Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inhibitory effect of ebselen on lactate dehydrogenase activity from mammals: a comparative study with diphenyl diselenide and diphenyl ditelluride

Ebselen is a seleno compound whose antioxidant properties have been attributed to its thiol-peroxidase and thioredoxin-like activity. However, the excessive oxidation of thiols can be potentially toxic. Thus, this work investigated whether lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) can be a possible in vitro target to the toxicity of ebselen, in comparison with diphenyl diselenide [(PhSe)2] and diphenyl ditelluride [(PhTe)2]. Ebselen was the most potent inhibitor of LDH. A maximal inhibitory effect was obtained at 2 μM to LDH purified and at 20 μM to LDH from heart and liver homogenates. Moreover, (PhSe)2, followed by (PhTe)2, also presented a significant inhibitory effect on LDH activity. DL-dithiothreitol (DTT) was able to revert the inhibition of LDH induced by all compounds tested, confirming the involvement of essential thiol groups on LDH inhibition by organochalcogens. In conclusion, our results show that liver and heart LDH may be a possible target for the toxicity of organochalcogens at relative low concentrations. Our results also indicate that the use of LDH, as a marker of cell viability, may be biased by a direct inhibitory effect of ebselen or other chalcogenides on LDH, resulting in false protection in an in vitro system.
Protective effects of sesame oil on 4-NQO-induced oxidative DNA damage and lipid peroxidation in rats

Sesame oil could be considered as a potent antioxidant and dietary supplement. It possesses antimutagenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-cardiac toxicity. In the view of available findings, the current study focused on determining the protective effects of sesame oil on 4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4-NQO) -induced oxidative DNA damage and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in rats. Seven groups of Wistar albino rats each with 6 either sex were used. Groups were given vehicle control and sesame oil alone orally and 4-NQO (30 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection. Following the four dose levels (1, 2, 4, and 8 ml/kg orally), sesame oil plus 4-NQO were also tested. After 24 hours of 4-NQO injection, blood samples were drawn by venipuncture. DNA damage (8-hydroxy-2-deoxy guanosine; 8-OHdG) and LPO were estimated. LPO from the 4-NQO-treated group was 2.5-fold higher than that of the control LPO. Pretreatment with sesame oil reduced this by 16–61%. 8-OHdG DNA damage from 4-NQO was found to be 3-fold higher than that of controls. Pretreatment with sesame oil effectively protected against DNA damage in a dose-dependent fashion. This study indicates that the antioxidant, sesame oil, effectively protected DNA damage and LPO induced by 4-NQO.
OSSIFICATION OF ANTERIOR LONGITUDINAL LIGAMENT IN THORACIC VERTEBRAE - A CASE REPORT

During the routine examination of dry and processed bones, it was observed that the bodies’ thoracic vertebrae were fused due to the ossification of anterior longitudinal ligament. The posterior longitudinal ligament, ligamentum flavum and intervertebral disc were spared. The ossification of anterior longitudinal ligament is considered as a part of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis – DISH( Forestier’s disease), most common in the age group of 40 and more who are obese leading to mild to moderate restriction of joint movement, low back pain and stiffness.
Psychiatric Nurse as Therapist

Under supervision five nurse-therapists have treated phobic patients as successfully as have psychiatrists and psychologists using similar psychological treatments in comparable psychiatric populations. Nurses have also had good results in other neurotic disorders. Intensive training is required. Nurse-therapists find their work rewarding, but the present Salmon gradings make no provision for their advancement should they retain their clinical function. Results suggest that the use of selected psychiatric nurses as skilled therapists can ease the current critical shortage of treatment personnel in psychiatry.
Promoting effects of chemical permeation enhancers on insulin permeation across TR146 cell model of buccal epithelium in vitro

To find potential enhancers for facilitating the buccal delivery of insulin, a TR146 cell-culture model of buccal epithelium, cultured on commercially available insert plates, was used to evaluate the permeability-enhancing effects of several traditional and new types of chemical enhancers, including N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), sodium deoxycholate (SDC), sodium nitroprusside (SNP), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutamine (Gln), chitosan (CS), L-arginine (Arg), 1-dodecylazacycloheptan-2-one (Azone), and soybean lecithin (SPC) (50 and 10 μg/mL respectively). Permeability studies were performed to determine the enhancing effects of these compounds on insulin permeation across the cell-culture model. The enhancing effects of the enhancers were assessed by calculating the apparent permeability coefficients and enhancement ratio. Cytotoxicity of the permeation enhancers at different concentrations was investigated by using the methylthiazolydiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Results showed that 50 μg/mL of NAC, SDC, GSH, CS, Arg, Azone, SPC, SNP, and 10 μg/mL of SNP had a significant enhancing effect on promoting the transport of insulin across the TR146 cell model. MTT assays showed that 50 μg/mL of Gln, Azone, SDC, SNP, Arg, 10 μg/mL SDC, and Arg had obvious toxic effects on TR146 cells. Therefore, NAC, GSH, CS, SPC, and SNP appear to be safe, effective permeability enhancers that promote the transport of insulin across the TR146 cell-culture model of buccal epithelium and may be potential enhancers for buccal delivery of insulin with both low toxicity and high efficiency.
Deconvolution analysis of the scintillation camera renogram.

The above paper (Kenny et al., 1975) discusses an interesting approach with potential application to renal evaluation in terms of a distribution of transits times within the kidney. The fundamental assumptions involved are that the kidneys can be viewed as a linear time invariant system during the period of examination (which can usually be accepted) thus justifying the Laplace transform methods of analysis which were employed. However, I take exception to the position taken by the authors where it was stated that the “removal of Hippuran from the blood by the kidneys gives rise to a biexponential blood clearance curve of the same shape as the renal input function”.
In vitro genoprotective and genotoxic effect of nicotine on human leukocytes evaluated by the comet assay

Abstract The comet assay was used to measure the DNA damage induced in vitro by nicotine in human leukocytes as the extent of DNA migration in the comet head area, tail length, percent DNA in the tail, and Olive tail moment. Samples of whole blood were collected and blood cells were challenged with acute doses of 0.1, 1 and 10 µM of (−)-nicotine for 60 minutes. We found that nicotine treatment had dose-dependent effects on the level of DNA damage. At 1 and 10 µM of nicotine, both Olive tail moment and percent DNA in the tail significantly increased (p < 0.001), compared to the control. In the presence of 10 µM of nicotine, the shortest tail length and the smallest head area were detected. At a concentration of 0.1 µM, surprisingly, DNA damage detected by the comet assay was lower than in the control, which was proved by the observed significantly (p < 0.001) lower Olive tail moment and percent DNA in the tail as well as larger head area. The results suggest that nicotine, at a reasonably low concentration (0.1 µM), comparable to those found in the blood of habitual smokers, may have a protective effect, whereas higher doses of nicotine (1 and 10 µM) are genotoxic. The possible participation of reactive oxygen species in the DNA-damaging potential of nicotine is discussed.
HUMAN IMMUNITY TO THE MENINGOCOCCUS

Susceptibility to systemic meningococcal disease is related to a selective deficiency of humoral antibodies to pathogenic strains of meningococci. In a study of the age-specific incidence of meningococcal meningitis in the United States, it was found that the proportion of individuals with serum bactericidal activity to meningococci of serogroups A, B, and C was reciprocally related to the incidence of disease. The prevalence of bactericidal activity was highest at birth and among adults, and lowest in infants between 6 and 24 months of age. Sera from 51 of 54 prospective cases of meningococcal disease among military recruits were deficient in antibodies to homologous and heterologous strains of pathogenic meningococci as determined by serum bactericidal activity and indirect immunofluorescence. Such sera, however, could support the bactericidal activity of purified human gamma globulin (Cohn fraction II), and such individuals could respond immunologically to infection with meningococci. The implication is that susceptible persons are deficient in antimeningococcal antibodies because they have not received significant exposure to meningococcal antigens in the past. The fate of individuals who lack bactericidal antibodies to pathogenic meningococci was determined during an outbreak of group C meningitis among military recruits. The incidence of disease was found to be primarily associated with the incidence of exposure of susceptibles to the pathogenic strains. Whereas 81.5% of the presumed susceptibles acquired a meningococcal strain, only 24.1% acquired an organism similar to the prevalent disease-producing strains. Of the exposed susceptibles, 38.5% developed systemic meningococcal disease.
Effects of histidine and n-acetylcysteine on experimental lesions induced by doxorubicin in sciatic nerve of rats

Abstract In this study, the effect of separate and combined intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of histidine and n-acetylcysteine were investigated on experimental damage induced by doxorubicin (DOX) in sciatic nerve of rats. DOX was i.p. injected at a dose of 4 mg/kg once weekly for four weeks. Histidine and n-acetylcysteine were i.p. injected at a same dose of 20 mg/kg. Cold and mechanical allodynia were recorded using acetone spray and von Frey filaments tests, respectively. The sciatic nerve damage was evaluated by light microscopy. Plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured. Histidine and especially n-acetylcysteine at a same dose of 20 mg/kg suppressed cold and mechanical allodynia, improved sciatic nerve lesions and reversed MDA and TAC levels in DOX-treated groups. Combination treatment with histidine and n-acetylcysteine showed better responses when compared with them used alone. The results of the present study showed peripheral neuroprotective effects for histidine and n-acetylcysteine. Reduction of free radical-induced toxic effects may have a role in neuroprotective properties of histidine and n-acetylcysteine.
Summaries of selected publications from the Health Evidence Network of World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe

The Health Evidence Network (HEN) was established approximately 3 years ago as a service to the health policy makers in the fifty-two member states of World Health Organization (WHO) Europe. The objective of the HEN is to (i) make it easier for policy makers to access evidence-based studies in the field of health, and to (ii) provide synthesis of available evidence around specific policy issues in health.
Children's View of a Major Depression Affecting a Parent in the Family

This study aims to elucidate, from the children's perspective, the meaning for family life of a parent suffering a major depression disorder. Eight children and young adults were interviewed. Phenomenological-hermeneutic analysis generated two themes: (1) “Being a rescuing observer” with the subthemes, “Being attentive” and “Being considerate,” and (2) “Being a frustrated observer” with the subthemes, “feeling discomfort” and “being out of it. ” Children's lives alternate between responsibility and loneliness as they wait for reciprocity in family life to return to normal. Children need support in order to manage their sense of responsibility and loneliness adequately.
Time Dependent ROC Curves for the Estimation of True Prognostic Capacity of Microarray Data

Abstract Microarray data can be used to identify prognostic signatures based on time-to-event data. The analysis of microarrays is often associated with overfitting and many papers have dealt with this issue. However, little attention has been paid to incomplete time-to-event data (truncated and censored follow-up). We have adapted the 0.632+ bootstrap estimator for the evaluation of time-dependent ROC curves. The interpretation of ROC-based results is well-established among the scientific and medical community. Moreover, the results do not depend on the incidence of the event, as opposed to many other prognostic statistics. Here, we have tested this methodology by simulations. We have illustrated its utility by analyzing a data set of diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma patients. Our results demonstrate the well-adapted properties of the 0.632+ ROC-based approach to evaluate the true prognostic capacity of a microarray-based signature. This method has been implemented in an R package ROCt632.
Nursing Students' Perceptions of Clinical Teachers' Use of Empowering Teaching Behaviours: Instrument Psychometrics and Application

The authors present findings of 2nd year nursing students’ (N = 352) perceptions of their clinical teachers’ use of empowering teaching behaviours (ETB) and to highlight steps undertaken to establish psychometric properties of the Empowering Teaching Behaviours Questionnaire – Student (ETBQ-S). The authors identify a) the process involved in the adoption of the ETBQ-S, b) ETBQ-S validity procedures completed prior to instrument implementation, c) results of nursing students’ responses to the ETBQ-S, d) criterion validity, and e) ETBQ-S confirmatory factor analysis findings conducted after study completion. The ETBQ-S reliably measures five facets of empowering actions that clinical teachers can employ with nursing students in practice to enhance their confidence, involve them in decision-making and goal setting, make learning meaningful, and help them to become more autonomous nurses.
Systematic review of postural control and lateral ankle instability, part I: can deficits be detected with instrumented testing.

OBJECTIVE To answer the following clinical questions: (1) Is poor postural control associated with increased risk of a lateral ankle sprain? (2) Is postural control adversely affected after acute lateral ankle sprain? (3) Is postural control adversely affected in those with chronic ankle instability? DATA SOURCES PubMed and CINAHL entries from 1966 through October 2006 were searched using the terms ankle sprain, ankle instability, balance, chronic ankle instability, functional ankle instability, postural control, and postural sway. STUDY SELECTION Only studies assessing postural control measures in participants on a stable force plate performing the modified Romberg test were included. To be included, a study had to address at least 1 of the 3 clinical questions stated above and provide adequate results for calculation of effect sizes or odds ratios where applicable. DATA EXTRACTION We calculated odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals for studies assessing postural control as a risk factor for lateral ankle sprains. Effect sizes were estimated with the Cohen d and associated 95% confidence intervals for comparisons of postural control performance between healthy and injured groups, or healthy and injured limbs, respectively. DATA SYNTHESIS Poor postural control is most likely associated with an increased risk of sustaining an acute ankle sprain. Postural control is impaired after acute lateral ankle sprain, with deficits identified in both the injured and uninjured sides compared with controls. Although chronic ankle instability has been purported to be associated with altered postural control, these impairments have not been detected consistently with the use of traditional instrumented measures. CONCLUSIONS Instrumented postural control testing on stable force plates is better at identifying deficits that are associated with an increased risk of ankle sprain and that occur after acute ankle sprains than at detecting deficits related to chronic ankle instability.
Dehydration and performance on clinical concussion measures in collegiate wrestlers.

CONTEXT The effects of dehydration induced by wrestling-related weight-cutting tactics on clinical concussion outcomes, such as neurocognitive function, balance performance, and symptoms, have not been adequately studied. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of dehydration on the outcome of clinical concussion measures in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I collegiate wrestlers. DESIGN Repeated-measures design. SETTING Clinical research laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS Thirty-two Division I healthy collegiate male wrestlers (age = 20.0 ± 1.4 years; height = 175.0 ± 7.5 cm; baseline mass = 79.2 ± 12.6 kg). INTERVENTION(S) Participants completed preseason concussion baseline testing in early September. Weight and urine samples were also collected at this time. All participants reported to prewrestling practice and postwrestling practice for the same test battery and protocol in mid-October. They had begun practicing weight-cutting tactics a day before prepractice and postpractice testing. Differences between these measures permitted us to evaluate how dehydration and weight-cutting tactics affected concussion measures. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 2 (SCAT2), Balance Error Scoring System, Graded Symptom Checklist, and Simple Reaction Time scores. The Simple Reaction Time was measured using the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics. RESULTS The SCAT2 measurements were lower at prepractice (P = .002) and postpractice (P < .001) when compared with baseline. The BESS error scores were higher at postpractice when compared with baseline (P = .015). The GSC severity scores were higher at prepractice (P = .011) and postpractice (P < .001) than at baseline and at postpractice when than at prepractice (P = .003). The number of Graded Symptom Checklist symptoms reported was also higher at prepractice (P = .036) and postpractice (P < .001) when compared with baseline, and at postpractice when compared with prepractice (P = .003). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that it is important for wrestlers to be evaluated in a euhydrated state to ensure that dehydration is not influencing the outcome of the clinical measures.
Experimental model for fibroblast culture

The use of cell culture methods in Plastic Surgery opened a new horizon in the research of cellular mechanisms of proliferation and biosynthesis functions. Several types of cells have been investigated in the cutaneous compartment. Keratinocytes and fibroblasts have been studied aiming the possibility of developing biomaterial for skin substitution. The present study describes the standardization for the development of fibroblast primary culture, its utilization in experiments and its storage.
Joint stability characteristics of the ankle complex in female athletes with histories of lateral ankle sprain, part II: clinical experience using arthrometric measurement.

CONTEXT This is part II of a 2-part series discussing stability characteristics of the ankle complex. In part I, we used a cadaver model to examine the effects of sectioning the lateral ankle ligaments on anterior and inversion motion and stiffness of the ankle complex. In part II, we wanted to build on and apply these findings to the clinical assessment of ankle-complex motion and stiffness in a group of athletes with a history of unilateral ankle sprain. OBJECTIVE To examine ankle-complex motion and stiffness in a group of athletes with reported history of lateral ankle sprain. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING University research laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS Twenty-five female college athletes (age = 19.4 ± 1.4 years, height = 170.2 ± 7.4 cm, mass = 67.3 ± 10.0 kg) with histories of unilateral ankle sprain. INTERVENTION(S) All ankles underwent loading with an ankle arthrometer. Ankles were tested bilaterally. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) The dependent variables were anterior displacement, anterior end-range stiffness, inversion rotation, and inversion end-range stiffness. RESULTS Anterior displacement of the ankle complex did not differ between the uninjured and sprained ankles (P = .37), whereas ankle-complex rotation was greater for the sprained ankles (P = .03). The sprained ankles had less anterior and inversion end-range stiffness than the uninjured ankles (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS Changes in ankle-complex laxity and end-range stiffness were detected in ankles with histories of sprain. These results indicate the presence of altered mechanical characteristics in the soft tissues of the sprained ankles.
A Hamiltonian Approach to Fault Isolation in a Planar Vertical Take–Off and Landing Aircraft Model

Abstract The problem of fault detection and isolation in a class of nonlinear systems having a Hamiltonian representation is considered. In particular, a model of a planar vertical take-off and landing aircraft with sensor and actuator faults is studied. A Hamiltonian representation is derived from an Euler-Lagrange representation of the system model considered. In this form, nonlinear decoupling is applied in order to obtain subsystems with (as much as possible) specific fault sensitivity properties. The resulting decoupled subsystem is represented as a Hamiltonian system and observer-based residual generators are designed. The results are presented through simulations to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Multiplanar Knee Laxity and Perceived Function During Activities of Daily Living and Sport.

CONTEXT Greater knee-joint laxity may lead to a higher risk of knee injury, yet it is unknown whether results of self-reported outcome measures are associated with distinct knee-laxity profiles. OBJECTIVE To identify the extent to which multiplanar knee laxity is associated with patient-reported outcomes of knee function in healthy individuals during activities of daily living and sport. DESIGN Descriptive laboratory study. SETTING University research laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS Forty healthy individuals (20 men, 20 women; age = 18-31 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) All participants were given the Knee Outcome Survey Activities of Daily Living Scale (KOS-ADL) and Sports Activities Scale (KOS-SAS) and subsequently measured for knee laxity in the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes. Separate backward stepwise regression analyses were performed to determine the extent to which multiplanar knee-laxity values predicted KOS-ADL and KOS-SAS scores within each sex. RESULTS Women had higher magnitudes of anterior, posterior (POST(LAX)), varus (VAR(LAX)), valgus (VAL(LAX)), and internal-rotation laxity than men and trended toward greater external rotation (ER(LAX)) laxity. Greater POST(LAX), less VAL(LAX), and greater VAR(LAX) was associated with lower KOS-ADL scores (KOS-ADL = -4.8 [POST(LAX)], + 3.3 [VAL(LAX)] - 2.2 [VAR(LAX)] + 100.4, R2 = 0.74, P < . 001) and greater POST(LAX) and less VAL(LAX) was associated with lower KOS-SAS scores (KOS-SAS = -8.2 [POST(LAX)], + 3.6 [VAL(LAX)] + 96.4, R2 = 0.67, P < . 001) in women. In men, greater POST(LAX) and less ER(LAX) was associated with lower KOS-SAS scores (KOS-ADL = -4.7 [POST(LAX)], + 0.9 [ER(LAX)] + 96.4, R2 = 0.49, P < . 001). CONCLUSIONS The combination of POST(LAX) with less relative VAL(LAX) (women) or less relative ER(LAX) (men) was a strong predictor of KOS scores, suggesting that a self-reported outcome measure may be beneficial as part of a preparticipation screening battery to identify those with perceived functional deficits associated with their knee laxity.