Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Airway resistance measured by the interrupter technique: normative data for 2–10 year olds of three ethnicities

Background and Aims: The measurement of airway resistance using the interrupter technique (Rint) is feasible in preschool children and other subjects unable to undertake spirometry. This makes it potentially useful for the measurement of lung function in these groups. Commercial devices use different algorithms to measure pressure and flow from which Rint is derived. This study provides normative values for British children using devices from a single manufacturer. Methods: Rint was measured in 236 healthy children of three ethnic groups (Afro-Caribbean and black African, Bangladeshi, and white British) aged 2–10 years using Micro Medical devices. Software in the devices calculated Rint from pressure measured by the two point, back extrapolation method from the pressure transient during valve closure, with flow measured just before valve closure. Results: Rint is related to both age and height, but when age is allowed for there is not a significant relation with height. Neither gender nor any of the ethnicities studied was significantly related to Rint. Discussion: These measurements in healthy children using this technique may be used as reference data for similar populations.
Genetic variability among Dicrocoelium dendriticum isolates from different regions in Shaanxi Province, China revealed by sequences of three mitochondrial genes

The genetic variations in three mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) regions, namely portion of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (pcox1), NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (pnad1) and cytochrome b (pcytb), were examined for Dicrocoelium dendriticum samples isolated from different origins in Shaanxi Province, northwestern China. The intra-specific sequence differences within D. dendriticum samples were 0–0.52% for pcox1, 0–0.73% for pnad1 and 0–0.58% for pcytb. Phylogenetic analyses based on combined sequences of three mtDNA showed that all D. dendriticum samples were clustered together in same clade of Paragonimus westermani. But the phylogenetic trees could not reveal geographically genetic relationships of D. dendriticum isolates in this province. These findings will provide basic information for further study of molecular epidemiology and control of D. dendriticum infection in this province as well as in China.
Characterization of the Dimerization of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors Using an N‐Terminal Truncation of mGluR1α

Abstract: The metabotropic glutamate receptor mGluR1α in membranes isolated both from rat brain and from cell lines transfected with cDNA coding for the receptor migrates as a disulphide‐bonded dimer on sodium dodecyl sulphate‐polyacrylamide gels. Dimerization of mGluR1α takes place in the endoplasmic reticulum because it is not prevented by exposing transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells to the drug brefeldin A, a drug that prevents egress of proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum. Dimerization was also not dependent on protein glycosylation as it was not prevented by treatment of the cells with tunicamycin. Using a mammalian expression vector containing the N‐terminal domain of mGluR1α, truncated just before the first transmembrane domain (NT‐mGluR1α), we show that the N‐terminal domain is secreted as a soluble disulphide‐bonded dimeric protein. In addition, the truncated N‐terminal domain can form heterodimers with mGluR1α when both proteins are cotransfected into HEK 293 cells. However, mGluR1α and its splice variant mGluR1β did not form heterodimers in doubly transfected HEK 293 cells. These results show that although the N‐terminal domain of mGluR1α is sufficient for dimer formation, other domains in the molecule must regulate the process.
Metaplastic Columnar Mucosa in the Cervical Esophagus After Esophagectomy

ObjectiveTo evaluate the pathogenesis of metaplastic processes within the esophagus using a human model in which the exact duration of reflux was known. Summary Background DataThe pathogenesis of Barrett’s esophagus (BE) is incompletely understood. Patients undergoing esophagectomy and gastric tube reconstruction represent a good model for studying the pathophysiology of columnar cell metaplasia of the human esophagus because the cervical esophagus is rarely or never exposed to gastric contents before the surgical procedure. MethodsThirty-two patients underwent manometry, simultaneous 24-hour pH and bilirubin monitoring, and endoscopy with biopsy 3 to 10.4 years after esophagectomy. The presence of columnar mucosa in the cervical esophagus was confirmed on histologic examination. The findings on endoscopy and histology were related to clinical data and the results of pH and bilirubin monitoring 1 cm proximal to the esophagogastrostomy. ResultsFifteen (46.9%) of the 32 patients had metaplastic columnar mucosa within their cervical esophagus. Metaplasia was significantly more common in patients with a preoperative diagnosis of BE. The length of metaplastic mucosa correlated significantly with the degree of esophageal acid exposure, but the presence of abnormal bilirubin exposure was unrelated to the presence of metaplasia. The prevalence of metaplasia did not change with increasing time. Intestinal metaplasia was found within the columnar-lined segment in three patients 8.5, 9.5, and 10.4 years after esophagectomy. All patients with intestinal metaplasia had abnormal exposure of both acid and bilirubin, but the presence of combined reflux was not significantly higher in these patients compared with patients with nonintestinalized segments of columnar mucosa. ConclusionsEsophageal columnar metaplasia is a common complication after gastric pull-up esophagectomy. Metaplasia is more likely to develop in patients with previous BE than other patients. Metaplasia develops in response to squamous epithelial injury in predisposed individuals.
Hormonal potentiation of imipramine and ECT in primary depression.

A double-blind, controlled study with frequent rating of symptoms, using a homogeneous population of 49 patients with primary depression, was conducted to measure the possible enhancement of imipramine's antidepressant activity by T3 and dexamethasone and the possible enhancement of the antidepressant activity of ECT by dexamethasone. The results of this study, which are clearly negative, raise serious questions as to the efficacy of these hormones in enhancing the antidepressant activity of imipramine and ECT.
Biomechanical Analysis of Jaw-closing Movements

This study concerns the complex interaction between active muscle forces and passive guiding structures during jaw-closing movements. It is generally accepted that the ligaments of the joint play a major role in condylar guidance during these movements. While these ligaments permit a wide range of motions, it was assumed that they are not primarily involved in force transmission in the joints. Therefore, it was hypothesized that muscle forces and movement constraints caused by the articular surfaces imply a necessary and sufficient condition to generate ordinary jaw-closing movements. This hypothesis was tested by biomechanical analysis. A dynamic six-degrees-of-freedom mathematical model of the human masticatory system has been developed for qualitative analysis of the contributions of the different masticatory muscles to jaw-closing movement. In simulated symmetrical jaw-closing movements, it was found that the normally observed movement, which includes a swing-slide condylar movement along the articular eminence, can be generated by various separate pairs of masticatory muscles, among which the different parts of the masseter as well as the medial pterygoid muscle appeared to be the most suitable to complete this action. The results seem to be in contrast to the general opinion that a muscle with a forward-directed force component may not be suitable for generating jaw movements in which the condyle moves backward. The results can be explained, however, by biomechanical analysis which includes not only muscle and joint forces as used in standard textbooks of anatomy, but also the torques generated by these forces.
Two New Diophrys‐Like Genera and Their Type Species, Apodiophrys ovalis n. g., n. sp. and Heterodiophrys zhui n. g., n. sp. (Ciliophora: Euplotida), with Notes on Their Molecular Phylogeny

ABSTRACT. Based on both morphological and molecular information, two new euplotid genera Apodiophrys n. g. and Heterodiophrys n. g. are described in the present paper. Apodiophrys n. g. is defined as sculptured Diophryinae with bipartite adoral zone; frontoventral cirri arranged in Diophrys‐pattern; marginal cirri located in two clearly separated groups. Heterodiophrys n. g. is recognizable by the combination of Diophrys‐like frontoventral cirri and the unique structure of several marginal cirri that are arranged in a long row. The type species for both new genera, Apodiophrys ovalis n. sp. and Heterodiophrys zhui n. sp. , collected from southern China sea, are described. The small subunit rRNA (SSU rRNA) gene sequences for both new taxa are determined. Phylogenetic analyses based on these data indicate that Apodiophrys is most closely related to Paradiophrys, which then clusters with Uronychia species. Thus, Apodiophrys–Paradiophrys is separated from other typical Diophrys‐like genera in the SSU rRNA gene trees. The new genus Heterodiophrys is basal to the sister group of Diophrys–Diophryopsis, hence belongs to the “core”Diophrys‐complex.
TLR 7 Ligand Augments GM-CSF – Initiated Antitumor Immunity through Activation of Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells

Vaccination with irradiated granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)–transduced autologous tumor cells (GVAX) has been shown to induce therapeutic antitumor immunity. However, its effectiveness is limited. We therefore attempted to improve the antitumor effect by identifying little-known key pathways in GM-CSF–sensitized dendritic cells (GM-DC) in tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLN). We initially confirmed that syngeneic mice subcutaneously injected with poorly immunogenic Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells transduced with Sendai virus encoding GM-CSF (LLC/SeV/GM) remarkably rejected the tumor growth. Using cDNA microarrays, we found that expression levels of type I interferon (IFN)–related genes, predominantly expressed in plasmacytoid DCs (pDC), were significantly upregulated in TDLN-derived GM-DCs and focused on pDCs. Indeed, mouse experiments demonstrated that the effective induction of GM-CSF–induced antitumor immunity observed in immunocompetent mice treated with LLC/SeV/GM cells was significantly attenuated when pDCdepleted or IFNa receptor knockout (IFNAR / ) mice were used. Importantly, in both LLC and CT26 colon cancer–bearing mice, the combinational use of imiquimod with autologous GVAX therapy overcame the refractoriness to GVAX monotherapy accompanied by tolerability. Mechanistically, mice treated with the combined vaccination displayed increased expression levels of CD86, CD9, and Siglec-H, which correlate with an antitumor phenotype, in pDCs, but decreased the ratio of CD4þCD25þFoxP3þ regulatory T cells in TDLNs. Collectively, these findings indicate that the additional use of imiquimod to activate pDCs with type I IFN production, as a positive regulator of T-cell priming, could enhance the immunologic antitumor effects of GVAX therapy, shedding promising light on the understanding and treatment of GM-CSF–based cancer immunotherapy. Cancer Immunol Res; 2(6); 1–13. 2014 AACR.
Epiphyseal Fractures of the Finger Middle Joints in Young Sport Climbers

Abstract Objective. —As competition climbing becomes increasingly popular, younger climbers are entering the sport, and some are among the top-level athletes. This early start combined with intensive training methods can lead to radiographic changes in the fingers and even osteoarthrosis. Since 1994, we have been observing an increasing number of nontraumatic epiphyseal fractures in young athletes. Methods. —Twenty-four cases of young climbers with nontraumatic epiphyseal fractures of the finger middle joints are presented. Results. —The average age of the climbers was 14.5 (±0.9) years; 23 were boys, and 1 was a girl. Eight (33%) fractures were in an early stage, whereas in 16 (67%) a longer time interval elapsed between the onset of symptoms and the presentation for evaluation. All radiographs showed an epiphyseal fracture of the dorsal base of the middle phalanx of the finger; 20 patients presented a Salter-Harris III fracture and 4 presented a Salter-Harris II epiphysiolysis. An acute injury was not evident in any of the patients. All fractures were thus fatigue fractures caused by repetitive stress. Conclusions. —Chronic finger pain in young and intensively training climbers must be carefully evaluated, and radiographic studies need to be performed. The risk of epiphyseal injuries must be minimized by eliminating intensive power training in the schedules of athletes of this age.
Pairwise Fitting of Mixed Models for the Joint Modeling of Multivariate Longitudinal Profiles

Summary A mixed model is a flexible tool for joint modeling purposes, especially when the gathered data are unbalanced. However, computational problems due to the dimension of the joint covariance matrix of the random effects arise as soon as the number of outcomes and/or the number of used random effects per outcome increases. We propose a pairwise approach in which all possible bivariate models are fitted, and where inference follows from pseudo‐likelihood arguments. The approach is applicable for linear, generalized linear, and nonlinear mixed models, or for combinations of these. The methodology will be illustrated for linear mixed models in the analysis of 22‐dimensional, highly unbalanced, longitudinal profiles of hearing thresholds.
Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, clinically aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine neoplasm with a high mortality rate. Though the etiology is not precisely known, Merkel cell polyomavirus DNA has been found recently in a large percentage of MCC tumors. Other suggested risk factors include sun exposure, immunosuppression, and a history of prior malignancy. Work up of patients with MCC most notably includes nodal staging via clinical examination or sentinel lymph node biopsy. The prognosis for most patients with MCC is poor, and the rarity of MCC precludes the prospective, randomized clinical trials necessary to elucidate optimum treatment protocols. Most published data support the use of a multimodality approach centered around surgical excision with negative margins, sentinel lymph node biopsy to establish the presence or absence of nodal metastases, adjuvant radiothearpy to decrease the risk of recurrence, and systemic chemotherapy in the case of widespread disease.
Neuropsychological Impact of Cg25 Deep Brain Stimulation for Treatment-Resistant Depression: Preliminary Results Over 12 Months

The purpose of this study was to evaluate preservation of cognitive function after deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subgenual cingulate (Cg25) for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). We have previously reported on the treatment methods, safety, and 6-month clinical outcome (Mayberg et al., Neuron. 2005;45:651–660). Comprehensive neuropsychological assessments tapping 4 domains of frontal lobe function, and general cognitive abilities, were completed before implantation and at 3, 6, and 12 months postonset of continuous DBS in 6 TRD patients. No adverse neuropsychological effects were noted following surgery, onset and maintenance of DBS with the exception of transient motor slowing noted at 3 and 6 months that improved to normative levels by 12 months. Several areas of cognition that were below average or impaired at baseline improved over follow-up, and these changes were not correlated with improvements in mood. Though the sample size is small, these results support cognitive safety of Cg25 DBS for TRD.
Evidence for an age and gender bias in the secondary prevention of ischaemic heart disease in primary care.

AIMS To determine if a gender or age bias exists in the prescription of important secondary preventive therapies for ischaemic heart disease in primary care. METHODS We identified 15 590 patients with ischaemic heart disease on the basis that they received a prescription for nitrate therapy over a 1-year period (September 1999 to August 2000) from the Eastern Region of the General Medical Services scheme in Ireland (population of 334 031), which provides free health service to those eligible patients in primary care. Odds ratios (OR) for the prescription of aspirin, beta-blockers, statins, calcium channel antagonists and ACE inhibitors in women and in those aged> 65 years were determined. RESULTS Female patients were less likely to receive a prescription for a beta-blocker [OR = 0.84, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.79, 0.89, P < 0.001], aspirin (OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.67, 0.78, P < 0.001), and ACE inhibitors (OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.78, 0.89, P < 0.001) compared with their male counterparts. However, women were more likely to receive anxiolytic benzodiazepines (OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.59, 1.85, P < 0.001) compared with their male counterparts. Elderly patients (aged> 65 years) were less likely to receive aspirin (OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.85, 0.99, P < 0.001), beta-blocker (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.62, 0.71, P < 0.001) and a statin (OR = 0.5, 95% CI = 0.46, 0.53, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS An age and gender bias exists in the prescription of important secondary preventive therapies in primary care that may lead to increased mortality from ischaemic heart disease in these groups.
Long-and Short-Term Impact of News Messages on House Prices : A Comparative Study of Spain and the United States Completed Research Paper

This study adopts data mining methods to analyze the shortand long-term dynamic between news message content and property prices in Spain and the United States. We construct news sentiment indices based on various text mining methods which exhibit remarkable similarities to the respective property prices. Comparing dictionary-based and dynamic approaches, our results indicate that static methods produce the best estimators for investor sentiment in real estate markets. Using a Vector Error Correction Model framework, we analyze similarities between real estate markets both in the shortand long-run. The main finding of this study is a significant relationship between news messages and property prices in the long-run. Our results are stable, including a number of fundamental variables, and are underlined by forecast error variance decompositions and impulse response estimates, which additionally highlight the appropriateness of news sentiment as a crucial determinant for decision making.
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS IN LINEAR REGRESSION

Based on a multivariate linear regression model, we propose several generalizations to the multivariate classical and modified Cook’s distances in order to detect one or more of influential observations including the case of linear transformations of the estimated regression parameter. For those distances, we derived the exact distributions and point out a method to extend the calculation of exact distributions for several other metrics available in the literature, for the univariate and multivariate cases. The results are extended to elliptical families not under the assumption of normality. An application is described in order to exemplify the methodology.
Community day care with carer support versus usual nursing home-based day care: effects on needs, behavior, mood, and quality of life of people with dementia

ABSTRACT Background: Several studies have shown that the combined community-based Meeting Centres Support Programme (MCSP) for people with mild to moderate dementia and their carers were more effective in reducing behavior and mood problems of people with dementia than traditional nursing home-based (NH) day care. We therefore investigated in this study whether community-based (CO) psychogeriatric day care for people with mild to severe dementia combined with carer support (in accordance with the MCSP), is more effective than regular NH day care. Methods: A pre-test–post-test control group design was used to compare the effect of CO and NH day care on care needs, behavior and mood problems, and quality of life of people with dementia. 138 dyads of people with mild to severe dementia and family carers participated in the study: 70 from (new and longer existing) CO day cares (experimental group), and 68 from NH day cares (control group). ANCOVAs were performed at post-tests, including baseline data as covariates. Results: After six months, no overall differences on outcome measures were found between CO and NH day cares. However, participants of recently started CO day cares showed fewer neuropsychiatric symptoms, whereas carers in the longer existing CO day cares reported fewer care needs compared to the control group (large effects). Persons with dementia cohabiting with their carer benefitted most from CO day care. Conclusions: This study shows that combined CO day care has promising added value compared to NH day care, especially for participants with dementia cohabiting with their carer.
Combining homolog and motif similarity data with Gene Ontology relationships for protein function prediction

Uncharacterized proteins pose a challenge not just to functional genomics, but also to biology in general. The knowledge of biochemical functions of such proteins is very critical for designing efficient therapeutic techniques. The bottleneck in hypothetical proteins annotation is the difficulty in collecting and aggregating enough biological information about the protein itself. In this paper, we propose and evaluate a protein annotation technique that aggregates different biological information conserved across many hypothetical proteins. To enhance the performance and to increase the prediction accuracy, we incorporate term specific relationships based on Gene Ontology (GO). Our method combines PPI (Protein Protein Interactions) data, protein motifs information, protein sequence similarity and protein homology data, with a context similarity measure based on Gene Ontology, to accurately infer functional information for unannotated proteins. We apply our method on Saccharomyces Cerevisiae species proteins. The aggregation of different sources of evidence with GO relationships increases the precision and accuracy of prediction compared to other methods reported in literature. We predicted with a precision and accuracy of 100% for more than half proteins of the input set and with an overall 81.35% precision and 80.04% accuracy.
Specific Psychiatric Morbidity among a Sample of Asthmatics in South Western Nigeria

Objective: This study was to identify specific psychiatric morbidity among asthma patients and to compare their rates to controls. Method: Hundred consecutive asthmatics were screened using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30), and the Present State Examination (PSE). The same instruments were also administered to 75 healthy individuals, and 75 orthopaedic patients. Results: Patients with asthma had a higher occurrence of psychopathology. The specific psychiatric diagnoses among asthmatics were generalized anxiety disorder (23%), depressive disorder (11%), while 2% had panic disorder. Conclusion: Psychiatric morbidity is more common among asthmatics, than the general population and other patient group.