Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Temporal and Spatial Localization of Proteoglycan Decorin Transcripts During the Progression of Cholesterol-Induced Atherosclerosis in Japanese Quail

The temporal and spatial distribution of decorin transcripts, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle actin-producing cells were determined during the progression of atherosclerosis in the dorsal aortas of Japanese quail selected for cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis. The quail were placed on either a control diet or a diet containing 0.5% added cholesterol at approximately 16 weeks of age. Dorsal aortas were collected at 2-week intervals for 18 weeks after initiating cholesterol feeding. In situ hybridization for decorin showed the presence of decorin transcripts in the dorsal aorta intima of cholesterol-fed birds beginning at 6 weeks and continuing through the duration of the study. However, in the control-fed birds, decorin transcripts were not found in the intima but were prominent in the adventitia. In cholesterol-fed birds, immunohistochemical localization for endothelial cells showed that intima areas positive for decorin transcripts colocalized with both the endothelial cells and smooth muscle cell layers. In contrast in the control-fed birds, decorin transcripts aligned with the smooth muscle cell layers and not the endothelial cells. These results are suggestive of a potential role for endothelial cells in intimal decorin expression during atherosclerotic plaque formation.
Impulsivity and the association between the feedback-related negativity and performance on an inhibitory control task in young at-risk children.

Identifying neurocognitive processes associated with effective inhibitory control is particularly relevant for individuals at high risk for disruptive behaviors, such as maltreated children. Performance feedback processing during a flanker task was investigated in maltreated preschool-aged children (N = 67) via an event-related potential component, the feedback-related negativity (FRN). The functionality of the FRN in children with high impulsivity was of interest, as impulsivity was associated with an exaggerated FRN in previous research. Results showed that high impulsivity was associated with an exaggerated FRN and greater post-error slowing. For children with high impulsivity, there was a correlation between the FRN and accuracy, which was not found in children with low impulsivity. This suggests that an exaggerated FRN is particularly important for children with high impulsivity to maintain effective inhibitory control.
Functional performance characteristics associated with postponing elementary school entry among children with Down syndrome.

OBJECTIVES This study investigated the relation between functional performance skills of children with Down syndrome and the age of entry into mainstream elementary education. METHOD In a cross-sectional study of 70% of the 7-year-old children with Down syndrome in Norway (N = 43), we measured functional performance using the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI). The study was a follow-up of a previous study of the same children at age 5 assessed using the same instrument. Data from both studies were used in the analysis. RESULTS Forty percent of the sample of children with Down syndrome in Norway had entered elementary school after a 1-year postponement (i.e., at age 7). The functional performance skills of the children, as measured using the PEDI, were significantly lower at both age 5 and age 7 in self-care and social function compared with children with Down syndrome who entered elementary school at the usual time (i.e., at age 6). The main characteristics associated with postponed elementary school entry were found in communication skills and bladder and bowel management. CONCLUSION A certain level of development and independence seems to be required for a child with Down syndrome to be viewed as ready to enter elementary school, and perceptions of readiness for school may be culturally dependent. In addition to the well-described challenges in language and communication skills, being viewed as ready for school includes having stopped using diapers, a topic not previously mentioned as a factor in postponing elementary school entry for children with Down syndrome. Awareness of culturally influenced performance skills may give direction to parents and professionals in targeting areas in the preschool years that might help promote these children's readiness for school.
Absolute bioavailability of letrozole in healthy postmenopausal women

Letrozole is a new non‐steroidal inhibitor of the aromatase enzyme system. It is currently under development for the treatment of postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer. Absolute bioavailability of letrozole when given orally as one 2·5 mg film‐coated tablet in comparison to the same dose given intravenously as a bolus injection was studied in 12 healthy postmenopausal women. Letrozole absolute systemic bioavailability after p.o. administration was 99·9±16·3%. Elimination of letrozole was slow. Total‐body clearance of letrozole from plasma after i.v. administration was low (2.21 L h−1). The calculated distribution volume at steady state (1.87 L kg−1) suggests a rather high tissue distribution. Biotransformation of letrozole is the main elimination mechanism with the glucuronide conjugate of the secondary alcohol metabolite being the predominant species found in urine. The two study treatments were tolerated equally well. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Invasive meningococcal disease in adolescents and young adults.

CONTEXT Incidence of invasive meningococcal disease has increased recently in persons aged 15 through 24 years. OBJECTIVE To characterize meningococcal infection in adolescents and young adults in Maryland during the 1990s. DESIGN AND SETTING Population-based surveillance study for meningococcal disease from January 1, 1990, through December 31, 1999, in Maryland. PATIENTS Maryland residents diagnosed as having invasive meningococcal disease. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Invasive meningococcal infection. RESULTS Of 295 total cases, 71 (24.1%) occurred among persons aged 15 through 24 years. Sixteen (22.5%) of these cases were fatal. The annual incidence rate increased from 0.9 to 2.1 cases per 100 000 among 15 through 24 year olds (P =.01). The proportion of all disease increased from 16.0% to 28.9% (P =.03). The incidence and proportion of cases subsequently decreased to 1.0 and 16.4% in 1998 through 1999, respectively. Infection in 15 through 24 year olds was more likely to be fatal than infection in those younger than age 15 years (22.5% vs 4.6%; P =.001). Infection in 15 through 24 year olds, compared with those aged 25 years or older, was more likely to be associated with male sex (66.2% vs 34.8%; P<.001) and serogroup C infection (46.9% vs 20.2%; P<.001), respectively. Infections were potentially preventable with the licensed meningococcal vaccine in 82.8% of 15 through 24 year olds, 68.1% of those younger than 15 years, and 76.8% of adults aged 25 years or older. CONCLUSIONS Incidence of meningococcal infection in 15 through 24 year olds in Maryland increased and then declined during the 1990s. Infection in this age group was associated with an unusually high case-fatality ratio, and the vast majority of cases were potentially vaccine preventable.
Validation of the cephalosporin intradermal skin test for predicting immediate hypersensitivity: a prospective study with drug challenge

Cephalosporin is a major offending agent in terms of drug hypersensitivity along with penicillin. Cephalosporin intradermal skin tests (IDTs) have been widely used; however, their validity for predicting immediate hypersensitivity has not been studied. This study aimed to determine the predictive value of cephalosporin intradermal skin testing before administration of the drug.
A prospective study of obesity and risk of coronary heart disease in women.

We examined the incidence of nonfatal and fatal coronary heart disease in relation to obesity in a prospective cohort study of 115,886 U.S. women who were 30 to 55 years of age in 1976 and free of diagnosed coronary disease, stroke, and cancer. During eight years of follow-up (775,430 person-years), we identified 605 first coronary events, including 306 nonfatal myocardial infarctions, 83 deaths due to coronary heart disease, and 216 cases of confirmed angina pectoris. A higher Quetelet index (weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters) was positively associated with the occurrence of each category of coronary heart disease. For increasing levels of current Quetelet index (less than 21, 21 to less than 23, 23 to less than 25, 25 to less than 29, and greater than or equal to 29), the relative risks of nonfatal myocardial infarction and fatal coronary heart disease combined, as adjusted for age and cigarette smoking, were 1.0, 1.3, 1.3, 1.8, and 3.3 (Mantel-extension chi for trend = 7.29; P less than 0.00001). As expected, control for a history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hypercholesterolemia--conditions known to be biologic effects of obesity--attenuated the strength of the association. The current Quetelet index was a more important determinant of coronary risk than that at the age of 18; an intervening weight gain increased risk substantially. These prospective data emphasize the importance of obesity as a determinant of coronary heart disease in women. After control for cigarette smoking, which is essential to assess the true effects of obesity, even mild-to-moderate overweight increased the risk of coronary disease in middle-aged women.
ERCC1 and thymidylate synthase mRNA levels predict survival for colorectal cancer patients receiving combination oxaliplatin and fluorouracil chemotherapy.

PURPOSE To test the hypotheses of whether the relative mRNA expression of the thymidylate synthase (TS) gene and the excision cross-complementing (ERCC1) gene are associated with response to and survival of fluorouracil (5-FU)/oxaliplatin chemotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients had progressive stage IV disease after unsuccessful 5-FU and irinotecan chemotherapy. All patients were evaluated for eligibility for a compassionate 5-FU/oxaliplatin protocol. cDNA was derived from paraffin-embedded tumor specimens to determine TS and ERCC1 mRNA expression relative to the internal reference gene beta-actin using fluorescence-based, real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS The median TS gene expression level from 50 metastasized tumors was 3.4 x 10(-3) (minimum expression, 0.18 x 10(-3);maximum expression, 11.5 x 10(-3)), and the median ERCC1 gene expression level was 2.53 x 10(-3) (minimum, 0.0; maximum, 14.61 x 10(-3)). The gene expression cutoff values for chemotherapy nonresponse were 7.5 x 10(-3) for TS and 4.9 x 10(-3) for ERCC1. The median survival time for patients with TS <or= 7.5 x 10(-3) (43 of 50 patients) was 10.2 months, compared with 1.5 months for patients with TS greater than 7.5 x 10(-3) (P < .001). Patients with ERCC1 expression <or= 4.9 x 10(-3) (40 of 50 patients) had a median survival time of 10.2 months, compared with 1.9 months for patients with ERCC1 expression greater than 4.9 x 10(-3) (P < .001). A TS of 7.5 x 10(-3) segregated significantly into response, stable disease, and progression (P = .02), whereas the association between ERCC1 and response did not reach statistical significance (P = .29). CONCLUSION These data suggest that intratumoral ERCC1 mRNA and TS mRNA expression levels are independent predictive markers of survival for 5-FU and oxaliplatin combination chemotherapy in 5-FU-resistant metastatic colorectal cancer. Precise definition of the best TS cut point will require further analysis in a large, prospective study.
Immune Response-Mediated Protection of Adult but Not Neonatal Mice from Neuron-Restricted Measles Virus Infection and Central Nervous System Disease

ABSTRACT In many cases of neurological disease associated with viral infection, such as measles virus (MV)-induced subacute sclerosing panencephalitis in children, it is unclear whether the virus or the antiviral immune response within the brain is the cause of disease. MV inoculation of transgenic mice expressing the human MV receptor, CD46, exclusively in neurons resulted in neuronal infection and fatal encephalitis within 2 weeks in neonates, while mice older than 3 weeks of age were resistant to both infection and disease. At all ages, T lymphocytes infiltrated the brain in response to inoculation. To determine the role of lymphocytes in disease progression, CD46+ mice were back-crossed to T- and B-cell-deficient RAG-2 knockout mice. The lymphocyte deficiency did not affect the outcome of disease in neonates, but adult CD46+RAG-2− mice were much more susceptible to both neuronal infection and central nervous system disease than their immunocompetent littermates. These results indicate that CD46-dependent MV infection of neurons, rather than the antiviral immune response in the brain, produces neurological disease in this model system and that immunocompetent adult mice, but not immunologically compromised or immature mice, are protected from infection.
Genome-wide association study of advanced age-related macular degeneration identifies a role of the hepatic lipase gene (LIPC)

Advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of late onset blindness. We present results of a genome-wide association study of 979 advanced AMD cases and 1,709 controls using the Affymetrix 6.0 platform with replication in seven additional cohorts (totaling 5,789 unrelated cases and 4,234 unrelated controls). We also present a comprehensive analysis of copy-number variations and polymorphisms for AMD. Our discovery data implicated the association between AMD and a variant in the hepatic lipase gene (LIPC) in the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) pathway (discovery P = 4.53e-05 for rs493258). Our LIPC association was strongest for a functional promoter variant, rs10468017, (P = 1.34e-08), that influences LIPC expression and serum HDL levels with a protective effect of the minor T allele (HDL increasing) for advanced wet and dry AMD. The association we found with LIPC was corroborated by the Michigan/Penn/Mayo genome-wide association study; the locus near the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 was corroborated by our replication cohort for rs9621532 with P = 3.71e-09. We observed weaker associations with other HDL loci (ABCA1, P = 9.73e-04; cholesterylester transfer protein, P = 1.41e-03; FADS1-3, P = 2.69e-02). Based on a lack of consistent association between HDL increasing alleles and AMD risk, the LIPC association may not be the result of an effect on HDL levels, but it could represent a pleiotropic effect of the same functional component. Results implicate different biologic pathways than previously reported and provide new avenues for prevention and treatment of AMD.
A Predictive Model for Root Caries Incidence

This study aimed to find the set of risk indicators best able to predict root caries (RC) incidence in caries-active adults utilizing data from the Xylitol for Adult Caries Trial (X-ACT). Five logistic regression models were compared with respect to their predictive performance for incident RC using data from placebo-control participants with exposed root surfaces at baseline and from two study centers with ancillary data collection (n = 155). Prediction performance was assessed from baseline variables and after including ancillary variables [smoking, diet, use of removable partial dentures (RPD), toothbrush use, income, education, and dental insurance]. A sensitivity analysis added treatment to the models for both the control and treatment participants (n = 301) to predict RC for the control participants. Forty-nine percent of the control participants had incident RC. The model including the number of follow-up years at risk, the number of root surfaces at risk, RC index, gender, race, age, and smoking resulted in the best prediction performance, having the highest AUC and lowest Brier score. The sensitivity analysis supported the primary analysis and gave slightly better performance summary measures. The set of risk indicators best able to predict RC incidence included an increased number of root surfaces at risk and increased RC index at baseline, followed by white race and nonsmoking, which were strong nonsignificant predictors. Gender, age, and increased number of follow-up years at risk, while included in the model, were also not statistically significant. The inclusion of health, diet, RPD use, toothbrush use, income, education, and dental insurance variables did not improve the prediction performance.
Assessing the efficacy of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (allo‐HSCT) by analyzing survival end points in defined groups of acute myeloid leukemia patients: A retrospective, multicenter Polish Adult Leukemia Group study

The importance of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT) for survival outcomes in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) currently remains unclear. The study aimed to compare measures of clinical treatment for patients with AML in CR1 (the first complete remission) with or without being subjected to allo‐HSCT. These consisted of leukemia‐free survival (LFS), overall survival (OS), cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR), and non‐relapse mortality disease (NRM). Subjects were 622 patients, median age of 44, forming part of the prospective, randomized, and multicenter clinical Polish Adult Leukemia Group trials during 1999–2008. The Mantel–Byar approach was used to assess allo‐HSCT on survival endpoints, accounting for a changing transplant status. Undergoing allo‐HSCT significantly improved the LFS and OS for the entire group of patients with AML in CR1, along with the DAC induction subgroup and for the group with unfavorable cytogenetics aged 41–60. The CIR demonstrated that allo‐HSCT reduced the risk of relapse for patients with AML in CR1 and those with an unfavorable cytogenetic risk. In addition, the NRM analysis showed that allo‐HSCT significantly reduced the risk of death unrelated to relapse for the entire group of AML patients in CR1 and aged 41–60. The allo‐HSCT treatment particularly benefitted survival for the AML in CR1 group having an unfavorable cytogenetic prognosis. Am. J. Hematol. 90:904–909, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Altered Serotonin and Dopamine Metabolism in the CNS of Serotonin 5‐HT1A or 5‐HT1B Receptor Knockout Mice

Abstract: Measurements of serotonin (5‐HT), dopamine (DA), andnoradrenaline, and of 5‐HT and DA metabolites, were obtained by HPLC from 16brain regions and the spinal cord of 5‐HT1A or 5‐HT1Bknockout and wild‐type mice of the 129/Sv strain. In 5‐HT1Aknockouts, 5‐HT concentrations were unchanged throughout, but levels of 5‐HTmetabolites were higher than those of the wild type in dorsal/medial raphenuclei, olfactory bulb, substantia nigra, and locus coeruleus. This was takenas an indication of increased 5‐HT turnover, reflecting an augmented basalactivity of midbrain raphe neurons and consequent increase in theirsomatodendritic and axon terminal release of 5‐HT. It provided a likelyexplanation for the increased anxious‐like behavior observed in5‐HT1A knockout mice. Concomitant increases in DA content and/or DAturnover were interpreted as the result of a disinhibition of DA, whereasincreases in noradrenaline concentration in some territories of projection ofthe locus coeruleus could reflect a diminished activity of its neurons. In5‐HT1B knockouts, 5‐HT concentrations were lower than those of thewild type in nucleus accumbens, locus coeruleus, spinal cord, and probablyalso several other territories of 5‐HT innervation. A decrease in DA,associated with increased DA turnover, was measured in nucleus accumbens.These changes in 5‐HT and DA metabolism were consistent with the increasedaggressiveness and the supersensitivity to cocaine reported in5‐HT1B knockout mice. Thus, markedly different alterations in CNSmonoamine metabolism may contribute to the opposite behavioral phenotypes ofthese two knockouts.
Effect of fibrous diets on chemical composition and odours from pig slurry

Objective Incorporating high fibre ingredients into pig diets has the potential to reduce odour emissions from of pigs. The current study was carried out to determine effect of diets containing 0, 80 and 160 g/kg of each of lucerne hay, maize cobs and sunflower husks on the chemical characteristics and odours from pig slurries. Methods Twenty eight pigs averaging 18±2.0 kg were kept in individual cages, over four weeks. All pigs were fed ad libitum. Faeces and urine were collected, mixed in a 1:2.3 ratio (w/w), stored and fermented for 16 days in a temperature controlled room at 22°C±2.3°C. The slurry was sampled twice (on day 1 and on day 16) of the fermentation period and analysed for pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrogen and short chain fatty acids (SCFA) concentration, on wet basis. All samples were tested for odour offensiveness using 18 panelists. A scale of 1 to 5 was used to rank the odour severity, (1 = not offensive, 5 = extremely offensive). Results Slurry pH and COD varied with fibre source (p<0.05). On day 16, COD for lucerne hay, sunflower husk and maize cobs were 369, 512, and 425 (standard error of the mean = 34.2) mg of oxygen per litre. Total SCFA concentration was higher at day 16 than day 1 (p< 0.05). Odour offensiveness varied with fibre source across both incubation periods (p<0.05). Sunflower husks and lucerne hay-based diets were rated as less offensive (mean rank = 2.2) than maize cob diets (mean rank of 4.3) (p<0.05). Conclusion It was concluded that different fibre sources and incubation period influence chemical composition and odour of the slurry. There is, thereby, a need to incorporate locally available fibrous feeds in the diet of pigs because they have an economical and environmental relevance to pig management.
The impact of welfare reform on insurance coverage before pregnancy and the timing of prenatal care initiation.

OBJECTIVE This study investigates the impact of welfare reform on insurance coverage before pregnancy and on first-trimester initiation of prenatal care (PNC) among pregnant women eligible for Medicaid under welfare-related eligibility criteria. DATA SOURCES We used pooled data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System for eight states (AL, FL, ME, NY, OK, SC, WA, and WV) from 1996 through 1999. STUDY DESIGN We estimated a two-part logistic model of insurance coverage before pregnancy and first-trimester PNC initiation. The impact of welfare reform on insurance coverage before pregnancy was measured by marginal effects computed from coefficients of an interaction term for the postreform period and welfare-related eligibility and on PNC initiation by the same interaction term and the coefficients of insurance coverage adjusted for potential simultaneous equation bias. We compared the estimates from this model with results from simple logistic, ordinary least squares, and two-stage least squares models. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Welfare reform had a significant negative impact on Medicaid coverage before pregnancy among welfare-related Medicaid eligibles. This drop resulted in a small decline in their first-trimester PNC initiation. Enrollment in Medicaid before pregnancy was independent of the decision to initiate PNC, and estimates of the effect of a reduction in Medicaid coverage before pregnancy on PNC initiation were consistent over the single- and two-stage models. Effects of private coverage were mixed. Welfare reform had no impact on first-trimester PNC beyond that from reduced Medicaid coverage in the pooled regression but separate state-specific regressions suggest additional effects from time and income constraints induced by welfare reform may have occurred in some states. CONCLUSIONS Welfare reform had significant adverse effects on insurance coverage and first-trimester PNC initiation among our nation's poorest women of childbearing age. Improved outreach and insurance options for these women are needed to meet national health goals.