Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nisoldipine and perfusion of post‐stenotic myocardium in conscious pigs with different degrees of concentric stenosis

1 The effects of oral nisoldipine on the perfusion and wall function of a myocardial segment distal to a fixed coronary artery stenosis were studied in 2 groups of conscious pigs with different degrees of stenosis. In group 1 (n = 8) systolic wall thickening (SWT) of the post‐stenotic segment was more than 15% (27 ± 4%); in group 2 (n = 7) SWT was less than 10% (7 ± 1%). 2 The systemic haemodynamic profiles at baseline and during nisoldipine were similar in both groups. Dose‐titrations of nisoldipine (0.24 + 0.02 mg kg−1 and 0.47 + 0.04 mg kg−1) were performed to obtain increases in heart rate of 25% and 50%, respectively. These increases were accompanied by increases in cardiac output (up to 50%) and left ventricular (LV)dP/dt max (60%), while systemic vascular resistance (35%) and mean arterial blood pressure (10%) were reduced. Left ventricular systolic and end‐diastolic blood pressure and stroke volume were not affected. 3 In both groups, nisoldipine caused increases in blood flow to the non‐stenotic area which favoured the subepicardium more than the subendocardium. Blood flow to the post‐stenotic area of group 1 was normal at baseline and was only slightly enhanced (preferentially to the subepicardium) by nisoldipine. In the post‐stenotic area of group 2 transmural and subendocardial blood flow were lower at baseline compared to the control area. Nisoldipine did not affect subepicardial blood flow but reduced subendocardial blood flow. 4 In spite of the reflex‐mediated positive chronotropic actions of nisoldipine, the acute poststenotic systolic wall thickening was not affected by nisoldipine in either group. 5 We conclude that, under the experimental conditions employed (concentric stenosis, no coronary collaterals and acute drug administration), nisoldipine does not have a useful effect on post‐stenotic myocardial blood flow, particularly in animals with severe stenosis. In view of a possible resetting of the baroreceptors (subsiding of the tachycardia) with chronic treatment and the presence of eccentric stenosis in many patients, additional studies are warranted.
Treatment of prostate cancer with Ad5/3Δ24hCG allows non-invasive detection of the magnitude and persistence of virus replication in vivo

Hormone refractory metastatic prostate cancer is a deadly disease that currently lacks curative treatments. Conditionally replicating adenoviruses (CRAds) are promising new agents against cancer due to their innate capability to cause oncolysis of tumor cells. Their antitumor effect is determined in part by their capacity for infecting cancer cells. However, the respective primary receptor, the coxsackie-adenovirus receptor (CAR), is variably expressed in many cancer types. We created Ad5/3Δ24hCG, a novel CRAd retargeted to the adenovirus serotype 3 receptor, which has been reported to be highly expressed in tumors. Furthermore, we added a transgene for the β-chain of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCGβ), whose expression was tightly coupled to virus replication. Ad5/3Δ24hCG was found effective in killing prostate cancer cells, and oncolysis was seen in concordance with hCGβ production. In a s.c. in vivo model of hormone refractory prostate cancer, Ad5/3Δ24hCG treatment resulted in statistically significant tumor growth inhibition. Moreover, i.v. injection of Ad5/3Δ24hCG prolonged the survival of mice with hormone refractory prostate cancer metastatic to the lung. Detection of hCGβ in serum samples confirmed viral replication in vivo. Infection of human clinical samples of cancerous and normal prostatic tissue resulted in effective hCGβ production in cancer tissue, whereas it remained low in nonmalignant tissue, suggesting cancer-specific replication. These results suggest that Ad5/3Δ24hCG is a potent virus for the treatment of hormone refractory prostate cancer in vitro and in vivo. These preclinical data set the stage for translation into clinical studies. [Mol Cancer Ther 2007;6(2):742–51]
Increasing Maternal Body Mass Index Is Associated with Systemic Inflammation in the Mother and the Activation of Distinct Placental Inflammatory Pathways1

ABSTRACT Obese pregnant women have increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines in maternal circulation and placental tissues. However, the pathways contributing to placental inflammation in obesity are largely unknown. We tested the hypothesis that maternal body mass index (BMI) was associated with elevated proinflammatory cytokines in maternal and fetal circulations and increased activation of placental inflammatory pathways. A total of 60 women of varying pre-/early pregnancy BMI, undergoing delivery by Cesarean section at term, were studied. Maternal and fetal (cord) plasma were collected for analysis of insulin, leptin, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP) 1, and TNFalpha by multiplex ELISA. Activation of the inflammatory pathways in the placenta was investigated by measuring the phosphorylated and total protein expression of p38-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK)-MAPK, signal transducer-activated transcription factor (STAT) 3, caspase-1, IL-1beta, IkappaB-alpha protein, and p65 DNA-binding activity. To determine the link between activated placental inflammatory pathways and elevated maternal cytokines, cultured primary human trophoblast (PHT) cells were treated with physiological concentrations of insulin, MCP-1, and TNFalpha, and inflammatory signaling analyzed by Western blot. Maternal BMI was positively correlated with maternal insulin, leptin, MCP-1, and TNFalpha, whereas only fetal leptin was increased with BMI. Placental phosphorylation of p38-MAPK and STAT3, and the expression of IL-1beta protein, were increased with maternal BMI; phosphorylation of p38-MAPK was also correlated with birth weight. In contrast, placental NFkappaB, JNK and caspase-1 signaling, and fetal cytokine levels were unaffected by maternal BMI. In PHT cells, p38-MAPK was activated by MCP-1 and TNFalpha, whereas STAT3 phosphorylation was increased following TNFalpha treatment. Maternal BMI is associated with elevated maternal cytokines and activation of placental p38-MAPK and STAT3 inflammatory pathways, without changes in fetal systemic inflammatory profile. Activation of p38-MAPK by MCP-1 and TNFalpha, and STAT3 by TNFalpha, suggests a link between elevated proinflammatory cytokines in maternal plasma and activation of placental inflammatory pathways. We suggest that inflammatory processes associated with elevated maternal BMI may influence fetal growth by altering placental function.
Experience using the latest OrthoPilot TKA software: a comparative study.

The OrthoPilot (Aesculap, Tuttlingen, Germany) Knee Navigation System represents a computed tomography (CT)-free system. In older software versions, a rigid-body at the iliac crest was necessary to calculate the centre of the hip. The latest software versions, 3.0 and 4.0, use a new mathematical algorithm to reconstruct the mechanical axis. Using the OrthoPilot system, an intraoperative cinematic study can be done that results in calculation of the mechanical axis and navigation of resection cuts. According to flexion- and extension-gap balancing, the anterior/posterior (a.p.) position and rotation of the femoral component also are navigated. Thirty navigated SEARCH (Aesculap, Tuttlingen, Germany) total knee arthroplasties (TKA) using the software version 3.0 of an uninterrupted series were evaluated, versus 30 navigated knees using older software and a manual group. Results concerning alignment were determined to be superior to the older navigation and manual groups. The number of cases with a good mechanical axis, 0; low; or 2 of deviation from optimum, was reached in 17 of the manual, 19 of the older-version, and 27 of the newer-version navigation cases. More features were solved in a convincing manner. The numbers of ouliers were diminished. Navigation in TKA using the OrthoPilot has become more safe and effective.
Non-linéarité de la courbe de Phillips : un survol de la littérature

The paper reviews evidence from the economic literature on the nature of the relationship between excess capacity and inflation, better known as the Phillips curve. In particular, we examine the linearity of this relationship. This is an important issue in the current economic context in which advanced economies are approaching or exceed their potential output. In fact, several theoretical frameworks in the literature support the existence of non-linearity in the Phillips curve. To that end, we review 35 international studies that empirically analyze the shape of the Phillips curve in advanced economies. Most of the studies reviewed find evidence supporting a convex Phillips curve. This result would imply a stronger relationship between excess capacity and inflation during periods of high economic activity relative to periods of low economic activity.
Chronic Hypoxia Enhances Adenosine Release in Rat PC12 Cells by Altering Adenosine Metabolism and Membrane Transport

Abstract: Acute exposure to hypoxia causes a release of adenosine (ADO) that is inversely related to the O2 levels in oxygen‐sensitive pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. In the current study, chronic exposure (48 h) of PC12 cells to moderate hypoxia (5% O2) significantly enhanced the release of ADO during severe, acute hypoxia (1% O2). Investigation into the intra‐ and extracellular mechanisms underpinning the secretion of ADO in PC12 cells chronically exposed to hypoxia revealed changes in gene expression and activities of several key enzymes associated with ADO production and metabolism, as well as the down‐regulation of a nucleoside transporter. Decreases in the enzymatic activities of ADO kinase and ADO deaminase accompanied by an increase in those of cytoplasmic and ecto‐5′‐nucleotidases bring about an increased capacity to produce intra‐ and extracellular ADO. This increased potential to generate ADO and decreased capacity to metabolize ADO indicate that PC12 cells shift toward an ADO producer phenotype during hypoxia. The reduced function of the rat equilibrative nucleoside transporter rENT1 also plays a role in controlling extracellular ADO levels. The hypoxia‐induced alterations in the ADO metabolic enzymes and the rENT1 transporter seem to increase the extracellular concentration of ADO. The biological significance of this regulation is unclear but is likely to be associated with modulating cellular activity during hypoxia.
The High-Sensitivity Modified Glasgow Prognostic Score Is Superior to the Modified Glasgow Prognostic Score as a Prognostic Predictor in Patients with Resectable Gastric Cancer

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the superiority of the high-sensitivity modified Glasgow prognostic score (HS-mGPS) before surgery in patients with gastric cancer. Patients and Methods: The participants of this retrospective study comprised 552 patients with gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy at the Fukuoka University Hospital. The HS-mGPS was calculated before surgery based on cutoff values of 0.3 mg/dl for C-reactive protein and 3.5 g/dl for albumin, and correlations between the HS-mGPS and the clinicopathological parameters and prognosis were evaluated. In addition, the superiority of the HS-mGPS to the mGPS as a prognostic indicator was examined in detail. Results: The mGPS was 0 in 494 patients, 1 in 24 patients and 2 in 34 patients. In contrast, the HS-mGPS was 0 in 411 patients, 1 in 75 patients and 2 in 66 patients. Both the mGPS (p < 0.0001) and HS-mGPS (p < 0.0001) were good prognostic predictors in gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy. Of the 494 patients with an mGPS of 0 before surgery, 51 and 32 exhibited an HS-mGPS of 1 and 2, respectively. The patients who exhibited migration in the HS-mGPS demonstrated a significantly more unfavorable prognosis than the patients with an HS-mGPS of 0 (p < 0.0001). The prognostic impact of the HS-mGPS was especially clear in stage I and IV patients (p = 0.0027, p = 0.017). The HS-mGPS was found to be a superior prognostic predictor compared to the mGPS in a multivariate analysis (p = 0.0002). Conclusions: The HS-mGPS before surgery is a superior prognostic predictor in patients with gastric cancer.
Profile of neurological admissions at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu.

BACKGROUND The burden of Neurological diseases may be on the increase especially in developing countries. Improved outcome in these settings may require appreciation of the spectrum of Neurological diseases and the impediments to their management. We aim to determine the profile of neurological admissions and the challenges of managing these diseases at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu South East Nigeria. METHODS Analysis of Neurological admissions into the medical wards of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu from January 2003 to December 2007. RESULTS Neurological admissions comprise about 14.8% of medical admissions. There were 640 (51%) males and 609 (49%) females. The spectrum of neurological diseases were stroke 64.9%, central nervous system infections (21.8% ), HIV related neurological diseases 3.5%, hypertensive encephalopathy (3.4%), dementia (3%), subarachnoid haemorrhage (2.2%), Guillian Barre syndrome (1.2%), Parkinson's disease (1.1%), myasthenia gravis (1.0%), motor neurone disease and peripheral neuropathy and accounted for 0.8% and 0.6% respectively. Overall, noninfectious disease accounted for 78.2% of neurological admissions while infectious diseases accounted for 11.8%. CONCLUSION A wide spectrum of neurological diseases occurs in our setting. The high incidence of CNS infections indicates that efforts should be geared towards preventive measures. A major challenge to be addressed in the management of neurological diseases in our setting is the lack of specialized facilities.
Religion, partisanship and preferences for redistribution

This article offers a new theoretical explanation of the relationship between religion and the demand for redistribution. Previous literature shows that religious individuals are less likely to favour redistribution either because (a) religion provides a substitute for state welfare provision, or (b) it adds a salient moral dimension to an individual's calculus which induces them to act contrary to their economic interests. In this article, it is argued that the effect of religion on an individual's redistributive preferences is best explained by their partisanship, via a process of partisan motivated reasoning. In contexts where parties are able to combine religion with pro‐redistribution policies, religious individuals are more likely to favour redistribution as doing so reinforces their partisan identity. In advanced democracies, religious individuals are more likely to be supporters of centre‐right parties that oppose redistribution. However, in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) the historical and political context leads to the opposite expectation. The nature of party competition in CEE has seen nationalist populist parties adopt policy platforms that combine religion and leftist economic programmes. They are able to credibly combine these two positions due to the way in which religion and the welfare state became linked to conceptions of the nation during the inter‐war state‐building years. Using data from 2002–2014, the study shows that religiosity is associated with pro‐redistribution attitudes in CEE. Furthermore, religious supporters of nationalist populist parties are more likely to favour redistribution than religious supporters of other parties. The results of this research add greater nuance to our understanding of the relationship between religiosity and economic preferences.
A Rake-Finger Based Efficient Channel State Information Feedback Compression Scheme for the MIMO OFDM FDD Downlink

An efficient feedback compression scheme is presented for signaling of explicit channel state information (CSI) to the transmitter side for MIMO OFDM systems in general and especially with coordinated multi-point transmission (COMP). Simulation results show that the required rates can be reduced by a factor of up to 17, compared to reporting of quantized frequency domain channel representations. This is achieved by using a separation of short-term and long-term information and a time-domain representation reduced to 'rake-&#64257;ngers' for removing redundancy and irrelevant information. This novel proposed solution can be used as an important enabler for coherent network MIMO in the FDD downlink.
COPD elicits remodeling of the diaphragm and vastus lateralis muscles in humans.

A profound remodeling of the diaphragm and vastus lateralis (VL) occurs in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In this mini-review, we discuss the following costal diaphragm remodeling features noted in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD: 1) deletion of serial sarcomeres, 2) increased proportion of slow-twitch fibers, 3) fast-to-slow isoform shift in sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase, 4) increased capacity of oxidative metabolism, 5) oxidative stress, and 6) myofiber atrophy. We then present the sole feature of diaphragm remodeling noted in mild-to-moderate COPD under the heading "MyHC and contractile remodeling noted in mild-to-moderate COPD. " The importance of VL remodeling in COPD patients as a prognostic indicator as well as a major determinant of the ability to carry out activities of daily living is well accepted. We present the remodeling of the VL noted in COPD patients under the following headings: 1) Decrease in proportion of slow-twitch fibers, 2) Decreased activity of oxidative pathways, 3) Oxidative and nitrosative stress, and 4) Myofiber atrophy. For each of the remodeling features noted in both the VL and costal diaphragm of COPD patients, we present mechanisms that are currently thought to mediate these changes as well as the pathophysiology of each remodeling feature. We hope that our mechanistic presentation stimulates research in this area that focuses on improving the ability of COPD patients to carry out increased activities of daily living.
A state-queueing model of thermostatically controlled appliances

This paper develops a state-queueing model to analyze the price response of aggregated loads consisting of thermostatically controlled appliances (TCAs). Assuming a perfectly diversified load before the price response, we show that TCA setpoint changes in response to the market price will result in a redistribution of TCAs in on/off states and therefore change the probabilities for a unit to reside in each state. A randomly distributed load can be partially synchronized and the aggregated diversity lost. The loss of the load diversity can then create unexpected dynamics in the aggregated load profile. Raising issues such as restoring load diversity and damping the peak loads are also addressed in this paper.
A Randomized Trial of High-Value Change Using Practice Facilitation

Purpose: To understand how focused versus general practice facilitation can impact goal setting, action planning, and team performance in primary care transformation. Background: Practice transformation in primary care is a crucial part of health reform, but can fatigue teams, leading to variable results. Practice facilitation may reduce primary care fatigue to help teams reach challenging transformation goals, but may require a more focused approach than previous studies suggest. Methods: We performed a 12-month cluster randomized trial, during which 8 primary care clinics received practice facilitation. Four practices in the intervention arm received targeted facilitation to focus quality improvement (QI) goals on high-value elements (HVEs) intended to reduce cost and utilization, whereas 4 control practices received generalized QI facilitation. We investigated the impact of the targeted versus generalized approach on goal selection, action item selection and achievement, HVE attainment, and collaborative practice, using quantitative and qualitative methods. Results: Intervention clinics selected an average of 7 goals and 29 action items, compared with 8 goals and 40 action items among controls. Eighty-three percent of intervention goals were related to HVEs, compared with 27% of goals among controls. Intervention clinics selected 101 HVE goals and met 68%, while controls selected 41 and met 61%. Analysis of pre-post practice surveys indicated greater improvement among intervention across 4 of 8 domains of collaborative practice. Conclusion: Targeted facilitation may be more effective than a generalized approach to support practices in reaching high-value change goals, as well as fostering improvement of team focus on goals, roles and responsibilities.
Cluster Analysis for Large, High-Dimensional Datasets: Methodology and Applications

Cluster analysis represents one of the most versatile methods in statistical science. It is employed in empirical sciences for the summarization of datasets into groups of similar objects, with the purpose of facilitating the interpretation and further analysis of the data. Cluster analysis is of particular importance in the exploratory investigation of data of high complexity, such as that derived from molecular biology or image databases. Consequently, recent work in the field of cluster analysis has focused on designing algorithms that can provide meaningful solutions for data with high cardinality and/or dimensionality, under the natural restriction of limited resources. The present thesis aims to develop improved methods for the clustering of high-dimensional datasets, as well as further applications of such algorithms in practical settings. In the first part of the thesis, a more detailed review of the representative clustering algorithms focused on the analysis of very large or high-dimensional datasets is provided. Subsequently, a newly developed method for this purpose is described and evaluated. The developed algorithm is based on the principles of projection pursuit and grid partitioning, and focuses on reducing computational requirements for large datasets without loss of performance. In the second part of the thesis, a novel method for generating synthetic datasets with variable structure and clustering difficulty, that is aimed at evaluating clustering algorithms is presented. In the third part of the thesis, the applications of cluster analysis to the field of automatic image classification are investigated. A novel system for the semi-supervised annotation of images is described and evaluated. The system is based on a vocabulary of clusters of visual features extracted from images with known classification.