Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Basic science behind the cardiovascular benefits of exercise

Cardiorespiratory fitness is a strong predictor of cardiovascular (CV) disease and all-cause mortality, with increases in cardiorespiratory fitness associated with corresponding decreases in CV disease risk. The effects of exercise upon the myocardium and vascular system are dependent upon the frequency, intensity and duration of the exercise itself. Following a prolonged period (≥6 months) of regular intensive exercise in previously untrained individuals, resting and submaximal exercising heart rates are typically 5–20 beats lower, with an increase in stroke volume of ∼20% and enhanced myocardial contractility. Structurally, all four heart chambers increase in volume with mild increases in wall thickness, resulting in greater cardiac mass due to increased myocardial cell size. With this in mind, the present paper aims to review the basic science behind the CV benefits of exercise. Attention will be paid to understanding (1) the relationship between exercise and cardiac remodelling; (2) the cardiac cellular and molecular adaptations in response to exercise, including the examination of molecular mechanisms of physiological cardiac growth and applying these mechanisms to identify new therapeutic targets to prevent or reverse pathological remodelling and heart failure; and (3) vascular adaptations in response to exercise. Finally, this review will briefly examine how to optimise the CV benefits of exercise by considering how much and how intense exercise should be.
A convenient prediction model for complete recovery time after exhaustion in high-intensity work

We aimed to propose a convenient model for predicting complete recovery time (CRT) after exhaustion in high-intensity work. Before participating in the laboratory test, each of the 47 young adult subjects provided demographic information and filled out the perceived functional ability (PFA) and physical activity rating (PA-R) questionnaires. All subjects were required to perform one cycling test (at 70% maximum working capacity). Subjects continued cycling until exhaustion and then sat and recovered until their heart rates (HR) returned to baseline values. We found that CRT was significantly correlated with relative body mass index, the PFA score, PA-R score and maximum heart rate (HRmax). Accordingly, a prediction model for CRT was proposed. Furthermore, by replacing HRmax with age-predicted maximal HR, we obtained a more convenient prediction model that was independent of any physiological indexes that can only be obtained by subject testing. Practitioner Summary: High-intensity work is associated with higher perceived fatigue, which can be alleviated after a rest period. Instead of complex laboratory testing, questionnaires were used to derive a convenient prediction model for CRT after exhaustion. Ergonomics should be incorporated into work–rest schedule planning to improve efficiency and safety.
Smart Tissue Anastomosis Robot (STAR): A Vision-Guided Robotics System for Laparoscopic Suturing

This paper introduces the smart tissue anastomosis robot (STAR). Currently, the STAR is a proof-of-concept for a vision-guided robotic system featuring an actuated laparoscopic suturing tool capable of executing running sutures from image-based commands. The STAR tool is designed around a commercially available laparoscopic suturing tool that is attached to a custom-made motor stage and the STAR supervisory control architecture that enables a surgeon to select and track incisions and the placement of stitches. The STAR supervisory-control interface provides two modes: A manual mode that enables a surgeon to specify the placement of each stitch and an automatic mode that automatically computes equally-spaced stitches based on an incision contour. Our experiments on planar phantoms demonstrate that the STAR in either mode is more accurate, up to four times more consistent and five times faster than surgeons using state-of-the-art robotic surgical system, four times faster than surgeons using manual Endo360®, and nine times faster than surgeons using manual laparoscopic tools.
Design of synchronous reluctance machines with multi-objective optimization algorithms

The design optimization of synchronous reluctance (SyR) machines is considered in this paper by means of a Finite Element Analysis-based multi-objective optimization algorithm (MOOA). The research focuses on the design of the rotor geometry which is the key aspect of SyR machines design. In particular, this digest analyzes the performance of several popular MOOAs and the impact of their settings on the quality of the final design. A procedure to minimize the computational burden of the optimization process is introduced and applied for the first time to a five layer rotor. A rotor prototype has been realized to demonstrate the feasibility of the design procedure.
An ecological evaluation of the metabolic benefits due to robot-assisted gait training

Cerebral palsy (CP), one of the most common neurological disorders in childhood, features affected individual's motor skills and muscle actions. This results in elevated heart rate and rate of oxygen uptake during sub-maximal exercise, thus indicating a mean energy expenditure higher than healthy subjects. Rehabilitation, currently involving also robot-based devices, may have an impact also on these aspects. In this study, an ecological setting has been proposed to evaluate the energy expenditure of 4 children with CP before and after a robot-assisted gait training. Even if the small sample size makes it difficult to give general indications, results presented here are promising. Indeed, children showed an increasing trend of the energy expenditure per minute and a decreasing trend of the energy expenditure per step, in accordance to the control group. These data suggest a metabolic benefit of the treatment that may increase the locomotion efficiency of disabled children.
Penile pharmacotesting in diagnosing male erectile dysfunction: evidence for lack of accuracy and specificity.

Penile pharmacotesting (PPT) with alprostadil (PGE1) represents the most common diagnostic approach to male erectile dysfunction (ED). A positive response - i.e. normal erectile rigidity of sustained duration - is presumed to exclude venous or arterial pathology with enough accuracy. To test this assumption we compared PPT vs. flowmetric results obtained by colour-duplex Doppler ultrasound (CDDU) in patients (pts) undergoing diagnostic evaluation for ED under conditions of maximal cavernous relaxation. A total of 195 non-consecutive impotent pts were diagnosed after dynamic CDDU as non-vasculogenic (NOR), or having arteriogenic (AR), veno-occlusive (VO) or mixed (MX) ED. Maximal erection obtained after PPT was scored as: type-1 (full tumescence - no sustained rigidity, angle on the abdominal plane >90 degrees), type-2 (sustained partial erection, valid for intromission, angle=90 degrees) and type-3 (sustained full erection, angle <90 degrees). Comparing PPT with flowmetric results, we found that a type-3 response had 20% false negative diagnosis of NOR (17% of AR- and 3% of VO- and MX-ED, respectively), while a type-2 response had 63% false negative diagnosis (20% of AR, 37% of VO- and 6% MX-ED, respectively). Type-1 response was associated with the presence of VO dysfunction in 99% of cases. These data suggest that a positive response to PPT (type-2 and type-3) assessed by the visual rating of erection is associated with both arterial (up to 20%) and/or VO (up to 43%) ED, as detected by CDDU. We conclude that PPT alone is a misleading diagnostic test to exclude vascular ED and that dynamic CDDU should be offered to pts investigated for male ED.
[The seroprevalence rate, vaccination rate and seroconversion rate of hepatitis A in central region of Korea].

BACKGROUND/AIMS Acute hepatitis A (HAV) is markedly increasing recently on. Some patients with acute hepatitis A show severe clinical course. The seroprevalence rate of IgG anti-HAV has been changing with the regions and the times. Vaccination and seroconversion rate of HAV are not well known. In this study, we aimed to study the difference of seroprevalence rate of IgG anti-HAV according to various clinical factors and to know the vaccination rate and seroconversion rate below 10 years old in the central region of South Korea including Cheonan city. METHODS Seven hundred seventy two subjects were included in the study from January to September 2009. We analyzed seroprevalence rate of IgG anti-HAV according to sex, age, region, and other viral markers. We interviewed the history of vaccination(1st, 2nd) and analyzed seroconversion rate according to vaccination time below 10 years old. RESULTS The total seroprevalence rate of IgG anti-HAV was 65.3%. The seroprevalence rate of IgG anti-HAV rate in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th decade was very low (1.9%, 18.8%, 44.8%). The vaccination rate of children was about 50%. The seroconversion rate after 1st, and 2nd vaccination were 85%, 96%. CONCLUSIONS Catch-up vaccination for teenagers and young adults is needed. Immunizing children with HAV vaccine as a routine schedule should be considered.
Minocycline plus N-acteylcysteine induces remyelination, synergistically protects oligodendrocytes and modifies neuroinflammation in a rat model of mild traumatic brain injury

Mild traumatic brain injury afflicts over 2 million people annually and little can be done for the underlying injury. The Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs Minocycline plus N-acetylcysteine (MINO plus NAC) synergistically improved cognition and memory in a rat mild controlled cortical impact (mCCI) model of traumatic brain injury.3 The underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of the drug combination are unknown. This study addressed the effect of the drug combination on white matter damage and neuroinflammation after mCCI. Brain tissue from mCCI rats given either sham-injury, saline, MINO alone, NAC alone, or MINO plus NAC was investigated via histology and qPCR at four time points (2, 4, 7, and 14 days post-injury) for markers of white matter damage and neuroinflammation. MINO plus NAC synergistically protected resident oligodendrocytes and decreased the number of oligodendrocyte precursor cells. Activation of microglia/macrophages (MP/MG) was synergistically increased in white matter two days post-injury after MINO plus NAC treatment. Patterns of M1 and M2 MP/MG were also altered after treatment. The modulation of neuroinflammation is a potential mechanism to promote remyelination and improve cognition and memory. These data also provide new and important insights into how drug treatments can induce repair after traumatic brain injury.
Good and Useless FDI: The Growth Effects of Greenfield Investment and Mergers and Acquisitions

We explore the effect of foreign direct investment (FDI) on economic growth, distinguishing between mergers and acquisitions (M&As) and â€œgreenfieldâ€ investment. A simple model underlines that, unlike greenfield investment, M&As partly represent a rent accruing to previous owners, and do not necessarily contribute to expanding the host country's capital stock. Greenfield FDI should therefore have a stronger impact on growth than M&A sales. This hypothesis is supported by our empirical results that are based on a panel of up to 127 industrialized, emerging, and developing countries over 1990 to 2010.
Interpatient variability in the pharmacokinetics of the HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor efavirenz: the effect of gender, race, and CYP2B6 polymorphism.

AIMS To characterize the demographic and pharmacogenetic factors that influence interpatient variability in the plasma concentrations of the HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor efavirenz. METHODS Data from all samples analyzed for efavirenz in our TDM service in 2002 and 2003 were reviewed. Information on gender, age, body weight, height, race, hormonal contraceptive use (in a subset of patients), and time between sampling and last intake was recorded. PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was performed to detect the cytochrome P450 2B6 (CYP2B6) C1459T variant (present in CYP2B6*6 and CYP2B6*7) which is associated with low CYP2B6 activity. RESULTS A total of 255 patients were included in this analysis. The median plasma efavirenz concentration was 2.50 (interquartile range: 1.85-3.55) mg l(-1). Eight patients (3.1%) were considered to have a subtherapeutic plasma concentration (<1.0 mg l(-1)) and 48 (18.9%) a toxic efavirenz concentration (>4.0 mg l(-1)). Gender, time after last intake, and race were the only factors that were significantly related to plasma efavirenz concentration in a multivariate analysis. No influence was observed for body weight, hormonal contraceptive use, and the presence of the CYP2B6 C1459T polymorphism. CONCLUSIONS Gender and race are important factors in determining interpatient variability in plasma efavirenz concentrations which were unaffected by the presence of the CYP2B6 C1459T polymorphism. Physicians should be particularly alert for signs of efavirenz-induced toxicity in females and non-Caucasian patients.
[Effects of different doses of hydrocortisone on the disorder of coagulation in rats at early stage of septic shock].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of different doses of hydrocortisone (HC) on the disorder of coagulation in rats at early stage of septic shock. METHODS The model of early septic shock accompanied by the disorder of coagulation in rats was set up by bolus injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at 25 mg/kg through right femoral vein. Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the following 5 groups: normal control (LPS and HC were substituted by same volume of normal saline solution), shock group (HC was substituted by same volume of normal saline), high-dose HC (HD group, HC 100 mg/kg), medium-dose HC (MD group, HC 50 mg/kg) and low-dose HC (LD group, HC 5 mg/kg). Four hours after the HC treatment, the blood specimens were collected for the count of blood platelet (PLT), the activity of antithrombin III (ATIII), the content of D-dimer and von Willebrand factor (vWF). RESULTS The count of PLT (x 10(9)/L) and the activities of ATIII (%) in shock group (586.00 +/- 71.179 and 50.600 +/- 19.248) were significantly lower than that in normal control group (1012.600 +/- 20.852 and 89.200 +/- 12.109), and the level of D-dimer (microg/dl) and vWF (%) in LPS group (1.680 +/- 0.999 and 7.288 +/- 0.652) as significantly higher than that in normal control group (0.66 +/- 0.772 and 3.656 +/- 1.407), P < 0.05. After HC treatment, the disorder of coagulation was attenuated to different degree. However, significant difference was found between HD, MD groups and shock group only in the count of PLT (P = 0.000), and there were no significant differences between HD, MD groups and shock group in the other three indices. Significant improvements were found in LD group (P < 0.05) in all the four indices and there were no significant differences between LD group and normal group in D-dimer and vWF. The effects of medium-dose HC was between LD and HD groups, and there were no significant differences between HD and MD group, P > 0.05. CONCLUSIONS The results indicated that different doses of HC had different effects on coagulation in early stage of septic shock in rats. Low-dose HC may ameliorate the disorder of coagulation in early septic shock in rats. High-dose and medium-dose of HC had no significant improving effects on the disorder of coagulation.
Spouse-assisted coping skills training in the management of osteoarthritic knee pain.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of a spouse-assisted pain-coping skills training intervention on pain, psychological disability, physical disability, pain-coping, and pain behavior in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knees. METHODS Eighty-eight OA patients with persistent knee pain were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 conditions: 1) spouse-assisted pain-coping skills training, (spouse-assisted CST), 2) a conventional CST intervention with no spouse involvement (CST), or 3) an arthritis education-spousal support (AE-SS) control condition. All treatment was carried out in 10 weekly, 2-hour group sessions. RESULTS Data analysis revealed that at the completion of treatment, patients in the spouse-assisted CST condition had significantly lower levels of pain, psychological disability, and pain behavior, and higher scores on measures of coping attempts, marital adjustment, and self-efficacy than patients in the AE-SS control condition. Compared to patients in the AE-SS control condition, patients who received CST without spouse involvement had significantly higher post-treatment levels of self-efficacy and marital adjustment and showed a tendency toward lower levels of pain and psychological disability and higher scores on measures of coping attempts and ratings of the perceived effectiveness of pain-coping strategies. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that spouse-assisted CST has potential as a method for reducing pain and disability in OA patients.
Association of left atrial reservoir function with left atrial structural remodeling related to left ventricular dysfunction in asymptomatic patients with hypertension: evaluation by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography

Abstract Left atrial (LA) structural and functional abnormalities are vital steps on the pathway toward heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in asymptomatic patients. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship of LA function, particularly reservoir function, with LA structural remodeling related to the left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in asymptomatic patients with hypertension (HT) using conventional, tissue Doppler, and 2-D speckle-tracking echocardiography. Fifty age-matched healthy individuals and 140 patients with HT, including 75 with LA volume index (LAVI) < 29 ml/m2 (normal LA group) and 65 with LAVI ≥ 29 ml/m2 (large LA group), were enrolled. We defined peak early diastolic transmitral flow velocity/peak early diastolic mitral annular motion velocity (E/e′)/peak systolic LA strain (S-LAs) as LA diastolic stiffness. The LV mass index, relative LV wall thickness, peak atrial systolic transmitral flow velocity, LA total, active, and passive emptying volume indexes, and E/e′/S-LAs were greatest, and S-LAs, peak early diastolic LA strain, peak systolic LV longitudinal strain and circumferential strain rate, and peak early diastolic LV radial strain rate were lower in the large LA group compared with control and/or normal LA group. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that aging, LA remodeling, and LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction are defined as strong predictors related to increased LA diastolic stiffness in the large LA group. HT alters LA dynamics significantly, with resultant increased LA volume and diastolic stiffness related to LV diastolic and systolic dysfunction, even in asymptomatic patients. Earlier treatment with reninangiotensin system inhibitors may improve abnormal LA-LV interaction in this patient population.
Efficacy of interventions to combat tobacco addiction: Cochrane update of 2012 reviews.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The Cochrane Collaboration is an international not-for-profit organization which produces and disseminates systematic reviews of health-care interventions. This paper is the first in a series of annual updates of Cochrane reviews on tobacco addiction interventions. It also provides an up-to-date overview of review findings in this area to date and summary statistics for cessation reviews in which meta-analyses were conducted. METHODS In 2012, the Group published seven new reviews and updated 13 others. This update summarizes and comments on these reviews. It also summarizes key findings from all the other reviews in this area. RESULTS New reviews in 2012 found that in smokers using pharmacotherapy, behavioural support improves success rates [risk ratio (RR) 1.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.09-1.24], and that combining behavioural support and pharmacotherapy aids cessation (RR 1.82, 95% CI = 1.66-2.00). Updated reviews established mobile phones as potentially helpful in aiding cessation (RR 1.71, 95% CI = 1.47-1.99), found that cytisine (RR 3.98, 95% CI = 2.01-7.87) and low-dose varenicline (RR 2.09, 95% CI = 1.56-2.78) aid smoking cessation, and found that training health professionals in smoking cessation improves patient cessation rates (RR 1.60, 95% CI = 1.26-2.03). The updated reviews confirmed the benefits of nicotine replacement therapy, standard dose varenicline and providing cessation treatment free of charge. Lack of demonstrated efficacy remained for partner support, expired-air carbon monoxide feedback and lung function feedback. CONCLUSIONS Cochrane systematic review evidence for the first time establishes the efficacy of behavioural support over and above pharmacotherapy, as well as the efficacy of cytisine, mobile phone technology, low-dose varenicline and health professional training in promoting smoking cessation.
Clinical outcomes after long-term treatment with alglucosidase alfa in infants and children with advanced Pompe disease

Purpose: A clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of alglucosidase alfa in infants and children with advanced Pompe disease.Methods: Open-label, multicenter study of IV alglucosidase alfa treatment in 21 infants 3–43 months old (median 13 months) with minimal acid α-glucosidase activity and abnormal left ventricular mass index by echocardiography. Patients received IV alglucosidase alfa every 2 weeks for up to 168 weeks (median 120 weeks). Survival results were compared with an untreated reference cohort.Results: At study end, 71% (15/21) of patients were alive and 44% (7/16) of invasive-ventilator free patients remained so. Compared with the untreated reference cohort, alglucosidase alfa reduced the risk of death by 79% (P < 0.001) and the risk of invasive ventilation by 58% (P = 0.02). Left ventricular mass index improved or remained normal in all patients evaluated beyond 12 weeks; 62% (13/21) achieved new motor milestones. Five patients were walking independently at the end of the study and 86% (18/21) gained functional independence skills. Overall, 52% (11/21) of patients experienced infusion-associated reactions; 95% (19/20) developed IgG antibodies to recombinant human lysosomal acid α-glucosidase; no patients withdrew from the study because of safety concerns.Conclusions: In this population of infants with advanced disease, biweekly infusions with alglucosidase alfa prolonged survival and invasive ventilation-free survival. Treatment also improved indices of cardiomyopathy, motor skills, and functional independence.
A Hollow Rectangular Coaxial Line for Slot Array Applications Fabricated by Diffusion Bonding of Laminated Thin Metal Plates

A hollow rectangular coaxial line is designed for the 60-GHz band and fabricated by diffusion bonding of laminated thin metal plates. A low transmission loss of 0.036 dB/cm is confirmed at 60 GHz by measurement in a designed rectangular coaxial line. The suspended inner conductor is supported by a thin plate. A longitudinal slot excited by the metal support and its linear array are presented. The proposed structures are verified by comparing the measured results with the designed ones. The 1.5% bandwidth of the linear array for reflection below $-{\hbox{14 dB}}$ is obtained by the measurement.