Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anterior lumbar interbody fusion combined with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for degenerative lumbar instability: minimum four-year follow-up.

AIM Our goal was to investigate the long-term results of anterior lumbar interbody fusion combined with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for degenerative lumbar instability. MATERIAL AND METHODS Forty-seven patients that had undergone anterior lumbar interbody fusion combined with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for degenerative lumbar instability at Tianjin Hospital between May 2003 and January 2007 were reviewed retrospectively. Radiographic results including the fusion rate, disc space height, segmental lordosis and whole lumbar lordosis were analyzed, and clinical outcomes were assessed using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association score. RESULTS In 47 patients, no surgery-related neurological deficit or wound breakdown was observed and 45 patients obtained a solid fusion. The mean JOA score increased significantly (p < 0.05) from 9.4 before surgery to 24.6 six months after surgery and 26.1 at final follow-up. The disc space height, segmental lordosis and whole lumbar lordosis increased significantly from pre-operative values to both six months postoperatively (p < 0.05) and at the final follow up (p < 0.05). Radiographic evidence of adjacent segmental degeneration was found in 14 patients (29.8%) and symptomatic adjacent segmental disease developed in 1 patient (2.1%). CONCLUSION Anterior lumbar interbody fusion combined with percutaneous pedicle screws fixation in patients with degenerative lumbar instability results in good clinical and radiographic outcomes at long-term follow-up.
Insulin resistance and inflammation as precursors of frailty: the Cardiovascular Health Study.

BACKGROUND Our research group has previously shown that the geriatric syndrome of frailty is associated with features of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) on cross-sectional analysis. METHODS To test whether MetS and its physiologic determinants-insulin resistance as measured by homeostasis model assessment score (IR-HOMA), increased inflammation and coagulation factor levels, and elevated blood pressure-are associated with incident frailty, we studied a subcohort of participants from the Cardiovascular Health Study observed from 1989/1990 through 1998/1999: 3141 community-dwelling adults, aged 69 to 74 years, without frailty and illnesses that increase inflammation markers or mimic frailty. The association of baseline MetS, IR-HOMA, levels of inflammation and coagulation factors, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) with time to onset of frailty was adjusted for demographic and psychosocial factors and incident events. Our main outcome measure was incident frailty. RESULTS Metabolic syndrome was not significantly associated with incident frailty (hazard ratio, 1.16 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.85-1.57). On the other hand, IR-HOMA and C-reactive protein levels were associated with incident frailty: for every standard deviation increment the hazard ratio for frailty was 1.15 (95% CI, 1.02-1.31) and 1.16 (95% CI, 1.02-1.32), respectively. The white blood cell count and factor VIIIc levels had a borderline association. Elevated systolic blood pressure had no association. Similar trends were found for incident prefrailty, a condition that precedes frailty. CONCLUSIONS Two physiologic components of MetS- IR-HOMA and inflammation-are associated with incident frailty. Based on these results, IR-HOMA can be considered part of a larger process that leads to generalized decline.
Herba Epimedii water extract elevates estrogen level and improves lipid metabolism in postmenopausal women

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can ameliorate lipid metabolism after menopause, but it is not suitable for long‐term use because of serious side effects. Herba Epimedii is a widely used herbal medicine in many Asian countries, it potentially treats menopausal syndrome and its complications with few side effects and good curative effects. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of Herba Epimedii water extract on blood lipid and sex hormone levels. Ninety subjects were randomly divided into two groups: a trial group which received Herba Epimedii water extract and a control group which was administered an equal amount of water placebo. At the baseline and after 6 months of medication, serum estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), testosterone (T), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) concentrations were measured. The results indicated that Herba Epimedii water extract decreased the TC and TG levels (p < 0.01). Furthermore, Herba Epimedii water extract significantly increased the serum level of E2 (p < 0.01) compared with the pre‐treatment level. In conclusion, Herba Epimedii water extract produces its beneficial actions in postmenopausal women. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Oxidative stress, Noxs, and hypertension: Experimental evidence and clinical controversies

Abstract Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are signaling molecules that influence many physiological processes. Increased ROS bioavailability and altered redox signaling (oxidative stress) have been implicated in chronic diseases including hypertension. Although oxidative stress may not be the sole cause of hypertension, it amplifies blood pressure elevation in the presence of other prohypertensive factors (salt, renin-angiotensin system, sympathetic hyperactivity). A major source for cardiovascular ROS is a family of non-phagocytic NADPH oxidases (Nox1, Nox2, Nox4, Nox5). Other sources of ROS involve mitochondrial electron transport enzymes, xanthine oxidase, and uncoupled nitric oxide synthase. Although evidence from experimental and animal studies supports a role for oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of hypertension, there is still no convincing proof that oxidative stress is a cause of human hypertension. However, what is clear is that oxidative stress is important in the molecular mechanisms associated with cardiovascular and renal injury in hypertension and that hypertension itself can contribute to oxidative stress. The present review addresses the putative function of ROS in the pathogenesis of hypertension and focuses on the role of Noxs in ROS generation in vessels and the kidney. Implications of oxidative stress in human hypertension are discussed, and clinical uncertainties are highlighted.
Cardiolipin and Mitochondrial Phosphatidylethanolamine Have Overlapping Functions in Mitochondrial Fusion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae*

Background: Cells lacking both cardiolipin and mitochondrial phosphatidylethanolamine are inviable, suggesting that these lipids have overlapping functions. Results: The loss of both lipids leads to decreased mitochondrial fusion and fragmented mitochondria. Conclusion: One overlapping function of these lipids is in mitochondrial fusion. Significance: Decreased mitochondrial fusion may partly explain the variation in clinical presentation observed in Barth syndrome. The two non-bilayer forming mitochondrial phospholipids cardiolipin (CL) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) play crucial roles in maintaining mitochondrial morphology. We have shown previously that CL and PE have overlapping functions, and the loss of both is synthetically lethal. Because the lack of CL does not lead to defects in the mitochondrial network in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we hypothesized that PE may compensate for CL in the maintenance of mitochondrial tubular morphology and fusion. To test this hypothesis, we constructed a conditional mutant crd1Δpsd1Δ containing null alleles of CRD1 (CL synthase) and PSD1 (mitochondrial phosphatidylserine decarboxylase), in which the wild type CRD1 gene is expressed on a plasmid under control of the TETOFF promoter. In the presence of tetracycline, the mutant exhibited highly fragmented mitochondria, loss of mitochondrial DNA, and reduced membrane potential, characteristic of fusion mutants. Deletion of DNM1, required for mitochondrial fission, restored the tubular mitochondrial morphology. Loss of CL and mitochondrial PE led to reduced levels of small and large isoforms of the fusion protein Mgm1p, possibly accounting for the fusion defect. Taken together, these data demonstrate for the first time in vivo that CL and mitochondrial PE are required to maintain tubular mitochondrial morphology and have overlapping functions in mitochondrial fusion.
Short and long term effects of methyl- and ethylnitrosourea (MNU & ENU) on the developing nervous system of the rat. II. Short term effects: concluding remarks on chemical neuro-oncogenesis.

The cytotoxic action of various single doses of MNU and ENU on developing neural and extraneural tissues was studied at different stages of development. Examination revealed lethal damage. (L.I.) and mitotic inhibition (M.I.), confined to proliferating cells only, and caused by the number of alkyl groups administered. In studying the duration of M.I. a difference was found in duration of the cell cycle arrest after MNU or ENU. The arrest lasted longer for MNU than for ENU, and the neural tissues turned out to be more sensitive than the extraneural ones. Moreover, among the reappearing mitotic figures abnormal ones were noticed frequently. After pulse-labeling with thymidine this arrest could be traced to take place in or before entering the S-phase. During the period of this arrest a low, but specific, activity was found that might point to the existence of repair-processes in vivo. Finally, we directly demonstrated alkylations in tissue-sections by the use of (14C-methyl)-MNU. High radioactivity was found with a random distribution over the various tissues, cell types and even cellular compartments. Therefore--in contrast with the cytotoxic effects--alkylation seems to occur in all cell types. In conclusion, it seems justified to consider the matrices of proliferating cells in the central nervous system as the target tissue-areas for the carcinogenic action of both MNU and ENU. Re-entrance of these damaged cells into their cycle prior to the elimination of altered bases from DNA might be of great importance for the problem of oncogenesis.
SirT1 Is an Inhibitor of Proliferation and Tumor Formation in Colon Cancer*

The NAD-dependent deacetylase SirT1 regulates factors involved in stress response and cell survival and is a potential drug target of activators and inhibitors. Determination of SirT1 function in tumor cells is important for its targeting in cancer therapy. We found that SirT1 knockdown by short hairpin RNA accelerates tumor xenograft formation by HCT116 cells, whereas SirT1 overexpression inhibits tumor formation. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of SirT1 stimulates cell proliferation under conditions of growth factor deprivation. Paradoxically, SirT1 inhibition also sensitizes cells to apoptosis by chemotherapy drugs. Immunohistochemical staining revealed high level SirT1 in normal colon mucosa and benign adenomas. SirT1 overexpression was observed in ∼25% of stage I/II/III colorectal adenocarcinomas but rarely found in advanced stage IV tumors. Furthermore, ∼30% of carcinomas showed lower than normal SirT1 expression. This pattern is consistent with SirT1 having pleiotropic effects during cancer development (anti-proliferation and anti-apoptotic). These results suggest a rationale for the use of SirT1 activators and inhibitors in the prevention and treatment of colon cancer.
Application of Inverse Filtering for Detecting Laryngeal Pathology

Inverse filtering analysis was performed on acoustic speech samples of the vowel sound “ah” produced by ten selected patients and ten normal adults. The inverse filter output signal is the residue obtained by automatically extracting the effects of the supraglottal structure from the acoustic speech signal. For normal speakers, the residue consists of a series of rather sharp periodic spikes having low amplitude noise between periods. For pathological voices, the residue consists of lower amplitude, less sharp spikes having higher amplitude noise between periods. Comparisons between the acoustic speech waveforms and the residue signals illustrate the superiority of the residue signal for detecting irregularity, and thus suggest the feasibility of applying inverse filtering as an aid to laryngeal diagnostics.
Motivational interviewing with hazardous drinkers

PurposesTo test the effectiveness of motivational interviewing in a population of hazardous drinkers utilizing community health care centers in rural southeastern Idaho. Data sourcesThis study targeted rural people at risk for alcohol dependence utilizing low-income community health care centers in rural southeastern Idaho. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was used to screen interested clients' alcohol use. Clients achieving an AUDIT score indicating hazardous alcohol use were recruited into the study and randomized into a control or treatment group. Twenty-six hazardous drinkers attending five low-income community health centers participated in the study. The experimental group participated in one motivational interviewing session with the investigator, a family nurse practitioner (NP). The comparison group received no treatment. Alcohol use was tracked for 6 weeks after successful recruitment into the program. ConclusionsParticipants in the study significantly decreased their average number of drinks per day. At time 1 (pretreatment), the control group drank 4.37 drinks per day and the treatment group drank 4.65 drinks per day. At time 2 (posttest), the control group drank 3.77 drinks per day and the treatment group drank 1.95 drinks per day. The effects of the motivational interviewing treatment on hazardous drinking also were measured by serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), a liver function test. There was also a significant decrease in the GGT from pretest to posttest in the treatment group. Implications for practiceThe results of this investigation found that motivational interviewing shows promise as an effective intervention for hazardous drinkers attending low-income community clinics. Although other possible explanations could be postulated for the positive changes in sample participants, the data indicate that the motivational interviewing approach was responsible for a significant portion of the positive changes within the current sample. The information collected from the study adds to the literature on hazardous drinking, research, and treatment of this significant problem. Negotiating change in behavior is part of the practice of NPs. People struggling with alcohol use are more likely to encounter NPs, family doctors, or social workers than counselors specializing in alcohol treatment. Motivational interviewing is specifically designed for preparing people for change. Because most people resist being told what to do, that is, “you have to stop drinking,” use of motivational interviewing principles can decrease resistance and optimize change. Additionally, identifying and intervening with hazardous drinking in a primary care setting can reduce healthcare costs and reduce the stigma of specialist care. Adding this valuable communication skill to the competencies of NPs is important to both clients and NPs.
Transfusion of cryopreserved packed red blood cells is safe and effective after trauma: a prospective randomized trial.

OBJECTIVES To determine the safety and efficacy of cryopreserved packed red blood cell (CPRBC) transfusion in trauma patients. BACKGROUND Liquid packed red blood cells (LPRBCs) have an abbreviated shelf-life and worsening storage lesion with age. CPRBCs are frozen 2 to 6 days after donation, stored up to 10 years, and are available for 14 days after thawing and washing. CPRBCs can be utilized in diverse settings, but the effect on clinical outcomes is unknown. METHODS We performed a prospective, randomized, double-blind study at 5 level 1 trauma centers. Stable trauma patients requiring transfusion were randomized to young LPRBCs (≤14 storage days), old LPRBCs (>14 storage days), or CPRBCs. Tissue oxygenation (StO2), biochemical and inflammatory mediators were measured, and clinical outcomes were determined. RESULTS Two hundred fifty-six patients with well-matched injury severity and demographics (P > 0.2) were randomized (84 young, 86 old, and 86 CPRBCs). Pretransfusion and final hematocrits were similar (P > 0.68). Patients in all groups received the same number of units postrandomization (2 [1-4]; P > 0.05). There was no difference in the change in tissue oxygenation between groups. CPRBCs contained less α2-macrogobulin, haptoglobin, C-reactive protein, and serum amyloid P (P < 0.001). Organ failure, infection rate, and mortality did not differ between groups (P > 0.2). CONCLUSIONS Transfusion of CPRBCs is as safe and effective as transfusion of young and old LPRBCs and provides a mechanism to deliver PRBCs in a wide variety of settings.
[Effect of the increase of the caloric load of a meal on gastric emptying of its solid and liquid phases].

Caloric regulation of gastric emptying was mainly assessed with artificial liquid meals. We thus studied the effects of glucidic and lipidic caloric loads on gastric emptying of a solid-liquid meal (400 ml; 480 kcal), measured by an isotopic technique. Sixteen healthy subjects were separated in 3 groups; solutions of identical volume (400 ml) were added to the meal: water in group I (N = 6), glucose polymers (Caloreen; 400 kcal) in group II (N = 5), and triglycerides (Intralipide; 400 kcal) in group III (N = 5). Gastric emptying was dramatically slower in groups II and III than in group I, whatever the parameter considered. The magnitude of this caloric brake was identical for the 2 caloric loads tested and concerned both phases of the meal. Therefore, 3 h after the end of the meal, intragastric percentages of ingested liquids were 50 +/- 4 in group II, 52 +/- 5 in group III, vs 14 +/- 1 p. 100 in group I (p less than 0.001); for solids these percentages were 56 +/- 6 and 68 +/- 2 vs 11 +/- 3 p. 100 (p less than 0.001). In all groups, emptying of solids was slower than that of liquids, but the kinetics of this discrimination was modified by the increase of caloric load. The pyloric output of calories, estimated for the 3 h of the study was close to 2 kcal/min for the 3 groups studied. Thus, the 2 fold increase of the caloric concentration in groups II and III as compared to group I, did not modify the delivery rate of energy to small bowel. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Copolymers of poly(lactic acid) and d-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate-based nanomedicines: versatile multifunctional platforms for cancer diagnosis and therapy

Introduction: The major drawbacks associated with most of the anti-cancer drugs are their potential adverse effects. Distribution of these drugs throughout the body causes untoward adverse effects and less accumulation of drug at the site of tumors also causes decrease in therapeutic efficacy. Targeted nanomedicines are the emerging systems to improve the targetability of drug to the tumor site and to reduce the toxicity with maximum efficacy. Copolymers of poly-lactic acid (PLA) and d-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (Vitamin-E TPGS or TPGS) are innovative materials being actively investigated for the fabrication of non-targeted and targeted nanomedicines for diagnosis and therapy of cancer. Areas covered: In this review, different nanomedicines of copolymers such as poly-lactic acid – polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (PLA – Tween® 80), poly-lactic acid – poly-ethyleneglycol (PLA-PEG), poly-lactic acid-d-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (PLA-TPGS) and TPGS-based nanomedicines (i.e., TPGS emulsified polymeric nanoparticles, TPGS prodrugs, TPGS liposomes, and TPGS micelles) for the diagnosis and therapy of cancer have been discussed. Expert opinion: PLA, PLA-Tween® 80, PLA-PEG, PLA-TPGS, and TPGS are the promising polymeric biomaterials well studied as cancer nanomedicines. These biomaterials have proved that they could be applied in the fabrication of multifunctional nanomedicines for the future needs in simultaneous diagnosis of cancer as well as targeted chemotherapy.
Performance of the MTBDRsl assay in Georgia.

SETTING The country of Georgia has a high burden of multi- (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). OBJECTIVE To assess the performance of the GenoType® MTBDRsl assay in the detection of resistance to kanamycin (KM), capreomycin (CPM) and ofloxacin (OFX), and of XDR-TB. DESIGN Consecutive acid-fast bacilli smear-positive sputum specimens identified as MDR-TB using the MTBDRplus test were evaluated with the MTBDRsl assay and conventional second-line drug susceptibility testing (DST). RESULTS Among 159 specimens, amplification was adequate in 154 (97%), including 9 of 9 culture-negative and 2 of 3 contaminated specimens. Second-line DST revealed that 17 (12%) Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates were XDR-TB. Compared to DST, the MTBDRsl had 41% sensitivity and 98% specificity in detecting XDR-TB and 81% sensitivity and 99% specificity in detecting OFX resistance. Sensitivity was low in detecting resistance to KM (29%) and CPM (57%), while specificity was respectively 99% and 94%. Median times from sputum collection to second-line DST and MTBDRsl results were 70-104 vs. 10 days. CONCLUSION Although the MTBDRsl assay had a rapid turnaround time, detection of second-line drug resistance was poor compared to DST. Further genetic mutations associated with resistance to second-line drugs should be included in the assay to improve test performance and clinical utility.
Seasonal changes in children's physical activity: An examination of group changes, intra-individual variability and consistency in activity pattern across season

Background: Components of activity that are more variable over time may be more susceptible to manipulation in activity interventions. Aim: The present study examined variability and consistency of components of children's activity across season. Subjects and methods: Sixty-four 9–11-year-old children wore an accelerometer for 6 days during winter and summer. Activity bouts (≥4 s) greater than light (≥LIGHT), moderate (≥MOD) and vigorous (≥VIG) intensity were recorded. Results: Intra-individual variability of the activity components across season was greater for bout frequency (CV: ≥LIGHT = 6.6–9.9%, ≥MOD = 10.7–16.1%, ≥VIG = 17.0–26.8%) than bout intensity or duration (CV: ≥LIGHT = 3.4–7.4%, ≥MOD = 3.6–7.8%, ≥VIG = 4.2–10.0%, p<0.05) and for the frequency of ≥VIG bouts compared to the frequency of ≥LIGHT and ≥MOD bouts (p<0.05). All components of the activity pattern tended to track consistently when assessing ≥LIGHT and ≥MOD bouts (intra-class correlations (ICC) = 0.47–83, p<0.05), ≥VIG bouts in boys (ICC = 0.69–0.77, p<0.01) and frequency of ≥VIG bouts in girls (ICC = 0.82, p<0.01). Conclusions: Bout frequency was the most variable component of activity across season. However, children tended to maintain their rank for bout frequency. It would be of interest to investigate whether bout frequency can be manipulated in an activity intervention.