Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sympatho‐adrenal and cardiovascular reactivity in pregnancy‐induced hypertension. I. Responses to isometric exercise and a cold pressor test

Summary. Sympatho‐adrenal and cardiovascular reactivity was studied in patients with pregnancy‐induced hypertension (PIH) and healthy pregnant controls subjected to an isometric handgrip test and a cold pressor test both during and after the pregnancy. At rest, heart rate was higher in the PIH group than in the control group both during and after pregnancy. Forearm vascular resistance was not affected by PIH or by pregnancy per se. During pregnancy arterial plasma adrenaline levels were suppressed in the control group both when compared with the PIH group and postpartum values. Arterial noradrenaline levels were similar and normal in the two groups at both examinations. The iso‐metric exercise increased systolic and diastolic blood pressures, heart rate and noradrenaline and reduced vascular resistance similarly in the PIH and control groups on both occasions. Vasoconstrictor responses to the cold pressor test were reduced during prenancy but there were no differences between the groups on either occasion. Noradrenaline responses to the cold pressor test were not influenced by PIH or by pregnancy per se. During pregnancy adrenaline responses to the two tests tended to be reduced in the controls but not in PIH. Our results indicate enhanced adrenomedullary activity in PIH when compared with the suppressed activity in normal pregnancy. Cardiovascular reactivity to the tests was similar in the PIH and control groups. The normal arterial noradrenaline levels at rest and during provocation do not support the contention of a generalized increase in sympathetic nerve activity in PIH
The epidemiology of diagnosed pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis in the elderly.

BACKGROUND There are no studies that define the basic epidemiology of pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in the elderly. This project was undertaken to provide that information. METHODS We obtained all Medicare claims during the period 1986 through 1989 from a random 5% sample of US Medicare enrollees. By selecting codes used for diagnoses and treatment, we identified 7174 cases of PE and 8923 cases of DVT. These cohorts were analyzed to provide incidence by age, race, sex, and geographic location; frequency of invasive treatment; frequency of PE after treatment for DVT; frequency of recurrence of PE; and survival after diagnosis. RESULTS Annual incidence rates per 1000 at age 65 to 69 years for PE and DVT were 1.3 and 1.8, respectively. Both rates increased steadily with age to 2.8 and 3.1 by age 85 to 89 years. For PE, women had lower rates than men (adjusted relative risk, 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.82 to 0.90), and blacks had higher rates than whites (adjusted relative risk, 1.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.15 to 1.36). For DVT, the associations with gender and race were weaker and in the opposite direction. Pulmonary embolectomy was done in 0.2% of cases of PE; interruption of the vena cava was done in 4.4% of cases of PE and in 2% of cases of DVT. Thrombectomy was done in 0.3% of all cases. Pulmonary embolism occurred in 1.7% of patients with DVT within 1 year of hospital discharge for initial treatment. The 1-year recurrence rate for PE was 8.0%. In-hospital mortality associated with PE and DVT was 21% and 3%, respectively. One-year mortality was 39% and 21%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Pulmonary embolism and DVT are common problems in the elderly. Both increase with age, but the effects of race and sex are small. Current treatment patterns appear to be effective in preventing both PE after DVT and recurrence of PE. Both are associated with substantial 1-year mortality, suggesting the need to understand the role of associated conditions as well as the indications for prophylaxis and the methods of treatment.
Pharmacokinetics of Mesalazine Pellets in Children With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Mesalazine is a first-line drug in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and is customarily used to induce and maintain remission in mild to moderate disease. In children, pharmacokinetic data are scarce, and dosage recommendations are largely extrapolated from studies in adults. Aim of the study was to obtain the pharmacokinetic profile of a new mesalazine pellet formulation in children with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s colitis. A single oral dose of 20 mg/kg mesalazine was administered to 13 patients (age 6–16 years). Serial blood and urine sampling for determination of mesalazine and acetylmesalazine was performed before and during 24 hours following ingestion. Maximum plasma concentration of mesalazine (Cmax) was 1332 ng/mL (geometric mean, geometric coefficient of variation [CV]: 0.57), obtained 3.7 hours (tmax; CV: 0.31) after drug administration. Systemic exposure as determined by area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC0–∞ ) was 8712 ng/ml*h (CV: 0.44). Terminal half-life of elimination of mesalazine was 3.5 hours (t1/2; CV: 1.43). This study presents extensive pharmacokinetic data on mesalazine in children with mild-moderately active ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s colitis. In comparison with previous experience in adults, pharmacokinetics of mesalazine administered as pellets appear to be similar in both populations.
Small Intestine but Not Liver Lysophosphatidylcholine Acyltransferase 3 (Lpcat3) Deficiency Has a Dominant Effect on Plasma Lipid Metabolism*

Lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 3 (Lpcat3) is involved in phosphatidylcholine remodeling in the small intestine and liver. We investigated lipid metabolism in inducible intestine-specific and liver-specific Lpcat3 gene knock-out mice. We produced Lpcat3-Flox/villin-Cre-ERT2 mice, which were treated with tamoxifen (at days 1, 3, 5, and 7), to delete Lpcat3 specifically in the small intestine. At day 9 after the treatment, we found that Lpcat3 deficiency in enterocytes significantly reduced polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholines in the enterocyte plasma membrane and reduced Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 (NPC1L1), CD36, ATP-binding cassette transporter 1 (ABCA1), and ABCG8 levels on the membrane, thus significantly reducing lipid absorption, cholesterol secretion through apoB-dependent and apoB-independent pathways, and plasma triglyceride, cholesterol, and phospholipid levels, as well as body weight. Moreover, Lpcat3 deficiency does not cause significant lipid accumulation in the small intestine. We also utilized adenovirus-associated virus-Cre to deplete Lpcat3 in the liver. We found that liver deficiency only reduces plasma triglyceride levels but not other lipid levels. Furthermore, there is no significant lipid accumulation in the liver. Importantly, small intestine Lpcat3 deficiency has a much bigger effect on plasma lipid levels than that of liver deficiency. Thus, inhibition of small intestine Lpcat3 might constitute a novel approach for treating hyperlipidemia.
Robust Object Tracking via Combining Observation Models

Various observation models have been introduced into the object tracking community, and combining them has become a promising direction. This paper proposes a novel approach for estimating the confidences of different observation models, and then effectively combining them in the particle filter framework. In our approach, spatial Likelihood distribution is represented by three simple but efficient parameters, reflecting the overall similarity, distribution sharpness and degree of multi peak. The balance of these three aspects leads to good estimation of confidences, which helps maintain the advantages of each observation model and further increases robustness to partial occlusion. Experiments on challenging video sequences demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach.
Testing responsiveness to change for the early childhood oral health impact scale (ECOHIS).

OBJECTIVES The Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) is a recently developed oral health-related quality of life instrument designed to assess the impact of oral health problems in 0-5-year-old children. It has previously been validated as discriminative instrument. The goal of this study was to investigate the responsiveness to change of the ECOHIS. METHODS Data were collected from a convenience sample of 101 parents of 0-5-year-old children attending a hospital dental clinic for dental treatment. The ECOHIS was completed by parents prior to dental treatment and 2 weeks later. Subjects were also asked a global transition judgement concerning change between the second and first completion of the ECOHIS instrument. Responsiveness to change of the ECOHIS was analysed through: (i) a comparison of ECOHIS change scores with a global transition judgment by study subjects; (ii) an assessment of the statistical significance of within-group change in scores over time for groups reporting improvement, stability and deterioration; (iii) an estimation of the ECOHIS's sensitivity; and (iv) an investigation the effect size of the ECOHIS. RESULTS Of the 101 subjects recruited, 94 had full datasets. Their data were used for the analyses reported in this paper. Pre- and post-treatment distributions of ECOHIS scores were strongly distributed towards no oral health impacts. Among the 94 subjects, 51.1% reported improvement, 42.6% reported no change and 6.4% reported deterioration following treatment, using the global transition judgement. The mean ECOHIS change scores for these three groups were -0/9, +0.7 and +6.5 respectively, although none of the within-group changes were statistically significant. The effect size for those reporting improvement was small (0.15) but for those reporting deterioration was moderate-to-large (0.69). Sensitivity ranged from 0.61-0.79 depending on the size of the cut-off point, with a change of 3 points demonstrating the best sensitivity to false positive ratio (0.79 versus 0.41 respectively). CONCLUSION In this sample with low levels of problems, the ECOHIS has demonstrated some limited ability to respond to change. Further work in a larger sample with higher levels of problems is needed to investigate the instrument's ability to respond to change when it has occurred.
Inheritance of bone characteristics affecting osteoporosis in laying hens

1. Heritabilities of a range of morphometric, radiological and strength characteristics were measured in the bones of end-of-lay hens. 2. Tibial strength (TSTR), humeral strength (HSTR) and keel radiographic density (KRD) were moderately to strongly inherited and were combined in a Bone Index which was used as a basis for selection. Data are available on 6 generations/cohorts of hens (n = 1306), the last 3 of which are the progeny of divergently selected birds. 3. All bone characteristics used in the Bone Index responded rapidly to divergent selection and were strongly correlated with each other. In the last generation, the lines differed by 25% for TSTR, 13% for HSTR and 19% for KRD. The heritability of the index was 0.40. 4. There were no apparent genotype by environment interactions between birds housed at 2 different locations. 5. The incidence of bone fractures was significantly decreased in the line selected for high bone strength compared to the line selected for low bone strength. Humerus fracture incidence differed by a factor of 6 between the lines in the last generation. There was a strong quadratic relationship between tibia strength and overall fracture incidence (r2= 0.92, P <0.01). 6. The results imply that selection for enhanced bone strength can be used as a long-term strategy for alleviating the problems of osteoporosis in laying hens.
Intravenous Sodium Bicarbonate Therapy in Severely Acidotic Diabetic Ketoacidosis

BACKGROUND The use of intravenous bicarbonate in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) may be considered for patients with a pH less than 6.9 according to the American Diabetes Association. The impact of this therapy on resolution of acidosis in patients with DKA is unclear. OBJECTIVE To determine whether the use of intravenous bicarbonate therapy was associated with improved outcomes in patients with severe DKA who were seen in the emergency department. METHODS This review was conducted from 2007 to 2011 in the emergency department of a tertiary teaching hospital. Adults diagnosed with DKA with an initial pH less than 7.0 were included. Patients were stratified into 2 groups based on receipt of intravenous bicarbonate. The primary study outcome was time to resolution of acidosis, defined as return to pH greater than 7.2. Secondary outcomes included length of stay; continuous infusion insulin use; and intravenous fluid, potassium, and insulin requirements within the first 24 hours of hospital admission, beginning upon admittance to the emergency department. We also conducted a subgroup analysis of patients with an initial pH less than 6.9. RESULTS There was no significant difference in time to resolution of acidosis (8 hours vs 8 hours; p = 0.7) or time to hospital discharge (68 hours vs 61 hours; p = 0.3) between patients who received intravenous bicarbonate (n = 44) compared with those who did not (n = 42). The median dose of intravenous bicarbonate was 100 mEq (100–150) for patients who received intravenous bicarbonate. Insulin and fluid requirements in the first 24 hours were significantly higher in patients who received intravenous bicarbonate compared with those who did not (100 units vs 86 units; p = 0.04 and 7.6 L vs 7.2 L; p = 0.01, respectively). There was no significant difference in hours of continuous insulin infusion (27 hours vs 26 hours; p = 0.09) or potassium requirements in the first 24 hours of hospital stay (135 mEq vs 120 mEq; p = 0.84). CONCLUSIONS Intravenous bicarbonate therapy did not decrease time to resolution of acidosis or time to hospital discharge for patients with DKA with an initial pH less than 7.0.
Expression Pattern of Connexins in the Corneal and Limbal Epithelium of a Primate

Purpose: To detect the expression pattern of connexins in epithelial cells of the central cornea and limbus of the macaque. Methods: Total RNA was extracted from the central corneal and limbal epithelia of Macaca fascicularis and processed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction with isoform primers to detect the expression of 16 connexin (Cx). Immunofluorescent staining of frozen sections of corneal tissue confirmed and localized connexin proteins expression. Results: Transcripts encoding 10 Cx isoforms (Cx26, Cx30, Cx30.3, Cx31, Cx31.1, Cx32, Cx43, Cx45, Cx50, and Cx58) were detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in both central and peripheral corneal epithelium. Six (Cx26, Cx31, Cx32, Cx43, Cx45, and Cx58) were confirmed by laser scanning confocal microscopy. Cx26 was detected throughout the central corneal epithelium and in the mid and superficial layers of the limbal epithelium. Cx43 and Cx45 were localized to the basal and suprabasal epithelial cells. Cx58 was expressed in the superficial epithelium throughout the cornea, whereas Cx31 and Cx32 were mainly expressed in the central corneal epithelium and weakly in the limbal area. Conclusions: The complex distribution pattern of the connexins suggests that selected isoforms play important roles in maintaining corneal homeostasis.
Lack of pharmacokinetic interaction between cefepime and amikacin in humans

The interaction potential between cefepime and amikacin was investigated in a steady-state pharmacokinetic study in 16 healthy male subjects. Eight subjects (group A) received a first course of 2,000 mg of cefepime; this was followed by a second course of 2,000 mg of cefepime with 300 mg of amikacin and a third course of 2,000 mg of cefepime. Eight other subjects (group B) received a first course of 300 mg of amikacin, a second course of 300 mg of amikacin with 2,000 mg of cefepime, and a third course of 300 mg of amikacin. Each course consisted of four consecutive doses administered every 8 h as 30-min intravenous infusions. Serial plasma and urine samples, which were collected after administration of the fourth dose of each course, were assayed for cefepime and/or amikacin by validated high-performance liquid chromatographic assays. Trough levels of cefepime and amikacin indicated that these antibiotics attained a steady state prior to administration of the fourth dose of each course. Key pharmacokinetic parameters for each antibiotic were determined by noncompartmental methods. The peak concentrations of cefepime and amikacin in plasma when the drugs were given alone were about 160 and 27 micrograms/ml, respectively. Levels of each antibiotic in plasma declined, with an apparent half-life of approximately 2.2 h. Urinary recovery of cefepime and amikacin accounted for more than 85% of the administered dose of each antibiotic. Mean renal clearances for cefepime and amikacin ranged from 79 to 95 ml/min and suggested that glomerular filtration is the primary excretion mechanism. The results of the statistical analyses indicated that the pharmacokinetic parameters of cefepime following the concurrent administration of amikacin and following the discontinuation of the amikacin following the concurrent administration of cefepime and following the discontinuation of the cefepime therapy were not significantly altered. Cefepime and amikacin can be coadministered to patients with normal renal function by using the standard recommended dosing regimens.
Integrated pre- and intraoperative imaging in a patient with an arteriovenous malformation located in eloquent cortex.

INTRODUCTION The use of integrated pre- and intraoperative imaging may be useful when resecting brain lesions in close proximity to eloquent areas, such as the primary motor cortex and language cortices. CASE REPORT A 32-year-old woman with an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) located in the primary motor cortex underwent surgery using functional neuronavigation. Blood-oxygenation-level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD fMRI) and diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) were used for preoperative mapping of primary motor areas and the corticospinal tracts, respectively. The BOLD fMRI activations and DTT tractograms were integrated into the neuronavigation system and visualized intraoperatively throughout the operation. Furthermore, stereoscopic visualizations of the angioarchitecture based on 3D MRI angiograms were used to rehearse the surgical approach to the feeder vessels. Finally, intraoperative ultrasound was used to locate and clip the feeding vessels. CONCLUSION The AVM was carefully resected with the aid of the above-mentioned imaging techniques, and the intuitive usefulness of the techniques was further substantiated by the rewarding postoperative outcome.
Immunity to Murine Chlamydia trachomatis Genital Tract Reinfection Involves B Cells and CD4+ T Cells but Not CD8+ T Cells

ABSTRACT CD4+ T-helper type 1 (Th1) responses are essential for the resolution of a primary Chlamydia trachomatis genital tract infection; however, elements of the immune response that function in resistance to reinfection are poorly understood. Defining the mechanisms of immune resistance to reinfection is important because the elements of protective adaptive immunity are distinguished by immunological memory and high-affinity antigen recognition, both of which are crucial to the development of efficacious vaccines. Using in vivo antibody depletion of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells prior to secondary intravaginal challenge, we identified lymphocyte populations that functioned in resistance to secondary chlamydial infection of the genital tract. Depletion of either CD4+ or CD8+ T cells in immune wild-type C57BL/6 mice had a limited effect on resistance to reinfection. However, depletion of CD4+ T cells, but not CD8+ T cells, in immune B-cell-deficient mice profoundly altered the course of secondary infection. CD4-depleted B-cell-deficient mice were unable to resolve a secondary infection, shed high levels of infectious chlamydiae, and did not resolve the infection until 3 to 4 weeks following the discontinuation of anti-CD4 treatment. These findings substantiated a predominant role for CD4+ T cells in host resistance to chlamydial reinfection of the female genital tract and demonstrated that CD8+ T cells are unnecessary for adaptive immune resistance. More importantly, however, this study establishes a previously unrecognized but very significant role for B cells in resistance to chlamydial reinfection and suggests that B cells and CD4+ T cells may function synergistically in providing immunity in this model of chlamydial infection. Whether CD4+ T cells and B cells function independently or dependently is unknown, but definition of those mechanisms is fundamental to understanding optimum protective immunity and to the development of highly efficacious immunotherapies against chlamydial urogenital infections.
Feed‐forward control of preshaping in the rat is mediated by the corticospinal tract

Rats are used to model human corticospinal tract (CST) injury and repair. We asked whether rats possess the ability to orient their paw to the reaching target and whether the CST mediates this skill, as it does in primates. To test this ability, called preshaping, we trained rats to reach for pieces of pasta oriented either vertically or horizontally. We measured paw angle relative to the target and asked whether rats used target information attained before contact to preshape the paw, indicating feed‐forward control. We also determined whether preshaping improved with practice. We then selectively lesioned the CST in the medullary pyramid contralateral to the reaching forepaw to test whether preshaping relies on the CST. Rats significantly oriented their paw to the pasta orientation before contact, demonstrating feed‐forward control. Both preshaping and reaching efficiency improved with practice, while selective CST lesion abrogated both. The loss of preshaping was greatest for pasta oriented vertically, suggesting loss of supination, as seen with human CST injury. The degree of preshaping loss strongly correlated with the amount of skill acquired at baseline, suggesting that the CST mediates the learned component of preshaping. Finally, the amount of preshaping lost after injury strongly correlated with reduced retrieval success, showing an important functional consequence for preshaping. We have thus demonstrated, for the first time, preshaping in the rat and dependence of this skill on the CST. Understanding the basis for this skill and measuring its recovery after injury will be important for studying higher‐level motor control in rats.