Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
What Quality Paid Home Care Means to Family Caregivers

The authors investigate the meanings of paid home care for family caregivers to frail older adults, comparing and contrasting what good and poor quality home care means to their caregiving efforts. Semistructured interviews were conducted with caregivers and were analyzed qualitatively, using McCracken’s (1988) five-step method for analysis of long interviews. Data from two studies were combined because of similarities in sample characteristics and interview questions and because data from the second study included both positive and negative experiences with home care providers. The authors find that caregivers perceived that good-quality paid home care facilitated enhanced quality of life for care recipients and improved perceptions of their performances as caregivers. When paid home care was of poor quality, caregivers felt more stress and increased their monitoring of providers. Caregiver circumstances, as well as care recipient needs, should be considered in making decisions about who receives formal home care services.
Parallel Distributed Processing: Explorations in the Microstructure of Cognition, vol 1: Foundations, vol 2: Psychological and Biological Models

Neural Computing: Theory and Practice , by Philip Wasserman, 230 pp, $41.95, with illus, ISBN 0-442-20743-3, New York, NY, Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1989. Neural Networks: A Tutorial , by Michael Chester, 182 pp, $38, with illus, ISBN 0-13-368903-4, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Prentice Hall, 1993. Neural Networks: Algorithms, Applications, and Programming Techniques , by James Freeman and David Skapura, 401 pp, $50.50, with illus, ISBN 0-201-51376-5, Reading, Mass, Addison-Wesley, 1991. Understanding Neural Networks: Computer Explorations , vol 1: Basic Networks , vol 2: Advanced Networks , 309, 367 pp, by Maureen Caudill and Charles Butler, paper, with illus, spiral-bound, with 1 diskette/vol, $39.95/vol, vol 1: ISBN0-262-53102-X (Macintosh), 0-262-53099-6 (IBM), vol 2: ISBN 0-262-53103-8 (Macintosh), 0-262-53100-3 (IBM), Cambridge, Mass, The MIT Press, 1992. Artificial neural network research began in the early 1940s, advancing in fits and starts, until the late 1960s when Minsky and Papert published Perceptrons , in which they proved that neural networks, as then conceived, can
Younger rats are more susceptible to the lethal effects of sarin than adult rats: 24 h LC50 for whole-body (10 and 60 min) exposures

Abstract Chemical warfare nerve agents (CWNA) inhibit acetylcholinesterase and are among the most lethal chemicals known to man. Children are predicted to be vulnerable to CWNA exposure because of their smaller body masses, higher ventilation rates and immature central nervous systems. While a handful of studies on the effects of CWNA in younger animals have been published, exposure routes relevant to battlefield or terrorist situations (i.e. inhalation for sarin) were not used. Thus, we estimated the 24 h LC50 for whole-body (10 and 60 min) exposure to sarin using a stagewise, adaptive dose design. Specifically, male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to a range of sarin concentrations (6.2–44.0 or 1.6–12.5 mg/m³) for either 10 or 60 min, respectively, at six different times during their development (postnatal day [PND] 7, 14, 21, 28, 42 and 70). For male and female rats, the lowest LC50 values were observed for PND 14 and the highest LC50 values for PND 28. Sex differences were observed only for PND 42 for the 10 min exposures and PND 21 and 70 for the 60 min exposures. Thus, younger rats (PND 14) were more susceptible than older rats (PND 70) to the lethal effects of whole-body exposure to sarin, while adolescent (PND 28) rats were the least susceptible and sex differences were minimal. These results underscore the importance of controlling for the age of the animal in research on the toxic effects associated with CWNA exposure.
Mechanism of deltamethrin induced thymic and splenic toxicity in mice and its protection by piperine and curcumin: in vivo study

Abstract Deltamethrin (DLM) is a well-known pyrethroid insecticide which is widely used in the agriculture and home pest control due to restriction on the sale of organophosphate. DLM induced apoptosis is well known but its mechanism is still unclear. This study has been designed to find out its mechanism of apoptosis with the help of computational methods along with in vivo methods. The QikProp and ProTox results have shown that DLM has good oral absorption. The docking results reveal that DLM has a strong binding affinity toward the CD4, CD8, CD28 and CD45 receptors. Further, to understand the toxicity of DLM on lymphoid cells, a single dose of DLM (5 mg/kg, oral for seven days) has been administered to male Balb/c mice and cytotoxicity (MTT assay), oxidative stress indicators (glutathione, reactive oxygen species) and apoptotic markers (caspase-3 activity, DNA fragmentation) have been assessed in thymic and splenic single cell suspensions. Lowering of body weight, cellularity and loss in cell viability have been observed in DLM treated mice. The significant increase in ROS and GSH depletion in spleen and thymus, indicate the possible involvement of oxidative stress. The spleen cells appear more susceptible to the adverse effects of DLM than thymus cells. Further, for the amelioration of its effect, two structurally different bioactive herbal extracts, piperine and curcumin have been evaluated and have shown the cytoprotective effect by inhibiting the apoptogenic signaling pathways induced by DLM.
Protective role of zinc against the neurotoxicity induced by exposure to cadmium during gestation and lactation periods on hippocampal volume of pups tested in early adulthood

Abstract The present study was conducted to assess the possible effect of cadmium (Cd) throughout gestation and lactation on the volume of the subregion of the hippocampus as well as the potential protective role of zinc (Zn) against Cd neurotoxicity. For this purpose, female rats received either tap water, Cd, Zn or Cd + Zn in their drinking water during gestation and lactation. At postnatal day 35 (PND35), the male pups were sacrificed, and their brains were taken for histologic, chemical, and biochemical analysis. Hippocampal volume was measured in histologic brain slices using Cavalieri’s principle. Zn depletion was observed in the brains of pups issued from mothers exposed to Cd. Biochemical analysis further revealed that Cd exposure significantly increases the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, as well as the metallothionein (MT) level. During histologic investigation, our results showed that gestational and lactational exposure to Cd significantly altered and decreased the volume of CA1, CA3 pyramidal cell layer and the dentate gyrus. However, there were no marked differences shown in CA2 subfield. Compared to Cd group, co-treatment with Cd and Zn provided correction of the changes induced by the Cd exposure. These results highlight the protective role of Zn against Cd-induced alteration in the hippocampus which is a crucial structure implicated in learning and memory processes.
Respiratory Failure Due to Lupus Pneumonitis: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Acute lupus pneumonitis (ALP) and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) are severe and rare complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and an unusual cause of respiratory failure in the intensive care unit. Although ALP may be a pulmonary vasculitis, its pathogenesis has not been clarified. Early treatment with immunosuppressants is of key importance for a favorable outcome. The decision to use an invasive approach for clarifying the diagnosis is a main dilemma faced by physicians because of the presence of respiratory failure and the need for early treatment. Lung samples obtained through transbronchial biopsy may be inadequate for diagnostic purposes and could lead to complications in mechanically ventilated patients. Open lung biopsy can obtain enough tissue, but with a risk of postoperative complications. If a systemic disease is suspected, the biopsy of another organ involved (eg kidney, skin) can be useful to confirm the diagnosis. We present a patient with DAH and respiratory failure due to the presence of ALP as the first clinical manifestation of a SLE, in which the diagnosis was confirmed by a renal biopsy. The literature concerning ALP and its course is reviewed.
Prolidase‐proline dehydrogenase/proline oxidase‐collagen biosynthesis axis as a potential interface of apoptosis/autophagy

Prolidase is a cytosolic imidodipeptidase that specifically splits imidodipeptides with C‐terminal proline or hydroxyproline. The enzyme plays an important role in the recycling of proline from imidodipeptides for resynthesis of collagen and other proline‐containing proteins. The mechanism of prolidase‐dependent regulation of collagen biosynthesis was found at both transcriptional and post‐transcriptional level. The increase in the enzyme activity is due to its phosphorylation on serine/threonine residues. Prolidase‐dependent transcriptional regulation of collagen biosynthesis was found at the level of NF‐κB, known inhibitor of type I collagen gene expression. Proline dehydrogenase/proline oxidase (PRODH/POX) is flavin‐dependent enzyme associated with the inner mitochondrial membrane. The enzyme catalyzes conversion of proline into Δ1‐pyrroline‐5‐carboxylate (P5C), during which reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced, inducing intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways. Alternatively, under low glucose stress, PRODH/POX activation produces ATP for energy supply and survival. Of special interest is that PRODH/POX gene is induced by P53 and peroxisome proliferator‐activated gamma receptor (PPARγ). Among down‐regulators of PRODH/POX is an oncogenic transcription factor c‐MYC and miR‐23b*. On the other hand, PRODH/POX suppresses HIF‐1α transcriptional activity, the MAPK pathway, cyclooxygenase‐2, epidermal growth factor receptor and Wnt/b‐catenin signaling. PRODH/POX expression is often down‐regulated in various tumors, limiting mitochondrial proline utilization to P5C. It is accompanied by increased cytoplasmic level of proline. Proline availability for PRODH/POX‐dependent ATP or ROS generation depends on activity of prolidase and utilization of proline in process of collagen biosynthesis. Therefore, Prolidase‐PRODH/POX‐Collagen Biosynthesis axis may represent potential interface that regulate apoptosis and survival. © 2016 BioFactors, 42(4):341–348, 2016
Hydrogen sulfide attenuates homocysteine‐induced cognitive deficits and neurochemical alterations by improving endogenous hydrogen sulfide levels

Hyperomocysteinemia (HHcy) has been associated with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) has been suggested to be an endogenous modulator of neuronal functions. However, the effect and mechanisms involved in beneficial effect of H2 S has not been investigated in homocysteine (Hcy)-induced cognitive deficits. This study has been designed to evaluate the effect of exogenous H2 S on behavioral deficits and neurochemical alterations in HHcy animals. Hcy levels were significantly elevated in plasma, cortex, and hippocampus of Hcy administered animals. A progressive decline in memory functions and increased anxiolytic behavior was observed in HHcy animals. This was accompanied by decrease in endogenous H2 S levels along with decreased activity of cystathionase (CSE) and cystathionine β-synthase (CBS). However, a significant increase in CSE and CBS mRNAs was observed. In addition, the catecholamine and serotonin levels were reduced and the activity of monoamine oxidase A and B were increased in brain regions of HHcy animals. Haematoxylin and eosin staining revealed higher number of pyknotic cells in brain regions of HHcy animals. H2 S administration was found to lower elevated plasma and brain Hcy levels. The activities of CBS, CSE, and levels of H2 S were restored in HHcy animals administered H2 S. Exogenous H2 S also ameliorated behavioral deficits accompanied by significant increase in catecholamines. Histological analysis revealed normal cell morphology in Hcy-treated animals supplemented with H2 S. These results clearly demonstrate that the protective effect of H2 S on Hcy-induced cognitive deficits is mediated through increased catecholamine and H2 S levels thereby suggesting its beneficial role in preventing HHcy-induced neurodegeneration. © 2016 BioFactors, 43(3):434-450, 2017.
Roles of mechanosensitive ion channels in bladder sensory transduction and overactive bladder

Abstract: In the storage phase, mechanical stretch stimulates bladder afferents. These signals generate sensations and trigger voiding responses, however the precise mechanisms by which mechanical stimuli excite bladder afferents are yet to be explored. For mechanosensory transduction, the presence of mechanosensors is essential in the peripheral sensory systems including sensory nerve endings, urothelium and others. There is increasing evidence that mechanosensitive ion channels, such as degenerin/epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) and transient receptor potential (TRP) channel families, play key roles in the mechanosensory transduction of the urinary bladder. Pharmacological interventions targeting mechanosensitive ion channels may provide a new strategy for the treatment of bladder dysfunction.
Effects of fatty acids on metabolism and cell growth of human colon cell lines of different transformation state

Epidemiological studies suggest that high fish intake is associated with a decreased risk of colorectal cancer which has been linked to the high content of the n − 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in some fish. In this study, two different cell lines are compared in relation to their response to EPA and DHA versus the plant derived PUFAs, linoleic acid (LA), γ‐linolenic acid (GLA), and α‐linolenic acid (ALA) and to the ubiquitous arachidonic acid (ARA). The uptake of 100 μM of each fatty acid (FA) was determined using GC. The 4′,6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole assay for DNA quantification and the Cell‐Titer‐Blue™ assay were used to determine cell survival and metabolic activity at 2–72 h after treatment. All FAs were utilized more efficiently by the human colon adenoma cell line LT97 than by the adenocarcinoma cell line HT29. LT97 were more susceptible than HT29 cells to the growth inhibitory activities of all FAs except for DHA where both were equally sensitive. Inhibition of survival and metabolic activity by EPA and DHA increased with treatment time in both cell lines. ALA or GLA were less growth inhibitory than EPA or DHA and ARA had intermediary activity. The data show that the tested FAs are incorporated into colon cells. Furthermore, adenoma cells are more susceptible than the adenocarcinoma cells. © 2009 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.
Current status of mucins in the diagnosis and therapy of cancer

Mucins are the most abundant high molecular weight glycoproteins in mucus. Their nature and glycosylation content dictates the biochemical and biophysical properties of viscoelastic secretions, pointing out an important role in diverse biological functions, such as differentiation, cell adhesions, immune responses, and cell signaling. Mucins are expressed in tubular organs by specialized epithelial cells in the body. Their aberrant expression is well documented in a variety of inflammatory or malignant diseases. From a prognosis point of view, their expression and alterations in glycosylation are associated with the development and progression of malignant diseases. Therefore, mucins can be used as valuable markers to distinguish between normal and disease conditions. Indeed, this alteration in glycosylation patterns generates several epitopes in the oligosaccharide side chains that can be used as diagnostic and/or prognostic markers. Furthermore, these characteristic tumor‐associated epitopes are extensively used as appropriate immunotargets of malignant epithelial cells. Therefore, in an effort to detect and treat cancer at the earliest stage possible, mucins are analyzed as potential markers of disease for diagnosis, progression, and for therapeutic purposes. In this review, we focused on the current status of the distribution of mucins in normal and pathologic conditions and their clinical use both in cancer diagnosis and therapeutics treatments.
Mental Illness and American Society, 1875-1940

In recent years many social scientists and historians have written about mental hospitals and society's ways of coping with the mentally ill. Almost all the authors seemed to have had some ax to grind—to attack capitalist society, or psychiatry, or psychoanalysis. One of the least hostile historians is Gerald Grob, professor of history at Rutgers University, who in 1973 published the book entitled Mental Institutions in America: Social Policy to 1875 . Now he presents its sequel, to 1940. This is a scholarly work, clearly written, obviously carefully researched, and well documented—93 pages of notes and 321 pages of text. Grob shows that the care of the mentally ill was originally the responsibility of their community—city or county—but gradually the responsibility was transferred to the states. This led to the ever-increasing size of state hospitals which, for several reasons, steadily accumulated more and more elderly and chronic cases who needed custodial
Criminal History, Physical and Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Services Use Among Incarcerated Substance Abusers

Recent research shows that drug-involved offenders engage in many health-risky behaviors, but relatively little is known about the impact of criminal history on the health of these individuals. In this study, criminal history and health information was collected from 661 male drug-abusing prisoners. Findings showed that having a more extensive criminal history was associated with higher rates of overall physical health problems but not mental health problems. Although no relationship between mental health and crime was observed, future research on the connection between psychological problems and criminal history is discussed. Years of lifetime use of five different drugs was positively related to criminal history. In terms of health services utilization, offenders with more serious criminal histories were more likely to have received previous medical treatment in a hospital emergency room and to have received treatment for drug or alcohol abuse.
Subthalamic Stimulation in Parkinson’s Disease

Objectives: We wanted to evaluate chronic subthalamic nucleus (STN) stimulation as an alternative to pallidotomy for severe Parkinson’s disease symptomatology. Methods: Nine patients met clinical criteria for unilateral standard pallidotomy. All had severe medically refractory drug-induced dyskinesia and had reached maximal daily levodopa therapy. Pre- and postoperative videos, neuropsychometric testings and clinical stagings were administered. Three patients were selected to undergo stereotactic implantation of a deep brain stimulator (DBS) after Institutional Review Board approval and informed consent. These were performed using digitized microrecordings. The other group received unilateral pallidotomy. Results: At a mean follow-up of 6 months, our results support recent findings of significant major improvement in motor scores, activity of daily living and decrease in amount of daily levodopa intake by close to 50% after 3 months of stimulation. Conclusions: Chronic stimulation of the STN appears to provide significant motor improvement in patients with severe Parkinson’s disease and is more beneficial than pallidotomy.
Complications and Institutionalization Are Almost Doubled After Second Hip Fracture Surgery in the Elderly Patient

Purpose: To determine patient and hip fracture characteristics, early postoperative complication rate, and need for institutionalization at the time of discharge from the hospital in patients treated for a second contralateral hip fracture. Methods: During a 6-year period (2003–2009), 71 patients (60 women and 11 men; age range, 54–94 years) underwent first hip fracture surgery and subsequent contralateral hip fracture surgery at our hospital. Variables, including age, gender, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification (ASA), AO fracture classification, time between both hip fractures, rate and severity of early postoperative complications, and destination of discharge were obtained from the electronic medical records. Data from both hospitalization periods were compared. Results: Forty-six percent of second hip fractures occurred within 2 years after the first hip fracture. After the first hip fracture surgery, 13 patients had 1 or multiple complications compared with 23 patients after a second hip fracture surgery (P = 0.02). The mean time (±SD) between the first and second hip fractures in patients without complications after the second injury was 4.3 (±4.2) years, compared with 2.6 (±2.1) years in patients with complications after the second injury (P = 0.03). The mean ASA classification of patients without complications after the second hip fracture surgery was 2.6 (±0.6) versus 3.0 (±0.6) in patients with complications (P = 0.04). After the first hip fracture surgery, 27 patients (38%) were discharged to an institutional care facility, whereas 72% of patients resided at an institutional care facility after a second hip fracture. Conclusions: Early complication rate in patients sustaining a second contralateral hip fracture was almost twice that documented after the first hip fracture. After the second hip fracture surgery, most patients resided in an institutional care facility. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Cell‐based assays in GPCR drug discovery

G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) transmit extracellular signals into the intracellular space, and play key roles in the physiological regulation of virtually every cell and tissue. Characteristic for the GPCR superfamily of cell surface receptors are their seven transmembrane‐spanning α‐helices, an extracellular N terminus and intracellular C‐terminal tail. Besides transmission of extracellular signals, their activity is modulated by cellular signals in an auto‐ or transregulatory fashion. The molecular complexity of GPCRs and their regulated signaling networks triggered the interest in academic research groups to explore them further, and their drugability and role in pathophysiology triggers pharmaceutical research towards small molecular weight ligands and therapeutic antibodies. About 30% of marketed drugs target GPCRs, which underlines the importance of this target class. This review describes current and emerging cellular assays for the ligand discovery of GPCRs.
A Survey of Pennsylvania Psychologists on Managed Care and Other Issues

A total of 147 licensed psychologists in Pennsylvania responded to a survey sent to an anonymous random sample of Pennsylvania psychologists. The survey was designed to: (I) gather systematic data on the impact of managed care on the quality and accessibility of patient services; (2) update data on the utilization of Medicare and Medicaid treatment by psychologists; (3) gather data on the professional affiliations and political activism of psychologists; and (4) update information on fees and practice patterns of psychologists. Psychologists reported that managed care appeared to decrease the quality of psychological services and access to patient services. Utilization of Medicare has increased over the last 4 years. Political activism appeared directly related to membership in professional organizations. However, the sample responding to the survey was skewed in terms of psychologists in independent practices, thus limiting the generalizability of the data.