Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
2014 Health Policy Statement on Use of Noninvasive Cardiovascular Imaging

The American College of follows: Mark DB, Anderso Daniel B. Mark, MD, MPH, FACC, FAHA, Chair* Jeffrey L. Anderson, MD, FACC, FAHA, FHRS† Jeffrey A. Brinker, MD, FACC, FSCAI‡ James A. Brophy, MD, FACC* Donald E. Casey, JR, MD, MPH, MBA, FACP, FAHA§ ussell R. Cross, MD, FACC* aniel Edmundowicz, MD, FACC ory Hachamovitch, MD, FACC¶ ark A. Hlatky, MD, FACC, FAHA# ill E. Jacobs, MD, FACR, FNASCI** uzette Jaskie* evin G. Kett, MD, FACC†† inay Malhotra, MBBS, FACC, FAHA, FSCCT‡‡ rederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH, FACC,
The effects of miscarriage and other ‘unsuccessful’ pregnancies on feelings early in a subsequent pregnancy

Abstract Data from pregnant women recruited to a prospective study of the psychological and social effects of screening for fetal abnormality were analysed according to previous reproductive experiences. In this paper we report on the effects of these previous experiences on women's feelings early in this pregnancy. Women who had experienced a previous unsuccessful pregnancy were more anxious, both generally and specifically, about the possibility of something being wrong with the baby and about the possibility of miscarriage. Women with unsuccessful pregnancies and no living children had the highest trait anxiety, when measured early in pregnancy. We show a number of ways in which women who have experienced a previous pregnancy failure differ from women who have not; these differences vary with a number of factors, notably the type of unsuccessful pregnancy, whether or not the woman has living children, the timing of the unsuccessful events, and whether a woman has also had a non-medical termination of p.
Synergistic Effect of Dendritic Cell Vaccination and Anti-CD20 Antibody Treatment in the Therapy of Murine Lymphoma

Indolent B-cell lymphomas are characterized by repeated remissions and relapses with most patients eventually dying of the disease. Although combination treatments with chemotherapy and the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab improved duration of remissions and overall survival, the disease is essentially incurable. Thus, novel therapeutic approaches are needed. One such approach is active immunization with dendritic cells (DCs). Given that rituximab depletes patients of normal B cells, optimal vaccination strategies for rituximab-treated patients require induction of effector T cells. We have previously demonstrated in a murine model that idiotype (Id)-keyhole limpet hemocyanin-pulsed DCs induced Id-reactive CD8+ T cells and protection against tumor challenge in the absence of anti-Id antibodies. On the basis of these results, we investigated vaccination in a therapeutic model, in which mice carrying advanced tumors of the highly aggressive 38C-13 lymphoma were treated with chemotherapy and anti-CD20 antibodies combined with a DC-based vaccine. As a rule, cytoreduction by cyclophosphamide was required in each regimen of combination treatment, and vaccination with tumor cell-loaded DCs was more effective than vaccination with Id-keyhole limpet hemocyanin-loaded DCs. We demonstrated that under conditions of large primary tumors that had already spread to lymph nodes, when anti-CD20 antibody treatment showed minimal effect and DC vaccination had no effect, synergism between anti-CD20 antibodies and DC vaccines resulted in significant long-term survival that did not involve active antitumor antibody production. Combination treatments including tumor cell-loaded DC vaccines may therefore provide a strategy for enhancing the potency of therapy in rituximab-treated patients.
Employment, chronic disease prevalence and medical care among the older population in India: an assessment of linkages

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the linkages of employment, chronic disease prevalence and medical care of the older population in India. Design/methodology/approach – This study used the India Human Development Survey data for the analysis. Bivariate, multinomial logit regression and multiple classification analysis are used as methods for the study. Findings – The findings suggest a bi-directional relationship between employment and chronic diseases: the older population who are engaged in regular paid work has lower likelihood to the risk of chronic diseases compared to those who are not working. Conversely, the older population with chronic diseases may be unable to work in regular paid jobs. The greater proportions of not-working older population with savings and retirement pensions are more likely to seek modern treatment for the chronic diseases. Overall, the results foster that employment determines and is determined by chronic disease prevalence among the older population in Ind.
A Novel Breast/Ovarian Cancer Peptide Vaccine Platform That Promotes Specific Type-1 but not Treg/Tr1-type Responses

In light of lack of efficacy associated with current cancer vaccines, we aimed to develop a novel vaccine platform called DepoVax as a therapeutic vaccine for breast/ovarian cancer. This study was designed to examine the efficacy of this novel platform over conventional emulsion vaccine using human class I MHC transgenic mice. We have developed a water-free depot vaccine formulation (DPX-0907) with high immune activating potential. Naturally processed peptides bound to HLA-A2 molecules isolated from independent breast and ovarian tumor cell lines, but not normal cells, were isolated and used as antigens in DPX-0907 along with a proprietary adjuvant and a T helper peptide epitope. Efficacy of vaccine was tested in immunized HLA-A*0201/H2Dd transgenic mice by measuring the frequency of IFN-γ secreting cells in the draining lymph nodes, and regulatory T-cell frequencies in the spleen. Compared with a water-in-oil emulsion vaccine, DPX-0907 enhanced IFN-γ+CD8+ T cells in vaccine site-draining lymph nodes, as seen by immunofluorescence staining and increased the frequency of IFN-γ+ lymph node cells as seen by enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assay. Notably, while conventional vaccine formulations elicited elevated levels of splenic Foxp3+CD4+ and IL10-secreting T cells, this was not the case for DPX-0907-based vaccines, with treated animals exhibiting normal levels of regulatory T cells. These data support the unique capabilities of a vaccine formulation containing novel tumor peptides and DPX-0907 to elicit type-1 dominated, specific immunity that may represent a potent clinical therapeutic modality for patients with breast or ovarian carcinoma.
Pilot-scale biopesticide production by Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki using starch industry wastewater as raw material

ABSTRACT Pilot-scale Bacillus thuringiensis based biopesticide production (2000 L bioreactor) was conducted using starch industry wastewater (SIW) as a raw material using optimized operational parameters obtained in 15 L and 150 L fermenters. In pilot scale fermentation process the oxygen transfer rate is a major limiting factor for high product yield. Thus, the volumetric mass transfer coefficient (KLa) remains a tool to determine the oxygen transfer capacity [oxygen utilization rate (OUR) and oxygen transfer rate (OTR)] to obtain better bacterial growth rate and entomotoxicity in new bioreactor process optimization and scale-up. This study results demonstrated that the oxygen transfer rate in 2000 L bioreactor was better than 15 L and 150 L fermenters. The better oxygen transfer in 2000 L bioreactor augmented the bacterial growth [total cell (TC) and viable spore count (SC)] and delta-endotoxin yield. Prepared a stable biopesticide formulation for field use and its entomotoxicity was also evaluated. This study result corroborates the feasibility of industrial scale operation of biopesticide production using starch industry wastewater as raw material.
Essential role for phosphoinositide 3-kinase in shear-dependent signaling between platelet glycoprotein Ib/V/IX and integrin αIIbβ3

Platelet adhesion and aggregation at sites of vascular injury are critically dependent on the interaction between von Willebrand factor (VWF) and 2 major platelet adhesion receptors, glycoprotein (GP) Ib/V/IX and integrin αIIbβ3. GP Ib/V/IX binding to VWF mediates platelet tethering and translocation, whereas activation of integrin αIIbβ3 promotes cell arrest. To date, the signaling pathways used by the VWF-GP Ib/V/IX interaction to promote activation of integrin αIIbβ3, particularly under shear, have remained poorly defined. In this study, the potential involvement of type 1 phosphoinositide (PI) 3–kinases in this process was investigated. Results show that platelet adhesion and spreading on immobilized VWF results in a specific increase in the PI 3–kinase lipid product, PtdIns(3,4)P2. Under static conditions, inhibiting PI 3–kinase with LY294002 or wortmannin did not prevent platelet adhesion, integrin αIIbβ3activation, or platelet spreading although it significantly delayed the onset of these events. In contrast, PI 3–kinase inhibition under shear dramatically reduced both platelet adhesion and spreading. Real-time analysis of intracellular calcium demonstrated that under static conditions inhibiting PI 3–kinase delayed the onset of intracellular fluxes in adherent platelets, but did not affect the final magnitude of the calcium response. However, under shear, inhibiting PI 3–kinase dramatically reduced intracellular calcium mobilization and integrin αIIbβ3 activation, resulting in impaired thrombus growth. The studies demonstrate a shear-dependent role for PI 3–kinase in promoting platelet adhesion on immobilized VWF. Under static conditions, platelets appear to mobilize intracellular calcium through both PI 3–kinase–dependent and –independent mechanisms, whereas under shear PI 3–kinase is indispensable for VWF-induced calcium release.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Stress Reduction for Hypertension in Older African Americans

We tested the short-term efficacy and feasibility of two stress education approaches toe the treatment of mild hypertension in older African Americans. This was a randomized, controlled, single-blind trial with 3 months of follow-up in primary care, inner-city health center. Of 213 African American men and women screened, 127 individuals (aged 55 to 85 years with initial diastolic pressure of 90 to 109 mm Hg, systolic pressure of < or = 189 mm Hg, and final baseline blood pressure of < or = 179/104 mm Hg) were selected. Of these, 16 did not complete follow-up blood pressure measurements. Mental and physical stress reduction approaches (Transcendental Meditation and progressive muscle relaxation) were compared with a lifestyle modification education control program and with each other. The primary outcome measures were changes in clinic diastolic and systolic pressures from baseline to final follow-up, measured by blinded observers. The secondary measures were linear blood pressure trends, changes in home blood pressure, and intervention compliance. Adjusted for significant baseline differences and compared with control, Transcendental Meditation reduced systolic pressure by 10.7 mm Hg (P < .0003) and diastolic pressure by 6.4 mm Hg (P <.00005). Progressive muscle relaxation lowered systolic pressure by 4.7 mm Hg (P = 0054) and diastolic pressure by 3.3 mm Hg (P <.02). The reductions in the Transcendental Meditation group were significantly greater than in the progressive muscle relaxation group for both systolic blood pressure (P = .02) and diastolic blood pressure (P = .03). Linear trend analysis confirmed these patterns. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Comparación de la Tomografía Axial Computarizada con el estudio anatomopatológico en el estadiaje ganglionar del cáncer de pulmón

• Propósito: Evaluar la Sensibilidad, Especificidad, Valor predictivo positivo y Valor Predictivo Negativo de la Tomografia Axial Computarizada (TAC) en el estadiaje ganglionar del cáncer de pulmón. • Material y métodos:Se han analizado 30 pacientes diagnosticados de carcinoma pulmonar entre Mayo de 2003 y Mayo de 2004. A todos los pacientes se les realizó una TAC torácica, valorando la afectación ganglionar mediastínica. A su vez, se les realizó o una mediastinoscopia o una resección pulmonar más linfadenectomía mediastínica, obteniendo así material para el estudio anatomo-patológico para confirmar o no la afectación ganglionar mediastínica y correlacionarla con los hallazgos de la TAC. • Resultados: Hemos obtenido una Sensibilidad del 72,2%, una Especificidad del 100%, un valor predictivo positivo del 100% y un valor predictivo negativo del 70,6% para la TAC, utilizando como “gold standar” el estudio anatomopatológico. • Conclusiones:La TAC torácica se considera una prueba de imagen de rutina en el diagnóstico del cáncer de pulmón; pero en muchos casos no es capaz de estadiar correctamente la afectación ganglionar mediastínica. Es en estos casos, donde es necesario realizar pruebas invasivas como la mediastinoscopia. Actualmente, la aparición de la PET permite estadiar mejor el tumor, ofreciendo mejor tratamiento a cada paciente, y en determinados casos evitar técnicas diagnósticas invasivas.
Glucuronidation: driving factors and their impact on glucuronide disposition

Abstract Glucuronidation is a well-recognized phase II metabolic pathway for a variety of chemicals including drugs and endogenous substances. Although it is usually the secondary metabolic pathway for a compound preceded by phase I hydroxylation, glucuronidation alone could serve as the dominant metabolic pathway for many compounds, including some with high aqueous solubility. Glucuronidation involves the metabolism of parent compound by UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) into hydrophilic and negatively charged glucuronides that cannot exit the cell without the aid of efflux transporters. Therefore, elimination of parent compound via glucuronidation in a metabolic active cell is controlled by two driving forces: the formation of glucuronides by UGT enzymes and the (polarized) excretion of these glucuronides by efflux transporters located on the cell surfaces in various drug disposition organs. Contrary to the common assumption that the glucuronides reaching the systemic circulation were destined for urinary excretion, recent evidences suggest that hepatocytes are capable of highly efficient biliary clearance of the gut-generated glucuronides. Furthermore, the biliary- and enteric-eliminated glucuronides participate into recycling schemes involving intestinal microbes, which often prolong their local and systemic exposure, albeit at low systemic concentrations. Taken together, these recent research advances indicate that although UGT determines the rate and extent of glucuronide generation, the efflux and uptake transporters determine the distribution of these glucuronides into blood and then to various organs for elimination. Recycling schemes impact the apparent plasma half-life of parent compounds and their glucuronides that reach intestinal lumen, in addition to prolonging their gut and colon exposure.
Raman spectroscopy using plasmonic and carbon-based nanoparticles for cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment guidance.Part 1: Diagnosis

Abstract Optical techniques, including Raman, photothermal and photoacoustic microscopy and spectroscopy, have been intensively explored for the sensitive and accurate detection of various diseases. Rapid advances in lasers, photodetectors, and nanotechnology have led to the development of Raman spectroscopy, particularly surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), as a promising imaging modality that can help diagnose many diseases. This review focuses on the major recent advances in Raman spectroscopy and SERS-enhancing contrast nanoagents, as well as their potential to transition from a proof-of-concept approach to a cancer detection tool in vitro and in vivo.
The Impact of Neurodegenerative Disorders on Ageing: an Overview of the Sydney Older Persons Study

Abstract. This paper reviews the Sydney Older Persons Study, a longitudinal study following an initial cohort of 630 subjects aged 75 and over, community living in the inner west region of Sydney, carried out over seven years in four waves from 1991. We discuss the epidemiology of neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs) in relation to: each other, systemic disorders, death, lifestyle, risk factors and their impact on quality of life, service use and carers.
Mutagenicity of aminonitrophenol compounds in Salmonella typhimurium: a study of structural‐activity relationships

In our studies of structure‐activity relationships, four aminonitrophenol isomers and eleven derivatives of 3‐amino‐4‐nitrophenol and 4‐amino‐3‐nitrophenol were tested for their ability to induce mutations in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA1535, TA100, TA1537, TA1538 and TA98. In the presence of an Aroclor‐1254‐induced rat‐liver microsomal activation system (S9mix), 4‐N‐β‐hydroxyethylamino‐3‐nitroanisole and (4‐amino‐3‐nitro) phenoxyethanol were mutagenic in several of these strains. The compounds 3‐amino‐4‐nitrophenol, 3‐N‐methylamino‐4‐nitrophenol, 3‐N‐β‐hydroxyethylamino‐4‐nitrophenol, 3‐amino‐4‐nitroanisole, 3‐N‐methylamino‐4‐nitroanisole, 3‐N‐β‐hydroxyethylamino‐4‐nitroanisole, (3‐amino‐4‐nitro)phenoxyethanol, (3‐methylamino‐4‐nitro)phenoxyethanol, (3‐N‐β‐hydroxyethylamino‐4‐nitro)phenoxyethanol, 4‐amino‐3‐nitrophenol and 4‐N‐β‐hydroxyethylamino‐3‐nitrophenol were inactive, both in the presence and in the absence of S9 mix. In contrast to the results with 3‐amino‐4‐nitrophenol and 4‐amino‐3‐nitrophenol, which were negative, the isomers 2‐amino‐4‐nitrophenol and 2‐amino‐5‐nitrophenol were found to be mutagenic. These results on mutagenic and non‐mutagenic aminonitrophenols and their derivatives suggest that the occurrence of mutagenic activity among these compounds depends on the nature of the substituent chemical groups and their position in the molecular structure of the compounds.
The Influence of Time of Testing on Interference, Working Memory, Processing Speed, and Vocabulary: Age Differences in Adulthood

This research examines the effect of time of testing on adult age differences in resistance to interference, working memory, processing speed, and vocabulary. Results show that time of testing modulates age-related differences only in the ability to resist automatic and prepotent responses. Older adults tested in the afternoon were more susceptible to interference than young adults tested at the same time of the day, and than their peers tested in the morning. In contrast, age-related differences in working memory, processing speed, and vocabulary were not modulated by time of the day. Our findings suggest that age-related modulation of performance as a function of the time of the day is specific to resistance to interference.
Aging and Random Task Switching: The Role of Endogenous Versus Exogenous Task Selection

Background/Study Context: Task switching research typically emphasizes two robust shifting effects between competing tasks: mixing costs (MCs), which indicate less efficient performance in mixed-task versus single-task conditions, and switch costs (SCs), which reflect differences between switch trials and repetition trials within mixed-task conditions. The current study examined age-related MC and SC influenced by the method of task selection in two procedures. Methods: Twenty-six young adults, 18 to 21 years of age (M = 18.4, SD = 1.1), and 25 older adults, 74 to 87 years of age (M = 80.3, SD = 5.4), participated as part of the Cognition, Health, and Aging Project (CHAP). Younger and older adults’ performed cued and voluntary task switching, requiring a random sequence of task changes, placing demands on externally versus internally directed processes. Results: Results indicated that SCs were not disproportionately larger for older adults during an exogenous switching condition, but large age differences in MCs were present beyond the degree predicted by differences in baseline speed. In an endogenous switching condition, small age differences were present both for MCs and SCs, although further age differences were evident in older adults’ reduced switch rates. Conclusion: These findings suggest that older adults are substantially slower at updating repeated task sets during exogenous switching, but partially counter these effects by adopting a more persistent within-set mode of processing during endogenous switching.
A qualitative assessment of psychosocial impact, coping and adjustment in high-risk melanoma patients and caregivers

The present study qualitatively assessed the psychosocial impacts experienced by stage III melanoma patients and caregivers throughout the course of the disease, and the coping responses they utilized in an attempt to promote psychosocial adjustment. The purpose of the study was to inform the development of a supportive care strategy for this population. Nineteen stage III melanoma patients and 14 of their caregivers were recruited from the clinical research database of the Melanoma Institute Australia. Data were collected using semistructured telephone interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. Participants reported psychosocial impacts related to diagnosis (shock, panic and devastation), treatment (challenges and unsatisfactory care, pain and limitation, practical impacts, new roles and responsibilities for the caregiver, caregiver inadequacy) and survivorship (ongoing physical problems, watchful waiting, feeling abandoned). They also reported global themes relevant to multiple phases of the disease (emotional distress, disfigurement, injustice, caregiver devaluation). Coping responses were identified related to diagnosis (avoidance), treatment (confidence in the treatment team, taking action) and survivorship (finding a positive meaning, acceptance and moving on) as well as global themes pertaining to multiple disease phases (receiving support, helpful thinking, putting on a brave face, redirecting attention, religion). The current findings support routine screening for the presence of symptoms and psychological distress and appropriate referral when necessary, and for provision of psychosocial interventions to provide information and support to stage III melanoma patients and caregivers. In addition, provision of communication skills training to all health professionals treating melanoma, use of evidence-based strategies for improving patient/caregiver understanding and recall, and routine assessment of patient-reported outcomes to inform clinical practice would be helpful.
Older Adults' Hemodynamic Responses to an Acute Emotional Stressor: Short Report

Background/Study Context: Vascular and myocardial activation can each increase blood pressure responses to stressors, but vascular responses are uniquely associated with negative affect, pernicious coping processes, and cardiovascular risk. These hemodynamic correlates of coping in response to acute stressors have not been well characterized in older adults. Methods: Adults 65 to 97 years of age (N = 74) either engaged in written disclosure about a distressing event (acute stressor) or wrote objectively about a neutral topic (control). Blood pressure, impedance cardiography, and affect measures were assessed at baseline and in response to writing. Moderating effects of age on affect, blood pressure, and vascular and myocardial responses to the acute stressor were tested using multiple linear regression models. Results: Follow-up tests of Age × Writing Group interactions indicated that the expected effects of written disclosure on systolic and diastolic blood pressure responses were diminished with increasing age. Regardless of age, compared with neutral writing, written disclosure increased negative affect and vascular responses, but not myocardial responses. Conclusion: Blood pressure responses to an acute, emotionally evocative stressor were indistinguishable from blood pressure responses to a control condition among the eldest older adults in our sample. In contrast, characterizing the hemodynamic mechanisms of blood pressure responses revealed notable vascular effects of the acute, emotional stressor across a wide age range. Such characterization may be particularly useful for clarifying the psychophysiological pathways to older adults’ cardiovascular health.