Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Helicobacter pylori infection, host genetics and gastric cancer

Helicobacter pylori infects half the world's population and is responsible for a considerable global health burden, including peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. The infection causes a chronic gastritis, the severity and distribution of which determine the clinical outcome. Bacterial, environmental and host genetic factors combine to define the degree of gastric damage. Most patients have a limited mild pan‐gastritis with no significant clinical consequences. Antral‐predominant gastritis is associated with high gastric acid output and an increased risk of duodenal ulcers. Corpus‐predominant gastritis is associated with a reduction in gastric acid, multifocal gastric atrophy and an increased risk of gastric cancer. Host genetic factors are particularly important in defining the severity and extent of Helicobacter‐induced gastritis. The most relevant and consistent genetic factors uncovered thus far are in the interleukin‐1 and tumor necrosis factor‐A gene clusters. These cytokines appear to play a key role in the pathophysiology of gastric cancer and their roles have been confirmed in animal models that mimic human gastric neoplasia. More genetic factors have also been uncovered and, with advancing technology, there is every prospect of defining a full genetic risk profile in the next decade. This will aid in targeting the testing and treatment of Helicobacter pylori, which offers a true opportunity to prevent and defeat this global killer.
Neonatal capsaicin treatment induces invasion of the substantia gelatinosa by the terminal arborizations of hair follicle afferents in the rat dorsal horn

Capsaicin, administered on the day of birth, was found to alter laminar distribution, but not the receptive field properties or the morphology of the collateral arborizations of hair follicle afferents (HFAs) intra‐axonally injected with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Of the 65 HFA terminal arbors in capsaicin treated rats, 46 (71 %) were found to enter the substantia gelatinosa (in control rats, 44/165, 27%). All of the collaterals projected to somatotopically normal areas of cord. Dorsal horn shrinkage (21%), as estimated by planimetric measurements of Nissl and acetylcholinesterase‐stained material, was only a partial explanation of this result. This idea was supported by the statistically significant increase (27%, P < 0.05) in the absolute dorsoventral length of collaterals.
Routine detection and identification in urine of stimulants and other drugs, some of which may be used to modify performance in sport

A general procedure for the analysis in urine of basic drugs (and their metabolites), some of which may be misused as stimulants in sport, has been developed. The techniques used include gas‐liquid and thin‐layer chromatography and linked gas‐liquid chromatography—mass spectroscopy. It is recommended that international control of drug‐taking in sport be based primarily upon urine analysis by gas‐liquid chromatography systems and also derivative formation followed by gas‐liquid chromatography. The principles outlined in the procedure can be applied in a much wider forensic context.
Amphotericin B‐induced hepatorenal failure in cystic fibrosis

Although nephrotoxicity is a common and well‐recognized side effect of amphotericin B, hepatotoxicity is rare. We report on a 9‐year‐old girl with cystic fibrosis who developed fulminant renal and hepatic dysfunction following a short course of intravenous amphotericin B for a suspected aspergillus infection, although she did not have clinical evidence of invasive aspergillosis. The toxicity became apparent after changing to liposomal amphotericin. This association of renal and hepatotoxicity with liposomal amphotericin B has not previously been reported in children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2002; 33:497–500. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Is it time for consultants to join trainees in working night shifts? Yes

Patient Safety and Healthcare Human Factors, School of Psychology, Social Work and Social Policy, Sleep Research Centre, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Joanna Briggs Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, and Australian Patient Safety Foundation, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Placebo-controlled phase III study of lenograstim (glycosylated recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor) in aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: factors influencing chemotherapy administration. Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes de l'Adulte.

The purpose of this study was to, assess the efficacy of glycosylated recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (lenograstim) in the prevention of neutropenia and infection in patients receiving dose-intensive chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). A second objective was to determine clinical predicators of delay to cytotoxic chemotherapy administration. One hundred-sixty two patients with intermediate- or high-grade NHL and at least one poor prognostic factor received a total of 4 cycles of the LNH-84-regimen every 2 weeks, with an open randomization to treatment with anthracyclines. Patients were randomized to receive subcutaneous lenograstim 5 micrograms/kg/day (n = 82) or placebo (n = 80) from day 6 to day 13 of each cycle. The incidence of severe neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count (ANC) < 0.5 x 10(9)/L) was reduced in the lenograstim group compared with placebo (52% vs 75%). A significant reduction (p < 0.001) in the median duration of ANC < 0.5 x 10(9)/L was also observed in patients treated with lenograstim during each cycle of chemotherapy (0-1 day vs 2-4 days in placebo recipients). Fever occurred in 66 patients in each treatment group. Thirty-four percent of placebo recipients had documented infections during ANC < 1.0 x 10(9)/L compared with 18.5% of lenograstim-treated patients (p < 0.05). Infections of > or = 2 severity were significantly less frequent (p = 0.001) among lenograstim recipients compared with placebo (25 vs 49). The most common adverse events among lenograstim recipients were headache, mild bone pain and injection site reactions. Although lenograstim significantly increased (p = 0.0001) relative dose intensity compared with placebo (93% vs 80%), no difference in CR rate (67% vs 71%) or 3-year survival (63% vs 55%) was observed. The results of this study suggest that patients treated with a chemotherapy regimen that induces severe neutropenia can benefit from treatment with lenograstim. Furthermore, lenograstim permits treatment to be delivered at full dose intensity at 2 week intervals, even in patients with bone marrow involvement, and may permit further dose escalation of the chemotherapeutic regimen used.
Influence of dietary factors on nitrogen partitioning and composition of urine and feces of fattening pigs.

An experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of dietary factors on the partitioning of nitrogen excretion and on the pH and composition of urine and feces of fattening pigs. Sixteen male hybrid pigs of 80 to 90 kg BW were allotted to one of four diets: based on grains, by-products, grains plus tapioca, or grains plus sugar beet pulp. Diets were formulated to have similar contents of NE and CP and a similar lysine:NE ratio. Diets differed in nonstarch polysaccharide content (NSP) and dietary electrolyte balance (dEB). During an 8-d period, urine and feces were quantitatively collected daily in metabolism cages and mixed to a slurry. There was no effect of the diet on total nitrogen excretion (P > .05). However, the nitrogen excretion pattern differed between diets (P < .001). Pigs fed the by-product- and the sugar beet pulp-based diets excreted less nitrogen via urine and more nitrogen via feces than pigs fed the grain- and tapioca-based diets. The type of diet significantly affected the pH of urine, feces, and slurry. The pH of slurry from pigs fed the sugar beet pulp-based diet was . 44 to 1.13 units lower than that of slurry from pigs fed the other three diets. An increased dietary NSP content reduced the pH of feces and slurry. A decreased dEB reduced the pH of urine and slurry. We conclude that dietary NSP influences the partitioning of excretory nitrogen between urine and feces. Dietary NSP and dEB can influence the pH of urine, feces, and slurry.
Determination Of Multiple Antibiotic Resistance Index Of Escherichia Coli Isolated From The Drinking Water Sources In Ado-Ekiti And Environs , Nigeria

Antibiotic resistance profile of Escherichia coli isolates from drinking water sources; wells, pipes, boreholes, sachets water and streams in Ado-Ekiti and its environs was evaluated. In all, 500 water samples were collected and analyzed for the presence of E. coli using standard methods. A susceptibility testing was performed by standard disc diffusion method against twenty commonly used antibiotics. A total of 382 E. coli isolates were recovered from the various drinking water sources among which 127 (33.25%) isolates showed antibiotic resistance to the antibiotics. Also, from among the isolates that demonstrated antibiotic resistance, only 51.97% demonstrated multiple antibiotic resistance patterns in different combinations of antibiotics. The multiple antibiotic resistance index (MARI) of the isolates ranges from 0.05 to 0.75 indicating high risk of environmental contamination. High MAR indices mandates vigilant surveillance and remedial measures due to its negative effect on antibiotic therapy for infectious
Visual Apparent Movement: Transformations of Size and Orientation

Sequential alternation between same-shaped stimuli differing in size (size ratio s) and orientation (angular difference v) produced a visual illusion of translation in depth and concurrent rotation. The minimum stimulus-onset asynchrony required for the appearance of a rigidly moving object was approximately a linearly increasing function of (s− 1)/(s + 1) for simple translation in depth and a linearly increasing function of v for simple rotation. The extrapolated zero intercept was lower for translation than for rotation, but estimated transformation times were additive in combined transformations. The results suggest that (a) the processes of apparent translation in depth and apparent rotation are individually sequential-additive in structure, and (b) apparent translations and rotations are combined by fine-grained alternation of steps of apparent translation and steps of apparent rotation. Similar principles account for recent data on imagined spatial transformations of visual size and orientation.
Total occlusion of the infarct-related coronary artery correlates with brachial artery flow-mediated dilation in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction

Background: Occlusion of the coronary artery is the main cause of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In some patients, it is followed by early spontaneous thrombolysis. In this study, we tried to determine whether spontaneous thrombolysis in the infarct-related artery (IRA) correlates with the state of the endothelium, which we assessed using the brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) test. Methods: 52 patients with STEMI were included in the study. Based on the results of coronary angiography performed during the first three days of STEMI, the patients were divided into two groups: Group I (n=33), consisting of patients with remaining total occlusion of the IRA, and Group II (n=19), consisting of patients with spontaneous thrombolysis. We assessed the endothelial function, using the brachial artery FMD test. Results: In Group I, during the first three days of STEMI, brachial artery FMD results were significantly lower than those in Group II: 5.41± (3.23–7.41)% versus 10.81±(8.00–14.89)%, respectively; P=0.000036. After 7–14 days, this difference disappeared because of significant elevation of the FMD levels in the first group. Group I was characterized by higher levels of high sensitive C-reactive protein (CRP), cholesterol, and cholesterol-LDL and lower usage of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors before STEMI. Conclusion: The data presented above reveal that spontaneous coronary thrombolysis in patients with acute STEMI is associated with a preserved endothelium-dependent vasodilator response in the brachial artery. It can depend on the levels of hs-CRP, of fasting glucose, and of ACE-inhibitors from previous treatment.
Integrins, Endometrial Maturation, & Human Embryo Implantation

Cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions are fundamental processes involved in cell migration and tissue remodeling. Both the cyclic regeneration of the human endometrium during the menstrual cycle as well as the process of embryo implantation involve such dynamic interactions. It has become quite clear that integrin adhesion molecules expressed on the surface of cells play critical roles in the transmission of signals from the extracellular milieu to the cells. It is these signals that presumably regulate the behavior of these cells during major morphogenetic processes. In recent years, work in human endometrium and trophoblasts has uncovered both the regulated and constitutive expression of integrin subunits and their extracellular matrix ligands in these tissues. In addition, attempts have been made to correlate pathological states related to either infertility or abnormal pregnancy to the aberrant expression of several of these integrins. The purpose of the present review is to describe briefly our present state of knowledge of the expression of integrins in human endometrium and trophoblasts and provide the reader with the necessary background needed to understand, at the cellular and molecular levels, processes in reproduction such as embryo implantation.
Analytical characterization of S-matrix reconstruction transforms on multiport networks

S-matrix reconstruction transforms are based on two stages of matrix transformation to remove the mismatch-induced errors. Over the years, these transforms are widely used in measurements of multiport devices using two-port vector network analyzer, especially for noncoaxial applications because high-quality matched loads are hardly accessible. In this paper, analytical error analysis of the S-matrix reconstruction transforms is performed to show that three S-matrix transforms have the exact same accuracy. Additionally, the concept of acquiring stationary solutions is presented to improve the accuracy of reconstructing S-matrix with strongly reflecting auxiliary terminations. For noncoaxial measurements, strongly reflecting termination, such as a short-circuited or an open-circuited transmission line is more repeatable, reliable and economical than terminations with loss like resistors. Consequently, the use of strongly reflecting auxiliary terminations is speculated to ease noncoaxial multiport measurements.
Delay variation tolerant clock scheduling for semi-synchronous circuits

In semi-synchronous framework, the clock is assumed to be distributed periodically to each individual register though not necessarily to all registers simultaneously. It seemed that the effect of delay variation caused by manufacturing and environment variations is more serious than that in a conventional synchronous framework. In this paper, we show a sufficient condition that a circuit works correctly under global delay variation with the delay model that signal propagation delay is the sum of gate delay and routing delay. Using the sufficient condition, we propose a clock scheduling method that guarantees a circuit works correctly within an allowable global delay variation. In experiments, the minimum clock period of a circuit is reduced about 20% compared with conventional synchronous framework even though the circuit behavior is guaranteed in a large global delay variation.
Feasibility and preliminary effects of resistance training and nutritional supplements during versus after radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer: A pilot randomized trial

Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) experience involuntary weight loss that has a negative impact on physical function, morbidity, and survival. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the feasibility of an exercise and nutrition intervention during radiotherapy (RT) compared with after RT, and to examine preliminary effects on skeletal muscle mass.
Suppression of information leakage from electronic devices based on SNR

Recently, the issue of information leakage through electromagnetic radiation has increasingly attracted attention. Using accumulated knowledge and experience, EMC-related committees have established guidelines on standardized acceptable values of EM radiation during device operation. Current electronic devices are usually designed so as to satisfy these EMC standards. However, the main aim of these standards is to reduce EM radiation that disturbs other devices, not radiation that leaks secret information. Even for EM radiation below the value specified in the guidelines, extraction of secret key information remains a possibility. In other words, unlike noise radiation in the field of EMC, there are no definite criteria regarding EM information leakage. Therefore, uncertainty remains as to whether conventional noise suppression techniques are applicable to the suppression of information leakage. This paper discusses the difference between using electromagnetic field suppression techniques for noise and for information by using a quantitative approach. Information leakage and effective countermeasures are investigated, based on a quantitative evaluation of the signal and noise components of the leakage.
EFEITO DAS ESTRATÉGIAS FINANCEIRAS ALINHADO À POLÍTICA DE DIVIDENDOS DAS EMPRESAS DE PROPRIEDADE FAMILIAR E NÃO FAMILIAR BRASILEIRAS

Este estudo objetiva identificar o efeito das estrategias financeiras alinhado a politica de dividendos das empresas de propriedade familiar e nao familiar brasileiras. A amostra para os seis anos analisados de 2007 a 2012 compreendeu 87 empresas listadas na BM&FBovespa. Desta amostra 45 empresas sao de propriedade familiar e 42 empresas nao possuem caracteristica familiar. A pesquisa classifica-se como descritiva, documental e de carater quantitativo. Os resultados apontam que somente a rentabilidade e positivamente significativa, obtendo poder explicativo para o pagamento dos dividendos (payout) das empresas analisadas. Os achados demonstram que as empresas nao familiares realizam mais distribuicao dos dividendos do que as empresas familiares, resultados estes, que corroboram pesquisas anteriores realizadas. Concluise, assim, que as empresas familiares utilizam estrategias financeiras diferentes das empresas nao familiares, sendo que essas ultimas distribuem mais dividendos quando comparadas com empresas familiares. O grupo de empresas nao familiares esperam retornos em menor tempo, ja as empresas de propriedade familiar estao voltadas a retornos futuros de longo prazo, retendo mais lucros para a entidade, esperando com isso que a propriedade continue em poder da familia. Com isso, o estudo contribui demonstrando as estrategias que sao utilizadas pelas empresas, sejam familiares ou nao familiares.
Australian deceased donor kidney allocation protocols: Transplant waiting and graft quality for children and adolescents

DD kidney allocation protocols may influence timing of transplantation and graft quality for pediatric recipients. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of these protocols, including pediatric priority, on waiting time on dialysis, transplant type, donor age, and HLA matching according to state of transplant in Australia. De‐identified information on patients <15 yr of age who commenced RRT in NSW, Qld, and Victoria from 2002 to 2011 was retrieved from the ANZDATA. Transplant type, donor age, and HLA mismatching were compared between states, with competing risk regression used to examine the time to transplant. There were significant differences in waiting time to DD transplantation between the three states. Children in NSW and Qld waited a median of 14 and 11 months vs. 21 months in Victoria. The ratio of LD to DD transplants was lower in NSW and Qld. Differences correlated with DD pediatric priority in NSW and Qld. DDs in NSW were older than in the other states. HLA matching did not differ. DD kidney allocation protocols with pediatric priority in Australian states were associated with shorter waiting times and increased DD proportion.
Does risperidone improve verbal working memory in treatment-resistant schizophrenia?

OBJECTIVE Treatment efficacy in schizophrenia is typically defined in terms of symptom reduction. However, new antipsychotic medications could potentially have an impact on aspects of disability, such as neurocognitive deficits. The authors evaluated the effects of risperidone on verbal working memory, a memory component of theoretical interest because of its link to prefrontal activity and of practical interest because of its link to psychosocial rehabilitation. METHOD Verbal working memory of 59 treatment-resistant schizophrenic patients was assessed as part of a randomized, double-blind comparison of treatment with risperidone and haloperidol. Verbal working memory was measured under both distracting and nondistracting conditions at baseline and after 4 weeks of both fixed- and flexible-dose pharmacotherapy. RESULTS Risperidone treatment had a greater beneficial effect on verbal working memory than haloperidol treatment across testing conditions (with and without distraction) and study phases (fixed and flexible dose). The treatment effect remained significant after the effects of benztropine cotreatment, change in psychotic symptoms, and change in negative symptoms were controlled. Neither benztropine status nor symptom changes were significantly related to memory performance. CONCLUSIONS Treatment with risperidone appears to exert a more favorable effect on verbal working memory than treatment with a conventional neuroleptic. The beneficial effect appears to be due, at least partially, to a direct effect of the drug, possibly through antagonism of the 5-HT2A receptor. Results from this study suggest that pharmacotherapeutic efficacy in schizophrenia treatment could be broadened to include impact on neurocognitive abilities.
Nuclear magnetism in silver at positive and negative absolute temperatures in the low nanokelvin range.

We have investigated the susceptibility and entropy in the thermally isolated system of silver nuclei down to 0.8 nK and, at negative temperatures, up to -4.3 nK. Low-frequency SQUID-NMR techniques were employed to measure the dynamic sysceptibility. Curie-Weiss behavior was observed for the static susceptibility both at Tg0 and T0; for FTHETA we deduce -4.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.0 nK. Our results show directly that antiferromagnetic nuclear alignment at positive temperatures transforms into ferromagnetic orientation at T0 in the nuclear-spin system of silver, dominated by exchange interaction.
Active cancellation of switching noise for DC-DC converter-driven RF power amplifiers

The use of DC-DC converters to dynamically vary the supply voltage for RF power amplifiers in accordance with the transmitted power is an increasingly popular technique that can significantly improve the efficiency. However the DC-DC converter ripple noise may degrade the power amplifier output signals. In this paper, we demonstrate an active cancellation technique that can dramatically reduce the noise. The technique can be easily integrated into present systems employing DSP and DC-DC converters.