Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Exerts Ca 2 (cid:1) -Dependent Positive Inotropic Effects in Failing Human Myocardium Integrative Physiology

—Myocardial generation of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is altered in hypertrophy and heart failure, but there are no reports on acute functional effects of IGF-1 in human cardiac muscle. We examined inotropic responses and signal transduction mechanisms of IGF-1 in human myocardium. Experiments were performed in isolated trabeculae or cardiomyocytes from 46 end-stage failing hearts. The effect of IGF-1 (0.001 to 0.2 (cid:1) mol/L) on isometric twitch force (37°C, 1 Hz), intracellular Ca 2 (cid:1) transients (aequorin method), sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca 2 (cid:1) content (rapid cooling contractures), L-type Ca 2 (cid:1) current (whole-cell voltage clamp), and cAMP concentrations was assessed. In addition, the effects of blocking IGF-1 receptors, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-kinase), protein kinase C (PKC), or transsarcolemmal Ca 2 (cid:1) entry were tested. IGF-1 exerted concentration-dependent positive inotropic effects (twitch force increased to maximally 133 (cid:2) 4% of baseline values at 0.1 (cid:1) mol/L; P (cid:3) 0.05). The IGF-1 receptor antibody (cid:2) IR3 or the PI3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin prevented the functional effects. The inotropic response was paralleled by increases in Ca 2 (cid:1) transients and SR Ca 2 (cid:1) content. IGF-1 (0.1 (cid:1) mol/L) increased L-type Ca 2 (cid:1) current amplitude by 24 (cid:2) 7% ( P (cid:3) 0.05). Blockade of SR function did not affect the inotropic response to IGF-1. In contrast, L-type Ca 2 (cid:1) channel blockade with diltiazem partially prevented ( (cid:4) 50%) the inotropic response to IGF-1. Inhibition of PKC (GF109203X), Na (cid:1) -H (cid:1) exchange (HOE642), or reverse-mode Na (cid:1) -Ca 2 (cid:1) exchange (KB-R7943) reduced the response to IGF-1 by (cid:4) 60% to 70%. IGF-1 exerts Ca 2 (cid:1) -dependent positive inotropic effects through activation of IGF-1 receptors and a PI3-kinase– dependent pathway in failing human myocardium. The increased [Ca 2 (cid:1) ] i with IGF-1 originates from both enhanced L-type Ca 2 (cid:1) currents and enhanced Na (cid:1) -H (cid:1) exchange–dependent reverse-mode Na (cid:1) -Ca 2 (cid:1) exchange. These nongenomic functional effects of IGF-1 may be of clinical relevance. ( Circ Res . 2003;92:169-176.) were recorded using a Multiclamp 700 patch-clamp amplifier (Axon Instruments). The peak inward current during a depolarization step from (cid:5) 40 (cid:1) 10 was taken as I Ca,L . At steady-state basal current recordings, IGF-1 (0.1 (cid:1) mol/L) was added to the superfusate, and the effects of IGF-1 on Ca 2 (cid:1) currents were analyzed.
The Effectiveness of Teaching Self-adjustment-based Learning Strategies in Understanding Students’ Competencies and Motivational Beliefs

Background: Self-adjustment-based learning is an important educational, scholarly, and experimental approach in educative, cognitive, and clinical psychology. Objectives: The present study was aimed to examine the effectiveness of teaching self-adjustment-based learning strategies in understanding of Islamic Azad University’s (Research and Science Unit in Tehran) students’ competencies and motivational beliefs. Methods: Research method was practical in terms of objective; and in terms of data collection method, it was quasi-experimental with pre-test, post-test type. The statistical population of the study consisted of all psychology students in Islamic Azad University, from whom 30 individuals were selected for a control group (15 individuals) and an experimental group (15 individuals), using a convenience sampling method. Data were collected using a self-made questionnaire for competency comprehension and Pintrich and DeGroot’s motivational strategies for learning questionnaire. The analysis of the obtained data was done through SPSS software in two sections: descriptive (frequency, percentile frequency, mean, standard deviation, and variations) and inferential (covariance
HIV in body ̄uids during primary HIV infection: implications for pathogenesis, treatment and public health

Methods: Blood plasma, cerebrospinal ̄uid (CSF), seminal plasma, cervicovaginal lavage ̄uid and/or saliva were sampled from 17 individuals with primary HIV infection (range of time from symptoms onset to sampling, 8±70 days) and one individual with early infection (168 days). Subjects' HIV-1 RNA levels in each ̄uid were compared with levels from antiretroviral-naive controls with established HIV infection. For study subjects, correlations were assessed between HIV-1 RNA levels and time from symptoms onset. Responses to antiretroviral therapy with didanosine  stavudine  nevirapine hydroxyurea were assessed in each compartment.
Comment on Basal Cell Carcinoma Rebound After Cessation of Vismodegib in an Individual With Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome

The case report by Wolfe and colleagues describes an individual with basal cell nevus syndrome (BCNS) who took vismodegib 150 mg/d as part of an unreferenced clinical trial and discontinued treatment after 7 months because of intolerable side effects. The authors suggest a rebound of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in the patient and increased subclinical extension after vismodegib discontinuation. We feel these conclusions are unsubstantiated based on the following reasons:
SHORT-TERM USE OF OCCLUSAL SPLINT IN PATIENTS WITH SLEEP BRUXISM: A CASE-CONTROLLEDSTUDY

Sleep bruxism (SB) is defined as a repetitive jaw muscle activity characterized by the clenching or grinding of teeth and/or bracing or thrusting of the mandible during the sleep. It is considered as one of the major responsible for various dysfunctions in the orofacial region including dental problems such as tooth wear, the progression of periodontal disease, damage or failure of dental restorations or implants, and musculoskeletal problems such as masticatory muscle hypertrophy and temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Its prevalence is hard to determine as most population studies are usually based on self-reported questionnaires. Anyway it has been reported to be the highest in childhood from 3.5% to 40.6% and decreases with age from about 8% in younger adults to about 3% in elderly people. The number and duration of the bruxing event during sleep vary greatly with the same patient over time and among the patients, sometimes even on a day-to-day basis, with subjects showing no activity during some nights and intense activity during others. Although the etiology and neurological mechanisms which generate SB are not well understood, some studies have proven that central factors, especially sleepActa Medica Mediterranea, 2018, 34: 301
Dynamics and Hierarchical Encoding of Non-compact Acoustic Categories in Auditory and Frontal Cortex

Categorical perception is a fundamental cognitive function enabling animals to flexibly assign sounds into behaviorally relevant categories. This study investigates the nature of acoustic category representations, their emergence in an ascending series of ferret auditory and frontal cortical fields, and the dynamics of this representation during passive listening to task-relevant stimuli and during active retrieval from memory while engaging in learned categorization tasks. Ferrets were trained on two auditory Go-NoGo categorization tasks to discriminate two non-compact sound categories (composed of tones or amplitude-modulated noise). Neuronal responses became progressively more categorical in higher cortical fields, especially during task performance. The dynamics of the categorical responses exhibited a cascading top-down modulation pattern that began earliest in the frontal cortex and subsequently flowed downstream to the secondary auditory cortex, followed by the primary auditory cortex. In a subpopulation of neurons, categorical responses persisted even during the passive listening condition, demonstrating memory for task categories and their enhanced categorical boundaries.
BRIEF REVIEWS Hormonal and Metabolic Reactions Evoked by Acute Myocardial Infarction

RECOGNITION of the importance of humoral balance in the body originated in the work of Claude Bernard (1855) and was developed later mainly by Cannon (1915) and Selye (1950). Recent myocardial infarction (MI) has been reported to elicit humoral disturbances which, a little more than a decade ago, were not considered of importance. The recognition that they may influence the clinical course of the disease came in recent years as a consequence of better understanding of the complex character of MI and the nature of its complications. In this review I intend to show briefly the accumulated data on the pattern of humoral, mainly hormonal, disorders accompanying MI which have been relatively well elucidated. Their interrelations and the mechanism of their possible influence on the clinical course of the disease also will be outlined. The therapeutic implications of this knowledge will be discussed briefly and some areas which require further research will be suggested.
Layer-Specific Contributions to Imagined and Executed Hand Movements in Human Primary Motor Cortex

The human ability to imagine motor actions without executing them (i.e., motor imagery) is crucial to a number of cognitive functions, including motor planning and learning, and has been shown to improve response times and accuracy of subsequent motor actions [1, 2]. Although these behavioral findings suggest the possibility that imagined movements directly influence primary motor cortex (M1), how this might occur remains unknown [3]. Here, we use a non-blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) method for collecting fMRI data, called vascular space occupancy (VASO) [4, 5], to measure neural activations across cortical laminae in M1 while participants either tapped their thumb and forefinger together or simply imagined doing so. We report that, whereas executed movements (i.e., finger tapping) evoked neural responses in both the superficial layers of M1 that receive cortical input and the deep layers of M1 that send output to the spinal cord to support movement, imagined movements evoked responses in superficial cortical layers only. Furthermore, we found that finger tapping preceded by both imagined and executed movements showed a reduced response in the superficial layers (repetition suppression) coupled with a heightened response in the deep layers (repetition enhancement). Taken together, our results provide evidence for a mechanism whereby imagined movements can directly affect motor performance and might explain how neural repetition effects lead to improvements in behavior (e.g., repetition priming).
Effects of methylphenidate treatment on quality of life in adolescents

Effects of methylphenidate treatment on quality of life in adolescents Objective: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood mental disorders. Improvement in quality of life is observed with the treatment of ADHD which is a chronic disorder that disrupts the quality of life. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the changes in symptoms of anxiety and depression associated with ADHD and quality of life of adolescents after methylphenidate treatment. Method: Fifty patients between 13-18 years old, who admitted to Mersin University Medical Faculty Hospital Pediatric and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Clinics; were diagnosed with ADHD; received methylphenidate treatment for the first time; and continued with the treatment for three months; were included in the study. Pretreatment and 3rd month results of Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI), StateTrait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAI-CH), and adolescent and parent forms of Pediatric Quality of Life InventoryTM 4.0 (PedsQLTM 4.0) were assessed by retrospectively screening of patient charts. Results: After methylphenidate treatment, quality of life scores were improved, except for physical functioning. Quality of life scores were higher in adolescent reports, compared to parents. Male adolescents scored their quality of life more positively than girls before and after the treatment. In addition, anxiety symptoms improved after methylphenidate treatment. Conclusion: It is important to determine the changes in quality of life with the treatment of ADHD in terms of emphasizing the importance of ADHD treatment, evaluating treatment outcomes, and establishing effective and sophisticated treatment plans.
Investigating the Effect of Family Counseling on the Acceptance and Support of Patients under Methadone Maintenance Treatment

Background: Family plays a crucial role in improvement and treatment continuation of individuals under methadone treatment. Understanding, supporting, and accepting the patient by the family and friends are factors influencing the treatment and rehabilitation process. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of family counseling on acceptance and support rates of patients under MMT. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 50 patients (25 in the intervention group and 25 in the control group) under methadone treatment, in addiction treatment centers, in Kermanshah were selected through cluster sampling and randomly divided into 2 intervention and control groups. Data collection from the patients in both groups was conducted before and 4 weeks after last session intervention using family support and acceptance questionnaires. Intervention for patients’ family members (2 primary members for each patient) was held as a group-counseling meeting using Michael Free’s methodology. Patients in the intervention and control group received only the usual care of the center. Data were entered into SPSS software (version 18) and analyzed using appropriate statistical tests. Results: The family social support rate for the patients before and 4 weeks after counseling in the control group changed from 165.14 ± 23.91 to 152.36 ± 17.66, indicating no significant difference. Additionally, this rate increased in the intervention group from 156.16 ± 22.88 to 167.6 ± 20.41, showing a significant difference. The rate of family acceptance of patients before and 4 weeks after counseling in the control group changed from 26.86 ± 4.94 to 26.30 ± 4.48, showing no significant difference. Furthermore, this rate in the intervention group increased from 26.93 ± 6.38 to 31.76 ± 3.72, indicating a significant difference. Conclusions: The results of the study showed that family counseling could increase the support rate for drug addicts and their acceptance by the family.
Transcriptional regulation of left ventricular beta-adrenergic receptors during chronic hypoxia.

beta-Adrenergic receptor downregulation is the end result of cellular adaptation to prolonged agonist exposure. The factors mediating receptor downregulation include receptor phosphorylation, receptor movement from the plasma membrane to intracellular sites, and alterations in nascent receptor synthesis. We have previously demonstrated a downregulation of the left ventricular beta-receptor during chronic hypoxia in vivo. To determine the mechanism of this downregulation, we produced chronic hypoxia in seven newborn lambs by creating right ventricular outflow obstruction and an atrial septal defect. Oxygen saturation was reduced to 65-74% for 2 weeks. Six lambs served as normoxic controls. Sarcolemmal membrane and cytosolic fractions were prepared from left ventricular free wall samples. beta-Receptor density in each fraction was determined with the radioligand [125I]iodocyanopindolol. Steady-state levels of beta-receptor mRNA were determined by Northern blot analysis using a beta 1-adrenergic receptor cDNA probe. During chronic hypoxia, left ventricular membrane beta-adrenergic receptor density decreased by 55% (153 +/- 28 fmol/mg for hypoxic lambs versus 342 +/- 79 fmol/mg for control lambs, p < 0.05). There was no corresponding increase in beta-receptor density in the cytosolic fraction (23 +/- 3 fmol/mg for hypoxic lambs versus 33 +/- 9 fmol/mg for control lambs, p = NS), nor was there a significant change in the ratio of beta 1-receptor/beta 2-receptor subtypes as assessed by radioligand binding (beta 1 subtype, 84.1 +/- 10.1% for hypoxic lambs versus 93.2 +/- 8.8% for control lambs; p = NS). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Dental caries experience and use of dental services among inmates of a district jail, Tumkur city

Introduction: The present survey was carried out to assess the dental caries status among the jail inmates, which would be helpful in planning suitable oral health-care services in a prison setting. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in district jail. Demographic details along with caries status using DMFT index were assessed. Results: Two hundred and three inmates were included in the study, and 79.8% had decayed or missing or filled tooth and 20.2% were free from dental caries. Conclusion: A high proportion of prison inmates were affected by dental caries indicating the need for initiating oral health promotion activities among prison inmates.
Comparative study of Oral and Vaginal Misoprostol in the Induction of First and Second Trimester induced abortions

Background: Misoprostol is a PGE1 analogue is used to terminate pregnancies with great success. It is administered by various routes, oral, vaginal and rectal. Aims and Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and side effects of oral and vaginal misoprostol in first and second trimester induced abortions. Materials and Methods: Our study included a total of 80 women, 40 each in first and second trimester. Patients in each trimester were divided into two groups of 20 and were given misoprostol by oral and vaginal route. Outcomes like complete abortion and side effects were observed. The statistical analysis was carried out using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Inc.). Results: Success rate of abortion In first trimester was 94 % and 86 % in oral and vaginal group respectively. In second trimester, the success rate was 94 % and 82 % in oral and vaginal group respectively. Conclusion: Oral and vaginal routes of misoprostol administration have similar efficacy and patient satisfaction level for first and second trimester induced abortions. Hence, oral route may serve as an alternative to vaginal misoprostol.
Re‐evaluation of propane‐1,2‐diol (E 1520) as a food additive

Abstract The EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS) provides a scientific opinion re‐evaluating the safety of propane‐1,2‐diol (E 1520) when used as a food additive. In 1996, the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) established an acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 25 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day for propane‐1,2‐diol. Propane‐1,2‐diol is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal and is expected to be widely distributed to organs and tissues. The major route of metabolism is oxidation to lactic acid and pyruvic acid. At high concentrations, free propane‐1,2‐diol is excreted in the urine. No treatment‐related effects were observed in subchronic toxicity studies. The available data did not raise concern with respect to genotoxicity. Haematological changes suggestive of an increased red blood cell destruction with a compensatory increased rate of haematopoiesis were observed at the highest dose level (5,000 mg/kg bw per day) in a 2‐year study in dogs. No adverse effects were reported in a 2‐year chronic study in rats with propane‐1,2‐diol (up to 2,500 mg/kg bw per day). The SCF used this study to derive the ADI. No adverse effects were observed in the available reproductive and developmental toxicity studies. Propane‐1,2‐diol (E 1520) is authorised according to Annex III in some food additives, food flavourings, enzymes and nutrients and it is then carried over to the final food. Dietary exposure to E 1520 was assessed based on the use levels and analytical data. The Panel considered that for the food categories for which information was available, the exposure was likely to be overestimated. Considering the toxicity database, the Panel concluded that there was no reason to revise the current ADI of 25 mg/kg bw per day. The Panel also concluded that the mean and the high exposure levels (P95) of the brand‐loyal refined exposure scenario did not exceed the ADI in any of the population groups from the use of propane‐1,2‐diol (E 1520) at the reported use levels and analytical results.
Hand and Wrist Fingertip injuries—a review

Fingertip injuries represent a spectrum of injuries from soft-tissue defects after partial amputations and nail bed lacerations to bone and tendon disorders, such as jersey finger and mallet finger. Most of the recent literature and advancements in the treatment of fingertip injuries have focused on soft-tissue defects and mallet fingers. This review focuses on the recent literature and advancements in treatment and care of both fingertip softtissue injuries and mallet fingers.
Performance of Transient Elastography for the Staging of Liver Fibrosis : A Meta-Analysis

Parental obesity and offspring serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferase levels: the Framingham heart study Loomba R, Hwang SJ, O’Donnell CJ, Ellison RC, Vasan RS, D’Agostino RB Sr, Liang TJ, Fox CS Background and aims: Obesity is an important correlate of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels. We sought to examine the relations between parental obesity and the serum ALT and AST levels among offspring in a communitybased sample.
Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Saudi Parents towards Neonatal Jaundice (NNJ): A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Neonatal jaundice occurs worldwide and contributes significantly to neonatal morbidity and mortality. Recently, newborns are being discharged early from hospitals, so parents have the primary responsibility for early recognition, appropriate response and seeking proper treatment. Objectives: To assess parents’ knowledge, attitude and practice towards NNJ in different regions in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving 4413 expectant parents during July- September 2017 had been performed. A self-administered questionnaire was created to obtain respondents information. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the answers of participants in the study. Comparing the answers to different questions within different groups was done using Pearson chi-square test. Statistical significance was set at p =< 0.01 and analysis was performed using IBM SPSS statistics, version 23 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). Results: Out of 4413 participants, females were (79.4%) while (20.6%) were males. Participants were from all regions of Saudi Arabia, with the highest percentage from central region (29.5%), most of them lived in cities (89.6%). Age group 20-30 years constituted (46.6%), and age above 50 years was 4.5% (p= <0.01). Most of the participants had a university level of education (76.6%). Relatives and friends were the main sources of knowledge for (52.6%) of the participants, followed by treating doctor in (29.8%). In (34%) of the participants’ knowledge was gained after their child had NNJ, while in (42.1%) while their child was free of NNJ. Warning signs knowledge depended on the level of education and occupation where university graduates and health care workers were most knowledgeable and the difference was significant (p=<0.01). Awareness about necessity and effectiveness of treatment were dependent on older age, occupation, and place of residence (p=<0.01). Hospital treatment was done only by (23.4%), believing that it wasn’t a serious disease in (18.1%) of participants, while (5%) believed that it needed no treatment at all. Conclusion: Knowledge, attitude, and practice of parents in our study, depended on age, level of education, occupation, and place of residence might have contributed to the delayed appropriate management of severe hyperbilirubinemia. We recommend the engagement of health professionals in educational settings like seminars, workshops and periodical counseling sessions to provide appropriate knowledge to parents.