LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Impact of a methadone maintenance therapy pilot in Vietnam and its role in a scaled-up response

BACKGROUND
As a dual response to the HIV epidemic and the high level of injecting drug use in Vietnam, the Ministry of Health (MOH) initiated a pilot methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) program in Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) in early 2009. The objectives of the pilot were to provide evidence on whether MMT could be successfully implemented in Vietnam and scaled up to other localities.


METHODS
A prospective study was conducted among 965 opiate drug users admitted to the pilot. Data on demographic characteristics, sexual behaviors, substance use behaviors (including heroin use), and blood-borne virus infection (HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C) were collected at treatment initiation and then again at 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month intervals thereafter.


RESULTS
Twenty-four months after treatment initiation, heroin use as measured by urine test or self-report had reduced from 100 % of participants at both sites to 14.6 % in Hai Phong and 22.9 % in HCMC. When adjusted for multiple factors in Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) logistic regression modeling, independent predictors of continued heroin use after 24 months of MMT in HCMC were the following: poor methadone adherence (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.7, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.8-7.8); currently on antiretroviral treatment (ART) (AOR = 1.8, 95 % CI 1.4-2.4); currently on TB treatment (AOR = 2.2, 95 % CI 1.4-3.4); currently experiencing family conflict (AOR = 1.6, 95 % CI 1.1-2.4); and currently employed (AOR = 0.8, 95 % CI 0.6-1.0). For Hai Phong participants, predictors were the following: currently on ART (AOR = 2.0, 95 % CI = 1.4-3.0); currently experiencing family conflict (AOR = 2.0, 95 % CI = 1.0-3.9); and moderate adherence to methadone (AOR = 2.1, 95 % CI = 1.2-1.9). In Hai Phong, the percentage of participants who were employed had also increased by end of study from 35.0 to 52.8 %, while in HCMC the level remained relatively unchanged, between 52.2 and 55.1 %.


DISCUSSION
Study findings were used in multiple fora to convince policymakers and the public on the significant and vital role MMT can play in reducing heroin use and improving quality of life for individuals and families. Four years after this study was completed, Vietnam had expanded MMT to 162 clinics in 44 provinces serving 32,000 patients.
Pharmacological Targeting of the Histone Chaperone Complex FACT Preferentially Eliminates Glioblastoma Stem Cells and Prolongs Survival in Preclinical Models.

The nearly universal recurrence of glioblastoma (GBM) is driven in part by a treatment-resistant subpopulation of GBM stem cells (GSC). To identify improved therapeutic possibilities, we combined the EGFR/HER2 inhibitor lapatinib with a novel small molecule, CBL0137, which inhibits FACT (facilitates chromatin transcription), a histone chaperone complex predominantly expressed in undifferentiated cells. Lapatinib and CBL0137 synergistically inhibited the proliferation of patient-derived GBM cells. Compared with non-stem tumor cells (NSTC) enriched from the same specimens, the GSCs were extremely sensitive to CBL0137 monotherapy or FACT knockdown. FACT expression was elevated in GSCs compared with matched NSTCs and decreased in GSCs upon differentiation. Acute exposure of GSCs to CBL0137 increased asymmetric cell division, decreased GSC marker expression, and decreased the capacity of GSCs to form tumor spheres in vitro and to initiate tumors in vivo Oral administration of CBL0137 to mice bearing orthotopic GBM prolonged their survival. Knockdown of FACT reduced the expression of genes encoding several core stem cell transcription factors (SOX2, OCT4, NANOG, and OLIG2), and FACT occupied the promoters of these genes. FACT expression was elevated in GBM tumors compared with non-neoplastic brain tissues, portended a worse prognosis, and positively correlated with GSC markers and stem cell gene expression signatures. Preferential targeting of GSCs by CBL0137 and synergy with EGFR inhibitors support the development of clinical trials combining these two agents in GBM. Cancer Res; 76(8); 2432-42. ©2016 AACR.
Magnesium orotate in severe congestive heart failure (MACH).

BACKGROUND
Aim of this study was to evaluate adjuvant magnesium orotate on mortality and clinical symptoms in patients with severe heart failure under optimal cardiovascular medication.


METHODS
In a monocentric, controlled, double-blind study, 79 patients with severe congestive heart failure (NYHA IV) under optimal medical cardiovascular treatment were randomised to receive either magnesium orotate (6000 mg for 1 month, 3000 mg for about 11 months, n=40) or placebo (n=39). Both groups were comparable in demographic data, duration of heart failure and pre- and concomitant treatment.


RESULTS
After mean treatment duration of 1 year (magnesium orotate: 364.1+/-14.7 days, placebo: 361.2+/-12.7 days) the survival rate was 75.7% compared to 51.6% under placebo (p<0.05). Clinical symptoms improved in 38.5% of patients under magnesium orotate, whereas they deteriorated in 56.3% of patients under placebo (p<0.001).


CONCLUSION
Magnesium orotate may be used as adjuvant therapy in patients on optimal treatment for severe congestive heart failure, increasing survival rate and improving clinical symptoms and patient's quality of life.
Pain management in chronic kidney disease: the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of hydromorphone and hydromorphone-3-glucuronide in hemodialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE
To describe the pharmacokinetics of hydromorphone (HM) and its primary metabolite hydromorphone-3-glucuronide (H3G) both on and off dialysis in relation to the pharmacodynamic measurements of pain.


DESIGN
Prospective, open-label, observational study.


SETTING
Canadian, university-based renal program.


PARTICIPANTS
Twelve anuric hemodialysis patients with chronic pain, established on immediate-release HM.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
HM and H3G plasma concentrations were measured during and between hemodialysis treatments using a reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography assay with liquid chromatography/mass spectrometer/mass spectrometer detection. The McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were used to measure pain. Noncompartmental analyses were conducted. Adverse effects were recorded.


RESULTS
HM did not substantially accumulate (accumulation factor R = 2.7 (1.6)), most likely due to the rapid conversion to H3G. Conversely, H3G accumulated between dialysis treatments (R = 12.5 (12.1)) but appeared to be effectively removed during hemodialysis (1.8 (0.7), p = 0.03). HM resulted in > 65 percent reduction in pain over dosing intervals. Mean MPQ pain scores decreased from 39.8 (18.2) to 12.3 (16.2) on dialysis and from 35.0 (18.5) to 15.5 (13.6) between dialysis treatments. Mean VAS pain scores decreased from 7.5 (2.5) to 3.0 (1.5) on dialysis and from 5.9 (3.2) to 4.4 (1.6) between dialysis treatments. No clinically significant opioid toxicity was observed. The accumulation of H3G between hemodialysis treatments was associated with greater sensory-type pain (r = 0.76, p < 0.0001) and reduced duration of analgesia.


CONCLUSIONS
HM may be a safe and effective opioid for use in selected hemodialysis patients.
Circulating levels of heart-type fatty acid-binding protein in a general Japanese population: effects of age, gender, and physiologic characteristics.

BACKGROUND
Serum heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) has been widely used as a marker of cardiac myocyte injury. This study was carried out to examine the relationships of H-FABP levels with age, gender, and other physiologic characteristics in a large population of community-dwelling residents.


METHODS AND RESULTS
Serum H-FABP levels were measured in 2,099 subjects who received an annual health check-up (age 40-87 years). The relationships between H-FABP and blood pressure, laboratory data, electrocardiogram (ECG) findings, and lifestyle factors were cross-sectionally analyzed. Mean H-FABP values were significantly higher in men than in women. Serum H-FABP levels were increased with aging significantly. Both the multivariate regression and multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that serum H-FABP levels were independently affected by age, body mass index, creatinine clearance, and ECG abnormality score.


CONCLUSION
Serum H-FABP levels were affected by age, gender, obesity, renal function, and ECG abnormality in a large group of volunteers. These effects should be taken into account in determining appropriate reference values for H-FABP. In addition, high serum H-FABP levels may represent latent cardiac injury and have important clinical implications.
Life Cycle, Ultrastructure, and Phylogeny of New Diplonemids and Their Endosymbiotic Bacteria

Diplonemids represent a hyperdiverse and abundant yet poorly studied group of marine protists. Here we describe two new members of the genus Diplonema (Diplonemea, Euglenozoa), Diplonema japonicum sp. nov. and Diplonema aggregatum sp. nov., based on life cycle, morphology, and 18S rRNA gene sequences. Along with euglenozoan apomorphies, they contain several unique features. Their life cycle is complex, consisting of a trophic stage that is, following the depletion of nutrients, transformed into a sessile stage and subsequently into a swimming stage. The latter two stages are characterized by the presence of tubular extrusomes and the emergence of a paraflagellar rod, the supportive structure of the flagellum, which is prominently lacking in the trophic stage. These two stages also differ dramatically in motility and flagellar size. Both diplonemid species host endosymbiotic bacteria that are closely related to each other and constitute a novel branch within Holosporales, for which a new genus, "Candidatus Cytomitobacter" gen. nov., has been established. Remarkably, the number of endosymbionts in the cytoplasm varies significantly, as does their localization within the cell, where they seem to penetrate the mitochondrion, a rare occurrence.IMPORTANCE We describe the morphology, behavior, and life cycle of two new Diplonema species that established a relationship with two Holospora-like bacteria in the first report of an endosymbiosis in diplonemids. Both endosymbionts reside in the cytoplasm and the mitochondrion, which establishes an extremely rare case. Within their life cycle, the diplonemids undergo transformation from a trophic to a sessile and eventually a highly motile swimming stage. These stages differ in several features, such as the presence or absence of tubular extrusomes and a paraflagellar rod, along with the length of the flagella. These morphological and behavioral interstage differences possibly reflect distinct functions in dispersion and invasion of the host and/or prey and may provide novel insight into the virtually unknown function of diplonemids in the oceanic ecosystem.
The relative impact of forest patch and landscape attributes on black howler monkey populations in the fragmented Lacandona rainforest, Mexico

Land-use change is forcing many animal populations to inhabit forest patches in which different processes can threaten their survival. Some threatening processes are mainly related to forest patch characteristics, but others depend principally on the landscape spatial context. Thus, the impact of both patch and landscape spatial attributes needs to be assessed to have a better understanding of the habitat spatial attributes that constraint the maintenance of populations in fragmented landscapes. Here, we evaluated the relative effect of three patch-scale (i.e., patch size, shape, and isolation) and five landscape-scale metrics (i.e., forest cover, fragmentation, edge density, mean inter-patch isolation distance, and matrix permeability) on population composition and structure of black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) in the Lacandona rainforest, Mexico. We measured the landscape-scale metrics at two spatial scales: within 100 and 500 ha landscapes. Our findings revealed that howler monkeys were more strongly affected by local-scale metrics. Smaller and more isolated forest patches showed a lower number of individuals but at higher densities. Population density also tended to be positively associated to matrices with higher proportion of secondary forests and arboreal crops (i.e. with greater permeability), most probably because these matrices can offer supplementary foods. The immature-to-female ratio also increased with matrix permeability, shape complexity, and edge density; habitat characteristics that can increase landscape connectivity and sources availability. The prevention of habitat loss and isolation, and the increment of matrix permeability are therefore needed for the conservation of this endangered Neotropical mammal.
Social network user influence sense-making and dynamics prediction

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2014.02.038 0957-4174/ 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. ⇑ Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 305 348 6036; fax: +1 305 348 3549. E-mail addresses: jli003@cs.fiu.edu (J. Li), wei.peng@xerox.com (W. Peng), taoli@cs.fiu.edu (T. Li), tong.sun@xerox.com (T. Sun), qianmu@njust.edu.cn (Q. Li), dolphin.xu@njust.edu.cn (J. Xu). Jingxuan Li , Wei Peng , Tao Li a,⇑, Tong Sun , Qianmu Li , Jian Xu c
Impact of automated calls with nurse follow-up on diabetes treatment outcomes in a Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE
We evaluated automated telephone disease management (ATDM) with telephone nurse follow-up as a strategy for improving diabetes treatment processes and outcomes in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) clinics. We also compared the results with those of a prior ATDM trial conducted in a county health care system.


RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
A total of 272 VA patients with diabetes using hypoglycemic medications were randomized. During the 1-year study period, intervention patients received biweekly ATDM health assessment and self-care education calls, and a nurse educator followed up with patients based on their ATDM assessment reports. Telephone surveys were used to measure patients' self-care, symptoms, and satisfaction with care. Outpatient service use was evaluated using electronic databases and self-reports, and glycemic control was measured by HbA1c and serum glucose testing.


RESULTS
At 12 months, intervention patients reported more frequent glucose self-monitoring and foot inspections than patients receiving usual care and were more likely to be seen in podiatry and diabetes specialty clinics. Intervention patients also were more likely than control patients to have had a cholesterol test. Among patients with baseline HbA1c levels > or =8%, mean end-point values were lower among intervention patients than control patients (8.7 vs. 9.2%, respectively; P = 0.04). Among intervention and control patients with baseline values > or =9%, mean end-point values were 9.1 and 10.2%, respectively (P = 0.04). At follow-up, intervention patients reported fewer symptoms of poor glycemic control than control patients and greater satisfaction with their health care.


CONCLUSIONS
This intervention improved the quality of VA diabetes care. Intervention effects for most end points replicated findings from the prior county clinic trial, although intervention-control differences in the current study were smaller because of the relatively good self-care and health status among the current study's enrollees.
Density and shape as CT predictors of intracerebral hemorrhage growth.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) growth predicts mortality and functional outcome. We hypothesized that irregular hematoma shape and density heterogeneity, reflecting active, multifocal bleeding or a variable bleeding time course, would predict ICH growth.


METHODS
Three raters examined baseline sub-3-hour CT brain scans of 90 patients in the placebo arm of a Phase IIb trial of recombinant activated Factor VII in ICH. Each rater, blinded to growth data, independently applied novel 5-point categorical scales of density and shape to randomly presented baseline CT images of ICH. Density and shape were defined as either homogeneous/regular (Category 1 to 2) or heterogeneous/irregular (Category 3 to 5). Within- and between-rater reliability was determined for these scales. Growth was assessed as a continuous variable and using 3 binary definitions: (1) any ICH growth; (2) >or=33% or >or=12.5 mL ICH growth; and (3) radial growth >1 mm between baseline and 24-hour CT scan. Patients were divided into tertiles of baseline ICH volume: "small" (0 to 10 mL), "medium" (10 to 25 mL), and "large" (25 to 106 mL).


RESULTS
Inter- and intrarater agreements for the novel scales exceeded 85% (+/-1 category). Median growth was significantly higher in the large-volume group compared with the small group (P<0.001) and in heterogeneous compared with homogeneous ICH (P=0.008). Median growth trended higher in irregular ICHs compared with regular ICHs (P=0.084). Small ICHs were more regularly shaped (43%) than medium (17%) and large (3%) ICHs (P<0.001). Small ICHs were more homogeneous (73%) compared with medium (37%) and large (17%) ICHs (P<0.001). Adjusting for baseline ICH volume and time to scan, density heterogeneity, but not shape irregularity, independently predicted ICH growth (P=0.046) on a continuous growth scale.


CONCLUSIONS
Large ICHs were significantly more irregular in shape, heterogeneous in density, and had greater growth. Density heterogeneity independently predicted ICH growth using some definitions.
Treatment management of first permanent molars in children with Molar-Incisor Hypomineralisation.

AIM
To study the treatment management of first permanent molars in children with Molar-Incisor Hypomineralisation (MIH).


STUDY DESIGN
Retrospective analysis.


METHODS
The records of the clientele of a private paediatric dental practice were scanned. Thirty-six cases of children fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of MIH were retrieved who had been followed for a mean period of 4.5 years, and 36 children of matching age and gender, and with similar follow-up period, were randomly selected from the same clientele to serve as controls.


RESULTS
Children in the MIH group exhibited greater DMFS and smaller dmfs scores. The frequency of restorative intervention was greater in children of the MIH group (OREST=11.00, 95% C.I. 2.85-42.45). Stainless-steel crowns had been placed only on MIH group molars. The follow-up records revealed that only restorations in the MIH group needed retreatment. Fillings and sealants in the MIH group had a greater probability of needing retreatment than in the control group (OREST=3.10, 95% C.I. 1.60-6.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Children affected by MIH may need to undergo a significant amount of restorative treatment at an early age. Moreover, fillings and sealants in MIH affected children have a greater probability of needing retreatment than in control group children.
Characterization of the infective properties of a new genetic group of Trypanosoma cruzi associated with bats.

A new genotype of Trypanosoma cruzi, associated with bats from anthropic areas, was recently described. Here we characterized a T. cruzi strain from this new genetic group, which could be a potential source of infection to humans. Metacyclic trypomastigotes (MT) of this strain, herein designated BAT, were compared to MT of well characterized CL and G strains, as regards the surface profile and infectivity toward human epithelial HeLa cells. BAT strain MT expressed gp82, the surface molecule recognized by monoclonal antibody 3F6 and known to promote CL strain invasion by inducing lysosomal exocytosis, as well as mucin-like molecules, but lacked gp90, which functions as a negative regulator of invasion in G strain. A set of experiments indicated that BAT strain internalization is gp82-mediated, and requires the activation of host cell phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, protein kinase C and the mammalian target of rapamycin. MT of BAT strain were able to migrate through a gastric mucin layer, a property associated with p82 and relevant for oral infection. Gp82 was found to be a highly conserved molecule. Analysis of the BAT strain gp82 domain, containing the cell binding- and gastric mucin-binding sites, showed 91 and 93% sequence identity with G and CL strains, respectively. Hela cell invasion by BAT strain MT was inhibited by purified mucin-like molecules, which were shown to affect lysosome exocytosis required for MT internalization. Although MT of BAT strain infected host cells in vitro, they were less effective than G or CL strains in infecting mice either orally or intraperitoneally.
Peer reviewed: tracking the distribution of persistent organic pollutants.

Control strategies for these contaminants will require a better understanding of how they move around the globe.
Development of the asthma control test: a survey for assessing asthma control.

BACKGROUND
Asthma guidelines indicate that the goal of treatment should be optimum asthma control. In a busy clinic practice with limited time and resources, there is need for a simple method for assessing asthma control with or without lung function testing.


OBJECTIVES
The objective of this article was to describe the development of the Asthma Control Test (ACT), a patient-based tool for identifying patients with poorly controlled asthma.


METHODS
A 22-item survey was administered to 471 patients with asthma in the offices of asthma specialists. The specialist's rating of asthma control after spirometry was also collected. Stepwise regression methods were used to select a subset of items that showed the greatest discriminant validity in relation to the specialist's rating of asthma control. Internal consistency reliability was computed, and discriminant validity tests were conducted for ACT scale scores. The performance of ACT was investigated by using logistic regression methods and receiver operating characteristic analyses.


RESULTS
Five items were selected from regression analyses. The internal consistency reliability of the 5-item ACT scale was 0.84. ACT scale scores discriminated between groups of patients differing in the specialist's rating of asthma control (F = 34.5, P <.00001), the need for change in patient's therapy (F = 40.3, P <.00001), and percent predicted FEV(1) (F = 4.3, P =.0052). As a screening tool, the overall agreement between ACT and the specialist's rating ranged from 71% to 78% depending on the cut points used, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.77.


CONCLUSION
Results reinforce the usefulness of a brief, easy to administer, patient-based index of asthma control.