Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of vitrification techniques of cryopreservation in reproductive medicine

Traditional cryopreservation methods allow ice to form and solute concentrations to rise during the preservation process: both ice and high solute concentrations can cause damage. Cryoprotectants are highly soluble, permeating compounds of low toxicity; they reduce the amount of ice that crystallises at any given temperature and thereby limit the solute concentration factor. Vitrification methods use cryoprotectant concentrations that are sufficient to prevent the crystallisation of ice altogether: the material solidifies as an amorphous glass and both ice and solute concentration are avoided. However, the concentrations of cryoprotectant required are very high indeed and therefore are potentially, and often actually, harmful to cells. Optimisation of the temperature and the rate of introduction and removal of such high cryoprotectant concentrations are critical. The necessary concentration can be lowered if very rapid cooling, and even more rapid warming, are used. This paper draws on experience in other fields of cryobiology to discuss these basic phenomena and to consider the place of vitrification techniques in the cryopreservation of human gametes, embryos and gonads.
Mild Electrical Stimulation at 0.1-ms Pulse Width Induces p53 Protein Phosphorylation and G2 Arrest in Human Epithelial Cells*

Background: A controlled approach as opposed to conventional toxic drugs to activate p53 is applicable for tumors and metabolic and inflammatory diseases. Results: A 0.1-ms pulse width mild electrical stimulation (MES) activated p53 function in epithelial cell lines. Conclusion: MES induced p53 phosphorylation via p38 MAPK signaling and G2 cell cycle arrest without cell death. Significance: MES works as a non-cytotoxic and controllable p53 activator. Exogenous low-intensity electrical stimulation has been used for treatment of various intractable diseases despite the dearth of information on the molecular underpinnings of its effects. Our work and that of others have demonstrated that applied electrical stimulation at physiological strength or mild electrical stimulation (MES) activates the PI3K-Akt pathway, but whether MES activates other molecules remains unknown. Considering that MES is a form of physiological stress, we hypothesized that it can activate the tumor suppressor p53, which is a key modulator of the cell cycle and apoptosis in response to cell stresses. The potential response of p53 to an applied electrical current of low intensity has not been investigated. Here, we show that p53 was transiently phosphorylated at Ser-15 in epithelial cells treated with an imperceptible voltage (1 V/cm) and a 0.1-ms pulse width. MES-induced p53 phosphorylation was inhibited by pretreatment with a p38 MAPK inhibitor and transfection of dominant-negative mutants of p38, MKK3b, and MKK6b, implying the involvement of the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. Furthermore, MES treatment enhanced p53 transcriptional function and increased the expression of p53 target genes p21, BAX, PUMA, NOXA, and IRF9. Importantly, MES treatment triggered G2 cell cycle arrest, but not cell apoptosis. MES treatment had no effect on the cell cycle in HCT116 p53−/− cells, suggesting a dependence on p53. These findings identify some molecular targets of electrical stimulation and incorporate the p38-p53 signaling pathway among the transduction pathways that MES affects.
A simple in vivo assay for measuring the efficiency of gene length‐dependent processes in yeast mRNA biogenesis

We have developed a simple reporter assay useful for detection and analysis of mutations and agents influencing mRNA biogenesis in a gene length‐dependent manner. We have shown that two transcription units sharing the same promoter, terminator and open reading frame, but differing in the length of their 3′‐untranslated regions, are differentially influenced by mutations affecting factors that play a role in transcription elongation or RNA processing all along the transcription units. In contrast, those mutations impairing the initial steps of transcription, but not affecting later steps of mRNA biogenesis, influence equally the expression of the reporters, independently of the length of their 3′‐untranslated regions. The ratio between the product levels of the two transcription units is an optimal parameter with which to estimate the efficiency of gene length‐dependent processes in mRNA biogenesis. The presence of a phosphatase‐encoding open reading frame in the two transcription units makes it very easy to calculate this ratio in any mutant or physiological condition. Interestingly, using this assay, we have shown that mutations in components of the SAGA complex affect the level of mRNA in a transcript length‐dependent fashion, suggesting a role for SAGA in transcription elongation. The use of this assay allows the identification and/or characterization of new mutants and drugs affecting transcription elongation and other related processes.
Reagent strip testing urine for significant bacteriuria in a urodynamic clinic.

OBJECTIVES To determine the effectiveness of two reagent strips in detecting significant bacteriuria amongst patients attending for urodynamic assessment. PATIENTS AND METHODS Four hundred patients undergoing urodynamic assessment were recruited for the study. Routine diagnostic catheter specimens of urine were tested for nitrite, leucocytes and protein. RESULTS The leucocytes and nitrite strips had a high specificity rate of 99.5%. The frequency of significant bacteriuria in our population was 7% (n = 28). CONCLUSION Culturing samples which test negative for these strips is unnecessary. Reagent strip testing of urine provides a cheap, rapid method of screening for infection.
Clustering of microRNAs Using Rough Hypercuboid Based Fuzzy C-Means

MicroRNAs form a family of single strand RNA molecules having length of approximately 22 nucleotides that are present in all animals and plants. Various studies have revealed that microRNA tend to cluster on chromosomes. In this regard, a novel clustering algorithm is presented in this paper, integrating rough hypercuboid approach with fuzzy c-means. Using the concept of rough hypercuboid equivalence partition matrix, the lower approximation and boundary region are implicitly computed for the clusters without the need of any user specified threshold. The effectiveness of proposed technique, along with a comparison with existing clustering methods, is presented using some microRNA data sets with the help of several well known cluster validity indices.
Expression of ADAMTS1 in endothelial cells is induced by shear stress and suppressed in sprouting capillaries

ADAMTS1 inhibits capillary sprouting, and since capillary sprouts do not experience the shear stress caused by blood flow, this study undertook to clarify the relationship between shear stress and ADAMTS1. It was found that endothelial cells exposed to shear stress displayed a strong upregulation of ADAMTS1, dependent upon both the magnitude and duration of their exposure. Investigation of the underlying pathways demonstrated involvement of phospholipase C, phosphoinositide 3‐kinase, and nitric oxide. Forkhead box protein O1 was identified as a likely inhibitor of the system, as its knockdown was followed by a slight increase in ADAMTS1 expression. In silico prediction displayed a transcriptional binding site for Forkhead box protein O1 in the promotor region of the ADAMTS1 gene, as well as sites for nuclear factor 1, SP1, and AP‐1. The anti‐angiogenic effects of ADAMTS1 were attributed to its cleavage of thrombospondin 1 into a 70‐kDa fragment, and a significant enhancement of this fragment was indeed demonstrated by immunoblotting shear stress‐treated cells. Accordingly, scratch wound closure displayed a slowdown in conditioned medium from shear stress‐treated endothelial cells, an effect that could be completely blocked by a knockdown of thrombospondin 1 and partially blocked by a knockdown of ADAMTS1. Non‐perfused capillary sprouts in rat mesenteries stained negative for ADAMTS1, while vessels in the microcirculation that had already experienced blood flow yielded the opposite results. The shear stress‐dependent expression of ADAMTS1 in vitro was therefore also demonstrated in vivo and thereby confirmed as a mechanism connecting blood flow with the regulation of angiogenesis. J. Cell. Physiol. 226: 350–361, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A decade experience with infrainguinal revascularization in a dialysis-dependent patient population.

OBJECTIVE Although previous series have reported outcomes of lower extremity (LE) revascularization in patients with end-stage renal disease, the issue of LE bypass for limb salvage in this group has not been resolved. We herein present the largest series to date of a 10-year single-institution experience with LE bypass in patients with dialysis dependence. METHODS With prospectively entered data from a university teaching hospital's vascular registry, we reviewed the records of all patients with dialysis dependence who underwent LE arterial bypass between January 1, 1990, and May 31, 1999. RESULTS A total of 146 consecutive patients (177 limbs) underwent infrainguinal revascularization, of whom nearly all (92%) had diabetes and tissue loss (91%). The in-hospital mortality rate was 3% (five patients). The rates for perioperative congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, and wound infection were 2%, 3%, 5%, and 10%, respectively. The actuarial graft primary and secondary patency rates at 1 and 3 years were 84% and 85%, and 64% and 68%, respectively. The limb salvage rates were 80% and 80% at 1 and 3 years. The 1-year and 3-year cumulative survival rates were 60% and 18%, respectively. At 5 years, survival was poor with only 5% of the entire cohort of 146 patients still alive. Multivariate logistic regression analysis at 6 months identified age (odds ratio, 0.96, 0.91) and number of years on dialysis (odds ratio, 0.79, 0.74) as significant (P <.05) negative predictors of both limb salvage and survival, respectively. CONCLUSION Infrainguinal arterial reconstruction can be performed on patients with dialysis dependence with acceptable rates of limb salvage given the high incidence rate of perioperative complications and poor longevity of this patient group. Advanced age and number of years on dialysis seem to correlate with poorer outcome.
Ethnobotanical Survey of Rajasthan-An Update

Plants have been used both in the prevention and cure of various diseases of humans and their pets. With the advent of human civilization, many systems of therapy have been developed primarily based on plants. Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Sidda, Unani, etc. are our traditional systems of medicines. The plant-based traditional medical systems continue to provide the primary health care to more than three-quarters of the world’s populace. In India, the use of plants for medicinal treatment dates back to 5000 years. It was officially recognized that 2500 plant species have medicinal value while over 6000 plants are estimated to be explored in traditional, folk and herbal medicine. An important prerequisite for proper utilization of raw materials of the country is the survey of its natural resources and the preparation of an inventory. It is necessary that we should have full knowledge regarding the occurrence, frequency, distribution and phenology of various plants for their proper utilization. The forests and arid regions of Rajasthan have great potentiality both from the economic and botanical points of view. This paper reviews the work done so far in the ethnobotany of Rajasthan.
Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy of clinical high-risk patients with prostate cancer: A controlled study of operative and short-term postoperative events

Abstract Objective. Robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) has increasingly become a treatment alternative for patients with high-risk prostate cancer. Few papers focus on the prevalence of operative and short-term postoperative (<30 days) adverse events associated with RALP in high-risk patients. The objective of this study was to study such events in high-risk patients using intermediate- and low-risk patients as contrast groups. Material and methods. In total, 1076 patients who underwent RALP at Oslo University Hospital, Radiumhospitalet, between the start of 2005 and end of 2010 were studied. Based on the D'Amico classification the sample consisted of 374 (35%) high-, 475 (44%) intermediate- and 227 (21%) low-risk patients. An index of seven adverse effects was dichotomized into zero or any number of adverse effects. Results. The high-risk group had significantly longer operation time, more positive surgical margins, larger prostate volume and less nerve-sparing than the contrast groups. No between-group differences were observed for reoperation, catheter time, bleeding volume or transfusions. Significantly more Clavien complications were observed in the high-risk than in the low-risk group. A positive adverse effect index score was associated with positive margins, no nerve-sparing surgery and no preoperative magnetic resonance imaging, and negatively associated with the second and third of three 2-year study periods. Conclusions. High-risk patients had a significantly higher risk of some operative and short-term postoperative adverse events than the control groups. This was not the case for the seven-items adverse event index. This study does not support any restricted attitude towards RALP in high-risk patients, except for general surgical contraindications.
Global efforts to improve palliative care: the International End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium Training Programme.

AIM This paper is a report of an evaluation study to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium-International training conference in providing education and support materials to participants so they might return to their home countries and disseminate palliative care information. BACKGROUND More than 50 million people die each year, many without access to adequate pain control or palliative care. Numerous barriers to implementation of palliative care exist, including lack of education provided to healthcare professionals regarding these principles. Because they spend the most time with patients and their families, nurses have the greatest potential to change the way palliative care is provided. METHOD A Course Evaluation Form and a Postcourse Activity Evaluation was completed by a convenience sample of 38 nurses from 14 Eastern and Central European, former Soviet, and Central Asian countries. The data were collected in 2006 using Likert scales and open-ended questions. FINDINGS Evaluations of speakers ranged from a mean of 4.4 to 4.9 on the 5-point scale, with five denoting the highest level. The mean rating of the conference overall was 4.9. Strengths included the professional level of presentations, practical, clinically based content, extensive resources and availability of the educators. CONCLUSION The first End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium-International training programme demonstrated the feasibility of providing high-quality, essential education to nurses from a variety of countries. Because End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium is designed as a train-the-trainer programme, assistance with translation to native languages, along with textbooks and other resources, is needed to allow participants to fully implement this curriculum.
The Price-Setting Newsvendor Model with Variable Salvage Value

The classical newsvendor problem decides the optimal order quantity for a single period, with the assumptions that the selling price and the end of period salvage value are fixed. However, the salvage value or clearance price in many instances depends on the leftover inventory. A fixed salvage value assumption could lead to suboptimal decisions in many situations. We determine the optimal pricing and ordering decision for a newsvendor with variable salvage value. Both additive and multiplicative demand models are considered, and we provide the necessary and sufficient conditions for unique pricing and ordering policies in both cases. We mathematically compare the results against the fixed salvage value newsvendor model and prove that the variable salvage value newsvendor model improves the ordering decision and profit level.
Women's experiences of seeking reproductive health care in rural Ghana: challenges for maternal health service utilization.

AIM This paper is a report of part of a larger study exploring rural Ghanaian women's experiences of seeking reproductive health care. The aim of this part of the study was to describe rural women's perspectives on their experiences in seeking reproductive care from professional nurses. BACKGROUND Nurses' relationships with childbearing women have been linked to women's reproductive healthcare-seeking behaviour and service utilization. However, few researchers have studied women's perspectives on their relationships with nurses when seeking health care. In Ghana, the high rates of maternal mortality raise concerns about a number of factors, including nurses' relational practices. METHODS Data were collected in 2007 with a convenience sample of 27 Ghanaian women via in-depth interviews, focus groups and participant observation. Women's ages ranged from 15 to 49 years. The translated and transcribed data were thematically analyzed. FINDINGS Healthcare providers' relational practice influenced women's healthcare-seeking behaviours. Major themes from women's stories were: (a) experiences of intimidation and being scolded, (b) experiences of limited choices, (c) receiving silent treatment, and experiences of lack of privacy. Women emphasized the importance of their relationships with nurses and the impact of these relationships on their healthcare-seeking. CONCLUSION Nursing education in Ghana must place emphasis on basic relational practices. Structural changes to health clinics and routine nursing practices are necessary to create conditions for privacy to address women's health concerns. Women's perspectives must be considered for service improvement. Further research is needed to examine nurses' perspectives on relational care.
Baseline characteristics and effects of growth hormone therapy over two years in younger and elderly adults with adult onset GH deficiency.

CONTEXT The effects of GH replacement in elderly GH-deficient (GHD) adults are not well known. OBJECTIVE/DESIGN/PATIENTS In this prospective, single-center, open-label study, baseline characteristics and the effects of 2-yr GH replacement were determined in 24 GHD adults above 65 yr of age and in 24 younger GHD patients (mean age, 37 yr; range, 27-46 yr). All patients had adult onset disease, and both groups were comparable in terms of the number of pituitary hormonal deficiencies, gender, body mass index, and waist/hip ratio. Duration of hypopituitarism was, however, longer in the elderly patients. RESULTS The mean maintenance dose of GH was 0.31 (sem, 0.03) mg/d in the elderly GHD patients and 0.44 (0.04) mg/d in the younger patients. The less marked response in IGF-I sd score, total body fat, and extracellular water in the elderly patients lost significance when the dose of GH was accounted for in the statistical analyses. Despite the lower dose in the elderly GHD group, these patients had a more marked reduction in waist/hip ratio and serum low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level, and these differences remained also after correction for duration of hypopituitarism. There was no difference at baseline or in responsiveness in lean mass, bone mineral density, and glucose homeostasis. CONCLUSIONS This study identifies elderly GHD adults as a GH-sensitive group in whom a low dose of GH can improve body composition and serum lipid profile without any significant impairment of glucose metabolism. GH replacement should therefore be considered in elderly GHD adults.
Systematic Development of Transethosomal Gel System of Piroxicam: Formulation Optimization, In Vitro Evaluation, and Ex Vivo Assessment

Piroxicam is used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and other inflammatory diseases. Upon oral administration, it is reported to cause ulcerative colitis, gastrointestinal irritation, edema and peptic ulcer. Hence, an alternative delivery system has been designed in the form of transethosome. The present study describes the preparation, optimization, characterization, and ex vivo study of piroxicam-loaded transethosomal gel using the central composite design. On the basis of the prescreening study, the concentration of lipids and ethanol was kept in the range of 2–4% w/v and 0–40% v/v, respectively. Formulation was optimized by measuring drug retention in the skin, drug permeation, entrapment efficiency, and vesicle size. Optimized formulation was incorporated in hydrogel and compared with other analogous vesicular (liposomes, ethosomes, and transfersomes) gels for the aforementioned responses. Among the various lipids used, soya phosphatidylcholine (SPL 70) and ethanol in various percentages were found to affect drug retention in the skin, drug permeation, vesicle size, and entrapment efficiency. The optimized batch of transethosome has shown 392.730 μg cm−2 drug retention in the skin, 44.312 μg cm−2 h−1 drug permeation, 68.434% entrapment efficiency, and 655.369 nm vesicle size, respectively. It was observed that the developed transethosomes were found superior in all the responses as compared to other vesicular formulations with improved stability and highest elasticity. Similar observations were noted with its gel formulation.
Filling in the Roadmap for Self-Consistent Electron Cloud and Gas Modeling

Electron clouds and gas pressure rise limit the performance of many major accelerators. A multi-laboratory effort to understand the underlying physics via the combined application of experiment, theory, and simulation is underway. We present here the status of the simulation capability development, based on a merge of the three-dimensional parallel Particle-In-Cell (PIC) accelerator code WARP and the electron cloud code POSINST, with additional functionalities. The development of the new capability follows a “roadmap” describing the different functional modules, and their inter-relationships, that are ultimately needed to reach self-consistency. Newly developed functionalities include a novel particle mover bridging the time scales between electron and ion motion, a module to generate neutrals desorbed by beam ion impacts at the wall, and a module to track impact ionization of the gas by beam ions or electrons. Example applications of the new capability to the modeling of electron effects in the High Current Experiment (HCX) are given.
Expansion of projected lactation yield to stabilize genetic variance.

Information on partial lactations often is included in genetic evaluations by predicting the cow's eventual 305-d yield. Such projected yields have less phenotypic and genetic variation than completed yields but were modeled as having greater or equal variation in evaluations. Analysis of first lactations from 48,424 daughters of 844 Holstein sires indicated that yields predicted early (46 to 75 d) in lactation had less than one-half as much additive genetic variance as completed yields. Multiple-trait REML estimates of genetic correlations of predicted and completed yields were all above . 92, indicating that early lactation information is valuable if modeled appropriately. Expanded records with genetic variances equal to those of completed yields and new lactation length weights were derived. Expanded records have larger error variances than either projected or completed yields and, thus, are given less weight when included in animal model evaluations. Genetic gains are expected to increase only . 2 to . 3%, but more stable genetic evaluations should result from use of expanded records, particularly for animals evaluated primarily from first lactation records in progress.