Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Noise levels in an urban Asian school environment

Background noise is known to adversely affect speech perception and speech recognition. High levels of background noise in school classrooms may affect student learning, especially for those pupils who are learning in a second language. The current study aimed to determine the noise level and teacher speech-to-noise ratio (SNR) in Hong Kong classrooms. Noise level was measured in 146 occupied classrooms in 37 schools, including kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools and special schools, in Hong Kong. The mean noise levels in occupied kindergarten, primary school, secondary school and special school classrooms all exceeded recommended maximum noise levels, and noise reduction measures were seldom used in classrooms. The measured SNRs were not optimal and could have adverse implications for student learning and teachers′ vocal health. Schools in urban Asian environments are advised to consider noise reduction measures in classrooms to better comply with recommended maximum noise levels for classrooms.
Addition of BMP-2 or BMP-6 to dexamethasone, ascorbic acid, and β-glycerophosphate may not enhance osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament cells

This study was designed to investigate the potential merits of the combined use of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 or BMP-6 and osteogenic supplements (OS) [dexamethasone, ascorbic acid (AA), and β-glycerophosphate] on osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs). Osteogenic differentiation was evaluated by quantitative alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assay, alizarin red staining, quantitative calcium assay, and the qRT-PCR analysis for the expression of collagen type I, runt-related transcription factor-2, osteopontin (OPN), and osteocalcin in PDLCs. Culture with BMP-2 or BMP-6+AA increased ALP activity of PDLCs, suggesting their osteo-inductive effects. However, longer duration of culture showed neither of the BMPs induced in vitro mineralization. In contrast, OS were able to increase ALP activity and OPN expressions, and also induced in vitro mineralization. The mineralization ability was not enhanced by the addition of BMP-2 or BMP-6. These findings suggest that the addition of BMP-2 or BMP-6 to OS may not enhance an osteogenic differentiation of hPDLCs.
BIOLOGY AND CLINICAL UTILITY OF HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELLS

Stem cell transplantation (SCT) was developed to treat patients with malignancies and fatal disorders of hematopoiesis. For patients with malignancies, SCT allows the use of higher doses of chemotherapy +/- radiation than recipients of conventional therapy. For patients with defects in hematopoietic cells, chemotherapy is necessary to prevent rejection of the donor stem cells. The infusion of normal hematopoietic stem cells following high-dose therapy minimizes the duration of pancytopenia and replaces defective stem cells with those from a normal donor. The first successful transplants used stem cells from HLA-matched donors. At that time, the use of stem cells from partially matched allogeneic donors was limited by the difficulty in preventing, diagnosing, and treating graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). The early success seen with leukemia and nonmalignant diseases led to the expansion of the indications for SCT and has transformed SCT from an experimental procedure performed by limited number of centers to an accepted part of the treatment of cancer. Today, successful SCTs are performed using autologous stem cells, stem cells from HLA matched, related donors; partially matched, related donors; unrelated donors, and from related and unrelated umbilical cord blood. The successes seen with these stem cell sources are the result of several advances in transplantation biology. We now have a better understanding of the relationship between residual host immunity and rejection and have used this information to develop more immunosuppressive preparative therapies capable of preventing rejection. We have a better understanding of the relationship between T cells and GvHD and have developed more effective methods to prevent and treat severe GvHD . We also have a better understanding of stem cell physiology that has resulted in our ability to quantitate hematopoietic progenitors and identify the cytokines important in inducing stem cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. This paper reviews the recent advances in stem cell biology and how those advances impact on clinical stem cell transplantation.
Specific Learning Disabilities and Difficulties in Children and Adolescents: Psychological Assessment and Evaluation

In an epoch when rates of death among the young have steadily decreased, the persistently high rates of youth suicide remain a challenge to both our clinical practice and understanding. How can these deaths be prevented? Can they be anticipated? Are there perceptible patterns? What role do families and gender play? To address these questions, experts from all areas of psychiatry have brought together in this volume the most recent findings in their fields.
Emerging drugs for the treatment of tobacco dependence: 2014 update

Introduction: Tobacco dependence remains a global epidemic and the largest preventable cause of morbidity and mortality around the world. Smoking cessation has benefits at all ages but remains challenging for several reasons, among which are the complexities of nicotine addiction and limitations of available pharmacotherapies. Areas covered: This review summarizes current and emerging pharmacotherapies for the treatment of tobacco dependence, including first- and second-line recommended agents. Medications with alternative primary indications that have been investigated as potential treatments for tobacco dependence are also discussed. Articles reviewed were obtained through searches of PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, ClinicalTrials.gov and the Pharmaprojects database. Expert opinion: Current evidence suggests that the two most effective pharmacotherapies to treat tobacco dependence are varenicline and combination nicotine replacement therapy. Alternative agents investigated demonstrate mixed rates of success in achieving long-term abstinence from smoking. No single pharmacotherapy will serve as a universally successful treatment given the complex underpinnings of tobacco dependence and individuality of smokers. The ultimate goal of tobacco research with respect to pharmacotherapeutic development continues to be providing clinicians with an armamentarium of drugs to choose from allowing for tailoring of treatment for smokers.
Correction

Tadataka Yamada. Published by John Wiley Chichester 2008 662 hardcover, £85.00 978-1-4051-6910-3 Principles of clinical gastroenterology is a companion to the Textbook of gastroenterology , both of which are edited by Tadataka Yamada. The latter was first published 20 years ago and, as Tadataka Yamada explains in his preface to the present book, aimed to be an encyclopaedic discussion of gastrointestinal and liver disorders. Textbook of gastroenterology contains sections on the symptoms and signs and the approach a clinician should take in clinical management. These parts of that book proved to be very popular and so Professor Yamada and his colleagues expanded and developed these sections into a second book, Principles of …
Noninvasive fluorescence diagnostics in radiotherapy of mucosal oral tumors

The efficiency of noninvasive laser fluorescent diagnostics for the real clinical practice is now widely discussed in special publications. One of the most perspective application area of this diagnostic technique is the oncology. For that the overwhelming majority of the research is concentrated now in the problem of the differential diagnostics of the 'normal tumor' case for different locations and clinical forms of the young tumors. Meanwhile, the fluorescent diagnostics can have high possibilities also as a monitoring of the efficiency for different methods of tumors treatment, the radiotherapy for instance. In this report the examples of the use of laser noninvasive fluorescent diagnostics in a real clinical practical of the Radiological Department of MONIKI are presented. There was under our investigation the group of around 100 patients with different oral mucosal tumors, for whom a course of a radiotherapy treatment was purposed and for whom the research background flourescent noninvasive monitoring was applied during the course of the care. In the report the efficiency of such laser fluorescent monitoring is discussed. It is shown that there were the strong differences in fluorescent spectra for both different forms of mucosal tumor and for het same one. In the number of clinical cases there were not marked any special fluorescent signal for a mucosal strong tumor before a treatment. During the radiotherapy treatment the different response in fluorescent spectra were observed as a reaction of tissues after the single (gamma) -ray exposure and daily one as well. All this presented results allow us to propose a not quite correct existed explanation of the nature of the biotissues fluorescent phenomenon in meaning of the diagnostics of soft tissue cancer cases.
Virus maturation as a new HIV-1 therapeutic target

Development of novel therapeutic targets against HIV-1 is a high research priority owing to the serious clinical consequences associated with acquisition of resistance to current antiretroviral drugs. The HIV-1 structural protein Gag represents a potential new therapeutic target as it plays a central role in virus particle production yet is not targeted by any of the antiretroviral drugs approved at present. The Gag polyprotein precursor multimerizes to form immature particles that bud from the infected cell. Concomitant with virus release, the Gag precursor undergoes proteolytic processing by the viral protease to generate the mature Gag proteins, which include capsid (CA). Once liberated from the Gag polyprotein precursor, CA molecules interact to reassemble into a condensed conical core, which organizes the viral RNA genome and several viral proteins to facilitate virus replication in the next round of infection. Correct Gag proteolytic processing and core assembly are therefore essential for virus infectivity. In this review, we discuss new strategies to inhibit maturation by targeting proteolytic cleavage sites in Gag or CA–CA interactions required for core formation. The identification and development of lead maturation inhibitors are highlighted.
Effect of sevoflurane versus propofol-based anesthesia on the hemodynamic response and recovery characteristics in patients undergoing microlaryngeal surgery

Background: This randomized study was conducted to compare the hemodynamic changes and emergence characteristics of sevoflurane versus propofol anesthesia for microlaryngeal surgery. Methods: Forty adult patients undergoing microlaryngoscopy were randomly allocated into two groups. In propofol group, anesthesia was induced with 2-3 mg/kg propofol and maintained with propofol infusion 50-200 μg/kg/h. In sevoflurane group induction was carried out with 5-8% sevoflurane and maintained with sevoflurane in nitrous oxide and oxygen. The propofol and sevoflurane concentrations were adjusted to maintain the bispectral index of 40-60. All patients received fentanyl 2 μg/kg before induction and succinylcholine 2 mg/kg to facilitate tracheal intubation. The hemodynamic changes during induction and suspension laryngoscopy were compared. In addition, the emergence time, time to extubation, and recovery were assessed. Results: The changes in heart rate were comparable. The mean arterial pressure was significantly lower after induction and higher at insertion of operating laryngoscope in propofol group as compared to sevoflurane group. More patients in propofol group had episodes of hypotension and hypertension than sevoflurane group. The emergence time, extubation times, and recovery time were similar in both groups. Conclusion: We found that sevoflurane showed advantage over propofol in respect of intraoperative cardiovascular stability without increasing recovery time.
Effect of Aralia chinesis on serum TNF-a, IL-4 and IL-10 level in rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis

Our study investigated the effect of Aralia chinesis on serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), Interleukins (IL-4, IL-10) in rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis. Adjuvant-induced arthritis rats had more slowly increased body weight, dramatically increased TNF-α level but reduced IL-4, IL-10 levels compared with control group. A. chinesis, Tripterygium wilfordii and control group had significantly increased body weight, IL-4, IL-10, and markedly reduced arthritis index and TNF-α level compared with the adjuvant-induced arthritis group. A. chinesis and T. wilfordii group had significantly increased IL-4 and IL-10 levels and markedly reduced TNF-α level compared with control group. A. chinesis could significantly increase the IL-4 level compared with the control group and it can balance the cytokines in arthritis rats, which attributes to the improvement of adjuvant induced arthritis.
Non-invasive fluid responsiveness monitoring: Patients selection considerations

The story concerning non‐invasive fluid responsiveness monitoring is not new. From many years, clinicians observed that plethysmographic waveform is generally different in patients responding to fluid therapy. Consequently, when the study of Michard et al. popularized the use of dynamic parameters for the prediction of fluid responsiveness, a great hope appeared to improve fluid management during the perioperative period. [1] Automated calculation of the plethysmographic respiratory variation with the pleth variability index (PVI), from Masimo Co, permitted to introduce the concept of continuous, non-invasive, optimization of dynamic parameters in high as in low risk patients. [2] Indeed, we confirmed that it possible and fruitful in randomized trials in major abdominal surgery. [3,4]
The investigation and quantitative ethnobotanical evaluation of medicinal plants used around Izmir province, Turkey

In this paper, 108 traditional medicinal plants from Izmir Province in Turkey have been reported. One hundred eight plant species belonging to 54 families and among them 94 species were wild and 14 species were cultivated plants. The informant consensus factor (Fic) and the fidelity level (FL) of the species were determined. The category that has the highest Fic value is Cold and Influenza(0.82) followed by Cough (0.73). The lowest is Hemorrhoids and Enteritis (0.33). Allium cepa and Urtica dioica (100%) has the highest fidelity level and Nigella segetalis (33%) has the lowest. Most used families were Lamiaceae, Asteraceae,Fabaceae, Rosaceae, Apiaceae. The traditional medicinal plants have been mostly used for the treatment of kidney ailments (43,5%), stomach (31.4%), cough (17.6%), wounds (17.4%), hemorrhoids and enteritis (15.7), cold and influenza (13,8%), gall bladder ailments (10,2). Key words: Informant consensus factor, fidelity level, therapeutic plants, Izmir.
Vascular KCa-channels as therapeutic targets in hypertension and restenosis disease

Importance of the field: Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in modern societies. Hyperpolarizing Ca2+-activated K+ channels (KCa) are important membrane proteins in the control of arterial tone and pathological vascular remodelling and thus could serve as new drug targets. Areas covered in this review: We summarize recent advances in the field of vascular KCa and their roles in cardiovascular pathologies such as hypertension and restenosis disease and draw attention to novel small-molecule channel modulators and their possible therapeutic utility. This review focuses on literature from the last four to five years. What the reader will gain: Pharmacological opening of endothelial KCa3.1/KCa2.3 channels stimulates endothelium-derived-hyperpolarizing-factor-mediated arteriolar dilation and lowers blood pressure. Inhibition of smooth muscle KCa3.1 channels has beneficial effects in restenosis disease and atherosclerosis. We consider the therapeutic potential of KCa3.1/KCa2.3 openers as novel endothelium-specific antihypertensive drugs as well as of KCa3.1-blockers for the treatment of pathological vascular remodelling and discuss advantages and disadvantages of the pharmacotherapeutic approaches. Take home message: Pharmacological manipulation of vascular KCa channels by novel small-molecule modulators offers new venues for alternative treatments of hypertension, restenosis and atherosclerosis. Additional efforts are required to optimize these compounds and to validate them as cardiovascular-protective drugs.
Large Differences between Prescribed and Dispensed Medicines Could Indicate Undertreatment

The difference between prescribed and dispensed medicines in Sweden has been determined for the 20 most common diagnoses for all outpatients. For all diagnoses together, the value of dispensed medicines was 14% lower than for those prescribed. For some diagnoses a considerable number of the prescriptions never appeared at the pharmacies, for example, climactic symtoms—48%, allergic rhinitis—42%, glaucoma— 41%, and diabetes—39%. If the doctors intended that the medicines prescribed should also be consumed by the patients in order to obtain appropriate treatment, these data indicate that considerable undertreatment occurs for patients with certain diagnoses.
Targeting Notch signaling in pancreatic cancer

Importance of the field: With some 220,000 new cases/year in the world, pancreatic adenocarcinoma is the fourth highest cause of death by cancers. Among newly diagnosed patients about 210,000 will die within 9 months following diagnosis. Therefore, effective adjuncts to current treatment strategies are necessary. Because embryological signaling pathways are upregulated in pancreatic adenocarcinoma, they represent potential targets for future therapies. Areas covered in this review: Our aim is to present the Notch pathway, and to describe its involvement in pancreatic pathophysiology/carcinogenesis. This pathway appeared as a prime target for pancreatic cancer therapy. In the light of the crosstalk of Notch with other survival/embryologic pathways, drugs affecting more than one pathway may have to be combined. What the reader will gain: Drugs against γ-secretases could thus serve in cancer treatment and can be combined with drugs targeting survival pathways interplaying with Notch such as Hedgehog. Take home message: Downregulation of Notch contributes to the inhibition and apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells whereas Hedgehog inhibition will allow for enhanced delivery of drugs to the tumor. Both pathway inhibitors appear to have synergistic effects for future therapeutics for pancreatic adenocarcinoma, once safety issues of compounds are overcome.
Eine Innovation in der akuten Migränetherapie: CGRP-Rezeptorantagonisten

Neurogenic inflammation caused by the release of vasoactive neuropeptides such as calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) from nociceptive perivascular nerve fibres has been implicated in the development of acute migraine pain. It has recently been demonstrated that the CGRP receptor antagonist BIBN 4096 BS significantly reduces acute pain in migraine. This therapeutic efficacy provides further evidence for a critical role of CGRP in the pathophysiology of migraine. Given the apparent absence of vasoconstrictor activity both in meningeal and extracranial vessels, BIBN 4096 BS may provide an alternative for the treatment of migraine in those patients where triptans and ergotamine derivatives are contraindicated due to their side effects.
Cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks) and the DNA damage response: rationale for cdk inhibitor–chemotherapy combinations as an anticancer strategy for solid tumors

Importance of the field: The eukaryotic cell division cycle is a tightly regulated series of events coordinated by the periodic activation of multiple cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks). Small-molecule cdk-inhibitory compounds have demonstrated preclinical synergism with DNA-damaging agents in solid tumor models. An improved understanding of how cdks regulate the DNA damage response now provides an opportunity for optimization of combinations of cdk inhibitors and DNA damaging chemotherapy agents that can be translated to clinical settings. Areas covered in this review: Here, we discuss novel work uncovering multiple roles for cdks in the DNA-damage-response network. First, they activate DNA damage checkpoint and repair pathways. Later their activity is turned off, resulting in cell cycle arrest, allowing time for DNA repair to occur. Recent clinical data on cdk inhibitor–DNA-damaging agent combinations are also discussed. What the reader will gain: Readers will learn about novel areas of cdk biology, the complexity of DNA damage signaling networks and clinical implications. Take home message: New data demonstrate that cdks are ‘master’ regulators of DNA damage checkpoint and repair pathways. Cdk inhibition may therefore provide a means of potentiating the clinical activity of DNA-damaging chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer.
Targeting liver X receptors in human health: deadlock or promising trail?

Introduction: Liver X receptors (LXR) are transcription factors that belong to the nuclear receptor superfamily. Natural derivatives of cholesterol, known as oxysterols, have been identified as agonistic ligands of LXR. They are thus mainly considered to be intracellular cholesterol ‘sensors’ whose activation leads to decreased plasma cholesterol. Their implication in other physiologic processes currently prevents their use as therapeutic targets, because of potentially deleterious side effects. Areas covered: The various LXR agonists and antagonists, along with the physiological functions of LXR. Putative clinical targets including atherosclerosis, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, skin disorders, reproductive disorders and cancer. Expert opinion: LXR are promising pharmacological targets because of the high potential to develop ligands owing to the variety of natural or synthetic agonists. Three aspects should be developed to select a LXR-ligand for treatment of human disease: bio-availability; isoform specificity; tissue specificity. This will allow the development of selective liver X modulators (SLiMs). The challenge is to overcome deleterious side effects to establish LXR as new pharmacological targets.
Targeting the anaphase promoting complex: common pathways for viral infection and cancer therapy

Introduction: The anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) is a ubiquitin ligase involved in regulation of the cell cycle through ubiquitination-dependent substrate proteolysis. Many viral proteins have been shown to interact with the APC/C, derailing cell cycle progression in order to facilitate their own replication. Induction of G2/M arrest by viral APC/C inhibition can lead to apoptotic cell death. Some viral proteins cause cytotoxicity specifically in tumour cells, providing evidence that targeting the APC/C could be exploited to selectively eliminate cancer cells. Areas covered: In this review, we provide a summary of studies from viral APC/C interactions over the last decade, as well as recent discoveries identifying the APC/C as a promising target in the context of cancer therapy. Expert opinion: Current therapeutic strategies inducing mitotic arrest rely on activation of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) for their function. Many cancer cells have a weakened SAC and escape apoptosis through mitotic slippage. Recent evidence has demonstrated that targeting the APC/C, particularly the co-activator Cdc20, might be a better alternative. Tumour cells display greater dependency on APC/C function than normal cells and oncogenic transformation can lead to increased mitotic stress, rendering cancer cells more vulnerable to APC/C inhibition.