Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bradykinine et néphroprotection - Pourquoi ? Comment ? Perspectives

De nombreuses maladies comme l’hypertension arterielle, le diabete et l’obesite aboutissent a des complications renales generalement irreversibles soulignant l’interet d’ameliorer les strategies de nephroprotection disponibles. Outre le controle de la glycemie chez le patient diabetique, seul le blocage du systeme renine angiotensine (SRA) s’avere capable de retarder l’aggravation de la glomerulosclerose et l’evolution vers l’insuffisance renale terminale. L’inhibition du SRA repose sur l’utilisation d’inhibiteurs de l’enzyme de conversion de l’angiotensine II (IEC) et d’antagonistes du recepteur AT1 de l’angiotensine II (ARA2). Pendant tres longtemps, les effets de ces deux classes de medicaments ont ete attribues principalement au blocage de la synthese ou des effets de l’angiotensine II. Un grand nombre de travaux recents tant in vitro qu’in vivo s’accordent pour attribuer egalement une part de leurs effets nephroprotecteurs a l’activation du recepteur B2 de la bradykinine (RB2). Un argument convaincant est le developpement d’une glomerulosclerose plus severe chez les souris n’exprimant plus le RB2. Ces effets nephroprotecteurs du RB2 pourraient resulter d’une reduction de la proteinurie, de la fibrose initialement glomerulaire puis interstitielle, de la proliferation cellulaire ainsi que du stress oxydant par plusieurs mecanismes deja bien documentes. Ces donnees suggerent que l’activation directe et/ou indirecte du RB2 peut desormais representer un nouveau concept therapeutique dans le traitement des nephropathies
The effect of smokeless tobacco “Maras powder” on treatment outcomes of anxiety disorder: a longitudinal study

Abstract Objective: We aimed to investigate the effects of Maras powder (smokeless tobacco) on treatment outcomes of patients with anxiety. Method: Patients between 18 and 65 years old diagnosed as generalized anxiety disorder and anxiety disorder not otherwise specified were enrolled. The patients were categorized into two groups: Maras powder using group (30 patients) and Maras powder free group (30 patients). All the participants were administered the Turkish version of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at baseline and the 1 and 2 months after the treatment. All patients were given standard pharmacological treatments for their psychiatric diagnosis. Results: There was a significant decrease of HADS scores within the groups after treatment. The mean baseline HADS scores of both groups were not significantly different. However, mean HADS scores of the groups were significantly different at the first and second months after the treatment. Conclusion: Maras powder use may negatively affect the treatment of anxiety disorders.
Barriers to Rehabilitation in Primary Health Care in Ontario: Funding and Wait Times for Physical Therapy Services

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine barriers to accessing physical therapy (PT) services in Ontario primary health care with respect to funding sources and wait times. Methods: A stratified random sample of 1100 registered Ontario PTs and 3000 Ontario family physicians were surveyed by mail in 2004. Relationships were examined between PT wait times, funding source, geographical region and caseload composition. Results: Physicians identified the cost of private rehabilitation and long wait times as the most common barriers to referring patients to rehabilitation. Wait times for PT were longer in publicly funded settings than in privately funded practice settings (p, 0.001) and in the North (p, 0.001) and East (p 5 0.010) regions of Ontario compared with the most urban region of Ontario. Patients with chronic musculoskeletal conditions, cardiopulmonary conditions and general debility were at least three times more likely to receive PT services at publicly funded than privately funded practice .
ACTION OF INTRATHECALLY INJECTED PROSTIGMINE, ACETYLCHOLINE, AND ESERINE ON THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM IN MAN

1. Prostigmine was injected in doses of 0·1-1·5 mg. intrathecally 73 times in 37 patients (with evidence of pyramidal tract involvement) and in 3 subjects with normal central nervous system. In all cases it produced depression of muscle tone and reflexes by a direct action on the spinal cord. The distal part of the cord was involved first and the depression gradually ascended to involve the centres controlling the arms. The face was involved rarely. Changes in blood-pressure, pulse-rate and respiration were small and irregular. Nausea, vomiting, and drowsiness commonly occurred when large doses were employed. Voluntary movement was impaired. Bladder emptying was temporarily abolished. No changes in sensation were ever noted. Observations were made in patients with spinal block. Injection of prostigmine intrathecally below the level of the block produced depression of the spinal cord limited strictly to the cord below the level of the block. No general disturbances such as nausea or drowsiness developed. In such cases flexor tone, flexor spasms, and flexor reflexes were abolished at the same rate and to the same degree as extensor reflexes. All the above actions of prostigmine are unaffected by subcutaneous injections of atropine. They contrast markedly with the results of injection of prostigmine intramuscularly or intravenously. 2. Intrathecally injected acetylcholine in doses of 2-500 mg. had no effects on the spinal cord or elsewhere. 10 mg. of acetylcholine injected together with 0·1 mg. of prostigmine produced effects on the spinal cord in every way similar to those of larger doses of prostigmine. 3. Eserine sulphate in doses of 0-25-1 mg. injected intrathecally produces an initial transient depression of spinal reflexes followed by a rapid return to a level exceeding that noted prior to the injection. Experiments in a case of spinal block show that both the initial depression and the secondary excitation are due to a direct action on the spinal cord—the effects being limited to the cord region distal to the block. In this case too the excitatory phase of the response was particularly striking, involving both flexor and extensor reflexes. Unlike prostigmine, eserine produces striking sensory changes including facilitation of sensory transmission. Suggestions are made to explain the difference in central action of prostigmine and eserine. This work was interrupted by the outbreak of the War. I gratefully express my thanks to Professor Francis Fraser in whose department the research was carried out, to Professor Samson Wright for his help in the preparation of the paper, and to the Medical Officer of Health, London County Council, for permission to include the notes on the patients.
Adverse effects of elevated homocysteine levels in cardiac surgery

Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Medicana International Ankara Hospital, Ankara, Turkey *Corresponding Author: Medicana International Ankara Hospital Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Eskisehir Yolu Uzeri, ATO Yani, 06520, Sogutozu, Ankara, Turkey Tel: +905334206834 Fax: +903122203170 e-mail: nevriyes@hotmail.com
The promise of sclerostin inhibition for the treatment of osteoporosis

A lack of sclerostin expression in mature osteocytes results in a progressive, generalized, massive bone mass increase due to high bone formation in humans and mice (1-3), suggesting that inhibition of this secreted glycoprotein might restore bone mass and thus strength to the osteoporotic skeleton. The present study by Paszty et al. (4) demonstrates that, indeed, bi-weekly, subcutaneous treatment with 25 mg/kg of a sclerostin function-blocking antibody for 5 weeks rebuilds bone mass in aged, estrogen-deprived, osteoporotic rats. Bone gain was related to impressive increases in the amount of bone-forming and mineralizing surfaces and in bone matrix deposition at all skeletal envelopes, while bone resorption was not elevated. As a result, bone strength was improved in the axial and appendicular skeleton. Sclerostin, which was originally described as a BMP antagonist (5), is currently thought to function as a paracrine inhibitor of canonical Wnt signaling in osteoblasts by binding to the Wnt co-receptors LRP5 and 6 (6-8), although recent evidence from mouse genetic studies suggests that LRP5 might rather control bone formation by inhibiting serotonin synthesis in the duodenum (9).
Cytomegalovirus reactivation after allogeneic transplantation promotes a lasting increase in educated NKG2C+ natural killer cells with potent function.

During mouse cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, a population of Ly49H(+) natural killer (NK) cells expands and is responsible for disease clearance through the induction of a "memory NK-cell response. " Whether similar events occur in human CMV infection is unknown. In the present study, we characterized the kinetics of the NK-cell response to CMV reactivation in human recipients after hematopoietic cell transplantation. During acute infection, NKG2C(+) NK cells expanded and were potent producers of IFNγ. NKG2C(+) NK cells predominately expressed killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor, and self-killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors were required for robust IFNγ production. During the first year after transplantation, CMV reactivation induced a more mature phenotype characterized by an increase in CD56(dim) NK cells. Strikingly, increased frequencies of NKG2C(+) NK cells persisted and continued to increase in recipients who reactivated CMV, whereas these cells remained at low frequency in recipients without CMV reactivation. Persisting NKG2C(+) NK cells lacked NKG2A, expressed CD158b, preferentially acquired CD57, and were potent producers of IFNγ during the first year after transplantation. Recipients who reactivated CMV also expressed higher amounts of IFNγ, T-bet, and IL-15Rα mRNA transcripts. Our findings support the emerging concept that CMV-induced innate memory-cell populations may contribute to malignant disease relapse protection and infectious disease control long after transplantation.
Enterobacter cloacae multidrug-resistant: a case report of nosocomial urinary catheter-associated infection

Enterobacter species, particularly E. cloacae and E. aerogenes, are important nosocomial pathogenes responsible for various infections.We report a 70-y-old patient with catheter-associated urinary tract infection (UTI) caused by a nosocomial Enterobacter cloacae with multidrug-resistance.The identification of isolates from clinical culture and the study of pattern antimicrobial susceptibility were performed to the clinical risolution of the patient’s disease.The initial empirical antimicrobial therapy resulted ineffective.
Detección de Chlamydia pneumoniae en tejido aórtico humano: amplificación del gen kdtA e hibridación in vitro.

Introduccion. La ateroesclerosis es la principal causa de enfermedad coronaria y cerebrovascular, las cuales, a su vez, son las causas mas comunes de mortalidad y morbilidad en el mundo occidental. Publicaciones recientes sugieren que ciertos microorganismos infecciosos podrian jugar un papel importante en la genesis y progresion de la aterosclerosis. De acuerdo con reportes seroepidemiologicos y de deteccion directa, Chlamydia pneumoniae podria ser el candidato mas plausible. No obstante, no se ha determinado su papel especifico en el proceso aterogenico, por lo cual en los ultimos anos ha surgido la necesidad de explorar diversas tecnicas de deteccion de C. pneumoniae en arterias. Objetivo. El proposito de este estudio fue investigar la presencia de C. pneumoniae en muestras de tejido aortico de catorce pacientes sometidos a cirugia de reemplazo aortico, utilizando la amplificacion del gen kdtA por PCR acoplada a un ensayo de hibridacion in vitro. Materiales y metodos. De cada uno de catorce segmentos de aorta se obtuvo una muestra al azar para la extraccion de ADN y la deteccion de C. pneumoniae por PCR-hibridacion in vitro. Resultados. Doce (85,7%) de catorce muestras de tejido de aorta resultaron positivas para C. pneumoniae. Conclusion. Los resultados encontrados en este estudio sugieren que la presencia de C. pneumoniae es frecuente en el tipo de muestras analizado. En estudios posteriores resultaria importante examinar si esta proporcion se mantiene en una muestra poblacional mayor.
Screening for macular disorders: the optometrist's perspective

License. The full terms of the License are available at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. Permissions beyond the scope of the License are administered by Dove Medical Press Limited. Information on how to request permission may be found at: http://www.dovepress. com/permissions.php Clinical Optometry 2015:7 15–38 Clinical Optometry Dovepress
Tropical cyclone vector winds from C-band dual-polarization synthetic aperture radar

We presents a new method for retrieving tropical cyclone vector winds using C-band dual-polarization SAR observations. The co-polarized geophysical model function (CMOD5.N) and a cross-polarized wind speed retrieval model for dual-polarization (C-2POD) are employed to construct a cost function. minimization of the cost function allows optimum estimates for the wind speeds and directions. The wind direction ambiguities are removed by a parametric two dimensional sea-surface inflow angle model.
Marine gravity field for oil and mineral exploration — Improvements in the Arctic from CryoSat-2 SAR altimetry

The availability of Cryosat-2 with its coverage throughout the Arctic Ocean up to 88N is a quantum leap forward for altimetric gravity field modeling and here we have tried to quantify the improvement of Cryosat-2 to global and particularly Arctic altimetric gravity field modeling through a comparison with highly accurate marine gravity observations.
Phase 2 study of the JAK kinase inhibitor ruxolitinib in patients with refractory leukemias, including postmyeloproliferative neoplasm acute myeloid leukemia.

We conducted a phase 2 study of ruxolitinib in patients with relapsed/refractory leukemias. Patients with acceptable performance status (0-2), adequate organ function, and no active infection, received ruxolitinib 25 mg orally twice a day for 4 weeks (1 cycle). Response was assessed after every 2 cycles of treatment, and patients who completed 2 cycles were allowed to continue treatment until disease progression. Dose escalation to 50 mg twice daily was permitted in patients demonstrating a benefit. Thirty-eight patients, with a median age of 69 years (range, 45-88), were treated. The median number of prior therapies was 2 (range, 1-6). Twelve patients had JAK2V617F mutation. Patients received a median of 2 cycles of therapy (range, 1-22). Three of 18 patients with postmyeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) showed a significant response; 2 achieved complete remission (CR) and one achieved a CR with insufficient recovery of blood counts (CRi). The responding patients with palpable spleens also had significant reductions in spleen size. Overall, ruxolitinib was very well tolerated with only 4 patients having grade 3 or higher toxicity. Ruxolitinib has modest antileukemic activity as a single agent, particularly in patients with post-MPN AML. The study was registered at www.clinicaltrials. gov as NCT00674479.
Immunopharmacologic response of patients with B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia to continuous infusion of T cell-engaging CD19/CD3-bispecific BiTE antibody blinatumomab.

T cell-engaging CD19/CD3-bispecific BiTE Ab blinatumomab has shown an 80% complete molecular response rate and prolonged leukemia-free survival in patients with minimal residual B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (MRD(+) B-ALL). Here, we report that lymphocytes in all patients of a phase 2 study responded to continuous infusion of blinatumomab in a strikingly similar fashion. After start of infusion, B-cell counts dropped to < 1 B cell/μL within an average of 2 days and remained essentially undetectable for the entire treatment period. By contrast, T-cell counts in all patients declined to a nadir within < 1 day and recovered to baseline within a few days. T cells then expanded and on average more than doubled over baseline within 2-3 weeks under continued infusion of blinatumomab. A significant percentage of reappearing CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cells newly expressed activation marker CD69. Shortly after start of infusion, a transient release of cytokines dominated by IL-10, IL-6, and IFN-γ was observed, which no longer occurred on start of a second treatment cycle. The response of lymphocytes in leukemic patients to continuous infusion of blinatumomab helps to better understand the mode of action of this and other globally T cell-engaging Abs. The trial is registered with www.clinicaltrials. gov identifier NCT00560794.
InSAR processing and dual-baseline phase unwrapping for global TanDEM-X DEM generation

InSAR Processing and especially phase unwrapping is a crucial step in the realization of the global TanDEM-X DEM. After three years of operation, the InSAR chain has delivered more than 350,000 RawDEMs, which mostly fulfill already the high accuracy requirements. At the same time, it has been also optimized and improved to cope with input data of various quality. Special efforts have been made in the dual-baseline interferometric chain to deal with CoSSCs with larger ranges of height of ambiguity and time spans. This paper presents the key elements of the InSAR chain and analyses the dual-baseline phase unwrapping results.
Using the ICSQoL to measure the impact of lower urinary tract symptoms on quality of life: evidence from the ICS–‘BPH’ study

Objective To present and describe the validity and reliability of the International Continence Society–Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia study quality-of-life (ICSQoL) instrument, a new set of questions to assess the impact of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) on quality of life (QoL) in middle-aged and elderly men. Patients and methods The study comprised 1271 consecutive men over the age of 45 years, attending urology departments in 12 countries, with LUTS and possible benign prostatic obstruction who were recruited to the ICS-‘BPH’ study (the clinic group); 423 ambulant men were recruited from a general practice in the UK to provide a community group. Each individual completed the ICS-‘BPH’ study questionnaire which includes six items addressing general and specific aspects of QoL (the ICSQoL). Content and construct validity were assessed by interviews with patients and by testing hypotheses within the study groups, e.g. the relationships with age, individual LUTS (as measured on the ICSmale questionnaire) and generic health status, as measured by the Short Form (SF-36) and EuroQol instruments. Reliability was assessed by measures of internal consistency and a test-retest analysis. Results The ICSQoL items were easily understood by patients, were completed with low levels of missing data, and address some (but not all) concerns about the impact of LUTS on QoL. The ICSQoL items have good construct validity, showing expected differences between community and clinic samples, and expected relationships with each other and individual LUTS. Items had good test-retest reliability, but their internal consistency was poor, confirming that ICSQoL questions should not be combined into a score. General ICSQoL items were closely related with most domains of the SF-36 and the EuroQol. Conclusion ICSQoL items may be used individually or as a group in research studies or in clinical practice.
Evaluation of wind speed globally observed by AMSR2 on GCOM-W1

Wind speed globally observed by the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-2 (AMSR2) on the Global Change Observation Mission-W1 (GCOM-W1) satellite was evaluated by comparisons with offshore buoy measurements and outputs from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Interim Reanalysis (ERA-Interim).
Risk factors of institutionalization in an elderly disabled population

Due to increased life expectancy and demographic ageing an increasing number of elderly people have to spend the eve of their life in institutional settings, which is often associated with adverse psychosocial and financial consequences. The purpose of this prospective study is to assess the extent and determinants of institutionalization in a population sample of severely disabled elderly people from south Germany. The study population included all non-institutionalized persons in a defined region who met the criteria of permanent nursing dependency set by the German statutory health insurance system. Study participants were recruited in 1991–1993 and followed for a mean of 1.7 years. Rate ratios of Institutionalization for potential risk factors were calculated using Cox's proportional hazards model. Out of 1,583 study participants 159 aged 60 years or older were admitted to a nursing home during the follow-up period. Old age, female gender, living In urban compared to rural areas, professional provider of nursing care compared to family members as main care givers and cognitive impairments independently increased the rate of institutionalization In multivariable analysis. There was no relationship between limitations in basic activities of daily living and the rate of institutionalization. These empirical data extend the scarce database in Germany, which is needed for further planning of nursing care facilities in the community in order to improve the situation of disabled people, in particular to prevent nursing home admission.
Clinical Characteristics and Outcome of Hospitalized Patients With Congestive Heart Failure

Background Heart failure (HF) represents a major public health issue in an aging population. Although HF is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries, the clinical features of HF in Japan remain unclear. Methods and Results This observational cohort study analyzed data from the Heart Institute of Japan - Department of Cardiology (HIJC)-HF Registry, which is based on a nationwide survey by the HIJC, Tokyo Women's Medical University and its affiliated hospitals. Of 3,578 consecutive patients (average age, 69.8 years; females 40.7%) hospitalized for HF between January 2001 and December 2002, 95.0% were followed up until the end of 2005 (median, 2.8 years). The 1- and 3-year mortality rates were 11.3% and 29.2%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that advanced age (hazard ratio 1.71 [95% confidence interval 1.38-2.12]; p<0.001), symptomatic HF at hospital discharge (3.76 [2.30-6.17]; p<0.001), renal impairment (1.96 [1.50-2.57]; p=0.008), anemia (1.46 [1.18-1.80]; p=0.02) and low pulse pressure (2.88 [1.62-5.13]; p=0.0003) were significantly associated with total death. Conclusion Although the long-term mortality rate for Japanese patients with HF is lower than in other countries, several markers are modifiable. The data demonstrate that continued improvements in the treatment of Japanese patients with HF are still needed. (Circ J 2008; 72: 2015 - 2020)
Gender mainstreaming since Beijing: A review of success and limitations in international institutions

The Beijing Platform for Action prioritised gender mainstreaming as the mechanism to achieve gender equality. A decade later policy makers and practitioners are debating whether this has succeeded or failed. This article aims to contribute to this debate by reviewing progress made to date through a review of gender mainstreaming policies in international development institutions. Categorising progress into three stages - adoption of terminology putting a policy into place and implementation - the article argues that while most institutions have put gender mainstreaming policies in place implementation remains inconsistent. Most important of all the outcomes and impact of the implementation of gender mainstreaming in terms of gender equality remain largely unknown with implications for the next decade? s strategies. (authors)