Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preventing the onset of major depressive disorder: a meta-analytic review of psychological interventions.

BACKGROUND Depressive disorders are highly prevalent, have a detrimental impact on the quality of life of patients and their relatives and are associated with increased mortality rates, high levels of service use and substantial economic costs. Current treatments are estimated to only reduce about one-third of the disease burden of depressive disorders. Prevention may be an alternative strategy to further reduce the disease burden of depression. METHODS We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials examining the effects of preventive interventions in participants with no diagnosed depression at baseline on the incidence of diagnosed depressive disorders at follow-up. We identified 32 studies that met our inclusion criteria. RESULTS We found that the relative risk of developing a depressive disorder was incidence rate ratio = 0.79 (95% confidence interval: 0.69-0.91), indicating a 21% decrease in incidence in prevention groups in comparison with control groups. Heterogeneity was low (I(2) = 24%). The number needed to treat (NNT) to prevent one new case of depressive disorder was 20. Sensitivity analyses revealed no differences between type of prevention (e.g. selective, indicated or universal) nor between type of intervention (e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy or other). However, data on NNT did show differences. CONCLUSIONS Prevention of depression seems feasible and may, in addition to treatment, be an effective way to delay or prevent the onset of depressive disorders. Preventing or delaying these disorders may contribute to the further reduction of the disease burden and the economic costs associated with depressive disorders.
Periodontal parameters and whole salivary cytokine profiles among habitual gutka chewers and non-chewers.

BACKGROUND Whole salivary interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8, and MMP-9 levels among habitual gutka chewers and non-chewers (controls) have not been investigated. The aim of the present study is to assess clinical periodontal parameters and whole salivary IL-1β, IL-6, MMP-8, and MMP-9 levels among habitual gutka chewers and controls. METHODS Forty-five gutka chewers and 45 controls were included. Demographic information regarding age, sex, duration and daily frequency of gutka chewing, duration of gutka placement in the mouth, and daily toothbrushing habits were collected using a questionnaire. Periodontal parameters, including plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD) >3 mm, clinical attachment loss (AL), marginal bone loss (MBL), and number of missing teeth, were recorded. Unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected, and unstimulated whole salivary flow rate (UWSFR) was determined. Levels of IL-6, IL-1β, MMP-8, and MMP-9 were measured in UWS using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS PI (P <0.01), BOP (P <0.01), PD >3 mm (P <0.01), and clinical AL (P <0.01) were significantly higher in gutka chewers than controls, as were whole salivary IL-6 (P <0.01), IL-1β (P <0.01), MMP-8 (P <0.01), and MMP-9 (P <0.01) concentrations. There was no significant difference in UWSFR, number of missing teeth, or MBL among habitual gutka chewers and controls. CONCLUSION Periodontal inflammatory conditions were worse, and whole salivary IL-6, IL-1β, MMP-8, and MMP-9 levels were higher among gutka chewers than non-chewers.
Combined Hemorrhage/Trauma Models in Pigs—Current State and Future Perspectives

ABSTRACT The majority of injury combinations in multiply injured patients entail the chest, abdomen, and extremities. Numerous pig models focus on the investigation of posttraumatic pathophysiology, organ performance monitoring and on potential treatment options. Depending on the experimental question, previous authors have included isolated insults (controlled or uncontrolled hemorrhage, chest trauma) or a combination of these injuries (hemorrhage with abdominal trauma, chest trauma, traumatic brain injury, and/or long-bone fractures). Combined trauma models in pigs can provide a high level of clinical relevance, when they are properly designed and mimicking the clinical situation. Most of these models focus on the first hours after trauma, to assess the acute sequel of traumatic hemorrhage. However, hemorrhagic shock and the associated mass transfusion are also major causes for organ failure and mortality in the later clinical course. Thus, most models lack information on the pathomechanisms during the late posttraumatic phase. Studying new therapies only during the early phase is also not reflective of the clinical situation. Therefore, a longer observation period is required to study the effects of therapeutic approaches during intensive care treatment when using animal models. These long-term studies of combined trauma models will allow the development of valuable therapeutic approaches relevant for the later posttraumatic course. This review summarizes the existing porcine models and outlines the need for long-term models to provide real effective novel therapeutics for multiply injured patients to improve organ function and clinical outcome.
Cloning and Characterization of a Gene Encoding Glutathione-regulated Potassium-efflux System Protein KefKL from the Endosymbiont Wolbachia

The maternally inherited intracellular symbiont Wolbachia is well known for inducing a variety of reproductive and developmental abnormalities in the diverse arthropod hosts it infects. It has been implicated in causing cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), parthenogenesis, feminization of genetic males and male killing in different hosts. However, the molecular mechanisms by which this fastidious bacterium causes these abnormalities have not yet been determined. In our study, representational difference analysis (RDA) was used to analyze the genomic difference between different Wolbachia strains. A gene encoding glutathione-regulated potassium-efflux system protein KefKL from Wolbachia in Drosophila simulans Riverside ( w Ri) was isolated. The homologous genes from Wolbachia in Drosophila melanogaster yw 67c23 ( w Mel) and Wolbachia in Drosophila melanogaster CantonS ( w MelCS) were also cloned and sequenced. Sequence analysis showed that these deduced amino acid sequences contained two important motifs: Na + /H + antiportor and NAD binding domain, which shared conserved sequences among different strains. Considering the crucial function of KefKL for ionic homeostasis, this gene might play an important role in Wolbachia physiology. Further study indicated that there was no homologue detected from Wolbachia in Drosophila simulans DSW/Mau ( w Ma) and Wolbachia in Drosophila simulans Noumea ( w No). Whether Wolbachia contained KefKL (or the homologous gene) was consistent with the phylogenetic studies using wsp sequences, which showed that w Ma and w No were grouped into one branch, while w Ri, w Mel and w MelCS were more closely related.
New data about the distribution of Phoxinellus alepidotus (Heckel, 1843) and Aulopyge huegelii (Heckel, 1841)

Deli}, A. , Ku~ini}, M. , Mari}, D. & Bu~ar, M. : New data about the distribution of Phoxinellus alepidotus (Heckel, 1843) and Aulopyge huegelii (Heckel, 1841). Nat. Croat. , Vol. 14, No. 4. , 351–355, 2005, Zagreb. This paper presents recent found localities for species Phoxinellus alepidotus (Heckel, 1843) and Aulopyge huegelii (Heckel, 1841) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Found localities are at the highest altitude ever detected and the locality for the species A. huegelii Hec. is the first ever for the Black Sea basin. The species P. alepidotus Hec. and A. huegelii Hec. were probably unintentionally introduced to the [atorsko Lake during the 1970s and 1980s while other species of trout were being introduced.
HIV-related stigma and discrimination: a study of health care workers in Banda Aceh, Indonesia

Background: The aim of this study was to identify the level of stigmatized and discriminatory attitudes towards people living with HIV (PLHIV) among health care workers (HCWs) and the factors that influenced these attitudes. Methods: This research was conducted at Dr. Zainoel Abidin General Hospital Banda Aceh, Indonesia. A cross-sectional study design was adopted for this research. Eighty nine HCWs were included in this study and they were selected purposively. Correlation analysis, analysis of variance and independent sample t test analysis was used according to the type of data. Finally, a multiple linear regression model was used to identify the predictor factor for stigmatized and discriminatory attitudes. Results: We found that the level of stigmatized and discriminatory attitudes was high. Bivariate analysis showed that type of HCW, education, marital status, knowledge on transmission and prevention of HIV and irrational fear of HIV transmission were significant related with stigmatized attitudes (p < 0.05). Type of HCW, marital status, age, knowledge on transmission and prevention of HIV and irrational fear of HIV transmission indicated significant (p < 0.05) differences in the levels of discriminatory attitudes. A multiple linear regression model identified type of HCW and irrational fear of HIV transmission correlated with stigmatized attitudes (R 2 = 0.230) and knowledge on transmission and prevention of HIV correlated with discriminatory attitudes (R 2 = 0.119). Conclusion: Irrational fear of HIV transmission and type of HCW are significant predictors to stigmatized attitudes; knowledge on transmission and prevention of HIV is a predictor to discriminatory attitudes towards PLHIV among HCWs. (Med J Indones. 2013;22:22-9) Keywords: Discrimination, discriminatory attitudes, HIV, PLHIV, stigmatized attitudes.
Low-NaCl diet increases HK-ATPase in intercalated cells from rat cortical collecting duct

Silver, Randi B. , Han Choe, and Gustavo Frindt. Low-NaCl diet increases H-K-ATPase in intercalated cells from rat cortical collecting duct. Am. J. Physiol. 275 (Renal Physiol. 44): F94–F102, 1998. —Extracellular K1-dependent H1 extrusion after an acute acid load, an index of H/K exchange, was monitored in intercalated cells (ICs) from rat cortical collecting tubule (CCT) using ratiometric fluorescence imaging of the intracellular pH (pHi) indicator, 28,78bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF). The hypothesis tested was that 12to 14-day NaCl deprivation increases H-K-ATPase in rat ICs. The rate of H/K exchange in the low-NaCl ICs was double that of controls. In control ICs, H/K exchange was inhibited by Sch-28080 (10 μM). In the low-NaCl ICs, it was partially blocked by Sch-28080 or ouabain (1 mM). Simultaneous addition of both inhibitors abolished K-dependent pHi recovery. The induced H/K exchange observed with NaCl restriction was not due to elevated plasma aldosterone as evidenced by experiments on ICs from rats implanted with osmotic minipumps administering aldosterone such that plasma levels were comparable to those of NaCl-deficient rats. The results suggest that NaCl deficiency induces two isoforms of H-K-ATPase in ICs and that this effect is not mediated by elevated plasma aldosterone.
A resistencia de traços do dialeto caipira : estudo com base em atlas linguisticos regionais brasileiros

O dialeto caipira, descrito por Amadeu Amaral em 1920, era falado na antiga provincia de Sao Paulo ate por volta do final do seculo XIX. Conforme Amaral, o dialeto, que teve grande vigor, vai perdendo terreno a partir das ultimas decadas do seculo XIX, em consequencia das profundas alteracoes que se verificam no meio social, estando “condenado a desaparecer em prazo mais ou menos breve” (Amaral 1920 / 1982: 42). A previsao de Amaral, todavia, nao parece ter se concretizado. Em 1974, Rodrigues (1974) atesta a vitalidade do dialeto na regiao de Piracicaba. Retomando essa linha de investigacao, nosso estudo procura verificar a presenca de tracos foneticos e lexicais do dialeto caipira em Minas Gerais e no Parana, com base nos dados do Esboco de um atlas linguistico de Minas Gerais (Ribeiro et alii 1977) e do Atlas linguistico do Parana (Aguilera 1994). As duas areas sao relevantes para essa investigacao pela sua proximidade geografica com Sao Paulo e pelas relacoes historicas que envolvem os paulistas no processo de povoamento desses dois Estados vizinhos. Quanto ao nivel fonetico, nosso estudo se concentrou em cinco variantes: o “r caipira” ou retroflexo em final de silaba e em posicao intervocalica; o rotacismo da lateral em final de silaba e em encontro consonantal; o apagamento do /r/ em final de palavra; a iotizacao da lateral palatal; a reducao da proparoxitona. Quanto ao nivel lexical, foram exploradas as possibilidades especificas de cada um dos atlas examinados (ex.: cambota, cuitelo, arco-da-velha). Analisado o corpus, constatamos a ocorrencia das cinco variantes foneticas mencionadas, tanto em Minas como no Parana. Quatro dessas variantes – o rotacismo, a apocope do /r/, a iotizacao da lateral palatal e a reducao da proparoxitona – mostraram uma distribuicao mais geral nas areas estudadas. Somente o “r caipira” exibe o carater de uma variante mais propriamente geografica no interior de cada territorio estudado, ocorrendo em areas que refletem a influencia paulista, ou por se encontrarem proximas a Sao Paulo, e/ou porque historicamente correspondem a areas de penetracao dos paulistas. A ocorrencia simultânea das outras variantes foneticas estudadas e de variantes lexicais nessas areas contribui para caracteriza-las de forma mais consistente como possiveis areas de resistencia do dialeto caipira. Pesquisas complementares focalizando outras variantes do dialeto caipira poderao verificar a consistencia dessa caracterizacao. Abstract
Laparoscopic-assisted resection of rectosigmoid carcinoma. Immediate and medium-term results.

BACKGROUND The technique of laparoscopic-assisted resection of colorectal carcinoma has been established. However, whether such a procedure is beneficial to patients is uncertain. OBJECTIVE To review the immediate and medium-term results of laparoscopic-assisted resection in patients with rectosigmoid carcinoma. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS We attempted laparoscopic-assisted sigmoid colectomy or anterior resection in 50 patients with rectosigmoid carcinoma (ie, the study group). The results were compared with those of 50 matched patients who underwent conventional open resection in the immediate prelaparoscopic era (ie, the control group). RESULTS The median follow-up times for the study and control groups were 32.8 and 39.1 months, respectively. The operating time was significantly longer (P < .001, Student t test), while the analgesic requirement was significantly less (P < .001, Mann-Whitney U test) and the duration of hospitalization was significantly shorter (P = .001, Mann-Whitney U test), in the study group than in the control group. The oncological clearance (ie, the number of lymph nodes removed and the distal resection margin), the complication rate, the disease-free rate, and the survival rate were comparable in the 2 groups. CONCLUSION The immediate and medium-term results of laparoscopic-assisted resection of rectosigmoid carcinoma are promising.
Human sperm DNA integrity in normal and abnormal semen samples and its correlation with sperm characteristics

Reports indicate an increase in the incidence of DNA fragmentation in male factor infertility and its role in the outcome of assisted reproductive techniques (ART). However, reports are conflicting between the relationships of sperm DNA integrity with conventional semen parameters. We examined the relationship between conventional sperm parameters and DNA integrity using acridine orange (AO) test. The study included 373 patients and 28 fertile volunteers. DNA normality was compared with semen parameters between the patient and donor populations. Significant correlations were noted between DNA normality and sperm concentration (r = 0.18, P = 0.000), motility (r = 0.21, P = 0.0001), rapid motility (0.19, P = 0.000), normal morphology by World Health Organization (r = 0.15, P = 0.019) and head defects (r = −0.15, P = 0.023). A significant difference was noted in AO levels between donors and patients with asthenozoospermia (P = 0.002) and oligoasthenozoospermia (P = 0.001). A significant difference in DNA integrity was noted in samples having <30% and >30% normal morphology. A wide range of % DNA normality was observed in the patient group. Sperm assessment for DNA status using AO is reliable and shows good correlation with sperm count, motility and morphology. Assessment of sperm DNA status with AO staining may be helpful prior to ART.
Understanding the folding and stability of a zinc finger‐based full sequence design protein with replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations

Full sequence design protein FSD‐1 is a designed protein based on the motif of zinc finger protein. In this work, its folding mechanism and thermal stability are investigated using the replica exchange molecular dynamics model with the water molecules being treated explicitly. The results show that the folding of the FSD‐1 is initiated by the hydrophobic collapse, which is accompanied with the formation of the C‐terminal α‐helix. Then the folding proceeds with the formation of the β‐hairpin and the further package of the hydrophobic core. Compared with the β‐hairpin, the α‐helix has much higher stability. It is also found that the N‐capping motif adopted by the FSD‐1 contributes to the stability of the α‐helix dramatically. The hydrophobic contacts made by the side chain of Tyr3 in the native state are essential for the stabilization of the β‐hairpin. It is also found that the folding of the N‐terminal β‐hairpin and the C‐terminal α‐helix exhibits weak cooperativity, which is consistent with the experimental data. Meanwhile, the folding pathway is compared between the FSD‐1 and the target zinc finger peptide, and the possible role of the zinc ion on the folding pathway of zinc finger is proposed. Proteins 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Application of segmented dental panoramic tomography among children: positive effect of continuing education in radiation protection.

OBJECTIVES: Dental panoramic tomography is the most frequent examination among 7-12-year olds, according to the Radiation Safety and Nuclear Authority of Finland. At those ages, dental panoramic tomographs (DPTs) are mostly obtained for orthodontic reasons. Children's dose reduction by trimming the field size to the area of interest is important because of their high radiosensitivity. Yet, the majority of DPTs in this age group are still taken by using an adult programme and never by using a segmented programme. The purpose of the present study was to raise the awareness of dental staff with respect to children's radiation safety, to increase the application of segmented and child DPT programmes by further educating the whole dental team and to evaluate the outcome of the educational intervention. METHODS: A five-step intervention programme, focusing on DPT field limitation possibilities, was carried out in community-based dental care as a part of mandatory continuing education in radiation protection. Application of segmented and child DPT programmes was thereafter prospectively followed up during a 1-year period and compared with our similar data from 2010 using a logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Application of the child programme increased by 9% and the segmented programme by 2%, reaching statistical significance (odds ratios 1.68; 95% confidence interval 1.23-2.30; p-value < 0.001). The number of repeated exposures remained at an acceptable level. The segmented DPTs were most frequently taken from the maxillary lateral incisor-canine area. CONCLUSIONS: The educational intervention resulted in improvement of radiological practice in respect to radiation safety of children during dental panoramic tomography. Segmented and child DPT programmes can be applied successfully in dental practice for children.
Structural modification of plasma HDL by phospholipids promotes efficient ABCA1-mediated cholesterol release Published, JLR Papers in Press, January 16, 2005. DOI 10.1194/jlr.M400477-JLR200

It has been suggested that ABCA1 interacts preferentially with lipid-poor apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I). Here, we show that treatment of plasma with dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) multilamellar vesicles generates preβ1-apoA-I-containing lipoproteins (LpA-I)-like particles similar to those of native plasma. Isolated preβ1-LpA-I-like particles inhibited the binding of 125I-apoA-I to ABCA1 more efficiently than HDL3 (IC50 = 2.20 ± 0.35 vs. 37.60 ± 4.78 μg/ml). We next investigated the ability of DMPC-treated plasma to promote phospholipid and unesterified (free) cholesterol efflux from J774 macrophages stimulated or not with cAMP. At 2 mg DMPC/ml plasma, both phospholipid and free cholesterol efflux were increased (∼50% and 40%, respectively) in cAMP-stimulated cells compared with unstimulated cells. Similarly, both phospholipid and free cholesterol efflux to either isolated native preβ1-LpA-I and preβ1-LpA-I-like particles were increased significantly in stimulated cells. Furthermore, glyburide significantly inhibited phospholipid and free cholesterol efflux to DMPC-treated plasma. Removal of apoA-I-containing lipoproteins from normolipidemic plasma drastically reduced free cholesterol efflux mediated by DMPC-treated plasma. Finally, treatment of Tangier disease plasma with DMPC affected the amount of neither preβ1-LpA-I nor free cholesterol efflux. These results indicate that DMPC enrichment of normal plasma resulted in the redistribution of apoA-I from α-HDL to preβ-HDL, allowing for more efficient ABCA1-mediated cellular lipid release. Increasing the plasma preβ1-LpA-I level by either pharmacological agents or direct infusions might prevent foam cell formation and reduce atherosclerotic vascular disease.
IMPROVED OUTCOME IN SOUTH AFRICAN CHILDREN OF MIXED ETHNICITY TREATED FOR ALL

A historical cohort study with an analytical component was conducted to determine whether risk-appropriate chemotherapy can improve survival in children of mixed ethnicity with ALL. Eighty-one coloured children treated for ALL in South Africa were divided into 2 groups: group A (n = 39), treated prior to 1992, and group B (n = 42), treated after 1992. A comparison was made of survival, treatment complications, and supportive measures. The two groups were comparable. The mean nadirs of the white cell count (p < .01), platelet count (p = .01), and hemoglobin value (p < .01) were significantly lower in group B. The survival rate of 37% in group A improved to 66% in group B (p = .025). The results show that a risk-adapted regimen increased survival in children of mixed ethnicity in the Western Cape, despite increased hematological toxicity and episodes of febrile neutropenia.