Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antitumor efficacy and amelioration of oxidative stress by Trichosanthes dioica root against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in mice

Context: Trichosanthes dioica Roxb. (Cucurbitaceae) is a dioecious climber, traditionally used in India for several medicinal purposes. Objective: The present study assessed the hydroalcoholic extract of T. dioica root (TDA) for antitumor effect and antioxidant influence against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in Swiss albino mice. Methods: Twenty four hours after intraperitoneal inoculation of tumor (EAC) cells in mice, TDA was administered at 5 and 10 mg/kg body weight daily for 9 consecutive days. On the 10th day, half of the mice were sacrificed for estimation of tumor proliferation, hematological, and liver antioxidant parameters viz. lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT); and the rest were kept alive for assessment of increase in life span. The antitumor effect of TDA was assessed by evaluating tumor weight, tumor volume, packed cell volume, viable and non-viable tumor cell counts, median survival time and percentage increase in life span of EAC bearing mice. Results and discussion: TDA exhibited dose dependent and significant (p < 0.001) decrease in tumor weight, tumor volume, packed cell volume and viable cell count and extended the life span of EAC bearing hosts. Hematological profiles were significantly (p < 0.001) restored near to normal in TDA treated mice as compared to EAC control. TDA treatment significantly (p < 0.001) modulated the aforesaid liver antioxidant parameters as compared to EAC control. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that TDA possessed promising antitumor efficacy in mice, plausibly mediated by amelioration of oxidative stress by multiple mechanisms.
Epidemiology of gastroduodenal erosions in the general population: Endoscopic results of the systematic investigation of gastrointestinal diseases in China (SILC)

Abstract Objective. Population-based endoscopic studies of gastroduodenal erosions are limited in the world. This study describes features of gastroduodenal erosions in a representative sample of the population in Shanghai, China. Material and methods. A total of 3600 individuals (aged 18–80 years) were randomly selected from the Shanghai region and asked to undergo endoscopy and provide a blood sample to test for H. pylori infection. Participants completed a general information questionnaire, and a Chinese version of the Reflux Disease Questionnaire; 20% were also invited to complete the 36-item Short Form Health Survey and Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Associations between gastroduodenal erosions and other factors were analyzed using a multiple logistic regression model. Results. In total, 3153 individuals (87.6%) completed the survey and provided blood samples, 1030 (32.7%) agreed for endoscopy and 1022 participants were suitable for analysis. In all, 510 participants (49.9%) had gastroduodenal erosions (502 with gastric erosions; 26 with duodenal erosions). No significant association was found between H. pylori infection and gastroduodenal erosions. Increasing age, increasing BMI and current smoking were independent predictors for the presence of gastric erosions, but not of duodenal erosions. Duodenal erosions were more prevalent among men, which were not found in gastric erosions. The majority of individuals with gastroduodenal erosions were asymptomatic. Conclusions. Gastroduodenal erosions are more common in China than in Europe, North America, and South America. No significant association was found between H. pylori infection and gastroduodenal erosions in China. The majority of individuals with gastroduodenal erosions were asymptomatic.
Microbiological study of juvenile periodontitis in Chile.

Juvenile periodontitis (JP) is a periodontal disease characterized by rapid loss of the connective attachment and alveolar bone around more than one tooth in the permanent dentition of otherwise healthy adolescents [1]. JP occurs in two forms: localized disease (UP) affecting first molars and/or incisors and generalized disease (GJP) affecting most of the dentition. Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is found in a high proportion of samples of subgingival lesions in LJP and has been implicated as a likely etiologic agent of this condition [2, 3]. Other microorganisms involved in the etiology of JP are Eikenella corrodens [4] and Capnocytophaga species [5]. Almost all microbiological data on JP originate from populations of developed countries in the Northern Hemisphere. It is important to determine whether the association between JP and the bacteria implicated in its etiology in these regions exists in populations from other geographic areas and of different races and cultures. The present study assessed rates of occurrence of seven of these implicated bacterial species among Chilean patients with JP. Juvenile periodontitis was defined as symmetrical alveolar bone destruction to a depth of>3 mm and periodontal pocketing localized predominantly to first molars and/or incisors in an otherwise healthy individual between 12 and 30 years of age. The teeth affected by periodontal destruction had to be free of local factors that facilitate plaque retention (e.g., overhanging fillings, caries, and food impaction). WP was defined as a localized pattern of severe periodontal destruction limited to first molars and/or incisors and GJP as periodontal destruction affecting more than 14 teeth, mainly first molars and incisors.
Detection of Foot-and-mouth Disease Virus RNA and Capsid Protein in Lymphoid Tissues of Convalescent Pigs Does Not Indicate Existence of a Carrier State.

A systematic study was performed to investigate the potential of pigs to establish and maintain persistent foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) infection. Infectious virus could not be recovered from sera, oral, nasal or oropharyngeal fluids obtained after resolution of clinical infection with any of five FMDV strains within serotypes A, O and Asia-1. Furthermore, there was no isolation of live virus from tissue samples harvested at 28-100 days post-infection from convalescent pigs recovered from clinical or subclinical FMD. Despite lack of detection of infectious FMDV, there was a high prevalence of FMDV RNA detection in lymph nodes draining lesion sites harvested at 35 days post-infection, with the most frequent detection recorded in popliteal lymph nodes (positive detection in 88% of samples obtained from non-vaccinated pigs). Likewise, at 35 dpi, FMDV capsid antigen was localized within follicles of draining lymph nodes, but without concurrent detection of FMDV non-structural protein. There was a marked decline in the detection of FMDV RNA and antigen in tissue samples by 60 dpi, and no antigen or viral RNA could be detected in samples obtained at 100 dpi. The data presented herein provide the most extensive investigation of FMDV persistence in pigs. The overall conclusion is that domestic pigs are unlikely to be competent long-term carriers of infectious FMDV; however, transient persistence of FMDV protein and RNA in lymphoid tissues is common following clinical or subclinical infection.
Continuity of care and the use of breast and cervical cancer screening services in a multiethnic community.

OBJECTIVE To examine how continuity of care affects the use of breast and cervical cancer screening in a multiethnic population. METHODS All data came from a structured telephone survey of a population-based quota sample designed to determine the cancer prevention needs of multiethnic blacks and Hispanics in New York, NY, in 1992. The study included 1420 women of 7 racial/ethnic groups: US-born blacks, English-speaking Caribbean-born blacks, Haitian blacks, and Puerto Rican, Dominican, Colombian, and Ecuadorian Hispanics. The main outcome measures were ever and recently having had a Papanicolaou smear, clinical breast examination (CBE), or mammogram. RESULTS Among respondents who qualified for the survey on the basis of age and ethnicity, the refusal rate for completing the interview was 2.1%. Compared with women without a usual site of care, those with a usual site, but no regular clinician, were 1.56, 2.45 (P < or = .01), and 2.32 (P < or = .05) times as likely ever to have received a Papanicolaou smear, CBE, or mammogram, respectively and 1.84, 1.92 (P < or = .05), and 1.75 times as likely to have received a recent Papanicolaou smear, CBE, or mammogram, respectively. Compared with women without a usual site of care, women with a regular clinician at that usual site of care were 2.63 (P < or = .01), 2.83 (P < or = .01), and 2.30 (P < or = .05) times as likely ever to have received a Papanicolaou smear, CBE, or mammogram, and were 2.00 (P < or = .05), 2.65 (P < or = .01), and 1.40 times as likely to have recently received a Papanicolaou smear, CBE, or mammogram, respectively (adjusted odds ratios). For uninsured women, presence of a usual site of care was associated with increases in recent use of cancer screening for all screening tests. CONCLUSIONS There is a linear trend in increasing breast and cervical cancer screening rates when one goes from having no usual source of care, to having a usual source, and to having a regular clinician at that usual source. Emphasis on continuity of care, especially on usual source of care, may help to bridge the gap in access to cancer prevention services faced by minority women.
Evaluation of antihistamine‐related daytime sleepiness

The daytime sleepiness potentially associated with antihistamines was evaluated by the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) in a study comparing terfenadine with placebo. According to a double‐blind, randomized, cross‐over design, 12 healthy men were given either 120 mg terfenadine or placebo once daily in the morning, for 3 consecutive days with a 5‐day interval. EEG‐polygraphic recordings were made each study day at 9.30 and 11.30 a.m., and 1.30, 3.30, and 5.30 p.m. , and the tendency to fall asleep was measured. All mean stage‐1 sleep latencies throughout the study failed to show any significant difference between terfenadine and placebo. Accordingly, psychomotor performance assessed by visual and auditory reaction time did not change after treatment. The results of this study confirmed that terfenadine does not induce daytime sleepiness as objectively measured by MSLT.
Optical fiber LPG biosensor integrated microfluidic chip for ultrasensitive glucose detection

An optical fiber sensor integrated microfluidic chip is presented for ultrasensitive detection of glucose. A long-period grating (LPG) inscribed in a small-diameter single-mode fiber (SDSMF) is employed as an optical refractive-index (RI) sensor. With the layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly technique, poly (ethylenimine) (PEI) and poly (acrylic acid) (PAA) multilayer film is deposited on the SDSMF-LPG sensor for both supporting and signal enhancement, and then a glucose oxidase (GOD) layer is immobilized on the outer layer for glucose sensing. A microfluidic chip for glucose detection is fabricated after embedding the SDSMF-LPG biosensor into the microchannel of the chip. Experimental results reveal that the SDSMF-LPG biosensor based on such a hybrid sensing film can ultrasensitively detect glucose concentration as low as 1 nM. After integration into the microfluidic chip, the detection range of the sensor is extended from 2 µM to 10 µM, and the response time is remarkablely shortened from 6 minutes to 70 seconds.
Cognitive disorders and neurogenesis deficits in Huntington's disease mice are rescued by fluoxetine

Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expanded CAG trinucleotide repeat encoding an extended polyglutamine tract in the huntingtin protein. Affected individuals display progressive motor, cognitive and psychiatric symptoms (including depression), leading to terminal decline. Given that transgenic HD mice have decreased hippocampal cell proliferation and that a deficit in neurogenesis has been postulated as an underlying cause of depression, we hypothesized that decreased hippocampal neurogenesis contributes to depressive symptoms and cognitive decline in HD. Fluoxetine, a serotonin‐reuptake inhibitor commonly prescribed for the treatment of depression, is known to increase neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of wild‐type mouse hippocampus. Here we show that hippocampal‐dependent cognitive and depressive‐like behavioural symptoms occur in HD mice, and that the administration of fluoxetine produces a marked improvement in these deficits. Furthermore, fluoxetine was found to rescue deficits of neurogenesis and volume loss in the dentate gyrus of HD mice.
Strict positive realness for linear time-delay systems

The strict positive realness (SPR) of a linear time-delay system via a linear matrix inequality (LMI) technique is studied. Presented are sufficient conditions via LMIs such that the linear delayed system is strictly positive real. More generally, we present a memoryless state feedback controller via LMIs such that the resulting closed-loop system is SPR with an α -asymptotic stability constraint (α -SPR) for a class of linear time-delay control systems. Furthermore, an LMI approach to the optimization problem of computation of the maximal allowable bound on the time delays is given such that the closed-loop system is α -SPR. Finally, a numerical example illustrates the effectiveness of the results.
Short-term response of three resin-based materials as desensitizing agents under oral environmental exposure

Abstract Objective. This paper focuses on clinical responses after 7 days of oral exposure to two resin-based materials as desensitizing agents compared to a fluoride varnish and on morphological and analytical study as a means to elucidate the mechanism of action. Materials and methods. The elemental composition of Vertise™ Flow (VF), Universal Dentine Sealant (UDS) and Flor-Opal® Varnish (FOV) were investigated by using an X-ray energy dispersive spectrometer (EDX) in conjunction with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). SEM morphology of the material-treated dentine surfaces and pain reduction ability according to the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were evaluated in selected hypersensitive teeth. Post treatments and 7 day controls were recorded with SEM and VAS measurements. Clinical data was analysed with the Student's t-test for paired data, with a 5% significance level. Results. Silicon, ytterbium and alumina were the most present elements in VF, whilst calcium, chloride, silicon and alumina were highest in UDS. Within a 7 day oral environment all the tested materials modified the treated-dentine surfaces showing tubular occlusion of different morphology. Clinically, the efficacy of all materials was similar after a 7-day examination. However, VAS scores were significantly reduced if compared with the baseline (p < 0.05). Conclusions. Within the limits of this study, data indicate that both resins are effective in sealing tubules and reducing VAS. A resin-related effect on the dentine's morphology was observed, which may influence the long-term response of the resins in the treatment of dental hypersensitivity, which requires further investigation.
Monitoring Antitobacco Sentiment among Community Leaders

Two public health objectives, one methodological and the other substantive, are realized in the present study. First, average survey ratings are replaced by negated mean cumulative logits (MCLs), which have the advantage of interitem commensuration. Second, these negated MCLs improve the analysis of two Florida tobacco control surveys of community leaders. Because of their common logit metric, negated MCLs for different item types are compared on their expressed antitobacco sentiment. They are also averaged to construct a precise indicator of overall sentiment. These results show that in 1998 and 1999, community leaders were most averse to selling to minors, kids buying cigarettes, and restaurant and workplace smoking. The latter aversion anticipated voters' overwhelming support of the 2002 Florida constitutional amendment prohibiting smoking in restaurants and workplaces. The authors hope that this analysis for antitobacco programs will improve other substance-abuse monitoring with surveys whose items are yet unwritten.
Recent developments in the assessment of quality of life in Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and its treatment have broad-ranging effects on quality of life. This article reviews recent efforts to assess the impact of MS on activities of daily living (ADLs) and health-related quality of life (HRQL), and describes the development of the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Inventory (MSQLI). The MSQLI is a modular MS-specific HRQL instrument consisting of a widely-used generic measure, the Health Status Questionnaire (SF-36), supplemented by nine symptom-specific measures (covering fatigue, pain, bladder function, bowel function, emotional status, perceived cognitive function, visual function, sexual satisfaction, and social relationships). Content validation consisted of evaluating its adherence to a conceptual model of the impact of MS, and review by MS specialists (neurologists and allied health professionals), HRQL experts, patients, and caregivers. The reliability and construct validity of the MSQLI were rigorously evaluated in a field test with 300 North American patients (198 female, 102 male) with definite MS (Poser criteria) and a broad range of physical impairment (EDSS=0.0-8.5). This article concludes by comparing the MSQLI with two other MS-specific HRQL measures (MS Quality of Life-54 (QOL-54) and Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis (FAMS)) and discussing key issues to consider in selecting an HRQL instrument for a collaborative database.
Potentiation of oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced neuronal death after induction of iNOS.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Previous studies have shown that brain ischemia and other insults can induce a marked increase in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in astrocytes and some immune cells, but the biological significance of this phenomenon has not been elucidated. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether this induction of astrocyte iNOS alters neuronal vulnerability to severe hypoxic insults. METHODS Astrocytic iNOS was induced by exposure of murine cortical cultures to interferon gamma in combination with either interleukin-1 beta or lipopolysaccharide. Cultures were exposed to combined oxygen-glucose deprivation. The extracellular concentration of glutamate was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activity was assessed by measurement of 45Ca2+ influx: neuronal death was assessed by morphological examination and quantitated by measurement of lactate dehydrogenase efflux to the bathing medium. RESULTS In murine neocortical cell cultures containing neurons and astrocytes, neuronal injury induced by combined oxygen-glucose deprivation was not reduced by the addition of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitors NG-nitro-L-arginine or LG-nitro-arginine methyl ester. However, after induction of astrocyte iNOS activity with interferon gamma plus lipopolysaccharide or interleukin-1 beta, oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced neuronal injury was markedly enhanced and nitric oxide synthase inhibitors became protective. This iNOS-mediated potentiation was associated with a large increase in both extracellular glutamate accumulation and 45Ca2+ influx into neurons. The potentiation could be blocked by MK-801 but not CNQX, suggesting critical involvement of NMDA receptor activation. CONCLUSIONS These results support the idea that nitric oxide production mediated by induced astrocytic iNOS can potentiate NMDA receptor-mediated neuronal death consequent to hypoxic-ischemic insults.
Mobile Wine Label Recognition

In this project, we designed and implemented a system for wine label recognition on a mobile phone. Our algorithm was implemented in Matlab to facilitate testing and minimize development time. We built a prototype Android application that allows us to demonstrate and test our system on a Motorola Droid while the image processing is performed on a server running our Matlab scripts. Our visual search component computes SURF keypoints and descriptors on a test image. We compare these descriptors to a set of precomputed descriptors in a wine label database in order to find a rough correspondence map. We then use RANSAC to find a more accurate correspondence map and use the refined map to identify the wine label in the test image. Images of a wine bottle taken from different angles will show a label that is distorted by the cylindrical projection from the bottle. RANSAC requires a model for reversing this distortion in order to find the optimal correspondence map. Rather than using a non-linear warping model for this transformation, we divided the test image into three regions where a linear projective map could be used instead. This simple technique allows us to find descriptor correspondences covering a greater fraction of the label than a simple homography or affine map, at the expense of processing time.
When "Simon says" doesn't work: alternatives to imitation for facilitating early speech development.

PURPOSE To provide clinicians with evidence-based strategies to facilitate early speech development in young children who are not readily imitating sounds. Relevant populations may include, but are not limited to, children with autism spectrum disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, and late-talking toddlers. METHOD Through multifaceted search procedures, we found experimental support for 6 treatment strategies that have been used to facilitate speech development in young children with developmental disabilities. Each strategy is highlighted within this article through a summary of the underlying rationale(s), empirical support, and specific examples of how it could be applied within intervention. CONCLUSIONS Given the relatively sparse experimental data focused on facilitating speech in children who do not readily imitate, theoretical support emerges as particularly key and underscores the need for clinicians to consider why they are doing what they are doing. In addition, this review emphasizes the need for the research community to bridge the gap between pressing clinical needs and the limited evidence base that is currently available.
Development of ALZET® osmotic pump compatible solvent compositions to solubilize poorly soluble compounds for preclinical studies

Context: Hydrophilic, non-aqueous solvents are frequently used to solubilize poorly water soluble compounds for use in ALZET® osmotic pumps used during the discovery and preclinical stages. Though these solvents exhibit the potential to solubilize several poorly soluble compounds, the solubilized compounds are prone to crystallization up on contact with aqueous fluids in vitro and in vivo. Crystallization of a compound can potentially cause pain at the release site, erratic blood levels, and uneven or delayed pharmacokinetic profiles. Objective: In this study, we discussed the development of ALZET® pump compatible hydrophilic, non-aqueous vehicles that solubilized two poorly soluble model compounds (ELND006 and ELN 481594) and prevented their crystallization from solutions in vitro and in vivo. Methods: The selected formulations were filled into the pumps at three concentrations for each model compound and investigated for their compatibility with the pumps and the subcutaneous tissue of mice where the pump was inserted. Results and Discussion: The results showed that the formulations were stable physically with no crystallization and chemically with no degradation and were compatible with the pump and animal tissue. The plasma concentration of ELND006 decreased with time at each dose. The extent of the time-dependent decrease in ELND006 plasma levels increased as the amount of dose delivered increased. This time and dose dependent decrease in ELND006 plasma concentrations was attributed to the known auto-induction of hepatic enzymes by the compound. In contrast, the plasma concentration of ELN 481594 increased significantly at higher dose, likely due to accumulation of the compound.