Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Socio-demographic inequalities in the clinical characteristics of dengue haemorrhagic fever in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2007–2008

Abstract In 2007–2008, the city of Rio de Janeiro underwent an epidemiological change, with increases in the incidence in children and in severe forms of dengue. To describe the clinical profile and spatial distribution of dengue we performed an ecological study based on dengue surveillance data using the Brazilian classification (2005): dengue fever, dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue with complications. χ2 test was used to describe the clinical and socio-demographic variables (P < 0.05). Spatial distribution of incidence and case-fatality was explored with thematic maps, Moran and Geary indices (P < 0.05). Of the total of 151 527 dengue cases, 38 808 met the inclusion criteria; 42.4% <18 years; 22.9% dengue with complications and 2.7% DHF. Case-fatality was higher in infants (1.4%) and in DHF (7.7%). Bleeding was more frequent in adolescents and adults while plasma leakage was more common in preschoolers and schoolchildren. The highest incidence was found in the West Zone of the city, in a different area from that of the worst case-fatality (P < 0.05). Although the incidence of DHF was higher in schoolchildren, infants showed higher case-fatality. The area with the highest case-fatality did not present the highest incidence, which suggests problems in the organization of health services.
A novel mutation in the GNE gene and a linkage disequilibrium in Japanese pedigrees

Distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles (DMRV) is an autosomal recessive muscular disorder characterized by weakness of the anterior compartment of the lower limbs with onset in early adulthood and sparing of the quadricep muscles. The UDP‐N‐acetylglucosamine‐2‐epimerase/N‐acetylmannosamine kinase (GNE) gene was recently identified as the causative gene for hereditary inclusion body myopathy (HIBM). To investigate whether DMRV and HIBM are allelic diseases, we conducted mutational analysis of the GNE gene of six Japanese DMRV pedigrees and found that all the pedigrees share a homozygous mutation (V572L) associated with a strong linkage disequilibrium, suggesting a strong founder effect in Japanese DMRV pedigrees.
Amygdala–orbitofrontal resting‐state functional connectivity is associated with trait anger

&NA; An important distinction in research on the neural mechanisms of emotion regulation involves the relatively limited duration of emotional states versus emotional traits that are defined as the stable tendency to experience particular emotions in daily life. Neuroimaging investigations of the regulation of anger states point to the involvement of reciprocal changes in the prefrontal cortex and amygdala activity, but the neural substrate of trait anger has received less attention. We used resting‐state functional MRI to determine whether the variation in the strength of functional connectivity between the amygdala and the orbitofrontal cortex is associated with trait anger. Sixteen healthy men completed the Spielberger State‐Trait Anger Expression Inventory. Correlational analysis for resting‐state functional connectivity (RSFC) was carried out with the left and the right amygdala as separate seed regions. Anger measures were correlated to RSFC involving the right and the left amygdala on a voxel‐by‐voxel basis across all individuals. We found that Trait Anger was inversely associated with the strength of RSFC between the amygdala and the contralateral middle orbitofrontal cortex. The association was stronger for the right amygdala–left orbitofrontal connection. Anger Control, the tendency to try to control expressions of anger, showed the opposite pattern of being positively correlated with amygdala–orbitofrontal connectivity. The present study provides evidence that RSFC in a corticolimbic circuit might subserve stable differences in anger regulation. Our findings also suggest that RSFC may prove valuable as a trait marker for disorders characterized by emotional dysregulation such as depression, anxiety, and personality disorders.
Localized proton NMR spectroscopy of experimental gliomas in rat brain In Vivo

Experimental brain tumors produced in rats (n = 10) by stereotactic implantation of cells from the F98 anaplastic glioma clone into the right caudate nucleus were studied in vivo using localized proton NMR and in vitro using high‐resolution proton NMR, bioluminescent imaging of lactate, ATP and glucose distributions, and fluorescent imaging of regional pH. In vivo spectra from normal brain contralateral to the tumor regions showed resonances assignable to N‐acetyl aspartate (NAA), creatines, choline‐containing compounds, myo‐inositol, glutamate and glucose in a pattern similar to those obtained from normal anaesthetized rats. In vivo tumor spectra were characterized by the almost complete absence of NAA, a substantial reduction of total creatine and glucose, and an increase of cholines. Based on the in vitro spectra the increase of the myo‐inositol signal observed in vivo was mainly attributed to glycine. Histological examination as well as bioluminescent and fluorescent imaging indicated two stages of tumor development, i.e., solid vital tumors and tumors with necrosis. However, there was no consistent relationship between proton NMR observations and tumor development.
Garcinol modulates tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK and subsequently induces apoptosis through down‐regulation of Src, ERK, and Akt survival signaling in human colon cancer cells

Garcinol, from the fruit rind of Garcinia indica and other species, has been reported to suppress colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) formation in rats. In this study, we investigate the beneficial effects of tumor prevention by garcinol on the human colorectal cancer cell line, HT‐29. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is the major signaling mediator of integrin‐mediated cell–matrix contact‐regulated cellular proliferation, migration, and apoptosis in adherent cells. Results of Matrigel analysis show that exposure of HT‐29 cells to 10 µM garcinol inhibited cell invasion, and decreased the dose‐dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK. We further demonstrate by Western blot analysis that garcinol inhibited activation of the Src, MAPK/ERK, and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. To investigate whether the loss of integrin‐mediated cell–matrix contact can induce apoptosis, we demonstrate that garcinol induced it in HT‐29 cells. The apoptotic dose of garcinol (20 µM) changed the ratio of the anti‐apoptotic Bcl‐2 and proapoptotic BAX proteins within 12 h, which correlated with a release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytosol, and with PARP cleavage. Additionally, we demonstrate that a decreasing MMP‐7 protein level in HT‐29 cells results in sensitization to garcinol. Garcinol also significantly inhibited the expression of MMP‐7 in IL‐1β‐induced HT‐29 cells. These results suggest that garcinol reduces cell invasion and survival through the inhibition of FAK's downstream signaling. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Akt/PKB enhances non-canonical Wnt signals by compartmentalizing β-Catenin

Cellular proliferation is antagonistically regulated by canonical and non-canonical Wnt signals; their dysbalance triggers cancers. It is widely believed that the PI3-K→ Akt pathway enhances canonical Wnt signals by affecting transcriptional activity and stability of β-catenin. Here we demonstrate that the PI3-K→Akt pathway also enhances non-canonical Wnt signals by compartmentalizing β-catenin. By phosphorylating the phosphoinositide(PI)-binding domain of a multimodular signal transducer, Daple, Akt abolishes Daple’s ability to bind PI3-P-enriched endosomes that engage dynein motor complex for long-distance trafficking of β-catenin/E-cadherin complexes to pericentriolar recycling endosomes (PCREs). Phosphorylation compartmentalizes Daple/β-catenin/E-cadherin complexes to cell-cell contact sites, enhances non-canonical Wnt signals, and thereby, suppresses colony growth. Dephosphorylation compartmentalizes β-catenin on PCREs, a specialized compartment for prolonged unopposed canonical Wnt signaling, and enhances colony growth. Cancer-associated Daple mutants that are insensitive to Akt mimic a constitutively dephosphorylated state. This work not only identifies Daple as a platform for crosstalk between Akt and the non-canonical Wnt pathway, but also reveals the impact of such crosstalk during cancer initiation and progression.
Comparison between the speech performance of fluent speakers and individuals who stutter.

Purpose The aim of this study was to compare the speech performance of fluent speakers and individuals who stutter during spontaneous speech, automatic speech, and singing. Methods The study sample was composed of 34 adults, 17 individuals who stutter and 17 fluent controls, matched for gender and age. The speech performance of participants was compared by means of three tasks: monologue, automatic speech, and singing. The following aspects were assessed: total number of common disruptions and total number of stuttering-like disruptions. Results Statistically significant difference was observed only for the monologue task in both intra- and inter-group comparisons. Conclusion The outcomes of this study indicate that tasks of higher motor and melodic complexities, such as the monologue task, negatively affect the speech fluency of both fluent speakers and individuals who stutter.
The natural history of renal disease in Australian Aborigines. Part 1. Changes in albuminuria and glomerular filtration rate over time.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to describe changes over time in albuminuria and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in a cohort of Australian Aborigines from a community with high rates of renal disease and renal failure. METHODS Participants were 486 adult community members (20+ years at first exam) who were screened for renal disease and related factors on at least two occasions (mean 2.7 occasions), at least a year apart, between 1990 and 1997. Renal function was assessed by the albumin:creatinine ratio (ACR; g/mol) on a random urine specimen and by the GFR estimated from the Cockcroft-Gault formula. Evolution over time was expressed as the average annual changes in these parameters. RESULTS On baseline examination, 70% of participants had albuminuria (ACR 1.1+ g/mol) There was a significant net increase in ACR and a fall in GFR in the cohort over time. Among individuals, however, changes were strongly correlated with ACR levels at baseline. There was no loss of GFR in persons with normal renal parameters at baseline and a rapid loss of GFR in those with substantial levels of albuminuria at baseline. Other factors significantly correlated with progression of ACR included age, baseline body mass index and systolic blood pressure, the presence of diabetes (or levels of fasting glucose), and elevated levels of serum gamma glutamyl transferase. Factors significantly associated with loss of GFR included body mass index, diabetes, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, microscopic hematuria, and marginally high cholesterol levels. CONCLUSION Albuminuria progresses and GFR is lost over time in individuals in this community, at rates that are strongly dependent on levels of pre-existing albuminuria. Much loss of GFR and all renal failure should be avoided by preventing the development of albuminuria and minimizing its progression. This depends on improving the weight, blood pressure, and metabolic profile of the entire community and reducing infections. Modification of the course in people with established disease depends on vigorous control of blood pressure and the metabolic profile and the specific use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.
Adaptive capacity of Philippine communities vulnerable to flash floods and landslides: assessing loss and damage from typhoon Bopha in Eastern Mindanao

The paper assesses the loss and damage from flash floods/landslide, the level of adaptive capacity, and the livelihood vulnerabilities of different groups of communities due to typhoon Bopha, which affected many communities in the province of Compostela Valley in December 2012. Huge rocks and timbers/logs buried many community settlements, business areas and farms. A survey was conducted in three case study villages in New Bataan and the survey data were analysed using descriptive and quantitative (factor and cluster) analyses. Typologies for the four clusters according to level of adaptive capacity were identified including very high adaptive capacity (cluster 2), high adaptive capacity (cluster 1), low adaptive capacity (cluster 4) and very low adaptive capacity (cluster 3). The results of the analysis showed that recovery potential of the respondents from the most affected village and who belong in clusters 2 and 4 will depend a lot on the sustainability of livelihood assistance.
Human placental peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta and gamma expression in healthy pregnancy and in preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction.

OBJECTIVES Human and animal studies have demonstrated that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are important in placental development and play key roles in metabolism and inflammation. We studied placental PPARdelta, PPARgamma, and retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRalpha) expression in healthy pregnancy and in preeclampsia (PET) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). METHODS AND RESULTS Using immunocytochemistry, PPARdelta, PPARgamma, and RXRalpha were localized to the cyto- and syncytiotrophoblast and invading trophoblast columns in first and second trimester placentas. Third trimester placentas from healthy pregnancy, and in PET and IUGR, demonstrated PPARdelta, PPARgamma, and RXRalpha staining within the syncytium, and localization within isolated cells in the stroma. In uncomplicated pregnancies, PPARdelta mRNA expression (PPARdelta:18s ratio, third trimester median 0.43 [interquartile (IQ) range 0.26-0.52] vs first trimester 0.20 [0.00-0.26], P = . 03) and PPARdelta protein expression (third trimester 3.94 [2.45-4.68] vs first trimester 1.29 [0.78-2.29] optical densitometry [OD] mm(2), P = . 04) were higher in the third trimester than in the first trimester. There were no consistent differences in PPARdelta, PPARgamma, or RXRalpha mRNA and protein expression among PET or IUGR placentas and controls. CONCLUSION PPARdelta expression is up-regulated between the first and third trimester, indicating a role for this nuclear receptor in placental function. We found no evidence that placental PPARdelta, PPARgamma, and RXRalpha expression is changed in PET or IUGR. This suggests that changes in total placental PPAR expression are not involved in the pathophysiology of these conditions.
MRSA infections among patients in the emergency department: a European multicentre study

Background MRSA is a therapeutic concern worldwide, and a major agent of community-acquired skin and soft tissue infections (CA-SSTIs). While the US epidemiology of MRSA in CA-SSTIs is well described and reports the high prevalence of the USA300 clone, data on the European situation are lacking. Objectives To determine the prevalence and clonal characteristics of MRSA in CA-SSTIs in seven European emergency departments. Patients and methods From April to June 2015, patients presenting to the tertiary hospital emergency department with a Staphylococcus aureus CA-SSTI were prospectively enrolled. S. aureus isolates were characterized by antimicrobial susceptibility testing, detection of Panton–Valentine leucocidin encoding genes and spa-typing, MLST and/or DNA microarray. Results Two-hundred and five cases of S. aureus-associated CA-SSTIs were included, comprising folliculitis, furuncles, abscesses, paronychia, impetigo, carbuncles and cellulitis. Of the 205 cases, we report an MRSA prevalence rate of 15.1%, with a north (0%) to south (29%) increasing gradient. Fifty-one isolates were Panton–Valentine leucocidin-positive (24.9%), whether MSSA or MRSA, with a heterogeneous distribution between countries. Clonal distribution of MSSA and MRSA showed high diversity, with no predominant circulating clone and no archetypical USA300 CA-MRSA clone. Conclusions This original prospective multicentre study highlights stark differences in European MRSA epidemiology compared with the USA, and that the USA300 CA-MRSA clone is not predominant among community-infected patients in Europe.
Deregulated expression of miR‐106a predicts survival in human colon cancer patients

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding RNAs that regulate expression of target mRNAs and are controlled by tumor suppressors and oncogenes. Altered expression of specific miRNAs in several tumor types and its association with poor prognosis parameters have been reported. Fewer data are available on its impact on patients' survival. We studied the impact of the expression of miR‐17‐5p, miR‐106a, and miR‐126 on survival and its correlation with the levels of their target mRNAs and host gene and TP53 alterations. We assessed in 110 colon cancer patients the levels of miR‐17‐5p, miR‐106a, miR‐126, E2F1, and EGFL7 by quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in the TP53 region. Tumor characteristics, disease‐free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were examined in each patient. Altered expression of miR‐17‐5p, miR‐106a, and EGFL7 was associated with pathological tumor features of poor prognosis. Downregulation of miR‐106a predicted shortened DFS (P = 0.03) and OS (P = 0.04). miR‐17‐5p correlated with DFS only at early stages (P = 0.07). Inverse correlations were found between miR‐17‐5p and miR‐106a levels and their target expression, E2F1 (P = 0.04 and P = 0.03, respectively). No correlation was found between miR‐126 expression and its host gene levels, EGFL7. miR‐106a deregulation was revealed as a marker of DFS and OS independent of tumor stage. The lack of association between expression of miR‐126 and its host gene EGFL7 suggests their regulation by independent stimuli. Inverse correlation between miR‐17‐5p and miR‐106a and E2F1 levels supports E2F1 as a target mRNA for the two miRNAs. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Serum ceramides increase the risk of Alzheimer disease

Objectives: Previous studies have shown that high serum ceramides are associated with memory impairment and hippocampal volume loss, but have not examined dementia as an outcome. The aim of this study was to examine whether serum ceramides and sphingomyelins (SM) were associated with an increased risk of all-cause dementia and Alzheimer disease (AD). Methods: Participants included 99 women without dementia aged 70–79, with baseline serum SM and ceramides, enrolled in a longitudinal population-based study and followed for up to 6 visits over 9 years. Baseline lipids, in tertiles, were examined in relation to all-cause dementia and AD using discrete time Cox proportional survival analysis. Lipids were analyzed using electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Results: Twenty-seven (27.3%) of the 99 women developed incident dementia. Of these, 18 (66.7%) were diagnosed with probable AD. Higher baseline serum ceramides, but not SM, were associated with an increased risk of AD; these relationships were stronger than with all-cause dementia. Compared to the lowest tertile, the middle and highest tertiles of ceramide d18:1–C16:0 were associated with a 10-fold (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2–85.1) and 7.6-fold increased risk of AD (95% CI 0.9–62.1), respectively. The highest tertiles of ceramide d18:1–C24:0 (hazard ratio [HR] = 5.1, 95% CI 1.1–23.6) and lactosylceramide (HR = 9.8, 95% CI 1.2–80.1) were also associated with risk of AD. Total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides were not associated with dementia or AD. Conclusions: Results from this preliminary study suggest that particular species of serum ceramides are associated with incident AD and warrant continued examination in larger studies.
Bayesian Regularization for Graphical Models With Unequal Shrinkage

ABSTRACT We consider a Bayesian framework for estimating a high-dimensional sparse precision matrix, in which adaptive shrinkage and sparsity are induced by a mixture of Laplace priors. Besides discussing our formulation from the Bayesian standpoint, we investigate the MAP (maximum a posteriori) estimator from a penalized likelihood perspective that gives rise to a new nonconvex penalty approximating the ℓ0 penalty. Optimal error rates for estimation consistency in terms of various matrix norms along with selection consistency for sparse structure recovery are shown for the unique MAP estimator under mild conditions. For fast and efficient computation, an EM algorithm is proposed to compute the MAP estimator of the precision matrix and (approximate) posterior probabilities on the edges of the underlying sparse structure. Through extensive simulation studies and a real application to a call center data, we have demonstrated the fine performance of our method compared with existing alternatives. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.
The Sydney System: Epidemiology and natural history of chronic gastritis

Chronic gastritis is a common disease which forms an important background to the pathogenesis of several gastric diseases. In most instances, gastritis seems to be a bacterial (microbial) disease. It begins as long-lasting, chronic inflammatory reaction directed against Helicobacter pylori (HP), or occasionally against other spiral bacteria, which colonize in the space between the surface epithelium and the mucous layer. Gastritis may, irrespectively of the HP-related or HP-independent origin, progress to an atrophy (chronic gastritis with atrophy) in the underlying mucosa. Prevalence of gastritis increases with increase in age, but great variations exist in the age-specific prevalence and in mean age of onset of the gastritis in different populations. A high rate and an early onset of the HP-related gastritis associates with low socio-economic status. Chronic gastritis, and the gastritis with atrophy in particular, may interfere with the function of the affected gastric mucosa, and may subsequently increase or decrease the risk of some gastric diseases, such as cancer and peptic ulcer. Both antral and corpus gastritis with coexistent severe atrophic changes have been shown to be associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer. In addition, gastritis seems to also play an important role in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer. Virtually all patients with DU and GU have coexisting and preceding gastritis. The cumulative risk of ulcer has been estimated to be high in subjects with gastritis, but, in contrast, to be low in subjects who have normal gastric mucosa.
Prices and promotions in U.S. retail markets

We provide generalizable results on the price and promotion tactics employed in the U.S. retail grocery industry. First, we document a large degree of price dispersion for UPCs and brands across stores, both nationally and at the local market level. Base price differences across stores and price promotions contribute to the overall price variance, and we show how to decompose the price variance into base price and promotion components. Second, we document that a large percentage of the variation in prices and promotion tactics across stores can be explained by retail chain and especially market/chain factors, whereas market factors explain only smaller percentage of the variation. Third, we show that the chain-level price and promotions similarity can be explained by similarity in demand. In particular, a large percentage of the variance in price elasticities and promotion effects can be explained by retail chain and especially market/retail chain factors. Further, price elasticities and promotion effects across stores of the same chain are hard to distinguish from the chain-market-level mean, and cross-price elasticities are typically imprecisely estimated. These findings suggest that retail managers may plausibly consider price discrimination across stores to be infeasible.