure the effects of dietary tyrosine added to fish protein and peanut meal on plasma cholesterol and plasma thyroid hormone levels in the rat. These dietary proteins were chosen because they contain similar amounts of tyrosine but release it at different rates during enzymatic hydrolysis. Casein was chosen as the reference protein. Supplementation was used to obtain tyrosine levels similar to that of casein. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed cholesterol-enriched diets containing 15% protein. After 3 weeks of experimental feeding, total postprandial plasma cholesterol was similar in the casein and peanut meal groups and significantly lower in the fish group. When added to the fish diet, tyrosine caused an increase in plasma cholesterol to a level similar to that of the casein group, whereas supplementation had no effect on plasma cholesterol of rats fed the peanut meal diet. The effects of dietary proteins or of tyrosine supplementation on cholesterol levels of the (density less than 1.006 g/mL) lipoprotein fraction were comparable, but not all significant, to those observed on total plasma cholesterol. In addition, casein and fish diets induced significantly higher levels of plasma triiodothyronine (T3) and lower levels of plasma thyroxine (T4) than did the peanut meal diet. However, the addition of tyrosine to the fish or the peanut meal diet did not modify the plasma thyroid hormone levels. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Thoracoscopic Thymectomy with the da Vinci Robotic System for Myasthenia Gravis

Complete thymectomy (Thx) is a crucial part of treatment for myasthenia gravis (MG) and thymoma. The discussion about the necessity of radical, complete Thx and reduced invasiveness has led to no less than 14 different surgical approaches for Thx. The latest development is robotic‐assisted surgery. Though its impact on minimally invasive surgery is not yet clear, it seems to be most promising for surgery in remote, narrow anatomical regions like the mediastinum. One hundred six consecutive robotic‐assisted thymectomies (rThx) with the da Vinci robotic surgical system were performed between January 2003 and April 2007 in a prospective single‐center study. Postoperative morbidity was recorded according to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) classification. With zero mortality, the overall postoperative morbidity rate was 2%. The cumulative complete stable remission rate of MG was > 40% for all patients, and there was no statistical difference as compared to non‐thymomatous MG patients. The cumulative rate of minimal manifestations (MM0–MM3) according to the MGFA classification showed a postoperative improvement in quality of life for most of the patients. The da Vinci robotic system allowed for technical refinements of the well‐defined operation technique of thoracoscopic Thx (tThx). From the technical point of view, rThx has advantages for mediastinal dissection. rThx had a shorter learning curve. There might be better outcome results for rThx in MG patients, as compared with nonrobotic tThx. Therefore, rThx is a promising technique for minimally invasive Thx.
Ownership Concentration, Institutional Development and Firm Performance in Central and Eastern Europe

This paper analyzes the relationship of ownership concentration and firm performance in the context of different institutional environments in 28 Central and Eastern European transition economies. Using the BEEPS data for the period from 2002 to 2009 we find an inverted u-shaped relation of ownership concentration and firm performance for those firms that operate in non-EU-member countries as well as those firms that are situated in less developed legal systems according to Freedom House ratings. We interpret these findings as evidence for a classic agency problem in the lower part of the ownership concentration distribution that is dominated by a ‘private benefits of control’ problem with rising ownership concentration.
The critical care clinical pharmacist: Evolution of an essential team member

Objective:To review the history, training requirements, contributions to patient care outcomes, and workforce issues of critical care pharmacists. Data Source and Selection:Literature obtained through Medline search with manual cross-referencing. Data Extraction and Synthesis:Original and selected review articles and guideline documents were reviewed for references to critical care pharmacists and their role on the multiprofessional critical care team. Conclusions:Critical care pharmacists are recognized as essential members of the critical care team as a result of contributions to medication safety, improved patient outcomes, and reduced drug costs and as a source of drug information and provider of education. A growing number of pharmacists practice in critical care. Additional opportunities exist and can be met if an adequate supply of trained specialists can be developed.
Using simulated consultations to develop communications skills for neurology trainees *

Communication skills are essential for clinical medicine yet, unlike in general practice, trainees in specialist and general medicine are not formally trained in them. We have used videotaped recording of simulated consultations to evaluate their acceptability and usefulness for training neurology specialist registrars. Twelve specialist registrars in neurology participated; their perceptions of the method were assessed using quantified scales and focus groups. All but one of the 12 trainees found the exercise useful both for improving clinical skills and for the imparting of information. The median visual analogue scores (0=useless, 100=very useful) for history taking and for imparting information were 91 and 90%, respectively. The median scores [and interquartile range (IQR)] of perceived usefulness for communication skills increased before to after (for use of video) from 68 (58–78) to 88 (80–92)% (P < 0.02), and (for use of simulated patients) from 51 (40–71) to 86 (79–89)% (P < 0.02). The focus groups provided additional qualitative data supporting the technique. We conclude that videotaped consultations with simulated patients are valued by most neurology trainees, both for improving their history‐taking skills and for imparting information. The technique could be used more widely in neurology training, and may have a role in assessment.
Dietary calcium, dairy food intake and metabolic abnormalities in HIV-infected individuals.

BACKGROUND Epidemiological data suggest that calcium intake may influence lipid metabolism. It is unknown whether this influence also occurs in individuals with HIV/AIDS. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between dietary calcium, dairy food intake and metabolic parameters in individuals with HIV/AIDS. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted with 100 individuals with HIV/AIDS. Calcium intakes and food group consumption were determined by a food 24-h dietary recall and a food frequency questionnaire, respectively. The level of physical activity was determined with the international physical activity questionnaire and metabolic syndrome (MS) was defined by National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (2001). Student's t-test, one-way analysis of variance and chi-square were used to compare the groups. RESULTS The mean (SD) calcium intake was 559.5 (298.84) mg day(-1) and dairy food consumption was 1.73 (0.78) servings per day. Dietary calcium intake below 700 mg day(-1) had greater waist circumference, body mass index (BMI) but not significant and higher systolic blood pressure (SBP) (P < 0.05) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (P = 0.07). Dairy food consumers (>2 servings per day) showed lower BMI (P < 0.01), waist circumference (P = 0.05), SBP and DBP (P < 0.05). There was a significant association between calcium intake, MS and hypertension. The odds ratio for MS was 2.0 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.23-3.32] and for hypertension was 2.25 (95% CI = 1.44-4.44). Only 21% of the individuals were categorised in the moderate/intense physical activity level. CONCLUSIONS The results obtained suggest that a dietary pattern with higher proportion of calcium and fruits/vegetables may protect against abdominal obesity and hypertension in HIV-infected individuals.
Segregation of Type-Specific Proteins in Caulobacter

An essential event in developmental processes is the introduction of asymmetry into an otherwise undifferentiated cell population. Cell division in Caulobacter is asymmetric; the progeny cells are structurally different and follow different sequences of development, thus providing a useful model system for the study of differentiation. Because the progeny cells are different from one another, there must be a segregation of morphogenetic and informational components at some time in the cell cycle. We have examined the pattern of specific protein segregation between Caulobacter stalked and swarmer daughter cells, with the rationale that such a progeny analysis would identify both structurally and developmentally important proteins. To complement the study, we have also examined the pattern of protein synthesis during synchronous growth and in various cellular fractions. We show here, for the first time, that the association of proteins with a specific cell type may result not only from their periodicity of synthesis, but also from their pattern of distribution at the time of cell division. Several membraneassociated and soluble proteins are segregated asymmetrically between progeny stalked and swarmer cells. The data further show that a subclass of soluble proteins becomes associated with the membrane of the progeny stalked cells. Therefore, although the principal differentiated cell types possess different synthetic capabilities and characteristic proteins, the asymmetry between progeny stalked and swarmer cells is generated primarily by the preferential association of specific soluble proteins with the membrane of only one daughter cell. The majority of the proteins which exhibit this segregation behavior are synthesized during the entire cell cycle and exhibit relatively long, functional messenger RNA half-lives.
Stone-Weierstrass theorems for the strict topology

1. Let X be a locally compact Hausdorff space, E a (real) locally convex, complete, linear topological space, and (C*(X, E), j) the locally convex linear space of all bounded continuous functions on X to E topologized with the strict topology (. When E is the real numbers we denote C*(X, E) by C*(X) as usual. When E is not the real numbers, C*(X, E) is not in general an algebra, but it is a module under multiplication by functions in C*(X). This paper considers a Stone-Weierstrass theorem for (C*(X), 3), a generalization of the Stone-Weierstrass theorem for (C*(X, E), (), and some of the immediate consequences of these theorems. In the second case (when E is arbitrary) we replace the question of when a subalgebra generated by a subset S of C*(X) is strictly dense in C*(X) by the corresponding question for a submodule generated by a subset S of the C*(X)-module C*(X, E). In what follows the symbols Co(X, E) and Coo(X, E) will denote the subspaces of C*(X, E) consisting respectively of the set of all functions on X to E which vanish at infinity, and the set of all functions on X to E with compact support. Recall that the strict topology is defined as follows [2]: DEFINITION. The strict topology (,B) is the locally convex topology defined on C*(X, E) by the seminorms
Invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b infections in children hospitalized in Hong Kong, 1986–1990

A 5‐year territory‐wide retrospective survey of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b diseases was conducted in Hong Kong. Between 1986 and 1990, 57 cases (28 male) were recorded in children less than 12 years old (37 cases of meningitis, 9 of septicaemia and 11 of bacteraemic pneumonia). The annual incidence for children less than 5 years old was 2.7 per 105 (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.0–3.5). Of the 57 cases, 39 were Chinese and 18 non‐Chinese (7 Vietnamese refugees, 6 Caucasians, 5 others). The annual incidence in Vietnamese refugees less than 5 years old was 42.7 per 105 (95% CI 17.2–87.9), giving a relative risk of 18.5 (95% CI 8.3–41.0). Chinese patients (68%) were under‐represented as Chinese accounted for at least 94% of the population. Moreover, 14 of the 39 Chinese patients had pre‐existing medical problems, compared with only 1 of the 18 non‐Chinese patients (p= 0.022).
Inhibition of in vitro angiogenesis by 2‐methoxy‐ and 2‐ethyl‐estrogen sulfamates

Sulfamoylation of 2‐methoxyestrone (2‐MeOE1) was shown previously to enhance its potency as an anti‐proliferative agent against breast cancer cells. We have examined the ability of a series of 2‐methoxyestradiol (2‐MeOE2) and 2‐ethylestradiol (2‐EtE2) sulfamates to inhibit angiogenesis in vitro. 2‐MeOE2 bis‐sulfamate and 2‐EtE2 sulfamate were potent inhibitors of human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) proliferation with IC50 values of 0.05 μM and 0.01 μM, respectively. A novel co‐culture system, in which endothelial cells were cultured in a matrix of human dermal fibroblasts, was also used to assess the anti‐angiogenic potential of these drugs. In this system endothelial cells proliferate and migrate through the culture matrix to form tubule structures. Whereas 2‐MeOE2 (1.0 μM) caused a small reduction in tubule formation, both 2‐MeOE2 bis‐sulfamate (0.1 μM) and 2‐EtE2 sulfamate (0.1 μM) almost completely abolished tubule formation. 2‐MeOE2 bis‐sulfamate and 2‐EtE2 sulfamate both induced BCL‐2 phosphorylation, p53 protein expression and apoptosis in HUVECs. Microarray analysis of a limited number of genes known to be involved in the angiogenic process did not show any gross changes in cells treated with the 2‐substituted estrogens. The sulfamoylated derivatives of 2‐MeOE2 and 2‐EtE2 are potent inhibitors of in vitro angiogenesis and both compounds should have therapeutic potential. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
In vivo and in vitro effects of microRNA‐124 on human gastric cancer by targeting JAG1 through the Notch signaling pathway

In this study, we aim to determine the function of miR‐124 on gastric cancer (GC) cells and the underlying mechanism that involves jaddeg1 (JAG1) and the Notch signaling pathway. GC tissues and adjacent tissues from 100 patients suffering from GC were selected. GC SGC‐7901 and AGS cells were selected and grouped into control, mimic‐NC, miR‐124 mimic, inhibitor‐NC, miR‐124 inhibitor, and miR‐124 inhibitor + si‐JAG1 groups. RT‐qPCR and a Western blotting assay were conducted to detect the expression of miR‐124, JAG1, and Notch signaling pathway‐related proteins (NICD, HES1, and HES5). MTS, wound‐healing, transwell assay and flow cytometry were performed to detect cell proliferation, migration, invasion, cell cycle distribution, and apoptosis, respectively. Compared with adjacent tissues, a lower miR‐124 expression and higher JAG1 expression were found in GC tissues. JAG1 is a direct target gene of miR‐124. Compared with the control group, the expression of JAG1, NICD, HES1, and HES5, cell invasion, migration, and proliferation in the miR‐124 mimic group were decreased, while the apoptosis rate was increased and cells were arrested at the G0/G1 phase. Compared with the miR‐124 inhibitor group, the expression of JAG1, NICD, HES1, and HES5, cell invasion, migration, and proliferation in the miR‐124 inhibitor + si‐JAG1 group were decreased, while the apoptosis rate and cell ratio at the G0/G1 phase were increased. The demonstration that miR‐124 inhibits GC cell growth supports the concept that miR‐124 functions as a tumor suppressor by a mechanism that involves translational repression of the JAG1 and the inhibition of Notch signaling pathway.
New light-amplifier-based detector designs for high spatial resolution and high sensitivity CBCT mammography and fluoroscopy

New cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) mammography system designs are presented where the detectors provide high spatial resolution, high sensitivity, low noise, wide dynamic range, negligible lag and high frame rates similar to features required for high performance fluoroscopy detectors. The x-ray detectors consist of a phosphor coupled by a fiber-optic taper to either a high gain image light amplifier (LA) then CCD camera or to an electron multiplying CCD. When a square-array of such detectors is used, a field-of-view (FOV) to 20 x 20 cm can be obtained where the images have pixel-resolution of 100 μm or better. To achieve practical CBCT mammography scan-times, 30 fps may be acquired with quantum limited (noise free) performance below 0.2 μR detector exposure per frame. Because of the flexible voltage controlled gain of the LA's and EMCCDs, large detector dynamic range is also achievable. Features of such detector systems with arrays of either generation 2 (Gen 2) or 3 (Gen 3) LAs optically coupled to CCD cameras or arrays of EMCCDs coupled directly are compared. Quantum accounting analysis is done for a variety of such designs where either the lowest number of information carriers off the LA photo-cathode or electrons released in the EMCCDs per x-ray absorbed in the phosphor are large enough to imply no quantum sink for the design. These new LA- or EMCCD-based systems could lead to vastly improved CBCT mammography, ROI-CT, or fluoroscopy performance compared to systems using flat panels.
Central and Local Administration of Gingko Biloba Extract EGb 761® Inhibits Thermal Hyperalgesia and Inflammation in the Rat Carrageenan Model

BACKGROUND: Oral administration of the standardized Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761® has been shown to inhibit thermal hyperalgesia in rodent models of inflammatory and postsurgical pain, but the mechanism underlying these effects is not known. We sought to determine the site of action of EGb 761 by investigating the antihyperalgesic and antiinflammatory properties of EGb 761 after local and central drug administration in the rat carrageenan model of inflammation. METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats received an intraplantar injection of carrageenan (3%) or saline into the left hindpaw followed 3 hours later by an intraplantar injection of EGb 761 (30, 100, or 300 &mgr;g) or vehicle into the left paw; or intrathecal injection of EGb 761 (0.5, 1, 3, 10, or 100 &mgr;g) or vehicle into the lumbar spinal cord region. Diclofenac (100 &mgr;g) was administered as a positive control. Hindpaw withdrawal latency (in seconds) to thermal stimulation, response threshold (in grams) to mechanical stimulation, and paw volume were measured at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 24 hours after carrageenan injection. RESULTS: Both intraplantar (30, 100, and 300 &mgr;g) and intrathecal (0.5 and 1 &mgr;g) EGb 761 significantly inhibited carrageenan-induced thermal hyperalgesia and were equally as effective as diclofenac, but had no effect on mechanical hypersenitivity. Application ≥3 &mgr;g EGb 761 to the spinal cord induced adverse behavioral effects, which precluded further nociceptive testing. Intraplantar (300 &mgr;g) and intrathecal (1 &mgr;g) EGb 761 also significantly reduced paw edema. CONCLUSION: These studies show that EGb 761 acts both at the site of inflammation and centrally at the spinal cord level to inhibit inflammation and thermal hyperalgesia, and may be useful in the treatment of inflammatory pain.
Measurement of Viscosity in a Vertical Falling Ball Viscometer

This study proposes a measurement of dynamic viscosity by recording the falling time of a sphere ball from static to passing a certain distance. This method applies the Newton’s law of motion with the acceleration term and corrected Stokes’law to derive the solution in terms of the viscosity and the falling time. Then, authors utilize a numerical program with an iteration scheme to calculate the viscosity, which is implicit in the solution. Through an experimental validation by the sample fluid of SAE 30, the results indicate that the error of measurement is below 6%, and the confidence interval is 0.0034 with a confidence level of 99.73%.
Endogenous expression of E1A in human cells enhances the effect of adenovirus E3 on class I major histocompatibility complex antigen expression

Group C human adenovirus (Ad) serotypes (e.g., Ad type 2 [Ad2] and Ad5) cause persistent infections in humans. One explanation for Ad persistence is an ineffective cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response due to diminished cell surface expression of class I major histocompatibility antigen (MHC Ag) on Ad-infected cells, an effect mediated by the Ad E3 19-kDa glycoprotein (E3 effect). However, we previously reported that, except for the Ad5 E1-transformed human cell line 293, a variety of human lymphoid, epithelial, and fibroblastic cells are resistant to the E3 effect during Ad5 infection (J. M. Routes and J. L. Cook, J. Immunol. 144:2763-2770, 1990). The present study tested the hypothesis that endogenous expression of E1A proteins in 293 cells sensitizes cells to this E3 effect, resulting in an enhanced downregulation of surface class I MHC Ag expression following Ad5 infection. Human epithelial and fibroblastic cells expressing E1A gene products for at least 72 h exhibited an enhanced E3 effect following Ad5 infection that was independent of baseline levels of surface class I MHC Ag expression and of E1A induction of E3 19-kDa glycoprotein expression. There was a direct correlation between the level of endogenous E1A expressed and the magnitude of the E3 effect. We postulate that the in vivo existence of cells stably expressing either E1A proteins or E1A-like activities in the microenvironment of Ad5 infection provides a reservoir of Ad-infected cells that is relatively protected from the virus-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response, thereby favoring Ad persistence in humans.
Comparative in vitro dissolution study of Aceclofenac Marketed Tablets in Two Different Dissolution Media by Validated Analytical Method.

In this study five marketed brands of aceclofenac 100 mg tablets have been evaluated using dissolution test in two different media with the aim to assess bioequivalence and to select a proper dissolution medium. Other general quality parameters of these tablets like weight variation, hardness, friability, disintegration time were also determined according to established protocols. All the brands complied with the official specification for friability, uniformity of weight, disintegration time and drug content. UV spectroscopic and RP-HPLC methods were validated for the parameters like linearity, accuracy, precision and robustness. Potency was determined by using these two methods. Potency obtained from UV method and HPLC methods were found similar with paired t test. Dissolution test results were subjected to further analysis by difference factor (f1), similarity factor (f2) and dissolution efficiency (% DE). Higher drug release was found in phosphate buffer pH 6.8 than in 0.05% sodium lauryl sulphate solution. All brands were found similar in respect of drug release in phosphate buffer pH 6.8 but they differ in respect of drug release in 0.5% sodium lauryl sulphate. So phosphate buffer pH 6.8 may be a suitable media for dissolution study of aceclofenac tablets.