Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Proprioception in Classical Ballet Dancers

We studied prospectively the influence of ankle sprains on proprioception as measured by recording the pos tural sway of classical ballet dancers. Excellent bal ance and coordination are important for classical ballet dancers, and postural stability requires adequate pro prioception from the ankle joint. Fifty-three professional dancers from the Royal Swedish Ballet, Stockholm, and 23 nonathletes, the control group, participated in the investigation. Postural sway was recorded and an alyzed with a stabilimeter using a specially designed, portable, computer-assisted force plate. Six dancers sustained ankle sprains during followup. The record ings were obtained of these dancers before and after the injuries. The stabilometry results differed among the male and female dancers and the control group as follows: 1) the male dancers demonstrated a smaller total area of sway, and 2) both the male and female dancers had a smaller mean sway on the left foot than on the right (no mean difference in sway was found between the left and right foot in the control group). In comparison with the condition before injury and with the uninjured foot, the postural stability of the dancer was impaired for several weeks after the ankle sprain. Postural stability gradually improved during rehabilita tion and improvement still occured several weeks after professional dancing had resumed.
Safety Nets, Politics, and the Poor: Transitions to Market Economies

Countries worldwide are attempting difficult transitions from state-planned to market economies. Most of these countries have fragile democratic regimes that are threatened by the high social and political costs of reform. Governments - and ultimately, societies - have to make hard choices about allocating scarce public resources as they undergo these transitions. A central, often controversial, and most poignant question is how to protect vulnerable groups and the poor. What compensation, what "safety net" will be provided for them? Carol Graham argues that safety nets can provide an environment in which economic reform is more politically sustainable and poverty can be permanently reduced. However, these two objectives frequently involve trade-offs, as vocal and organized opponents of reform (for obvious political reasons) often concern governments far more than the poor. The author examines these trade-offs in detail, with a particular focus on how political and institutional contexts affect the kinds of safety nets that are implemented. Graham offers specific examples of resource allocation in three regions: Latin America, Africa and Eastern Europe. Seh features case studies from Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Senegal, Zambia and Poland.
Emotion regulation in bipolar disorder type I: an fMRI study

Background Bipolar disorder type I (BD-I) is associated with emotion dysregulation. However, experimentally controlled studies of emotion regulation (ER), particularly those examining the brain correlates of the putative deficits, are scarce and their results inconsistent. Method Nineteen euthymic BD-I patients and 17 healthy controls (HC) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing a visual ER 2 × 2 factorial task, with instruction (Look or Decrease) and valence (Negative or Neutral) as within-subject factors. Emotional ratings were collected after each picture presentation to assess regulation success. Results BD-I patients were successful at downregulating their emotions, although to a lesser degree than HC. Both groups engaged brain regions previously implicated in ER; however, unlike HC, patients engaged some of those regions, particularly the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) in the Negative Look and Neutral Decrease conditions. Moreover, patients failed to show the reduced amygdala activation in the Negative Decrease condition observed in HC. Conclusion Our findings suggest that BD-I patients are able to downregulate their emotions when instructed to do so. However, they also appear to engage their ER network, particularly the VLPFC, even when not required to do so. These findings may help explain their often-reported difficulty in regulating emotions in everyday life despite their attempts to do so.
Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR)-Mediated Residual Chloride Secretion Does Not Protect against Early Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection in F508del Homozygous Cystic Fibrosis Patients

Cystic fibrosis (CF) disease severity is characterized by a broad variability that has been attributed, in addition to the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) genotype, to modulating factors such as CFTR-mediated residual chloride (Cl−) secretion. Moreover, CFTR has been suggested to function as a receptor for Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA). In this study, we investigated whether or not the presence of residual Cl− secretion protects against early chronic PA colonization of patients' airways. Excluding influences on the phenotype caused by different CFTR mutations, we evaluated a cohort of F508del homozygous individuals with respect to the correlation between residual Cl− secretion and the age of onset of PA colonization as an important marker of clinical phenotype. A group with early chronic PA colonization before the age of 7 y (n = 14) was compared with a cohort that had no initial PA detection at least until the age of 13 y (n = 10). We determined the Cl− transport properties by using the intestinal current measurement in rectal suction biopsies. Residual Cl− secretion, most likely due to the CFTR Cl− channel, was observed in 63% of subjects, more frequently in early chronically PA colonized than among late or not colonized patients. These results demonstrate the presence of some active F508del-CFTR in the apical cell membrane and imply that factors other than the CFTR-mediated residual Cl− secretion determine the age of onset of PA colonization.
Establishing a high‐risk neuroblastoma cohort using the pediatric health information system database

International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD‐9) code(s) for neuroblastoma do not exist, preventing identification of these patients in administrative databases. To overcome this challenge, a three‐step algorithm, using ICD‐9 codes, exclusion criteria, and manual review of chemotherapy billing data, was utilized to assemble a high‐risk neuroblastoma cohort (n = 952) from the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) Database and validated at a single institution [sensitivity 89.1%; positive predictive value (PPV) 96.1%]. This cohort provides a data source for future comparative effectiveness and clinical epidemiology studies in high‐risk neuroblastoma patients. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014;61:1129–1131. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An Immunoblotting Procedure Following Agarose Gel Electrophoresis for Subclass Typing of IgG Paraproteins in Human Sera

A method for subclass typing of IgG paraproteins in human sera following agarose gel electrophoresis is presented. After electrophoretic separation, serum proteins were blotted by capillary diffusion onto nitrocellulose. Mouse anti-human IgG1-IgG4 monoclonal antibodies were exposed to bound IgG. Goat anti-mouse IgG alkaline phosphatase conjugate was employed as second antibody. Thirty six sera were examined, in which the presence of an IgG paraprotein had previously been proved by agarose gel electrophoresis and subsequent immunofixation with anti-IgG antiserum. The subclass frequency distribution was 27 IgG1, 6 IgG2, 2 IgG3 and 1 IgG4. By means of IgG subclass typing in 8 out of these 36 sera, a total of 12 additional monoclonal bands (1 to 2 bands per serum) were detected which were not seen after immunofixation electrophoresis with anti-IgG antiserum. Eleven of 12 additional bands belonged to an IgG subclass different from that of the bands already detected by immunofixation electrophoresis. Light chain typing was performed in 9 of 12 bands found additionally. Two of these 9 bands belonged to a light chain class different from that of the bands already detected by immunofixation electrophoresis. The method described can be employed to further elucidate the possible diagnostic and prognostic significance of the subclass type of an IgG paraprotein.
An investigation into the immediate effects on comfort, productivity and posture of the Bambach saddle seat and a standard office chair.

BACKGROUND This study was prompted by the prevalence of back injury and pain in the working population, particularly amongst workers who are increasingly exposed to sedentary work in industrialised countries, and the corresponding limited evidence regarding the effectiveness of seating designs currently used in the workplace. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in comfort, productivity, and posture between the Bambach saddle seat and a standard office chair (two chair designs used within the workplace today). METHOD A single system, multiple-baseline research design across a sample of four subjects was used. A withdrawal A1 B1 A2 B2 design was utilised, with the ordering of the sequence varying with each subject. "A" represented the standard office chair, and "B" the Bambach saddle seat. RESULTS Discomfort ratings tended to increase over time regardless of the seat being used. However, while the saddle seat provided reduced levels of lower back discomfort, it demonstrated higher discomfort in the lower limbs, particularly the hips and buttocks. There were no significant differences identified in productivity between the two chairs. The saddle seat consistently promoted a greater trunk-to-thigh angle for all subjects, a position associated with optimum sitting posture. CONCLUSION This study has implications for the treatment of low back injury and pain at work, as well as other daily activities that involve prolonged static sitting, such as those incorporated in self maintenance, leisure and rest activities. This study provides health professionals with a systematic investigation of the immediate effects of using both the Bambach saddle seat and standard office chair in sitting. The findings of this study should be considered in future research.
Major Depressive Disorder: Gender Differences in Symptoms, Life Quality, and Sexual Function

Objective: To investigate the gender differences of symptoms, life quality, functional impairment, and sexual function of patients with moderately severe major depressive disorder (MDD). Method: One hundred forty-six outpatients with MDD were enrolled into this study with specific selection criteria (male, 57; female, 89; mean ± SD age, 38.30 ± 11.69 years). All the patients self-rated the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self-Report (QIDS-SR16) and the Integral Inventory for Depression (IID) for the assessment of symptoms assessment as well as the EuroQol life quality scale (EQ5D) was for the subjective life quality, the Sheehan disability scale was for the functional impairments, and the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale was for sexual function evaluation. All data were analyzed to estimate correlation and gender difference. Results: Female patients had higher scores of the QIDS-SR16, IID, and Arizona Sexual Experience scales. Significant gender differences of sadness, sleep, appetite, calmness, painful symptoms, and sexual functioning were observed. The female-specific sexual dysfunctions included lower sexual drive, lower sexual arousal, lower horny feelings, lower orgasms, and lower satisfaction of orgasm. The MDD episodes were related to the EuroQol life quality scale and the SDS. Interepisode years were associated with the IID. The Sheehan disability scale was correlated with QIDS-SR16 with statistical significance. Conclusions: Patients with MDD showed a correlation between symptoms and functional impairment. Female patients might be more sexually impaired, more vegetative, more depressed, and experiencing more sadness and physical pain.
A crucial role for p80 TNF‐R2 in amplifying p60 TNF‐R1 apoptosis signals in T lymphocytes

Tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) can elicit many cellular responses including programmed cell death or apotosis. TNF‐α‐induced apoptosis has been largely attributed to the p60 TNF‐R1 receptor. The role of p80 in TNF‐α‐mediated apoptosis is largely unknown. We now present evidence that signaling through p80 switches on the previously dormant apoptotic machinery associated with p60. This effect on p60‐associated apoptosis involves the proximal activation of caspases and proceeds in the presence of strong NF‐κB induction. We evaluated the role of TRAF2 in p80‐assisted apoptosis and found that a decrease in TRAF2 protein occurs with p80 but not p60 stimulation. However, the decrease in TRAF2 protein can be dissociated from apoptosis in the presence of a caspase inhibitor. Hence, one means by which p80 TNF‐R2 regulates apoptosis is through its ability to amplify internally apoptotic signal transduction from p60 TNF‐R1.
Limited Additive Value of Pleural Fluid Carcinoembryonic Antigen Level in Malignant Pleural Effusion

Objective: To assess the additive value of pleural fluid carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA.PF) level in the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion. Methods: Thoracentesis and closed pleural biopsy were performed in consecutive patients with pleural effusions. CEA.PF, cell analysis, and biochemical, cytopathologic and microbiologic studies were carried out. Further diagnostic interventions were undertaken if initial tests were inconclusive. Results: A total of 176 patients were evaluated. The effusions proved malignant in 78 patients (44%). Benign etiologies were diagnosed in 89 cases, comprising 51 tuberculous pleurisies, 12 empyemas, 26 others. The cause was unknown in 9 patients. Median (range) in ng/ml of CEA.PF were 233 (1–12,500) in malignant vs. 2.5 (0.3–9) in tuberculosis, 1.4 (0.1–2) in transudates, 19.4 (0.6–312) in empyemas, p < 0.001. Receiver operating characteristic curve identified 10 ng/ml as the best cut-off for CEA.PF, yielding a sensitivity of 0.77, a specificity of 0.94, a positive and negative predictive value of 0.92 and 0.82, respectively. Among the 78 patients with malignant effusions, CEA.PF was elevated but initial cytopathologic study was nondiagnostic in 14 patients (18%). Prompted by the raised CEA.PF, further diagnostic interventions were undertaken and secured the diagnosis of malignancy in all of these 14 patients. Conclusions: CEA.PF level adds limited value on cytopathologic study in the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions. It potentially identifies 18% of patients with malignant effusions who require further investigations despite negative initial cytopathologic study.
Interorganisational networks and proximity: an analysis of R&D networks for cultural goods

Purpose of the paper : The aim of this study is to measure the impact of various dimensions of proximity to form innovation networks. Methodology : We use a novel statistical methodology for modelling networks based on a well-studied class of models called exponential-family random graph models. Findings : Results underline the importance of various forms of proximity in the formation of innovation networks and the potential of the novel methodology to study large and complex networks in innovation studies and R&D management. Research limits : The research is mainly quantitative and contributes to the debate measuring the role and importance of various forms of proximity in innovation networks. Further analysis of how firms choose their partners is needed. Moreover, the analysis should be expanded to other contexts and industries in order to be able to generalise results. Practical implications : The work points out managerial implications in innovation studies and R&D management in order to guide firms when choosing their partners and forming a network. Originality of the paper : The study contributes to the debate on innovation network literature and tests a novel methodology to analyse large and complex inter-organisational networks.
Epidemiology of surgically managed anterior cruciate ligament ruptures in a sports surgery practice

Introduction: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are common knee injuries, especially among sportsmen and sportswomen. The aim of this study is to better understand the epidemiology of surgically managed ACL tears sustained in our institution. Methods: All patients who underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction by the senior author of this article in Singapore from 2008 to 2013 were studied. Patients who were diagnosed clinically and/or radiologically to have a complete tear of the ACL and subsequently underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction were included. Patients who suffered from traumatic knee dislocation were excluded. Two hundred and ninety-two patients were available for analysis. All patients were operated on by the senior author. Results: 83.9% of patients were male. 60.5, 23.0, 8.46, and 8.11% were of Chinese, Malay, Indian and other origins, respectively. 69.6 and 28.7% were in white-collared and blue-collared jobs, respectively, while 1.69% were unemployed. Mean age at operation was 29.4 years. Mean body mass index was 25.3 kg/m2. 82.4 and 17.6% of ACL tears were sports (contact—27.5%; non-contact—72.5%) and non-sports injuries (activities of daily living—94.2%, road traffic accidents—5.77%), respectively. The top four sporting activities causing ACL tears were soccer, basketball, racquet games and volleyball. 56.2% of ACL tears presented with concomitant knee injuries (medial meniscus—63.4%; lateral meniscus—31.1%; posterior cruciate ligament—5.49%). 84.5% were primary tears. Conclusions: In this epidemiological review of ACL injuries, we found that ACL injuries tend to cluster within certain population subgroups. Patterns of mechanisms of injuries have been observed. These findings may lead to better preventive and treatment strategies in the management of ACL tears.
Gene variations in the cholecystokinin system in patients with panic disorder

Objectives Panic disorder (PD) is a common psychiatric disease occurring more frequently in women than men. Multiple common and/or rare variants in the genome contribute to the complex etiology of the disorder. The neuropeptide cholecystokinin (CCK) and its receptors (the CCK system) have been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of PD. Methods We examined the promoter, exon, and exon–intron boundaries of the genes encoding CCK and its receptors (CCKAR and CCKBR) for variations in 187 patients with PD and 277 screened control individuals. Up to 1342 additional healthy population controls were examined for some of the variations. One CCK gene intron variation was analyzed for alternative splicing using an exon-trapping assay. Results The promoter variant (−36C > T; rs1799923) and an intron 1 polymorphism (IVS1-7C > G; rs754635) in the CCK gene were found to protect against PD (P<0.05). The intron 1 variation did not seem to alter the splicing of the gene. None of the other variations found were associated with PD, but a 2-marker haplotype (rs1800855/rs1800857) in the CCKAR gene protected women against PD (P=0.004). In addition, we found two novel rare missense variations in the CCKBR gene (Lys329Asn and Pro446Leu) in two and one patient, respectively. Conclusion The results suggest that the CCK system may play a role in the pathogenesis of PD, with susceptibility alleles both protecting and contributing to the disease. Both common and rare variants seem to be involved. The involvement of the CCK system may also contribute to the increased prevalence of PD in women.
Reactivity to p52 and CM2 Recombinant Proteins in Primary Human Cytomegalovirus Infection with a Microparticle Agglutination Assay

ABSTRACT We evaluated the reactivities of sera against p52 and CM2 recombinant antigens of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), coated on microparticles, for the differentiation of primary HCMV infection from an established infection. Two different test formats of the CMV Multiplex Copalis assay were evaluated. The 214 serum samples tested were immunoglobulin M (IgM) positive or equivocal by our reference assay. Reactivities against p52 and CM2 antigens were tested for sera from 37 patients with a well-documented seroconversion within the preceding 3 months (119 serum specimens), 31 patients known to have had a seroconversion at least 8 months earlier (31 serum specimens), and 57 patients without a documented seroconversion (64 serum specimens). The assay had a sensitivity for the detection of a primary infection of 70 or 86% by the first test format and a sensitivity of 88 or 94% by the second test format, according to the criteria used to indicate a primary infection by this test. A good correlation of the results of the assay with our in-house avidity index was found. The specificity of the assay warrants further evaluation. With IgM-positive sera, the assay was not sufficiently specific to make a distinction between a primary infection and an established infection.
Raised plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide concentrations predict mortality and cardiac disease in end-stage renal disease

N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentrations are raised in a proportion of patients with heart failure and acute coronary syndrome and provide diagnostic and prognostic information. Inclusion cut-off values vary according to age, sex and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). 1,2 Raised NT-proBNP concentrations are found in a proportion of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The significance and reasons for this remain uncertain. The objective of this study was to investigate whether NT-proBNP predicts mortality in a group of patients with ESRD. The secondary end point was to examine differences in patients with and without raised NT-proBNP, according to the cut-off value that best predicted mortality. One hundred and forty renal transplant candidates were prospectively studied. Long-term survival status was obtained in all patients. The study was approved by the local ethics committee. All participants gave written informed consent. All patients had baseline transthoracic echocardiography, dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) and coronary angiography. The protocol for these was previously described.3 A positive DSE response was described by the occurrence under stress of hypokinesia, akinesia or dyskinesia in one or more resting normal segments or worsening of wall motion in one or more resting hypokinetic segments. Significant coronary artery disease (CAD) was defined as luminal stenosis > 70% in one or more epicardial artery. Whole blood venous samples were collected at the time of DSE before infusion of dobutamine. Cardiac troponin T …
Gm, Km, and HLA in Insulin-Dependent Type I Diabetes Mellitus: A Log-Linear Analysis of Association

Two hundred sixty families, in which at least one family member had insulin-dependent (type I) diabetes mellitus (IDDM), were typed for HLA antigens and the Gm and Km al loty pes. Frequencies of Gm and Km allotypes in the diabetic subjects were compared with family controls (oldest nondiabetic sibling within a family). There were no significant differences between patients and controls for either Gm or Km allotype frequencies considered individually. When the log-linear model was used to analyze subjects and sibling controls, three significant findings emerged. First, there was a significant HLA-Gm interaction, indicating nonrandom segregation of HLA antigens with Gm allotypes, regardless of disease status. Second, there was, as expected, a significant HLA-IDDM interaction, indicating that HLA type is nonrandom with respect to IDDM status. Third, there was a significant HLA-sex-Gm-IDDM interaction, indicating that combinations of HLA antigens, Gm allotypes, and sex may play an important role in defining risk for IDDM. Thus, Gm and sex interacting with HLA may reflect the influence of an unlinked modifier previously hypothesized for IDDM pathogenesis.