Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plasma Anti-Müllerian Hormone Concentrations and Risk of Breast Cancer among Premenopausal Women in the Nurses' Health Studies

Background: Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a member of the TGFβ family of growth and differentiation factors with a key role in regulating folliculogenesis. In experimental studies, using supraphysiologic concentrations, AMH inhibits breast cancer growth. However, high levels of AMH were associated with increased breast cancer risk in two prior prospective epidemiologic studies. Methods: We conducted a nested case–control study of premenopausal plasma AMH and breast cancer risk within the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and NHSII. In NHS, 32,826 women donated blood samples in 1989–1990; in NHSII, 29,611 women donated samples in 1996–1999. After blood collection and before February 2004 (NHS) or July 2010 (NHSII), 539 cases were diagnosed among women premenopausal at diagnosis, and were matched 1:1 to controls. ORs and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using unconditional logistic regression, adjusting for matching and breast cancer risk factors. Results: Higher plasma levels of AMH were associated with increased breast cancer risk (top vs. bottom quintile multivariate OR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.34–3.63; P trend = 0.001). The association did not vary by invasive versus in situ disease or by estrogen receptor status. Associations were not significantly different by age at blood or diagnosis. Further adjustment for plasma estradiol or testosterone yielded similar results. Conclusions: Higher circulating AMH levels are associated with increased breast cancer risk among premenopausal women. Impact: The significant positive association between premenopausal plasma AMH levels and subsequent breast cancer risk before menopause suggests AMH may be useful as a marker of breast cancer risk in younger women. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 25(5); 854–60. ©2016 AACR.
Conjugational transfer of recombinant DNA in cultures and in soils: host range of Pseudomonas putida TOL plasmids

Recombinant TOL plasmid pWWO-EB62 allows Pseudomonas putida to grow on p-ethylbenzoate. This plasmid can be transferred to other microorganisms, and its catabolic functions for the metabolism of alkylbenzoates are expressed in a limited number of gram-negative bacteria, including members of pseudomonad rRNA group I and Escherichia coli. Transfer of the recombinant plasmid to Erwinia chrysanthemi was observed, but transconjugants failed to grow on alkylbenzoates because they lost catabolic functions. Pseudomonads belonging to rRNA groups II, III, and IV, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, and Alcaligenes sp. could not act as recipients for TOL, either because the plasmid was not transferred or because it was not stably maintained. The frequency of transfer of pWWO-EB62 from P. putida as a donor to pseudomonads belonging to rRNA group I was on the order of 1 to 10(-2) transconjugant per recipient, while the frequency of intergeneric transfer ranged from 10(-3) to 10(-7) transconjugant per recipient. The profile of potential hosts was conserved when the donor bacterium was Escherichia coli or Erwinia chrysanthemi instead of P. putida. No intergeneric gene transfer of the recombinant TOL plasmid was observed in soils; however, intraspecies transfer did take place. Intraspecies transfer of TOL in soils was affected by the type of soil used, the initial inoculum size, and the presence of chemicals that could affect the survival of the donor or recipient bacteria.
Role of Demographic Variables in Predicting Turnover Intention among Registered Nurses in Nigerian Public Hospitals

Prior research has indicated that employee turnover is detrimental to both individuals and organizations. Because a turnover intention in the workplace is detrimental, several factors have been suggested to better understand the reasons why employees may decide to leave their organizations. One of the significant predictors of employee turnover is related to the demographic characteristics. Some of the demographic characteristics have been studied to date include age, gender, education, experience and tenure, among others. Despite these empirical studies, literature indicates more studies are needed to further understand the role of demographic variables in predicting turnover intention. Hence, the present study fills in the gap by examining the role of age and gender in predicting turnover intention among 175 Registered Nurses in Nigerian public hospitals. Results indicated that male nurses were more likely to leave their organizations or the profession than their female colleagues. Furthermore, the results showed that younger nurses were more likely to leave their organizations or the profession than their older colleagues.
A handful of heuristics and some propositions for understanding resilience in social-ecological systems

This paper is a work-in-progress account of ideas and propositions about resilience in socialecological systems. It articulates our understanding of how these complex systems change and what determines their ability to absorb disturbances in either their ecological or their social domains. We call them “propositions” because, although they are useful in helping us understand and compare different social-ecological systems, they are not sufficiently well defined to be considered formal hypotheses. These propositions were developed in two workshops, in 2003 and 2004, in which participants compared the dynamics of 15 case studies in a wide range of regions around the world. The propositions raise many questions, and we present a list of some that could help define the next phase of resilience-related research.
Alzheimer's Disease is Rare in Cree

A community survey and subsequent clinical assessment of 192 Cree aged 65 years and over registered in two Reserves in Northern Manitoba identified only one case of probable Alzheimer's disease among eight cases of dementia, giving a prevalence of 0.5% for Alzheimer's disease and 4.2% for all dementias. This contrasted with an age-adjusted prevalence of 3.5% for Alzheimer's disease and 4.2% for all dementias in an age-stratified sample of 241 English-speaking residents of Winnipeg. Although it was not so for all dementias, the difference between the groups for prevalence of Alzheimer's disease was highly significant (p < .001). The age-specific patterns of all dementias in the two groups were significantly different, however (p = .0254).
The Safety and Efficacy of Sevoflurane Anesthesia in Infants and Children with Congenital Heart Disease

We tested the hypothesis that sevoflurane is a safer and more effective anesthetic than halothane during the induction and maintenance of anesthesia for infants and children with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery. With a background of fentanyl (5 &mgr;g/kg bolus, then 5 &mgr;g · kg−1 · h−1), the two inhaled anesthetics were directly compared in a randomized, double-blinded, open-label study involving 180 infants and children. Primary outcome variables included severe hypotension, bradycardia, and oxygen desaturation, defined as a 30% decrease in the resting mean arterial blood pressure or heart rate, or a 20% decrease in the resting arterial oxygen saturation, for at least 30 s. There were no differences in the incidence of these variables; however, patients receiving halothane experienced twice as many episodes of severe hypotension as those who received sevoflurane (P = 0.03). These recurrences of hypotension occurred despite an increased incidence of vasopressor use in the halothane-treated patients than in the sevoflurane-treated patients. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression demonstrated that patients less than 1 yr old were at increased risk for hypotension compared with older children (P = 0.0004), and patients with preoperative cyanosis were at increased risk for developing severe desaturation (P = 0.049). Sevoflurane may have hemodynamic advantages over halothane in infants and children with congenital heart disease.
Transforming growth factor‐β2 induces apoptosis of murine T cell clones without down‐regulating bcl‐2 mRNA expression

Transforming growth factor‐β (TGFβ) is a potent immunosuppressive cytokine which inhibits the antigen (Ag)‐dependent expansion of T cells both in vitro and in vivo by mechanisms not well defined yet. Here we report that exposure of interleukin (IL)‐2‐dependent T cell lines to TGFβ2 results in apoptosis defined by morphology, nucleosomal size DNA fragmentation and in situ DNA end labeling. TGFβ2‐induced T cell apoptosis showed the following characteristics: (1) in contrast to the rapid evolution of apoptosis following IL‐2 deprivation, apoptosis of T cells triggered by TGFβ2 was delayed; (2) cycloheximide prevented TGFβ2‐induced apoptosis of CTLL‐2 but not of OVA‐7 T helper cells; (3) in contrast to apoptosis following IL‐2 deprivation, TGFβ2‐mediated T cell apoptosis was not associated with decreased expression of the proto‐oncogenes, bcl‐2 or c‐myc; (4) TGFβ2‐induced apoptosis was not restricted to IL‐2‐dependent T cell lines since the IL‐4‐dependent T cell line, CT.4S, as well as EL4 lymphoma cells, which grow independently of exogenous IL‐2, were also susceptible to TGFβ2‐mediated apoptosis. Taken together, these data may present a novel mechanism of TGFβ2‐mediated suppression of T cell expansion in response to Ag and IL‐2, the activation of the endogenous death program of apoptosis, which appears to operate independently of direct interactions of TGFβ2 with the IL‐2/IL‐2 receptor system.
Approaching Temporomandibular Disorders From a New Direction: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial of the TMDesTM Ear System

Abstract TMDes (Registered Trademark of Ascentia Health, Inc., Rockford, Illinois), custom-fit ear inserts to aid in reducing temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain, were evaluated in a prospective, three-month, open-label, three-arm, randomized, unblinded clinical trial, which included patients with TMD diagnoses (RDC/TMD) of myofascial pain, arthralgia, and/or disc displacement with reduction; and a screening VAS pain score of >4. The three treatment groups included: TMDes (n=60), stabilization splint (n=64), and jaw exercise regimen (n=28). The mean change in Craniomandibular Index (CMI) scores (reductions reflecting improvement) from baseline to one month were -27% (TMDes), -20% (stabilization splint), -12% (jaw exercise regimen), and from baseline to three months were -45%, -41%, -36%, reflecting statistically significant noninferiority (p=0.0096) of the TMDes to the stabilization splint (primary efficacy endpoint). The TMDes produced significant (p<0.0001) mean changes in VAS pain scores from baseline of -46% at one month and -58% at three months and demonstrated comparable efficacy and safety to the stabilization splint. (Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00815776).
High frequency equivalent circuit model of the stator winding in electrical machines

Over the years, electrical machinery design strategies have been mainly oriented towards enhancing the output power, power density and torque. However, the effect of machine parameters (geometry, material properties, etc.) on stress and life expectancy has not been considered very often. Since the machines are designed to be as compact as possible, they tend to operate at levels closer to their safety margins. Moreover, the substantial growth in inverter supplying has introduced excessive electrical stress to the winding insulation. This results into earlier partial discharge and bearing currents which may be analyzed by the models that are valid in the high frequency spectrum. This paper introduces a model that can be used to monitor the health-status of the machine's winding by studying these effects. The approach introduced in this paper can localize the mostly stressed parts of the winding fed by inverter by means of measurement and simulation.
Pharmacogenetic profiling and clinical outcome of patients with advanced gastric cancer treated with palliative chemotherapy.

PURPOSE To investigate whether polymorphisms with putative influence on fluorouracil/cisplatin activity are associated with clinical outcomes of patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC). PATIENTS AND METHODS Peripheral blood samples from 175 prospectively enrolled AGC patients treated with fluorouracil/cisplatin palliative chemotherapy were used for genotyping 13 polymorphisms in nine genes (TS, MTHFR, XPD, ERCC1, XRCC1, XRCC3, GSTPI, GSTTI, GSTMI). Genotypes were correlated to response and survival. RESULTS The overall response rate was 41%, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 24 weeks (range, 4 to 50 weeks), and the median overall survival (OS) was 39 weeks (range, 8 to 72+ weeks). Chemoresistance and poor survival were significantly associated with TS 5'-UTR 3G-genotype (2R/3G, 3C/3G, 3G/3G) and GSTP1 105 A/A homozygous genotype. Sixty-one patients (35%) did not show any of these risk genotypes (group 0), 57 patients (32.5%) showed one of the two risk genotypes (group 1), and 57 patients (32.5%) showed both risk genotypes (group 2). Median PFS and OS in group 0 patients were 32 weeks (range, 8 to 50 weeks) and 49 weeks (range, 18 to 72+ weeks), respectively. Group 1 and group 2 patients showed significantly worse PFS (median, 26 weeks [range, 6 to 44 weeks] and 14 weeks [range, 4 to 38 weeks], respectively) and worse OS (median, 39 weeks [range, 10 to 58 weeks] and 28 weeks [range, 8 to 56 weeks]), respectively, than group 0 patients. This adverse effect was retained in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION Specific polymorphisms may influence clinical outcomes of AGC patients. Selecting palliative chemotherapy on the basis of pretreatment genotyping may represent an innovative strategy that warrants prospective studies.
Formyl peptide receptor-like 1–mediated endogenous TRAIL gene expression with tumoricidal activity

Formyl peptide receptor-like 1 (FPRL1), which is a G protein–coupled receptor of chemoattractant subfamily, plays an important role in the regulation of host defense against pathogenic infection and the chemotactic and activating effects of Aβ42 on mononuclear phagocytes as well as in the elimination of damaged or pathogen-infected cells. In the present study, we showed that stimulation of FPRL1 agonist ligands (W peptide from a synthetic peptide library, N36 peptide from HIV-1 gp41, and F peptide from HIV-1 envelope protein gp120) elevated endogenous tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) expression in human THP-1 monocytes, primary neutrophils, and mouse leukocytes. Activation of nuclear factor κB was required by the FPRL1-mediated TRAIL expression in the human THP-1 cells and primary neutrophils. The increased TRAIL expression in the mice significantly suppressed the growth of transplanted mouse liver tumor cells by inducing apoptotic cell death. Together, these data provide novel evidence for the physiologic role of FPRL1 and TRAIL in tumor immune surveillance and innate immunity, and implicate a novel strategy for cancer therapy by triggering the endogenous TRAIL expression via stimulation of G protein–coupled receptor FPRL1. [Mol Cancer Ther 2007;6(10):2618–25]
Climate variability in West Antarctica derived from annual accumulation-rate records from ITASE firn/ice cores

Abstract Thirteen annually resolved accumulation-rate records covering the last ~200 years from the Pine Island–Thwaites and Ross drainage systems and the South Pole are used to examine climate variability over West Antarctica. Accumulation is controlled spatially by the topography of the ice sheet, and temporally by changes in moisture transport and cyclonic activity. A comparison of mean accumulation since 1970 at each site to the long-term mean indicates an increase in accumulation for sites located in the western sector of the Pine Island–Thwaites drainage system. Accumulation is negatively associated with the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) for sites near the ice divide, and periods of sustained negative SOI (1940–42, 1991–95) correspond to above-mean accumulation at most sites. Correlations of the accumulation-rate records with sea-level pressure (SLP) and the SOI suggest that accumulation near the ice divide and in the Ross drainage system may be associated with the mid-latitudes. The post-1970 increase in accumulation coupled with strong SLP–accumulation-rate correlations near the coast suggests recent intensification of cyclonic activity in the Pine Island– Thwaites drainage system.
Adjuvant Dose-Dense Sequential Chemotherapy with Epirubicin, CMF and Weekly Paclitaxel in Patients with Resected High-Risk Breast Cancer: A Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group (HeCOG) Study

Randomized phase III trials have demonstrated that the addition of paclitaxel is effective in the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. Forty-five patients with high-risk resected breast cancer entered this study. They were treated with three cycles of epirubicin every 2 weeks, followed by three cycles of intensified CMF, every 2 weeks, followed 3 weeks later by nine weekly cycles of paclitaxel (E-CMF-T). Forty patients (89%) received all cycles of chemotherapy and dose intensity was sufficiently maintained for all drugs. Toxicity was generally mild to moderate. Two cases of febrile neutropenia were reported. The E-CMF-T regimen is feasible and well tolerated.
Extended wear contact lens related bacterial keratitis

AIMS To report the clinical findings and visual outcome of patients with extended wear contact lens (EWCL) related bacterial keratitis. METHODS 11 cases with EWCL related bacterial keratitis were included. Corneal scrapings were obtained for cytology and cultures. RESULTS Nine patients had unilateral bacterial keratitis and two patients showed bilateral involvement. Corneal scrapings revealedPseudomonas aeruginosa in seven patients, Staphylococcus aureus coagulase positive in one patient, and Staphylococcus epidermidisin three patients. CONCLUSION EWCLs may be associated with bacterial keratitis and may result in visual loss. Dispensing contact lenses by optometrists should be performed in consultation with ophthalmologists.
Characterization of paired tumor and non‐tumor cell lines established from patients with breast cancer

The goal of our study was to develop a panel of tumor cell lines along with paired non‐malignant cell lines or strains collected from breast cancers, predominantly primary tumors. From a total of 189 breast tumor samples consisting of 177 primary tumors and 12 metastatic tissues, we established 21 human breast tumor cell lines that included 18 cell lines derived from primary tumors and 3 derived from metastatic lesions. Cell lines included those from patients with germline BRCA1 and FHIT gene mutations and others with possible genetic predisposition. For 19 tumor cell lines, we also established one or more corresponding non‐malignant cell strains or B lymphoblastoid (BL) lines, which included 16 BL lines and 7 breast epithelial (2) or stromal (5) cell strains. The present report describes clinical, pathological and molecular information regarding the normal and tumor tissue sources along with relevant personal information and familial medical history. Analysis of the breast tumor cell lines indicated that most of the cell lines had the following features: they were derived from large tumors with or without axillary node metastases; were aneuploid and exhibited a moderate to poorly differentiated phenotype; were estrogen receptor (ER)‐ and progesterone receptor (PR)‐negative; and overexpressed p53 and HER2/neu proteins. Of 13 patients with primary breast cancers receiving curative intent mastectomies, 7 were dead after a mean period of 10 months. Our panel of paired tumor and non‐malignant cell lines should provide important new reagents for breast cancer research. Int. J. Cancer 78:766–774, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pediculosis in a School Population

This nonexperimental, retrospective study of elementary, middle school, and high school children (a) determined the prevalence of pediculosis, (b) identified populations susceptible to head lice infestation, and (c) examined the role of the school nurse in pediculosis management. The findings showed the highest prevalence of pediculosis was among younger school-age children, and girls were 3 times more likely to be infested than boys. Hispanic children had the highest rate of infestation, followed by Caucasian children. African American children showed a 15% infestation rate, a finding not supported by other studies. The role of the school nurse in pediculosis management was restricted by time and budgetary constraints. Findings of this study support the need for a standardized data collection system for pediculosis in all school districts.
Silver-Russell dwarfism and cystic fibrosis in a twin. Endocrine, chromosomal, dermatoglyphic, and craniofacial studies.

A 6-year-old male twin with cystic fibrosis (CF) and the Russell variant of the Silver-Russell dwarf was studied as were his normal twin sister, parents, and two other siblings. For the first time, detailed craniofacial measurements describing the craniofacial dysostosis common to the Silver-Russell syndrome were made and analyzed. Chromosomes, studied by the Giemsa-banding technique, were normal in the patient and other family members. The patient had markedly increased atd angles and whorls on all fingers. Growth hormone and plasma and urinary gonadotropin levels were normal. It is postulated that the cause of the Silver-Russell syndrome is genetic, since it is concordant in monozygotic twins, nonconcordant in fraternal twins, and occurs in siblings from parents with a common ancestor. The combination of Silver-Russell dwarfism and CF may be coincidental.
Increased SCF/c‐kit by hypoxia promotes autophagy of human placental chorionic plate‐derived mesenchymal stem cells via regulating the phosphorylation of mTOR

Hypoxia triggers physiological and pathological cellular processes, including proliferation, differentiation, and death, in several cell types. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from various tissues have self‐renewal activity and can differentiate towards multiple lineages. Recently, it has been reported that hypoxic conditions tip the balance between survival and death by hypoxia‐induced autophagy, although the underlying mechanism is not clear. The objectives of this study are to compare the effect of hypoxia on the self‐renewal of bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM‐MSCs) and placental chorionic plate‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (CP‐MSCs) and to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of self‐renewal in each MSC type during hypoxia. The expression of self‐renewal markers (e.g., Oct4, Nanog, Sox2) was assessed in both cell lines. PI3K and stem cell factor (SCF) expression gradually increased in CP‐MSCs but were markedly downregulated in BM‐MSCs by hypoxia. The phosphorylation of ERK and mTOR was augmented by hypoxia in CP‐MSCs compared to control. Also, the expression of LC3 II, a component of the autophagosome and the hoof‐shaped autophagosome was detected more rapidly in CP‐MSCs than in BM‐MSCs under hypoxia. Hypoxia induced the expression of SCF in CP‐MSCs and increased SCF/c‐kit pathway promotes the self‐renewal activities of CP‐MSCs via an autocrine/paracrine mechanism that balances cell survival and cell death events by autophagy. These activities occur to a greater extent in CP‐MSCs than in BM‐MSCs through regulating the phosphorylation of mTOR. These findings will provide useful guidelines for better understanding the function of SCF/c‐kit in the self‐renewal and autophagy‐regulated mechanisms that promote of MSC survival. J. Cell. Biochem. 114: 79–88, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.