Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Contamination of human breast milk with organochlorine residues: a comparison between East and West Germany through sentinel practice networks.

STUDY OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to assess and compare the contamination of human breast milk with organochlorine residues through two sentinel practice networks in Lower Saxony, a state of former West Germany, and Saxony-Anhalt, a state of former East Germany. DESIGN Eligible women were enrolled in this cross sectional study by a network of 51 paediatric practices in Lower Saxony and 44 in Saxony-Anhalt when bringing their babies for a regular screening examination four to six weeks after delivery. Sociodemographic, lifestyle, and exposure factors were determined by questionnaire. Milk samples were analysed for hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), hexachlorbenzole (HCB), DDT, dieldrin, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), and heptachlorepoxid (HCE); half the samples were also analysed for dioxin. Analytic statistics were computed using multiple logistic regression. SETTING The study was conducted in Lower Saxony, Germany, from July 1992 to June 1993, and in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, from January to June 1995. PARTICIPANTS 156 primiparous, breast-feeding women from Lower Saxony and 113 from Saxony-Anhalt were studied, who either were born and raised in former West or East Germany, respectively. MAIN RESULT Mean age of mothers and children differed significantly between the two study groups. In Lower Saxony all but two milk samples were well below the tolerable concentrations established by the German Research Council (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)). In Saxony-Anhalt no participant had concentrations above those recommended by the DFG. After adjustment for age of mother and child, occupational and non-occupational pesticide contact, DDT and beta-HCH concentrations were significantly lower in Lower Saxony; HCE and dieldrin concentrations were lower in Saxony-Anhalt. No differences between the two states were found for PCB, HCB, gamma-HCH, and dioxin. CONCLUSIONS Breast milk contamination levels in former East German Saxony-Anhalt exceeded the contamination in Lower Saxony only for DDT and beta-HCH.
A Role for Angiotensin II in the Activation of Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinases in the Liver During Hemorrhagic Shock

Hemorrhagic shock (HS) is a complex process that initiates a global stress response. However, the earliest signaling pathways responsible for initiating this response remain unidentified. We have investigated the involvement of the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK 1/2; also known as p42/44) and their activation in the liver by angiotensin II in the early signal transduction after HS. Hemorrhage of mice to 25 mmHg for 30 min was associated with the activation of ERK 1/2 in the liver, and this was accompanied by a 6.7-fold elevation of circulating angiotensin II levels. Similar results were obtained in rats. Both the angiotensin II levels and ERK 1/2 phosphorylation were suppressed by administration of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor peptide. Plasma from shocked rats, but not shocked rats treated with the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, increased ERK 1/2 phosphorylation in cultured hepatocytes. Together, these data suggest that angiotensin II is an important stimulus for ERK 1/2 activation in the liver during HS.
Migration of phthalates on culture plates – an important challenge to consider for in vitro studies

ABSTRACT Phthalates are endocrine disruptors of the reproductive system and suspected to influence many other organ and hormone systems. They are also semi-volatile organic compounds present in the gas phase in the environment. Their mode of action has been investigated in numerous in vitro studies. Multi-well culture plates are typically used to study phthalates in cell cultures. In a pilot study, we observed evidence of phthalate migration in 24-well culture plates. As this has not previously been described, we investigated the phenomenon in more detail. Primary human thyroid epithelial cell cultures (n = 8 cultures) were exposed to either di-ethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) or di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). Measurement of phthalate metabolites by mass spectrometry demonstrated that the short-branched DEP was able to migrate to adjacent wells when added to cell culture plates. DnBP also seemed to be able to migrate, unlike the long-branched DEHP or the monoester MnBP which did not seem to have this ability. High background levels of phthalate metabolites were also observed, which might compromise results from low dose phthalate studies. In conclusion, the migration of phthalates which is probably caused by their volatile properties might lead to false interpretation of study results.
Rapid review in cervical cytology: a retrospective review of cases detected on rapid review within a DGH cytology department and subsequent outcome

We retrospectively reviewed smears detected by rapid review within a district general hospital (DGH) laboratory over a period of 33 months and the subsequent histological or cytological outcome. Sixty‐three cases had adequate follow‐up data: 32 subsequently had two negative smears and 31 had a histological abnormality on subsequent biopsy. Twenty were high‐grade lesions (CIN2, CIN3 or a glandular lesion) and eight of these were preceded by a low‐grade smear abnormality. We reviewed and compared the pattern and distribution of smear abnormalities in these 63 cases. Abnormalities were often present within few cells (76%, n = 48 with 50 abnormal cells or less) or in micro‐biopsies (27%, n = 17). There was no statistical difference in the pattern and distribution of smear abnormality between the rapid review‐detected smears with a biopsy‐proven abnormality and those with negative follow‐up smears. Overall, the positive predictive value for high‐grade CIN detected by rapid review (75%) was within NHSCSP achievable standards targets. This review of rapid review‐detected abnormalities and the biopsy and cytological follow‐up reiterates the importance of the method in cervical screening.
Channel Sounding Measurements at 59.5 MHz Across the Australian Capital Territory

Channel sounding is an important step in the development of any wireless communication system in order to determine small-scale fading effects. We present measurements taken with a direct sequence spread spectrum sliding correlator on TV band I (centre frequency: 59.5 MHz) at 15 locations across the Australian Capital Territory and surrounding regions. The measurements were made over various types of terrain at distances ranging from approximately 1-50 km. The RMS delay spread was calculated from the channel impulse response and found to be between 0.24 - 4.88 mus
Robust meta‐analytic‐predictive priors in clinical trials with historical control information

Historical information is always relevant for clinical trial design. Additionally, if incorporated in the analysis of a new trial, historical data allow to reduce the number of subjects. This decreases costs and trial duration, facilitates recruitment, and may be more ethical. Yet, under prior‐data conflict, a too optimistic use of historical data may be inappropriate. We address this challenge by deriving a Bayesian meta‐analytic‐predictive prior from historical data, which is then combined with the new data. This prospective approach is equivalent to a meta‐analytic‐combined analysis of historical and new data if parameters are exchangeable across trials. The prospective Bayesian version requires a good approximation of the meta‐analytic‐predictive prior, which is not available analytically. We propose two‐ or three‐component mixtures of standard priors, which allow for good approximations and, for the one‐parameter exponential family, straightforward posterior calculations. Moreover, since one of the mixture components is usually vague, mixture priors will often be heavy‐tailed and therefore robust. Further robustness and a more rapid reaction to prior‐data conflicts can be achieved by adding an extra weakly‐informative mixture component. Use of historical prior information is particularly attractive for adaptive trials, as the randomization ratio can then be changed in case of prior‐data conflict. Both frequentist operating characteristics and posterior summaries for various data scenarios show that these designs have desirable properties. We illustrate the methodology for a phase II proof‐of‐concept trial with historical controls from four studies. Robust meta‐analytic‐predictive priors alleviate prior‐data conflicts ' they should encourage better and more frequent use of historical data in clinical trials.
Les outils du Paléolithique moyen, une mémoire technique oubliée ? Approche techno-fonctionnelle appliquée à un assemblage lithique de conception Levallois provenant du site d’Umm el Tlel (Syrie centrale)

Si nous savons que les hommes du Paleolithique moyen ont coupe, taille, perce, tranche des materiaux organiques et travaille des materiaux mineraux, nous sommes bien incapables de determiner avec precision ce que sont les outils impliques dans ces actions. Non seulement ces derniers ne correspondent plus a notre memoire technique mais fondamentalement, c’est la logique conceptuelle de ces outils qui nous echappe encore. Pourtant, alors que des son developpement dans les annees 1950/1960, la technologie lithique, impliquant plusieurs disciplines – la technologie sensu stricto, la traceologie et la typologie -, a eu pour objectif principal de decrypter les productions lithiques humaines, leur culture materielle et de ce fait les outils, nous retrouvons encore aujourd’hui dans une impasse methodologique, doublee d’une absence de memoire technique actualiste des outils du Paleolithique moyen. Cette impasse nous a conduit, au final, a operer une distinction forte entre la production des supports d’un cote et la confection et l’utilisation des outils de l’autre.L’objectif de cette recherche, appliquee a un assemblage lithique de conception Levallois peu retouche provenant du site d’Umm el Tlel (Syrie centrale), resulte en une proposition methodologique basee sur une approche globalisante integrant la technologie sensu stricto, la technologie fonctionnelle et la traceologie. L’application de cette methode d’analyse integree a permis de mettre en exergue les intentions productionnelles et techno-fonctionnelles indissociables de cette production Levallois impliquee dans la production des outils, bruts ou retouches. Nous attendions de cette methode qu’elle nous donne les moyens de franchir une etape supplementaire dans la comprehension du concept outil Levallois et de modifier notre perception des industries lithiques Levallois et particulierement, dans ce cadre d’etude, du Levallois proche-oriental. Finalement, l’etude menee a apporte des elements de reponse concernant la logique operatoire du debitage Levallois, ce dernier relevant d’une integration totale, non additionnelle et sans rupture, de l’ensemble des phases operatoires convergeant vers un seul but : la realisation d’outil emmanches. Ce concept apparait comme le moteur d’une evolution cognitive et conceptuelle au Paleolithique moyen, liee a une utilisation pratique courante de l’emmanchement et donc a une nouvelle conception de l’outillage. Souvent discute comme un signe d’evolution dont les lames de type Paleolithique superieur en serait les uniques temoins, l’emmanchement semble etre couramment utilise des le Paleolithique moyen avec le debitage Levallois.Les resultats de ce travail doivent desormais etre integres dans une reflexion plus large concernant la diversite des manifestations du Levallois et de son extension, tant geographique que chronologique.
A review of host major-gene resistance to potato viruses X, Y, A and V in potato: genes, genetics and mapped locations

In view of modern developments in the technologies available for breeding potatoes for resistance to virus diseases, it is timely to review the host major genes that confer resistance, in Solanum species, to potato viruses X, Y, A and V (the viruses for which the resistance genes have been most extensively studied). Over the course of 60 years, many such genes in Solanum species have been characterized: a comprehensive list is presented. Inheritance studies are reviewed, including linkage studies and molecular mapping, and the positions of resistance genes mapped so far are listed. It is apparent from recent research that disease resistance genes are often clustered in particular regions of the chromosomes; the significance of these resistance gene clusters is discussed. The information presented will be useful for potato breeding, and for genetic and mapping studies and gene cloning.
Abnormalities of Fuel Metabolism in the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

To investigate the metabolic effects of medroxyprogesterone acetate, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome was evaluated before and after long-term therapy with this drug. The effects of suppression of pituitary gonadotropins and ovarian sex steroids were correlated with the response to an oral glucose load and with a serum lipid profile. Twenty of 25 women with polycystic ovary syndrome weighed more than 150% of their ideal body weight. None of the patients had fasting hyperglycemia. Fasting and peak serum insulin responses to glucose were abnormally high in most patients with polycystic ovary ' syndrome. Fasting serum insulin had a significant positive correlation with percent ideal body weight (r=.7, P <.01). High density lipoprotein cholesterol was low in all patients studied, whereas total cholesterol and serum triglyceride levels were normal. Therapy with medroxyprogesterone acetate did not affect body weight, glucose tolerance, or serum lipids. The correlations between serum testosterone and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or insulin levels were not significant (P > .1). The authors conclude that medroxyprogesterone acetate does not affect the metabolic syndrome of obesity, hyperinsulinemia, and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol that is commonly seen in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Population-Based Study on the Epidemiology of Ménière's Disease

Background and Objective: Ménière's disease (MD) is a disorder of the inner ear typically showing recurrent acute episodes of vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus. Epidemiologic studies on MD are scarce. We assessed the incidence rates (IRs) of MD and describe the characteristics of MD cases, comparing them to control patients without recorded evidence of MD. Study Design: We conducted a retrospective population-based follow-up study and a nested case-control analysis using data from the UK-based Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Methods: We identified patients between 18 and 79 years of age with an incident MD diagnosis between January 1993 and December 2014. We assessed the IRs of betahistine-treated MD. In the nested case-control analysis, we matched 4 controls to each MD case on sex, age, general practice, years of active history in the database, and calendar time. We conducted a χ2 test to present p values in order to compare the prevalence of demographics, comorbidities, and co-medication between cases and controls. Results: We identified 5,508 MD cases and 22,032 MD-free controls (65.4% females). The overall IR for MD in the UK was 13.1 per 100,000 person-years. More cases were female, and the mean age at diagnosis was 55.4 ± 13.7 years. Smoking and alcohol consumption were less prevalent among MD cases. Depression, other affective disorders, sleeping disorders, anxiety, and migraine were more prevalent among MD cases than among controls. Conclusions: MD is uncommon in primary care in the UK with a preponderance among females.
Induction of Argininosuccinate Synthetase in Rat Brain Glial Cells after Striatal Microinjection of Immunostimulants

The enzyme argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) initiates the metabolic pathway leading from L-citrulline to L-arginine, the only physiological substrate of all isoforms of nitric oxide synthases. The presence of ASS in glial cells in vivo was investigated by immunohistochemical methods in a model of rat brain inflammation. Phosphate-buffered saline or a mixture of bacterial lipopolysaccharide and interferon-γ was injected into the left striatum, and animals were killed 24 hours later. Ipsilateral and contralateral sides of brain sections were incubated with an antiserum against ASS or antibodies against cell-specific markers. In the three areas examined, striatum, corpus callosum, and cortex, a strong induction of ASS immunoreactivity was observed in glial cells after injection of immunostimulants. A detailed quantitative analysis of double-stained sections revealed that ASS was almost exclusively expressed in reactive, ED1-positive microglial cells/brain macrophages in immunostimulant- or sham-injected ipsilateral sides of the sections. Furthermore, ASS/ED1 costaining was observed in perivascular cells. Colocalization of ASS with astroglial marker glial fibrillary acidic protein was given only occasionally after immunostimulation. ASS-positive neurons were detected in control and experimental animals; staining intensity was comparable in both cases. The results suggest that neurons express ASS constitutively, whereas the enzyme is induced in glial cells in response to proinflammatory stimuli. This finding is the first demonstration of an induction of a pathway auxiliary to generation of nitric oxide in brain in response to immunostimulants and provides new insight into neural arginine metabolism.
Relationship between ICU nurses’ moral distress with burnout and anticipated turnover

Background: Moral distress is one of intensive care unit nurses’ major problems, which may happen due to various reasons, and has several consequences. Due to various moral distress outcomes in intensive care unit nurses, and their impact on nurses’ personal and professional practice, recognizing moral distress is very important. Research objective: The aim of this study was to determine correlation between moral distress with burnout and anticipated turnover in intensive care unit nurses. Research design: This study is a descriptive-correlation research. Participants and research context: A total of 159 intensive care unit nurses were selected from medical sciences universities in Iran. Data collection instruments included “demographic questionnaire,” “ICU Nurses’ Moral Distress Scale,” “Copenhagen Burnout Inventory” and “Hinshaw and Atwood Turnover Scale. ” Data analysis was done by using SPSS19. Ethical considerations: Informed consent from samples and research approval was obtained from Shahid Beheshti Medical Sciences University Research Ethics Board in Tehran. Findings: The findings showed intensive care unit nurses’ moral distress and anticipated turnover was high, but burnout was moderate. The results revealed that there was a positive statistical correlation between intensive care unit nurses’ age, their work experience and the fraction of nurses’ number to number of intensive care unit beds with their moral distress and burnout. However, there were no correlation between gender, marriage status, educational degree and work shift and moral distress. Discussion: Some of the findings of this research are consistent with other studies and some of them are inconsistent. Conclusion: Similarly, moral distress with burnout and anticipated turnover did not have statistical correlation. However, a positive correlation was found between burnout and anticipated turnover. The results showed that increase in the recruitment of young nurses, and nursing personnel, and diminishing intensive care unit nurses’ moral distress, burnout and their turnover intention are essential.
Perspectives in the Management of Alzheimer’s Disease: Clinical Profile of Donepezil

Donepezil HCl is a piperidine-based reversible acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, chemically distinct from other cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitors and rationally designed to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). It is highly selective for AChE in the central nervous system (CNS), with little or no affinity for butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE). In preclinical studies in animals, donepezil produced increased CNS acetylcholine. The resultant enhancement of cholinergic activity gave rise to improved performance by rats on tests of learning and memory, with no evidence of hepatic or renal toxicity. In subsequent phase I clinical evaluations in healthy volunteers, donepezil demonstrated favorable pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and safety profiles. Its long terminal disposition half-life supported once-daily administration, with no requirement for dose modification in the elderly or in patients with renal or hepatic impairment. A 14-week, phase II dose-finding study in patients with mild to moderate AD (Clinical Dementia Rating [CDR], 1–2; Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE], 10–26) showed that donepezil at a dose of 5 mg/day produced highly significant improvements in cognition (as measured by the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale, cognitive subscale [ADAS-cog]). Subsequently, two pivotal parallel-group, placebo-controlled phase III trials (of 15 and 30 weeks’ duration) showed highly statistically significant improvements in ADAS-cog, MMSE, Clinician’s Interview-Based Impression of Change with caregiver input (CIBIC plus) and CDR-SB (Sum of the Boxes) scores, compared with placebo, in mild to moderate AD patients treated with either 5 or 10 mg/day donepezil. Adverse events in the phase II and III trials were mild and transient and resolved with continued donepezil administration. The donepezil clinical trials program has shown that this drug is a clinically effective and well-tolerated once-daily treatment for the symptoms of mild to moderate AD.
Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A 20-year experience in 516 patients

Hypothesis Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is a safe procedure for a variety of periampullary conditions. Design Retrospective review of a prospectively collected database. Setting Academic tertiary care hospital. Patients A total of 516 consecutive patients who underwent PD. Main Outcome Measures Patient outcomes and survival factors. Results Pathological examination demonstrated 57% periampullary cancers, 22% chronic pancreatitis, 12% cystic neoplasms, 4% islet cell neoplasms, and 5% other. Fifty-one percent of patients underwent pylorus preservation. Median operating time was 5 hours; blood loss, 1300 mL; and transfusion requirement, 1.5 U. Postoperative complications occurred in 43% of patients, including cardiopulmonary events (15%), fistula (9%), delayed gastric emptying (7%), and sepsis (6%). Additional surgery was required in 3% of patients, most commonly because of bleeding. Perioperative mortality was 3.9% overall but only 1.8% in patients with chronic pancreatitis; 25% of patients who died had preoperative complications associated with their periampullary condition. Three-year survival was 15% after resection for pancreatic cancer, 42% for duodenal cancer, 53% for ampullary cancer, and 62% for bile duct cancer. Univariate predictors of long-term survival in patients with periampullary adenocarcinoma included elevated glucose levels, liver function test results, abnormal tumor markers, blood loss, transfusion requirement, type of operation, and pathologic findings (periampullary adenocarcinoma type, differentiation, and margin and node status). Multivariate predictors were serum total bilirubin level, blood loss, operation type, diagnosis, and lymph node status. Conclusions Pancreaticoduodenectomy continues to be associated with considerable morbidity. With careful patient selection, PD can be performed safely. Long-term survival in patients with periampullary adenocarcinoma can be predicted by preoperative laboratory values, intraoperative factors, and pathologic findings.