Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Obesity and Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness among African and Caucasian Americans in a Population-Based Study

Background: This study evaluated obesity and prostate cancer aggressiveness relationship in a population-based incident prostate cancer study. Methods: The North Carolina–Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project includes medical records data for classification of prostate cancer aggressiveness at diagnosis by using clinical criteria for 1,049 African American (AA) and 1,083 Caucasian American (CA) participants. An association between prostate cancer aggressiveness and obesity, measured using body mass indices (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), was assessed using ORs and 95% CIs adjusted for confounders. Results: A significantly positive association was found between prostate cancer aggressiveness and obesity. The ORs for high aggressive prostate cancer among prediagnosis obese and severely obese were 1.48 (95% CI = 1.02–2.16) and 1.98 (95% CI = 1.31–2.97), respectively, compared with normal weight research subjects. Race-stratified results suggested the association is stronger among CAs. Interaction model showed that normal weight AAs had more aggressive prostate cancer than normal weight CAs (OR = 2.69, 95% CI = 1.36–5.30); severe obesity was associated with aggressive disease in AAs (OR = 3.90, 95% CI = 1.97–7.75). WHR > 0.98 among all research subjects adjusted for race was significantly associated with high aggressive prostate cancer (OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.00–2.00) when compared with WHR < 0.90. The stratified result is less clear among AAs. Conclusions: This study shows a positive association between obesity and aggressive prostate cancer. AAs have more aggressive prostate cancer in general than CAs even at normal weight. Therefore, the association between obesity and aggressiveness is not as evident in AAs as in CAs. Impact: This study provides a unique opportunity to examine impact of race on obesity and high aggressive prostate cancer relationship. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 20(5); 844–53. ©2011 AACR.
Genetic Variation in PTPN22 Corresponds to Altered Function of T and B Lymphocytes1

A variant of the PTPN22 gene, 1858C/T, is associated with an increased risk for the development of a wide array of autoimmune disorders. It is known that the protein tyrosine phosphatase Lyp encoded by this gene has an inhibitory effect on the proximal TCR signaling pathways. However, the consequences of carrying this variant and the mechanism by which it contributes to the development of autoimmunity are poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that homozygosity for this variant results in a profound deficit in T cell responsiveness to Ag stimulation. Heterozygosity for the variant allele is associated with reduced responsiveness of CD4+ memory T cells, characterized by diminished calcium mobilization, expression of CD25, and IL-10 production upon TCR stimulation. Additionally, the presence of the variant allele is associated with an increase in circulating memory T cells. We further demonstrate that these effects are not limited to the T cell compartment. Individuals with the variant allele have fewer memory B cells and these cells display a reduced response to stimulation via the BCR indicative of a B cell intrinsic defect. By identifying an immunologic phenotype in healthy subjects which correlates with the PTPN22 1858C/T genotype, we can now explore specific hypotheses regarding pathogenesis of diseases associated with the PTPN22 1858T variant.
Predictive properties of serum-prostate-specific antigen testing in a community-based setting.

BACKGROUND Most studies that have described the sensitivity and specificity of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) as a screening test have been conducted in urology practice settings or in media-based screening programs. The control patients from these settings may have a higher prevalence of urologic disorders that increase serum PSA levels than that of the general population in which screening efforts might take place, leading to biased estimates of sensitivity and specificity. OBJECTIVE To determine the sensitivity and specificity of serum PSA levels for the early detection of prostate cancer in a population-based setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS This population-based case-control study was conducted in Olmsted County, Minnesota, where the Rochester Epidemiology Project could identify all incident cases of prostate cancer through passive surveillance of medical care provided to local residents. Case patients were all 177 men (age range, 50-79 years) who were newly diagnosed as having prostate cancer from 1990 through 1992 and had a prediagnostic serum PSA determination (90% of all incident cases). Control patients were randomly selected from the Olmsted County population and had undergone a clinical examination to exclude prostate cancer. RESULTS The median (25th and 75th percentiles) of serum PSA levels was 9.4 ng/mL (5.4 and 18.6 ng/mL, respectively) for case patients and 1.2 ng/mL (0.7 and 2.1 ng/mL, respectively) for control patients (P < .001). When sensitivity was plotted against 1-specificity, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.94 (SE, 0.01). The predictive power declined somewhat with age, with areas under the curve of 0.96, 0.94, and 0.90 for men in their 50s, 60s, and 70s, respectively. When cases were restricted to the 155 men with clinically localized disease, the area under the curve was essentially unchanged (0.94; SE, 0.01) and still much greater than the estimates of 0.75 that were reported from urology practice- and media-based settings. CONCLUSIONS In a community-based setting, serum PSA levels provide better discrimination between men with and without clinically localized prostate cancer than has been observed in studies that were conducted in urologic practices. These results suggest that previous decision analyses may have underestimated the predictive value of PSA for the detection of prostate cancer in a primary care or community-wide screening program.
The Hazards of Growing Up: A Study of the Changing Mechanisms of Bullying Among Girls in Shenzhen

Among the many contending theories of bullying, the widely accepted thesis known as frustration-aggression assumes that bullying is a form of aggressive behavior induced by external stress. Recently, researchers have discovered that the relationship between external stressors and bullying is sometimes moderated by internal frustration. The present investigation is an attempt to examine which of the above mechanisms can better explain female students’ bullying behaviors. Data analysis, using structural equation modeling, was based on 1,069 girls selected from 14 primary schools and 16 junior secondary schools in Shenzhen, China. The result of the analysis suggests that while bullying by girls in primary schools is directly related to external stress, bullying in secondary schools is moderated by internal frustration. The authors suggest that several risk factors, namely, (a) the competitiveness of the education system, (b) socialization processes within families and schools, and (c) developmental changes in females during puberty, may be contributing to the difference between bullying mechanisms in primary and secondary schools. Parmi les nombreuses théories contraires portant sur l'intimidation, la thèse largement acceptée, connue sous le nom de frustration-agression postule que l'intimidation est une forme de comportement agressif provoqué par le stress externe. Les chercheurs ont récemment découvert que le rapport entre les agents de stress externes et l'intimidation est parfois modéré par la frustration interne. La présente étude vise à déterminer lesquels de ces mécanismes expliquent le mieux les comportements d'intimidation par les élèves. L'analyse de données, suivant la modélisation par équation structurelle, était basée sur 1 069 filles sélectionnées de 14 écoles primaires et 16 écoles secondaires à Shenzhen, en Chine. Les résultats de l'analyse donnent à penser que l'intimidation par les filles à l'école primaire est directement liée au stress externe, alors que l'intimidation à l'école secondaire est modérée par la frustration interne. Les auteurs proposent qu'il est possible que plusieurs facteurs de risque, notamment (a) la compétitivité du système d'éducation, (b) les processus de socialisation en sein des familles et des écoles et (c) les changements de croissance chez les filles pendant la puberté, contribuent aux différences entre les mécanismes d'intimidation à l'école primaire et à l'école secondaire.
Heterogeneity of T-Tubules in Pig Hearts

Background T-tubules are invaginations of the sarcolemma that play a key role in excitation-contraction coupling in mammalian cardiac myocytes. Although t-tubules were generally considered to be effectively absent in atrial myocytes, recent studies on atrial cells from larger mammals suggest that t-tubules may be more numerous than previously supposed. However, the degree of heterogeneity between cardiomyocytes in the extent of the t-tubule network remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the t-tubule network of pig atrial myocytes in comparison with ventricular tissue. Methods Cardiac tissue was obtained from young female Landrace White pigs (45–75 kg, 5–6 months old). Cardiomyocytes were isolated by arterial perfusion with a collagenase-containing solution. Ca2+ transients were examined in field-stimulated isolated cells loaded with fluo-4-AM. Membranes of isolated cells were visualized using di-8-ANEPPS. T-tubules were visualized in fixed-frozen tissue sections stained with Alexa-Fluor 488-conjugated WGA. Binary images were obtained by application of a threshold and t-tubule density (TTD) calculated. A distance mapping approach was used to calculate half-distance to nearest t-tubule (HDTT). Results & Conclusion The spatio-temporal properties of the Ca2+ transient appeared to be consistent with the absence of functional t-tubules in isolated atrial myocytes. However, t-tubules could be identified in a sub-population of atrial cells in frozen sections. While all ventricular myocytes had TTD >3% (mean TTD = 6.94±0.395%, n = 24), this was true of just 5/22 atrial cells. Mean atrial TTD (2.35±0.457%, n = 22) was lower than ventricular TTD (P<0.0001). TTD correlated with cell-width (r = 0.7756, n = 46, P<0.0001). HDTT was significantly greater in the atrial cells with TTD ≤3% (2.29±0.16 μm, n = 17) than in either ventricular cells (1.33±0.05 μm, n = 24, P<0.0001) or in atrial cells with TTD >3% (1.65±0.06 μm, n = 5, P<0.05). These data demonstrate considerable heterogeneity between pig cardiomyocytes in the extent of t-tubule network, which correlated with cell size.
Chemical Camouflage– A Frog's Strategy to Co-Exist with Aggressive Ants

Whereas interspecific associations receive considerable attention in evolutionary, behavioural and ecological literature, the proximate bases for these associations are usually unknown. This in particular applies to associations between vertebrates with invertebrates. The West-African savanna frog Phrynomantis microps lives in the underground nest of ponerine ants (Paltothyreus tarsatus). The ants usually react highly aggressively when disturbed by fiercely stinging, but the frog is not attacked and lives unharmed among the ants. Herein we examined the proximate mechanisms for this unusual association. Experiments with termites and mealworms covered with the skin secretion of the frog revealed that specific chemical compounds seem to prevent the ants from stinging. By HPLC-fractionation of an aqueous solution of the frogs' skin secretion, two peptides of 1,029 and 1,143 Da were isolated and found to inhibit the aggressive behaviour of the ants. By de novo sequencing using tandem mass spectrometry, the amino acid sequence of both peptides consisting of a chain of 9 and 11 residues, respectively, was elucidated. Both peptides were synthesized and tested, and exhibited the same inhibitory properties as the original frog secretions. These novel peptides most likely act as an appeasement allomone and may serve as models for taming insect aggression.
Molecular mimicry between the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp120 V3 loop and human brain proteins

Immunologically cross-reactive proteins in the human brain that resemble the V3 loop of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp120 have been identified. When several homogenized tissues from normal brains were used, a monoclonal antibody raised against amino acids 308 to 320 of the V3 loop reacted with three prominent human brain proteins (HBP) of 35, 55, and 110 kDa. Among the three, the 55-kDa HBP appears to be specific to the central nervous system. These results indicate that the V3 loop of HIV-1 gp120 shares an epitope with HBP. An immune response to the V3 loop that generates cross-reactive antibodies to cellular proteins may be an autoimmune mechanism by which HIV-1 can damage the central nervous system.
Propofol or sevoflurane anaesthesia does not affect hepatic integrity as assessed by the M30 & M65 cell death markers & liver enzymes

Background & objectives: General anaesthetics may induce apoptosis. The pro-apoptotic/necrotic markers M30 (caspase-cleaved cytokeratin-18) and M65 (intact cytokeratin-18) have been used to identify early apoptosis in liver disease. The aim of this study was to detect the effect of propofol and sevoflurane anaesthesia on these markers and blood transaminase levels in female patients undergoing elective surgery. Methods: Sixty-seven women undergoing mastectomy or thyroidectomy under general anaesthesia were randomly allocated to the propofol or sevoflurane groups. Venous blood samples for measuring the apoptotic and necrotic markers M30 and M65 as well as for measuring the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) liver enzymes were collected before induction of anaesthesia, immediately after completion of surgery, and 24 and 48 h postoperatively. Results. The M30 values preoperatively and 0, 24 and 48 h postoperatively were 280±229, 300±244, 267±198 and 254±189 U/l in the propofol group and 237±95, 242±109, 231±94 and 234±127 U/l in the sevoflurane group, respectively. The M30 values did not differ within or between the groups. The M65 levels at the same time intervals were 470±262, 478±271, 456±339 and 485±273 in the propofol group and 427±226, 481±227, 389±158 and 404±144 U/l in the sevoflurane group, respectively. No significant changes were found in the M65 either within or between the propofol and the sevoflurane groups. The ALT and AST levels did not change at these time intervals. Interpretation & conclusions: Under the present study design propofol or sevoflurane anaesthesia did not induce apoptosis or affected the liver function as assessed by the M30, M65 markers and liver enzymes in patients undergoing mastectomy or thyroidectomy under general anaesthesia.
Serum Antibody to Porphyromonas gingivalis in Chronic Kidney Disease

Potentially significant associations between periodontal disease and chronic kidney disease (CKD) have been reported in recent studies. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between serum antibody to the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) and CKD in 215 Japanese individuals, aged 79 yrs. Serum antibody levels to P. gingivalis were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. An elevated serum antibody response was defined as the upper quartile and was compared with the bottom three quartiles. Participants were classified as having CKD when their glomerular filtration rate was between 15 and 59 mL/min/1.73 m2. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association between elevated antibody status and the presence of CKD. Study participants with an elevated serum antibody to P. gingivalis were 2.6 times more likely to have CKD. The adjusted odds ratio of CKD for participants in the highest quartile of serum antibody to P. gingivalis was 2.59 (95% confidence interval, 1.05-6.34) when compared with others in lower quartiles after simultaneous adjustment for other covariates. In conclusion, the present study suggests that elevated serum antibody to P. gingivalis was significantly associated with decreased kidney function in a community-based cohort of elderly Japanese.
Performance Prediction of a Percutaneous Ventricular Assist System Using Nonlinear Circuit Analysis Techniques

A percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD) is an extracorporeal cardiac assist system that supports the failing ventricle in advanced stage heart failure by bypassing blood from the venous to the arterial circulation through a blood pump. The system can be implanted in a Cath lab using standard interventional techniques, and typically consists of a venous or atrial drainage cannula, the VAD (or blood pump), and an arterial perfusion cannula. Because the device allows clinicians the freedom of choosing the configuration and size of the cannulae based on the patient's body size and the size of the artery, it is extremely difficult but important to be able to predict the amount of blood flow that the device can provide before it is implanted to support the patient. In this paper, we develop a novel method that can be used to accurately predict the mean flow rate that the device can provide to the patient based on the size and configuration of the arterial cannula, the pump speed, and the patient's left atrial and mean arterial pressures. To do this, we first develop a nonlinear electric circuit model for the pVAD. This model includes a speed dependent voltage source and flow dependent resistors to simulate the pressure-flow relationship in the various cannulae in the device. We show that the flow rate through the device can be determined by solving a quadratic equation whose coefficients are scaled depending on the size and configuration of the arterial cannula. The model and prediction method were tested experimentally on a test loop supported by the TandemHeart pVAD (Cardiacassist, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA). A comparison of the predicted flow rates obtained from our method with experimental data shows that our method can predict the flow rates accurately with error indices less than 6% for all test conditions over the entire range of intended use of the device. Computer simulations of the pVAD model coupled to a cardiovascular model showed that the accuracy of the method in estimating the mean flow rate is consistent over the normal range of operation of the device regardless of the pulsatility introduced by the cardiovascular system. This method can be used as an additional too to assist cardiologists in choosing a proper arterial cannulae configurations and sizes for pVAD patients. It can also be used as a tool to train clinical personnel to operate the device under different physiological conditions.
Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis Due to Neisseria skkuensis, a Novel Neisseria Species

ABSTRACT We describe the first reported case of endocarditis due to Neisseria skkuensis. The organism from the blood cultures taken on admission day was identified initially as unidentified Gram-negative cocci by Vitek2. Finally, it was identified as Neisseria skkuensis by 16 rRNA gene sequence analysis.
A homotopy approach to rational covariance extension with degree constraint

The solutions to the Rational Covariance Extension Problem (RCEP) are parameterized by the spectral zeros. The rational filter with a specied numerator solving the RCEP can be determined from a known convex optimization problem. However, this optimization problem may become ill-conditioned for some parameter values. A modication of the optimization problem to avoid the illconditioning is proposed and the modified problem is solved effciently by a continuation method.
Designing Pictogram for Food Portion Size

The objective of this paper is to investigate a new approach based on the idea of pictograms for food portion size. This approach adopts the model of the United States PharmacopeiaDrug Information (USP-DI). The representation of each food portion size composed of three parts: frame, the connotation of dietary portion sizes and layout. To investigate users’ comprehension based on this approach, two experiments were conducted, included 122 Taiwanese people, 60 male and 62 female with ages between 16 and 64 (divided into age groups of 16-30, 31-45 and 46-64). In Experiment 1, the mean correcting rate of the understanding level of food items is 48.54% (S.D.= 95.08) and the mean response time 2.89sec (S.D.=2.14). The difference on the correct rates for different age groups is significant (P*=0.00<0.05). In Experiment 2, the correcting rate of selecting the right life-size measurement aid is 65.02% (S.D.=21.31). The result showed the potential of the approach for certain food potion sizes. Issues raised for discussions including comprehension on numerous food varieties in an open environment, selection of photograph or drawing, reasons of different correcting rates for the measurement aid. This research also could be used for those interested in systematic and pictorial representation of dietary portion size information. Keywords—Comprehension, Food Portion Size, Model of Dietary Information, Pictogram Design, USP-DI.
Mutations in the Heme Exporter FLVCR1 Cause Sensory Neurodegeneration with Loss of Pain Perception

Pain is necessary to alert us to actual or potential tissue damage. Specialized nerve cells in the body periphery, so called nociceptors, are fundamental to mediate pain perception and humans without pain perception are at permanent risk for injuries, burns and mutilations. Pain insensitivity can be caused by sensory neurodegeneration which is a hallmark of hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathies (HSANs). Although mutations in several genes were previously associated with sensory neurodegeneration, the etiology of many cases remains unknown. Using next generation sequencing in patients with congenital loss of pain perception, we here identify bi-allelic mutations in the FLVCR1 (Feline Leukemia Virus subgroup C Receptor 1) gene, which encodes a broadly expressed heme exporter. Different FLVCR1 isoforms control the size of the cytosolic heme pool required to sustain metabolic activity of different cell types. Mutations in FLVCR1 have previously been linked to vision impairment and posterior column ataxia in humans, but not to HSAN. Using fibroblasts and lymphoblastoid cell lines from patients with sensory neurodegeneration, we here show that the FLVCR1-mutations reduce heme export activity, enhance oxidative stress and increase sensitivity to programmed cell death. Our data link heme metabolism to sensory neuron maintenance and suggest that intracellular heme overload causes early-onset degeneration of pain-sensing neurons in humans.