Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-negative Pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis.

Pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis (CrGN) is one of the most common causes of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. The majority of patients with pauci-immune CrGN had circulating antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA). However, patients with ANCA-negative pauci-immune CrGN were not investigated fully. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of this subgroup of patients. Patients whose pauci-immune CrGN was diagnosed from 1997 to 2006 in one center were studied retrospectively. The criteria of pauci-immune was defined as "the intensity of glomerular immunoglobulins staining by direct immunofluorescence assay in renal sections was negative to 1+ staining on a scale of 0 to 4+. " Clinical and pathologic characteristics were compared between patients with and without ANCA. Among the 85 patients with pauci-immune CrGN, 28 (32.9%) were ANCA negative. Compared with the 57 ANCA-positive patients, the ANCA-negative patients were much younger (39.7 +/- 17.0 versus 57.6 +/- 14.0 yr; P < 0.001). The level of urinary protein and the prevalence of nephrotic syndrome were significantly higher in ANCA-negative patients than that in ANCA-positive patients (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). However, the prevalence of extrarenal involvement was significantly lower in ANCA-negative patients than that in ANCA-positive patients. The renal survival was poorer in ANCA-negative patients than that in ANCA-positive ones (P < 0.05). ANCA-negative pauci-immune CrGN was not rare and might represent an independent disease entity from ANCA-positive vasculitis.
The G-protein-coupled bile acid receptor Gpbar1 (TGR5) suppresses gastric cancer cell proliferation and migration through antagonizing STAT3 signaling pathway

Gpbar1 (TGR5), a membrane-bound bile acid receptor, is well known for its roles in regulation of energy homeostasis and glucose metabolism. Here we show that TGR5 is a suppressor of gastric cancer cell proliferation and migration through antagonizing STAT3 signaling pathway. We firstly show that TGR5 activation greatly inhibited proliferation and migration of human gastric cancer cells and strongly induced gastric cancer cell apoptosis. We then found that TGR5 activation antagonized STAT3 signaling pathway through suppressing the phosphorylation of STAT3 and its transcription activity induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or interleukin-6. TGR5 overexpression with ligand treatment inhibited gene expression mediated by STAT3. It suggests that TGR5 antagonizes gastric cancer proliferation and migration at least in part by inhibiting STAT3 signaling. These findings identify TGR5 as a suppressor of gastric cancer cell proliferation and migration that may serve as an attractive therapeutic tool for human gastric cancer.
Cognitive Reserve and Lifestyle in Spanish Individuals With Sporadic Alzheimer’s Disease

Background: Some authors suggest that besides the fundamental components, cognitive reserve (CR) also reflects the influence of a combination of factors that improve mental health. Method: After obtaining the sociodemographic profile of each participant and evaluating their neurologic and neuropsychologic abilities, first, homogeneity analysis was used as a technique to select variables and reduce the number of categories with similar behavior; then CR construct was identified through a latent class analysis model. It was then possible to categorize participants according to their level in this construct and compare the neuropsychological performance of the subgroups that emerged, using a t test of differences of means for independent samples. Results: Participants with Alzheimer’s disease with low CR scores exhibited significantly greater deficits in measures of memory, attention, and language than patients with high CR. Conclusions: Our results ratify the effect of higher education, higher professional performance, and ludic activities on CR.
Placebo effect – perspective of diagnosis and therapy of aggressiveness by using fun forms of martial arts during innovative agonology cognitive-behavioral sessions (case study)

Background and Study Aim: Innovative agonology (i.e. evidence-based science about struggle) in prophylactic and therapeutic dimensions have been freshly promoted in English since 2015 in global science. The aim of this paper is theoretical argumentation based on results of randomised empirical studies and unique study case, which should make specialist of different branches of sciences aware that language, methodology, rules, directives, some methods and means of innovative agonology could help solve many health and surviving problems by an interdisciplinary approach. Material and Methods: Six 13-year-old students (one female) of school for juveniles with intellectual disability selected by head directed of this school (where one of the workshops in 2015 was conducted). Students were selected by him among group present on a hallway during a break between lessons. He agreed with our suggestion, and indicate one with increased aggressiveness. Reference group: 1,694 specialist of sports activity organisers for the youth (participants in 2014 and 2015, organised in every of 16 districts in Poland at least one two-day special courses). This first from diagnostic-therapeutic fun forms of martial arts (“modern marketplace”) was conducted in three versions, two minutes each, by calling “buyer” by belt colour, code number or a mix of those two. Results: The placebo effect explains the results of the following observation: since is clear, that during game (“modern marketplace”) belt is perceived by participants as “credit card” and human back of participants as “credit card readers”, therefore, the change of the “credit card” strike in the participant’s to a symbolic touch of his body it is a real, conscious correction of motor behaviour (evidence of internal transformation). During every training workshop at least two among 6 participants (33%) for every applied game (“modern marketplace”) were excluded in a first minute (empirical proof of revealed aggressiveness). Conclusions: Capable specialist of cognitive-behavioural therapy based on innovative agonology can achieve surprising placebo effects. Authors obtained such results during two categories of practical consequences: diagnosing and reducing the aggressiveness of people regardless of age, gender or intellectual disability. Unique means are fun forms of martial arts. Recommendation concerns include pharmacological restriction of supporting of aggressiveness therapy as well as solving complex ethical issues.
Associations of insulin‐like growth factor and insulin‐like growth factor binding protein‐3 with mortality in women with breast cancer

Elevated circulating insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1), a breast epithelial cell mitogen, is associated with breast cancer development. However, its association with breast cancer survival is not established. Circulating concentrations of IGF‐1 are controlled via binding proteins, including IGF Binding Protein‐3 (IGFBP‐3), that may modulate the association of IGF‐1 with breast‐cancer outcomes. We measured IGF‐1 and IGFBP‐3 concentrations in serum from 600 women enrolled in the health, eating, activity, and lifestyle (HEAL) study, a multiethnic, prospective cohort study of women diagnosed with stage I‐IIIA breast cancer. We evaluated the association between IGF‐1 and IGFBP‐3, and as a ratio, modeled using quintile cut‐points, with risk of breast cancer‐specific (n = 42 deaths) and all‐cause mortality (n = 87 deaths) using Cox proportional hazards models. In models adjusted for body mass index, ethnicity, tamoxifen use at time of blood draw, treatment received at diagnosis and IGFBP‐3, women in the highest quintile of IGF‐1 level had an increased risk of all‐cause mortality (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 3.10, 95% CI 1.21–7.93, p = 0.02), although no dose‐response association was evident. The IGF‐1/IGFBP‐3 ratio, an indicator of free IGF‐I levels, was significantly associated with increasing risk of all‐cause mortality (HR = 2.83, 95% CI 1.25–6.36 ptrend = 0.01, upper vs. lower quintile) in a fully adjusted model. In conclusion, high serum levels of IGF‐1 and the IGF‐1/IGFBP‐3 ratio were associated with increased risk of all‐cause mortality in women with breast cancer. These results need to be confirmed in larger breast cancer survivor cohorts.
Hb H hydrops foetalis syndrome: a case report and review of literature

Haemoglobin H (Hb H) disease is caused by deletion or inactivation of three α‐globin genes, leaving only one intact and active α‐globin gene. People with Hb H disease usually have moderate anaemia, but are generally thought to be asymptomatic. Some Hb H disease patients require transfusions, and there are reports of fetuses with Hb H disease who have severe anaemia in utero resulting in fatal hydrops foetalis syndrome. We now report a case of Hb H hydrops foetalis syndrome, caused by the inheritance of a hitherto novel α‐globin gene point mutation (codon 35 TCC→CCC or Serine→Proline) and an α‐thalassaemia deletion of the Filipino type removing all ζ‐α‐globin genes on the other chromosome 16. The infant was delivered prematurely because of pericardial effusion and fetal distress, and was found to have severe anaemia and congenital anomalies. A review of the relevant literature on this syndrome is presented, and serves to underscore the phenotypic variations of Hb H disease and the need for surveillance for this condition among newborns and genetic counselling in communities with a high proportion of at‐risk populations.
Endocrine consequences of CMF adjuvant therapy in premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer patients

The effect of CMF adjuvant therapy (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5‐fluorouracil) on endocrine function was investigated in breast cancer patients. CMF therapy resulted in suppression of ovarian function in some premenopausal patients but pituitary function and adrenal function were unaffected. There was an inverse relation between age and duration of treatment required to induce ovarian suppression. Although amenorrhea was achieved within 2–4 months in patients aged 40 years or older, younger women required larger cumulative doses of cytotoxic drugs to induce ovarian dysfunction. Patients younger than 30 years of age continued to menstruate with no major alteration in hormonal levels resulting from the cytotoxic drugs. CMF therapy had no significant effect on hormonal levels in postmenopausal patients indicating that in this group therapeutic response is not mediated via the endocrine system.
Determination of an economical medium for growth of Lactobacillus fermentum using response surface methodology

Aim: Lactobacillus fermentum is a widely utilized probiotic compound fed as an alternative to antibiotics for growth promotion in a wide variety of livestock species. The objective of this research is to develop an economical and practical fermentation medium for the growth of Lact. fermentum using response surface methodology.
Effects of ageing on gastrointestinal motor function.

BACKGROUND Existing data on the effect of ageing on gastrointestinal motility are few. In this study, we assessed the propulsive effect of all main segments of the gastrointestinal tract in a group of healthy older people. METHODS 16 healthy volunteers (eight women, eight men) of mean age 81 years (range 74-85 years) participated in the study. Gastric emptying and small intestinal and colonic transit rates were determined by gamma camera technique. The technique was also used to measure the postprandial frequency of antral contractions. Furthermore, we assessed the effects of gender, body mass index and smoking on the motility variables. The results were compared with data from 16 healthy individuals (eight women, eight men) of mean age 24 years (range 20-30 years). RESULTS Advanced age did not influence gastric emptying or small intestinal transit rate. Older individuals had a slower colonic transit than young individuals (P = 0.0008). No difference was found in postprandial frequency of antral contractions between older and young subjects. None of the motility variables was affected by gender or body mass index. Smokers had a faster colonic transit than non-smokers (P = 0.0022). CONCLUSION Normal ageing seems to reduce the propulsive capacity of the colon, whereas gastric and small intestinal motility is not affected.
Wages and Prices in Early Catalan Industrialisation

Catalonia was the only Mediterranean region among the early followers of the British Industrial Revolution in the second third of the nineteenth century. The roots of this industrialisation process can be traced back to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries when the Catalan economy became successfully integrated in international trade and the region enjoyed an intensification of its agrarian and proto-industrial activities. These capitalist developments were subsequently reinforced by a successful printed calico manufacturing business concentrated in the city of Barcelona. Although the factory system was largely adopted by the cotton industry in the 1840s, the diffusion of the spinning jenny had occurred earlier in the 1790s. In this paper, in line with Allen (2009a, 2009b), we explore whether relative factor prices played a role in the widespread adoption of the spinning jenny in Catalonia. First, we supply series of real wages in Barcelona for the period 1500-1808 in line with studies conducted within the ‘Great Divergence’ debate. Second, we undertake a comparative analysis of the relationship between the prices of labour and capital.Finally, we focus on the cotton spinning sector to determine the potential profitability of the adoption of the spinning jenny in Catalonia. We find that although Catalonia was not a high wage economy in the way that Britain was in the second half of the eighteenth century, evidence from the cotton spinning sector confirms the relevance of relative factor prices in the adoption of new technology. Within the booming sector of cotton after the 1780s, high wages created strong incentives for adopting the labour-saving spinning jenny.
Comparison of ipsilateral activation between right and left handers: a functional MR imaging study

WE used fMRI to compare the ipsilateral activation in the sensorimotor region (SMR) during dominant and non-dominant hand motor tasks between right and left handers. In right handers, the ipsilateral activation was significantly greater during non-dominant (left) hand task than dominant (right) hand task, while in left handers, it showed no significant difference. The ipsilateral activation was most pronounced in the precentral subregion (presumably corresponding to the premotor area) during either hand task in both groups. We conclude that the different patterns of ipsilateral activation might be mainly explained by the hemispheric dominance. The skill of the hand and complexity of tasks may be related to the predominant activation of the premotor area.
Akt/Protein Kinase B Promotes Organ Growth in Transgenic Mice

ABSTRACT One of the least-understood areas in biology is the determination of the size of animals and their organs. In Drosophila, components of the insulin receptor phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway determine body, organ, and cell size. Several biochemical studies have suggested that Akt/protein kinase B is one of the important downstream targets of PI3K. To examine the role of Akt in the regulation of organ size in mammals, we have generated and characterized transgenic mice expressing constitutively active Akt (caAkt) or kinase-deficient Akt (kdAkt) specifically in the heart. The heart weight of caAkt transgenic mice was increased 2.0-fold compared with that of nontransgenic mice. The increase in heart size was associated with a comparable increase in myocyte cell size in caAkt mice. The kdAkt mutant protein attenuated the constitutively active PI3K-induced overgrowth of the heart, and the caAkt mutant protein circumvented cardiac growth retardation induced by a kinase-deficient PI3K mutant protein. Rapamycin attenuated caAkt-induced overgrowth of the heart, suggesting that the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) or effectors of mTOR mediated caAkt-induced heart growth. In conclusion, Akt is sufficient to induce a marked increase in heart size and is likely to be one of the effectors of the PI3K pathway in mediating heart growth.
Effect of hydrogen peroxide concentration on enamel color and microhardness.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hydrogen peroxide gels with different concentrations (20%, 25%, 30%, and 35%) on enamel Knoop microhardness (KNH) as well as on changes in dental color (C). METHODS Cylindrical specimens of enamel/dentin (3-mm diameter and 2-mm thickness) were obtained from bovine incisors and randomly divided into six groups (n=20), according to the concentration of the whitening gel (20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, control, thickener). After polishing, initial values of KNH0 and color measurement, assessed by spectrophotometry using the CIE L*a*b* system, were taken from the enamel surface. The gels were applied on the enamel surface for 30 minutes, and immediate values of KNHi were taken. After seven days of being stored in artificial saliva, new measures of KNH7 and color (L7* a7* b7*, for calculating ΔE, ΔL, and Δb) were made. Data were submitted to statistical analysis of variance, followed by Tukey test (p<0.05). RESULTS Differences in gel concentration and time did not influence the microhardness (p=0.54 and p=0.29, respectively). In relation to color changes, ΔE data showed that the 35% gel presented a higher color alteration than the 20% gel did (p=0.006). CONCLUSION Bleaching with 35% hydrogen peroxide gel was more effective than with the 20% gel, without promoting significant adverse effects on enamel surface microhardness.
p24 as a Predictor of Mortality in a Cohort of HIV-1-Infected Adults in Rural Africa

Background:Implementation of antiretroviral treatment in sub-Saharan Africa requires efficient tools to monitor HIV patients. p24 measurements have been proposed as an alternative to HIV-RNA because of the low cost of reagents and equipment needed. Here, we evaluate p24 as a prognostic marker in a cohort of HIV-1-infected individuals in Zimbabwe. Methods:Treatment-naive HIV-1-infected individuals (n = 198) from the Mupfure Schistosomiasis and HIV Cohort were followed until death or censoring (3-4.3 years). At baseline, p24, HIV-RNA, CD4 cell counts, and clinical staging (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classification) were assessed. Results:p24 correlated with HIV-RNA (P < 0.0001, R2: 0.44). Ten percent of p24 but only 1% of HIV-RNA measurements was undetectable. p24 predicted Centers for Disease Control and Prevention category (P < 0.001) stronger than CD4 count (P = 0.34) in multivariate logistic regression. p24 predicted mortality in univariate Cox analysis (P < 0.0001) and in multivariate analysis, but it was inferior to HIV-RNA and CD4 count. Conclusions:This is the first study to evaluate the prognostic strength of p24 in an area with a predominance of HIV subtype C infections. p24 correlated with HIV-RNA and predicted clinical stage better than CD4 count. It predicted mortality in both univariate and multivariate analysis, but in multivariate analysis, it was inferior to HIV-RNA and CD4 count.
Sex Differences in Health Effects of Family Death or Illness: Are Women More Vulnerable Than Men?

Objective: To study sex differences in health after stressful life events in the family. Method: We examined the association between a serious event (death or severe illness of spouse, death or severe illness of other family member, death of close relative) and health among 6,095 male and 21,217 female public sector employees in Finland by repeated measures Poisson regression analysis with the generalized estimating equations method. The longitudinal data comprised self-reports of 3,556 events and their timing in 2000 or 2001, monthly sickness absences between 1997 and 2003, and psychiatric morbidity and suboptimal health 0 to 3 months, 4 to 6 months, or 7 to 12 months after the event. Adjustments were made for age, education, and marital status. Results: Exposure to stressful events was associated with a greater increase in sickness absence and a longer recovery period among women than among men. For the women, death or illness in the family was also associated with self-reported health problems irrespective of the time lag between the event and the measurement of health, whereas for the men, this association was found only in the first months after the event. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that women are more vulnerable than men in the aftermath of a death or illness in their extended family. CI = confidence interval; GEE = generalized estimating equations.
Cardiotoxicity of immune checkpoint inhibitors

Cardiac toxicity after conventional antineoplastic drugs (eg, anthracyclines) has historically been a relevant issue. In addition, targeted therapies and biological molecules can also induce cardiotoxicity. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are a novel class of anticancer drugs, distinct from targeted or tumour type-specific therapies. Cancer immunotherapy with immune checkpoint blockers (ie, monoclonal antibodies targeting cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1)) has revolutionised the management of a wide variety of malignancies endowed with poor prognosis. These inhibitors unleash antitumour immunity, mediate cancer regression and improve the survival in a percentage of patients with different types of malignancies, but can also produce a wide spectrum of immune-related adverse events. Interestingly, PD-1 and PD-L1 are expressed in rodent and human cardiomyocytes, and early animal studies have demonstrated that CTLA-4 and PD-1 deletion can cause autoimmune myocarditis. Cardiac toxicity has largely been underestimated in recent reviews of toxicity of checkpoint inhibitors, but during the last years several cases of myocarditis and fatal heart failure have been reported in patients treated with checkpoint inhibitors alone and in combination. Here we describe the mechanisms of the most prominent checkpoint inhibitors, specifically ipilimumab (anti-CTLA-4, the godfather of checkpoint inhibitors) patient and monoclonal antibodies targeting PD-1 (eg, nivolumab, pembrolizumab) and PD-L1 (eg, atezolizumab). We also discuss what is known and what needs to be done about cardiotoxicity of checkpoint inhibitors in patients with cancer. Severe cardiovascular effects associated with checkpoint blockade introduce important issues for oncologists, cardiologists and immunologists.
Evidence-Based Science Filmmaking Initiative: Study No. 1

This Report summarizes the preliminary conclusions of Study No. 1 in the Cultural Cognition Project’s “Evidence-based Science Filmmaking Initiative. ” Conducted in collaboration with the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, the goal of the initiative is to promote the integration of the emerging science of science communication into the craft of science filmmaking. A principal aim of the first study was to develop a valid and reliable science curiosity scale. The report describes the development of the scale, its psychometric properties, and its success in predicting engagement with a science documentary on evolution produced by Initiative collaborator Tangled Bank Studios. The report also presents evidence on variation in science curiosity, and engagement with the documentary conditional on science curiosity, among culturally diverse groups, including ones holding opposing beliefs on human evolution. Provisional conclusions, and plans for follow up research, are discussed.