Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamics of T‐U Wave in Patients with Idiopathic Ventricular Tachycardia Originating From the Right Ventricular Outflow Tract

Postextrasystolic U wave augmentation is observed in patients with long QT syndrome and those with organic heart disease. This phenomenon is considered a marker of increased risk of arrhythmia. However, the characteristics of the U wave have not been evaluated in patients with idiopathic VT originating from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT‐VT). The present study evaluated the dynamic change in the T‐U wave in patients with RVOT‐VT. Holter ECGs obtained from 14 patients with RVOT‐VT and 11 healthy control subjects were analyzed. The amplitude of T and U waves (Tamp and Uamp) and preceding RR intervals were measured during stable sinus rhythm (rate dependent change) and in the postextrasystolic sinus complex (pause dependent change). Uamp correlated negatively and significantly with the preceding RR interval in 13 (93%) RVOT‐VT patients but in only 2 (18%) control subjects. The average value of the slope of the Uamp/RR relationship was negative (−0.22 ± 0.10 mV/s) in the RVOT‐VT group, but was positive (0.04 ± 0.07 mV/s, P < 0.001) in the control group. Pause dependent U wave augmentation was observed in 12 (86%) of 14 patients. Increased frequency of consecutive preceding premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) was associated with a larger postextrasystolic Uamp. PVC or the first ventricular beat of VT arose from near the peak of augmented U waves. The dynamic changes in the T‐U wave were observed in patients with RVOT‐VT. Further investigations are required to elucidate the precise role of the U wave in arrhythmogenesis in those patients. (PACE 2004; 27:148–155)
The Impact of Corporate Governance Features upon the Relationship between Earnings Quality and of Free Cash Flow in Tehran Stock Exchange

Managers’ authority in the application of revenue-recognition and matching principles and the use of estimate and prediction are among the factors which affect the "earnings quality". On the one hand, given their greater awareness of the company, they are expected to prepare and present information in a manner that best reflects the company's position. On the other hand, the company's director may intentionally or unintentionally present a desirable image of the company’s status for such reasons as maintenance of the post in the company or reception of bonuses, etc. Therefore, the earnings quality of companies is influenced by manager’s reporting and discretion. In this study, the impact of corporate governance features upon the relationship between earnings quality and Free Cash Flow was evaluated in Tehran Stock Exchange. The hypotheses were tested using pooled data for the time period of 1387 to 1393 based on the data from 165 companies which were selected by systematic removal sampling. The results showed that free cash flow reduces earnings quality and in line with Jensen's theory (1986), the mechanisms of corporate governance adjust the relationship between free cash flows and earnings quality.
White Matter Alterations in Early Stages of Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Studies

Several lines of evidence suggest that the normal integration of cerebral communication may be compromised in schizophrenia, with white matter (WM) abnormalities being integral to these functional deficits. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a neuroimaging technique which has increasingly been used to study WM through quantitative indices of its structural and orientational characteristics. Identifying the WM differences early in the course of schizophrenia may assist in prevention, early diagnosis and identification of treatment targets. In that respect, the aims of the present study were to (a) systematically review WM integrity in the early stages of schizophrenia as inferred by DTI and (b) specifically examine parameters that may affect WM: age, duration of illness and treatment. In summary, DTI studies in early schizophrenia suggest that structural dysconnectivity may be already present in recent‐onset and drug‐naïve patients, as well as in individuals clinically at high risk for developing schizophrenia. Although the pattern of WM differences is not totally consistent frontal, fronto‐temporal and fronto‐limbic connections, with tracts including the superior longitudinal fasciculus, cingulum bundle, uncinate fasciculus and corpus callosum seem to be affected. These differences may depend on the developmental stage of the subjects, the duration of illness and exposure to antipsychotic medication.
Gender, Risk-Taking Propensity and Culture of Entrepreneurs at Small and Medium Enterprises in Gauteng

This study analyzed the risk-taking propensity amongst the four cultural groups and its impact on the business performance, from a sample of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) within the Gauteng Province of South Africa. The data was collected using two sets of questionnaire measuring risk taking propensity and perceived business performance. 83 responses were returned from 400 respondents. The results indicate that male on average show higher risk taking, while difference in risk taking propensity between male and female was not statistically significant. A very weak or no correlation between risk taking and business performance scores for both the genders were found, indicating that gender and culture does not play a role in the relationship between risk taking and business performance. However study found that there was significant difference in risk taking behavior by different culture groups, Zimbabweans were the highest risk takers, while Chinese, Pakistanis and South Africans differed in their risk taking behavior.
Inhibition of neutral sphingomyelinase‐2 perturbs brain sphingolipid balance and spatial memory in mice

The sphingolipid ceramide is a bioactive signaling lipid that is thought to play important roles in modulating synaptic activity, in part by regulating the function of excitatory postsynaptic receptors. However, the molecular mechanisms by which ceramide exerts its effects on synaptic activity remain largely unknown. We recently demonstrated that a rapid generation of ceramide by neutral sphingomyelinase‐2 (nSMase2; also known as “sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase‐3”) played a key role in modulating excitatory postsynaptic currents by controlling the insertion and clustering of NMDA receptors (Wheeler et al. [2009] J. Neurochem. 109:1237–1249). We now demonstrate that nSMase2 plays a role in memory. Inhibition of nSMase2 impaired spatial and episodic‐like memory in mice. At the molecular level, inhibition of nSMase2 decreased ceramide, increased PSD‐95, increased the number of AMPA receptors, and altered the subunit composition of NMDA receptors. Our study identifies nSMase2 as an important component for efficient memory formation and underscores the importance of ceramide in regulating synaptic events related to learning and memory. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prazosin for the treatment of behavioral symptoms in patients with Alzheimer disease with agitation and aggression.

OBJECTIVES Agitation/aggression in Alzheimer disease (AD) is a major cause of patient distress, caregiver burden, and institutionalization. Enhanced behavioral responsiveness to central nervous system norepinephrine (NE) release may contribute to the pathophysiology of agitation/aggression in AD. Prazosin, a nonsedating generic medication used for hypertension and benign prostatic hypertrophy, antagonizes NE effects at brain postsynaptic alpha-1 adrenoreceptors. This pilot study examined the efficacy and tolerability of prazosin for behavioral symptoms in patients with agitation/aggression in AD. DESIGN Double-blind, placebo controlled, parallel group study. SETTING A university AD center and a nursing home in Seattle, WA. PARTICIPANTS Twenty-two nursing home and community-dwelling participants with agitation/aggression and probable or possible AD (mean age: 80.6 +/- 11.2). INTERVENTION Randomization to placebo (N = 11) or prazosin (N = 11). Medication was initiated at 1 mg/day and increased up to 6 mg/day using a flexible dosing algorithm. MEASUREMENTS The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) at Weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8. The Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGIC) at Week 8. RESULTS Participants taking prazosin (mean dose: 5.7 +/- 0.9 mg/day) had greater improvements than those taking placebo (mean dose: 5.6 +/- 1.2 mg/day) on the NPI (mean change: -19 +/- 21 versus -2 +/- 15, chi = 6.32, df = 1, p = 0.012) and BPRS (mean change: -9 +/- 9 versus -3 +/- 5, chi = 4.42, df = 1, p = 0.036) based on linear mixed effects models and the CGIC (mean: 2.6 +/- 1.0 versus 4.5 +/- 1.6, z = 2.57, p = 0.011 [Mann-Whitney test]). Adverse effects and blood pressure changes were similar between prazosin and placebo groups. CONCLUSION Prazosin was well tolerated and improved behavioral symptoms in patients with agitation/aggression in AD.
Breast cancer risk factors: a comparison between pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the difference between pre- and post-menopausal breast cancer regarding menstrual and reproductive risk factors METHODS The case-control study was conducted in Mayo Hospital, Lahore, between October 2008 and April 2009. Cases were breast cancer patients admitted in the surgical and oncology floors of the hospital. Controls were hospital patients without breast cancer. The study enrolled 150 cases and 300 controls. Menstrual and reproductive history was taken from both the cases and the controls. For every risk factor age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated by logistic regression analysis, separate for pre- and post-menopausal women. RESULTS Among the breast cancer patients, 42.7% were pre-menopausal and 57.3% were post-menopausal. Age at menarche had no association with breast cancer for both pre- and post-menopausal women. Nulliparity was a risk factor for both pre-menopausal (OR 4.1, 95% CI 1.4-12.6) and post-menopausal breast cancer (OR 8.2, 95% CI 1.7-40.4). Among parous women only post-menopausal females having < 3 children were at increased risk for breast cancer (OR 4.5, 95% CI 1.8-11.5) compared with females having > or = 3 children. Younger age at first live birth decreased breast cancer risk in both pre- and post-menopausal women. Breastfeeding was not associated with both pre- and post-menopausal breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS Majority of risk factors for pre-menopausal breast cancer are also associated with postmenopausal breast cancer except less parity, which increased the risk for post-menopausal breast cancer only.
Engineering a Glucose-responsive Human Insulin-secreting Cell Line from Islets of Langerhans Isolated from a Patient with Persistent Hyperinsulinemic Hypoglycemia of Infancy*

Persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy (PHHI) is a neonatal disease characterized by dysregulation of insulin secretion accompanied by profound hypoglycemia. We have discovered that islet cells, isolated from the pancreas of a PHHI patient, proliferate in culture while maintaining a beta cell-like phenotype. The PHHI-derived cell line (NES2Y) exhibits insulin secretory characteristics typical of islet cells derived from these patients, i.e. they have no KATP channel activity and as a consequence secrete insulin at constitutively high levels in the absence of glucose. In addition, they exhibit impaired expression of the homeodomain transcription factor PDX1, which is a key component of the signaling pathway linking nutrient metabolism to the regulation of insulin gene expression. To repair these defects NES2Y cells were triple-transfected with cDNAs encoding the two components of the KATP channel (SUR1 and Kir6.2) and PDX1. One selected clonal cell line (NISK9) had normal KATPchannel activity, and as a result of changes in intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis ([Ca2+] i ) secreted insulin within the physiological range of glucose concentrations. This approach to engineering PHHI-derived islet cells may be of use in gene therapy for PHHI and in cell engineering techniques for administering insulin for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.
A novel surgical procedure for coronally repositioning of the buccal implant mucosa using acellular dermal matrix: a case report.

BACKGROUND This case report describes a surgical procedure for coronally advancing the peri-implant mucosa to treat a soft tissue dehiscence in a single-tooth implant-supported restoration in combination with an acellular dermal matrix graft. METHODS The patient was a 41-year-old systemically healthy, non-smoking female. Her chief complaint pertained to the unesthetic appearance of her right lateral upper incisor, caused by recession of the mucosal margin. On examination, a 3-mm recession could be observed. The periodontium was classified as thin. A 2-mm band of keratinized peri-implant mucosa was present. Keratinized gingiva was approximately 6 mm at adjacent areas. The surgical technique included a novel incision design to coronally position the flap over an acellular dermal matrix graft. RESULTS Partial coverage of the recession was achieved. After a 6-month period, tissues appeared thicker than preoperatively, with no bleeding on probing and no probing depth >2 mm. The patient was satisfied with the overall treatment result. CONCLUSIONS This case report shows the possibility of achieving partial soft tissue coverage over an implant-supported restoration with the combined use of an acellular dermal matrix and a coronally positioned flap. A novel technique is presented that allowed advancing the flap over the graft in a single-tooth restoration where enough keratinized tissue was present preoperatively.
Room-air resuscitation causes less damage to heart and kidney than 100% oxygen.

RATIONALE Pure oxygen causes more oxidative stress than room air in resuscitation of asphyctic neonates, and consequently could be associated with increased tissue damage. OBJECTIVES To compare damage caused to heart and kidneys on reoxygenation in severely asphyctic term neonates resuscitated with room air (RAR) or 100% oxygen (OxR). Nonasphyctic term newborn infants served as a control group. METHODS AND MEASUREMENTS This is a prospective randomized clinical trial masked for the gas mixture. Reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured to assess oxidative stress. Plasma cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and urinary N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (NAG) assessed cardiac and renal damage, respectively. Daily determinations of NAG for a 2-wk period were performed to monitor postasphyctic renal damage. MAIN RESULTS Both asphyctic groups showed oxidative stress when compared with the control group as evidenced by diminished GSH/GSSG ratios, adaptive increases in SOD activity, and higher values of NAG and cTnT (markers of tissue damage). However, the OxR group showed significantly higher values of NAG and cTnT, lower GSH/GSSG ratios, and higher SOD activity than the RAR group. Moreover, NAG values persisted in being higher than normal in the OxR group for 2 wk after birth, whereas NAG in the RAR group dropped to normal within the first week. A linear correlation between cTnT or NAG and GSSG was found. CONCLUSIONS The use of room air on resuscitation causes less oxidative stress and damage to heart and kidney than pure oxygen.
Riboflavin Photodegradation and Photosensitizing Effects are Highly Dependent on Oxygen and Ascorbate Concentrations¶

Abstract Riboflavin (RF) is a normal component of the eye lens which triggers a strong photosensitizing activity when exposed to light. Upon irradiation with short wavelength radiations below 400 nm, RF-photosensitized damage may occur. However, vitamin C is present at high concentrations in the normal lens and plays an important role in inhibiting these photosensitization processes. An in vitro simple model was used with the objective of understanding better the relationships between vitamin C and oxygen concentrations on the mechanisms of RF-mediated photodegradation of tryptophan (Trp), a target particularly sensitive to photo-oxidation. Under nitrogen, the RF decomposition reached its maximal value, and vitamin C and Trp photo-oxidation was negligible. When increasing oxygen pressure, RF photodegradation dropped and vitamin C photo-oxidation strongly increased and was maximal at 100% O2. RF-induced photodegradation of Trp first increased with oxygen concentration, up to 40 μM O2, and then decreased. RF and Trp degradation were significantly protected by vitamin C so that no more than 20% of the substrates concentration were oxidized in the presence of vitamin C higher than 0.8 mM. From our results we conclude that in the specific conditions of the normal lens, the high vitamin C concentration (2 mM) is compatible with the UVA radiation hazard, despite the presence of RF. However, if lenticular vitamin C decreases below 0.8 mM, photodegradation of RF may occur and Trp may therefore be photo-oxidized by a Type-I mechanism.
Transient Increase with Strenuous Exercise of Plasma Levels of Glycosaminoglycans in Humans and Horses

Plasma glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were isolated and purified by chromatographic procedures in healthy humans and horses before and after physical exercise. A weak anion exchange resin was used to separate polyanions. Humans exercised on a cycloergometer, while horses were exercised on a treadmill and in show jumping competition. Some GAGs were isolated from untreated plasma and operationally defined as native proteoglycans (PGs), while the total GAG amount was isolated from mild alkali treated plasma. Plasma GAG concentrations in terms of galactosamine and galactose, the respective components of the cartilage polysaccharides chondroitin sulphate and keratan sulphate, significantly increased only when the subject was exercised intensively, in both humans and horses. Only native PGs fraction contributed to GAG levels changes. The increases were transient, since preexercise values were reached in 30 min in horses. These changes with exercise are suggested to be a tool to measure the effect of physical exercise on cartilage PG metabolism.
CD4 lymphocyte counts within 24 months of human immunodeficiency virus seroconversion. Findings in the US Navy and Marine Corps. The Navy Retroviral Working Group.

BACKGROUND Although CD4 lymphocytes are the primary target of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), few studies have evaluated CD4 cell counts in a large population of seroconverters with known dates of seroconversion. This study reports an analysis of CD4 lymphocyte counts and CD4 cells as a percentage of all lymphocytes within 24 months of estimated date of HIV seroconversion in 1046 HIV seroconverters. METHODS Study participants included all Navy and Marine Corps seroconverters (1023 men, 23 women) from 1987 through 1991 with a previous negative HIV test. CD4 lymphocyte counts and percentages were obtained for blood drawn from HIV seroconverters during initial clinical evaluations carried out at Naval Medical Centers in Bethesda, Md; Oakland, Calif; Portsmouth, Va; and San Diego, Calif. The seroconversion date was estimated as the midpoint between the last negative test date and the first positive test date. RESULTS Nearly 40% of seroconverters presented with initial CD4 lymphocyte counts lower than 0.50 x 10(9)/L (500/microL) and 3% with counts lower than 0.20 x 10(9)/L (200/microL). Approximately half the seroconverters presented with fewer than 29% CD4 cells, and 5% presented with fewer than 14% CD4 cells. There were no significant differences in CD4 counts according to sex, race, or estimated duration of HIV infection. CONCLUSIONS Little difference in CD4 lymphocyte counts or percentages by duration of infection within 24 months was evident on initial clinical evaluation of HIV seroconverters. The high percentage of seroconverters presenting with low CD4 counts or percentages suggests a population of seroconverters with rapid depletion of CD4 lymphocytes following seroconversion.
Multicenter evaluation of a fluorometric enzyme immunocapture assay to detect toxoplasma-specific immunoglobulin M in dried blood filter paper specimens from newborns

An easy-to-perform fluorometric enzyme immunocapture assay (FEIA) was developed by Labsystems, Helsinki, Finland, to detect toxoplasma-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) in dried blood spots. Assay materials were distributed to two sites that have programs in place designed to identify infants born with congenital toxoplasma infection: the Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark, and the New England Regional Newborn Screening Program, Boston, Mass. Each site tested over 700 dried blood samples from healthy newborns to define a cutoff at the 99.5 percentile (5 enzyme immunounits for Copenhagen and 4 enzyme immunounits for Boston). Each site then applied its own cutoff of interpret results for dried blood spots prepared from either adults with serology suggestive of acute infection (Copenhagen) or infants determined to be congenitally infected on the basis of serological criteria (Boston). In Copenhagen, 35 of 38 adult samples were either positive to a small degree or borderline positive for IgA. These samples thus may not represent acute infection. In Boston, of 26 congenitally infected infants, 22 were positive by FEIA. The four infant specimens not positive by FEIA were either negative or borderline positive by the standard Boston assay. These results demonstrate that the IgM FEIA is a potential alternative to other filter paper assay for toxoplasma-specific IgM currently in use for newborns.
Endogenous and exogenous nitric oxide enhance the DNA strand scission induced by tert‐butylhydroperoxide in PC12 cells via peroxynitrite‐dependent and independent mechanisms, respectively

A short‐term exposure to tert‐butylhydroperoxide (tB‐OOH) promoted a concentration‐dependent formation of DNA single‐strand breaks in PC12 cells. These events were paralleled by an increase in the cytosolic concentration of Ca2+ that was in part cleared by the mitochondria. Unlike the extent of Ca2+ mobilization and/or mitochondrial Ca2+ clearance, the DNA strand scission evoked by the hydroperoxide was markedly reduced by the nitric oxide (NO) scavenger 2‐phenyl‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethylimidazolin‐1‐oxyl‐3‐oxide (PTIO) or by the NO synthase inhibitor N‐nitro‐l‐arginine methylester (L‐NAME). Inhibitors of electron transport (rotenone and myxothiazol), ruthenium red (RR, a polycation which inhibits the calcium uniporter of mitochondria), or peroxynitrite scavengers (Trolox and l‐methionine) were as effective as PTIO or L‐NAME in inhibiting the DNA‐damaging response mediated by tB‐OOH. Rotenone, RR or peroxynitrite scavengers did not further reduce the residual DNA cleavage observed following treatment with tB‐OOH in L‐NAME‐supplemented cells. Exogenous NO also increased the DNA damage caused by tB‐OOH in L‐NAME‐supplemented cells and this response was blunted by RR or by inhibitors of electron transport but was insensitive to peroxynitrite scavengers. We conclude that both endogenous and exogenous NO enhance the DNA cleavage generated by tB‐OOH in PC12 cells. However, only endogenous NO set the bases for an involvement of peroxynitrite in this DNA‐damaging response.