Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MALE NURSING HOME PATIENTS: RELOCATION AND MORTALITY *

The effect of transfer from one nursing home to another was studied in 82 male veterans over a four‐year period. Group T comprised 41 patients who were transferred from the initial nursing home to one or more other homes; Group NT (controls) comprised 41 patients who were not transferred from the initial nursing home. Disability and illness were assessed by specific rating scales, and the 32 nursing homes were evaluated by three social workers. There were no significant differences between the two groups of patients, although the NT group seemed more disorganized at the end of the study period. For the transferred group there was no increase in the mortality rate. Apparently the most important factor in good adjustment to a nursing home is the understanding of the patient's needs for assistance and service.
Reversal of Aging and Chronic Ethanol-induced Cognitive Dysfunction by Quercetin a Bioflavonoid

Cognitive dysfunction, one of the most striking age-related impairments seen in human beings, has been correlated to the vulnerability of the brain to increased oxidative stress during aging process. Quercetin is a bioflavonoid with strong antioxidant properties. Experiments were performed to study the possible effects of quercetin on cognitive performance of young, aged or ethanol-intoxicated mice (an animal model for cognition dysfunction) using one trail step down type of passive avoidance and elevated plus maze tasks, respectively. Aged or chronic ethanol-treated mice showed poor retention of memory in step-down passive avoidance and in elevated plus-maze task. Chronic administration of quercetin (10, 25 and 50 mg/kg) for 30 days or its co-administration with ethanol (15% w/v, 2 g/kg per orally) for 24 days significantly reversed the age-related or chronic ethanol-induced retention deficits in both the test paradigms. However, in both memory paradigms chronic administration of quercetin failed to modulate the retention performance of young mice. Chronic quercetin administration for 30 days also reversed age associated increase in TBARS levels and decline in forebrain total glutathione (GSH), SOD and catalase levels. Chronic ethanol administration to young mice produced an increase in lipid peroxidation, and a decline in forebrain total glutathione (GSH), SOD and catalase levels, which was significantly reversed by the co-administration of quercetin (10, 25 and 50 mg/kg). The results of the present study showed that chronic quercetin treatment reverses cognitive deficits in aged and ethanol-intoxicated mice, which is associated with its antioxidant property.
Correlation of In Vitro Activity, Serum Levels, and In Vivo Efficacy of Posaconazole against Rhizopus microsporus in a Murine Disseminated Infection

ABSTRACT A broth microdilution method was used to evaluate the in vitro activities of seven antifungal agents against 15 clinical strains of Rhizopus microsporus. Amphotericin B (AMB) and posaconazole (POS) were the most active drugs. In a model of disseminated R. microsporus infection in immunosuppressed mice, we studied the efficacy of POS administered once or twice daily against four of the strains previously tested in vitro and compared it with that of liposomal AMB (LAMB). LAMB was the most effective treatment for the two strains with intermediate susceptibility to POS. For the two POS-susceptible strains, LAMB and POS at 20 mg/kg of body weight twice a day orally showed similar efficacies. The in vivo efficacy of POS administered twice a day orally correlated with the in vitro susceptibility data and the serum drug concentrations.
Manipulation of the Vertebrate Host's Testosterone Does Not Affect Gametocyte Sex Ratio of a Malaria Parasite

Gametocyte sex ratio of the malaria parasite Plasmodium mexicanum is variable in its host, the western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis), both among infections and within infections over time. We sought to determine the effect of host physiological quality on the gametocyte sex ratio in experimentally induced infections of P. mexicanum. Adult male lizards were assigned to 4 treatment groups: castrated, castrated + testosterone implant, sham implant, and unmanipulated control. No significant difference in gametocyte sex ratio was found among the 4 treatment groups. Two other analyses were performed. A surgery stress analysis compared infection sex ratio of castrated, castrated + testosterone implant, and sham implant groups with the unmanipulated control group. A testosterone alteration analysis compared infection sex ratio of the castrated and castrated + testosterone implant groups with the sham implant and unmanipulated control groups. Again, no significant difference was observed for these 2 comparisons. Thus, physiological changes expected for experimentally induced variation in host testosterone and the stress of surgery were not associated with any change in the gametocyte sex ratio. Also, the experiment suggests testosterone is not a cue for shaping the sex ratio of gametocytes in P. mexicanum. These results are related to the evolutionary theory of sex ratios as applied to malaria parasites.
Low Genetic Differentiation among Populations of the Great Plains Toad (Bufo cognatus) in Southern New Mexico

Abstract We examined the genetic population structure for the Great Plains Toad (Bufo cognatus) in the Chihuahuan Desert of southern New Mexico in order to discern at what spatial scale genetic differentiation is apparent. In addition, we tested whether habitats in the Chihuahuan Desert of southern New Mexico differed in their resistance to gene flow in B. cognatus. We used microsatellites to estimate genetic differentiation in populations that varied in distance from 1 to 60 km. Of 120 pairwise tests of genetic differentiation, 44 were significant. However, differentiation was low between all sites (FST = 0.0–0.087), almost all of the genetic variation being within populations (96.3%). Compared to published studies of other anuran species, populations of B. cognatus in southern New Mexico are among the most genetically homogenous anuran species. Significant isolation by distance did occur over all populations despite the genetic similarity, suggesting that differentiation does occur at a broader scale. In addition, several landscape-based models of gene flow were produced and tested against the allelic data. A community model assigned each plant community a different level of resistance to gene flow. This model was not found to describe the estimated genetic variation between populations better than simple Euclidean distance. However, the river model, which assigned low resistance to the aquatic habitats including the Rio Grande, described the estimated genetic variation better than Euclidean distance, suggesting that the Rio Grande, and potentially other rivers throughout the toad's range, may act as a route of dispersal for B. cognatus, reducing genetic differentiation among distant populations.
Cross‐talk between skeletal muscle and adipose tissue: A link with obesity?

Since the discovery of leptin, the adipocyte and its products have been the subject of intensive research. Thus, it has been demonstrated that adipose tissue plays a central role in energy homeostasis, behaving as an endocrine organ that expresses molecules involved in regulation of metabolism; alterations in the expression or activity of those molecules have a fundamental role in pathologies such as obesity and insulin resistance. However, little is known about the role played by another tissue, skeletal muscle, which may have similar functions regarding metabolism control. Indeed, some molecules expressed in this tissue have recently been shown to modulate adipose metabolism. The present review considers the metabolic interrelationships and cross‐talk of signals derived from both skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. It is suggested that cytokines derived from both tissues may have an important role in maintaining an adequate ratio of skeletal muscle to fat and thus may play an important role in the control of body weight. IL‐15 (a cytokine highly‐expressed in skeletal muscle), TNF‐α, and leptin could play a decisive role in the suggested “conversation” between adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Functional single nucleotide polymorphism haplotypes in the human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1

The human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 gene (hENT1) is the primary nucleoside transporter for cytosine arabinoside (AraC), a deoxycytidine analog used for treatment of acute leukemias and lymphomas. We screened approximately 1.6 kb upstream of the transcription initiation site of hENT1 for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that affect gene expression. We identified one SNP at position –706G>C with a frequency of 21% in whites and 5% in African-Americans. In African-Americans, we observed two SNPs at positions –1345C>G and –1050G>A with allele frequencies of 8% and 19%, respectively. TRANSFAC analysis suggested that –1345C>G and –706G>C may alter transcription factor binding sites. Four naturally occurring haplotypes (CGG, CAG, CGC and GAG) were cloned into a luciferase expression plasmid, transfected into Cos-1 cells, and reporter activity measured at 24 and 48 h. Three haplotypes, CAG, CGC and GAG, respectively, showed average expression that was approximately two-fold (P<0.05), 1.4-fold (P<0.05) and 1.1-fold (P>0.05) higher than lowest expression haplotype CGG at 48 h. When reanalysed as single SNPs, the differences in expression were significant for –1345C>G and –1050G>A genotypes, and not for –706G>C. However, the magnitude of difference was reduced, suggesting that no single SNP completely accounts for the expression differences observed at the haplotype level. By real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay, individuals with CGG/CGC haplotypes showed 1.37-fold higher median expression of hENT1 transcript than those with common CGG/CGG haplotypes. Although not statistically significant (P=0.12), this difference is in the direction predicted by the in vitro data. hENT1 promoter region haplotypes may influence gene expression and alter AraC chemosensitivity.
Long-term effects on symptoms by reducing electric fields from visual display units.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of the study was to see whether the results of an earlier study [ie, that skin symptoms were reduced by reducing electric fields from visual display units (VDU)] could be reproduced or not. In addition, an attempt was made to determine whether eye symptoms and symptoms from the nervous system could be reduced by reducing VDU electric fields. METHODS The study was designed as a controlled double-blind intervention. The electric fields were reduced by using electric-conducting screen filters. Forty-two persons completed the study while working at their ordinary job, first 1 week with no filter, then 3 months with an inactive filter and then 3 months with an active filter (or in reverse order). The inactive filters were identical to the active ones, except that their ground cables were replaced by empty plastic insulation. The inactive filters did not reduce the fields from the VDU. The fields were significantly lower with active filters than with inactive filters. RESULTS Most of the symptoms were statistically significantly less pronounced in the periods with the filters when compared with the period with no filter. This finding can be explained by visual effects and psychological effects. No statistically significant difference in symptom severeness was observed between the period with an inactive filter and the one with an active filter. CONCLUSIONS The study does not support the hypothesis that skin, eye, or nervous system symptoms can be reduced by reducing VDU electric fields.
Cloning and expression of a retinoic acid receptor β2 subtype from the adult newt: Evidence for an early role in tail and caudal spinal cord regeneration

Retinoic acid receptor beta 2 (RARβ2) has been proposed as an important receptor mediating retinoid‐induced axonal growth and regeneration in developing mammalian spinal cord and brain. In urodele amphibians, organisms capable of extensive central nervous system (CNS) regeneration as adults, this receptor had not been isolated, nor had its function been characterized. We have cloned a full‐length RARβ2 cDNA from adult newt CNS. This receptor, NvRARβ2, is expressed in various adult organs capable of regeneration, including the spinal cord. Interestingly, both the NvRARβ2 mRNA and protein are up‐regulated during the first 2 weeks after amputation of the tail, primarily in the ependymoglial and meningeal tissues near the rostral cut surface of the cord. Treatment with LE135, a RARβ‐selective antagonist, caused a significant inhibition of ependymal outgrowth and a decrease in tail regenerate length. These data support an early role for this receptor in caudal spinal cord and tail regeneration in this amphibian. Developmental Dynamics 240:2613–2625, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Delivery of SAR 1118 to the retina via ophthalmic drops and its effectiveness in a rat streptozotocin (STZ) model of diabetic retinopathy (DR).

PURPOSE To determine the pharmacokinetics of SAR 1118, a small-molecule antagonist of leukocyte function-associated antigen (LFA)-1, after administration of ophthalmic drops in normal rats, and to determine its pharmacologic activity by assessing the inhibition of retinal leukostasis and vascular leakiness in a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic retinopathy model. METHODS The ocular pharmacokinetics of SAR 1118 were studied in rats after a single topical dose of (14)C-SAR 1118 (1 mg/eye; 40 μCi; 15.5 μL). SAR 1118 concentration time profiles in plasma and ocular tissues were quantified by liquid scintillation counting (LSC). The pharmacologic activity of SAR 1118 eye drops administered thrice daily for 2 months at 1% (0.3 mg/eye/d) and 5% (1.5 mg/eye/d) was assessed in an STZ-induced diabetic rat model by determining retinal leukostasis and blood-retinal barrier breakdown. Diabetic rats treated with periocularly administered celecoxib microparticles served as the positive control, and vehicle-treated rats served as the negative control. RESULTS A single dose of 6.5% (14)C-radiolabeled SAR 1118 ophthalmic drops delivered retinal drug levels greater than 1 μM in less than 30 minutes and sustained levels greater than 100 nM for 8 hours. SAR 1118 eye drops significantly reduced leukostasis and blood-retinal barrier breakdown in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS SAR 1118 ophthalmic drops administered thrice daily deliver therapeutic levels of SAR 1118 in the retina and can alleviate the retinal complications associated with diabetes.
Association of Chlamydia pneumoniae and acute coronary heart disease events in non-insulin dependent diabetic and non-diabetic subjects in Finland.

OBJECTIVE It has been suggested that Chlamydia pneumoniae, a Gram-negative intracellular bacterium, is a risk factor for both myocardial infarction and chronic coronary heart disease. Previous studies have been done predominantly in non-diabetic subjects and thus the effect of diabetes on the association between C. pneumoniae antibodies and coronary heart disease has not been analysed. The aim of our study was to investigate the association between prior chlamydial infection and the risk of serious coronary heart disease events (myocardial infarction or coronary death) in a 7-year prospective study of cohorts of diabetic and non-diabetic subjects in two areas of Finland. RESULTS It was found that the prevalence of elevated chlamydial antibodies at baseline was higher in nondiabetic subjects who had serious coronary heart disease events during the follow-up than in subjects without coronary heart disease events (32 vs 15%, relative risk 2.56, P = 0.013) in East Finland. In non-diabetic subjects living in West Finland we did not find this association. The association between the C. pneumoniae antibodies and coronary heart disease events did not markedly change after controlling for other risk factors for coronary heart disease (OR 2.44, P = 0.055) in non-diabetic subjects living in eastern Finland. In diabetic patients we did not find any association between chlamydial antibodies and coronary heart disease events. CONCLUSION We found an association between C. pneumoniae antibodies and coronary heart disease events in non-diabetics living in eastern Finland. This association remained strong even after controlling for the other risk factors for coronary heart disease. In diabetic patients with high risk for coronary heart disease, C. pneumoniae was not a risk factor for coronary heart disease.
Resting serum antioxidant status is positively correlated with peak oxygen uptake in endurance trained runners.

BACKGROUND This study tested the hypothesis that the ability to scavenge free radicals in serum was compromised in trained runners. METHODS EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN peak VO2, the ability to scavenge free radicals in serum and the plasma concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) were assessed in 18 male runners. PARTICIPANTS subject characteristics (mean +/- SEM) were height 1.77 +/- 0.01 m, mass 71.4 +/- 1.2 kg, age 31 +/- 1 years and weekly training distance 45 +/- 5 km.week-1. MEASURES venous blood samples were collected at rest. Serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was determined using a chemiluminescent technique. This involved the oxidation of luminol, in a reaction catalysed by horseradish peroxidase. Serum antioxidant protection was quantified relative to a soluble vitamin E analogue (Trolox) and expressed as Trolox equivalents (Trolox Eq.). MDA was determined using a highly specific assay, using HPLC with fluorimetric detection. Peak VO2 was determined from expired gas measurements collected during an incremental running test on a motorised treadmill. Data were analysed using Pearson correlations. RESULTS Serum TAC was 500 +/- 26 mumol Trolox Eq.l-1, with a plasma MDA concentration of 1.5 +/- 0.1 mmol.l-1 and serum urate concentration of 274 +/- 12 mmol.l-1. Peak VO2 was 63 +/- 1 ml.kg-1.min-1. Significant correlations were observed between peak VO2 and serum TAC (r = 0.365, p < 0.05); peak VO2 and serum urate (r = 0.463, p < 0.05) and serum urate and serum TAC (r = 0.807, p < 0.001). Plasma MDA and serum TAC were not significantly correlated (r = 0.026, p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate that the ability to quench free radicals in serum in increased in relation to the maximum ability to consume oxygen, however this response does not appear to provide any additional protection against peroxidative damage at rest.
THE IN VITRO CULTIVATION OF TISSUE AND CELLS OF PACIFIC SALMON AND STEELHEAD TROUT *

Introduction The application of cell culture techniques has become a n invaluable tool for the study of viruses in both human and veterinary medicine. Wolf’ in America and Grutzner’ in Europe have demonstrated the usefulness of cell cultures for the diagnosis and study of fish viruses. The need for fur ther development of these techniques has gained added emphasis as a result of discovery and recognition of the importance of viral diseases in fish populations. Interest in fish cell culture a t this laboratory was stimulated by an epizootic caused by the Oregon sockeye virus in stocks of juvenile sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka ) . Work with this virus had been restricted to experimental infection of the intact animal until methods were developed which allowed the preparation of reliable cultures of salmon cells. These methods were based upon those originally developed for mammalian cells and were modified when necessary to fit the needs of the coldblooded vertebrate cells.
Dual-chamber defibrillators reduce clinically significant adverse events compared with single-chamber devices: results from the DATAS (Dual chamber and Atrial Tachyarrhythmias Adverse events Study) trial.

AIMS This randomized trial evaluated clinically significant adverse events (CSAEs), in patients implanted with dual-chamber (DC) vs. single-chamber (SC) implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). DC-ICD had atrial tachyarrhythmia (AT) therapy capabilities. Strict programming recommendations were reinforced. METHODS AND RESULTS Patients with conventional SC-ICD indication were randomized to DC-ICD, SC-ICD, or a DC-ICD programmed as an SC-ICD (SC-simulated) and followed for 16 months. Patients in the DC and SC-simulated groups crossed over after 8 months. The primary endpoint was a composite of CSAE: all-cause mortality; invasive intervention; hospitalization (> 24 h) for cardiovascular causes; inappropriate shocks (two or more episodes); and sustained symptomatic AT lasting > 48 h. The outcome variable was a pre-specified score that corrected for clinical severity and follow-up duration. Three hundred and thirty-four patients were analysed (DC-ICD, n = 112; SC-ICD, n = 111; SC-simulated, n = 111). The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 0.36 +/- 0.13, 69% were in functional class > or = II. CSAE occurred in 65 DC-ICD, 82 SC-ICD, and 84 SC-simulated patients. The outcome variable was 33% lower in the DC-ICD group (OR 0.31; 95% CI 0.14-0.67; P = 0.0028). Mortality was 4% in DC, 9% in SC, and 10% in SC-simulated. CONCLUSION In patients with a standard SC-ICD indication, DC-ICD was associated with less CSAE when compared with SC-ICD.
Differentiation Strategies in the Adoption of Environmental Standards: LEED from 2000 to 2014

We study the role of vertical differentiation in the adoption of LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design), a multitier environmental building certification system. Our identification strategy relies on the timing of adoption and shows that builders seek to differentiate from each other by choosing a different certification level from previously certified buildings. A common concern in this framework is that mean-reverting behavior could be mistaken for differentiation. We develop a new method for establishing the importance of strategic interactions based on simulating from a model with independent choice and unobserved heterogeneity, and showing that such a model cannot generate the level of interaction that we observe. Finally, we estimate a model that incorporates both differentiation incentives and correlated market-level unobservables and use our estimates from this model to simulate the impact of reducing the number of LEED tiers from four to two. The simulations indicate that environmental investments depend on the location of the threshold between tiers.This paper was accepted by Bruno Cassiman, business strategy.
Combined cine- and tagged-MRI for tracking landmarks on the tongue surface

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques have been a promising way in recent speech production studies, and dynamic magnetic imaging with repetitive or real-time MRI scans has been widely used to acquire motions of all the articulators and measure their deformation during speech. While MRI is capable to visualize the entire surfaces of those organs, it lacks landmarks for motion tracking that are available with other techniques such as magnetic sensing methods. One possible solution to have both surface contours and landmarks of the articulators is to combine different imaging techniques. In this paper, we propose a new method to add surface markers on the dynamic MRI of the tongue by combining cine- and tagged-MRI data together. To do so, analysis was done on the images from the two types of scans conducted in the same session. The intersection points of the tag lines with the tongue surface contour were extracted from tagged-MRI data and they were mapped onto cine-MRI data. After minimizing the minute mapping errors, the result showed that marker tracking on both oral and pharyngeal surfaces of the tongue was successful.