Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Contemporary trends in the epidemiology and management of cardiomyopathy and pericarditis in sub-Saharan Africa

Heart failure in sub-Saharan Africans is mainly due to non-ischaemic causes, such as hypertension, rheumatic heart disease, cardiomyopathy and pericarditis. The two endemic diseases that are major contributors to the clinical syndrome of heart failure in Africa are cardiomyopathy and pericarditis. The major forms of endemic cardiomyopathy are idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, peripartum cardiomyopathy and endomyocardial fibrosis. Endomyocardial fibrosis, which affects children, has the worst prognosis. Other cardiomyopathies have similar epidemiological characteristics to those of other populations in the world. HIV infection is associated with occurrence of HIV-associated cardiomyopathy in patients with advanced immunosuppression, and the rise in the incidence of tuberculous pericarditis. HIV-associated tuberculous pericarditis is characterised by larger pericardial effusion, a greater frequency of myopericarditis, and a higher mortality than in people without AIDS. Population-based studies on the epidemiology of heart failure, cardiomyopathy and pericarditis in Africans, and studies of new interventions to reduce mortality, particularly in endomyocardial fibrosis and tuberculous pericarditis, are needed.
A 12-Residue-long Polyleucine Tail Is Sufficient to Anchor Synaptobrevin to the Endoplasmic Reticulum Membrane (*)

Synaptobrevin is a tail-anchored protein with a hydrophobic C-terminal transmembrane segment that inserts into the endoplasmic reticulum membrane independently of the SRP/Sec61p pathway. Here, we show that idealized hydrophobic segments composed of 11-17 leucines and 1 valine function as insertion signals in vitro, whereas shorter segments do not. These results suggest that there are no specific requirements beyond overall hydrophobicity for C-terminal endoplasmic reticulum insertion signals.
Association between mitochondrial DNA content in leukocytes and colorectal cancer risk

Compelling epidemiological evidence indicated that alterations of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), including mutations and abnormal content of mtDNA, were implicated in the tumorigenesis of several malignancies in a tumor‐specific manner, such as lung cancer, breast cancer, and non‐Hodgkin lymphoma. This study was undertaken to investigate whether mtDNA content in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) could be used as a risk predictor for colorectal cancer (CRC).
Do illness characteristics and familial risk differ between women with anorexia nervosa grouped on the basis of personality pathology?

Background. In view of the potential utility of personality-based groupings in eating disorders (EDs), and the lack of studies using this approach in large samples of individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN), this study set out to examine (i) the nature of personality-based clusters of women with lifetime AN and (ii) if these clusters are associated with either clinical symptoms or aetiological variables. Method. The self-report Dimensional Assessment of Personality Pathology (DAPP) was completed by 153 women with a lifetime diagnosis of DSM-IV AN. A cluster analysis was used to identify personality-based subgroups. Clusters were then compared on clinical and aetiological variables. Results. Three personality-based clusters were identified, defined by broad, avoidant and compulsive types of personality pathology. Dimensions of low dissocial behaviour, high inhibition and high compulsivity were common to all clusters, while dimensions related to emotional dysregulation appeared more heterogeneous. Clinical symptoms were not related to personality profile with the exception of a trend towards more fasting behaviour in the broad group. The compulsive cluster with the narrowest range of extreme personality traits reported the highest familial risk of eating pathology. Conclusions. The three clusters identified in our AN sample were similar to those previously identified in broader eating disordered samples. Personality-based clusters did not correspond overall to clinical symptoms but aetiological differences supported their validity. Broader personality pathology indicative of emotional dysregulation, problems with identity and relationships, in addition to core traits, may increase vulnerability to AN in those with less familial risk.
Poincaré series of character varieties for nilpotent groups

Abstract For any compact, connected Lie group G and any finitely generated nilpotent group Γ, we determine the cohomology of the path component of the trivial representation of the group character variety (representation space) Rep⁢(Γ,G)1{{\rm Rep}(\Gamma,G)_{1}}, with coefficients in a field 𝔽{{\mathbb{F}}} with characteristic 0 or relatively prime to the order of the Weyl group W. We give explicit formulas for the Poincaré series. In addition, we study G-equivariant stable decompositions of subspaces X⁢(q,G){{\rm X}(q,G)} of the free monoid J⁢(G){J(G)} generated by the Lie group G, obtained from representations of finitely generated free nilpotent groups.
Role of AUF 1 and HuR in the pH-responsive stabilization of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA in LLC-PK 1F cells

Mufti J, Hajarnis S, Shepardson K, Gummadi L, Taylor L, Curthoys NP. Role of AUF1 and HuR in the pH-responsive stabilization of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA in LLCPK1-F cells. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 301: F1066–F1077, 2011. First published July 27, 2011; doi:10.1152/ajprenal.00303. 2011. — Onset of metabolic acidosis leads to a rapid and pronounced increase in expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) in rat renal proximal convoluted tubules. This adaptive response is modeled by treating a clonal line of porcine LLC-PK1-F cells with an acidic medium (pH 6.9, 9 mM HCO3 ). Measurement of the half-lives of PEPCK mRNA in cells treated with normal (pH 7.4, 26 mM HCO3 ) and acidic medium established that the observed increase is due in part to stabilization of the PEPCK mRNA. The pH-responsive stabilization was reproduced in a Tet-responsive chimeric reporter mRNA containing the 3=-UTR of PEPCK mRNA. This response was lost by mutation of a highly conserved AU sequence that binds AUF1 and is the primary element that mediates the rapid turnover of PEPCK mRNA. However, siRNA knockdown of AUF1 had little effect on the basal levels and the pH-responsive increases in PEPCK mRNA and protein. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays established that purified recombinant HuR, another AU element binding protein, also binds with high affinity and specificity to multiple sites within the final 92-nucleotides of the 3=-UTR of the PEPCK mRNA, including the highly conserved AU-rich element. siRNA knockdown of HuR caused pronounced decreases in basal expression and the pH-responsive increases in PEPCK mRNA and protein. Therefore, basal expression and the pH-responsive stabilization of PEPCK mRNA in LLCPK1-F cells, and possibly in the renal proximal tubule, may require the remodeling of HuR and AUF1 binding to the elements that mediate the rapid turnover of PEPCK mRNA.
Dyslipidemias and hypothyroidism.

BACKGROUND Abnormalities in plasma lipids are most frequently the result of the interaction between the individual and the environment; therefore, it is essential to look for secondary causes in all patients with dyslipidemia. AIM To describe the pathogenesis of dyslipidemia and in particular the role of hypothyroidism as a secondary dyslipidemia. MAIN DATA Overt hypothyroidism (OH) is associated to impairment of the lipid profile both quantitatively and qualitatively. Subclinical hypothyroidism (5CH) has been also related to lipid derangement albeit with milder impact. Moreover, the association between low thyroid function and lipid plasma levels has been also found to extend into the normal range of TSH. However, confounders such as age, gender and body weight may modify this association. The effects of treatment with levothyroxine for cholesterol reduction are warranted in OH while in SCH, larger interventional studies on lipid reduction with levothyroxine are lacking. CONCLUSION Hypothyroidism should always be considered in the evaluation of patients with dyslipidemia.
Dissociation and Recombination between Ligands and Heme in a CO-sensing Transcriptional Activator CooA

CooA from Rhodospirillum rubrum is a transcriptional activator in which a heme prosthetic group acts as a CO sensor and regulates the activity of the protein. In this study, the electronic relaxation of the heme, and the concurrent recombination between ligands and the heme at ∼280 K were examined in an effort to understand the environment around the heme and the dynamics of the ligands. Upon photoexcitation of the reduced CooA at 400 nm, electronic relaxation of the heme occurred with time constants of 0.8 and 1.7 ps. The ligand rebinding was substantially completed with a time constant of 6.5 ps, followed by a slow relaxation process with a time constant of 173 ps. In the case of CO-bound CooA, relaxation of the excited heme occurred with two time constants, 1.1 and 2.4 ps, which were largely similar to those with reduced CooA. The subsequent CO recombination process was remarkably fast compared with that of other CO-bound heme proteins. It was well described as a biphasic geminate recombination process with time constants of 78 ps (60%) and 386 ps (30%). About 10% of the excited heme remained unligated at 1.9 ns. The dynamics of rebinding of CO thus will help us to understand how the physiologically relevant diatomic molecule approaches the heme binding site in CooA with picosecond resolution.
Nonsebaceous lymphadenoma of the parotid gland: Cytopathologic findings and differential diagnosis

Lymphadenomas (sebaceous and nonsebaceous types) of the salivary glands are extremely uncommon benign neoplasms. There are rare published reports of cytopathologic characteristics of “nonsebaceous lymphadenomas” of the parotid gland. We report herein, the case of an 80‐year‐old female who was evaluated at The Johns Hopkins Hospital for a 4.0 cm, nontender, mobile asymptomatic left parotid mass present for 3 months. An ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration revealed a uniform population of cohesive basaloid‐type cells associated with scant myxoid stroma and was interpreted as “epithelioid neoplasm with basaloid features. ” Subsequently, a superficial parotidectomy was performed, which revealed a nonsebaceous type lymphadenoma. The rarity of this neoplasm and its superficial resemblance to more common salivary gland neoplasms may present diagnostic issues on FNA. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Influence of glenosphere design and material on clinical outcomes of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty

Background The aim of this multicentre retrospective study was to compare reverse total shoulder arthroplasty clinical outcomes with glenospheres of different diameters, designs and materials. Methods Between 2003 and 2008, 133 patients were divided into three groups: 60 (45%) with 36-mm standard CoCrMo (group A), 21 (16%) with 36-mm eccentric cobalt-chromium-molybdenum (CoCrMo) (group B) and 52 (39%) with 44-mm cross-linked ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (X-UHMWPE) (group C) glenospheres. Mean (SD) follow-up was 38.7 (17.4) months. Clinical evaluation included Constant score and range of motion. Radiographic analysis included radiolucent lines, instability, loosening and assessment of scapular notching. Results Mean Constant score significantly increased for all groups (Wilcoxon test, p < 0.001). Group C allowed a higher and stable increase in range of motion. After 12 months and 24 months, groups C and B showed less pain than group A (Mann–Whitney U-test, p < 0.05). Group C had significantly lower scapular notching than group B (Mann–Whitney U-test, p = 0.001) and A (Mann–Whitney U-test, p = 0.009) at 12 months, 24 months and 36 months. Groups A and C presented 5 (8.3%) and 4 (7.6%) early complications, respectively. Conclusions The present study reported good results for all groups, although groups C and A presented better clinical outcomes, significantly lower notching and instability. A 44-mm X-UHMWPE glenosphere allowed a faster and more stable functional recovery, despite poorest pre-operative conditions. Additional long-term studies are needed to evaluate survivorship.
Prevalence, incidence, and predictors of dating violence: a longitudinal study of African American female adolescents.

BACKGROUND Few longitudinal studies have examined predictors of dating violence, a public health issue that may be more prevalent among African Americans. Our objective was to examine the prevalence, incidence, and predictors of dating violence in an African American sample using the theory of gender and power. METHODS A longitudinal design with a 1-year follow-up period was used. Recruiters screened adolescents from a variety of venues, including school health classes, county health department clinics, and adolescent health clinics. Study participants were 522 African American females 14-18 years of age. This study achieved an 85.7% participation rate. Dating violence was defined as ever having experienced verbal or physical abuse perpetrated by a boyfriend. RESULTS At baseline, 28% of adolescents reported a history of dating violence. To calculate the 1-year incidence of dating violence, adolescents reporting a history of dating violence at baseline were excluded from subsequent longitudinal analyses. In longitudinal analyses, the 1-year incidence of dating violence was 12%. Logistic regression analyses identified four factors at baseline that were predictive of dating violence. This four-factor model correctly classified 87.6% of adolescents according to whether or not they experienced dating violence during the 1-year follow-up. Controlling for public financial assistance, relative to adolescents not experiencing dating violence, those who did were 2.0 times more likely to report less understanding of healthy relationships (CI = 1.1-3.9, p = 0.02), 2.0 times more likely to report using drugs (CI = 1.0-3.7, p = 0.02), and 1.9 times more likely to have viewed X-rated movies (CI = 1.0-3.7, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that secondary prevention of dating violence necessitates educating clinicians on the importance of screening and training practitioners in clinical settings on how to effectively screen adolescents for dating violence, including risk factors for victimization.
Using Graph Models to Analyze the Vulnerability of Electric Power Networks

In this article, we model electric power delivery networks as graphs, and conduct studies of two power transmission grids, i.e., the Nordic and the western states (U.S.) transmission grid. We calculate values of topological (structural) characteristics of the networks and compare their error and attack tolerance (structural vulnerability), i.e., their performance when vertices are removed, with two frequently used theoretical reference networks (the Erdös‐Rényi random graph and the Barabási‐Albert scale‐free network). Further, we perform a structural vulnerability analysis of a fictitious electric power network with simple structure. In this analysis, different strategies to decrease the vulnerability of the system are evaluated. Finally, we present a discussion on the practical applicability of graph modeling.
Whole plantar nerve conduction study with disposable strip electrodes

Introduction: A new method to evaluate whole plantar nerve conduction with disposable strip electrodes (DSEs) is described. Methods: Whole plantar compound nerve action potentials (CNAPs) were recorded at the ankle. DSEs were attached to the sole for simultaneous stimulation of medial and lateral plantar nerves. We also conducted medial plantar nerve conduction studies using an established method and compared the findings. Results: Whole plantar CNAPs were recorded bilaterally from 32 healthy volunteers. Mean baseline to peak amplitude for CNAPs was 26.9 ± 11.8 μV, and mean maximum conduction velocity was 65.8 ± 8.3 m/s. The mean amplitude of CNAPs obtained by our method was 58.2% higher than that of CNAPs obtained by the Saeed method (26.9 μV vs. 17.0 μV; P < 0.0001). Conclusions: The higher mean amplitude of whole plantar CNAPs obtained by our method suggests that it enables CNAPs to be obtained easily, even in elderly people. Muscle Nerve 53: 209–213, 2016
On split FIR filtering in blind equalization

This paper presents the implementation of blind equalizers with a new filtering structure, the split transversal filter. The aim is to improve the robustness of known blind algorithms. Comparisons between the new scheme and the traditional structure for three of the Bussgang techniques are presented. While the traditional equalizers are attracted by a local minimum, the split equalizer can avoid them and reach the global solution.
A new concept for treatment of sinonasal polyposis

cut (1). As part of a study of the medical, psychological, and social determinants of quality of life (QoL) in childhood asthma, we wished to examine this relationship. All 55 consecutive 7±9-year-old children with asthma and their families attending a hospital asthma/allergy clinic and all 16 attending a local pediatric clinic were approached. A total of 61 children (86%) participated, 36 boys and 25 girls. U-EPX was analyzed from a frozen ®rst morning urinary sample by the Pharmacia radioimmunoassay method. Asthmaspeci®c QoL was measured with the Swedish version of the Paediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (2). Peak expiratory ̄ow rate (PEFR) was measured with a MIR Spirobank portable spirometer, as the best of three values, without termination of any medication, and expressed as percentage of expected rate with adjustment for sex and height (3). Parental scoring from 0 to 3 of daytime coughing/wheezing, exerciseinduced symptoms, nighttime awakening, and absence from school due to asthma was summed to a 1-week symptom score. According to the child's medical records (clinical grading), 11 children had mild asthma, 40 moderate, and 10 severe disease by the criteria given by Barnes & Godfrey (4). Nonparametric rank correlation was used for statistical analysis. Median U-EPX was 88.6 mg/mmol creatinine (95% con®dence interval 67.5±135.7 mg/mmol), with no difference between boys and girls. In healthy children of the same age group, Lugosi et al. found median U-EPX 35.3 mg/mmol (95% CI 25.9±50.2 mg/mmol) with the same method of analysis as ours (5). As seen in Table 1, U-EPX is related to PEFR, as shown earlier (5), but not to other severity measures. The severity measures based on the child's own understanding (asthma-speci®c QoL), parental perception (symptom score), and the physician's interpretation (clinical grading) interrelate, indicating the validity of the measures. In conclusion, U-EPX and PEFR re ̄ect an aspect in common of the asthmatic response, but our ®ndings give no further support for applying U-EPX as a general measure of disease severity in childhood asthma. Acknowledgments This work was supported by the Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association and Greta and Einar Asker's Foundation. Staffan Redfors and AÊ ke Johansson gave advice on spirometric measures and Kristina Krapf on assay of U-EPX.
Alberta euthanasia survey: 1. Physicians' opinions about the morality and legalization of active euthanasia.

OBJECTIVE To ascertain the opinions of a sample of Alberta physicians about the morality and legalization of active euthanasia, the determinants of these opinions and the frequency and sources of requests for assistance in active euthanasia. DESIGN Cross-sectional survey of a random sample of Alberta physicians, grouped by site and type of practice. SETTING Alberta. PARTICIPANTS A total of 2002 (46%) of the licensed physicians in Alberta were mailed a 38-item questionnaire in May through July 1991; usable responses were returned by 1391 (69%). RESULTS Of the respondents 44% did believe that it is sometimes right to practice active euthanasia; 46% did not. Moral acceptance of active euthanasia correlated with type of practice and religious affiliation and activity. In all, 28% of the physicians stated that they would practice active euthanasia if it were legalized, and 51% indicated that they would not. These opinions were significantly related to sex, religious affiliation and activity, and country of graduation. Just over half (51%) of the respondents stated that the law should be changed to permit patients to request active euthanasia. Requests (usually from patients) were reportedly received by 19% of the physicians, 78% of whom received fewer than five. CONCLUSIONS This survey revealed severely disparate opinions among Alberta physicians about the morality of active euthanasia. In particular, religious affiliation and activity were associated with the polarized opinions. The desire for active euthanasia, as inferred from requests by patients, was not frequent. Overall, there was no strong support expressed by the physicians for the personal practice of legalized active euthanasia. These data will be vital to those involved in health education and public policy formation about active euthanasia in Alberta and the rest of Canada.
Manual turns in patients receiving mechanical ventilation.

gins of this common intervention are unclear, it has been adopted in a variety of guidelines. Up to 90% of acute care patients who need assistance in repositioning do not receive manual turning every 2 hours despite these guidelines. Among patients who are in an ICU bed, direct observations indicate that the mean number of manual turns during a 24-hour period ranges from 2 to 6 times instead of the 11 to 12 times expected.
Mutagenesis of the BH3 Domain of BAX Identifies Residues Critical for Dimerization and Killing

ABSTRACT The BCL-2 family of proteins is comprised of proapoptotic as well as antiapoptotic members (S. N. Farrow and R. Brown, Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev. 6:45–49, 1996). A prominent death agonist, BAX, forms homodimers and heterodimerizes with multiple antiapoptotic members. Death agonists have an amphipathic α helix, called BH3; however, the initial assessment of BH3 in BAX has yielded conflicting results. Our BAX deletion constructs and minimal domain constructs indicated that the BH3 domain was required for BAX homodimerization and heterodimerization with BCL-2, BCL-XL, and MCL-1. An extensive site-directed mutagenesis of BH3 revealed that substitutions along the hydrophobic face of BH3, especially charged substitutions, had the greatest affects on dimerization patterns and death agonist activity. Particularly instructive was the BAX mutant mIII-1 (L63A, G67A, L70A, and M74A), which replaced the hydrophobic face of BH3 with alanines, preserving its amphipathic nature. BAXmIII-1 failed to form heterodimers or homodimers by yeast two-hybrid or immunoprecipitation analysis yet retained proapoptotic activity. This suggests that BAX’s killing function reflects mechanisms beyond its binding to BCL-2 or BCL-XL to inhibit them or simply displace other protein partners. Notably, BAXmIII-1 was found predominantly in mitochondrial membranes, where it was homodimerized as assessed by homobifunctional cross-linkers. This characteristic of BAXmIII-1 correlates with its capacity to induce mitochondrial dysfunction, caspase activation, and apoptosis. These data are consistent with a model in which BAX death agonist activity may require an intramembranous conformation of this molecule that is not assessed accurately by classic binding assays.