Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reversal of Rocuronium-induced (1.2 mg/kg) Profound Neuromuscular Block by Sugammadex: A Multicenter, Dose-finding and Safety Study

Background: Reversal of rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade can be accomplished by chemical encapsulation of rocuronium by sugammadex, a modified &ggr;-cyclodextrin derivative. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of sugammadex in reversing rocuronium-induced profound neuromuscular blockade at 5 min in American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I and II patients. Methods: Forty-five American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I and II patients (aged 18–64 yr) scheduled to undergo surgical procedures (anticipated anesthesia duration ≥ 90 min) were randomly assigned to a phase II, multicenter, assessor-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel, dose-finding study. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with propofol and an opioid. Profound neuromuscular blockade was induced with 1.2 mg/kg rocuronium bromide. Sugammadex (2.0, 4.0, 8.0, 12.0, or 16.0 mg/kg) or placebo (0.9% saline) was then administered 5 min after the administration of rocuronium. Neuromuscular function was monitored by acceleromyography, using train-of-four nerve stimulation. Recovery time was the time from the start of administration of sugammadex or placebo, to recovery of the train-of-four ratio to 0.9. Safety assessments were performed on the day of the operation and during the postoperative and follow-up period. Results: A total of 43 patients received either sugammadex or placebo. Increasing doses of sugammadex reduced the mean recovery time from 122 min (spontaneous recovery) to less than 2 min in a dose-dependent manner. Signs of recurrence of blockade were not observed. No serious adverse events related to sugammadex were reported. Two adverse events possibly related to sugammadex were reported in two patients (diarrhea and light anesthesia); however, both patients recovered without sequelae. Conclusions: Sugammadex rapidly and effectively reversed profound rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade in humans and was well tolerated.
Localization of a Thrombin-Binding Site on Human Platelet Membrane Glycoprotein Ib Determined by a Monoclonal Antibody

Summary To determine a thrombin-binding site on GPIbα on platelet membrane, we have examined the binding activities of tryptic or chymotryptic fragments of purified GPIbα to a monoclonal antibody against GPIb (TM60) and thrombin using (immuno) affinity chromatography. When purified GPIba was digested with trypsin, two fragments (94-kDa, and 43-kDa) were obtained. The 43-kDa fragment was shown to bind to both affinity columns of TM60- and thrombin-Affi-Gel, while the 94-kDa fragment did not bind to either Affi-Gel columns. When trypsin fragments were incubated with TM60 and then applied to the column of thrombin-Affi-Gel, neither fragments were bound to the column. When the same experiment was performed using chymotrypsin, three fragments (94-kDa, 45-kDa and 39-kDa) were observed. On TM60- and thrombin-Affi-Gel columns, the smaller fragments (45-kDa and 39-kDa) were bound to the column. After incubation of these fragments with TM60, neither bound to the thrombin column. These results indicate (i) that the epitope for TM60 is located near, or on the thrombin-binding site of GPIba, and (ii) that the thrombin-binding site is located on the tail portion of GPIbα, especially on a chymotrypsin cleavage site.
Comparative surface‐to‐hand and fingertip‐to‐mouth transfer efficiency of gram‐positive bacteria, gram‐negative bacteria, and phage

Aims: To determine the transfer efficiency of micro‐organisms from fomites to hands and the subsequent transfer from the fingertip to the lip. Methods and Results: Volunteers hands were sampled after the normal usage of fomites seeded with a pooled culture of a Gram‐positive bacterium (Micrococcus luteus), a Gram‐negative bacterium (Serratia rubidea) and phage PRD‐1 (Period A). Activities included wringing out a dishcloth/sponge, turning on/off a kitchen faucet, cutting up a carrot, making hamburger patties, holding a phone receiver, and removing laundry from the washing machine. Transfer efficiencies were 38·47% to 65·80% and 27·59% to 40·03% for the phone receiver and faucet, respectively. Transfer efficiencies from porous fomites were <0·01%. In most cases, M.luteus was transferred most efficiently, followed by phage PRD‐1 and S. rubidea. When the volunteers' fingertips were inoculated with the pooled organisms and held to the lip area (Period B), transfer rates of 40·99%, 33·97%, and 33·90% occurred with M. luteus, S. rubidea, and PRD‐1, respectively. Conclusions: The highest bacteral transfer rates from fomites to the hands were seen with the hard, non‐porous surfaces. Even with low transfer rates, the numbers of bacteria transferred to the hands were still high (up to 106 cells). Transfer of bacteria from the fingertip to the lip is similar to that observed from hard surfaces to hands. Significance and Impact of the Study: Infectious doses of pathogens may be transferred to the mouth after handling an everyday contaminated household object.
Atypical Glandular Cells of Endometrial Origin and the Risk of Endometrial Cancer

Objectives To assess the risk of endometrial cancer (EC) associated with atypical glandular cells of endometrial origin (AGC-EM) in 2 age groups (age younger than 51 vs 51 years or older). Methods A retrospective case series was assembled identifying AGC from a pathology database between January 1, 2005 and January 1, 2009. Demographics, cervical cytology results, and final diagnoses (including clinically significant diseases and cancers) were recorded from the initial AGC diagnosis until August 30, 2011. Data were analyzed using the &khgr;2 test to compare rates of disease between age groups. Results Among the 444 patients with AGC, 41% (183/444) had AGC-EM. Women younger than 51 years, compared to those 51 years or older, had significantly lower rates of AGC-EM (35% [105/296] vs 53% [78/148]; p < .001; odds ratio, 0.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.33–0.74). The rate of EC was significantly lower in those younger than 51 years, compared to those aged 51 or older (5% [8/158] vs 19% [18/95]; p < .001; odds ratio, 0.23; 95% confidence interval, 0.09–0.55) in women who underwent endometrial biopsy. In women younger than 51 years who underwent an endometrial biopsy, the rate of EC had a stepwise increase across 3 subclasses of AGC (from AGC of endocervical origin [AGC-EC] to AGC not otherwise specified to AGC-EM) (p = .04). Conclusions Women aged 51 years or older who have AGC are more likely to have AGC-EM and EC than women younger than 51 years. In women younger than age 51, AGC-EM is the subclass most associated with EC while compared to 2 other subclasses (AGC not otherwise specified and AGC-EC).
Chylomicron remnant metabolism. Role of hepatic lipoprotein receptors in mediating uptake.

Chylomicron remnants are catabolized by the liver, and their uptake within this organ is mediated by the presence of apolipoprotein (apo) E on the surface of these particles. In addition to a receptor for low density lipoproteins (LDL), several lines of evidence suggest that a unique receptor, referred to as the chylomicron remnant or apo E receptor, may be involved in the uptake of these lipoproteins. A possible candidate for the apo E receptor was previously isolated by affinity chromatography and was shown to possess high-affinity binding to apo E-containing lipoproteins, including chylomicron remnants, but not to possess high-affinity binding to apo B-containing LDL. However, it is now known that this fraction contains at least three proteins, all of which bind apo E with high affinity. An Mr congruent to 56,000 fraction contains two proteins that have been identified as the alpha- and beta-subunits of mitochondrial F1-adenosine 5'-triphosphatase (F1-ATPase). Furthermore, purified F1-ATPase binds apo E-containing lipoproteins with high affinity. It is very unlikely that these proteins, presumably isolated from mitochondrial membranes, are involved in chylomicron remnant metabolism. An Mr congruent to 59,000 fraction contains a unique apo E-binding protein that is not an ATPase. This protein appears to be localized to the endoplasmic reticulum of liver cells, but it is unclear whether this protein plays a role in chylomicron remnant catabolism. Furthermore, a cDNA clone coding for a protein that is apparently distinct from the ATPase and the Mr congruent to 59,000 protein has been obtained from a lambda gt11 library. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Identifying the patient at risk for post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disorder

Abstract: Post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) are a recognized complication of the immunosuppression required to prevent allograft rejection, occurring in 1–20% of recipients of solid organ transplants. Several factors greatly increase the risk of developing PTLD early post‐transplant in any individual recipient. Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection is critical in the pathogenesis of the majority of these cases. Pre‐transplant EBV seronegativity increases the incidence of PTLD 10‐ to 75‐fold over that of EBV‐seropositive recipients. Other risk factors include very young recipient age, cytomegalovirus infection or mismatching (donor positive–recipient negative), aggressive immunosuppression with conventional biologic agents, and the type of organ transplanted. In contrast, the risk of developing PTLD late in the post‐transplant course does not appear to be influenced by the type of immunosuppressive agents employed, but rather by the duration of any immunosuppression. The role of EBV in late PTLD is also less certain, as a greater proportion of lesions are not associated with evidence of EBV infection. As the understanding of these risk factors has expanded, opportunities exist to target those populations at highest risk for the development of PTLD for aggressive monitoring and pre‐emptive or prophylactic therapy. It is hoped that implementation of such strategies will render early PTLD a preventable complication of transplantation.
Recent Advances in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)‐related Lymphoma

Human immunodeficiency virus‐infected patients are at an increased risk for developing both Hodgkin and non‐Hodgkin lymphoma when compared with the general population. With the remarkable decrease in the incidence of opportunistic infections since the availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), acquired immune deficiency syndrome‐related lymphoma (ARL) is now the second most common cancer associated with human immunodeficiency virus after Kaposi sarcoma. Over the last few years, advances in our understanding of the molecular biology of this heterogeneous group of lymphomas have led to the adoption of new classification systems. The prognosis of patients with ARL has improved dramatically with the availability of HAART, and the survival of many of these patients is now comparable to patients in the general population. Apart from the contribution of HAART, this improvement in prognosis can also be attributed to new initiatives in treatment of these patients, such as the use of effective infusional regimens, the feasibility of high‐dose therapy with peripheral stem cell rescue for relapsed or refractory disease, and better supportive care. Nonetheless, several controversial issues persist, including the optimal timing of HAART with combination chemotherapy, the role of rituximab when incorporated into treatment regimens, and the optimal therapy for patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome‐related Burkitt lymphoma. This article reviews the changes in the epidemiology of ARL in the era of HAART, advances in the biology of ARL, new developments in the management of patients with ARL, and several of the controversial issues that oncologists may encounter in the care of these patients.
Direct Derivation of the Gradient Method for Network Utility Maximization in Broadcast Channels and Its Application

In broadcast channels, network utility maximization formulates a scheduling problem in order to maximize a sum of given utility functions. It is known that the network utility maximization is achieved if a gradient method is used. In this paper, however, we show that the network utility maximization is achieved only if a gradient method is used. That proves the equivalence between a problem formulated by the network utility maximization and a problem with a gradient method. The gradient method simplifies the object function of a scheduling problem by modifying utility functions to a gradient form, so that it makes easy to deal with the problem. We apply the gradient method to a problem with utility functions given by generalized proportional fairness. It is revealed that using the gradient method for the generalized proportional fairness is equivalent to applying a binomial approximation. Simulation results are presented with various scheduling parameters.
Aggression in adolescents: characteristics and treatment.

INTRODUCTION Vulnerability of young people and frustration of their basic biological, emotional, cognitive and social needs can induce a series of psycho-pathological manifestations, including aggression. OBJECTIVE Aim of this study is to examine the manifestations of aggressiveness in young people and to establish the difference between aggressive responses of two age groups; adolescents aged 16-19 years and older adolescents aged 20-26 years. METHODS The sample consists of 100 young people aged 16-19 years (46 adolescents) and 20-26 years (54 adolescents). For the purposes of this study, we have constructed a questionnaire in which we entered the data obtained on the basis of a standard psychiatric examination, auto- and hetero-anamnesis data, and data obtained using the standard battery of psychological tests. RESULTS Statistically significant association was found between verbal aggression and physical aggression (p = 0.002), verbal aggression and suicide attempts (p = 0.02), verbal aggression and substance abuse (p = 0.009), verbal aggression and low frustration tolerance (LFT) (p = 0.007), suicide attempt and LFT (p = 0.052). The younger group was significantly more verbally aggressive compared to the older group (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION Verbal aggression, which was significantly associated with physical aggression, suicide attempts, substance abuse and LFT, indicates the need for timely interventions for the prevention of more serious and malignant forms of aggression.
Ancestry of American polyploid Hordeum species with the I genome inferred from 5S and 18S-25S rDNA.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The genus Hordeum exists at three ploidy levels (2x, 4x and 6x) and presents excellent material for investigating the patterns of polyploid evolution in plants. Here the aim was to clarify the ancestry of American polyploid species with the I genome. * METHODS Chromosomal locations of 5S and 18S-25S ribosomal RNA genes were determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). In both polyploid and diploid species, variation in 18S-25S rDNA repeated sequences was analysed by the RFLP technique. * KEY RESULTS Six American tetraploid species were divided into two types that differed in the number of rDNA sites and RFLP profiles. Four hexaploid species were similar in number and location of both types of rDNA sites, but the RFLP profiles of 18S-25S rDNA revealed one species, H. arizonicum, with a different ancestry. * CONCLUSIONS Five American perennial tetraploid species appear to be alloploids having the genomes of an Asian diploid H. roshevitzii and an American diploid species. The North American annual tetraploid H. depressum is probably a segmental alloploid combining the two closely related genomes of American diploid species. A hexaploid species, H. arizonicum, involves a diploid species, H. pusillum, in its ancestry; both species share the annual growth habit and are distributed in North America. Polymorphisms of rDNA sites detected by FISH and RFLP analyses provide useful information to infer the phylogenetic relationships of I-genome Hordeum species because of their highly conserved nature during polyploid evolution.
Increased numbers of interleukin-15-expressing cells in active ulcerative colitis.

OBJECTIVES Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a novel cytokine sharing many of the activities of IL-2. The goal of this study was to evaluate intracellular and serum IL-15 in ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). METHODS Intracellular expression of IL-15 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from UC patients, CD patients, and controls was studied using cell permeabilization and staining with monoclonal antibodies. Serum levels of IL-15 were detected using ELISA. RESULTS Percentage of IL-15 expressing PBMC was increased in UC patients and in five of six of CD patients with moderate and severe disease activity compared with controls. The number of IL-15 expressing cells in patients with active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) declined within 2 wk of treatment. Serum IL-15 reached detectable levels in 62.5% of UC patients with moderate and severe disease activity but not in UC patients with slight disease activity or in remission, neither in CD patients nor in controls. In vitro lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of PBMC from controls was associated with up-regulation of intracellular IL-15 expression (p < 0.01) and release of IL-15. CONCLUSIONS UC patients with moderate and severe disease activity have increased percentage of IL-15 expressing PBMC, which might be induced by in vivo cell activation and can lead to elevation of released IL-15 in serum. Increased IL-15 expression after in vitro LPS stimulation of control PBMC suggests a nonspecific production of this cytokine during the immunoinflammatory response.
Increased circulating endothelial progenitor cells in septic patients: Correlation with survival

Objective:Endothelial damage and detachment of endothelial cells are known to occur in septic patients. Thus, recruitment of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (cEPCs) to these lesions might have a beneficial effect on the clinical course in septic patients. Therefore, we were interested in whether EPCs, detected by flow cytometry, are increasingly mobilized during sepsis and if this mobilization is associated with clinical outcome. Design:Prospective, nonrandomized study. Setting:Intensive care unit of a university hospital. Patients:Patients with (n = 32) and without (n = 15) sepsis and healthy volunteers (n = 15). Interventions:Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation, and cEPCs were characterized by three-color fluorescence flow cytometry using antibodies against CD133, CD34, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2. Serum concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor, and erythropoietin were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Severity of sepsis was assessed according to Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scoring. Measurements and Main Results:In septic patients, the number of cEPCs was significantly higher than in nonseptic intensive care unit patients (p < .05) and healthy controls (p < .02). Nonsurvivors (n = 8), defined as death within 28 days after onset of sepsis, had significantly lower numbers of cEPCs than survivors (n = 24) (p < .0001). The number of cEPCs was correlated with survival in septic patients. Serum vascular endothelial growth factor concentrations were significantly higher in septic patients compared with nonseptic intensive care unit patients and healthy controls (p < .01) and correlated with the cEPC numbers (p < .0001). Similar findings were observed for granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor and erythropoietin. Conclusions:Our data suggest that cEPC enumeration in peripheral blood of septic patients might be a valuable marker to assess the clinical outcome in these patients.
Studies on the antibacterial activity of phanquone: chelating properties in relation to mode of action against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

Phanquone is active against a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms. Its activity is affected by the nature of the suspending fluid, pH and anaerobic growth conditions. Its ability to chelate metal ions was examined and found to be related to its antibacterial activity, which was reduced by the presence of added metal ions, e.g. Co (II), Cu(II), Fe(II) and Fe(III) in nutrient media for both E. coli and S. aureus. When antibacterial activity was examined in dis-nutrient media for both E. coli and S. aureus. When antibacterial activity was examined in distilled water, then certain added metal ions, whilst antagonizing activity was examined in distilled water, then certain added metal ions, whilst antagonizing the activity of Phanquone against E. coli, exerted a co-operative effect in the case of S. aureus. The addition of EDTA and NTA lowered the activity of Phanquone against S. aureus, but not E. coli, while the addition of thiol-containing compounds lowered its activity against E. coli but not S. aureus. concentration quenching was observed for S. aureus but not for E. coli, while overnight pre-incubation at 4 degrees C resulted in the appearance of a growth zone inside the zone of inhibition in the case of S. aureus but not E. coli. Phanquone may have a different mode of action against the two organisms.
A novel algorithm for power flow management in Combined AC/DC microgrid

A Combined AC/DC microgrid is established for the efficient power flow between AC and DC loads and the sources combining the advantages of both AC and DC microgrids. The AC and DC microgrids are merged through an interlinking converter (IC). Energy storage element is also connected to the system for providing continuous power supply. In this paper a new control algorithm for the bidirectional power flow control of interlinking converter during islanding mode of combined AC/DC microgrid along with battery control is implemented. The modified droop based control strategy eliminates the use of communication links and also reduces the power conversion stages. The input to the power management strategy are the frequency of the AC microgrid and the DC bus voltage of interlinking converter. The experimental simulations are performed in MATLAB/ SIMULINK and results are analyzed.
The University of Texas Medical Branch--Texas Department of Criminal Justice Telemedicine Project: findings from the first year of operation.

BACKGROUND The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) and Texas Tech Health Science Center (TTHSC) are responsible for providing health care for approximately 130,000 inmates of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice through a health maintenance organization (HMO). Telemedicine was considered a way to solve some of the problems presented. OBJECTIVES To develop approaches to patient care, technology, support systems, evaluation, and uses of the system for applications other than patient care as part of the first stage of implementation. METHODS Four prison delivery unit models were utilized. After a pilot study, the first patients were seen from October 1994 to November 1995, when 1715 consults were conducted in 18 scheduled specialty telemedicine clinics. Patients and providers were surveyed by interviews and questionnaires for their views on this form of providing care. RESULTS Ninety-five per cent of the telemedicine consults saved one or more trips to UTMB for outpatient specialty appointments. User surveys indicated a high degree of satisfaction on the part of patients, presenters, and specialty consultants. CONCLUSIONS Preliminary review of the data indicated favorable care outcomes, and initial economic analyses suggested that telemedicine is likely to be cost-effective in this environment. The project will be continued.