Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Concurrent Abuse of Cannabis Is Associated with a Shorter Duration of Hospitalization in Treatment-Resistant Psychotic Bipolar Inpatients Treated with Clozapine

Typical antipsychotic agents have shown little efficacy in the treatment of acute psychoses in patients whose clinical picture is characterized by concurrent substance abuse. Substance-related issues usually not only remain unimproved while being treated with atypical antipsychotics but very often show an increase in severity. The fact that they have no quick or global effectiveness on psychotic phenomena is especially troubling because abused substances oftentimes have the effect of reinforcing and maintaining psychotic symptoms. In this observational study, we compared the discharge rate in 30 cannabis-abusing patients and in 26 nonabusers, who were males, treatment-resistant psychotic bipolar in-patients, treated with clozapine. Discharge rates 30 days after the start of treatment were 23.1% for nonabusers and 53.3% for abuser patients (P=0.04). Discharge rates at 60 days were 80.8% for nonabusers and 83.3% for abuser patients. We submit the hypothesis that underactivity of the meso-limbic pathway by treatment with typical antipsychotics makes cannabis abuse more likely, and as such, treatment with Clozapine is more effective.
Anticancer Agent 2-Methoxyestradiol Improves Survival in Septic Mice by Reducing the Production of Cytokines and Nitric Oxide

Cytokine production is critical in sepsis. 2-Methoxyestradiol (2ME2), an endogenous metabolite of estradiol, inhibits hypoxia-inducible factor 1&agr; (HIF-1&agr;) and is an antiangiogenic and antitumor agent. We investigated the effect of 2ME2 on cytokine production and survival in septic mice. Using i.p. LPS or cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), sepsis was induced in BALB/c mice that were simultaneously or later treated with 2ME2 or vehicle. Twelve hours after the LPS injection, serum and peritoneal fluid cytokine and nitric oxide (NO) levels were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the Griess reaction. Lung injuries were histologically analyzed, and liver and kidney injuries were biochemically analyzed. Survival was determined 7 days after LPS injection or CLP procedure. In vivo and in vitro effects of 2ME2 on LPS-induced macrophage inflammation were determined. The effect of 2ME2 on HIF-1&agr; expression, nuclear factor &kgr;B (NF-&kgr;B), and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells, a murine macrophage cell line, was determined using Western blotting. 2-Methoxyestradiol treatment reduced LPS-induced lung, liver, and kidney injury. Both early and late 2ME2 treatment prolonged survival in LPS- and CLP-induced sepsis. 2-Methoxyestradiol significantly reduced IL-1&bgr;, IL-6, TNF-&agr;, and NO levels in septic mice as well as in LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophages. 2-Methoxyestradiol treatment also reduced the LPS-induced expression of HIF-1&agr;, iNOS, and pNF-&kgr;B in RAW264.7 cells, as well as iNOS and pNF-&kgr;B expression in siHIF-1&agr;-RAW264.7 cells. 2-Methoxyestradiol prolongs survival and reduces lung, liver, and kidney injury in septic mice by inhibiting iNOS/NO and cytokines through HIF-1&agr; and NF-&kgr;B signaling.
Fatigue in patients with prostate cancer receiving hormone therapy

12.1). The RSCL quality of life score ranged from 1 to 7 (excellent–extremely poor) with a mean score of 4 (neither good nor bad). Assessment of internal consistency yielded acceptable reliability coefficients (PSDS, Cronbach’s alpha (α) = 0.77; RSCL, α = 0.86: subscales of RSCL: physical α = 0.78; psychological α = 0.80). Qualitative data complemented the psychometric evaluation of the scales. The findings support a distinction between symptom intensity or frequency and symptom distress. The use of the questionnaires prompted many patients to explore the meaning of the symptoms that they described.
Hydrogen Sulfide Differentially Affects The Hepatic Vasculature In Response To Phenylephrine And Endothelin 1 During Endotoxemia

ABSTRACT Despite being protective in many disease states, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) contributes to organ injury in sepsis. Like the other gasotransmitters, nitric oxide and carbon monoxide, H2S is a modulator of the microcirculation. Because microcirculatory dysfunction is a main cause of organ injury during sepsis, the present study was designed to test the effect of H2S on microvascular dysfunction in isolated perfused livers. In most microcirculatory beds, endotoxin activates the endothelium, resulting in hyporesponsiveness to catecholamines and a derangement in blood flow distribution. We demonstrate that H2S treatment attenuates the increase in portal pressure during infusion of the &agr;1 adrenergic agonist, phenylephrine (PE) (P < 0.01). Hydrogen sulfide almost completely negated the increase in portal pressure in livers isolated from endotoxemic rats. Treatment with an inhibitor of endogenous H2S, DL-propargylglycine (PAG), reversed lipopolysaccharide-induced hyporesponsiveness to PE. Because hepatic microcirculatory dysfunction is associated with excessive sinusoidal vasoconstriction and not dilation, we investigated whether H2S affects endothelin 1 (ET-1)–induced vasoconstriction in isolated livers. Contrary to PE treatment, H2S did not affect the increase in portal pressure during infusion of ET-1, nor did it attenuate the hypersensitization of the liver to ET-1 during endotoxemia. Hepatic resistance in control rats was increased by PAG treatment during ET-1 infusion, but this increase was not exacerbated during endotoxemia. We monitored hepatic O2 consumption to assess the effect of vascular changes on oxygen consumption following ET-1 treatment. Low-dose ET-1 infusion caused an increase in hepatic O2 consumption, whereas low-dose ET-1 infusion decreased O2 consumption in endotoxemic livers. Interestingly, whereas we observed no effect of PAG on the vascular response to ET-1 infusion during endotoxemia, PAG treatment did maintain O2, suggesting a more complex effect of H2S inhibition. In summary, the discrepancies between the hepatic response to PE and ET-1 suggest that H2S differentially contributes to microcirculatory dysfunction in the systemic and hepatic microcirculations. We propose that this is due to H2S exerting a differential vasoactive function on presinusoidal and sinusoidal sites within the liver. Moreover, our findings suggest that H2S may contribute to the progression of sepsis by contributing to microvascular failure.
Immunophenotyping of lymphocyte subsets in the third eyelid tissue in dogs (Canis familiaris): Morphological, microvascular, and secretory aspects of this ocular adnexa

The third eyelid is an important adnexa of the eye. The objective of this study was to evaluate (i) morphological aspects (ii) vascularization, and (iii) the immunophenotype of lymphocyte subsets in the third eyelid of dogs. Flow cytometric analysis revealed the presence of three patterns concerning the immunophenotype of the third eyelid tissue. Dogs without ocular insult or deficient tear production might belong to one of the following immunophenotype patterns: I ‐ the number of T‐cells that expressed CD3+ CD8+ was higher than the number of cells that expressed CD3+CD4+. II ‐ the number of cells CD3+C4+ was higher than the number of cells CD3+CD8+ and in this case a higher number of cells that expressed CD19 were identified. III ‐ Proximity of values of the cells that expressed CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+. These data might suggest that the number of lymphocyte T cells alone should not be considered a direct indicator of the presence of an immune‐based inflammation. Besides, a particular population of T‐cells does not indicate a particular inflammatory state. The morphological study of the third eyelid revealed a rather uncommon angioarchitecture. The artery that irrigates the eyelid crosses almost the entire length of this structure to achieve its free border, and only then, ramificates deeply towards an inner segmental level. This spatial microvascular arrangement probably results from an adaptation to the fact that the third eyelid, in the medial cantus of the eye, is inwardly compressed into a tiny space. Efficient vascularization is achieved by allowing the first ramifications of the third eyelid artery to run straight to the top. Accini secretor cells of the third eyelid show a mucin content while tubuloacinar cells are mainly serous. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Functionalized AFM probes for force spectroscopy: eigenmode shapes and stiffness calibration through thermal noise measurements

The functionalization of an atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever with a colloidal bead is a widely used technique when the geometry between the probe and the sample must be controlled, particularly in force spectroscopy. But some questions remain: how does a bead glued at the end of a cantilever influence its mechanical response? And more importantly for quantitative measurements, can we still determine the stiffness of the AFM probe with traditional techniques? In this paper, the influence of the colloidal mass loading on the eigenmode shape and resonant frequency is investigated by measuring the thermal noise on rectangular AFM microcantilevers with and without beads attached at their extremities. The experiments are performed with a home-made ultra-sensitive AFM, based on differential interferometry. The focused beam from the interferometer probes the cantilever at different positions and the spatial shapes of the modes are determined up to the fifth resonance, without external excitation. The results clearly demonstrate that the first eigenmode is almost unchanged by mass loading. However the oscillation behavior of higher resonances presents a marked difference: with a particle glued at its extremity, the nodes of the modes are displaced towards the free end of the cantilever. These results are compared to an analytical model taking into account the mass and inertial moment of the load in an Euler–Bernoulli framework, where the normalization of the eigenmodes is explicitly worked out in order to allow a quantitative prediction of the thermal noise amplitude of each mode. A good agreement between the experimental results and the analytical model is demonstrated, allowing a clean calibration of the probe stiffness.
Spectrum-efficient cognitive radio transceiver using multiwavelet filters

Cognitive radio (CR) transceiver that can offer adequate data rate andmultiuser support for future wireless networks is a promising technology for reliable and spectrum-efficient mobile communication. Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) and scalar wavelet based schemes have been proposed as physical layer techniques for CR. This paper proposes multiwavelet packetbased multicarrier multiple-access scheme as an equally promising candidate for multi-user CR networks and using existing orthonormal multiwavelets, the performance of the proposed system is evaluated. It is shown that the error performance of the proposed system under frequency and phase offset conditions is comparable with existing schemes.
Dose‐dependent effects on cell proliferation, seminiferous tubules, and male germ cells in the fetal rat testis following exposure to di(n‐butyl) phthalate

Adult male rats gestationally exposed to di(n‐butyl)phthalate (DBP) have dysgenetic testes characterized by seminiferous epithelial degeneration, clustering of Leydig cells, and decreased spermatogenesis. Cell proliferation and apoptosis are key processes regulating development of the testis, and alterations in these processes may underlie testicular dysgenesis. Objective: To determine whether gestational exposure to DBP affects cell proliferation and apoptosis in the developing rat testis. Design: Pregnant dams were exposed to different dose levels of DBP in mid‐gestation and cellular outcomes in fetal and early postnatal testes were assayed by histological and morphometric approaches. Results: Gestational exposure to high dose DBP inhibited proliferation of fetal testicular somatic cells but did not affect apoptosis. Exposed fetal testes had a smaller volume and decreased cell numbers, with decreases in both the tubular and interstitial cell populations. A reduction was observed in the testis volume and altered seminiferous tubule morphometry at ≥50 mg/kg/d, and a decreased testicular cell number at ≥30 mg/kg/d DBP. The number of multinucleated gonocytes in DBP‐exposed fetal testes increased after exposure to ≥100 mg/kg/d. The number of proliferating cells in the DBP‐exposed testis rapidly rose after birth (when exposure stopped), and the testis volume and the total cell number was comparable to control by postnatal day 2. Conclusion: DBP reversibly inhibits proliferation of somatic cells in the fetal rat testis. Decreased proliferation, rather than increased apoptosis, is the underlying mechanism of altered fetal development of DBP‐exposed seminiferous tubules contributing to testicular dysgenesis. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The origin and assembly of a zona pellucida binding protein, IAM38, during spermiogenesis

IAM38 is the most prominent protein of the inner acrosomal membrane extracellular coat (IAMC) of spermatozoa. It is retained by the inner acrosomal membrane after the acrosome reaction and is implicated in secondary sperm‐zona binding (Yu et al., Dev Biol 2006 ;290:32–43). Its gene knockout, Zpbp1−/−, prevents acrosome compaction and leads to acrosome fragmentation and sterility in male mice (Lin et al., Mol Cell Biol 2007 ;27:6794–6805). Because of this protein's important role in acrosomal formation and fertilization, the authors were interested in tracing its origin and expression during spermiogenesis. The authors reasoned that a detailed immunocytochemical investigation, utilizing anti‐IAM38 antibodies as probes at the ultrastructural level, could reveal the processes involved in assembly of the IAMC and the compaction of the acrosome. High level of the IAM38 transcript was already detectable at postnatal day 20, corresponding to the time in mouse testis development when round spermatids first appear and acrosomal formation is initiated. IAM38 protein was first seen during this time (Golgi phase of spermiogenesis) within the dense core of the proacrosomal granules (PG) of round spermatids. After PG fusion to form the acrosomic vesicle (AV) the immunoreactivity was concentrated in the centrally located acrosomic granule (AG) of the AV, until acrosomal‐nuclear docking occurred. Subsequently, in the cap phase, IAM38 migrated from the AG to the extracellular side of the acrosomal membrane, eventually disappearing altogether from the AG. During the elongation phase IAM38 labeling disappeared from the outer acrosomal membrane (OAM) in the apical and principal segments of the acrosome but remained lining the OAM in the equatorial segment (ES) as well as the entire IAM of the acrosome. Compaction of the ES in the maturation phase of spermiogenesis coincided with the IAM38‐labeled extracellular coat of the inner and outer acrosomal membranes coming together in close proximity of each other to form a “zipper‐like” structure found in the ES of mature spermatozoa. In summary, the results set a precedent, showing for the first time that glycoproteins, which originate in the acrosomic granule can be transferred to the acrosomal membrane during acrosome formation. Furthermore, the localization of IAM38 on the extracellular side of both the inner and outer acrosomal membrane during the cap phase of acrosomal development supports the role of this prominent protein in acrosomal compaction. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Reply to Dr. Borgeat

To the Editor: I read with interest the study by Dolan et al. They report an increase of sensory loss in the medial aspect of the thigh after a fascia iliaca block using ultrasonography. These results are interesting but suffer from limitations. Their technique using a block needle is not the same as that described by Capdevila et al, who used a Tuohy needle to perform the block and reported a higher success rate on the femoral nerve. Previously, I used similar shortbevel block needles as described by Dolan et al, but soon abandoned them because of poor tactile sensations and low success rate. Inadequate needles could be responsible, at least in part, for block failure due to overly superficial or intramuscular (iliopsoas muscle) injection. The results of the study of Dolan et al might be different if they used a Tuohy needle, which could permit better tactile sensations, control of distance from the skin, and sensation of resistance to injection. Nevertheless, even when injection is performed with a Tuohy needle, diffusion of the local anesthetic is unpredictable and uncontrollable. In conclusion, although it is understandable that block success is higher with the use of ultrasonography when the needle is not optimal, it remains unproven whether using another needle would be better.
Diet, Activity and BMI in Preschool-Aged Children: Differences Across Settings

In the present study, children who attended either a University Preschool (UP) or a Head Start (HS) program were studied to determine if they differed in diet, activity, or body mass index (BMI) across settings. Dietary intake over 3 days and motor activity during a free-play period equivalent across settings were measured for 40 children age 4–5 years. Compared to the UP children, the HS children had a higher average food energy intake and lower motor activity. More than half of the HS children were determined to be at the 85th percentile or above on BMI for age and sex compared to little more than a third of the UP children. Apart from the socio-economic and racial/ethnic differences between the two groups of children, the physical environment may also have exerted an impact on activity levels, as the UP classroom and playground were twice as large in square feet in comparison to the HS facilities.
Force spectroscopy as a tool to investigate the properties of supported lipid membranes

Solid supported lipid bilayers (SLB) are extensively used as a model for the investigation of cell membranes in a variety of spectroscopic and biophysical methods. It is nevertheless well known that the interaction with the solid substrate, such as mica or silicon, influences the properties of the membranes. In this article we have employed atomic force microscopy (AFM) in force spectroscopy mode (FS) to investigate the local mechanical properties of lipid membranes supported on mica and on polymer cushion. The lipid double layers were obtained by fusion of unilamellar vesicle of phospholipids. The polymer support was created by self‐assembly of charged polyelectrolytes. Force spectroscopy provided information about the breakthrough force, the breakthrough depth, and the sample adhesion. A batch analysis algorithm to process high‐resolution force mapping was developed. The breakthrough force to indent the bilayers down to the support and the adhesion force were measured as a function of the membrane charge. The comparison of the data obtained from SLB on mica and from bilayers on polymer cushion provides direct evidence about the influence of the substrate on the local mechanic properties of the membrane. As a major result, the yield force distribution of membranes on polymer cushion was bimodal, compared to the unimodal distribution obtained on mica. Microsc. Res. Tech. 73:965–972, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Authentication of the 31 species of toxic and potent chinese materia medica by microscopic technique assisted by ICP‐MS analysis, part 4: Four kinds of toxic and potent mineral arsenical CMMs

Toxic and Potent Chinese Materia Medica (T/PCMM) is a special and very important category of Chinese medicines. They have long been used in traditional medical practice and are being used more and more widely throughout the world in recent years. As there may be many fatal toxic effects caused by misusing or confusion of T/PCMM, their quality and safety control arouse increasing attention internationally. Researches on the accurate identification to ensure the safe use of T/PCMM are acquired; however, there are few reports on authentication. We are carrying out a series of studies on 31 T/PCMM originating from plants, animals, minerals, and secreta. In our previous studies, we proved that modern microscopic authentication is a simple, fast, effective, low cost, and less toxic method for identifying animal, seed, and flower T/PCMM. In the present study, we focused on the authentication of four kinds of mineral arsenicals, including orpiment (mainly containing As2S3), realgar (mainly containing As4S4), arsenolite, and arsenic trioxide (mainly containing As2O3). We examined the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the above minerals and found that they all can be easily identified and authenticated by using light microscopy coupled with polarized microscopy. Moreover, the authentication results for arsenolite and arsenic trioxide are confirmed by ICP‐MS analysis. We are sure that the morphological and microscopic characteristics indicated here are indispensable to establishing standards for these four mineral T/PCMMs. Microsc. Res. Tech. 74:1‐8, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Antennal sensilla of Apanteles cypris Nixon (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a larval endoparasitoid of Cnaphalocrocis medinalis Guenée (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Apanteles cypris is an endoparasitoid of rice pest Cnaphalocrocis medinalis. To better understand its host location mechanism, we examined the external morphology of antennal sensilla of A. cypris via scanning electron microscopy. The antennae of male and female A. cypris were filiform in shape, which consist of scape, pedicel, and flagellum with 18 antennomeres. Eleven types of sensilla were recorded in both sexes, including two types of chaetica sensilla, trichodea sensilla without pore, basiconica sensilla I with a tip pore, basiconica sensilla II with wall pores, basiconica sensilla III with a mastoid at the tip, coeloconica sensilla with apparent fingerlike projections, campaniform sensilla with a sprout tip pore, clavatea sensilla, smell pore, and placodea sensilla (PLA) with the multiporous cuticular structure. We also compared the morphology, number, and distribution of the sensory receptors between the two sexes. The length and width of the antennae on the males were significantly greater than that of females. In addition, males of A. cypris showed a larger number and a higher density of PLA compared to females. The morphology and structure of these sensilla were compared to that found in other braconid wasps, and their possible functions in host location were discussed. These observations could facilitate future studies on the biology of olfaction in A. cypris. Microsc. Res. Tech. 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Irish insights into the lived experience of breast cancer related lymphoedema: implications for occupation focused practice

Abstract There is limited qualitative occupational research into the lived experience of breast cancer, with the international literature reporting that occupational therapy practice in oncology needs to be more occupation-focused. Based on a longitudinal, qualitative research design and using an existential phenomenological methodology, this paper reports on a group of Irish women’s experiences of living with breast cancer related lymphoedema (BCRL) in terms of their prescribed self-management conservative treatments. Three rounds of in-depth semi-structured interviews were collected over three years and were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results reveal that the women found compliance with self-management protocols for BCRL a difficult dilemma. The majority of the women deliberately risked their vulnerable arms in order to preserve familiar occupational performance and to express their occupational identities. It is argued that there is an important role for occupational therapists with this growing international population to enable occupation in ways that accommodate compliance with self-care protocols.