Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of nicotinic agonists and antagonists on N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate‐induced 3H‐norepinephrine release and 3H‐(1‐[1‐(2‐thienyl)cyclohexyl]‐piperidine) binding in rat hippocampus

The nicotinic agonists dimethylphenylpiperazinium iodide (DMPP) and carbachol (CARB) as well as (−)nicotine ((−)NIC) were tested alone and in combination with N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) for their abilities to enhance the efflux of 3H‐norepinephrine (NE) from slices of rat hippocampus. CARB and (−)NIC produced small, transient increases in NE efflux, while DMPP produced larger, longlasting increases. Inasmuch as the nicotinic antagonists mecamylamine (MECA) and hexamethonium (C6) did not consistently inhibit the increases in NE efflux produced by these agonists, the role of a nicotinic receptor in mediating these responses is uncertain. CARB and DMPP enhanced the ability of NMDA to stimulate NE release, while (−)NIC did not. MECA, but not C6, was found to selectively antagonize NMDA‐stimulated NE release that did not appear to involve a nicotinic receptor. Binding studies indicated that MECA and the related nicotinic antagonist pempidine produced an inhibition of NMDA‐stimulated NE release by an action at the PCP receptor that is known to be linked to the NMDA receptor‐ionophore complex. These data suggest that the actions of these ganglionic blocking agents on excitatory responses in the hippocampus involve inhibition of excitatory amino acid as well as nicotinic receptors.
Recovery after third molar surgery: clinical and health-related quality of life outcomes.

PURPOSE The study goal was to assess both clinical and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes after third molar surgery. METHODS Patients who were having 4 third molars removed were enrolled in a prospective clinical trial. Baseline data were recorded that included demographics, the patient's and surgeon's assessment of third molar conditions, and details of the surgical procedure. After surgery, clinical data were collected that detailed healing and any treatment that was rendered. Each patient was given an HRQOL instrument to complete on each postsurgery day for 14 days; the instrument was designed to assess a patient's perception of recovery in 4 main categories: pain, lifestyle, oral function, and other symptoms related to the procedure. RESULTS Recovery data were available for 630 of 740 enrolled patients. The median age of the 630 patients was 21 years, and the median operation time was 30 minutes. Recovery for most HRQOL measures occurred within 5 days after surgery. However, recovery from pain to the criterion of "little or none" was delayed relative to other HRQOL measures. Twenty-two percent of patients were treated for delayed healing after surgery. CONCLUSIONS Having both clinical and HRQOL data on recovery after third molar surgery could assist the surgeon when informing prospective patients about what to expect after surgery to remove third molars.
A Mathematical Model for the Industrial Hazardous Waste Location-Routing Problem

Technology progress is a cause of industrial hazardous wastes increasing in the whole world . Management of hazardous waste is a significant issue due to the imposed risk on environment and human life. This risk can be a result of location of undesirable facilities and also routing hazardous waste. In this paper a biobjective mixed integer programing model for location-routing industrial hazardous waste with two objectives is developed. First objective is total cost minimization including transportation cost, operation cost, initial investment cost, and cost saving from selling recycled waste. Second objective is minimization of transportation risk. Risk of population exposure within bandwidth along route is used to measure transportation risk. This model can help decision makers to locate treatment, recycling, and disposal centers simultaneously and also to route waste between these facilities considering risk and cost criteria. The results of the solved problem prove conflict between two objectives. Hence, it is possible to decrease the cost value by marginally increasing the transportation risk value and vice versa. A weighted sum method is utilized to combine two objectives function into one objective function. To solve the problem GAMS software with CPLEX solver is used. The problem is applied in Markazi province in Iran.
Managing suicidality in schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE The primary objective of this review article is to provide a coherent, systematic synthesis of the literature on the management of suicidality in schizophrenia that is relevant to the front-line clinician. METHOD Literature searches were conducted on MEDLINE (1996 to 2007) and PubMed (1993 to 2007), using the key words "schizophrenia" and "suicide," as well as references from the resulting articles. I used my own clinical experience to create fictional case examples to illustrate the applicability of the literature discussed in this paper. RESULTS Suicidality in schizophrenia is high, and early detection relies on the appreciation and evaluation of the clinical manifestations of depression, despair, and hopelessness, as well as on the nature and severity of the psychotic experience itself, particularly in recent-onset patients with higher cognitive function and educational background. Clinical management includes ensuring immediate safety, the use of psychosocial techniques to address depression and psychosocial stressors, targeted pharmacotherapy for depression and psychosis, and adequate discharge planning. Clozapine is the only antipsychotic with good evidence for efficacy in decreasing suicidal behaviour in schizophrenia. CONCLUSIONS The optimal management of suicidality in schizophrenia involves the incorporation of traditional bedside clinical skills, selection of psychosocial modalities based on individual needs, and selective pharmacotherapy directed primarily at psychotic and depressive symptoms.
Nursing Homes as Complex Adaptive Systems: Relationship Between Management Practice and Resident Outcomes

BackgroundDespite numerous clinical and regulatory efforts, problems of poor quality of care in nursing homes continue, suggesting a need for effective management practices. ObjectiveTo test complexity hypotheses about the relationship between management practices (communication openness, decision making, relationship-oriented leadership, and formalization) and resident outcomes (aggressive behavior, restraint use, immobility of complications, and fractures), while controlling for case mix, size, ownership, and director’s tenure and experience. MethodA cross-sectional correlational field study design was used. Primary data were obtained from directors of nursing and registered nurses employed in 164 Texas nursing homes. Investigators administered self-report surveys onsite. Secondary data were obtained from 1995 Medicaid Cost Reports and the Texas nursing home Minimum Data Set (MDS) and were linked to primary data using a unique identifier. ResultsHypotheses were supported in that each management practice explained one or more of the resident outcomes. Larger size and longer director of nursing tenure and experience also explained better resident outcomes. Predictors explained 11% ñ 21% of the variance. DiscussionComplexity science was used to explain the results. The findings open the door to rethinking nursing home management practice. Practices that increase communication and interaction among people are needed for better resident outcomes.
The Sho1 Adaptor Protein Links Oxidative Stress to Morphogenesis and Cell Wall Biosynthesis in the Fungal Pathogen Candida albicans

ABSTRACT The Sho1 adaptor protein is an important element of one of the two upstream branches of the high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a signal transduction cascade involved in adaptation to stress. In the present work, we describe its role in the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans by the construction of mutants altered in this gene. We report here that sho1 mutants are sensitive to oxidative stress but that Sho1 has a minor role in the transmission of the phosphorylation signal to the Hog1 MAP kinase in response to oxidative stress, which mainly occurs through a putative Sln1-Ssk1 branch of the HOG pathway. Genetic analysis revealed that double ssk1 sho1 mutants were still able to grow on high-osmolarity media and activate Hog1 in response to this stress, indicating the existence of alternative inputs of the pathway. We also demonstrate that the Cek1 MAP kinase is constitutively active in hog1 and ssk1 mutants, a phenotypic trait that correlates with their resistance to the cell wall inhibitor Congo red, and that Sho1 is essential for the activation of the Cek1 MAP kinase under different conditions that require active cell growth and/or cell wall remodeling, such as the resumption of growth upon exit from the stationary phase. sho1 mutants are also sensitive to certain cell wall interfering compounds (Congo red, calcofluor white), presenting an altered cell wall structure (as shown by the ability to aggregate), and are defective in morphogenesis on different media, such as SLAD and Spider, that stimulate hyphal growth. These results reveal a role for the Sho1 protein in linking oxidative stress, cell wall biogenesis, and morphogenesis in this important human fungal pathogen.
Inhaled therapy for acute adult asthma

Purpose of reviewTo evaluate recent developments on emergency department inhalotherapy in non-intubated acute adult asthma patients. Recent findingsThere is evidence that high-flow oxygen can be associated with hypercarbia, and that full humidification of the inspired gases should be recommended. On the contrary, there is a lack of evidence to support the role of heliox in the initial treatment of acute asthma. Specific short-acting inhaled β2-agonists are the drugs of choice. A more rapid and profound bronchodilatation with fewer side effects and less time of treatment can be achieved when sufficient doses are given using pressurized meter dose inhalers and large-volume valved-spacers, particularly in patients with the most severe obstruction. Findings argue against the routine use of continuous nebulization. High and repetitive doses of ipratropium bromide in combination with β2-agonists are indicated as first line treatment of severe acute asthma. There is insufficient evidence that inhaled corticosteroids alone are as effective as systemic corticosteroids. Finally, the combination of nebulized magnesium and albuterol provides no benefit in addition to that provided by therapy with albuterol in patients with mild-to-moderate asthma exacerbations. SummaryAccording to the latest evidence, the goals of treatment may be summarized as follows: maintenance of adequate arterial oxygen saturation with supplemental oxygen, relief of airflow obstruction by administration of inhaled β-agonists and anticholinergics, and reduction of airway inflammation and prevention of future relapses by using early administration of systemic corticosteroids.
A 250MHz optimized distributed architecture of 2D 8x8 DCT

Discrete cosine transform (DCT) plays an important role in image and video compression, but computing a two-dimensional (2D) DCT, a large number of multiplications and additions are required in a direct approach. Multiplications, which are the most time-consuming and expensive operations in simple processor, can be completely avoided in our proposed architecture for multiple channel real-time image compression. In this paper, a compressed distributed arithmetic architecture for 2D 8times8 DCT is presented, which offers high speed and small area. The basic architecture consists of a ID row DCT followed by a transpose register array and another ID column DCT, in which an 8-input ID DCT structure only requires 15 adders to build a compressed adder matrix and no ROM is needed. Compared with other architectures available, it has a great improvement on computing speed and reducing area.
Effects of bazedoxifene on bone mineral density, bone turnover, and safety in postmenopausal japanese women with osteoporosis

This randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, dose‐response late phase 2 study evaluated the efficacy and safety of bazedoxifene in postmenopausal Japanese women 85 years of age or younger with osteoporosis. Eligible subjects received daily treatment with oral doses of bazedoxifene 20 or 40 mg or placebo for 2 years. Efficacy assessments included bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine and other skeletal sites, bone turnover marker levels, lipid parameters, and incidence of new fractures. Of 429 randomized subjects, 387 were evaluable for efficacy, and 423 were included in the safety analyses (mean age, 64 years). At 2 years, the mean percent changes from baseline in lumbar spine BMD were significantly greater with bazedoxifene 20 and 40 mg (2.43% and 2.74%, respectively) than with placebo (−0.65%, p < .001 for both). Both bazedoxifene doses significantly improved BMD at the total hip, femoral neck, and greater trochanter compared with placebo (p < .001 for all). Decreases in bone turnover markers were observed with bazedoxifene 20 and 40 mg as early as 12 weeks (p < .05 for all) and were sustained throughout the study. Total and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly decreased from baseline with both bazedoxifene doses compared with placebo (p < .05 for all). Incidences of new vertebral and nonvertebral fractures were similar among the bazedoxifene and placebo groups. Overall, the incidence of adverse events with bazedoxifene 20 and 40 mg was similar to that with placebo. Bazedoxifene significantly improved BMD, reduced bone turnover, and was well tolerated in postmenopausal Japanese women with osteoporosis. © 2011 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Vitamin D: roles in renal and cardiovascular protection

Purpose of reviewGreat progress has been made in recent years in understanding the expanding roles of the vitamin D endocrine system beyond calcemic regulation, including pathophysiological actions in the kidney and the cardiovascular system. The purpose of this review is to update the recent advance regarding the effects of vitamin D and its analogs on the renal and cardiovascular system. Recent findingsVitamin D deficiency is not only widely associated with chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease in humans, but may also accelerate the disease progression. Dysregulation of vitamin D metabolism caused by renal insufficiency contributes to the low vitamin D status. Preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated impressive therapeutic outcome with low-calcemic vitamin D analogs in renal and cardiovascular disease. The mechanism underlying the renal and cardiovascular protection involves regulation of multiple signaling pathways by vitamin D including nuclear factor &kgr;B, Wnt/&bgr;-catenin and the renin–angiotensin system. SummaryThe renal and cardiovascular protective activity of vitamin D revealed in recent studies has profound clinical implications. Nutritional correction of vitamin D deficiency and treatment with vitamin D analogs could be therapeutic options for renal and cardiovascular problems. New vitamin D analogs with better renal and cardiovascular therapeutic efficacy are highly desired. More randomized trials are needed to address these issues.
The utility of (18)F-FDG PET for suspected recurrent non-small cell lung cancer after potentially curative therapy: impact on management and prognostic stratification.

UNLABELLED After potentially curative therapy of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), masses or symptoms suggestive of relapse are common but may be difficult to characterize. Early detection is important because salvage therapies are available for localized recurrence. This study evaluated whether (18)F-FDG PET is useful and predictive of outcome in this setting. METHODS For 63 consecutive patients with suspected relapse >6 mo after definitive treatment of NSCLC, the apparent extent of disease on conventional restaging was compared with that on FDG PET. Patients with already confirmed systemic metastases were excluded unless locally aggressive treatment of these was being considered. Serial imaging and pathologic results were obtained during a median follow-up of 19 mo to validate diagnostic findings. Prognostic significance was tested using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS PET had positive findings in 41 of 42 patients with confirmed relapse (sensitivity, 98%). No disease was evident during a minimum follow-up of 12 mo in 14 of 15 patients with clinically suspected relapse but negative PET findings (negative predictive value, 93%). PET induced a major management change in 40 patients (63%), including 6 whose treatment was changed from curative to palliative, 3 whose treatment was changed from palliative to curative, and 9 for whom negative PET findings prevented active management. Both the presence (P = 0.012) and the extent (P < 0.0001) of relapse on PET were highly significant prognostic factors. There was also significant prognostic stratification based on the treatment delivered after the PET study (P = 0.011), but after adjustment for this treatment, PET status remained highly predictive of survival. CONCLUSION PET better assesses the status of disease and stratifies prognosis than does conventional staging, affects patient management, and should be incorporated into paradigms for suspected recurrence of NSCLC.
Ventricular arrhythmias in hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy. Relationship to coronary artery disease, left ventricular dysfunction, and myocardial fibrosis.

Ventricular arrhythmias occur with increased frequency in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). The relationships, however, between ventricular arrhythmias and coexistent coronary artery disease, left ventricular dysfunction and left ventricular fibrosis have not been examined in hypertensive LVH. We carried out coronary arteriography on fifteen hypertensive patients with LVH and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (greater than or equal to 3 consecutive ventricular complexes) of whom nine (60%) were free of significant (greater than 50% stenosis) coronary disease. To identify other possible correlates of left ventricular arrhythmias, 28 patients with LVH, comprising 17 with ventricular tachycardia and 11 without ventricular arrhythmias, underwent quantitative assessment of left ventricular function (angiographic ejection fraction), left ventricular mass (echocardiography), and left ventricular fibrosis (endomyocardial biopsy). Ejection fraction was not significantly different between the two groups (53 +/- 8% v 62 +/- 2%, P = NS). However, left ventricular mass was significantly greater (442 +/- 28 g v 339 +/- 34 g, P less than .05) and percentage fibrosis significantly higher (19 +/- 4% v 3 +/- 1%, P less than .001) in those patients with ventricular tachycardia. Thus ventricular arrhythmias in hypertensive patients with LVH cannot be entirely attributed to coexistent coronary disease, nor to left ventricular dysfunction, but are related to the degree of cardiac hypertrophy and subendocardial fibrosis.
Estimation of intra-operator variability in perfusion parameter measurements using DCE-US.

AIM To investigate intra-operator variability of semi-quantitative perfusion parameters using dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (DCE-US), following bolus injections of SonoVue(®). METHODS The in vitro experiments were conducted using three in-house sets up based on pumping a fluid through a phantom placed in a water tank. In the in vivo experiments, B16F10 melanoma cells were xenografted to five nude mice. Both in vitro and in vivo, images were acquired following bolus injections of the ultrasound contrast agent SonoVue(®) (Bracco, Milan, Italy) and using a Toshiba Aplio(®) ultrasound scanner connected to a 2.9-5.8 MHz linear transducer (PZT, PLT 604AT probe) (Toshiba, Japan) allowing harmonic imaging ("Vascular Recognition Imaging") involving linear raw data. A mathematical model based on the dye-dilution theory was developed by the Gustave Roussy Institute, Villejuif, France and used to evaluate seven perfusion parameters from time-intensity curves. Intra-operator variability analyses were based on determining perfusion parameter coefficients of variation (CV). RESULTS In vitro, different volumes of SonoVue(®) were tested with the three phantoms: intra-operator variability was found to range from 2.33% to 23.72%. In vivo, experiments were performed on tumor tissues and perfusion parameters exhibited values ranging from 1.48% to 29.97%. In addition, the area under the curve (AUC) and the area under the wash-out (AUWO) were two of the parameters of great interest since throughout in vitro and in vivo experiments their variability was lower than 15.79%. CONCLUSION AUC and AUWO appear to be the most reliable parameters for assessing tumor perfusion using DCE-US as they exhibited the lowest CV values.
Body Composition in Diabetic Subjects with Chronic Kidney Disease: Interest of Bio-Impedance Analysis, and Anthropometry

Background/Aims: Lean body mass (LBM) is reduced in uremia, but this has not been reported in diabetic nephropathy. Subjects and Methods: We compared predicted % LBM to DEXA measurements in 10 non-diabetic uremic, 10 non-uremic diabetic and 10 uremic diabetic subjects matched for age, gender and BMI. We also measured % LBM by anthropometry, bio-impedance analysis (BIA) and compared them with DEXA in 49 diabetic subjects with a wide range of renal failure. The results were compared and a Bland & Altman procedure was performed. Associations between glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and % LBM were tested. Results: In matched groups, predicted % LBM values were overestimated in non-diabetic uremic subjects, and underestimated in non-uremic diabetic subjects. In uremic diabetic subjects, the error was intermediary. As compared to DEXA (% LBM: 69.0 ± 7.1%), measurement of % LBM by anthropometry (71.4 ± 8.0%, p < 0.05) and BIA (67.2 ± 7.6%, p < 0.05) were biased in the 49 diabetic subjects. The mean of anthropometric and BIA (Ant+BIA) were similar to DEXA results (69.3 ± 6.8%, p = 0.64), with best correlation coefficients and Bland & Altman plots. GFR was correlated to % LBM assessed by DEXA, BIA and Ant+BIA. Conclusion: In diabetic subjects with chronic kidney disease, LBM should be measured, rather than predicted. A good evaluation is possible, even without DEXA.
Tissue factor pathway inhibitor activity in severe sepsis

ObjectiveTo review the preclinical and clinical evidence that provides the therapeutic rationale for recombinant human tissue factor pathway inhibitor (rTFPI) as a novel treatment for human sepsis. Data SourcesA summary of published English-language literature regarding preclinical studies and limited information published about three phase II clinical studies for the evaluation of rTFPI safety in sepsis patients. Data SummaryTissue factor pathway inhibitor, the physiologic inhibitor of the tissue factor pathway, interrupts activation of coagulation at multiple steps, including tissue factor VIIa activity, Xa activity, prothrombinase complex, and thrombin generation. Recombinant human TFPI exhibits anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory activities in animal models and humans with sepsis. These activities appear to have an important therapeutic role in protecting the microvasculature from injury and preventing multiple organ failure in sepsis. ConclusionsTissue factor pathway inhibitor is a potent inhibitor of clotting in the microvasculature, which is thought to protect organs from injury. Recombinant TFPI improved survival of septic animals in multiple models. Recent phase II results suggest that rTFPI is well tolerated, and they show a trend toward reduction in 28-day all-cause mortality in rTFPI-treated patients; in addition, rTFPI demonstrated significant reduction in thrombin generation. These results suggest that a powered study is indicated to further evaluate rTFPI utility for the adjunctive management of severe sepsis.