Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of infarct-related artery patency before primary PCI on outcome in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: the HORIZONS-AMI trial.

AIMS We assessed the impact of early infarct-related artery (IRA) recanalisation on the outcomes of patients in the recently conducted, large-scale, multicentre HORIZONS-AMI trial. METHODS AND RESULTS Of the 3,602 patients enrolled in the HORIZONS-AMI trial, 3,093 patients (85.9%) were treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to a single artery. We analysed one-year outcomes in these patients according to the presence or absence of early IRA patency, defined as Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 2 or 3 flow in the IRA. Baseline coronary angiography showed early IRA patency in 1,121 patients (36.2%), while 1,972 patients (63.8%) had TIMI 0 or 1 flow. The presence compared with the absence of early IRA patency was associated with better angiographic results after primary PCI with more TIMI 3 flow after PCI (93.2% vs. 82.9%, p<0.0001) and myocardial blush grade 2 or 3 (84.4% vs. 71.1%, p<0.0001). Early IRA patency was associated with lower rates of one-year mortality (2.5% vs. 3.9%, p=0.04) and definite or probable stent thrombosis (2.0% vs. 4.0%, p=0.002). In multivariable analysis, early IRA patency at baseline angiography was an independent predictor of reduced mortality at one year (HR 0.58, 95% CI: 0.36-0.98, p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS Early IRA patency in patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI is associated with better TIMI flow and myocardial blush post PCI and is an independent predictor of lower one-year mortality. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT00433966.
Public Corporate Governance and Performance Information in Local Utilities: The Different Perceptions of Politicians and Managers

The modernisation of the public sector has often resulted in an increased focus on performance. In this context, an intense debate has developed regarding the introduction of new tools and governance systems. Particular attention has been paid to performance management and public corporate governance with regard to relationships with both external (stakeholders) and internal (politicians and management) actors. Thanks to public corporate governance in LPUs, public administrations are able to communicate their efforts to citizens in order to satisfy public needs and, at the same time, they can better measure their performance. Political parties in many municipalities and other groups regard public corporate governance as essential to accounting for governmental activities, outputs and outcomes. Managers, for their part, need information about the impact of local public services and in order to carry out day-to-day management of municipal organisation. The paper conducts a detailed analysis of performance information use in LPUs and highlights differences in perceptions and aims among elected officials and managers. The research focuses on a population consisting of 116 local authorities with more than 5,000 inhabitants. The research was carried out through a questionnaire submitted to the manager responsible for the LPUs and to the mayor. The number of authors who have compared the information use of politicians and managers is still limited and the evidence continues to be very mixed.
Tenascin C and tenascin R similarly prevent the formation of myelin membranes in a RhoA‐dependent manner, but antagonistically regulate the expression of myelin basic protein via a separate pathway

Membrane formation and the initiation of myelin gene expression are hallmarks of the differentiation of oligodendrocytes from their precursors. Here, we compared the roles of the two related extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoproteins Tenascin C (Tnc) and Tenascin R (Tnr) in oligodendrocyte differentiation. Oligodendrocyte precursors from Tnr‐deficient mice exhibited reduced differentiation, as revealed by retarded expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) in culture. This could be rescued with purified Tnr. In contrast, when we cultured oligodendrocytes on a Tnc‐containing, astrocyte‐derived ECM, they barely expressed MBP. This inhibition could be overcome when we used ECM from astrocytes deficient for Tnc, suggesting that Tnc inhibits differentiation. In contrast to their antagonistic effect on differentiation, both Tnc and Tnr similarly inhibited morphologic maturation. When oligodendrocytes were cultured on the purified glycoproteins, process elaboration and membrane expansion were reduced. Both Tnc and Tnr interfered with the activation of the small GTPase RhoA. Conversely, RhoA and Rac1 activation induced by cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 (CNF1) increased the formation of myelin membranes, whereas Y27632‐mediated inhibition of the Rho‐cascade prevented it without, however, affecting the fraction of MBP‐expressing cells. Because Tnc and Tnr play antagonistic roles for differentiation and comparably inhibit morphologic maturation, we conclude that independent molecular pathways regulate these processes. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
News People's Ideology and the Credibility Debate

Data show newspaper journalists' tendency toward liberal philosophies is reflected in attitudes toward credibility, the way journalists and newspapers approach doing their jobs, coverage of different kinds of people, news judgment issues, press freedoms and evaluations of their newspapers. This tendency may contribute indirectly to public distrust of newspapers and other media because the public tends to be more conservative than journalists on these issues. Journalists' attitudes seem related to a “world view” which sets journalists, and one subgroup in particular, apart from the public as a whole.
Functionally Defective High-Density Lipoproteins Are Related to Heightened T-Cell Activation in Vertically HIV-Infected Adolescents

Abstract:We assessed high-density lipoprotein (HDL) anti-inflammatory properties in a cohort of vertically HIV-infected adolescents. We hypothesized that proatherogenic mechanisms related to inflammation and immune activation during HIV infection may impair HDL functionality and impact on the atherosclerotic burden. Compared with healthy controls, HDL from HIV-infected adolescents presented impaired functionality, as determined by its ability to inhibit monocyte chemotaxis in vitro, which correlated with detectable viral loads (P = 0.044), lower CD4 nadir (P = 0.043), increased levels of CD4 T-cell activation (P = 0.018), higher C-reactive protein (P = 0.009), and a tendency toward thicker carotid intima-media thickness (P = 0.071).
The Macroeconomic Impact of Ebola Virus Disease (Evd): A Contribution to the Empirics of Growth

The paper addressed the formulation of a macro model to capture the macroeconomic impact of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). Previous studies has adopted various models such as the dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) model, endogenous model and the LINKAGE model, but there is dire need to generate a step-by-step model which will comprehensively capture how the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) impacts on macroeconomic variables. Adopting the traditional neoclassical growth model, the model aggregated the various macroeconomic variables as well as captured the epidemic’s strain on each of these variables. The paper also empirically shows that the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has direct, indirect and deferred indirect cost implications for the economy. Using case studies of countries in Africa, the study evaluated how the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has affected the macroeconomic status of selected economies. The findings imply that there is dire need to control the spread of the deadly plague. The paper contribute immensely to empirical studies in the field of macroeconomics.
Working Memory Regulates Trait Anxiety-Related Threat Processing Biases

High trait anxious individuals tend to show biased processing of threat. Correlational evidence suggests that executive control could be used to regulate such threat-processing. On this basis, we hypothesized that trait anxiety-related cognitive biases regarding threat should be exaggerated when executive control is experimentally impaired by loading working memory. In Study 1, 68 undergraduates read ambiguous vignettes under high and low working memory load; later, their interpretations of these vignettes were assessed via a recognition test. Trait anxiety predicted biased interpretation of social threat vignettes under high working memory load, but not under low working memory load. In Study 2, 53 undergraduates completed a dot probe task with fear-conditioned Japanese characters serving as threat stimuli. Trait anxiety predicted attentional bias to the threat stimuli but, again, this only occurred under high working memory load. Interestingly however, actual eye movements toward the threat stimuli were only associated with state anxiety, and this was not moderated by working memory load, suggesting that executive control regulates biased threat-processing downstream of initial input processes such as orienting. These results suggest that cognitive loads can exacerbate trait anxiety-related cognitive biases, and therefore represent a useful tool for assessing cognitive biases in future research. More importantly, since biased threat-processing has been implicated in the etiology and maintenance of anxiety, poor executive control may be a risk factor for anxiety disorders.
Predictors of fear and anxiety nine years after coronary artery bypass grafting.

AIM This paper is a report of a study to identify (i) associations between fear and anxiety with variables of demography, symptoms, treatment and perceived health, (ii) associations between fear, anxiety, depression and social support and (iii) predictors of fear and anxiety nine years after coronary artery bypass grafting. BACKGROUND Earlier research shows that anxiety and fear are common, but there is a lack of knowledge about the long-term (>five years) situation of people after coronary artery bypass grafting. METHOD A convenience sample (n = 170) was formed of patients who had undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 723) in one university hospital in 2007, nine years after surgery, by postal questionnaire. The questionnaire was sent to 152 surviving patients, and 114 responded (75%). RESULTS Fear had a connection to female sex, age under 65 years, more chest pain, hospitalization and poor perceived health. Anxiety had a connection to age under 65 years, living alone, more chest pain and poor perceived health. Social support had a low negative correlation with anxiety. Age under 65 years and chest pain explained 28% of the variance in fear. Age under 65 years and depressive symptoms explained 51-57% of the variance in anxiety. CONCLUSION Anxiety in people with coronary heart disease can be alleviated by developing social support from peers and professionals. Those aged under 65 years should be recognized as at greater risk of a predictor of long-term fear and anxiety after coronary artery bypass grafting.
A novel adipocytokine visfatin protects against H2O2‐induced myocardial apoptosis: A missing link between obesity and cardiovascular disease

Fat accumulation in obese individuals worsens the clinical outcomes of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Paradoxically, increased circulating adipocytokines secreted from visceral fat may confer cardioprotective effects. Visfatin, a novel adipocytokine, has anti‐diabetic, anti‐tumor, and pro‐inflammatory properties. However, its effects on cardiomyocytes and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. This article demonstrated that visfatin counteracted H2O2‐induced apoptotic damage in H9c2 cardiomyocytes in a time‐dependent manner. Qualitative immunofluorescence approaches demonstrated that visfatin pretreatment attenuated H2O2‐induced DNA fragmentation (TdT‐mediated dUTP‐biotin nick end‐labeling), phosphatidyl serine exposure (Annexin V/PI staining), and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) depolarization (JC‐1 staining). Biochemical studies on cardiomyoctes showed improved cell viability and reduced caspase‐3 activation caused by visfatin pretreatment. Visfatin did not inhibit the death receptor‐dependent apoptotic pathways, as characterized by its absence in both Fas and TNFR1 down‐regulation. Instead, visfatin specifically suppressed the mitochondria‐dependent apoptotic pathways, as characterized by changed levels of p53 and its downstream Bcl‐2 family genes. Visfatin also up‐regulated the protein levels of phosphorylated AMPK, and the anti‐apoptotic action of visfatin was attenuated by the AMPK‐specific inhibitor compound C. These results suggested that visfatin plays a critical role in cardioprotection by suppressing myocardial apoptosis via AMPK activation. These findings may be the missing link between obesity and CVD. J. Cell. Physiol. 228: 495–501, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Association Between Paternally Inherited Haplotypes Upstream of the Insulin Gene and Umbilical Cord IGF-II Levels

The insulin (INS) and IGF 2 (IGF2) genes are in close proximity to each other and undergo maternal imprinting during fetal growth. We investigated the association between maternal and umbilical cord IGF 2 protein (IGF-II) levels and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the INS and IGF2 genes in 207 healthy African-American mother-newborn pairs. No association was found between maternal IGF-II levels and polymorphism in the INS-IGF2 locus. A significant association was found between newborn IGF-II levels and two SNPs (rs3842738 and rs689) at the 5′ end of the INS-IGF2 locus. Analyses of haplotypes inferred from these two SNPs demonstrate a significant relationship between paternally transmitted haplotypes and newborn IGF-II levels, but no association with maternally transmitted haplotypes.
Phox2b‐expressing retrotrapezoid neurons and the integration of central and peripheral chemosensory control of breathing in conscious rats

What is the central question of this study? This study was designed to investigate whether the Phox2b‐expressing neurons in the retrotrapezoid nucleus are important to breathing and chemoreflexes in conscious rats. What is the main finding and its importance? The high rate of destruction of a defined cell population (Phox2b+TH−) of the retrotrapezoid nucleus by the toxin suggests that the specialized connectivity of retrotrapezoid nucleus neurons, their glutamatergic nature and their relatively high sensitivity to CO2 are determinant factors in explaining their large contribution to the central and peripheral chemoreflexes.
Measuring Ribavirin Concentrations During the Earliest Stages of Antiviral Therapy for Hepatitis C: Potential Relevance for Treatment Outcome

Background: Correlations between ribavirin (RBV) concentrations and sustained virological response (SVR) to hepatitis C virus treatment have been demonstrated previously. As steady state is reached after several weeks of RBV treatment, dose modifications based on steady-state levels can only be applied relatively late in treatment, possibly too late to influence SVR rates. The authors aimed to determine whether measurement of early concentrations is useful to predict optimal steady-state RBV concentrations. Methods: In 61 treatment-naive genotype 1/4 patients RBV concentrations were determined in samples collected after 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks of therapy. RBV concentrations were compared between responders and nonresponders; Receiver Operating Characteristic analyses were conducted to find optimal cut-off values to predict week 8 concentrations from earlier measurements. Results: Median week 8 RBV concentrations were significantly higher in patients with SVR compared with those without: 3.4 (interquartile range 2.4–3.9) versus 2.6 (interquartile range 2.0–3.5) mg/L (P < 0.05). RBV concentration at week 8 was an independent predictor of SVR [adjusted odds ratio 2.3 (95% confidence interval: 1.1–4.9; P = 0.03)]. The optimal cut-off value of week 8 RBV concentration to predict SVR was 2.20 mg/L [sensitivity 87%, specificity 40%, positive predictive value 64%, negative predictive value 71%]. Optimal cut-off values at weeks 1, 2, or 4 to predict an RBV concentration ≥2.20 mg/L at week 8 were 0.92, 1.29, and 1.67 mg/L, respectively, with positive predictive values and negative predictive values ranging from 88% to 91% and 71% to 86%, respectively. Conclusions: RBV concentrations in the earliest stages of antiviral therapy predict therapeutic steady-state concentrations, allowing timely dose adjustments with potential implications for treatment outcome.
A causal relationship model linking corporate reputation and customer-based brand equity: a customer perspective

The purpose of this paper is to understand the precursors of corporate reputation (CR) and their impacts on brand equity (BE), and to analyse the moderating role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) perceptions. ,This study proposes a theoretical model which is tested using structural equation modelling. In total, 464 valid questionnaires were collected from a sample of customers of the biggest union of dairy cooperatives of the Iberian Peninsula. ,Results show that the better the reputation, the higher the BE; however, these findings are more robust among customers with higher perceptions of CSR. ,This study is based on cross-sectional data from a single company. ,The results may help managers build a better reputation and therefore increase their BE. CSR practices are essential to reinforcing this relationship. ,This paper contributes to the competitiveness of a type of organisation which is closely associated to the social structure of the rural population. ,The results may help cooperatives’ managers to increase CR and BE. The emphasis is on the need to adopt CSR practices. ,O objectivo desta investigacao e compreender os antecedentes da reputacao corporativa (CR) e seus impactos sobre o valor da marca (BE) e analisar o papel moderador das percepcoes da responsabilidade social das empresas (RSE). ,Este estudo propoe testar um modelo teorico utilizando a modelagem de equacoes estruturais. Quatrocentos e sessenta e quatro questionarios validos foram recolhidos de uma amostra de clientes da maior organizacao corporativa de lacticinios da Peninsula Iberica. ,Os resultados mostram que uma melhor reputacao faz aumentar o valor da marca (BE). No entanto, estes resultados sao mais robustos entre os clientes com percepcoes mais altas de Responsabilidade Social Corporativa. ,Esta pesquisa e baseada nos dados transversais de uma empresa. ,Os resultados podem ajudar os gestores a construirem uma reputacao melhor e portanto, aumentarem o valor da marca, sabendo que as praticas de RSE sao essenciais para fortalecer esse relacionamento. ,Este trabalho contribui para a competitividade de um tipo de organizacao que esta associada a estrutura social da populacao rural. ,Os resultados podem ajudar os gestores das cooperativas a potenciarem a melhoraria da reputacao corporativa e do valor da marca. A enfase e sobre a necessidade de adoptar praticas de RSE.
Growth Hormone Treatment Strategy for Short Children Born Small for Gestational Age

Several studies performed in the last 15 years have shown that growth hormone (GH) induces a profound catch-up in height in short children born small for gestational age (SGA). We know from more recent studies that final height can be normalized through GH treatment. In Europe, GH is now a recognized indication, enabling treatment of short children born SGA. Treatment is given to the most severe growth-retarded children after the age of 4 years. A dose of 0.035 mg/kg per day is recommended. However, in our opinion a higher dose would be more efficient in very short children, especially if they are treated later in childhood.
Labor force participation: what has happened since the peak?

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years and older that is working or actively looking for work. It is an important labor market measure because it represents the relative amount of labor resources available for the production of goods and services. After rising for more than three decades, the overall labor force participation rate peaked in early 2000 and subsequently trended down. In recent years, the movement of the baby-boom population into age groups that generally exhibit low labor force participation has contributed to the decline in the overall participation rate. From 2000 to 2015, most of the major demographic groups saw a decrease in labor force participation. Teenagers experienced the largest drop in participation, which coincided with a rise in their school enrollment rate. Young adults 20 to 24 years also showed a decline in labor force participation, but the decrease was not as steep as that for teenagers. The labor force participation rate of women 25 to 54 years also fell, with the decrease more pronounced for women who did not attend college. The labor force participation rate of men 25 to 54 years continued its long-term decline. As in the past, the decrease in participation among men with less education was greater than that of men with more education. However, labor force participation rates of men and women 55 years and older rose from 2000 to 2009 and subsequently leveled off.
Treatment with reserpine of patients resistant to tricyclic antidepressants. A double-blind trial.

The literature concerning the therapeutic effects of the administration of reserpine to patients who fail to respond satisfactorily is discussed briefly. A double-blind study was conducted on 14 patients; eight were given 5 mg of reserpine i.m. and six were given 2 ml of normal saline on 2 successive days. The administration of the tricyclic antidepressants the patients had been taking, was continued. The Hamilton Depressive Rating Scale was administered on the day before treatment was commenced, and repeated on the fourth day. Statistical analysis revealed that the patients who received reserpine showed a highly significant improvement of a good quality. The mean fall in the Hamilton rating for the placebo group was 6 points, and in the reserpine group it was 18.87. The therapeutic significance of the findings is discussed.
Diversity of Southeast Asian Capitalisms: Evolving State-Business Relations in Malaysia

ABSTRACT Empirical gaps exist in the literature about diverse forms of capitalism. The first is thematic, involving the incomplete institutional and political account of how the state can, through a series of policies, shape the development of domestic enterprises. The second gap is regional in nature: this literature does not deal with the historical development of firms that have played a central role in industrialising Southeast Asia. One reason for this is that since most existing theories are based on Western contexts, they are theoretically ill-equipped to deal with the concepts of power and state-business nexuses when the political system is not democratic in nature. But state-business ties, where politicians in power distribute government-generated rents on a selective basis, have resulted in diverse business systems such as highly diversified conglomerates, state-owned companies and small- and medium-scale enterprises. This article deals with these theoretical and empirical gaps. To better understand the nature and implications of evolving state-business ties in Southeast Asia, this topic is examined through the lens of regulation theory. To appreciate the complexity and implications of state-business configurations on the political system and forms of enterprise development, a case study of Malaysia is provided.