Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genome Sequence of Paracoccus sp. JM45, a Bacterial Strain Isolated from a Marine Sponge with a Dual Quorum Sensing Inhibition Activity

The draft genome sequence of Paracoccus sp. strain JM45, isolated from a marine sponge harvested off the west coast of Ireland, is reported here. Quorum sensing and quorum sensing inhibition activities have been reported recently for this bacterium, and genomic analysis supports its potential use for novel therapeutic development. ABSTRACT The draft genome sequence of Paracoccus sp. strain JM45, isolated from a marine sponge harvested off the west coast of Ireland, is reported here. Quorum sensing and quorum sensing inhibition activities have been reported recently for this bacterium, and genomic analysis supports its potential use for novel therapeutic development.
The association between perceived stigma and substance use disorder treatment outcomes: a review

Substance use disorders (SUDs) take a heavy toll on those who have them and on society more broadly. These disorders are often difficult to treat, and relapse is common. Perhaps, because of these factors, these disorders are highly stigmatized worldwide. The purpose of this study is to examine empirical work intended to determine the impact of perceived social stigma and self-stigma on the process of recovering from SUDs with the assistance of formal treatment services. Qualitative studies confirmed that stigma experiences are common among those with these disorders and that these experiences can negatively impact feelings and beliefs about treatment. One quantitative study provided good statistical support for a direct effect of stigma on outcomes, but this was contradicted by other longitudinal data. In general, quantitative articles suggested an indirect effect of stigma on treatment outcomes, via negative emotions and cognitive mechanisms such as feelings of self-efficacy. However, it was notable that there was little consistency in the literature as to definitions and measurement of the constructs of recovery, perceived social stigma, and self-stigma. Future work should focus on bringing clarity, and validated measures, to this problem in order to better determine the nature of these relationships.
Chemoprevention in BRCA1 mutation carriers (CIBRAC): protocol for an open allocation crossover feasibility trial assessing mechanisms of chemoprevention with goserelin and anastrozole versus tamoxifen and acceptability of treatment

Introduction BRCA1 mutation carriers have a significant lifetime risk of breast cancer, with their primary risk-reduction option being bilateral mastectomy. Preclinical work from our laboratory demonstrated that in BRCA1-deficient breast cells, oestrogen and its metabolites are capable of driving DNA damage and subsequent genomic instability, which are well-defined early events in BRCA1-related cancers. Based on this, we hypothesise that a chemopreventive approach which reduces circulating oestrogen levels may reduce DNA damage and genomic instability, thereby providing an alternative to risk-reducing surgery. Methods and analysis 12 premenopausal women with pathogenic BRCA1 mutations and no previous risk-reducing surgery will be recruited from family history clinics. Participants will be allocated 1:1 to two arms. All will undergo baseline breast biopsies, blood and urine sampling, and quality of life questionnaires. Group A will receive goserelin 3.6 mg/28 days by subcutaneous injection, plus oral anastrozole 1 mg/day, for 12 weeks. Group B will receive oral tamoxifen 20 mg/day for 12 weeks. Following treatment, both groups will provide repeat biopsies, blood and urine samples, and questionnaires. Following a 1-month washout period, the groups will cross over, group A receiving tamoxifen and group B goserelin and anastrozole for a further 12 weeks. After treatment, biopsies, blood and urine samples, and questionnaires will be repeated. DNA damage will be assessed in core biopsies, while blood and urine samples will be used to measure oestrogen metabolite and DNA adduct levels. Ethics and dissemination This study has ethical approval from the Office for Research Ethics Committees Northern Ireland (16/NI/0055) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) (reference: 32485/0032/001–0001). The investigational medicinal products used in this trial are licensed and in common use, with well-documented safety information. Dissemination of results will be via high-impact journals and relevant national/international conferences. A copy of the results will be offered to the participants and be made available to patient support groups. Trial registration number EudraCT: 2016-001087-11; Pre-results.
A preliminary study: The effect of ergonomic latex pillow on pain and disability in patients with cervical spondylosis

Background: Cervical pillows are considered to be part of the therapeutic strategy in cervical spondylosis, but there is little or no convincing scientific evidence on the effectiveness of these pillows in relieving pain and disability in these patients. Hence, this study investigated the effects of ergonomic latex pillow in conjunction with routine physiotherapy versus routine physiotherapy alone on disability and pain intensity in patients with cervical spondylosis. Methods: 22 patients with cervical spondylosis in a single-blinded pilot study with a pre/post-test design were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Both groups received 12 sessions of physiotherapy for four weeks. In the experimental group, participants were given an ergonomic latex pillow to sleep it for four weeks. Participants in the control group slept on their own usual pillow. All the participants filled out the Neck Disability Index questionnaire, and scored their neck pain intensity on the Numerical Pain Rating Scale before and after the intervention. Changes of variables (pain and disability) within and between groups were compared by Paired T-test and the Independent Sample T-test, respectively via SPSS v.20 (p<0.05). Results: Numerical Pain Rating Scale and Neck Disability Index scores were decreased statistically significant within groups. In the experimental group, neck disability scores were significantly lower than those in the control group (p=0.038). However, pain intensity scores were not significantly different between groups. Conclusion: Ergonomic latex pillows can significantly decrease disability related to neck pain in patients with cervical spondylosis after four weeks.
Kaempferia parviflora and Its Methoxyflavones: Chemistry and Biological Activities

Kaempferia parviflora (KP), a health-promoting herb, has been traditionally used for treating a variety of diseases. Pharmacological studies have claimed the various benefits from KP and its main effective methoxyflavones, including cellular metabolism-regulating activity, anticancer activity, vascular relaxation and cardioprotective activity, sexual enhancing activity, neuroprotective activity, antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative activity, antiosteoarthritis activity, antimicroorganism activity, and transdermal permeable activity. These might be associated with increased mitochondrial functions and activated cGMP-NO signaling pathway. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of KP and its methoxyflavones are still under investigation. The clinical applications of KP and its methoxyflavones may be limited due to their low bioavailability. But promising strategies are on the way. This review will comprehensively discuss the biological activities of KP and its methoxyflavones.
Uncanny Proctopathy: A Case of Lymphogranuloma Venereum

A 37-year-old man with a history of receptive and penetrating anal sex with men presented with abdominal pain, bright red blood per rectum, and fevers. Recent evaluation by his primary care doctor was notable for negative urine for Neisseria gonorrhea and Chlamydia trachomatis. Rectal swab on admission was positive for C. trachomatis. The patient was ultimately diagnosed with lymphogranuloma venereum, a disease typically seen in tropical climates, although it is more common now in western countries, specifically in men who have sex with men. Treatment consisted of a course of doxycycline for 3 weeks, with resolution of symptoms.
A new species of Austrocodrus Ogloblin (Hymenoptera, Proctotrupidae, Austroserphinae), a Gondwanic relict from southernmost South America

Austrocodrusgladiogeminus sp. n. is described from southernmost South America. It is a member of the primitive subfamily Austroserphinae (Hymenoptera, Proctotrupidae), which is distributed in Oceania and South America, and is characterized from other Austrocodrus species by its relatively larger body size, the presence of long and sword-shaped ovipositor sheaths, M arising very close and distal to 1cu-a, and Cu and m-cu joining at a distance equivalent to the length of 2cu-a. We consider this species to be a Gondwanan relict. It has southernmost distribution of any proctotrupid.
Effects of Plasma Albumin on the Pharmacokinetics of Esomeprazole in ICU Patients

Objectives To evaluate the effects of plasma albumin on pharmacokinetics of esomeprazole in ICU patients. Methods This study was performed in 32 consecutive intensive care unit (ICU) patients. They were divided into two groups according to the plasma albumin levels. Nineteen patients with low plasma albumin levels (<30 g/L; male/female, 12/7) were assigned to low plasma albumin group (LPAG). Thirteen patients with plasma albumin levels >30 g/L (male/female, 9/4) were assigned to high plasma albumin group (HPAG). All patients were received intravenous (IV) of 40 mg esomeprazole in 5 min. Blood samples were collected via basilic vein at different time points and concentrations of esomeprazole were determined by UPLC-MS/MS. Results MRT(0-∞), t1/2, V, CL, and Cmax between two groups were significantly difference (P<0.05). Compared with HPAG, MRT(0-∞), t1/2, and V of esomeprazole in LPAG were increased by 1.42-fold, 1.49-fold, and 1.24-fold, respectively; the maximum drug concentration of esomeprazole in LPAG was decreased to 82.5%. AUC(0-∞) of LPAG was 1.23 times than that of group B. CL in LPAG was 80% of HPAG. There was no statistical difference between the two groups of AUC(0-∞) and CL. Conclusions Some pharmacokinetic parameters of esomeprazole may be changed in ICU patients with low plasma albumin.
Formulation and clinical investigation of optimized vinpocetine lyoplant-tabs: new strategy in development of buccal solid dosage form

Background This work aimed to develop a new solid dosage formulation of vinpocetine (VPN) in the form of buccal freeze-dried pullulan-based tablets (lyoplant-tabs) loaded with physically modified drug binary system. Methods Different polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) grades were studied to prepare an efficient VPN binary system characterized by enhanced equilibrium saturation solubility, solubilization efficiency, thermodynamic stability, and permeation through oral mucosal cell lines. The concentrations of pullulan and swelling-aid polymer that affect the quality attributes of lyoplant-tabs were optimized. Clinical pharmacokinetics study on human volunteers for the optimized lyoplant-tabs compared to marketed product was accomplished. Results A promising drug binary system with polyvinyl pyrrolidone vinyl acetate (PVP-VA64) utilizing the lyophilization technique was developed. Solid-state characterization confirmed transformation of VPN completely into the amorphous form. The concentrations of pullulan and swelling-aid polymer were significantly affecting the characteristics of the tablets. Compared to the commercial VPN tablets, pullulan-based buccal tablets demonstrated enhancement in the studied pharmacokinetic parameters with positive impact on the drug bioavailability. Conclusion These VPN lyoplant-tabs containing lyophilized PVP-VA64-VPN binary system can be considered as an alternative to currently available marketed tablets; however, further preclinical investigations using large number of volunteers are required.
Effect of Effluent Recirculation on Biogas Production Using Two-Stage Anaerobic Digestion of Citrus Waste

Citrus waste is a promising potential feedstock for anaerobic digestion, yet the presence of inhibitors such as d-limonene is known to limit the process. Effluent recirculation has been proven to increase methane yield in a semi-continuous process for recalcitrant material, but it has never been applied to toxic materials. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of recirculation on biogas production from citrus waste as toxic feedstock in two-stage anaerobic digestion. The first digestion was carried out in a stirred tank reactor (STR). The effluent from the first-stage was filtered using a rotary drum filter to separate the solid and the liquid phase. The solid phase, rich in hydrophobic D-limonene, was discarded, and the liquid phase containing less D-limonene was fed into the second digester in an up-flow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactor. A high organic loading rate (OLR 5 g VS/(L·day)) of citrus waste was fed into the first-stage reactor every day. The effluent of the first-stage was then fed into the second-stage reactor. This experiment was run for 120 days. A reactor configuration without recirculation was used as control. The result shows that the reactor with effluent recirculation produced a higher methane yield (160–203 NmL/g·VS) compared to that without recirculation (66–113 NmL/g·VS). More stable performance was also observed in the reactor with recirculation as shown by the pH of 5–6, while without recirculation the pH dropped to the range of 3.7–4.7. The VS reduction for the reactor with recirculation was 33–35% higher than that of the control without recirculation. Recirculation might affect the hydrolysis-acidogenesis process by regulating pH in the first-stage and removing most of the D-limonene content from the substrate through filtration.
Metagenomic Analysis of Samples from Three Bat Species Collected in the Amazon Rain Forest

We report here the sequencing of five microbiome samples collected from different bat species in the Amazon rain forest. All contigs matching virus sequences were assigned to members of the Retroviridae family, while the bacterial contigs matched several bacterial species mostly belonging to the Proteobacteria phylum. ABSTRACT We report here the sequencing of five microbiome samples collected from different bat species in the Amazon rain forest. All contigs matching virus sequences were assigned to members of the Retroviridae family, while the bacterial contigs matched several bacterial species mostly belonging to the Proteobacteria phylum.
Un siècle et demi d'activité titres des banques commerciales américaines Un plaidoyer pour l'unité et la plasticité du système de financement

A l’origine de cette recherche se trouve notre conviction selon laquelle l’activite titres des banques ne doit pas etre percue comme une innovation plus ou moins recente, mais comme une donnee permanente de l’activite des banques dans le cadre d’une perception unitaire de l’intermediation effectuee par ces institutions. Apres avoir mis en perspective les travaux theoriques sur l’intermediation financiere et le role des banques dans les mecanismes de financement, puis avoir retrace les grandes etapes du systeme bancaire national des Etats-Unis rythmees, depuis sa creation en 1863, par des evolutions reglementaires qui ont affecte directement les pratiques bancaires sur titres, cet article analyse l’activite titres pour compte propre des banques commerciales americaines, a travers les mutations depuis 1863 de l’actif de leur bilan. On conclut ainsi sur la permanence de l’activite titres des banques mais aussi sur sa grande malleabilite.Classification JEL? : G10, G21, N21, N22.
Improving the Learning Experience through Evidence-based Education

Our learners invest a significant portion of their time, energy and financial future to achieve the goal of becoming physicians. In turn, society expects physicians who are well trained and prepared for a career that includes lifelong learning. What both our learners and ultimately their patients get in return too often falls short of what should be a first-rate experience. With the many hours spent in lectures, how often has the information conveyed changed your practice? During your education, how often have you felt like an active participant whose specific needs were being addressed? To what extent has lifelong learning been modeled for you throughout your education? These and many other questions regarding our own educational experiences as physicians can and should be addressed by the practice of evidence-based education. For generations, physicians in training have been taught by educators who were content experts but had little, if any, formal training in education. This includes many of today’s education leaders who develop their local culture and design the educational experiences. One might argue that we all turned out all right as physicians in a less-than-ideal educational environment, but today’s standard demands something more. There is a general move toward competency-based assessment and longitudinal, clinically relevant curricula.1-2 In this environment where the status quo is no longer sufficient, there is an opportunity to develop experiences based on evidence that provide a high-quality education supporting both our learners in the pursuit of their calling and our mission as educators. Indeed, there is an increasing emphasis on applying learning theory and best practices in our educational endeavors. This can be seen in the development of educator tracks in medical school and residency, education fellowships, faculty development programs, and advanced degrees in education.3-5 There is much that can be done to maximize our effectiveness MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia Wayne State University, Sinai-Grace Hospital/Detroit Receiving Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Detroit, Michigan Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital/Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island *
Periocular injection of candesartan-Plga microparticles inhibits laser-induced experimental choroidal neovascularization

Purpose: Microparticle technology enables local administration of medication. The purpose of this study was to examine the inhibitory effect of locally administered candesartan (CAN)-encapsulated microparticles on experimental choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Methods: Laser photocoagulation was used to induce CNV in Brown Norway rats. The rats were pretreated with subconjunctival injections of CAN (5.0 mg/eye) or phosphate buffer saline for 3 days before photocoagulation. The volume of CNV was evaluated 7 days after laser injury using the lectin staining technique. The infiltration of macrophages within the CNV lesion was determined using immunofluorescent staining with an anti-CD68 antibody. mRNA levels of MCP-1, IL1- β and VEGF in the retinal pigment epithelium/choroid complex were determined using quantitative PCR (q-PCR). Results: CNV volume was significantly suppressed by the treatment with CAN compared with that in vehicle-treated eyes ( P , 0.05, two-tailed Student’s t -test). Subconjunctival injections of CAN decreased the numbers of CD68 + cells in the CNV lesion. The increased mRNA levels of MCP-1, IL1- β , and VEGF induced by photocoagulation was significantly suppressed following the local administration of CAN ( P , 0.05, two-tailed Student’s t -test). Conclusion: Local administration of CAN inhibited experimentally induced CNV possibly through anti-inflammatory effects.
Effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation on the EC50 of remifentanil suppressing responses to tracheal extubation in elderly patients

Abstract Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) is a emerging treatment which combines transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation with traditional acupoint therapy. The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of TEAS on the effective concentration (EC50) of remifentanil suppressing tracheal extubation response in elderly patients. Fifty-three patients undergoing spine surgery were randomly divided into 2 groups: control group (group C, n = 26) and transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation group (group TEAS, n = 27). The EC50 values for remifentanil TCI were determined using sequential method and probit analysis. The remifentanil EC50 of that suppressed responses to extubation during anesthetic emergence was 1.20 ng/mL in group TEAS, a value that was significantly lower than the 1.64 ng/mL needed by patients in group C. The TEAS can enhance the efficacy of remifentanil on suppressing responses to tracheal extubation in elderly patients, the EC50 of remifentanil can reduce approximately 27% compared with group C.
Therapeutic efficacy and safety of Shexiang Baoxin Pill combined with trimetazidine in elderly patients with heart failure secondary to ischaemic cardiomyopathy

Background: Shexiang Baoxin Pill (SBP) is one of the most commonly used traditional Chinese patent medicines for cardiovascular diseases. This systematic review was designed to provide rigorous therapeutic efficacy and safety evidence on the use of SBP combined with trimetazidine in elderly patients with heart failure (HF) secondary to ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). Methods: Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the clinical efficacy of SBP combined with trimetazidine in treating ICM-associated HF were widely searched in electronic databases, including PubMed, Cochrane library, EMBASE, CBM, CNKI, VMIS, and Wanfang up to January 1, 2018. The methodological quality of each trial was assessed according to the Cochrane Reviewers’ Handbook 5.0. Meta-analysis was performed by using Review Manager 5.3. Results: Eighteen RCTs (N = 1532) that met the criteria were included in the review for the assessment of methodological quality. Meta-analysis showed that, when compared with conventional therapy, SBP combined with trimetazidine significantly improved the clinical efficacy and indices of cardiac function (including increasing left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] and 6-minute walk distance [6-MWD], decreasing left ventricular end-diastolic diameter [LVEDD] and left ventricular end-systolic diameter [LVESD]) without serious adverse reactions. Conclusion: This work provides evidence of the benefit of SBP combined with trimetazidine for the treatment of HF secondary to ICM. More high quality and well-designed RCTs are needed to confirm these findings.