Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Subjective well-being: genetic and environmental contributions to stability and change

Background. Previous cross-sectional studies have found substantial genetic influences on individual variation in subjective well-being (SWB), and evidence for sex-specific genetic effects has been reported. However, the genetic and environmental influences on stability and change in SWB over time are largely unexplored. Method. Questionnaire data on SWB from a population-based sample of Norwegian twins born 1967 to 1979, initially surveyed in 1992 (T1) and re-surveyed in 1998 (T2), were analysed using structural equation modelling to explore the relative effects of genetic and environmental influences on phenotypic stability and change. Results. The phenotypic cross-time correlations for SWB were 0·51 and 0·49 for males and females respectively. The best-fitting longitudinal model specified only additive genetic and individual environmental effects with qualitative and quantitative sex-specific genetic influences. For both males and females, the additive genetic factors influencing SWB were largely stable, although some time-specific genetic contributions were indicated. Cross-time correlations for genetic effects were 0·85 and 0·78 for males and females respectively. The individual environmental influences were primarily time-specific. Additive genetic effects explained approximately 80% of the phenotypic cross-time correlation. For females, the magnitude of the additive genetic effects decreased significantly from T1 to T2, whereas for males, the estimates generally remained unchanged. Conclusions. For both males and females, long-term stability of SWB was mainly attributable to stable additive genetic factors, whereas susceptibility to change was mostly related to individual environmental factors. However, both stable environmental contributions and emerging genetic influences were indicated.
Thinking, Feeling and Moving: Drama and Movement Therapy as an Adjunct to a Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Approach for Chronic Pain in Two Adolescent Girls

Chronic Pain without an identifiable organic basis represents a substantial element of referrals to both medical and mental health professionals. Chronic pain can compromise independence, school attendance, physical and social activities. The tendency to label ‘nonorganic’ pain as having a psychological origin is usually strongly resisted by parents and young people with treatment creating a significant challenge for health care professionals. Collaborative, multidisciplinary treatment programmes encourage families to find ways of getting on with their lives by taking a proactive approach to challenging pain. The family is invited to join with the team in the task of challenging the pain through the use of physiotherapy to increase strength, stamina and suppleness alongside a range of individual and group activities that can include relaxation training, hypnotherapy, systemic and cognitive-behavioural approaches. This article describes how drama and movement therapy was introduced as an additional component of the treatment programme of two adolescents who had been long-term inpatients on a medical adolescent ward. The experiences of adding a complementary therapy to the programme are described to illustrate a creative way of contributing to established treatment programmes through the use of sound, movement and gesture in order to provide a space to explore new ways of being and expanding abilities.
Reducing children's risk from lead in soil.

Lead poisoning is the most common and serious environmental disease affecting young children, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). During the past 25 years, researchers have gathered extensive information that verifies the adverse effects of elevated levels of lead in the blood on cognitive development. CDC recognized this research and lowered the definition of elevated blood lead level for children under age 6 from 25 to 10 micrograms lead per deciliter (μg Pb/dL) (1). Evidence for potential effects at even lower levels continues to accumulate (2). The median levels in children under age 6 fell from about 15-18 μg Pb/dL blood in 1970 to 2-3 μg Pb/dL in 1994 as a result of the concurrent reduction of lead in automotive emissions, paint, drinking water, and soldered food cans (3). Yet, more than 2.2% of children ages 1-5 still have blood lead concentrations higher than 10 μg Pb/dL (3). Children living in central cities exhibit a higher prevalence of elevated blood lead levels (4).
Postsynaptic mechanism of depression of GABAergic synapses by oxytocin in the supraoptic nucleus of immature rat.

1. Oxytocin is known to act on autoreceptors of oxytocin neurones in the supraoptic nucleus (SON). We investigated whether oxytocin modulates putative oxytocin neurones by suppressing the GABAA receptor‐mediated synaptic inputs on these cells. 2. GABAergic inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) were recorded from SON neurones in hypothalamic slices from young rats. Oxytocin specifically reduced the amplitude of both spontaneous and evoked IPSCs, without altering their current kinetics. 3. The effect of oxytocin was observed in 70% of the magnocellular neurones recorded from the dorsomedial part of the SON. d(CH2)5OVT, a specific antagonist of oxytocin receptors, blocked the effect of oxytocin on the IPSCs. Vasopressin had no effect on oxytocin‐sensitive SON neurones. 4. The intervals between spontaneous IPSCs were not affected by oxytocin. This suggested that oxytocin had a postsynaptic effect on SON neurones. 5. This postsynaptic origin was further substantiated by application of TTX, which blocked all evoked release but did not prevent the suppressive effect of oxytocin on the amplitude of the spontaneous IPSCs still present in the recording. The selective effect of oxytocin on IPSC amplitude was also maintained in nominally zero extracellular calcium. 6. Intracellular perfusion of SON neurones with GTP gamma S mimicked the effect of oxytocin on IPSCs, while GDP beta S, similarly applied, abolished the effect of oxytocin. 7. Application of calcium mobilizers such as thapsigargin and caffeine also reduced the amplitude of spontaneous IPSCs without significantly altering the frequency at which IPSCs occurred. 8. Thus, oxytocin depresses GABAergic synapses in the SON via modulation of the postsynaptic GABAA receptors. This would lead to disinhibition of SON neurones sensitive to oxytocin and could, therefore, be a powerful means of controlling the firing of oxytocin neurones.
Impact of Antigen Presentation on TCR Modulation and Cytokine Release: Implications for Detection and Sorting of Antigen-Specific CD8+ T Cells Using HLA-A2 Wild-Type or HLA-A2 Mutant Tetrameric Complexes1

Soluble MHC class I molecules loaded with antigenic peptides are available either to detect and to enumerate or, alternatively, to sort and expand MHC class I-restricted and peptide-reactive T cells. A defined number of MHC class I/peptide complexes can now be implemented to measure T cell responses induced upon Ag-specific stimulation, including CD3/CD8/ζ-chain down-regulation, pattern, and quantity of cytokine secretion. As a paradigm, we analyzed the reactivity of a Melan-A/MART-1-specific and HLA-A2-restricted CD8+ T cell clone to either soluble or solid-phase presented peptides, including the naturally processed and presented Melan-A/MART-1 peptide AAGIGILTV or the peptide analog ELAGIGILTV presented either by the HLA-A2 wild-type (wt) or mutant (alanine→valine aa 245) MHC class I molecule, which reduces engagement of the CD8 molecule with the HLA-A2 heavy chain. Soluble MHC class I complexes were used as either monomeric or tetrameric complexes. Soluble monomeric MHC class I complexes, loaded with the Melan-A/MART-1 peptide, resulted in CD3/CD8 and TCR ζ-chain down-regulation, but did not induce measurable cytokine release. In general, differences pertaining to CD3/CD8/ζ-chain regulation and cytokine release, including IL-2, IFN-γ, and GM-CSF, were associated with 1) the format of Ag presentation (monomeric vs tetrameric MHC class I complexes), 2) wt vs mutant HLA-A2 molecules, and 3) the target Ag (wt vs analog peptide). These differences are to be considered if T cells are exposed to recombinant MHC class I Ags loaded with peptides implemented for detection, activation, or sorting of Ag-specific T cells.
Myelodysplastic syndromes: a scoring system with prognostic significance

Summary 141 patients with MDS were classified according to the FAB criteria and followed up for a period of 4–192 months. It was recognized that patients with RAEBT had a uniformly poor prognosis. However, there was a wide variation in survival among the other subgroups. A score of 1 was assigned to each of the following presenting haematological features: bone marrow blasts ≤ 5%, platelets ≤ 100 × 109/1, neutrophils ≤ 2.5 × 109/1 and Hb ≤ 10.0 g/dl. Therefore the score for each patient ranged between 0 and 4. There were no statistically significant differences between those patients who scored 0 or 1, or between those who scored 2 and 3. Therefore patients were put into three groups: Group A (score 0 or 1), Group B (score 2 or 3), Group C (score 4). The differences in survival between each of the three groups are highly significant (P<0.00001). This system further separates patients with RA, RAS, RAEB into good and bad prognostic groups.
HEMATOLOGY: ISSUES IN THE DIALYSIS PATIENT: Anticoagulation and Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy

More than half of patients with acute renal failure in the intensive care unit require dialysis, and the majority of them have significant hemodynamic instability. Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is often the preferred dialysis modality in these patients. One requirement for CRRT is anticoagulation, which can expose patients to the risk of bleeding. However, absence of effective anticoagulation may result in clotting of the CRRT circuit and subsequently less effective treatment. While heparins are widely used for anticoagulation, because of potential side effects such as bleeding and heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia, alternative anticoagulation protocols should be considered. Citrate anticoagulation, regional heparin/protamine, predilution, r‐hirudin, prostacyclin, and nafamostat are among these methods.
A Sub-1 V CMOS LDO Regulator with Multiple Protections Capabilities

Based on previous research in open literature, this paper presents a low drop-out (LDO) regulator with multiple capabilities of constant current limiting circuit, fold-back current limiting, and thermal shutdown. By using TSMC 0.35 um CMOS technology, the circuit function is simulated and verified by circuit simulator of HSPICE. The supply voltage of the LDO regular is capable of ranging from 0.9 V to 1.1 V. When output loading is changed from light to heavy status, the transient responses time is less than 30 us.
What causes housing bubbles? A theoretical and empirical inquiry

The paper investigates in how far lax monetary policy (defined as deviations fromprescriptive monetary policy rules or past trends) and/or financial innovation can be seenas a cause for housing price bubbles in industrialized countries. From a theoreticalperspective, it is found that there are hardly any clearly formulated economic models whichassign a role to lax monetary policy in bubble formation, while there are a number ofmodels which assign a role to financial innovation or liberalization. In the empirical part,the paper first presents cross-country-time-series SUR regressions for a sample of 16industrialized countries. According to the results, there is no robust, significant role for therelevance of loose monetary policy, measured by deviations from the Taylor rule. Instead,deviations from the past trend of the real policy rate affect housing prices, but the size ofthe effect depends on the regulation and development of the financial sector. In a thirdstep, three case studies of the United States, Austria and the United Kingdom arepresented, representing countries which have experienced a) lax monetary policy and abubble b) lax monetary policy without a bubble and c) no deviation from the Taylor ruleand a bubble. The case studies hint that specific changes in regulations played a role forthe emergence or absence of bubbles, yet these regulations might not be appropriatelycovered by standard quantitative indicators for financial market (de-)regulation.
Association between rural residency, group D streptococcal endocarditis and colon cancer?

We read with interest the article in CMI by Giannitsioti et al. [1] that analysed the link between rural residency and a higher proportion of group D streptococcal infective endocarditis (GDS IE). In the last 20 years (1988–2007), we have diagnosed 68 cases of GDS IE, with 44 (64.7%) of these cases occurring in the last 6 years. These cases comprised 26% of the total number of cases of infective endocarditis (IE), and were associated with biotype I and colon tumours in 95% and 57% of patients, respectively. In total, 56% of the patients with GDS IE resided in rural areas, as compared to 35.6% of the 45 patients diagnosed with IE caused by viridans group streptococci during the same period (p <0.02). Group D streptoccus was the primary cause of IE in our centre, with a high and increasing incidence. This, together with a greater frequency in rural areas, is very similar to the situation reported in France. However, overall, group D streptococcus constitutes a relatively infrequent cause of IE in Spain, perhaps because the majority of reports come from urban areas such as Madrid and Barcelona [2,3]. The association between rural residency and a higher incidence of GDS IE might be attributed, at least in part, as suggested by Giannitsioti et al. [1], to environmental factors, including dietary habits or contact with animals. Group D streptococcus is an intestinal bacterium that is isolated frequently from human specimens, as well as from the faeces of calves, young cattle and dairy cows [4]. Our region is one of the major areas in Spain for the production of cattle and dairy products, and the majority of the population lives in the countryside in close contact with cattle. Perhaps the local population has a higher rate of group D streptococcus faecal carriage, which, in combination with other factors that have been insufficiently researched, e.g., a change in the virulence of certain strains, changes in dietary habits, and an elderly population with a high number of degenerative valvulopathies, could favour this high incidence of IE. Another question is whether these environmental factors might be associated with a higher incidence of colon tumours in these patients, given the association of this cancer with bacteraemia caused by Streptococcus bovis biotype I [5]. Accordingly, we analysed 130 cases of bacteraemia caused by group D streptococcus (with and without IE) according to biotype and rural residency. Eighty-nine involved biotype I (53% with colon cancers), and 41 involved biotype II (7% with colon cancers, p <0.0001). However, rural residency was significantly more frequent in patients with biotype II (80.5% vs. 47%, p <0.0001). Further epidemiological research is needed to explain these findings.
Potential markers of female condom use among inner city African-American Women

Abstract Despite the availability of the female condoms and theoretically based interventions to promote its use, studies have indicated a low level of acceptability of their use among women in most populations. We aimed to determine female condom use prevalence and the potential markers among African-American women. In an intervention trial to test the efficacy of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills model in increasing condom use, we utilized the baseline data of 280 subjects and examined the potential predictors of female condom use. Chi square statistic and unconditional logistic regression were used to test for group independence among users and non-users of the female condom and to assess the potential markers of female condom use respectively. After adjustment for relevant covariates associated independently with female condom use, the significant potential markers for female condom use were age, multiple sexual relationships, knowledge of female condom, and educational status. Women having multiple sexual relationships compared with a monogamous relationship were five times more likely to use the female condom, while women with high school education were three times more likely to use the female condom; prevalence odds ratio, POR=5.32, 95% CI=1.79–15.83 and POR=3.01, 95% CI=1.01–8.93. Women who were not knowledgeable of the female condom, compared to those who were, were 81% less likely to use the female condom, POR=0.19, 95% CI=0.08–0.45. Among African-American women in this sample, knowledge of female condom use, age, educational status, and multiple sexual relationships were significant markers of female condom use. This study is therefore suggestive of the need to educate African-American women on female condom use, given the obstacles in male condom negotiation, especially among the socio-economically challenged.
Different standards for reporting ADRs to herbal remedies and conventional OTC medicines: face-to-face interviews with 515 users of herbal remedies.

AIMS To determine whether adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to herbal remedies would be reported differently from similar ADRs to conventional over-the-counter (OTC) medicines by herbal-remedy users. METHODS Face-to-face interviews (using a structured questionnaire) with 515 users of herbal remedies were conducted in six pharmacy stores and six healthfood stores in the UK. The questionnaire focused on the likely course of action taken by herbal-remedy users after experiencing an ADR associated with a conventional OTC medicine and a herbal remedy. RESULTS Following a 'serious' suspected ADR, 156 respondents (30.3%) would consult their GP irrespective of whether the ADR was associated with the use of a herbal remedy or a conventional OTC medicine, whereas 221 respondents (42.9%) would not consult their GP for a serious ADR associated with either type of preparation. One hundred and thirty-four respondents (26.0%) would consult their GP for a serious ADR to a conventional OTC medicine, but not for a similar ADR to a herbal remedy, whereas four respondents (0.8%) would consult their GP for a serious ADR to a herbal remedy, but not for a similar ADR to a conventional OTC medicine. Similar differences were found in attitudes towards reporting 'minor' suspected ADRs. CONCLUSIONS Consumers of herbal remedies would act differently with regard to reporting an ADR (serious or minor) to their GP depending on whether it was associated with a herbal remedy or a conventional OTC medicine. This has implications for herbal pharmacovigilance, particularly given the increasing use of OTC herbal remedies. The finding that a high proportion of respondents would not consult their GP or pharmacist following ADRs to conventional OTC medicines is also of concern.
Huntington disease: Estimation of heterozygote status using linked genetic markers

The recent finding of a closely linked DNA marker to the Huntington Disease gene allows the opportunity for prenatal and preclinical diagnosis. The methodology for using these markers for prediction in late age of onset disorders is discussed. Since these methods are both difficult and complex for the majority of genetic counselors, a simple solution is suggested. This involves using the well known linkage program LIPED and running it twice for a given consultand, once assuming he carries the gene and once that he is homozygous normal. This will allow accurate predictions for counselors with limited backgrounds in pedigree analysis.
Chemometrics approach for the prediction of structure–activity relationship for membrane transporter bilitranslocase£

Membrane transport proteins are essential for cellular uptake of numerous salts, nutrients and drugs. Bilitranslocase is a transporter, specific for water-soluble organic anions, and is the only known carrier of nucleotides and nucleotide-like compounds. Experimental data of bilitranslocase ligand specificity for 120 compounds were used to construct classification models using counter-propagation artificial neural networks (CP-ANNs) and support vector machines (SVMs). A subset of active compounds with experimentally determined transport rates was used to build predictive QSAR models for estimation of transport rates of unknown compounds. Several modelling methods and techniques were applied, i.e. CP-ANN, genetic algorithm, self-organizing mapping and multiple linear regression method. The best predictions were achieved using CP-ANN coupled with a genetic algorithm, with the external validation parameter QV2 of 0.96. The applicability domains of the models were defined to determine the chemical space in which reliable predictions can be obtained. The models were applied for the estimation of bilitranslocase transport activity for two sets of pharmaceutically interesting compounds, antioxidants and antiprions. We found that the relative planarity and a high potential for hydrogen bond formation are the common structural features of anticipated substrates of bilitranslocase. These features may serve as guidelines in the design of new pharmaceuticals transported by bilitranslocase.
Interstitial exclusion of IgG in rat tissues estimated by continuous infusion.

Interstitial exclusion, defined as the fraction of interstitial fluid volume inaccessible to a solute, was evaluated for immunoglobulin G (IgG) in selected tissues of rats by a method previously applied to serum albumin (29). IgG distribution volumes were also measured for intestine. 125I-labeled rat IgG was infused for 5 or 7 days (n = 4 rats each) with an implanted osmotic pump (Alzet). At the termination of infusion, the rat was anesthetized, nephrectomized, and injected with 51Cr-labeled EDTA (4 h) to label total extracellular fluid volume and 131I-labeled bovine IgG (5 min) to label plasma volume. Samples of skin, muscle, and tendon were assayed for total and extractable tracer activity. Interstitial fluid from these tissues was sampled postmortem with nylon wicks for assay of 125I-labeled IgG and endogenous albumin and IgG. Exclusion of IgG was calculated from the difference between extravascular 125I-labeled IgG and 51Cr-labeled EDTA distribution volumes. In contrast to our previous experience with tracer albumin, 125I-labeled IgG was not fully extractable from minced skin, muscle, or tendon by isotonic saline; only 71-83% was recovered under conditions that eluted 92-96% of tracer albumin and 94-99% of tracer EDTA. We conclude that approximately 20% of extravascular 125I-labeled IgG in these tissues is sequestered or bound in the interstitium. Calculation of IgG fractional exclusion from extractable tracer yielded the following values (means +/- SE, n = 8 rats): leg muscles 0.37 +/- 0.09, leg skin 0.44 +/- 0.03, back skin 0.36 +/- 0.04, tail skin 0.40 +/- 0.08, and tail tendon 0.55 +/- 0.04. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)