Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bronchus-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (BALT) Is Not Present in the Normal Adult Lung but in Different Diseases

Bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) was first described in the lungs of rabbits and differs greatly between species. It is part of the integrated mucosal immune system. This review clarifies its morphological definition and focuses on the situation in humans. The frequency of BALT at different ages, after chronic stimulation and in different diseases is described. In healthy humans, BALT can only be found in the lungs of children and adolescents. The role of BALT in lung transplantation and in the development of low-grade malignant lymphomas in the airways is also discussed. Furthermore, questions concerning the inducibility of BALT as an entry site for vaccines, and the regulation of its activity for future therapeutic interventions in pulmonary immune reactions are addressed.
Mass Layoffs: When and How Do They Affect Customer Satisfaction?

Downsizing seems to be one of the most appealing cost-cutting strategies to companies all around the world. Having emerged as a response to the economic slowdown of the 1980s (Baumol et al, 2003), this controversial management practice remains a topic of highest prominence even today. In fact, between 2000 and 2008 (i.e., even before the financial crisis) more than 10 million U.S. employees lost their jobs in over 52,000 mass layoff events (Bureau of Labor Statistics 2009). Interestingly, previous research shows that the attempt to improve performance through mass layoffs often fails. In search for explanations, researchers have begun to examine the effects of mass layoffs (often referred to as “downsizing”) on customer satisfaction and found first evidence of a negative relationship. As Chadwick et al (2004, p. 406) note, “The general consensus among researchers over the last two decades is that organizational performance is as likely to suffer as it is to improve after downsizing. ” In this context, marketing researchers have focused on understanding the effect of downsizing on customer satisfaction, with first studies reporting a negative relationship (Lewin, 2009; Lewin and Johnston, 2008; Lewin et al, 2010, e.g.).
Minimally Invasive Surgery: Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic and Foregut

This review is confined to the liver, biliary tract, pancreas, and foregut (oesophagus and stomach). The issues relating to laparoscopic cholecystectomy mainly concern the bile duct injuries associated with this operation. This review provides some evidence that although the risk for this iatrogenic injury is declining, it continues to be a problem and is accompanied by significant morbidity, mortality, and a huge escalation in care costs. Laparoscopic clearance of ductal stones is undoubtedly safe and effective, and issues have now focused on comparisons between this form of management and orthodox endoscopic clearance. Laparoscopic cardiomyotomy may well replace other forms of treatment of achalasia, including balloon dilation and botulinum toxin injection. As the results of laparoscopic antireflux surgery have been so good in the medium term, the question of medical versus laparoscopic treatment is being addressed by two randomized clinical trials. Gastric resection is established only in respect of excision of mesenchymal tumours. Gastric surgery for advanced gastric cancer must still be regarded as developmental. Laparoscopic liver resections and in situ ablation are still confined to developing centres, but the early results are promising. However, simpler hepatic procedures, such as de-roofing of symptomatic simple hepatic cysts, are well established and in widespread practice. Only a few centres have published their results on laparoscopic pancreatic surgery. The early reported outcome for internal drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts, enucleation of benign insulinomas, and distal pancreatic resections has been good, but the experience is limited.
Workers' Routine Activity Recognition using Body Movements and Location Information

We propose a method for recognizing workers' routine activities by combining location information and body movements of a user. We describe methods for capturing and recognizing the nursing context with an infrared-ID location sensor system and accelerometers worn by a user. We show experimental results of recognizing typical activities in a nursing scenario in a laboratory setting.
Primary afferent-evoked synaptic responses and slow potential generation in rat substantia gelatinosa neurons in vitro.

1. Primary afferent fiber-evoked synaptic responses and the mechanisms of spike and slow potential generation have been examined in adult rat substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons in an in vitro transverse spinal cord slice preparation in which an attached dorsal root is retained. Intracellular recordings were made from SG neurons identified by morphological and electrophysiological criteria. Afferent fiber-evoked fast excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fast EPSPs) and slow EPSPs have been analyzed. 2. SG neurons had mean resting membrane potentials of -67.1 +/- 0.5 mV (mean +/- SE), mean input resistance of 257 +/- 17.7 (SE) M omega, and a mean time constant of 21.3 +/- 1.9 ms and exhibited spontaneous EPSPs. 3. Single low-intensity stimuli applied to the dorsal root using a suction electrode produced, in 70% of SG neurons, short-latency, presumed monosynaptic fast EPSPs which had a half decay time of 10-30 ms and an amplitude of 8-28 mV. The conduction velocity of afferent fibers evoking fast EPSPs was 2-7 m/s, corresponding to that of thinly myelinated A-delta-fibers. Dorsal root stimulation at higher intensities evoked, in 10% of SG neurons, long-latency and apparently monosynaptic EPSPs which had a time course and amplitude similar to that evoked by low-intensity stimulation. The conduction velocity of fibers evoking long-latency EPSPs was 0.4-2 m/s, suggesting that they constitute predominantly C-fibers. A-delta- and C-fiber-mediated fast EPSPs were detected in 20% of SG neurons examined. 4. Low-intensity stimuli produced slow EPSPs in 20% of SG neurons. Slow EPSPs were 3-15 mV in amplitude and of up to 2 min in duration. A-delta-fibers appeared to be responsible for the generation of slow EPSPs. Slow EPSPs were associated with an increase in membrane resistance and were decreased in amplitude with membrane hyperpolarization. 5. Action potentials in SG neurons had a mean amplitude of 76.3 +/- 1.1 mV and a mean duration of 1.0 +/- 0.07 ms. Na+ ions represent the main charge carrier during the rising phase of the action potential and Ca2+ ions contribute to the shoulder on the falling phase. 6. In 20% of SG neurons, subthreshold depolarizing pulses were followed by long-lasting slow-inactivating depolarizing potentials which were able to initiate spikes. The slow depolarizing potentials were blocked by TTX and enhanced by application of TEA and Ba2+, suggesting that Na+ and K+ are involved in this slow-inactivating potential. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Cholinergic and noncholinergic tegmental pedunculopontine projection neurons in rats revealed by intracellular labeling

Morphological features of rat pedunculopontine projection neurons were investigated in in vitro preparation by using intracellular labeling with biocytin combined with choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) immunohistochemistry. These neurons were classified into two types (Type I and II), based on their electrical membrane properties: Type I had low‐threshold Ca2+ spikes, and Type II had A‐current. All Type I neurons (n = 17) were ChAT immunonegative (ChAT−). Type II neurons were either ChAT immunopositive (ChAT+; n = 49) or ChAT− (n = 20). In terms of topography in the tegmental pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN), Type I neurons were dispersed throughout the extent of the nucleus, whereas Type II neurons tended to be located more in the rostral and middle sections. Both Type I and II neurons consisted of small (long axis <20 μm), medium (20–35 μm), and large (>35 μm) cells. The small cells were round or oval; medium cells were round, triangular, or fusiform; and the large cells were primarily fusiform in shape. In terms of the soma size, there was a difference in Type I (15–38 μm) and Type II (11–50 μm) neurons, but no significant difference was found between Type II ChAT− and ChAT− cells. Both types of neurons had three to six primary dendrites, but the dendritic field was more prominent in Type II neurons. Most of the axons originated from one of the primary dendrites, which gave off axon collaterals, some of which projected out of the nucleus. The intrinsic collaterals were thin and branched party within the dendritic field of the parent cell. The extrinsic collaterals were thicker and could be grouped into three categories: 1) collaterals arborizing in the substantia nigra; 2) collaterals ascending mainly toward the thalamus, pretectal, and tectal area; and 3) collaterals descending toward the mesencephalic and/or pontine reticular formation. It was noted that the collaterals of both ChAT+ and ChAT− neurons were traced into the substantia nigra. There was no significant difference in antidromic latencies between Type I (m = 1.47 msec) and Type II (m = 1.36 msec) neurons following electrical stimulation of the substantia nigra. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Serum S100B in patients with brain tumours undergoing craniotomy.

OBJECTIVE To determine pre- and postoperative serum S100B concentrations in patients with intracranial tumours that underwent craniotomy and compare the values with healthy controls. STUDY DESIGN An observational, comparative study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Neurosurgical Ward, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. Karachi, from May 2007 to April 2008. METHODOLOGY Serum S100B was measured pre- and postoperatively on days 1, 2 and 7 in 18 healthy controls and similar number of patients who underwent craniotomy for intracranial tumours. Mean pre-operative patients and control values were compared using Mann-Whitney (unpaired) or Wilcoxon (paired) tests for comparing between pre- and postoperative values. The p-value was considered significant at < 0.05. RESULTS Serum S100B concentrations were significantly higher in patients with mean value of 0.19 ± 0.12 μg/L than in healthy controls (mean 0.03 ± 0.01, p < 0.0005). Significantly raised serum S100B concentrations were observed in all postoperative samples when compared with pre-operative samples. S100B concentrations significantly increased on postoperative day 1 (mean = 0.90 ± 1.07 μg/L, p < 0.0005), decreased on day 2 (mean = 0.84 ± 0.57 μg/L, p < 0.0005). The concentrations further declined on day 7 (mean = 0.44 ± 0.43 μg/L, p = 0.005). CONCLUSION The significantly high postoperative concentrations of S100B in patients appear as a consequence of tissue damage due to surgical procedures. The absence of fall of the S100B concentration in serum from the peak value on postoperative day 1 and day 2 could provide early warning of brain tissue damage leading to neurological deterioration.
Motavizumab for Prophylaxis of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in High-Risk Children: A Noninferiority Trial

OBJECTIVE: Palivizumab reduces respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) hospitalization in children at high risk by ∼50% compared with placebo. We compared the efficacy and safety of motavizumab, an investigational monoclonal antibody with enhanced anti-RSV activity in preclinical studies, with palivizumab. METHODS: This randomized, double-blind, multinational, phase 3, noninferiority trial assessed safety and RSV hospitalization in 6635 preterm infants aged ≤6 months at enrollment or children aged ≤24 months with chronic lung disease of prematurity who received 15 mg/kg palivizumab or motavizumab monthly. Secondary end points included outpatient medically attended lower respiratory tract infections (MALRIs), RSV-specific LRIs, otitis media, antibiotic use, development of antimotavizumab antibodies, and motavizumab serum concentrations. RESULTS: Motavizumab recipients had a 26% relative reduction in RSV hospitalization compared with palivizumab recipients, achieving noninferiority. Motavizumab was superior to palivizumab for reduction of RSV-specific outpatient MALRIs (50% relative reduction). Overall, adverse events (AEs) were not significantly different between groups. Cutaneous events were reported in 2 percentage points more motavizumab recipients (7.2% vs 5.1%); most were mild, but 0.3% resulted in dosing discontinuation. Antidrug antibodies (ADA) were detected in 1.8% of motavizumab recipients. Patients with anti-drug antibody reported 6 RSV events and 17 cutaneous events. CONCLUSIONS: Children receiving prophylaxis with motavizumab or palivizumab had low rates of RSV hospitalization; motavizumab recipients experienced 50% fewer RSV MALRIs than palivizumab recipients. AEs were similar in both groups, although cutaneous AEs were higher for motavizumab recipients. Motavizumab may offer an improved alternative in prophylaxis for serious RSV disease in infants and children at high risk.
Comparisons of cardioprotective efficacy between fibroblast growth factor 21 and dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitor in prediabetic rats

AIMS Comparative efficacy between fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and vildagliptin on metabolic regulation, cardiac mitochondrial function, heart rate variability (HRV), and left ventricular (LV) function is not known. We hypothesized that FGF21 and vildagliptin share a similar efficacy in improving these parameters in high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese-insulin resistant rats. METHODS Twenty-four male Wistar rats were fed with either a normal diet (ND) or a HFD for 12 weeks. Then, ND rats were received vehicle (NDV). Rats in the HFD group were divided into three subgroups to receive either vehicle (HFV), recombinant human FGF21 (rhFGF21, 0.1 mg/kg/d, ip; HFF), or vildagliptin (3 mg/kg/d, PO; HFVil) for 28 days. RESULTS HFV rats developed obese-insulin resistance, increased serum tumor necrosis factors alpha (TNF-α) level, impaired heart rate variability (HRV) together with cardiac mitochondrial dysfunction, and LV dysfunction. Cardiac apoptosis was markedly increased in HFV rats indicated by decreased B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) with increased Bcl2-associated X-protein (Bax) and cleaved caspase 3 expression. Cardiac FGF21 signaling pathways were markedly decreased in HFV rats indicated by decreased phosphor-fibroblast growth factor receptors 1 (p-FGFR1), phosphor-extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 (p-ERK1/2), proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α), and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1) expression. Although both FGF21 and vildagliptin similarly attenuated these impairments, only HFF rats had decreased body weight, visceral fat, and serum TNF-α levels. CONCLUSIONS FGF21 exerts better metabolic regulation and inflammation reduction than vildagliptin. However, FGF21 and vildagliptin shared a similar efficacy for cardioprotection by improving HRV and LV function.
[Is combining metronidazole and alcohol really hazardous?].

BACKGROUND It is common practice to warn against intake of alcohol (ethanol) when taking metronidazole because of the risk of an effect similar to disulfiram (Antabuse). In this article we investigate whether such a warning has any real basis. KNOWLEDGE BASE: The article is based on a review of relevant literature retrieved through a search in PubMed. A search was also made in the WHO's database on adverse effects. RESULTS No in-vitro studies, animal models, reports of adverse effects or clinical studies provide any convincing evidence of a disulfiram-like interaction between ethanol and metronidazole. INTERPRETATION The warning against simultaneous use of alcohol and metronidazole appear to be based on laboratory experiments and individual case histories in which the reported reactions are equally likely to have been caused by ethanol alone or by adverse effects of metronidazole. Recent research does not confirm a clinically relevant interaction between ethanol and metronidazole.
Functional outcomes of posttraumatic lower limb salvage: a pilot study of anterolateral thigh perforator flaps versus muscle flaps.

BACKGROUND Functional outcomes of lower extremity reconstruction compared with amputation have been evaluated. However, there are little comparative data among the different reconstructive options. With the recent increase in perforator flaps, we compared the functional outcomes of muscle and perforator flaps. METHODS We conducted a retrospective review of 136 lower extremity trauma patients who underwent reconstruction with either a free muscle or perforator flap during a 7-year period. Forty-two of these patients completed the study. Patients answered the short musculoskeletal functional assessment form and supplemental questions. A physical therapist evaluated performance of physical tasks. Donor site sensation was measured with the pressure specified sensing device. Radiographic fracture union was evaluated by an orthopedic surgeon. RESULTS Of the 42 patients enrolled, 20 had coverage with perforator flaps and 22 with muscle flaps. Quality of life and functional outcomes demonstrate no difference (p > 0.05). Ninety-three percent of patients would go through the limb salvage process to avoid amputation. Sensation at the donor site was diminished in all patients; however, the perforator flap donor site had more significant sensory loss (p = 0.005). Time to bony union (p = 0.51), union in the presence of infection (p = 0.85), and infection after flap (p = 0.87) was not related to flap type. CONCLUSION Both muscle and perforator flaps provide vascularized coverage, which nourishes the fracture but muscle flaps pilfer a functional unit which may not be inconsequential in a patient trauma. This pilot study suggests that functional outcomes of perforator skin flaps are equal to muscle flaps and a larger prospective study is warranted.
Conservation of a master hematopoietic switch gene during vertebrate evolution: Isolation and characterization of Ikaros from teleost and amphibian species

The generation of T, B and NK lymphocyte lineages from pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells is dependent upon the early expression of the Ikaros locus which by means of alternative splicing produces a variety of zinc finger DNA binding transcription factors. We assessed the general biological importance of Ikaros by studying its conservation and expression in teleost fish and amphibians. Portions of Ikaros cDNA from rainbow trout and Xenopus were amplified by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). They show roughly 75% conservation of the amino acid sequence with mammalian Ikaros. The trout fragment was then used to isolate full‐length Ikaros clones from a trout thymocyte cDNA library. In mice and humans, Ikaros produces six alternatively spliced isoforms, but in trout two additional novel splice variants designated Ik‐7 and Ik‐8 were also found. Ik‐7 is expressed in a similar fashion to Ik‐1 and Ik‐2, the predominant isoforms expressed in mammalian lymphocytes. In trout and zebrafish, as in mammals, Ikaros is a single‐copy gene, but in Xenopus segregation analysis demonstrates that Ikaros has been duplicated, most likely a result of polyploidization. We then examined the expression of Ikaros in trout and Xenopus tumor T cell lines via Northern blot, RT‐PCR, immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis. Overall, Ikaros is expressed in a lymphoid‐specific fashion similar to that found in mice and humans. In addition Ikaros is expressed early in trout ontogeny, beginning roughly at days 3–4 in the yolk sac and at day 5–6 in the embryo proper. The conservation of Ikaros structure and expression confirms it as a master switch of hematopoiesis.
Recording non‐nutritive sucking in the neonate. Description of an automatized system for analysis

A new method for automatic analysis of non‐nutritive sucking in newborn infants is described, which uses a specially designed computer program that analyses an analogue signal obtained from a pressure transducer inside a pacifier. Validation is done with four independent methods: electromyogram, visual identification, control of the automatic treatment and comparison of inter‐observer results. A high degree of correspondence is shown. The system was applied to 58 healthy full‐term neonates. Infants less than 24 h old demonstrated a significantly different sucking pattern compared with the 3‐day‐old infant. The duration of their bursts was longer (3.7 vs 2.8 s), the frequency of their sucking was lower (1.7 vs 2.0 Hz) and the variability of their sucking pattern was greater. These results also testify to the validity of the method inasmuch as the values for the different sucking parameters are similar to corresponding values presented earlier.
Noninvasive measurement of blood pressure variability: accuracy of the Finometer monitor and comparison with the Finapres device

To assess the accuracy of spectral indices of arterial pressure variability and baroreflex sensitivity obtained from beat-by-beat noninvasive blood pressure recordings by the Finometer device, we compared these measures with those obtained from intra-arterial recordings. The performance of the Finometer was also compared to the traditional Finapres device. In 19 cardiac disease patients, including myocardial infarction, heart failure and cardiac transplant, we estimated the power of systolic and diastolic pressures in the VLF (0.01–0.04 Hz), LF (0.04–0.15 Hz) and HF (0.15–0.45 Hz) bands and computed absolute and percentage errors relative to intra-arterial brachial pressure. We also computed the characteristic frequency of each band (i.e. the barycentric frequency of spectral components identified in the band). The variability of systolic pressure in the VLF and LF bands was markedly overestimated by both the Finometer and Finapres (p < 0.01), with percentage median errors of respectively 130% and 103% (Finometer), and 134% and 78% (Finapres). The HF power was substantially unchanged using the Finometer and reduced using the Finapres (−28%, p < 0.05). The limits of agreement between noninvasive and invasive spectral measurements were wide. Linear system analysis showed that most (>80%) of the power of noninvasive signals was linearly related to the power of the invasive signal. The characteristic frequency of each band was substantially preserved in both noninvasive signals. The results for diastolic pressure were similar, but the Finapres errors in the VLF and LF bands were lower. Baroreflex sensitivity was significantly underestimated by both devices (Finometer: −31%, Finapres: −24%). Despite previous studies having shown that brachial artery waveform reconstruction performed by the Finometer has improved the accuracy of blood pressure measurement compared to the Finapres device, measurement of blood pressure variability in cardiac disease patients provides worse results in most spectral parameters and a better accuracy only in the HF band of systolic pressure.