Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Limited cognitive benefits in Stage +2 postmenopausal women after 6 weeks of treatment with Ginkgo biloba

Gingko biloba has cognitive benefits both in populations suffering from dementia and after acute treatment in healthy volunteers, with some evidence indicating that those with poorer cognitive performance show greater benefit. We have previously found that 1 week of treatment with ginkgo improved attention, memory and mental flexibility in post-menopausal women, but the evidence for any beneficial effects of longer treatment is less well-established. The present study aimed to determine whether cognitive benefits, similar to those previously found after 1 week of treatment, would persist after 6 weeks of treatment, and whether those with poorer cognitive performance would benefit more. In a placebo-controlled, double-blind study, postmenopausal women (aged 51-67 years) were randomly allocated to receive a standardized extract of ginkgo (LI 1370, Lichtwer Pharma, Marlow, UK) (one capsule/day of 120 mg, n = 45) or matching placebo (n = 42) for 6 weeks. According to an established reproductive staging system, subjects were divided into those in the early (Stage +1; mean age 55 years) and late (Stage +2: mean age 61 years) stages of menopause. At baseline and after 6 weeks of treatment, subjects completed tests of mental flexibility, planning, memory and sustained attention, and ratings of mood, sleepiness, bodily and menopausal symptoms. The only significant effects of ginkgo were in the test of mental flexibility, in which there were significant menopausal stage-ginkgo interactions. This was because subjects in Stage +2 required fewer trials to complete the task and made fewer errors after ginkgo treatment, whereas those in Stage +1 showed no benefits. Subjects in Stage +2 had poorer performance at baseline compared to those in Stage +1 both in this task and the test of planning ability. The beneficial effects of ginkgo were limited to the test of mental flexibility and to those with poorer performance.
Striving to help college students with mental health issues.

Mental health problems in the college population appear to be increasing in number and severity. University counseling services are limited in the number of counselors they can hire to meet the increasing demands. In addition, it is believed that many students do not actually seek much-needed counseling services due to lack of knowledge about mental health problems or services, stigma, or denial of the severity of the problem. Left unrecognized and untreated, mental health problems may lead to students dropping out or failing out of college, attempting or committing suicide, or engaging in other risky, dangerous behaviors that may result in serious injury, disability, or death. Mental health nursing faculty can help address this problem on college campuses by offering courses on mental health issues and skills, becoming involved with NAMI-on-Campus groups, and seeking grant opportunities that can be used to help develop and enhance services for the college community. Information about how to establish a NAMI-on-Campus group can be obtained by accessing http://www.namioncampus. org or http://www.nami. org.
Un estudio económico sobre asma en México

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to establish to cost of bronchial asthma in the budget for a Clinic-Hospital with a closed population and to learn about our achievements in controlling that illness, as well as our weaknesses and areas of opportunity. Another objective is to compare our results with similar studies in other countries. METHOD: In 1998, the Clinic Nova of Monterrey had a fixed population of 28,394 persons who receive the complete range of medical services, including hospitalization and drugs from the pharmacy. The prevalence of asthma in our clinic is 2.6%, direct and indirect costs were obtained according to the Biostatistics Department, Operative Control and Emergencies. RESULTS: In 1998, the total cost of bronchial asthma was: 1,624,765.00 pesos. The direct cost of asthma was 1,582,735.00 pesos (97% of the total) and out of this, the cost of medications was 1,131,575.00 pesos (71% of the direct costs) and 42,030.00 pesos in indirect costs only represented 3% of the total. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the greatest cost lies in the purchase of medication for ambulatory patients. The costs for hospitalization and visits to the emergency room only represented 10% of the total and, for that reason, our most important conclusion is that the physicians at Clinica Nova are using the preventive anti-inflammatory schemes recommended at present. This has helped to reduce the most important direct cost, hospitalization.
Contact inhibition and high cell density deactivate the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, thus suppressing the senescence program

Significance This work solves longstanding mysteries in the field of contact inhibition (CI), cancer, and aging. As shown here during CI, cells do not undergo senescence, thus resuming proliferation after replating. We found that CI was associated with inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, which is required for the senescence program. In cancer cells, lacking CI, mTOR was still inhibited in high cell density by an alternative mechanism. Our work explains why CI is reversible and how cells can avoid senescence in vivo, allowing the organism to last for decades. Implications for cancer therapy are discussed. During cell cycle arrest caused by contact inhibition (CI), cells do not undergo senescence, thus resuming proliferation after replating. The mechanism of senescence avoidance during CI is unknown. Recently, it was demonstrated that the senescence program, namely conversion from cell cycle arrest to senescence (i.e., geroconversion), requires mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Geroconversion can be suppressed by serum starvation, rapamycin, and hypoxia, which all inhibit mTOR. Here we demonstrate that CI, as evidenced by p27 induction in normal cells, was associated with inhibition of the mTOR pathway. Furthermore, CI antagonized senescence caused by CDK inhibitors. Stimulation of mTOR in contact-inhibited cells favored senescence. In cancer cells lacking p27 induction and CI, mTOR was still inhibited in confluent culture as a result of conditioning of the medium. This inhibition of mTOR suppressed p21-induced senescence. Also, trapping of malignant cells among contact-inhibited normal cells antagonized p21-induced senescence. Thus, we identified two nonmutually exclusive mechanisms of mTOR inhibition in high cell density: (i) CI associated with p27 induction in normal cells and (ii) conditioning of the medium, especially in cancer cells. Both mechanisms can coincide in various proportions in various cells. Our work explains why CI is reversible and, most importantly, why cells avoid senescence in vivo, given that cells are contact-inhibited in the organism.
On digital receiver design for transmitted reference UWB

A complete channel estimation, synchronization and equalization scheme for a transmitted-reference (TR) ultra-wideband (UWB) system is proposed in this paper. The scheme is based on a data model, which admits moderate data rate and takes all kinds of interference into consideration: between pulses, frames and symbols. Three channel estimators are derived to achieve joint channel and timing estimation, namely the linear minimum mean square error (LMMSE) estimator, the least squares (LS) estimator and the matched filter (MF). We check the performance of different combinations of channel estimation and equalization schemes, and find out the best combination, i.e. the one providing a good trade-off between complexity and performance. This paper proves that a TR-UWB can provide a good performance at a moderate data rate, meanwhile having a low cost digital implementation.
Role of Testicular Luminal Factors on Basal Cell Elongation and Proliferation in the Mouse Epididymis1

ABSTRACT A subset of basal cells (BCs) in the initial segment (IS) of the mouse epididymis has a slender body projection between adjacent epithelial cells. We show here that these projections occasionally cross the apical tight junctions and are in contact with the luminal environment. Luminal testicular factors are critical for the establishment of the IS epithelium, and we investigated their role in the regulation of this luminal sensing property. Efferent duct ligation (EDL) was performed to block luminal flow from the testis without affecting blood flow. Cytokeratin 5 (KRT5) labeling showed a time-dependent reduction of the percentage of BCs with intercellular projections from 1 to 5 days after EDL, compared to controls. Double labeling for caspase-3 and KRT5 showed that a subset of BCs undergoes apoptosis 1 day after EDL. Ki67/KRT5 double labeling showed a low rate of BC proliferation under basal conditions. However, EDL induced a marked increase in the proliferation rate of a subset of BCs 2 days after EDL. A 2-wk treatment with the androgen receptor antagonist flutamide did not affect the number of BCs with intercellular projections, but reduced BC proliferation. Flutamide treatment also reduced the increase in BC proliferation induced 2 days after EDL. We conclude that, in the adult mouse IS, 1) luminal testicular factors play an important role in the ability of BCs to extend their body projection towards the lumen, and are essential for the survival of a subset of BCs; 2) androgens play an important role in the proliferation of some of the BCs that survive the initial insult induced by EDL; and 3) the formation and elongation of BC intercellular projections do not depend on androgens.
A Critical Look at the Relationship Between Impulsivity and Decision-Making in Adolescents: Are They Related or Separate Factors?

This study examined the relations between impulsivity and decision-making as assessed by the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). A total of 73 nonclinical adolescents were administered self-report measures for trait impulsivity and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) to assess cognitive impulsivity. We found significant correlations between trait impulsivity and WCST performance among adolescents exhibiting poor performance on the IGT, and no such correlations for those adolescents performing well on the IGT. We recommend that researchers should assess performance on the IGT at the individual level in terms of learning.
Effect of altered plasma protein binding on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of propranolol in rats after surgery: role of alpha-1-acid glycoprotein.

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of propranolol in rats 2 days after laparotomy were compared to control animals. The apparent volumes of distribution and the systemic clearance of propranolol were decreased to about 20 to 40 and 70% of control values, respectively. The area under the blood concentration-time curve (AUC) of propranolol after p.o. administration showed a marked elevation after surgery and its availability increased about 2-fold at doses of 5.0 and 12.5 mg/kg. These changes were associated with a decreased plasma unbound fraction of propranolol after surgery. Immunological determination of alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) revealed a marked increase after laparotomy and a linear relationship was found between the plasma AGP concentration and the binding capacity of high-affinity binding site for propranolol in plasma (r = 0.961, P less than .001). AUC of p.o. administered propranolol was also correlated with plasma AGP concentration. The beta-blocking activity of propranolol assessed by the reduction in the isoproterenol-induced tachycardia was decreased in rats after laparotomy when it was evaluated in terms of the total plasma concentration of propranolol. In contrast, its activity evaluated by the unbound plasma concentration showed no difference between control and laparotomized rats, suggesting the dependence of the pharmacological activity of propranolol on its unbound level in plasma. Thus, laparotomy-induced changes in both pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics could be considered largely due to an increase in its binding to the increased plasma level of AGP.
Aging with HIV

The purpose of this qualitative study was to develop a theoretical model describing the disability experienced by older adults living with HIV. Forty nine HIV positive men and women over the age of 50 years participated in in-depth qualitative interviews. Transcribed interviews were analyzed using grounded theory techniques. Uncertainty or worrying about the future was at the core of the model. Components of disability including symptoms and impairments, difficulties with day to day activities and challenges to social participation were experienced in the context of extrinsic or environmental factors (social support, stigma) and intrinsic contextual factors (positive living strategies, age). Time was an overarching component of the model. The model suggests areas for interventions to prevent or reduce disability related to the consequences of aging with HIV and improve overall quality of life.
Is response rate increment obtained by molecular targeted agents related to survival benefit in the phase III trials of advanced cancer?

BACKGROUND It remains unclear whether response rate (RR) is related to survival benefit in phase III trials of advanced cancer treated with molecular targeted agents (MTA) in combination with standard therapies. MATERIALS AND METHODS We carried out a systematic search of PubMed for randomized phase III trials of four solid tumors examining the efficacy of MTA when added to a standard therapy. We examined whether there were any associations between RR increment obtained by the addition of targeted agents (DeltaRR) and survival benefit in phase III trials. RESULTS We identified 26 phase III trials of MTA with a total of 21 156 patients and 29 experimental arms of MTA. Studies which showed significant survival benefit had higher DeltaRR compared with those which did not show significant benefit. In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, using a 7% gain as threshold value for DeltaRR allowed assessment of survival benefit with high sensitivity and specificity. There were also significant relationships between DeltaRR and hazard ratios for overall survival and progression-free survival in the linear regression analysis. CONCLUSION RR increment obtained by the addition of MTA to a standard therapy may be useful to predict survival benefit in clinical phase III trials of advanced cancer.
Climate and landscape drive the pace and pattern of conifer encroachment into subalpine meadows.

Mountain meadows have high biodiversity and help regulate stream water release following the snowmelt pulse. However, many meadows are experiencing woody plant encroachment, threatening these ecosystem services. While there have been field surveys of individual meadows and remote sensing-based landscape-scale studies of encroachment, what is missing is a broad-scale, ground-based study to understand common regional drivers, especially at high elevations, where land management has often played a less direct role. With this study, we ask: What are the climate and landscape conditions conducive to woody plant encroachment at the landscape scale, and how has historical climate variation affected tree recruitment in subalpine meadows over time? We measured density of encroaching trees across 340 subalpine meadows in the central Sierra Nevada, California, USA, and used generalized additive models (GAMs) to determine the relationship between landscape-scale patterns of encroachment and meadow environmental properties. We determined ages of trees in 30 survey meadows, used observed climate and GAMs to model the relationship between timing of recruitment and climate since the early 1900s, and extrapolated recruitment patterns into the future using downscaled climate scenarios. Encroachment was high among meadows with lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Douglas ex Loudon var. murrayana (Balf.) Engelm. ) in the immediate vicinity, at lower elevations, with physical conditions favoring strong soil drying, and with maximum temperatures above or below average. Climatic conditions during the year of germination were unimportant, with tree recruitment instead depending on a 3-yr seed production period prior to germination and a 6-yr seedling establishment period following germination. Recruitment was high when the seed production period had high snowpack, and when the seedling establishment period had warm summer maximum temperatures, high summer precipitation, and high snowpack. Applying our temporal model to downscaled output from four global climate models indicated that the average meadow will shift to forest by the end of the 21st century. Sierra Nevada meadow encroachment by conifers is ubiquitous and associated with climate conditions increasingly favorable for tree recruitment, which will lead to substantial changes in subalpine meadows and the ecosystem services they provide.
A cross-cultural study of psychosocial aspects of sickle cell disease in the UK and Nigeria

Abstract Pain experience, health service utilization and psychological coping in adult patients with sickle cell disease were compared cross-culturally between the UK and Nigeria. Patients in the UK experienced a significantly greater number of pain episodes and of longer duration, with more frequent visits to accident and emergency departments compared with those in Nigeria. The Nigerian patients, on the other hand, applied more psychologically active coping strategies such as distraction to deal with their sickle cell pain in the community. These significant differences are explained in relation to external health locus of control factors including beliefs, and the cost of healthcare in relation to the use of health services. Clinical implications of these findings are also considered.
Towards a Methodology for Document Analysis

A great deal of the collective knowledge of organizations is stored in documents. To be able to use documents effectively, the information structure in the documents should be carefully planned. International standards, for example SGML, have been developed for defining document structures. The definition method however is not enough. For defining effective document standards for an organization, a profound document analysis is needed. In the analysis, current documents and document management practices should be studied and described before developing new document structures and document management practices. The development of a methodology for document analysis is going on in a project studying legislative documents produced in the Finnish government and parliament. The article describes the first results of the project. As the document structure definition method, SGML is used in the project. The analysis method is developed and extended from an object-oriented method. The article introduces the main phases of the analysis: Domain definition, object modeling, state modeling, and content modeling. The application of the methodology in the case project and the data gathering methods used are also described. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Cellular Immune Profile of Patients With Advanced Cancer Before and After Taxane Treatment

The purpose of this study is to determine immune recovery and function after treatment with docetaxel or paclitaxel. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were harvested before chemotherapy and at weekly times afterwards for cycle 1. Leukocyte subsets [CD45hiCD14lo polymorphonuclear neutrophils, CD45hiCD14hi monocytes, CD45hiCD14− lymphocytes, CD3+CD4/CD8+ T cells, CD3−CD19+ B cells, CD3−CD16/CD56+ natural killer (NK) cells], and circulating cytokine levels [tumor necrosis factor-&agr;, &ggr;-interferon (&ggr;-IFN), and interleukins (IL-2, IL-10, IL-12)] were followed. In addition, T-cell mitogenic function, NK function, and lymphokine activated killer (LAK) function was assessed. Ten patients were entered in the trial. T-cell frequency, B-cell frequency, and CD4/CD8 ratio did not change. IL-10 serum levels significantly decreased in paclitaxel-treated patients (4.4 ± 1.3 pg/ml at week 4 versus 7.8 ± 2.1 pg/ml at baseline;p < 0.05). IL-2, IL-12, and &ggr;-IFN levels were not detectable. NK cytotoxic activity decreased in docetaxel-treated patients. LAK cell activity was not altered. Four patients achieved a partial or complete response. They demonstrated higher than normal CD4:CD8 T-cell ratios and an improved phytohemagglutinin stimulation index (SI = 2.5). In conclusion, our findings suggest that immune function was affected more significantly after docetaxel treatment. Investigational approaches, which enhance cellular immunity, may be of greater relevance after treatment with docetaxel. Additional studies monitoring NK function after chemotherapy are recommended.
Macular pigment and lutein supplementation in ABCA4-associated retinal degenerations.

PURPOSE To determine macular pigment (MP) optical density (OD) in patients with ABCA4-associated retinal degenerations (ABCA4-RD) and the response of MP and vision to supplementation with lutein. METHODS Patients with Stargardt disease or cone-rod dystrophy and known or suspected disease-causing mutations in the ABCA4 gene were included. All patients had foveal fixation. MPOD profiles were measured with heterochromatic flicker photometry. Serum carotenoids, visual acuity, foveal sensitivity, and retinal thickness were quantified. Changes in MPOD and central vision were determined in a subset of patients receiving oral supplementation with lutein for 6 months. RESULTS MPOD in patients ranged from normal to markedly abnormal. As a group, patients with ABCA4-RD had reduced foveal MPOD, and there was a strong correlation with retinal thickness. Average foveal tissue concentration of MP, estimated by dividing MPOD by retinal thickness, was normal in patients, whereas serum concentration of lutein and zeaxanthin was significantly lower than normal. After oral lutein supplementation for 6 months, 91% of the patients showed significant increases in serum lutein, and 63% of the patients' eyes showed a significant augmentation in MPOD. The retinal responders tended to be female and to have lower serum lutein and zeaxanthin, lower MPOD, and greater retinal thickness at baseline. Responding eyes had significantly lower baseline MP concentration than did nonresponding eyes. Central vision was unchanged after the period of supplementation. CONCLUSIONS MP is strongly affected by the stage of ABCA4 disease leading to abnormal foveal architecture. MP could be augmented by supplemental lutein in some patients. There was no change in central vision after 6 months of lutein supplementation. Long-term influences of this supplement on the natural history of these macular degenerations require further study.