Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bile Acid Induction of Cytokine Expression by Macrophages Correlates with Repression of Hepatic Cholesterol 7α-Hydroxylase*

In the studies reported herein, we show that two complementary experimental models: inbred strains of mice (i.e. C57BL/6 and C3H/HeJ), and a differentiated line of rat hepatoma cells (i.e. L35 cells), require the activation of cytokines by monocyte/macrophages to display bile acid negative feedback repression of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1). Feeding a bile acid-containing atherogenic diet for 3 weeks to C57BL/6 mice led to a 70% reduction in the expression of hepatic CYP7A1 mRNA, whereas no reduction was observed in C3H/HeJ mice. The strain-specific response to repression of CYP7A1 paralleled the activation of hepatic cytokine expression. Studies using cultured THP-1 monocyte/macrophages showed that the hydrophobic bile acid chenodeoxycholate, a well established potent repressor of CYP7A1, induced the expression of mRNAs encoding interleukin 1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα). In contrast, the hydrophilic bile acid ursodeoxycholate, which does not repress CYP7A1, did not induce cytokine mRNA expression by THP-1 cells. Chenodeoxycholate activation of cytokines by THP-1 cells was blocked by the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ agonist rosiglitazone. The expression of cytokines (e.g. IL-1 and TNFα) by THP-1 cells paralleled with the ability of these cells to produce conditioned medium that when added to rat L35 hepatoma cells, repressed CYP7A1. Moreover, rosiglitazone, which blocks cytokine activation by macrophages, also blocked the repression of CYP7A1 normally exhibited by C57BL/6 mice fed the bile acid-containing atherogenic diet. The combined data indicate that the activation of cytokines may mediate CYP7A1 repression caused by feeding mice an atherogenic diet containing bile acids.
The Anchoring of Inflation Expectations in Japan: A Learning-Approach Perspective

This paper employs a model of learning about long-term inflation to jointly estimate long-term inflation expectations and the degree to which they have been anchored to the 2 percent inflation mark over the last half century in Japan. The estimated model shows that long-term inflation expectations declined to about 2 percent in the late 1980s and remained anchored to the 2 percent mark until the mid-1990s. They fell below 2 percent in the late 1990s, which resulted in a low degree of anchoring until the early 2010s. Following the introduction of the price stability target of 2 percent and the launch of Qualitative and Quantitative Monetary Easing in early 2013, inflation expectations rose until early 2015, but have not yet been anchored to the target. A further VAR analysis demonstrates that markups in domestic goods and services markets are one important reason why expectations have not been anchored at 2 percent since the late 1990s.
The validation of estrogen receptor 1 mRNA expression as a predictor of outcome in patients with metastatic non‐small cell lung cancer

The prognostic role of estrogen receptors in lung cancer is not validated. Results from patients with early stage non‐small lung cancer patients indicate a prognostic role of estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) mRNA expression in these patients. Automated RNA extraction from paraffin and RT‐quantitative PCR was used for evaluation of tumoral ESR1 and progesterone receptor (PGR) mRNA expression. The test cohort consisted of 31 patients with advanced or metastatic non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, treated in a first‐line registry trial. For validation, 53 patients from a randomized multicentre first‐line study with eligible tumor samples were evaluated. There was no significant correlation of ESR1 expression with clinical characteristics. ESR1 high expression was of significant positive prognostic value in the training set with a median overall survival (OS) of 15.9 versus 6.2 months for high versus low ESR1 expression patients (p = 0.0498, HR 0.39). This could be confirmed in the validation cohort with a median OS of 10.9 versus 5.0 months in ESR1 high versus low patients, respectively (p = 0.0321, HR 0.51). In the multivariate analysis adjusted for histological subtype, gender, age and performance status, ESR1 expression remained an independent prognostic parameter for survival in both cohorts. In contrast to ESR1, PGR expression was not able to separate prognostic groups or to predict outcome significantly (for OS; p = 0.94). Our study shows that ESR1 mRNA as assessed by qPCR represents a reliable method for detecting ESR1 expression in NSCLC and that ESR1 expression is an independent prognostic factor in metastatic NSCLC.
Tumor‐dependent activation of rodent hepatic stellate cells during experimental melanoma metastasis

In this work we report the presence of intrametastatic smooth‐muscle iso‐α‐actin (SMA)‐expressing cells which appeared from the early stages of the hepatic metastasis process of intrasplenically injected B16 melanoma (B16M) cells. They formed a network of stromal cells among B16M cells, a very low percentage of them expressing desmin. In contrast, those parts of liver tissue unaffected by metastasis had perisinusoidal desmin‐expressing quiescent hepatic stellate cells (qHSC) which did not express SMA. Exposure of freshly isolated rat quiescent hepatic stellate cells (qHSC) to B16M cell‐conditioned medium (B16M‐CM) leads to a progressive increase (P < .01) in the number of SMA‐expressing cells, which was accompanied by a parallel reduction in the number of desmin‐expressing cells. In addition, B16M‐CM also contained chemotactic factor(s) which significantly (P < .01) increased (50%) in vitro qHSC migration and stimulated both [3H]thymidine and [3H]glucosamine uptake in qHSC. Moreover, B16M‐CM also significantly (P < .01) enhanced qHSC secretion of matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2), and unknown chemotactic factor(s) enhancing in vitro migration of B16M cells. The results suggest that B16 melanoma releases qHSC‐activating factors, which induce the appearance of metastasis‐infiltrating myofibroblasts by a paracrine mechanism. Such cells showed cytoskeletal alterations which are associated with enhanced proliferation, glycosaminoglycan synthesis, MMP‐2 secretion, and tumor‐chemotactic factor production. Thus, tumor‐activated qHSC may play an important role in melanoma cell motility and invasion during hepatic metastasis progression.
Securities Class Actions as Disciplinary Mechanisms: Debt Financing, Political Lobbying and Innovation

This thesis examines the role of securities class actions (SCAs) in corporate governance. Three empirical chapters are presented examining the relationship SCAs have with debt financing, lobbying and firm innovation. Chapter 2 examines the impact SCAs have on a firm’s debt financing and lending relationships, with particular focus on the lender’s reputation and a firm’s ex-ante relationship with its lenders. The results indicate that reputable lenders are better screeners and as a result are less likely to lend to high litigation risk firms. Turning to ex-ante relationships with lenders, the evidence indicates that firm’s that did not have a relationship with a lender are less likely to be able to develop one post-filing. On the other hand, if a firm had an established relationship with a lender before the filing, they are more likely to continue borrowing from that lender. Furthermore, for firms that had an existing relationship with a lender, loans initiated after the filing are larger in size and have smaller spreads relative to those firms without a relationship. Overall, it appears that corporate misconduct does not undermine a firm’s relationship with its providers of financial capital. Chapter 3 examines the impact of lobbying on the time it takes to detect managerial misconduct and the size of penalties associated with SCAs. Managers of lobbying firms are able to get away with misconduct for longer and are marginally less likely to have to settle a class action up to 2004. From 2005 onwards, lobbying no longer impacts the time it takes to detect misconduct or the outcome of the case. It is argued that regulatory action (the Sarbanes Oxley Act) has had the desirable effect of reducing the tacit power of lobbying firms. Finally, Chapter 4 examines the relationship between SCAs and firm innovation. The evidence indicates that innovative firms are relatively more likely to be sued. This chapter presents evidence that innovation may increase the opportunities and pressures to commit misconduct. Furthermore, investment in innovation immediately declines post-filing resulting in a decline in the quantity of patents. However, the filing has no impact on innovative quality or efficiency.
Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 pandemia. The experience of a tertiary care center in Beirut.

INTRODUCTION In March 2009, a new influenza virus strain emerged, currently known as the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus. The virus first appeared in Mexico and rapidly spread globally to reach a pandemic level in June of the same year. We describe here the experience of one major referral center in Beirut, Lebanon. MATERIALS AND METHODS The laboratory department at St. George Hospital University Medical Center received respiratory specimens from hospital wards, the emergency department, in addition to a considerable proportion collected directly from "outpatients" in the lab. We used the real time RT-PCR as our main diagnostic test. We collected data about the patients from the laboratory information system and from the hospital medical records department. RESULTS From mid-August 2009 till the end of January 2010, a total of 1771 specimens were analyzed, with 948 (53.5%) returning positive for influenza A (H1N1) by RT-PCR. Only 79 patients with H1N1 infection required hospitalization. Most of H1N1 confirmed patients were children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years and young adults between 25 and 44 years. The most common symptoms at presentation were: fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, rhinorrhea or nasal congestion, as well as gastrointestinal symptoms. Twenty-three patients required ICU care and eight patients died. The vast majority had an uncomplicated course of illness and was managed in an outpatient setting. CONCLUSION The percentage of positive tests during the pandemia was significantly elevated, although few patients experienced drastic clinical outcomes.
Diffusion‐weighted and conventional MR imaging in neurotrichinosis

Central nervous system involvement in trichinosis is not rare. Brain lesions in trichinosis have been defined on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as multifocal small lesions located in the cerebral cortex and white matter. We present a case of trichinosis with multifocal lesions of the brain detected by MRI and diffusion weighted MRI. Evolutions of these lesions from acute through chronic stages on follow up studies are also presented. This is the first report describing sequential MRI findings and diffusion weighted imaging appearance of brain lesions in trichinosis. Sequential evaluation of conventional and diffusion MR data allowed us to conclude that multifocal lesions in the brain were related to multiple infarctions rather than true inflammatory infiltration of the brain parenchyma.
Salivary IgG assay to detect Helicobacter pylori infection in an Indian adult population.

BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori infection, the commonest chronic bacterial infection in humans, causes chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and possibly gastric carcinoma and lymphoma. Recently, investigators have focused on its role in the development of extra-gastrointestinal diseases with oral manifestations. H. pylori infection can be diagnosed by various methods. Of late, H. pylori IgG antibodies have been detected in saliva using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). However, local validation of serological test is needed before implementing a test in different populations. AIMS To detect anti H. pylori specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies in saliva of adult patients with gastrointestinal symptoms by ELISA, to diagnose H. pylori infection in such patients by histopathology, and to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the immunoassay as compared to histopathologic diagnosis. METHODS The study included 40 adult patients with gastrointestinal symptoms suggestive of peptic ulcer disease. Saliva samples were analyzed for anti H. pylori IgG using EIAgen H. pylori IgG kit. Histopathologic diagnosis using gastric biopsy samples was the gold standard. RESULTS The sensitivity and specificity of the test were 79.31% and 63.64%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 85.19% and 53.85%, respectively. The accuracy of EIAgen H. pylori IgG kit for salivary detection of anti H. pylori IgG antibodies was found to be 75%. CONCLUSION EIAgen H. pylori IgG assay is a noninvasive, moderately accurate, and sensitive method for the detection of H. pylori infection in saliva. Salivary anti H. pylori IgG test prior to endoscopy is a useful screening test for seroepidemiological studies.
Very short telomeres in the peripheral blood of patients with X-linked and autosomal dyskeratosis congenita.

Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is an inherited bone marrow failure syndrome in which patients undergo premature ageing and have a predisposition to malignancy. X-linked and autosomal (dominant and recessive) forms of the disease are recognized. The gene responsible for X-linked DC (DKC1) encodes a highly conserved protein called dyskerin that is believed to be essential in ribosome biogenesis and may also be involved in telomerase RNP assembly. Here we show that in X-linked DC, peripheral blood cells have dramatically reduced telomere lengths but normal levels of telomerase activity. We also find that subjects with autosomal DC have significantly shorter telomeres than age-matched normal controls suggesting that both forms of the disease are associated with rapid telomere shortening in hemopoietic stem cells. The further characterization of these genes will not only lead to a better understanding of the biology of DC but may also provide further insights into the maintenance of telomeres and the biology of aplastic anemia, ageing, and cancer.
‘We the People’ or ‘We the Peoples’? A Comparison of Support for the Populist Radical Right and Populist Radical Left in the Netherlands

Research on the supply side of politics demonstrates that populism acts as a common denominator even though populist parties possess very different ideological positions. However, it is uncertain whether this translates to the demand side: Do voters support left and right-wing populist parties for similar reasons? Using the Netherlands as our case study, we investigate the common demand side characteristics of supporters of populist radical right and populist radical left parties. The paper concludes that populist attitudes (i.e. a people-centered notion of political representation) unify supporters of both populist radical left and populist radical right parties. Supporters of both parties also demonstrate lower levels of political trust (than voters for other parties): this is particularly the case for PVV supporters. Beyond these similarities we find that the PVV and the SP attract very different supporters. PVV supporters demonstrate low immigrant tolerance, while SP voters support more income equality.
Increased mortality of women in coronary artery bypass surgery: evidence for referral bias.

STUDY OBJECTIVE To determine whether differences in referral reasons explain the higher operative mortality of women in coronary artery bypass surgery. DESIGN Case series. SETTING A tertiary care, private teaching hospital. PATIENTS Consecutive patients who had isolated coronary artery bypass surgery between 1982 and 1987 (total, 2297; 79% male and 21% female). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The inhospital mortality rate was significantly higher for women than for men (4.6% compared with 2.6%; P = 0.036; 95% CI for difference in mortality, 0% to 4.0%). Women were older than men (mean, 68.2 and 64.0 years, respectively; P less than 0.001), and a higher percentage of women were referred with unstable angina (P = 0.007), postmyocardial infarction angina (P = 0.029), congestive heart failure (P less than 0.001), and New York Heart Association class IV symptoms (66% compared with 45%, P less than 0.001). More men were referred with a history of an abnormal exercise test (P less than 0.001), and patients referred because of a positive exercise test had a lower mortality (P less than 0.001). Using multivariate analysis, adjustment for the higher preoperative functional class of women and for age accounted for all of the difference in mortality between men and women (odds ratio, 1.04; CI, 0.60 to 1.79; P = 0.89). After correction for functional class alone, there continued to be no significant difference in mortality between men and women (P = 0.40). CONCLUSIONS Differences in functional class and age account for the higher operative mortality of women in coronary bypass surgery. Women are referred for coronary bypass surgery later in the course of their disease than men, and later referral may increase their changes of operative death.
Interlaboratory Evaluation of a Standardized Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Method for the Determination of Trace Beryllium in Air Filter Samples

A collaborative interlaboratory evaluation of a newly standardized inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method for determining trace beryllium in workplace air samples was carried out toward fulfillment of method validation requirements for ASTM International voluntary consensus standard test methods. The interlaboratory study (ILS) was performed in accordance with an applicable ASTM International standard practice, ASTM E691, which describes statistical procedures for investigating interlaboratory precision. Uncertainty was also estimated in accordance with ASTM D7440, which applies the International Organization for Standardization Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement to air quality measurements. Performance evaluation materials (PEMs) used consisted of 37 mm diameter mixed cellulose ester filters that were spiked with beryllium at levels of 0.025 (low loading), 0.5 (medium loading), and 10 (high loading) μ g Be/filter; these spiked filters were prepared by a contract laboratory. Participating laboratories were recruited from a pool of over 50 invitees; ultimately, 20 laboratories from Europe, North America, and Asia submitted ILS results. Triplicates of each PEM (blanks plus the three different loading levels) were conveyed to each volunteer laboratory, along with a copy of the draft standard test method that each participant was asked to follow; spiking levels were unknown to the participants. The laboratories were requested to prepare the PEMs by one of three sample preparation procedures (hotplate or microwave digestion or hotblock extraction) that were described in the draft standard. Participants were then asked to analyze aliquots of the prepared samples by ICP-MS and to report their data in units of μ g Be/filter sample. Interlaboratory precision estimates from participating laboratories, computed in accordance with ASTM E691, were 0.165, 0.108, and 0.151 (relative standard deviation) for the PEMs spiked at 0.025, 0.5, and 10 μ g Be/filter, respectively. Overall recoveries were 93.2%, 102%, and 80.6% for the low, medium, and high beryllium loadings, respectively. Expanded uncertainty estimates for interlaboratory analysis of low, medium, and high beryllium loadings, calculated in accordance with ASTM D7440, were 18.8%, 19.8%, and 24.4%, respectively. These figures of merit support promulgation of the analytical procedure as an ASTM International standard test method, ASTM D7439.
Case report: physiotherapy cuts the dose of botulinum toxin.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Cervical dystonia is a complex chronic neurological disorder which is more commonly managed with pharmacological interventions. METHOD This Case Report outlines the rehabilitation of a patient who was able to reduce the effective dose of botulinum toxin when physiotherapy management was added to a long- term pharmacological regime. CONCLUSIONS A good outcome is demonstrated from a combined physiotherapy and botulinum toxin intervention.
Rapid detection of active and latent tuberculosis infection in HIV-positive individuals by enumeration of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific T cells

Objectives: An accurate test for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is urgently needed. The tuberculin skin test (TST) lacks sensitivity, particularly in HIV-infected individuals, and has poor specificity because of antigenic cross-reactivity with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination. ESAT-6 and CFP-10 are antigens expressed in M. tuberculosis, but not in Mycobacterium bovis BCG and most environmental mycobacteria. We investigated whether T cells specific for these antigens could serve as accurate markers of M. tuberculosis infection in an area of high tuberculosis and HIV prevalence. Methods: Using the rapid ex-vivo enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay for IFN-γ, we enumerated T cells specific for ESAT-6, CFP-10 and purified protein derivative (PPD) in blood samples from 50 Zambian tuberculosis patients, 75 healthy Zambian adults, and 40 healthy UK residents. TSTs were performed in 49 healthy Zambian adults. Results: All (100%; n = 11) and 90% (n = 39) of HIV-negative and HIV-positive tuberculosis patients, respectively, had detectable ESAT-6- or CFP-10-specific T cells. The ESAT-6/CFP-10-based ELISPOT assay was positive in 37 out of 54 HIV-negative healthy Zambians, suggesting a 69% prevalence of latent M. tuberculosis infection. Fewer HIV-positive Zambians possessed ESAT-6/CFP-10-specific T cells, but the impact of HIV infection was less on this assay than on the PPD-based ELISPOT or TST. Conclusion: The ESAT-6/CFP-10-based ELISPOT assay detects active tuberculosis in HIV-positive individuals with high sensitivity. It is more specific, and possibly more sensitive, than PPD-based methods of detecting latent M. tuberculosis infection, and may potentially improve the targeting of isoniazid preventative therapy to HIV-positive individuals with latent tuberculosis infection.
Time–Frequency Analysis of Single-Sweep Event-Related Potentials by Means of Fast Wavelet Transform

A time-frequency decomposition was applied to the event-related potentials (ERPs) elicited in an auditory oddball condition to assess differences in cognitive information processing. Analysis in the time domain has revealed that cognitive processes are reflected by various ERP components such as N1, P2, N2, P300, and late positive complex. However, the heterogeneous nature of these components has been strongly emphasized due to simultaneously occurring processes. The wavelet transform (WT), which decomposes the signal onto the time-frequency plane, allows the time-dependent and frequency-related information in ERPs to be captured and precisely measured. A four-octave quadratic B-spline wavelet transform was applied to single-sweep ERPs recorded in an auditory oddball paradigm. Frequency components in delta, theta, and alpha ranges reflected specific aspects of cognitive information processing. Furthermore, the temporal position of these components was related to specific cognitive processes.
A compact microstrip-line-fed slot antenna for wideband operation

A compact wide-slot antenna fed by microstripline for wideband operation is proposed and studied. The proposed antenna consists of a microstrip-fed line, and a wide rectangular slot with a reverse L-shape slot. The proposed antenna can resonate the bandwidth from 2.17GHz to 6.25GHz, and these frequency bands cover the standard IEEE 802.11b/g ( 2.4- 2. 485 GHz) and IEEE 802.11a ( 5.15 - 5.35GHz, 5.725 -5.875 GHz) for WLAN applications and 2.5 GHz ( 2.5 - 2.69GHz ), 3.5GHz ( 3.3 - 3.8GHz) and 5GHz ( 5.25 - 5.85GHz) for WiMAX applications. Detailed design and experimental results are shown and discussed in this paper.