Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Double-Blind, Efficacy Evaluation of Gadobenate Dimeglumine, a Gadolinium Chelate With Enhanced Relaxivity, in Malignant Lesions of the Brain

Runge VM, Parker JR, Donovan M. Double-blind, efficacy evaluation of gadobenate dimeglumine, a gadolinium chelate with enhanced relaxivity, in malignant lesions of the brain. Invest Radiol 2002;37:269–280. background and purpose. The diagnostic efficacy of gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd BOPTA) was compared with that of gadodiamide (Gd DTPA-BMA) in patients with primary malignant tumors or metastases of the brain. methods. A subset of patients was evaluated from the 410 enrolled in the United States in phase III central nervous system clinical trials with gadobenate dimeglumine. From these trials, there were 82 patients with intraaxial malignant neoplasms of the brain, the focus of the current study. Patients were randomized to one of three incremental dosing regimens. Imaging with gadodiamide at doses of 0.1 and 0.3 mmol/kg was compared with gadobenate dimeglumine at doses of 0.05 and 0.15 mmol/kg and at doses of 0.1 and 0.2 mmol/kg. The on-site physician, patient, and all off-site reviewers were blinded to the agent injected and the administered dose. Scans were obtained before contrast administration and within 5 minutes after administration of each dose. The two contrast injections in any one patient were separated by 15 minutes. An independent laboratory performed signal intensity measurements. The magnetic resonance (MR) films were evaluated for level of diagnostic information, number of lesions detected, and confidence in MR imaging diagnosis by two independent board-certified neuroradiologists unaffiliated with any study site. results. The lesion-to-brain signal intensity ratio after a dose of 0.1 mmol/kg gadobenate dimeglumine was higher than that after a dose of 0.1 mmol/kg gadodiamide, with this result statistically significant (P = 0.02). After the second dose of contrast, results were comparable in all three groups. The level of diagnostic information contained on the MR films increased significantly for all three groups from pre- to postcontrast for both the first and second administered doses. In between-group comparisons, the level of diagnostic information was similar after the first contrast dose for all three dosing regimens. This was also true after the second contrast dose. For all three groups, the number of lesions detected increased significantly postdose (whether first or second). Confidence in MR diagnosis increased from predose to postdose for all three groups, with no statistically significant difference between groups. conclusion. Gadobenate dimeglumine, used at slightly lower doses, is comparable to gadodiamide in terms of efficacy in imaging of malignant intraaxial brain lesions. As with other gadolinium chelates, higher doses (0.15 and 0.2 mmol/kg) of gadobenate dimeglumine offer greater diagnostic information.
New diagnostic methods for tuberculosis

Purpose of review During the last decade, laboratory tests for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) have improved dramatically. Improvements in the ability to detect latent infection with Mtb, disease associated with Mtb, and strains resistant to commonly used antibiotics are reviewed. Recent findings Advances in the detection of Mtb include light-emitting diode fluorescence microscopy, nucleic acid amplification of Mtb and drug-resistant strains, and more rapid liquid culture with adjunct drug susceptibility testing. In the detection of latent tuberculosis infection, interferon γ release assays offer improved accuracy over the tuberculin skin test. Summary The past 10 years have seen the most rapid growth in new diagnostics for Mtb in over a century. Although these tests offer improvements in the ability to detect Mtb, drug-resistant isolates, and those with latent tuberculosis infection, these improvements are counter-balanced by the need to deploy these tests in areas where Mtb burden is highest.
Alpha‐6 (CD 49f) integrin expression in genetic and acquired bullous skin diseases

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) antigen and α6 integrin are hemidesmosome‐associated glycoproteins of basal keratinocytes. In this work, the immunoreactivity of antibodies to BP and to α6 in salt‐ or dispase‐split human skin, and in 46 biopsy specimens of various genetic and autoimmune bullous dermatoses taken from various body sites, was studied by double‐labeling immunofluorescence. In all specimens, both antigens localized at the same side of the blisters observed, i.e. the roof of the bulla in cases with a junctional or hemolytic cleavage, or the floor of the blister in those with intraepidermal cleavage. Immunostaining for α6 was strong and present in all specimens studied, whereas the one obtained with the BP serum was absent from some specimens. These results show that the BP antigen and the α6 integrin colocalize at the level of cleavage in bullous diseases; however, the more consistent and reproducible reactivity obtained with the anti‐α6 antibody suggests that this should be preferentially used in the immunohistochemical investigation of bullous dermatoses.
Modulation of the Action of Chorionic Gonadotropin in the Baboon (Papio anubis) Uterus by a Progesterone Receptor Antagonist (ZK 137.316)1

Abstract Signals from the developing mammalian blastocyst rescue the corpus luteum (CL) and modulate the uterine environment in preparation for implantation and early pregnancy. Our previous studies demonstrated that both short- and long-term administration of chorionic gonadotropin (CG) markedly alters the morphology and the biochemical activity of the receptive endometrium. Because the effects of CG were superimposed on a progesterone-primed endometrium, this study was undertaken to determine if the inhibition of progesterone action by progesterone receptor antagonists (PRa) in intact and ovariectomized baboons would alter the action of CG on the endometrium at the time of uterine receptivity. In the short-term hCG-treated baboons, the PRa reduced the epithelial plaque reaction, completely inhibited α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) expression in stromal fibroblasts, and induced the reappearance of the progesterone (PR) and estrogen (ERα) receptors in epithelial cells. However, this treatment protocol had no effect on the expression of glycodelin in the glandular epithelium. In contrast, glycodelin expression in addition to αSMA was suppressed in the ovariectomized animals. In the long-term hCG-treated baboons, the PRa had a similar effect on both αSMA, PR, and ER. In addition, this treatment also resulted in an inhibition of glycodelin expression in the glandular epithelium. These results indicate that blocking the action of progesterone on the endometrium even for a short period of time has a profound effect on the hCG-induced response in stromal fibroblasts. In contrast, for the diminution of glandular epithelial function in the presence of an ovary requires prolonged inhibition of progesterone action, suggesting a potential paracrine effect on the endometrium from the CL in response to hCG.
Genetic polymorphisms of CYP1A1, CYP2D6, GSTM1, and GSTT1 and susceptibility to acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Indian children

Background Biotransformation plays a crucial role in carcinogen activity and many genetic polymorphisms in xenobiotic metabolising enzymes have been associated with an increased risk of cancer. Such polymorphisms can lead to considerable variation in the activities of these enzymes, which are crucial in carcinogen and drug metabolism. These variations could play a role in the risk of developing paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) by their varying action on environmental carcinogens. Procedure The present study looked for two polymorphisms (m1 and m2) in the CYP1A1, CYP2D6*4 genes and deletions of the glutathione S-transferases (GSTM1 and GSTT1) in 118 paediatric ALL patients and 118 age matched control children. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) were used to study gene polymorphisms. Results In children with ALL, CYP1A1 m1 polymorphism was evident in 42.4% of subjects and CYP1A1 m2 in 37.3%. These were significantly different from the results obtained for control children (20.3% for CYP1A1 m1 and 19.5% for m2). Subjects with CYP1A1 m1 homozygous variant had a sixfold risk and CYP1A1 m2 a fourfold risk. In contrast, CYP2D6*4 was more prevalent in the controls than in the cases. Subjects with GSTM1 deletions had increased risk of ALL (OR = 2.1, P = 0.009). The odds ratios for both CYP1A1 m1 and m2 homozygous polymorphisms being associated with childhood ALL was 5.67 (95% CI = 2.11–15.27). The odds ratios for both GSTM1 and GSTT1 deletions being associated with ALL was 2.78 (95% CI = 0.67–11.56). Conclusions These results suggest that genetic polymorphisms of xenobiotic metabolising enzymes appear to influence susceptibility to childhood ALL. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Capital market openness and volatility: an investigation of five Sub-Saharan treasury bill rates

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to model the volatility of treasury bill (T-bill) rates in five Sub-Saharan capital markets to investigate whether or not differences in capital mobility affect volatility. Design/methodology/approach – Primary data was collected from weekly T-bill auctions in five Sub-Saharan countries and was analysed using a range of Generalised Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity (GARCH) models in order to determine the volatility characteristics of each of these instruments. Differences in the institutional arrangements for each market are used to interpret the results of the econometric analysis. Findings – Evidence is presented that indicates that the size and financial liberalisation of capital markets affect volatility. While the markets with the greatest exposure to international investors exhibit greater volatility in the long-run, the presence of non-residents in the market appears to contribute to more efficient pricing of these instruments. Research limitation.
Gastroschisis, Destructive Brain Lesions, and Placental Infarction in the Second Trimester Suggest a Vascular Pathogenesis

The cause and pathogenesis of gastroschisis are uncertain. We report the autopsy and placental pathology of a stillbirth at 20 gestational weeks, in which gastroschisis was accompanied by destructive lesions in the cerebral cortex and brainstem, as well as cardiac calcification, consistent with ischemic injury during the 2nd trimester. An important potential underlying mechanism explaining the fetal abnormalities is the presence of infarcts in the placenta, indicative at this gestational age of maternal vascular underperfusion. The association of gastroschisis with ischemic lesions in the brain, heart, and placenta in this case supports the concept that gastroschisis, at least in some instances, may result from vascular event(s) causing disruption of the fetal abdominal wall and resulting in the extrusion of the abdominal organs, as well as hypoxic–ischemic brain and cardiac injury.
Lanostane- and cycloartane-type triterpenoids from Abies balsamea oleoresin

Phytochemical analysis of A. balsamea oleoresin led to the isolation of three new 3,4-seco-lanostane triterpenoids 1–3, one new cycloartane triterpenoid 4 along with fourteen known terpenoids. Structure determinations were based on extensive 1D/2D NMR, IR and MS spectroscopic analyses, and comparison with literature data. The isolated compounds were evaluated in vitro for their cytotoxicity against human cell lines (A549, DLD-1, WS1) and their antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus. Abiesonic acid (6) exhibited weak cytotoxic activity against A549 (IC50 = 22 µM) while compounds 1 and 4 were weakly active against S. aureus (MIC = 25 µM).
Research on Transient Model of IGBT

Electromagnetic interference problem caused by fast voltage/current rate of switching components becomes more and more seriously, which effects electromagnetic compatibility of devices greatly. It is necessary to build the transient model of switching devices. In this paper, a simple method of IGBT modeling is proposed, which depends on the data provided by chip manual, without the requirements of complex experimental test. The model are verified by the comparison of simulation and experiment results in time and frequency domain, the consistence of which reveals the validity of the model under the frequency of conduction.
The return stroke current attenuation function: Available models and identification methods from field measurements

The paper presents the state of the art of the available models to represent the lightning return stroke channel current. In particular, attention is paid to the engineering models and to the function that expresses the attenuation of the current while flowing in the discharge channel. Two strategies have been developed in literature: the first one proposes some functions and validates them by means of comparisons between the electromagnetic fields calculated starting from the assigned model and the measured ones. Another possibility consists of measuring the electromagnetic field and reconstructing the channel current by solving an inverse problem, which can be done resorting to some dedicated mathematical tools: the so-called regularization techniques.
Low Complexity Non-Iterative Coordinated Beamforming in 2-User Broadcast Channels

We propose a new non-iterative coordinated beamforming scheme to obtain full multiplexing gain in 2-user MIMO systems. In order to find the beamforming and combining matrices, we solve a generalized eigenvector problem and describe how to find generalized eigenvectors according to the Gaussian broadcast channels. Selected simulation results show that the proposed method yields the same sum-rate performance as the iterative coordinated beamforming method, while maintaining lower complexity by non-iterative computation of the beamforming and combining matrices. We also show that the proposed method can easily exploit selective gain by choosing the best combination of generalized eigenvectors.
Resistance Analysis and Fatigue Life of COG Assemblies Under Thermal Cycle Aging

This paper reports the resistance change and fatigue behavior of chip-on-glass (COG) modules undergoing various aging time of cyclic temperature, electric current, and stress by shear fatigue tests. It is noted that as the COG assemblies are exposed in the environment of cyclic temperature, the relative resistance of COG assemblies decreases initially and then increases with the thermal cycling aging time. Moreover, the fatigue life of COG assemblies decreases with an increase of thermal cycling aging time during the shear fatigue tests. The change of relative resistance shows different trends under the different aging time. The relative resistance of COG assemblies having not more than 96 h thermal cycling aging time increases sharply in the initial stage, and then remains at a stable value, and toward the final stage of aging, the relative resistance has a radical change that rises first and then drops. However, when the aging time is not less than 192 h, the relative resistance increases rapidly with increasing fatigue cycles. In contrast, the relative resistance of COG assemblies without aging treatment increases dramatically in the initial stage and is then kept stable, and ultimately surges rapidly. Finally, Miner’s damage rules were applied to analyze the damage resulting from the temperature cycling tests, and to obtain empirical correlation between the damage factor and thermal cycling aging time.
Gain control mechanisms in the nociceptive system

Abstract The “gate control theory of pain” of 1965 became famous for integrating clinical observations and the understanding of spinal dorsal horn circuitry at that time into a testable model. Although it became rapidly clear that spinal circuitry is much more complex than that proposed by Melzack and Wall, their prediction of the clinical efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and spinal cord stimulation has left an important clinical legacy also 50 years later. In the meantime, it has been recognized that the sensitivity of the nociceptive system can be decreased or increased and that this “gain control” can occur at peripheral, spinal, and supraspinal levels. The resulting changes in pain sensitivity can be rapidly reversible or persistent, highly localized or widespread. Profiling of spatio-temporal characteristics of altered pain sensitivity (evoked pain to mechanical and/or heat stimuli) allows implications on the mechanisms likely active in a given patient, including peripheral or central sensitization, intraspinal or descending inhibition. This hypothesis generation in the diagnostic process is an essential step towards a mechanism-based treatment of pain. The challenge now is to generate the rational basis of multimodal pain therapy algorithms by including profile-based stratification of patients into studies on efficacy of pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment modalities. This review outlines the current evidence base for this approach.
Perceptual flexibility: maintenance or recovery of the ability to discriminate non-native speech sounds.

Les auteurs examinent l'influence de l'entrainement prealable et de l'experience linguistique sur la perception d'un discours en langue etrangere. Dans la premiere experience, ils evaluent l'effet d'un entrainement en laboratoire sur l'habilete d'adultes anglophones a distinguer deux contrastes de langage utilises pour opposer deux significations en Hindi, mais non en Anglais. Dans la seconde experience la performance de 3 groupes d'adultes anglophones est examinee afin de determiner l'effet de l'etude de l'Hindi comme langue seconde pour differentes periodes de temps
"Torso rotation" experiments; 3: Effects of acute changes in vestibular function on the control of voluntary head movements.

"Torso Rotation" (TR) produces an acute, reversible change in human vestibular function. Experiments were performed to determine if repeated exposure to this technique would result in long-term adaptive modifications. In one experiment, VOR gain was evaluated. Measurements were obtained before and 3 times after 30 minutes of TR, on 7 consecutive days. VOR gain dropped each day after TR, returning to normal within about 20 min. In a separate experiment with different subjects, eyes-open gaze stability was measured during voluntary head shaking between 3.0 and 0.3 Hz. The same test schedule was used. Analysis of gaze stability (limited to frequencies between 1.0 and 2.0 Hz) was complicated by an unexpected finding. Despite careful instructions, head displacement increased each day after TR, also returning to normal within about 20 min. Surprisingly, subjects were unaware of this change. Combining the 2 experiments, VOR gain and head amplitude were averaged across all 7 days, separately for the 4 daily tests. Head amplitude was plotted against VOR gain for these 4 averages. Amplitude was greater when VOR gain was reduced, with a remarkably high correlation (R2 = 0.996). These findings confirm that vestibular feedback plays an important role in the control of voluntary head movement. Furthermore, the data suggest that instability of the visual scene reported by subjects shaking their heads after TR resulted not only from a lower VOR gain, but also from the inadvertent use of higher head velocities.
Myocardial oxygen consumption in the rabbit heart after ischemia: hyperpolarized arrest with pinacidil versus depolarized hyperkalemic arrest.

BACKGROUND This study was designed to test the hypothesis that adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channel opener (PCO)-induced hyperpolarized arrest with pinacidil minimizes cellular energy requirements during global ischemia compared with traditional, hyperkalemic depolarized arrest, which is known to be associated with ongoing energy-consuming ion transport. METHODS AND RESULTS Using a blood-perfused parabiotic rabbit heart Langendorff model, myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2) was compared in hearts protected with either Krebs-Henseleit solution (K-H), pinacidil (50 micromol/L in K-H), or hyperkalemic St. Thomas' solution during a 30-minute period of global, normothermic (37 degrees C) ischemia followed by 30 minutes of reperfusion. MVO2 (mL/100 g of myocardium per beat) was calculated at baseline and continuously during reperfusion with the use of an in-line flow probe and an in-line coronary sinus oximetric catheterizationeter. Systolic function (percentage recovery of developed pressure) was measured over a range of volumes using a balloon in the left ventricle. Percentage recovery of developed pressure with pinacidil (60.3%+/-3.1%) was not statistically different from that with St Thomas' solution (53.3%+/-2.8%). Pinacidil provided superior protection versus K-H (44.4%+/-4.8%, P<.05). The MVO2 was significantly (P<.05) elevated in the pinacidil group (0.77+/-0.12) compared with the St Thomas group (0.29+/-0.04) during the first 6 minutes of reperfusion. CONCLUSIONS The cardioprotective properties of PCOs are associated with an increased myocardial oxygen demand on reperfusion. This may be related to reparative processes of viable myocytes or to a higher oxygen debt generated during ischemia that presents a significant limitation to PCO cardioplegia.
Bipolar disorder, obesity, and pharmacotherapy-associated weight gain.

BACKGROUND Bipolar disorder, overweight, and obesity are each national public health problems. Overweight and obesity also appear to be related to mood disorders, and patients with bipolar disorder, in particular, may be at greater risk for overweight and obesity than individuals in the general population. This risk may be due to factors associated with the illness itself and/or with medications used to treat bipolar disorder. METHOD We conducted a MEDLINE literature search of all English-language articles (1966-2002) using the keywords lithium, olanzapine, valproate, valproic acid, divalproex sodium, carbamazepine, lamotrigine, obesity, weight, and bipolar disorder. We augmented this search with manual review of relevant references. Our focus was on studies examining the prevalence of overweight and obesity in bipolar disorder, the risk and magnitude of weight gain associated with medications used to treat bipolar disorder, and the prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity in patients with bipolar disorder. RESULTS Forty-five studies were reviewed. Patients with bipolar disorder appear to be at greater risk than the general population for overweight and obesity. Comorbid binge-eating disorder; the number of depressive episodes; treatment with medications associated with weight gain, alone or in combination; excessive carbohydrate consumption; and low rates of exercise appear to be risk factors for weight gain and obesity in patients with bipolar disorder. CONCLUSIONS More research is required to identify the impact of specific risk factors for overweight and obesity in patients with bipolar disorder. These data could be used to develop better weight gain prevention and treatment programs for those with bipolar disorder. Therapeutic options include dietary counseling, use of mood stabilizers with lower propensities for weight gain, and combination pharmacotherapy with medications that have weight loss properties.
Topographic organization of the orientation column system in the striate cortex of the tree shrew (Tupaia glis). I. Microelectrode recording

Microelectrode recordings were made in the binocular portion of the tree shrew striate cortex to determine how orientation selective cells are distributed topographically in area 17 of this species. Seventy‐five percent of the cells sampled were activated well by elongated visual stimuli and were quite selective for stimulus orientation. Ninety‐five percent of the orientation‐selective cells had orientation tuning ranges (Wilson and Sherman, '76) between ± 5° and ± 40° from their optimal orientation.