Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Study on the Direct and Indirect Costs of Multiple Sclerosis Based on Expanded Disability Status Scale Score in Khuzestan, Iran

Background: Multiple sclerosis is a common and chronic neurologic disorder. This disorder imposes physical, economic, and psychosocial burden on individuals, their families and society. This study aims to analyze the costs of multiple sclerosis disease based on the severity of disability. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional cost of illness study. This study was conducted in 332 patients of Khuzestan province of Iran. Data were included: Patient's characteristics, disability status, medical, and nonmedical costs and were gathered by using the questionnaire during 3 months period. Costs analysis was performed in the basis of expanded disability status scale (EDSS). Data were analyzed by using SPSS 18 software. Results: Mean age of the patients was 33.5 (standard deviation [SD]: 9.1) and 70.5% of patients were female. Mean EDSS score of the patients was 2.2 (SD: 1.6). Most patients (92.1%) had relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) form of the disease. Costs mean per patients was 8.6 ± 7.9 million Rial. The direct and indirect costs were 93.1% and 6.9% of total costs, respectively. The major cost of the disease belongs to the pharmaceutical treatment (22% of costs). The majority costs (approximately 62%) attributed to EDSS of 6-7 and >7. Furthermore, there was strong significant relationship between cost of illness and disability severity of patients (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Cost mean per MS patients was relatively high. Furthermore, the results showed that cost of disease had positive and significant relationships with EDSS score that is, progression of disability increase costs of patients.
[Prevalence and incidence of dementia among nursing home residents and residents in homes for the aged in comparison to private homes].

Based on a representative epidemiological study on dementia, prevalence and incidence rates of institutionalized individuals aged 75 years and older in comparison to those living in private homes are presented. The study was conducted between 1997 and 1999. Core component assessing cognitive function was the SIDAM (Structured Interview for the diagnosis of Dementia of the Alzheimer type, Multi-infarct dementia and dementias of other etiology according to ICD-10 and DSM-III-R, DSM-IV). If cognitive testing with study participants was not possible (e.g., due to fragility, death before examination) proxy interviews were performed with relatives or staff using the CDR (Clinical Dementia Rating). Prevalence and incidence rates in institutions were four times higher than in private homes. A prevalence rate of dementia for institutionalized individuals 75+ according to DSM-III-R of 47.6% was found; the annual incidence rate was 17.2%. This high proportion of people with dementia in institutions requires the development of new concepts of care to meet the demands of this changing situation in residential and nursing homes.
Gα12 is targeted to the mitochondria and affects mitochondrial morphology and motility

Gα12 constitutes, along with Gα13, one of the four families of α subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins. We found that the N terminus of Gα12, but not those of other Gα subunits, contains a predicted mitochondrial targeting sequence. Using confocal microscopy and cell fractionation, we demonstrated that up to 40% of endogenous Gα12 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells colocalize with mitochondrial markers. N‐terminal sequence of Gα12 fused to GFP efficiently targeted the fusion protein to mitochondria. Gα12 with mutated mitochondrial targeting sequence was still located in mitochondria, suggesting the existence of additional mechanisms for mitochondrial localization. Lysophosphatidic acid, one of the known stimuli transduced by Gα12/13, inhibited mitochondrial motility, while depletion of endogenous Gα12 increased mitochondrial motility. Gα12Q229L variants uncoupled from RhoGEFs (but not fully functional activated Gα12Q229L) induced transformation of the mitochondrial network into punctate mitochondria and resulted in a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. All examined Gα12Q229L variants reduced phosphorylation of Bcl‐2 at Ser‐70, while only mutants unable to bind RhoGEFs also decreased cellular levels of Bcl‐2. These Gα12 mutants were also more efficient Hsp90 interactors. These findings are the first demonstration of a heterotrimeric G protein α subunit specifically targeted to mitochondria and involved in the control of mitochondrial morphology and dynamics. —Andreeva, A. V. , Kutuzov, M. A. , Voyno‐Yasenetskaya, T. A. Gα12 is targeted to the mitochondria and affects mitochondrial morphology and motility. FASEB J. 22, 2821–2831 (2008)
Impact Of Social Support, Psychological Capital, And Workplace Spirituality To Employee Engagement At Company

All companies expect their employees better in terms of work performance, able to adapt to changes inEmployee engagement, Social Support, Modal Psychologis, Workplace, Spiritualitythe working environment, able to adapt the organizational culture so that employees are able tocommit the company to achieve its goals. In other words, companies need a lot of employees are tiedto the company.This study was conducted to determine the effect of social support, psychologicalcapital, and workplace spirituality to the company's employee engagement. The total population of280 employees of PT Tunas Jaya Makmur Abadi and sampled 266 employees of production takenusing purposive sampling technique.The results showed that the four dimensions of social support (areal support, information support, emotional support, and implicit support) not significant effect onemployee engagement, three-dimensional psychological capital (self-efficacy, optimism, andresilience), two dimensions of workplace spirituality (inner life and belonging to a community) thatsignificantly influence employee engagement. Researchers hope the implications of this study can bereviewed and could be developed in future studies. For example, by adding other variables related toemployee engagement that may have a bigger impact on employee engagement. DOI: 10.15408/tazkiya.v22i1. 8151
Efficacy of nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation in treating apnea of prematurity

The efficacy of nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) in treating apnea of prematurity was evaluated. Apneic preterm infants were randomly assigned to receive either NIPPV or continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) for 4 hr when they failed to respond to conservative therapy. The amount of reduction in apneic spells and bradycardia in the two groups after treatment was compared. Thirty‐four infants (18 with NIPPV, 16 with NCPAP) were enrolled. Their birth weights ranged from 590–1,880 g (mean, 1,021 g) and gestational ages from 25–32 weeks (mean, 27.6 weeks). The baseline characteristics were comparable in the two groups. Frequency of apnea and bradycardia was reduced during both forms of treatments. However, the infants receiving NIPPV had a greater reduction of apneic spells (P = 0.02) and a tendency to greater decrease in bradycardia (P = 0.09) than those receiving NCPAP. We conclude that NIPPV is more effective than NCPAP in reducing apnea in preterm infants. NIPPV may reduce bradycardia; however, this needs to be validated by a larger number of observations. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1998; 26:349–353. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Do analysts affect bad news timeliness?

I investigate the effect of analysts on the speed with which bad news is reflected in earnings. Intuitively, the more analysts that cover a firm, the more costly it will be for the firm to keep bad news suppressed. Thus, analyst coverage should positively affect bad news timeliness (BNT) (but not necessarily the differential timeliness of bad news over good news, or conditional conservatism). Using brokerage house mergers as a natural experiment with a difference-in-differences design, I find that an exogenous decrease in analyst coverage decreases BNT; that is, analysts positively affect BNT. The decrease in BNT is robust to controlling for unobserved firm heterogeneity, using a propensity score matched sample, persists for up to three years after the brokerage house merger, and is stronger for firms with relatively low analyst coverage before the merger. The result improves our understanding of how analysts affect a firm's information environment.
Achieving BP goals with valsartan and HCTZ alone and in combination: pooled analysis of two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies.

BACKGROUND Most patients with hypertension will require combination therapy to achieve blood pressure (BP) goals, especially the elderly, obese, or those with stage 2 hypertension. OBJECTIVE To assess BP response and time to achieve BP goals in a diverse population of hypertensive patients treated with hydrochlorothiazide, valsartan, or a combination. METHODS For this secondary post-hoc analysis, data were pooled from two similar randomized, double-blind, 8-week trials that evaluated hydrochlorothiazide (12.5-25 mg) and valsartan (160 mg) monotherapies, their combination (160/12.5 mg), and placebo. Subgroups were defined by age, hypertension severity, and obesity. Adults with diastolic BP > or =95 and < or =115 mmHg were included. Goal rates were estimated from a logistic model with treatment, study, age group, race, and baseline body mass index as factors and baseline diastolic BP as a covariate. Kaplan-Meier estimates were used to calculate the time to achieve BP goals. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Efficacy variables were reductions from baseline to study end in systolic BP and diastolic BP, rates of achieving BP goals (<140/90 mmHg), and time to achieve BP goals. Adverse events were also reported for the pooled trials. RESULTS BP reductions at study end and goal achievement rates were greater with combination therapy (-20/15 mmHg and 72%, respectively) than with either monotherapy (valsartan 160 mg: -14/11 mmHg, 61%; hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg: -14/10 mmHg, 50%) for the overall population (N=1313) and in patient subgroups. Patients treated with initial combination therapy reached goal in 27-56% of the time needed for those treated with monotherapy. Combination therapy was well tolerated and was associated with a decreased incidence of hypokalemia compared with hydrochlorothiazide monotherapy. CONCLUSIONS Compared with monotherapy, combination therapy resulted in greater reductions in BP and achievement of goal BP in a shorter period of time. Although interpretation of this study is subject to the limitations associated with any post-hoc analysis, the results suggest that initiating treatment with combination therapy may be considered for expedient and effective BP control.
The effect of tubular penetration of root canal sealers on dye microleakage.

An in vitro study of a possible correlation between penetration of dentinal tubules by four root canal sealers and microleakage of external fluids into the canal was done using a dye leakage method and scanning electron microscopy. The root canals of 45 teeth were instrumented and the smear layer removed prior to obturation of root canals with gutta-percha and one of four sealers: Diaket, Endomethasone, CRCS or Ketac-Endo. The extent of leakage was scored after immersion in India ink for 72 h. The same specimens were also used for scanning electron microscopic evaluation. There was a statistical difference in leakage patterns between the groups (P < 0.05). Diaket had lower microleakage scores than the other sealers (P < 0.05). When the scores for penetration of sealers into the tubules were analysed, Ketac-Endo demonstrated the least penetration (P < 0.01). There appeared to be a converse relation between tubular penetration and dye leakage, but the correlation was not statistically significant (P > 0.05).
Long-term management and prognosis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH): a single center experience.

BACKGROUND Controlled trials have firmly established the need for immunosuppressive therapy in autoimmune hepatitis. However, reports about long-term management and prognosis of the disease are scarce. PATIENTS AND METHODS We reviewed the charts of 103 consecutive patients with a well-documented long-term course of autoimmune hepatitis who had been carefully managed over a mean observation period of 95 months (12-405 months). RESULTS Under immunosuppressive therapy 94 patients (91.2%) reached complete remission after a mean treatment duration of 3 +/- 3 months. 28 of the 103 patients (27.2%) were eligible for a trial of treatment withdrawal after a mean treatment duration of 32.2 months (range: 12-81 months). 21 of these patients (75%) had a relapse following treatment withdrawal. 13.6% of patients had intolerance of or severe side effects to azathioprine. There was no increase in tumor risk during a cumulative observation period of 423 patient-years of azathioprine therapy. Corticosteroid side effects occurred mostly during induction therapy, but were usually minor and resolved upon dose reduction. During a cumulative observation period of 842 patient-years no liver related deaths occurred and no patient had to be referred to liver transplantation, even though 30 patients (29.1%) had histological evidence of cirrhosis at presentation. The overall 5- and 10-year survival of patients with autoimmune hepatitis was identical to an age- and sex-matched control population. CONCLUSION Our study shows that the majority of patients with AIH do achieve a complete remission within 3 months, but require long-term or permanent immunosuppressive therapy that is usually well tolerated. Long-term survival in well-managed patients is excellent.
Audiological findings in patients submitted to kidney transplant.

PURPOSE To investigate the auditory behavior of patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) undergoing kidney transplantation. METHODS Thirty patients were evaluated, 10 (33.33%) females and 20 (66.67%) males, aging from 13 to 26 years (average, 16.97 years; standard deviation, 3.60 years). Patients underwent the following procedures: anamnesis, otolaryngological examination, audiological evaluation (pure tone and high frequency), acoustic impedance measurements and central auditory processing evaluation. A control group was used to compare the high-frequency audiometry results. RESULTS The following observations were made: absence of auditory complaints at the time of anamnesis; pure-tone audiometry was predominantly normal; patients presented lower hearing levels at the high-frequency audiometry, when compared to the control group, and as for the acoustic impedance measurements, curves of the type A were predominant; there was a change of the central auditory processing for 14 patients (46.67%) in the Staggered Spondaic Word Test (SSW); there was a significant difference between the age variable and the result of the pure-tone audiometry, that is, hearing sensitivity in thresholds from 250Hz to 8,000Hz decreased with advancing age; and the relation between the type of donor and the SSW test result was significant. Rates were higher when the patients had been transplanted from deceased donors compared to living donors. CONCLUSION There were no changes in conventional audiological and high-frequency evaluation, or in the central auditory processing. Professionals involved in the care of kidney transplantation recipients must be better informed about the care, prevention, and early identification of auditory disorders.
Relationship between Intracellular Na+ Concentration and Reduced Na+ Affinity in Na+,K+-ATPase Mutants Causing Neurological Disease*

Background: Na+,K+-ATPase mutations extending the C terminus cause neurological disease. Results: C-terminal extension reduces Na+ affinity. Analysis of several mutants establishes a relationship between change in Na+ affinity and change of intracellular Na+ and K+ concentrations. Conclusion: The Na+ affinity of the Na+,K+-ATPase is a major in vivo determinant of the intracellular Na+ concentration. Significance: Insight in pathophysiology and regulation of the Na+,K+-ATPase is obtained. The neurological disorders familial hemiplegic migraine type 2 (FHM2), alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC), and rapid-onset dystonia parkinsonism (RDP) are caused by mutations of Na+,K+-ATPase α2 and α3 isoforms, expressed in glial and neuronal cells, respectively. Although these disorders are distinct, they overlap in phenotypical presentation. Two Na+,K+-ATPase mutations, extending the C terminus by either 28 residues (“+28” mutation) or an extra tyrosine (“+Y”), are associated with FHM2 and RDP, respectively. We describe here functional consequences of these and other neurological disease mutations as well as an extension of the C terminus only by a single alanine. The dependence of the mutational effects on the specific α isoform in which the mutation is introduced was furthermore studied. At the cellular level we have characterized the C-terminal extension mutants and other mutants, addressing the question to what extent they cause a change of the intracellular Na+ and K+ concentrations ([Na+]i and [K+]i) in COS cells. C-terminal extension mutants generally showed dramatically reduced Na+ affinity without disturbance of K+ binding, as did other RDP mutants. No phosphorylation from ATP was observed for the +28 mutation of α2 despite a high expression level. A significant rise of [Na+]i and reduction of [K+]i was detected in cells expressing mutants with reduced Na+ affinity and did not require a concomitant reduction of the maximal catalytic turnover rate or expression level. Moreover, two mutations that increase Na+ affinity were found to reduce [Na+]i. It is concluded that the Na+ affinity of the Na+,K+-ATPase is an important determinant of [Na+]i.
Heterogeneous epigenetic regulation of TIMP3 in prostate cancer

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP3) is a tumor suppressor gene frequently downregulated in prostate cancer. The mechanisms involved in TIMP3 transcriptional repression are not fully understood, but evidence suggests that promoter hypermethylation may not be the predominant epigenetic alteration in prostate cancer. To clarify this issue, we examined the contribution of both CpG site promoter methylation and histone modifications on TIMP3 downregulation. Using publicly available data sets, we confirmed that TIMP3 mRNA expression is decreased in prostate tumors relative to normal glands. Immunohistochemical analysis also showed decreased TIMP3 levels in high-grade primary tumors, but promoter hypermethylation was only detected in 6 of 28 (21%) high-grade specimens. Similarly, in prostate cancer cells, TIMP3 hypermethylation was only observed in DU145 cells. Treatment of DU145 cells with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR) restored TIMP3 expression, and this was significantly amplified by co-treating the cells with the HDAC inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA). Alternatively, in cells that did not exhibit aberrant TIMP3 methylation (LNCaP and PC3), TIMP3 expression could be upregulated by the combination of histone methylation inhibitor 3-Deazaneplanocin A (DZNep) and TSA. This reversal of transcriptional repression was associated with decreased H3K27me3 and increased H3K9ac histone marks at the TIMP3 promoter, as demonstrated by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Collectively, these results indicate that histone modifications can contribute to TIMP3 repression in the absence of promoter hypermethylation, and suggest that the combination of histone modifying agents could restore TIMP3 expression in prostate tumors harboring aberrant histone modifications at the TIMP3 promoter.
Ultra-Fast Activity and Intraday Market Quality

This paper studies the intraday relationship between ultra-fast machine-driven activity (UFA) and market quality in automated equity markets. We find that higher UFA is associated with lower intraday market quality (greater quoted and effective spreads and lower depth). This effect is economically significant, and robust to different specifications, endogeneity tests, and alternative measures of UFA. Our results hold after controlling for volatility, periods of unusually high UFA (a proxy for quote stuffing), and periods where UFA is primarily driven by fleeting orders inside the spread (a proxy for spoofing and competition between liquidity providers).
U.S. Income Comparisons with Regional Price Parity Adjustments

Abstract Using official regional price parities (RPPs) recently released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, we investigate how RPP adjustments affect the entire distribution of U.S. family incomes, poverty, inequality, tax progressivity, and metro-size agglomeration premiums. We find that higher-income families tend to live in higher-price areas, so regional mean incomes converge as real incomes fall in richer, higher-cost regions and rise in poorer, lower-cost regions. Further, the differences in poverty rates for the metro and non-metro areas vanish and we find re-rankings in poverty rates among the 9 Census Divisions. RPP adjustments also influence income inequality and effective U.S. tax progressivity. They increase effective federal tax progressivity by more than 25 %, equivalent to a $2,500 cash transfer. When we control for local prices and the characteristics of the family head, income (agglomeration) premiums for major metropolitan areas largely, but not completely, disappear.
An Overview of QT Interval Assessment in Safety Pharmacology

Medicinal products that prolong cardiac repolarization, as assessed in terms of prolongation of the QT interval of the electrocardiogram, may trigger torsade de pointe, a potentially fatal arrhythmia. The lethality of this risk necessitates a detailed preclinical evaluation before initiating clinical trials. The strategy for assessing the potential of new chemical entities to cause QT interval prolongation involves two complementary approaches. An in vivo test provides information on the potential of the agent to prolong the QT interval under near‐physiological conditions. The results are mostly descriptive, providing little insight into the mechanisms of action. In vitro experiments provide more mechanistic data, although the test procedure is far removed from the clinical situation. While both approaches have reasonable predictive value, the results may depend largely on the experimental conditions employed. Discussed in this unit are experimental issues that should be considered when testing agents for their potential to cause arrhythmias, as well as general strategies for understanding the problems associated with this cardiovascular risk. Curr. Protoc. Pharmacol. 61:10.7. 1‐10.7. 14 © 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Antioxidative Effects of Cherry Leaves Extract on tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide-Mediated Cytotoxicity Through Regulation of Thioredoxin-2 Protein Expression Levels

Components of cherry trees have been used as traditional herbal remedies for various diseases. These components are known to possess antioxidative effects. However, the mechanisms underlying cherry tree component-mediated antioxidative effects remain largely unknown. This study focused on cherry leaves extract (CLE) and examined the mechanism underlying the effect of CLE on tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BOOH)-induced melanocytic cell death with DNA damage. Interestingly, CLE prevented t-BOOH-induced cell death with reduction in DNA damage, p38 kinase activation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. CLE-mediated suppression of cell death with reduction of DNA damage, p38 kinase activity and ROS production was prevented by a thioredoxin (Trx) system inhibitor but not by a glutathione (GSH) system inhibitor. Finally, data showed that CLE prevented t-BOOH-induced reduction of Trx2 but not Trx1 and Trx reductases (TrxR1 and TrxR2) protein expression. Thus, our results suggest that CLE prevents t-BOOH-induced reduction in Trx2 expression, promotion of ROS production, activation of p38 kinase, and increase in DNA damage and that it protects against cell death.