Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CMV-DNA detection in patients with thrombocytopenia.

The production of platelet autoantibodies may have an idiopathic pathogenesis or may occur in conjunction with other autoimmune diseases, cancer, the use of certain drugs or infections such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV), resulting in secondary autoimmune thrombocytopenia. Recently, we reported an unusual case of severe thrombocytopenia associated with CMV infection in a healthy person whose response to treatment with ganciclovir was followed by an improvement in the platelet count. Based on this finding, we have assessed the prevalence and possible clinical implications of CMV-DNA positive patients with thrombocytopenia attended at a university teaching hospital. From June 1996 to January 1997 we studied 84 patients with chronic thrombocytopenia (63 females and 21 males). The median age of these individuals was 37.4 years (range: 3 to 82 years) and the median follow-up was 25 months (range: 2 to 140 months). Idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) was diagnosed in 61 out of the 84 patients (73%). In the remaining 23 patients, the cause of thrombocytopenia was a systemic autoimmune disease in 15 cases, drug consumption in four cases, related to HIV infection in two cases, and cancer in two cases. All patients were screened for the presence of CMV-DNA. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and the CMV-DNA was amplified by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the primers described by Demmler et al. Amplification of the b-globin gene was used as an internal control. CMV-DNA was detected in two out of the 84 patients. In both of these patients, there was a concomitant HIV infection. Thrombocytopenia is a common hematological complication which affects almost half of HIV-infected patients. In one of the two CMV-positive patients with HIV, the platelet count returned to normal only after specific antiviral therapy with ganciclovir. The improvement in the platelet count only after treatment with ganciclovir suggests that the CMV infection was probably the cause of this thrombocytopenia. The demonstration of CMV-DNA by nested-PCR is very useful in this situation because of the difficulty in detecting CMV-IgM antibody in immunosuppressed patients, particularly those with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (Aids). The absence of CMV-DNA in the other patients confirmed the rarity of thrombocytopenia occurrence caused by CMV infection among non-immunosuppressed individuals. The detection of CMV infection in patients with thrombocytopenia and an HIV infection should provide correct diagnosis of the primary cause of the platelet disorder and may allow the use of specific therapy. We suggest that screening for CMV-DNA among patients with thrombocytopenia associated with an HIV infection could be a useful addition to the general diagnostic guidelines already proposed.
The Rise of Financial Capitalism: International Capital Markets in the Age of Reason. By Larry Neal · New York: Cambridge University Press, 1991. ix + 278 pp. Tables, charts, notes, bibliography, and index. $37.50, ISBN 0-521-38205-X

ships. Rarely did KKR risk much of its own money. When the partnership lost momentum, its backing quickly eroded, exposing it as a small, far less potent entity than might have been imagined from a perusal of its works. Important as a chronicle of an era, this work, much more than Bryan Burrough and John Helyar's Barbarians at the Gate (1990), the uncited account of the takeover of RJR Nabisco, will become the first reference for scholars treating the subject. Unfortunately, its strong point—the primary source material—is not supplemented by a bibliography of secondary sources. As the literature is growing in the field, such an inclusion would have been most useful.
A Cell Surface Receptor Complex for Fibrillar β-Amyloid Mediates Microglial Activation

Senile plaques found in the Alzheimer's disease brain are foci of local inflammatory reactions mediated by plaque-associated microglia. The interaction of microglia with compacted deposits of β-amyloid (Aβ) fibrils results in the stimulation of intracellular Tyr kinase-based signaling cascades and cellular activation, leading to the secretion of proinflammatory molecules. This study identifies a cell surface receptor complex that mediates the binding of microglia to Aβ fibrils and the subsequent activation of intracellular signaling pathways leading to a proinflammatory response. The receptor complex includes the B-class scavenger receptor CD36, the integrin-associated protein/CD47, and the α6β1-integrin. Antagonists of scavenger receptors, CD36, CD47, and α6β1 inhibited the adhesion of THP-1 monocytes to Aβ fibrils. In addition, peptide competitors of Aβ fibril interactions with CD36, scavenger receptors, CD47, and the α6β1-integrin inhibited Aβ stimulation of Tyr kinase-based signaling cascades in both THP-1 monocytes and murine microglia as well as interleukin 1β production. A scavenger receptor antagonist and antibodies specific for CD36 and the β1-integrin subunit also inhibited the Aβ-stimulated generation of reactive oxygen species. Importantly, the principal components of this receptor complex are shared with those for other fibrillar proteins and thus represent general elements through which myeloid lineage cells recognize complex fibrillar proteins. Identification of the cell surface molecules that interact with Aβ fibrils and mediate their activation of intracellular signaling cascades represents a potential intervention point in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
International Evidence on Obesity: The Interaction Between Legal Heritage and Motor Vehicle Dependence

We find a significant positive link between motor vehicle reliance and obesity in OECD countries. Surprisingly this association holds only for countries with a common law rather than a civil law heritage. These relations hold whether we examine trend data and simple correlations, or conduct cross-section or panel data regression analysis. An increase of 100 motor vehicles per thousand residents is associated with a six percentage point increase in obesity in common law countries with a much smaller and insignificant impact in civil law countries. Motor vehicle dependence is an important link in the growth of obesity in countries with a tradition of common law where individual liberty is encouraged; the link is statistically non-existent in countries with a civil law background where the rights of the individual tend to be circumscribed by the power of the state. This suggests that efforts to discourage the over-reliance on the automobile would have the greatest obesity reducing impact precisely in those countries where it is most difficult, in terms of legal heritage, to implement such measures.
Changes in the concentrations of plasma selenium and selenoproteins after minor elective surgery: further evidence for a negative acute phase response?

The acute phase plasma protein response is part of the complex series of physiological, hematological, and biochemical events that constitute the inflammatory response after tissue injury or infection. The magnitude and duration of the response are related to the nature and severity of the injury and the presence of sepsis (1). We have previously related alterations in plasma iron, transferrin, zinc, albumin, copper, and ceruloplasmin concentrations after major surgery to a marked rise in plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration (2). In both acute (3)(4) and chronic (5) illnesses, the plasma concentration of selenium also decreases in proportion to the magnitude of the inflammatory response. There is concern about the decline in dietary intake of selenium in some areas of the world (6), because the antioxidant activities of several selenoproteins may be important in preventing free radical damage (7). If plasma selenium concentrations decrease during an inflammatory response, independently of dietary intake, then this would have important implications for the interpretation of the plasma selenium values reported in a wide range of illnesses. In this study, total plasma selenium concentration and changes in plasma selenoproteins after minor elective surgery (inguinal hernia repair) were determined and related to the accompanying alterations in plasma CRP. Ten male patients (mean age, 51 years; range, 18–90 years) requiring inguinal hernia repair were recruited to the study. All patients were healthy before surgery, and none were taking any relevant medication. Samples of head hair and toe nails (80–100 mg) were obtained 24 h before surgery as a measure of long-term selenium nutritional status, along with venous blood collected into plain (10 mL) and lithium heparin tubes (20 mL). Blood samples were taken on the mornings of day 1 and day 6 after surgery. None of the patients …
Occupational and lifestyle factors and urinary 8‐hydroxydeoxyguanosine

The amount of 8‐hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8‐OH‐dG) excreted in urine can be used not only as an indicator of DNA repair capacity, but also as a potential marker of oxidative DNA damage. To clarify the oxidation‐related factors, in consideration of cancer risk, this study investigated how urinary 8‐OH‐dG was associated with occupational and lifestyle factors in 372 healthy workers. The creatinine‐adjusted urinary 8‐OH‐dG level was significantly higher in male subjects, smokers and drinkers compared with their counterparts. There were significant positive correlations of the 8‐OH‐dG level with average number of working hours, involvement in work, average number of cigarettes smoked, average volume of alcohol consumed and serum cortisol level, and there were significant negative correlations of the 8‐OH‐dG level with body mass index (BMI) and consumption of soybean products, rice and light‐colored vegetables. Multiple regression analysis showed that average number of working hours and average number of cigarettes smoked were significant predictors of increased 8‐OH‐dG levels, whereas being female and BMI were significant predictors of decreased 8‐OH‐dG levels. Working hours, BMI and smoking were significant predictors of urinary 8‐OH‐dG in male subjects, whereas age and BMI were significant predictors in female subjects. We suggest that several occupational and lifestyle factors, particularly long working hours and cigarette smoking, are linked to the formation of 8‐OH‐dG in workers. (Cancer Sci 2005; 96: 600 – 606)
Photodynamic Therapy for the Treatment of Oral HPV Lesion in a Patient with Oral Lichen Planus. A Case Report

Human papilloma viruses (HPVs) are a group of double-stranded DNA [1]. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection is considered the most common sexually transmitted infection. About 6 million people are diagnosed each year and approximately 9.013. 0% of the world population is already infected with the disease [2]. There are a lot of subtypes of HPV (more than 120), and some of these HPV plays a role in the pathogenesis of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas and Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma [2,3]. Different types of HPV lesions could occur in oral cavity. Oral squamous papilloma is benign exophytic lesions presenting as papillary or verruciform proliferation. That is softened/flaccid in 66.7% of cases and pedunculated in 75% of the lesions. The most commonly associated with HPV 6, 11, and 16 [4]. Verruca vulgaris is a benign epidermal proliferation that affect overall the skin and sometimes the oral mucosa and the clinical presentations vary according to the viral type and the anatomical site infected. Verruca vulgaris is most commonly induced by HPV-2, HPV-4 or HPV40 and it rarely occurs on the tongue [5]. Condyloma acuminate appear most frequently as soft, pink cauliflower like growths in moist areas, such as the genitalia, mouth and other places [6]. Focal epithelial hyperplasia (FEH), or Heck’s disease, is a rare disease of the oral mucosa, with multiple soft lesions associated with infection of subtypes 13 or 32 [7].
A critical review of adolescent mindfulness-based programmes

Objectives: Previous research has demonstrated that mindfulness-based programmes improve psychological functioning in a myriad of adult domains. These include health care, marketing and sports industries. The efficacy of mindfulness-based programmes in the adult population is well established. Indeed, compared to adult empirical literature, mindfulness programmes for adolescents are relatively developmental and less articulated until now. It may be argued that mindfulness-based programmes could and should begin early and be applicable to young people at a time that is critical in their development. Hence, this article analyses the characteristics, objectives and outcomes of mindfulness interventions for adolescents, focusing on the mindfulness programme adjustments and adaptations made to the content for this target group. Method: A critique of the literature that included published articles of mindfulness-based interventions (both clinical and universal programmes) for adolescents were sourced and reviewed. Conference papers and unpublished dissertations were excluded. Results: The review indicated that a majority of these were longitudinal and feasibility studies, with only one clinical randomised controlled trial study. Conclusion: Preliminary evidence for the use of mindfulness-based with adolescents continues to be nascent, with many of the studies using inappropriate or no mindfulness process measures at all. In addition, a majority of the studies did not provide specific details of the mindfulness programmes for adolescents, nor discuss what modifications were undertaken – all of which makes comparison difficult. However, with the availability of recent and age-appropriate mindfulness measures for adolescents, more rigorous and robust research looks promising.
Human Sirtuin 2 Localization, Transient Interactions, and Impact on the Proteome Point to Its Role in Intracellular Trafficking*

Human sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) is an NAD+-dependent deacetylase that primarily functions in the cytoplasm, where it can regulate α-tubulin acetylation levels. SIRT2 is linked to cancer progression, neurodegeneration, and infection with bacteria or viruses. However, the current knowledge about its interactions and the means through which it exerts its functions has remained limited. Here, we aimed to gain a better understanding of its cellular functions by characterizing SIRT2 subcellular localization, the identity and relative stability of its protein interactions, and its impact on the proteome of primary human fibroblasts. To assess the relative stability of SIRT2 interactions, we used immunoaffinity purification in conjunction with both label-free and metabolic labeling quantitative mass spectrometry. In addition to the expected associations with cytoskeleton proteins, including its known substrate TUBA1A, our results reveal that SIRT2 specifically interacts with proteins functioning in membrane trafficking, secretory processes, and transcriptional regulation. By quantifying their relative stability, we found most interactions to be transient, indicating a dynamic SIRT2 environment. We discover that SIRT2 localizes to the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC), and that this recruitment requires an intact ER-Golgi trafficking pathway. Further expanding these findings, we used microscopy and interaction assays to establish the interaction and coregulation of SIRT2 with liprin-β1 scaffolding protein (PPFiBP1), a protein with roles in focal adhesions disassembly. As SIRT2 functions may be accomplished via interactions, enzymatic activity, and transcriptional regulation, we next assessed the impact of SIRT2 levels on the cellular proteome. SIRT2 knockdown led to changes in the levels of proteins functioning in membrane trafficking, including some of its interaction partners. Altogether, our study expands the knowledge of SIRT2 cytoplasmic functions to define a previously unrecognized involvement in intracellular trafficking pathways, which may contribute to its roles in cellular homeostasis and human diseases.
Do Real Estate Brokers Choose to Discriminate? Evidence from the 1989 Housing Discrimination Study

Discrimination is systematic unfavorable treatment based solely on group membership. This study focuses on racial and ethnic discrimination in qualitative actions by real estate brokers, such as showing an advertised house, based on 2000 audits conducted in 1989. Each audit consists of a visit to a broker by a white person and a black or Hispanic person with equal qualifications. The audit data are used to measure the incidence of discrimination and to test hypotheses about its causes. The results reveal widespread discrimination and indicate that brokers discriminate based on personal prejudice and the prejudice of white clients.
Improving the speed of adoption of agricultural technologies and farm performance through farmer groups: evidence from the Great Lakes region of Africa

The article examines the effect of membership in farmer groups (MFG) on adoption lag of agricultural technologies and farm performance in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. We use duration and stochastic production frontier models on farm household data. We find that the longer the duration of MFG, the shorter the adoption lag and much more so if combined with extension service delivery. Farmer groups function as an important mechanism for improving farm productivity through reduced technical inefficiency in input use. We discuss policy implications under which farmer groups are a useful channel to reduce adoption lag, and the means through which improved farm performance can be achieved.
Putting the “We” Into Well‐being: Using Collectivism‐Themed Measures of Well‐Being Attenuates Well‐being's Association With Individualism

Studies repeatedly have documented that societal well-being is associated with individualism. Most of these studies, however, have conceptualized/measured well-being as individual life satisfaction-a type of well-being that originates in Western research traditions. Drawing from the latest research on interdependent happiness and on family well-being, we posit that people across cultures pursue different types of well-being, and test whether more collectivism-themed types of well-being that originate in Confucian traditions also are associated with individualism. Based on data collected from 2,036 participants across 12 countries, we find support for the association between individual life satisfaction and individualism at the societal level, but show that well-being's association with individualism is attenuated when some collectivism-themed measures of well-being are considered. Our article advances knowledge on the flourishing of societies by suggesting that individualism may not always be strongly linked with societal well-being. Implications for public policies are signaled.
Occurrence of PARK2 Mutations in a Never-Smoker Population with Parkinson’s Disease in North India

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a complex neurological disorder without any well-documented genotype-demography associations among sporadic variants. We recently reported PARK2 mutations to be constituting 40% of PD in this region and thus analysed how demographic variables associate with PARK2 mutations in 70 of these patients. Methods: PD samples were screened by PCR single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and sequencing and their demographic data collected. Demographic and religion data was obtained from 1,010 randomly selected individuals of 120,000 patients visiting the Neurology Clinic and was compared with state database and PD patients. Results: Sikhs from a rural background exhibited the majority of PARK2 mutations. The frequency of PARK2 mutations among females was significantly higher as compared to males (p < 0.015). The age of onset of PD patients with a rural background was found to be significantly lower as compared to patients with an urban background (p < 0.004). The demographic spectrum of the 1,010 randomly selected patients and the background population was found to be comparable. Conclusions: As PD patients with PARK2 mutations were found to be of sporadic origin and never-smokers, a non-redundant inverse relationship between founder PARK2 mutations and smoking is implicated to account for its high frequency. The predisposition of Sikhs to PARK2 mutations necessitates a larger study among its familial variants and a control smoker PD population. The spectrum of PARK2 mutations among Sikh smokers is difficult to study because of the religion-based aversion to smoking.
Breast cancer subtype approximated by estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER-2 is associated with local and distant recurrence after breast-conserving therapy.

PURPOSE To determine whether breast cancer subtype is associated with outcome after breast-conserving therapy (BCT) consisting of lumpectomy and radiation therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS We studied 793 consecutive patients with invasive breast cancer who received BCT from July 1998 to December 2001. Among them, 97% had pathologically negative margins of resection, and 90% received adjuvant systemic therapy. No patient received adjuvant trastuzumab. Receptor status was used to approximate subtype: estrogen receptor (ER) or progesterone receptor (PR) positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative = luminal A; ER+ or PR+ and HER-2+ = luminal B; ER-and PR -and HER-2+ = HER-2; and ER-and PR -and HER-2-= basal. Competing risks methodology was used to analyze time to local recurrence and distant metastases. RESULTS Median follow-up was 70 months. The overall 5-year cumulative incidence of local recurrence was 1.8% (95% CI, 1.0 to 3.1); 0.8% (0.3, 2.2) for luminal A, 1.5% (0.2, 10) for luminal B, 8.4% (2.2, 30) for HER-2, and 7.1% (3.0, 16) for basal. On multivariable analysis (MVA) with luminal A as baseline, HER-2 (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] = 9.2; 95% CI, 1.6 to 51; P = .012) and basal (AHR = 7.1; 95% CI, 1.6 to 31; P = .009) subtypes were associated with increased local recurrence. On MVA, luminal B (AHR = 2.9; 95% CI, 1.3 to 6.5; P = .007) and basal (AHR = 2.3; 95% CI, 1.1 to 5.2; P = .035) were associated with increased distant metastases. CONCLUSION Overall, the 5-year local recurrence rate after BCT was low, but varied by subtype as approximated using ER, PR, and HER-2 status. Local recurrence was particularly low for the luminal A subtype, but was less than 10% at 5 years for all subtypes. Although further follow-up is needed, these results may be useful in counseling patients about their anticipated outcome after BCT.
Long nuclear-retained non-coding RNAs and allele-specific higher-order chromatin organization at imprinted snoRNA gene arrays

The imprinted Snurf-Snrpn domain, also referred to as the Prader-Willi syndrome region, contains two ∼100-200 kb arrays of repeated small nucleolar (sno)RNAs processed from introns of long, paternally expressed non-protein-coding RNAs whose biogenesis and functions are poorly understood. We provide evidence that C/D snoRNAs do not derive from a single transcript as previously envisaged, but rather from (at least) two independent transcription units. We show that spliced snoRNA host-gene transcripts accumulate near their transcription sites as structurally constrained RNA species that are prevented from diffusing, as well as multiple stable nucleoplasmic RNA foci dispersed in the entire nucleus but not in the nucleolus. Chromatin structure at these repeated arrays displays an outstanding parent-of-origin-specific higher-order organization: the transcriptionally active allele is revealed as extended DNA FISH signals whereas the genetically identical, silent allele is visualized as singlet DNA FISH signals. A similar allele-specific chromatin organization is documented for snoRNA gene arrays at the imprinted Dlk1-Dio3 domain. Our findings have repercussions for understanding the spatial organization of gene expression and the intra-nuclear fate of non-coding RNAs in the context of nuclear architecture.