Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative effect of desflurane and sevoflurane on liver function tests of patients with impaired hepatic function undergoing cholecystectomy: A randomized clinical study

Background and Aim: Desflurane and sevoflurane are the most common volatile anesthetics used during laparoscopic and hepatic surgery. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of desflurane and sevoflurane in patients with elevated preoperative liver functions undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods: The study was a randomized study and included 162 patients classified randomly into two groups: Desflurane group: The patients received desflurane (end-tidal concentration 4%–6%) as an inhalational agent during the whole procedure. Sevoflurane group: The patients received sevoflurane (end-tidal concentration 2%–4%) as an inhalational agent during the whole procedure. The investigations included serum level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), and total bilirubin. The values were serially collected at the following timepoints; T0:at the preoperative period, T1:directly after surgery, T2:1st postoperative day, T3:2nd postoperative day, T4:3rd postoperative day, T5:5th postoperative day, T6:7th postoperative day, and T7:10th postoperative day. The statistics were described in terms of mean ± standard deviation, frequencies, and percentages. Results: The preoperative liver enzymes and total bilirubin were higher than the normal range in patients of the two groups. Postoperatively, there was a decrease in the AST and ALT with desflurane more than sevoflurane from T1 to T6(P < 0.05). The ALP, GGT, and bilirubin decreased in patients of the two groups, but the comparison was insignificant (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The desflurane is a safe inhalational volatile for maintenance of anesthesia in patients with impaired liver function undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. It was associated with a decrease in the liver enzymes more than the sevoflurane.
Herbicides used in combination can reduce the probability of herbicide resistance in finite weed populations

Summary A simulation study was conducted to examine the effect of pattern of herbicide use on development of resistance to two herbicides with different modes of action in finite weed populations. The effects of the size of the treatment area (analogous to initial weed population), germination fraction and degree of self-pollination in the weed were investigated. The results indicate that the probability of developing resistance to one or both herbicides decreases as the size of the area/initial population decreases. For treatment areas of 100 ha or less with an initial weed seedbank of 100 seeds m−2 and initial frequencies of the resistance genes of 10−6, development of resistance to both herbicides (double-resistance) is uncommon within 50 years for all types of weeds if both herbicides are used in all years (used in combination). If herbicides are used in alternate years (rotated) double-resistance almost always occurs in 100 ha areas but is uncommon in areas of 1 ha or less. The results suggest that adoption of practices that limit movement of weeds in conjunction with using herbicides in combination rather than in rotation can substantially delay development of herbicide resistance.
Anatomical Studies of Baccharis Artriculata, Baccharis Crispa and Baccharis Trimera, “Carquejas” Used in Folk Medicine

The aerial stems of three species commonly named “carquejas”, are used either in folk medicine or to obtain phytotherapeutic drugs. These species are: Baccharis articulata (Lam.) Persoon, Baccharis crispa Sprengel and Baccharis trimera (Less.) De Candolle, which are members of the Asteraceae. The first two are official entries in the Farmacopea Nacional Argentina 6th ed. (1978). The parts used are the winged aerial stems in the vegetative state. The histological features are described and illustrated, in order to provide the means to their accurate identification at the crude drug stage.
Additive Manufacturing for Soft Robotics: Design and Fabrication of Airtight, Monolithic Bending PneuNets with Embedded Air Connectors

Air tightness is a challenging task for 3D-printed components, especially for fused filament fabrication (FFF), due to inherent issues, related to the layer-by-layer fabrication method. On the other hand, the capability of 3D print airtight cavities with complex shapes is very attractive for several emerging research fields, such as soft robotics. The present paper proposes a repeatable methodology to 3D print airtight soft actuators with embedded air connectors. The FFF process has been optimized to manufacture monolithic bending PneuNets (MBPs), an emerging class of soft robots. FFF has several advantages in soft robot fabrication: (i) it is a fully automated process which does not require manual tasks as for molding, (ii) it is one of the most ubiquitous and inexpensive (FFF 3D printers costs < $200) 3D-printing technologies, and (iii) more materials can be used in the same printing cycle which allows embedding of several elements in the soft robot body. Using commercial soft filaments and a dual-extruder 3D printer, at first, a novel air connector which can be easily embedded in each soft robot, made via FFF technology with a single printing cycle, has been fabricated and tested. This new embedded air connector (EAC) prevents air leaks at the interface between pneumatic pipe and soft robot and replaces the commercial air connections, often origin of leakages in soft robots. A subsequent experimental study using four different shapes of MBPs, each equipped with EAC, showed the way in which different design configurations can affect bending performance. By focusing on the best performing shape, among the tested ones, the authors studied the relationship between bending performance and air tightness, proving how the Design for Additive Manufacturing approach is essential for advanced applications involving FFF. In particular, the relationship between chamber wall thickness and printing parameters has been analyzed, the thickness of the walls has been studied from 1.6 to 1 mm while maintaining air tightness and improving the bending angle by 76.7% under a pressure of 4 bar. It emerged that the main printing parameter affecting chamber wall air tightness is the line width that, in conjunction with the wall thickness, can ensure air tightness of the soft actuator body.
Survival of very elderly patients with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma according to treatment intensity in the immunochemotherapy era: a Swedish Lymphoma Register study

Diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) incidence rises with increasing age. Rituximab‐anthracycline‐based regimens offer a potential cure but also risks of adverse events, especially in the elderly. Using Swedish registers, we conducted a nationwide, population‐based study of DLBCL in the very elderly. We obtained information on clinical characteristics, residence, comorbidity, therapy and survival for the 1194 patients aged ≥80 years diagnosed in Sweden 2007–2014. To address selection bias, we also investigated treatment differences between Sweden’s Healthcare Regions and whether there were survival differences between the Regions. The 2‐year overall and relative survivals were better in patients aged ≥80 years given treatment with curative intent (54%; 64%) than low‐intensity (26%; 33%), or palliative treatment (6%; 7%). The fraction of patients treated with curative intent varied between the Healthcare Regions (45–76%). Survival was significantly inferior in Regions with few patients treated with curative intent (multivariable hazard ratio 1.3, 95% confidence interval 1.1–1.6). When treatment intensity and Regions competed, Regions were no longer independent, suggesting that Regional survival differences are due to therapeutic differences. Furthermore, we found that the age‐adjusted International Prognostic Index was independently associated with survival. We conclude that patients aged ≥80 years with DLBCL appear to benefit from rituximab‐anthracycline‐based treatment given with curative intent.
Novel daily disposable therapeutic contact lenses based on chitosan and regenerated silk fibroin for the ophthalmic delivery of diclofenac sodium

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of chitosan and regenerated silk fibroin (CS/RSF) blended films as novel biomaterials for daily disposable therapeutic contact lenses based ophthalmic drug delivery system. Diclofenac sodium (DS), a hydrophilic anti-inflammatory agent, was loaded into CS/RSF films by a soaking method. The best conditions of DS loading manifested the loading time of 2 h and pH 6.5 of drug solution. The drug loading capacity and the drug release profile could be controlled by varying the film RSF content. With increasing the film RSF content from 0 to 30%, the amount of loaded DS increased from 12 to 23 µg. Furthermore, the prolong drug released within therapeutic level was obtained with increasing the film RSF content. Consequently, a fast released characteristic within a therapeutic level up to 3 h was observed with the 100CS/0RSF film. On the other hand, the 70CS/30RSF film demonstrated a significant prolonged drug release within therapeutic level up to 11 h. In conclusion, the CS/RSF films are promising as novel biomaterials for daily disposable therapeutic contact lenses-based ophthalmic delivery.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in CLOCK mutant mice.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming a major health issue as obesity increases around the world. We studied the effect of a circadian locomotor output cycles kaput (CLOCK) mutant (ClkΔ19/Δ19) protein on hepatic lipid metabolism in C57Bl6 Clkwt/wt and apolipoprotein E-deficient (Apoe-/-) mice. Both ClkΔ19/Δ19 and ClkΔ19/Δ19Apoe-/- mice developed a full spectrum of liver diseases (steatosis, steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma) recognized in human NAFLD when challenged with a Western diet, lipopolysaccharide, or CoCl2. We identified induction of cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) proteins as contributing factors for NAFLD. Mechanistic studies showed that wild-type CLOCK protein interacted with the E-box enhancer elements in the promoters of the proline hydroxylase domain (PHD) proteins to increase expression. In ClkΔ19/Δ19 mice, PHD levels were low, and HIF1α protein levels were increased. When its levels were high, HIF1α interacted with the Cd36 promoter to augment expression and enhance fatty acid uptake. Thus, these studies establish a novel regulatory link among circadian rhythms, hypoxia response, fatty acid uptake, and NAFLD. The mouse models described here may be useful for further mechanistic studies in the progression of liver diseases and in the discovery of drugs for the treatment of these disorders.
Renin angiotensin system blockage by losartan neutralize hypercholesterolemia-induced inflammatory and oxidative injuries

ABSTRACT Objectives: This study explores the protective role of losartan (LT) against oxidative and inflammatory damages in different physiological systems including heart, liver, and kidney tissue in hypercholesterolemic rats. Methods: After induction of hypercholesterolemia by high cholesterol diet for 6 weeks, LT was administered for 4 weeks. In serum, the levels of lipoproteins, aminotransferases, creatine kinases, urea, apoptosis, and inflammatory markers were measured. In cardiac, hepatic, and renal tissues, lipid peroxidation product and GSH as well as antioxidant enzymatic activities were assayed. Finally, histopathological assessment evaluated the structural damage in cardiac, hepatic, and renal tissues. Results: Serum markers of cardiac, hepatic, and renal toxicities including creatine kinases, aminotransferases, and urea were attenuated by LT in hypercholesterolemic animals. Moreover, LT markedly corrected the elevated levels of lipoproteins, apoptosis, and inflammatory biomarkers. Hypercholesterolemia-induced lipid peroxidation, low GSH levels, and diminished activities of antioxidant enzymes were prominently improved in LT treated animals. Histopathological alterations by hypercholesterolemia in heart, liver, and kidney tissues were ameliorated by LT. Conclusion: This study confirmed the pathological enrollment of renin–angiotensin system in hypercholesterolemia-associated metabolic alterations. LT had a significant cardiac, hepatic, and renal protective role against these impairments through down-regulation of oxidative damage, inflammation and necrosis.
The Use of Botulinum Toxin for the Treatment of Chronic Joint Pain: Clinical and Experimental Evidence

Chronic osteoarthritis pain is an increasing worldwide problem. Treatment for osteoarthritis pain is generally inadequate or fraught with potential toxicities. Botulinum toxins (BoNTs) are potent inhibitors of neuropeptide release. Paralytic toxicity is due to inhibition at the neuromuscular junction, and this effect has been utilized for treatments of painful dystonias. Pain relief following BoNT muscle injection has been noted to be more significant than muscle weakness and hypothesized to occur because of the inhibition of peripheral neuropeptide release and reduction of peripheral sensitization. Because of this observation, BoNT has been studied as an intra-articular (IA) analgesic for chronic joint pain. In clinical trials, BoNT appears to be effective for nociceptive joint pain. No toxicity has been reported. In preclinical models of joint pain, BoNT is similarly effective. Examination of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and the central nervous system has shown that catalytically active BoNT is retrogradely transported by neurons and then transcytosed to afferent synapses in the brain. This suggests that pain relief may also be due to the central effects of the drug. In summary, BoNT appears to be safe and effective for the treatment of chronic joint pain. The long-term effects of IA BoNT are still being determined.
Abnormal Hypermethylation of CpG Dinucleotides in Promoter Regions of Matrix Metalloproteinases Genes in Breast Cancer and its Relation to Epigenomic Subtypes and HER2 Overexpression

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) substantially contribute to the regulation of intercellular interactions and thereby play a role in maintaining the tissue structure and function. We examined methylation of a subset of 5’-cytosine-phosphate-guanine-3’ (CpG) dinucleotides in promoter regions of the MMP2, MMP11, MMP14, MMP15, MMP16, MMP17, MMP21, MMP23B, MMP24, MMP25, MMP28, TIMP1, TIMP2, TIMP3, and TIMP4 genes by methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme digestion PCR. In our collection of 183 breast cancer samples, abnormal hypermethylation was observed for CpGs in MMP2, MMP23B, MMP24, MMP25, and MMP28 promoter regions. The non-methylated status of the examined CpGs in promoter regions of MMP2, MMP23B, MMP24, MMP25, and MMP28 in tumors was associated with low HER2 expression, while the group of samples with abnormal hypermethylation of at least two of these MMP genes was significantly enriched with HER2-positive tumors. Abnormal methylation of MMP24 and MMP25 was significantly associated with a CpG island hypermethylated breast cancer subtype discovered by genome-wide DNA bisulfite sequencing. Our results indicate that abnormal hypermethylation of at least several MMP genes promoters is a secondary event not directly functional in breast cancer (BC) pathogenesis. We suggest that it is elevated and/or ectopic expression, rather than methylation-driven silencing, that might link MMPs to tumorigenesis.
Tumors defective in homologous recombination rely on oxidative metabolism: relevance to treatments with PARP inhibitors

Mitochondrial metabolism and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to the acquisition of DNA mutations and genomic instability in cancer. How genomic instability influences the metabolic capacity of cancer cells is nevertheless poorly understood. Here, we show that homologous recombination‐defective (HRD) cancers rely on oxidative metabolism to supply NAD+ and ATP for poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP)‐dependent DNA repair mechanisms. Studies in breast and ovarian cancer HRD models depict a metabolic shift that includes enhanced expression of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway and its key components and a decline in the glycolytic Warburg phenotype. Hence, HRD cells are more sensitive to metformin and NAD+ concentration changes. On the other hand, shifting from an OXPHOS to a highly glycolytic metabolism interferes with the sensitivity to PARP inhibitors (PARPi) in these HRD cells. This feature is associated with a weak response to PARP inhibition in patient‐derived xenografts, emerging as a new mechanism to determine PARPi sensitivity. This study shows a mechanistic link between two major cancer hallmarks, which in turn suggests novel possibilities for specifically treating HRD cancers with OXPHOS inhibitors.
Cultural factors related to neuropsychological performance and brain atrophy among Hispanic older adults with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI): A pilot study

Abstract Objectives This study examined the association of cultural factors and literacy to neuropsychological performance and measures of regional brain atrophy among Hispanic elders diagnosed with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI). Method Acculturation and literacy levels were measured among 45 subjects tested in Spanish; their primary language. Scores for measures of memory, executive functioning, and verbal fluency, as well as volumetric analysis of MRI scans of left hemisphere structures commonly affected by Alzheimer’s disease (AD) were examined. Linear regression models were employed to examine the association of acculturation and literacy to neuropsychological performance and MRI measures. Results After controlling for age, higher literacy levels were associated with better performance on phonemic verbal fluency (r = 0.300, p < .05), while higher levels of acculturation to the U.S. was associated with poorer performance on category verbal fluency (r = 0.300, p < .05). There was a significant inverse relationship after controlling for age between literacy and the left entorhinal cortex (r = –0.455, p < .05), left precuneus (r = –0.457, p < .05), and left posterior cingulate (r = –0.415, p < .05). Conclusions Results of the current pilot study indicate that high acculturation to the U.S. among aMCI immigrants from Latin-American countries may hinder performance on verbal learning measures when they are administered in one’s primary language. Moreover, in this cohort, a higher literacy level, which is indicative of greater cognitive reserve, was associated with better performance in language measures, but with greater atrophy in brain regions susceptible to neurodegenerative disease. These preliminary findings should be further examined among larger cohorts and using more diverse measures, which capture other cultural constructs.
Quality of life of adults with chronic spinal cord injury in mainland china: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the quality of life of patients with chronic spinal cord injury in mainland China. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS A total of 247 adults ≥ 1 year post-SCI in mainland China. METHODS The WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL-DIS module were used to assess quality of life. Anxiety/depression was measured using the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety/Depression Scale. Quality of life was compared with that of reference populations from China, Korea, etc. Multivariate linear regression was conducted to determine the factors that might be associated with quality of life. RESULTS The means of the 4 domains of the WHOQOL-BREF varied from 11.5 to 13.0. The mean of the 12-item WHOQOL-DIS module was 38.7. The quality of life of the participants as measured by the WHOQOL-BREF was 1.1-4.7 points lower than that of the global reference population, while quality of life as measured by the WHOQOL-DIS module was 1.2 points lower than that of the Korean data. Anxiety and depression were negative factors associated with quality of life (p < 0.05). Better community integration was a positive factor for physical quality of life and quality of life as measured by the WHOQOL-DIS module (p <0.01). CONCLUSION The quality of life of adults with chronic spinal cord injury in mainland China was lower compared with reference populations. Duration of spinal cord injury, sex, community integration, anxiety, and depression were related to quality of life.
Foraging in complex odor landscapes: chemical orientation strategies during stimulation by conflicting chemical cues

The concept of trade-offs and the decisions organisms make regarding them have become a driving force in ecological research. One well-studied trade-off, maximizing growth while minimizing mortality, affects decisions an organism makes regarding activity levels, habitat selection, and refuge use. Our study addressed how complex odor cues (e.g., a predation event and food combined) and their physical properties (e.g., concentration and spatial distribution) can affect foraging. Experiments were carried out using the crayfish Orconectes virilis in an artificial stream. A 2 × 2 factorial design was used with 2 odor treatments (food and food + alarm) and 2 shelter treatments (shelter and no shelter). Crayfish in the alarm treatment found the food source less often. They also took significantly longer to find the food source and spent more time in shelters. Crayfish in the presence of alarm stimuli used side shelters significantly more than shelters in the center of the flume, whereas crayfish in the control did not show a preference. Also, concentration of the alarm odor significantly affected the alarm response of the crayfish. Electrochemical recordings showed that the dopamine tracer was present in high concentrations down the center of the flume but in very low concentrations or absent along the sides of the flume for both the food and alarm trials. Our study illustrated the importance of chemical signals in aquatic systems for both locating food and avoiding predators. Complex odors influenced habitat use as well as foraging efficiency and success. The content, concentration, and distribution of complex chemical signals appear to be an important part of risk assessment during foraging, and may provide the necessary information to facilitate ecological interactions.