Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of L-arginine infusion in normotensive subjects with and without a family history of hypertension.

BACKGROUND Experimental studies have shown that nitric oxide (NO) generation in the kidney from L-arginine participates in the regulation of renal function. Our purpose was to study the effect of infusion of L-arginine (1, 5, and 10 mg/kg/min) on blood pressure (BP), renal hemodynamics, and urinary excretion of sodium and albumin in normotensive subjects with a family history of either severe hypertension (FHSH, N = 17) or mild hypertension (FHMH, N = 20) and in control subjects (N = 18) without a hereditary predisposition for hypertension. METHODS The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal plasma flow (RPF) were measured by renal clearances of Cr51 ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and paramino-hippurate. Renal tubular reabsorption of sodium was estimated by lithium clearance. To evaluate the effect of L-arginine infusion on the L-arginine/NO pathway, we measured the NO-metabolite nitrate in plasma, and urinary excretion of cGMP, the second messenger of NO. The derivative at an L-arginine dose of 7.5 mg/kg/min was used as a measure of sensitivity to L-arginine. RESULTS There was no difference in baseline systolic BP between the groups, but diastolic BP was significantly higher in FHSH compared with control subjects (P < 0.05). L-arginine caused a significant increase in urine flow, urinary excretion of albumin and sodium, and lithium clearance in all groups. FHSH showed a significantly decreased sensitivity to L-arginine with respect to urine flow rate (P = 0029) compared with FHMH and control subjects. L-arginine caused a significant decrease in the GFR in FHSH (P < 0.02) and control subjects (P < 0.001), but in FHMH, the decrease did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.097). There was no difference in sensitivity to L-arginine with respect to BP, RPF, or GFR between the three groups. In all patients, there was a significant positive relationship between Delta urine flow rate or Delta urinary sodium excretion and Delta GFR during infusion of L-arginine (P = 0.003 and P = 0.03, respectively). Plasma nitrate and urinary cGMP decreased in all groups during the L-arginine infusion. CONCLUSION L-Arginine infusion in normotensive subjects caused an enhanced urine flow rate and urinary sodium and albumin excretion and a slight reduction in GFR. The effect of L-arginine on the urine flow rate was significantly less pronounced in subjects with a family history of severe hypertension, which may indicate a tubular disturbance in hypertension.
An Antagonist of cADP-ribose Inhibits Arrhythmogenic Oscillations of Intracellular Ca2+ In Heart Cells*

Oscillations of Ca2+ in heart cells are a major underlying cause of important cardiac arrhythmias, and it is known that Ca2+-induced release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores (the sarcoplasmic reticulum) is fundamental to the generation of such oscillations. There is now evidence that cADP-ribose may be an endogenous regulator of the Ca2+ release channel of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (the ryanodine receptor), raising the possibility that cADP-ribose may influence arrhythmogenic mechanisms in the heart. 8-Amino-cADP-ribose, an antagonist of cADP-ribose, suppressed oscillatory activity associated with overloading of intracellular Ca2+ stores in cardiac myocytes exposed to high doses of the β-adrenoreceptor agonist isoproterenol or the Na+/K+-ATPase inhibitor ouabain. The oscillations suppressed by 8-amino-cADP-ribose included intracellular Ca2+ waves, spontaneous action potentials, after-depolarizations, and transient inward currents. Another antagonist of cADP-ribose, 8-bromo-cADP-ribose, was also effective in suppressing isoproterenol-induced oscillatory activity. Furthermore, in the presence of ouabain under conditions in which there was no arrhythmogenesis, exogenous cADP-ribose was found to be capable of triggering spontaneous contractile and electrical activity. Because enzymatic machinery for regulating the cytosolic cADP-ribose concentration is present within the cell, we propose that 8-amino-cADP-ribose and 8-bromo-cADP-ribose suppress cytosolic Ca2+ oscillations by antagonism of endogenous cADP-ribose, which sensitizes the Ca2+ release channels of the sarcoplasmic reticulum to Ca2+.
A robot controlled 3D mapping and communication system using ultrasonic sensors

This paper presents a secure three-dimensional mapping technique using ultrasonic sensor and storage of the positional information in a local server such that only an authorized person can access it through the web. The main motivation behind this work is to address the problem of remote terrain mapping of places that are inaccessible to humans. The proposed solution can be used to investigate pipelines and explore riverbeds. It can also be used by the country's security forces to detect intruders and for probing for signs of life in case of natural disasters. The ultrasonic sensor measures the physical parameters of the location, which is used to make a 3D map of the area. This data is sent via a wireless channel to a local server for storage and protection. The idea is implemented in hardware and experimental results are presented.
Attentive tracking disrupts feature binding in visual working memory

One of the most influential theories in visual cognition proposes that attention is necessary to bind different visual features into coherent object percepts (Treisman & Gelade, 1980). Although considerable evidence supports a role for attention in perceptual feature binding, whether attention plays a similar function in visual working memory (VWM) remains controversial. To test the attentional requirements of VWM feature binding, here we gave participants an attention-demanding multiple object tracking task during the retention interval of a VWM task. Results show that the tracking task disrupted memory for colour-shape conjunctions above and beyond any impairment to working memory for object features, and that this impairment was larger when the VWM stimuli were presented at different spatial locations. These results demonstrate that the role of visuospatial attention in feature binding is not unique to perception, but extends to the working memory of these perceptual representations as well.
Digestible phosphorus needs of terminal-cross growing-finishing pigs.

Growth and digestion experiments were conducted to estimate the digestible P needs of terminal-cross growing-finishing pigs fed sorghum-soybean meal-based diets from 25 to 118 kg. Dietary available P levels approximated the levels recommended by the NRC (1988) or were approximately 25% above or below those levels. Up to 80 kg, dietary treatment did not affect performance; from 80 to 118 kg, the lowest P level (no inorganic P) reduced (P = .03) feed efficiency. Carcass leanness, subjective quality scores for the loin, chemical content of lean, and sensory evaluation of cooked lean were not adversely affected by decreasing P. As dietary P decreased, connective tissue amount in the lean decreased (P = .06). Ash content (P < .01) and peak load (P < .05) of metacarpals and metatarsals decreased as dietary P decreased, but structural soundness scores in the live pig were unaffected by treatment. Apparent digestibility of P decreased (P = .08 to P < .01) as dietary P decreased in the diets. Estimated P excretions per pig decreased with decreasing dietary P up to 80 kg; during the 80-to-118-kg interval, P excretions were similar for pigs fed the two lowest P diets due to reduced feed efficiency of pigs fed the lowest P diet. Dietary digestible P contents maximizing performance and carcass merit were . 21, . 19, and . 16% for pigs fed from 25 to 50, 50 to 80, and 80 to 118 kg, respectively. The results suggest that P excretions of terminal-cross pigs can be reduced by feeding less than current NRC recommendations for P without reducing performance, carcass merit, or structural soundness of live pigs.
Randomized controlled trial comparing of analgesic effectiveness of TPRF and TENs in clinical and endocrinological changes for chronic shoulder pain

Electrical stimulation is a component of many pain relief modalities. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a simple, low risk, outpatient treatment. Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) is an effective method for pain relief. Transcutaneous pulsed radiofrequency (TPRF) combines the advantages of TENS and PRF for treatment of musculoskeletal pain. This study is an evidence-based comparison that evaluated the pain scores and endocrinological changes of both TENS and TPRF. Thirty-three patients randomly selected from 61 screened patients were diagnosed with chronic shoulder pain. These patients were randomly distributed into two groups, with the first group receiving TENS treatment and the second group receiving TPRF treatment. Both TENS and PRF groups underwent 15 min of therapeutic intervention per session and three sessions over 1 week. Patients' pain scores were recorded before and after each session. Blood samples were taken for cortisol measurement before and after the treatment week and pain level was assessed. After each session, pain was reduced on the visual analog scale in both TENS (Group I) and TPRF (Group II) groups. After a 1-week therapy, TPRF group demonstrated a significantly better outcome with regard to the self-assessment pain relief (47.81% improvement) and TENS group reduction (19.1% improvement). Therefore, TPRF appeared to be more useful than TENS for short-term decrease of chronic shoulder pain.
Cystatins C, E/M and F in Human Pleural Fluids of Patients with Neoplastic and Inflammatory Lung Disorders

Abstract Secretory type 2 cystatins, like cystatins C, E/M and F, are thought to be involved in many pathobiological processes, including vascular amyloidosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimers disease, osteoporosis, viral and bacterial infections, inflammatory disorders and tumour invasion and metastasis. In order to define the levels of cystatins C, E/M, and F in pleural effusions and to investigate whether these cystatins correlate with diagnostic parameters of pleural and lung diseases, we determined their concentrations in 160 pleural effusions. The median concentration of cystatin C in pleural effusions was 1437 ug/l (95.8 nM), ranging between 18-3967 ug/l. Cystatin C did neither correlate with malignant nor with benign diseases. The concentration of cystatin E/M was significantly higher in effusions of primary pleural tumours (mesotheliomas) compared to secondary pleural tumours and benign diseases. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between the concentration of cystatin E/M of mesotheliomas and the pleural fluid tumour cell count and of cystatin C. The median values of cystatin F were significantly increased in parapneumonic/ empyema thoracis pleural effusions and tuberculous pleurisy compared to malignant pleural effusions, respectively. The concentration of cystatin F in benign effusions correlated significantly with diagnostic parameters and inflammation (total protein; lactate dehydrogenase; C-reactive protein). Finally, only in the group of parapneumonic/empyema thoracis was there a significant correlation between cystatin F and the neutrophil count. In conclusion, pleural effusions of different origin contain high levels of cystatin C, perhaps constituting the major part of an inhibitor reservoir. The level of cystatin E/M appears to be significantly associated with primary pleural tumours and cystatin F correlates with inflammatory processes of lung disorders.
The Effect of Lactobacillus isolates on growth performance, immune response, intestinal bacterial community composition of growing Rex Rabbits

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of Lactobacillus isolates on intestinal bacterial community composition of growing Rex Rabbits. A total of 120 weaned Rex Rabbits (30 days old, 30 per group) were used for the experiment, which started after an adaptation period of 7 days. The control group was fed with basal diet only, while the treatment I, II and III groups were fed with basal diet adding antibiotics, Lactobacillus zeae (LB1) and Lactobacillus casei (L3) respectively. Growth performance, immune response and intestinal flora have been examined. The results obtained were as follows: (i) F/G of the rabbits fed with Lactobacillus isolates was significantly lower than that of the control group (p < 0.05). (ii) The concentration of ALT decreased significantly (p < 0.05) and that of IgG and IgM increased significantly (p < 0.05) after feeding rabbits with Lactobacillus isolates. (iii) Lactobacillus isolates had no influence on the number of mast cells in duodenum and jejunum, but increased the number of mast cells in caecum significantly (p < 0.05). (iv) The data from pyrosequencing-based analysis suggested that the bacterial community in the rabbit's intestinal flora can be changed by Lactobacillus isolates and antibiotics, especially for the microbial diversity and abundance in the caecum. In conclusion, the application of proper Lactobacillus isolates can improve the growth performance, enhance the immunological function and adjust the intestinal micro-ecosystem of growing Rex Rabbits.
Degenerative joint disease in the mouse knee; histological observations

The knee joints from males of two strains (CBA/ORT and STR/ORT) were studied histologically. The incidence of degenerative joint disease was very high in the STR/ORT strain. Degeneration of the cartilage invariably occurred first at the interface of the cruciate ligament and articular cartilage of the tibia. Lesions were only seen on the medial tibial and later the medial femoral condyles. Blocks of fibrillated, uncalcified cartilage were gradually lost across the condyle, leaving the tidemark as a secondary articulating surface. Meanwhile the subchondral bone thickened and erosion continued through the calcified cartilage into the underlying bone. A statistically significant relationship was found between the development of the lesion and (a) medial dislocation of the patella, (b) calcification and ossification of the medial collateral ligament. Patella dislocation gave rise to extensive cartilaginous and bony metaplasia of the synovial tissue. In joints with advanced degeneration there was often evidence of a slight lateral subluxation of the femur relative to the tibia.
Prevention of Psychiatric Disorders*

&NA; Psychiatric disorders are highly prevalent and cause an enormous burden of suffering, loss of productivity, morbidity, and mortality. This article will review prevention of psychiatric disorders in a manner that is relevant to the mental health clinician. Clinicians may increasingly play a role in preventive interventions through (1) identifying individuals at risk, (2) consulting with agencies, school personnel, and employers who may identify individuals at risk, (3) providing treatment that can reduce the chronicity, severity, and total duration of psychiatric illness, and (4) providing mental health care to a specific population within our evolving health care system, in which health promotion and disease prevention play an increasingly important role. Appropriate literature was located by searching the English‐language citations since 1985 in Index Medicus (search terms included prevention, preventive psychiatry, early intervention, mental disorders, risk factors, and primary prevention), reviewing several textbooks on psychiatric preventive services, and finding additional sources cited in the reference sections of these publications. This paper presents the public health model of disease prevention, which divides prevention activities into primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions. The model is applied to childhood psychiatric disorders and to adult‐onset schizophrenia, depressive disorders, and substance use disorders. The review concludes with a discussion of the implications for the clinician and for public health policy.
Les amulettes d'enfants dans le monde gréco-romain

Etude des objets retrouves dans les tombes d'enfants ou representes sur les statues et les peintures. Talismans pour les vivants et pour les morts ou symboles d'integration familiale ou sociale, ces objets sont en matieres precieuses ou tres modestes et perissables.
Selectivity of antagonist and partial agonist activity of celiprolol in normal subjects.

1. The aims of this study were to assess the relative beta 1/beta 2 selectivity of the antagonist and partial agonist activity (PAA) of celiprolol in man. 2. Eight normal males received single oral doses of celiprolol 200 mg (C200), 400 mg (C400) and 800 mg (C800); atenolol 50 mg (A50), 100 mg (A100) and 200 mg (A200); nadolol 40 mg (N40) and placebo (PL), administered in a single-blind, randomised crossover design. 3. At rest, in the presence of low levels of circulating adrenaline and noradrenergic tone, a low dose of celiprolol (C200) showed evidence of beta 1-PAA by significant increases in systolic blood pressure and resting heart rate. At higher doses (C400, C800), beta 2-PAA became evident by a significant increase in postural finger tremor, whereas C200 had no effect. 4. In the presence of a beta 1-adrenoceptor agonist, as assessed by reduction of exercise tachycardia, increasing doses of celiprolol produced significantly less beta 1-adrenoceptor blockade compared with atenolol. Furthermore, there was no increase in beta 1-adrenoceptor blockade beyond C400. 5. In the presence of a beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist, as assessed by blunting of terbutaline-induced chronotropic, hypokalaemic and finger tremor responses, celiprolol exhibited less beta 2-adrenoceptor blockade than comparable doses of atenolol used in clinical practice. 6. Exercise hyperkalaemia was blunted significantly by C400 and C800 in comparison with all doses of atenolol and nadolol. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Increased cardiac BNP expression associated with myocardial ischemia

Congestive heart failure is accompanied by increased cardiac brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) gene expression with elevated plasma concentrations of BNP and its precursor, proBNP. We investigated if myocardial ischemia in the absence of overt heart failure may be another mechanism for increased myocardial BNP expression. The BNP expression was examined in hypoxic myocardium of patients undergoing coronary bypass grafting surgery, in patients with coronary artery disease and normal left ventricular function undergoing percutaneous transluminal intervention therapy, and in heart failure patients without coronary artery disease. BNP mRNA was quantified by real‐time PCR, and plasma BNP and proBNP concentrations were measured with radioimmunoassays. Quantitative analysis of BNP mRNA in atrial and ventricular biopsies from coronary bypass grafting patients revealed close associations of plasma BNP and proBNP concentrations to ventricular, but not atrial, BNP mRNA levels. Plasma BNP and proBNP concentrations were markedly increased in patients with coronary artery disease but without concomitant left ventricular dysfunction. These results are compatible with the notion that myocardial ischemia, even in the absence of left ventricular dysfunction, augments cardiac BNP gene expression and increases plasma BNP and proBNP concentrations. Thus, elevated BNP and proBNP concentrations do not necessarily reflect heart failure but may also result from cardiac ischemia.
The Clinical Phenotype of Idiopathic Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder at Presentation: A Study in 203 Consecutive Patients.

OBJECTIVE To describe the clinical phenotype of idiopathic rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (IRBD) at presentation in a sleep center. METHODS Clinical history review of 203 consecutive patients with IRBD identified between 1990 and 2014. IRBD was diagnosed by clinical history plus video-polysomnographic demonstration of REM sleep with increased electromyographic activity linked to abnormal behaviors. RESULTS Patients were 80% men with median age at IRBD diagnosis of 68 y (range, 50-85 y). In addition to the already known clinical picture of IRBD, other important features were apparent: 44% of the patients were not aware of their dream-enactment behaviors and 70% reported good sleep quality. In most of these cases bed partners were essential to convince patients to seek medical help. In 11% IRBD was elicited only after specific questioning when patients consulted for other reasons. Seven percent did not recall unpleasant dreams. Leaving the bed occurred occasionally in 24% of subjects in whom dementia with Lewy bodies often developed eventually. For the correct diagnosis of IRBD, video-polysomnography had to be repeated in 16% because of insufficient REM sleep or electromyographic artifacts from coexistent apneas. Some subjects with comorbid obstructive sleep apnea reported partial improvement of RBD symptoms following continuous positive airway pressure therapy. Lack of therapy with clonazepam resulted in an increased risk of sleep related injuries. Synucleinopathy was frequently diagnosed, even in patients with mild severity or uncommon IRBD presentations (e.g., patients who reported sleeping well, onset triggered by a life event, nocturnal ambulation) indicating that the development of a neurodegenerative disease is independent of the clinical presentation of IRBD. CONCLUSIONS We report the largest IRBD cohort observed in a single center to date and highlight frequent features that were not reported or not sufficiently emphasized in previous publications. Physicians should be aware of the full clinical expression of IRBD, a sleep disturbance that represents a neurodegenerative disease. COMMENTARY A commentary on this article appears in this issue on page 7.
Distributions of orthogonality factor and multipath gain of the UMTS downlink obtained by measurement based simulations

Capacity and coverage calculations of a UMTS radio network require realistic values for the orthogonality factors as well as for the multipath gain. Assuming an ideal RAKE receiver and a WSSUS channel model, the signal-to-interference-plus-noise power ratio (SINR) after RAKE combining is calculated. The SINR is determined in two different ways: analytically, based on simplifying assumptions; numerically, by link level simulations on a slot-by-slot basis. Comprehensive numerical investigations were carried out based on WSSUS models extracted from channel sounder measurements in Hanover and Munich. Numerical results of the link level simulations and of the analytical expression are compared and analysed.
Effects of Progesterone Receptor Blockers on Human Granulosa-Luteal Cell Culture Secretion of Progesterone, Estradiol, and Relaxin1

Abstract We have developed culture methods for human luteinizing granulosa cells (GLC) that support the timely and dynamic secretion of estrogen (estradiol-17β; E2), progesterone (P4), and relaxin (Rlx) in patterns that mimic serum hormone concentrations during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Additional hCG, to simulate rescue of the corpus luteum, prevented the normal decline in GLC hormone production. To test the importance of the P4 receptor in P4 production, GLC were treated in vitro with two P4 receptor antagonists. Human GLC received one of two hCG support protocols: a Baseline group simulating the normal luteal phase or a Rescue group simulating early pregnancy. Baseline and Rescue groups were treated with either RU-486 or HRP2000 either early or late in the cell culture period. The effects of treatments or control on ovarian steroid and peptide hormone production were determined (significant difference was P < 0.05). In the Rescue group, late treatment resulted in an immediate and dramatic decline in E2, P4, and Rlx secretion to nearly nondetectable levels within 1 day after treatment, and hormones remained depressed for the remaining 10 days of culture. In contrast, early treatment resulted in a decline in steroid hormone secretion that returned to control levels within 5 days of cessation of treatment, and Rlx secretion was delayed for approximately 5 days more than in controls. The data support the hypothesis that P4 may be a required autocrine factor, not only for its own production but also for the maintenance of full endocrine function of the corpus luteum.