Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Psychological counseling strategies for women at risk of breast cancer.

Women with family histories of breast cancer have a much higher risk of developing the disease than women in the general population. In the absence of primary prevention for breast cancer, secondary prevention in the form of early detection is our best bet against premature morbidity and mortality. This article describes the most salient psychological issues for high-risk women as well as ways for improving screening behaviors. Based on our work and other studies in the literature, we found that there were several key variables related to psychological distress and surveillance behaviors. Barriers to screening were a major reason why women did not engage in any breast cancer prevention behaviors. Cognitive deficits, in terms of lack of knowledge, and breast cancer misbeliefs contributed to poor adherence to screening. Most important, anxiety or emotional distress not only interfered with adherence to screening but also affected quality of life negatively in that many women needed psychological counseling. In developing psychological counseling strategies for high-risk women, we focused on the treatment outcomes of reducing emotional distress, decreasing perceived vulnerability, and improving adherence to screening behaviors. We conducted a preliminary study by piloting a group psychoeducational intervention for 6 consecutive weeks. This intervention was found to significantly reduce perception of risk (P < .02) and to increase adherence to screening behaviors (P < .01). If proven effective in a randomized controlled trial, this intervention can be proposed to other cancer centers and prevention programs for implementation and enhancement of the behaviors among high-risk women that will assure early detection and decrease breast cancer mortality.
Entering the SDG era: What do Fijians prioritise as indicators of disability-inclusive education?

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 is to ‘Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all’ and the targets and indicators for SDG 4 emphasise the importance of measuring outcomes for children with disabilities (United Nations, 2015b). This paper reports on findings from qualitative research investigating Fijian stakeholders’ priorities for measuring success of efforts within a contextually and culturally meaningful process of disabilityinclusive education; that is, achievement of SDG 4 for children with disabilities. The priorities are presented in light of the specific challenges in Fiji to fulfilling this goal. The research presented in this paper is one part of a much larger mixed method study funded by the Australian aid program that aimed to develop and test indicators for the education of children with disabilities in the Pacific (Sharma et al., 2016). Fijian researchers with lived experience of disability undertook key informant interviews and focus group discussions with 28 participants. The findings include the need for or role of: an implementation plan and resourcing to ensure the national inclusive education policy is activated; improved awareness and attitudes; competent, confident and compassionate teachers; disability-specific services and assistive technology; accessible buildings and transport; and the important role of special schools. Inclusive education reform requires that Fiji incorporates and builds on existing strengths in special and inclusive education to ensure that systems and people are prepared and resourced for inclusion. The paper concludes that targets within SDG 4 are compatible with priorities within Fiji, however additional indicators are required to measure locally-prioritized changes related to barriers which need to be addressed if Fiji is to make progress towards the higher-order targets of SDG 4.
A longitudinal evaluation of urinary glycosaminoglycan excretion in normoalbuminuric type 1 diabetic patients

Abstract Background: Previously, we found high urinary glycosaminoglycan (GAG) concentration, together with an altered electrophoretic pattern, in normoalbuminuric type 1 diabetic subjects with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥8.0%. The purpose of this study was long-term evaluation of GAG excretion variations in these patients compared to those with HbA1c <8.0% at baseline who maintained better metabolic control over time. Methods: We enrolled 26 normotensive, normoalbuminuric type 1 diabetic patients and divided them into two groups according to mean HbA1c levels during the follow-up period. GAGs were isolated from 24-h urine samples on two separate occasions, at baseline and after a mean (±SD) follow-up of 6.8±1.1years. Results: All patients remained normoalbuminuric at follow-up, and had normal urinary α1-microglobulin levels. In patients with HbA1c <8.0%, total GAG levels and low sulfated chondroitin sulfate-proteoglycan/chondroitin sulfate ratio were almost unchanged during the follow-up period. In contrast, these increased in patients with HbA1c≥8.0% and were significantly related to both HbA1c levels and the duration of poor glycemic control. Conclusions: Our results show a strong influence of hyperglycemic environment on GAG metabolism in diabetes and indicate that the distribution pattern of urinary GAGs, besides their total concentration, may be predictive of altered GAG metabolism in type 1 diabetes.
Decline of DNA damage and other biomarkers in peripheral blood following smoking cessation.

Serial samples from 40 heavy smokers ( > or = pack/day for > or = 1 year) enrolled in a smoking cessation program were assayed for cotinine, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-DNA, 4-aminobiphenyl-hemoglobin (4-ABP-Hb) adducts, and glycophorin A (GPA) mutations. Blood samples were taken while subjects were smoking, and 10 weeks and 8 and 14 months after quitting. Cotinine was used to assess compliance with the cessation protocol. A significant reduction in mean PAH-DNA and 4-ABP-Hb adducts was observed after cessation in all persons who were cotinine-verified quitters ( < or = 25 ng/ml) for > or = 8 months (P < 0.05). Neither the GPA N/phi nor the GPA N/N mutation Vf was significantly reduced after smoking cessation, but results are limited by the small number (n = 18) of heterozygous individuals studied. The substantial reduction (50-75%) in PAH-DNA and 4-ABP-Hb adduct levels after quitting indicates these carcinogen adducts are reflective of smoking. Passive exposure to smoke at home was significantly associated with PAH-DNA adducts in active smokers and in ex-smokers 10 weeks after quitting (P < 0.01). The estimated half-life of the PAH-DNA adducts in leukocytes is 9-13 weeks by inspection of the mean biomarker levels from baseline and 10 weeks sample and 23 (95% confidence interval, 10-36 weeks) using a linear regression model that adjusted for background. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Time-Harmonic Induction-Machine Model Including Hysteresis and Eddy Currents in Steel Laminations

We have studied electromagnetic losses of a frequency-converter-fed cage-induction motor by using a numerical machine model that includes eddy-current and hysteresis phenomena in electrical steel sheets. We used the model to solve the two-dimensional (2-D) time-harmonic field and winding equations of a cage-induction machine, utilizing a finite-element method and phasor variables. We used complex reluctivity to couple the hysteresis and eddy currents in the sheets with the 2-D analysis. The model modifies the absolute value of the reluctivity according to a one-dimensional (1-D) eddy-current solution developed in the lamination thickness. To define the argument of the reluctivity, we applied both the 1-D field solution and measured hysteresis data. We compared computations of additional electromagnetic losses in a 37-kW test machine due to the higher harmonics of a frequency-converter supply with experimental results. The agreement is found to be reasonable.
Drug-Induced Phospholipidosis: Are There Functional Consequences?

Phospholipidosis induced by drugs with a cationic amphiphilic structure is a generalized condition in humans and animals that is characterized by an intracellular accumulation of phospholipids and the concurrent development of concentric lamellar bodies. The primary mechanism responsible for the development of phospholipidosis is an inhibition of lysosomal phospholipase activity by the drugs. While the biochemical and ultrastructural features of the condition have been well characterized, much less effort has been directed toward understanding whether the condition has adverse effects on the organism. While there are a few cationic amphiphilic drugs that have been reported to cause phospholipidosis in humans, the principal concern with this condition is in the pharmaceutical industry during preclinical testing. While this class of drugs should technically be referred to as cationic lipophilic, the term cationic amphiphilic is widely used and recognized in this field, and for this reason, the terminology cationic amphiphilic drugs (CADs) will be employed in this Minireview. The aim of this Minireview is to provide an evaluation of the state of knowledge on the functional consequences of CAD-induced phospholipidosis.
Inhibin subunit gene expression in ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE(S) Granulosa cell tumors (GCT) and mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovary are associated with elevated circulating levels of immunoreactive inhibin. Measurement of serum inhibin levels provides a useful tumor marker in the management of ovarian tumors. Inhibin is a dimeric ovarian glycoprotein hormone consisting of one alpha and one of two beta subunits. The beta subunits can dimerize to form activin. Activin is bound and its action modulated by another gonadal peptide, follistatin. In this study the patterns of expression of the three inhibin subunit genes, the follistatin gene, and the activin receptor type II gene have been determined. METHODS Gene expression was analyzed in RNA prepared from 16 primary ovarian tumors using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Gene-specific primes were used for RT-PCR; the products were analyzed by Southern blot analysis with gene-specific 32P-labeled probes. RESULTS Widespread expression of these genes was found in all of the tumor types examined. Abundant expression of the inhibin alpha subunit gene was observed in the GCT and to a lesser extent in the mucinous and serous tumors. beta subunit expression was also present in the GCT and to a lesser extent in the other tumors. Widespread expression of both the activin receptor type II and the follistatin genes was also observed. CONCLUSIONS Expression of the inhibin subunit genes in GCT and some epithelial tumors confirms that these tumors are the source of the increased immunoreactive inhibin seen in the circulation of patients with ovarian tumors. Expression of the activin receptor type II and follistatin genes suggests a paracrine role for activin in these tumors which may be modulated by follistatin, particularly in the GCT.
Cepten Sağlık Harcamalarının Finansmanında Eşitsizlik ve Hakkaniyet: Uygulamalı Bir Ekonometrik Yaklaşım - Inequality and Inequity in Financing Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditures: An Applied Econometric Approach

Songül ÇINAROĞLU Hacettepe Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Sağlık Yönetimi Bölümü Beytepe, Ankara, Türkiye orcid.org/0000-0001-5699-8402 cinaroglus@hacettepe.edu. tr Özet Bu çalışmada Türkiye’de sağlık finansman sisteminin tek çatı altında toplanması başta olmak üzere sağlık harcamalarının kontrol altına alınmasına yönelik düzenlemelerin, cepten sağlık harcamasının dağılımında eşitsizlik ve hakkaniyet bakımından etkisinin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmada Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu tarafından yapılmış, 2003, 2009 ve 2015 yıllarına ait Hanehalkı Bütçe Anketi verileri kullanılmıştır. Eşitsizlik ve hakkaniyetin incelenmesinde, endeks ve eğri yaklaşımları birlikte ele alınmış olup, Gini ve Konsantrasyon endeksi ile Konsantrasyon eğrisinin Lorenz eğrisinden ayrılma durumu değerlendirilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular, 2003’den 2015 yılına kadar olan süreçte cepten sağlık harcamalarının arttığı, cepten sağlık harcamalarının dağılımı bakımından eşitsizliğin azaldığını (Gini endeksi: 2003 [0.75], 2009 [0.71] ve 2015 [0.69]) göstermektedir. Buna karşın, Konsantrasyon eğrisinin Lorenz eğrisinden ayrılma durumu değerlendirildiğinde, cepten sağlık harcamalarının artan oranlı bir finansman kaynağı olduğu ve artan oranlılığın derecesinin giderek azaldığı görülmektedir. Çalışma sonuçları, Türkiye’de sağlık sigortası sisteminin tek çatı altına alınması ile birlikte yapılan düzenlemelerin daha fazla sayıda kişinin sisteme dahil olması ile birlikte finansman yükünün eşit paylaşımı noktasında katkı sağladığını göstermektedir. Ancak, incelenen yıllar itibariyle, artan oranlılığın yapısında görülen bozulmanın, yoksul kesimler üzerindeki yükün artışına işaret etmesi dikkat çekicidir. Bu nedenle, sağlık finansman sisteminin sürdürülebilirliğini sağlamaya yönelik olarak, sigorta kapsamının genişletilmesi ve yoksul yanlısı politikalar belirlenmesi tavsiye edilmektedir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Cepten sağlık harcaması, Gini endeksi, Konsantrasyon endeksi, Lorenz eğrisi, Konsantrasyon eğrisi
Bypass to the genicular arteries for revascularisation of the lower limb.

OBJECTIVE To describe an initial experience with infrainguinal bypass grafts inserted distally in a genicular artery. DESIGN Retrospective case series study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Eleven patients with Grade III chronic limb ischaemia in whom arteriography showed femoropopliteal occlusive disease and at least one genicular branch suitable for receiving a bypass. Bypass grafts were done to the descending genicular artery (n=4) or the medial sural artery (n=6) using segments of autologous veins; one bypass was not completed. RESULTS Primary graft patency and foot salvage rates were 73% at 1 month and 24 months of follow-up. Patient survival rate was 100% and 90%, respectively. Major amputation was required in two of three patients following early graft failure. Of the eight patients who had a patent graft, the Doppler ankle-brachial systolic pressure index showed no change in one patient, an increase of 0.13-0.66 in six patients, and was not measured in one patient. The former patient underwent a below-knee amputation whereas the other seven patients showed complete healing of their skin ulcers and sites of minor amputation. CONCLUSION The genicular bypass is a useful alternative that may extend the limits of infrainguinal arterial reconstruction with autologous tissue and the potential for long-term patient benefit.
Proteomic Characterization of Protein Phosphatase Complexes of the Mammalian Nucleus*

Our knowledge of the serine/threonine protein phosphatases of the mammalian nucleus is limited compared with their cytosolic counterparts. Microcystin-Sepharose chromatography and mass spectrometry were utilized to affinity purify and identify protein phosphatase-associated proteins from isolated rat liver nuclei. Far Western analysis with labeled protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) showed that many more PP1 binding proteins exist in the nucleus than were previously demonstrated. Mass spectrometry confirmed the presence in the nucleus of the mammalian PP1 isoforms α1, α2, β, and γ1, plus the Aα and several of the B and B′ subunits that are complexed to PP2A. Other proteins enriched on the microcystin matrix include the spliceosomal proteins known as the U2 snRNPs SAP145 and SAP155 and the U5 snRNPs p116 and p200, myosin heavy chain, and a nuclear PP1 myosin-targeting subunit related to M110. The putative RNA binding protein ZAP was also established as a nuclear PP1 binding protein using the criteria of co-purification with PP1 on microcystin-Sepharose, co-immunoprecipation, binding PP1 in an overlay assay, and presence of a putative PP1 binding site (KKRVRWAD). These results further support a key role for protein phosphatases in several nuclear functions, including the regulation of pre-mRNA splicing.
Homologous desensitization of the D1A dopamine receptor: efficacy in causing desensitization dissociates from both receptor occupancy and functional potency.

The role of drug efficacy in agonist-induced desensitization was studied in C-6 glioma cells transfected with the monkey dopamine D1A (mD1A) receptor. Dopamine pretreatment for 2 hr produced greater than 80% loss of responsiveness in the stimulation of cAMP accumulation that was blocked by the D1 antagonist SCH23390. A series of full and partial D1 agonists from structurally dissimilar classes were then examined. Three full agonists (dihydrexidine, SKF82958, A77636) desensitized the receptor to the same extent as dopamine, whereas two other full agonists (dinapsoline and A68930) and all the partial agonists tested (SKF38393, pergolide and d-lysergic acid diethylamide tartrate) produced only partial desensitization (i.e., 50% that of dopamine). Whereas partial agonists (i.e., SKF38393, pergolide and d-lysergic acid diethylamide tartrate) caused no alteration in ligand-accessible mD1A receptors, four of the full agonists (dopamine, dihydrexidine, dinapsoline, A68930) caused a 30 to 40% reduction in receptor number. One full agonist, A77636, caused nearly an 80% decrease in receptor number, despite the fact that the degree of functional desensitization was similar to the other full agonists. The desensitization of the D1 receptor was homologous, not affecting beta-2 adrenergic receptors endogenous to C-6 cells. Neither incubation with cAMP analogs, nor inhibition of protein kinase A, affected dopamine-induced desensitization, suggesting a cAMP-independent mechanism in this cell line. Together, these data suggest that functional desensitization of the mD1A receptor expressed in C-6 glioma cells is a cAMP-independent mechanism, cannot be predicted reliably from agonist efficacy for stimulating adenylate cyclase and can occur in the absence of changes in receptor number.
Calorie restriction delays lipid oxidative damage in Drosophila melanogaster

The oxidative stress hypothesis predicts that the accumulation of oxidative damage to a variety of macromolecules is the molecular trigger driving the process of aging. Although an inverse relationship between oxidative damage and lifespan has been established in several different species, the precise relationship between oxidative damage and aging is not fully understood. Drosophila melanogaster is a favored model organism for aging research. Environmental interventions such as ambient temperature and calorie restriction can alter adult lifespan to provide an excellent system to examine the relationship between oxidative damage, aging and lifespan. We have developed an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using commercially available reagents for measuring 4‐hydroxy‐2‐nonenal (HNE) in proteins, a marker for oxidative damage to lipids, and present data in flies to show that HNE adducts accumulate in an age‐dependent manner. With immunohistology, we also find the primary site of HNE accumulation is the pericerebral fat body, where induction of dFOXO was recently shown to retard aging. When subjected to environmental interventions that shorten lifespan, such as elevated ambient temperature, the chronological accumulation of HNE adduct is accelerated. Conversely, interventions that extend lifespan, such as lower ambient temperature or low calorie diets, slow the accumulation of HNE adduct. These studies associate damage from lipid peroxidation with aging and lifespan in Drosophila and show that calorie restriction in flies, as in mammals, slows the accumulation of lipid related oxidative damage.
The GH, prolactin, ACTH and cortisol responses to Hexarelin, a synthetic hexapeptide, undergo different age-related variations.

Hexarelin (HEX) is a synthetic growth hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP) which acts on specific receptors at both the pituitary and the hypothalamic level to stimulate GH release in an age-dependent manner. Like other GHRPs, HEX possesses also prolactin (PRL) and ACTH/cortisol-releasing activity. similar to that of human corticotropin-releasing hormone (hCRH). The mechanisms underlying the stimulatory effect of GHRPs on lactotrope and corticotrope secretion are even less clear and the influence of age on these endocrine activities of GHRPs is unknown. To clarify this point we studied the GH, PRL, ACTH and cortisol responses to the maximal effective dose of HEX (2.0 micrograms/kg i.v.) in: 12 prepubertal children (Pre-C, 8 male, 4 female, age 5.8-12.1 years); 12 pubertal normal short children (Pub-C, 5 male, 7 female, age 9.7-15.5 years, pubertal stage II-IV); 20 normal young adults (Young, 6 males, 14 females, age 23-32 years); and in 16 normal elderly people (Elderly, 5 male, 11 female, age 66-81 years). The GH response to HEX was clear in Pre-C (0-120 min area under curve, mean +/- S.E.M. 769.5 +/- 122.2 micrograms*min/l) but strikingly increased (P < 0.001) in Pub-C (1960.2 +/- 283.5 micrograms*min/l). The HEX-induced GH rise in Young (1829.7 +/- 243.1 micrograms*min/l) persisted similar to that in Pub-C, but decreased in Elderly (951.1 +/- 232.9 micrograms*min/I, P < 0.005); the latter was, in turn, similar to that in Pre-C. HEX induced a significant PRL increase which, however, showed no age-related variations, being similar in Pre-C (512.1 +/- 88.0 micrograms*min/l), Pub-C (584.0 +/- 106.0 micrograms*min/l), Young (554.9 +/- 56.0 micrograms*min/l) and Elderly (523.9 +/- 59.6 micrograms*min/l). The ACTH-releasing activity of HEX was present in Pre-C (1356.6 +/- 204.9 pg*min/ml) and was clearly enhanced (P < 0.02) in Pub-C (2253.5 +/- 242.8 pg*min/ml). The ACTH rise after HEX in Young (1258.1 +/- 141.2pg*min/ml) was lower (P < 0.02) than that in Pub-C and similar to that in Pre-C, while the ACTH response to HEX in Elderly (1786.5 +/- 340.1 pg*min/ml) showed a further trend toward increase, being similar to that in Pub-C. On the other hand, the cortisol response to HEX showed no significant age-related variations, being not different in Pre-C (7747.2 +/- 1031.6 micrograms*min/l), Pub-C (6106.0 +/- 862.9 micrograms*min/l), Young (6827.5 +/- 509.6 micrograms*min/I) and Elderly (7950.6 +/- 658.3 micrograms*min/l). In conclusion, our present data demonstrate that in humans the GH- and ACTH-releasing activities of HEX undergo different age-related variations, while its PRL-releasing activity is not dependent on age. These finding suggest that actions at different levels and/or on different receptor subtypes mediate the different age-related hormonal effects of GHRPs.