Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predicting coronary risk in UK South Asians: an adjustment method for Framingham-based tools.

BACKGROUND Although people of South Asian descent appear to be at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to the general population there is no validated tool for predicting risk in this group. DESIGN This study was based on an analysis of data from the Health Survey for England (HSE) 1998 and 1999 to identify a simple method for adjusting the Framingham equation to estimate coronary risk in South Asians which could be then applied to existing simple paper-based tools. METHODS The different adjustments investigated were fixed increments to the age, total cholesterol (TC), and TC:high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratio and multipliers for the TC:HDL cholesterol ratio. Framingham risk modified according to a factor derived from an earlier overview of prospective studies was used as a standard to estimate sensitivity and specificity of adjustment methods. The receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) plot was used to compare the different adjustments in the primary role of identifying individuals above or below a given risk threshold. RESULTS All adjustment methods produced a graded monotonic increase of coronary risk in 4497 eligible subjects from the HSE 1998 dataset. Multiplying TC:HDL cholesterol ratio gave the largest area under the ROC curve. However adding 10 years to the age of South Asian people was the simplest way of calculating coronary heart disease risk using paper-based methods and still provided acceptable accuracy. CONCLUSION Our result should be used to achieve the systematic evaluation of each individual for primary prevention of CHD in South Asians in primary care.
Perinatal expression of brush-border hydrolases in rat colon: hormonal and tissue regulations.

The evolution pattern of brush-border digestive hydrolases and their hormonal regulation were studied in the proximal colon of newborn rats. The potentiality of the colon to express a small intestinal enzymatic pattern was also examined in associations made up of colonic endoderm and small intestinal mesenchyme, developed as either intracelomic grafts in 3-day-old chick embryos or as intrarenal grafts in adult rats. A transient increase of lactase- and aminopeptidase-specific activities occurred in the colon from the 19th day of gestation to 14 days after birth, but sucrase activity could never be detected. Immunocytochemical studies with antibodies specific for rat lactase, aminopeptidase, and sucrase confirmed these results. However, the levels of hydrolase activities were lower in the colon than in the jejunum at the same age. Thyroxine or hydrocortisone treatment during the first 4 days postpartum decreased lactase activity by 70 and 30%, respectively, but did not affect aminopeptidase activity. A slight but significant induction of sucrase activity was obtained with both hormones. In contrast, in the jejunum, only thyroxine decreased lactase activity with a lesser effect (30%), but both hormones increased aminopeptidase activity and induced the marked well-known appearance of sucrase activity. The fetal small intestinal mesenchyme was not able to induce the colonic endoderm to achieve a small intestinal-like differentiation. But the exposure of the developed hybrid intestines to glucocorticoids in organ culture allowed expression of sucrase in one-third of the cases. These results demonstrate the presence of brush-border hydrolases in the proximal colon of newborn rats, normally expressed in the small intestine, but never in the adult colon. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Postexercise heat loss and hemodynamic responses during head-down tilt are similar between genders.

PURPOSE We evaluated the hypothesis that during recovery from dynamic exercise in the 15 degrees head-down tilt (HDT) position, the attenuation of the fall in mean arterial pressure (MAP), cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC), and sweat rate, and the augmentation of the rate of esophageal temperature (T(es)) decay relative to the upright seated (URS) posture, would be different between males and females. METHODS Fourteen subjects (seven males, seven females) performed two experimental protocols: 1) 15 min of cycle ergometry at 75% VO2peak and then 60 min of recovery in the URS posture; or 2) 15 min of cycle ergometry at 75% VO2peak and then 60 min of recovery in the 15 degrees HDT position. Mean skin temperature, Tes, CVC, sweat rate, cardiac output (CO), stroke volume (SV), heart rate (HR), total peripheral resistance (TPR), and MAP were recorded at baseline; end of exercise; 2 min, 5 min, 8 min, 12 min, 15 min, and 20 min after exercise; and every 5 min until the end of recovery (60 min). RESULTS During recovery from exercise, we observed significantly greater values for MAP, CVC, and sweat rate with HDT in comparison with the URS recovery posture (P <or= 0.05). The magnitude of these responses to HDT did not differ between genders, and a significantly lower T(es) was subsequently observed with HDT for the duration of recovery (P <or= 0.05) for both males and females. In the URS posture, females showed a greater decrease of postexercise MAP than did males (P <or= 0.05). At the end of 60 min of recovery, T(es) remained significantly elevated above baseline with the URS recovery posture (P <or= 0.05). With HDT, T(es) returned to baseline after 20 min. CONCLUSION HDT attenuates the reductions in MAP, CVC, and sweat rate observed after exercise in a gender-independent manner, and this likely is attributable to a nonthermal baroreceptor influence.
Public Sector Management in Africa

Even though the public sector in African countries was expected to spearhead socioeconomic development to reduce poverty, it has proved largely ineffective in performing this task. Some of the reasons for this ineffectiveness are excessive politicization, lack of accountability and representation, inability to promote the public interest and authoritarian tendencies. The ineffectiveness has led to the call for a redefinition of the role of the public sector. As a contribution to the debate over the proper role of the public sector and how it has coped with the New Public Management reforms, this paper assesses the state of public sector management in Africa by focusing specifically on the strengths and challenges facing the state and its bureaucracy in relation to socioeconomic development and how the challenges can be addressed. Some of the issues the paper examines include: • the existing and/or evolving theoretical paradigms and their relevance to the public sector management; • the inability of the African state to promote development in comparison to the Asian “developmental” state; • various public sector reforms (civil service, decentralization, privatization, deregulation, co-production, public-private partnerships, judicial, tax) initiated to improve state capacity and their outcomes; • the effectiveness of strategies implemented to promote accountability and minimize corruption; and • the issues and problems in aid management and coordination in Africa. In addition to these issues, the paper also highlights possible policy options for the future and their relevance in addressing the challenges facing public sector management.
Outcome of Penetrating Keratoplasty for Peters Anomaly

Purpose: To determine the results of corneal graft survival after penetrating keratoplasty for Peters anomaly. Methods: Retrospective review of records of children 12 years of age or younger who underwent penetrating keratoplasty for Peters anomaly between March 1988 and December 2003. The data were analyzed regarding graft survival. The survival probabilities were estimated by using the Kaplan-Meier method. The main outcome measure was graft clarity. Results: Forty corneal transplants were performed in 32 children with Peters anomaly whose mean age at keratoplasty was 8.6 ± 3.9 months (range, 2.5-22 months). The mean follow-up period was 1.9 ± 2.9 years (range, 1 month to 15 years). Seventeen (42.5%) of the 40 grafts retained full clarity. Survival analysis showed a 52% probability of the graft remaining clear at the end of 6 months, which dropped to 22% at 2 years. The predicted mean survival time of grafts was 20.1 months (95% confidence interval, 4.9-36.3). Allograft rejection was the most frequently identified cause of graft failure, accounting for 15 (65%) of the 23 failed grafts, with 93.3% of episodes occurring in the first year. Poor graft survival correlated with age younger than 6 months (P = 0.04). Conclusions: The overall probability of maintaining a clear corneal transplant in Peters anomaly is 22% at 2 years and may be adversely affected by younger age at surgery. Because most episodes of rejection occurred in the first year, follow-up is recommended during this period.
Decidual Immune Cell Infiltrate in Hydatidiform Mole

Background: Hydatidiform mole is a gestational trophoblastic disease characterized by proliferation of the pregnancy-associated trophoblastic tissue. Complete hydatidiform mole is an entirely paternally derived lesion, and therefore, represents complete intrauterine allografts that can induce an altered maternal immune response Hypothesis: Here, we hypothesize that “the development of hydatidiform moles is associated with numeric alterations of the decidual immune cell infiltrate. ” Materials and methods: A total of 30 specimens (decidual tissue), entailing normal first trimester pregnancy terminations and complete hydatidiform moles (15 cases, each), were evaluated for immune cell infiltrate using immunohistological methods and monoclonal antibodies (CD20, CD68, and CD3 for B cells, histiocytes/dendritic cells, and T cells, respectively). Results: Groups of immune cells were seen in the decidual tissue of first trimester normal pregnancy terminations and hydatidiform moles. Compared to the decidual tissue of first trimester normal pregnancy terminations, the mean counts of the immune cells were statistically significantly higher (p< 0.05) in the decidual tissue of the hydatidiform moles (0.33 ± 0.21 vs. 1.66 ± 0.21 for CD20+B cells; 9.80 ± 1.57 vs. 13.14 ± 1.16 for CD68+ cells; and 12.92 ± 3.46 vs. 23.85 ± 1.22 for CD3+ cells for decidual tissue without and with molar changes, respectively). Conclusions: Hydatidiform moles are associated with numeric alterations of immune cell infiltrate. The numeric dominance of immune cells in the hydatidiform moles may reflect either non-specific or specific immunological processes. The possible pathogenetic and prognostic ramifications of our findings are open for further investigations.
Effects of esomeprazole 40 mg twice daily on asthma: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

RATIONALE Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is common in patients with asthma, suggesting an interaction between the two conditions. OBJECTIVES To assess the effect of gastric acid suppression with the proton pump inhibitor esomeprazole on asthma outcomes in subjects with persistent moderate to severe asthma treated with antiinflammatory asthma medication. METHODS In this double-blind study, subjects were randomized to receive esomeprazole 40 mg or placebo twice daily for 16 wk. According to nocturnal respiratory symptoms (NOC) and GERD, subjects were divided into three strata: GERD-/NOC+, GERD+/NOC-, and GERD+/NOC+. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS A total of 770 subjects were randomized. There was no statistically significant improvement in morning peak expiratory flow (PEF) over placebo in the overall study population: 6.3 L/min (p = 0.061). Over the whole treatment period, in GERD+/NOC+ subjects (n = 350), esomeprazole provided an 8.7-L/min improvement (p = 0.03) in morning PEF, and a 10.2-L/min improvement (p = 0.012) in evening PEF over placebo. Among 307 subjects taking long-acting beta2-agonists, improvements over placebo were observed in morning PEF (12.2 L/min, p = 0.017) and in evening PEF (11.1 L/min, p = 0.024); these improvements were more pronounced in GERD+/NOC+ subjects. Esomeprazole 40 mg twice daily was well tolerated and no safety concerns were noted. CONCLUSIONS Esomeprazole improved PEF in subjects with asthma who presented with both GERD and NOC. In subjects without both GERD and NOC, no improvement could be detected.
Application of artificial neural network for predicting company financial performance in Indonesia stock exchange

As the economy and financial market grow in Indonesia, the interest to invest and develop the market are steadily increasing. This provides an opportunity for company and investor to get more profit. The increasingly competitive market and dynamic condition require strategy to utilize investment. The ability to forecast company performance in financial sector is needed to keep up with the ever-growing market. The Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is one of the popular machine learning methods to be used as a forecasting method that requires a more complex model, uses more variable, and tends to be nonlinear. Hence, this method really suits to be adapted in financial sector, especially in the stock market. This study integrated the technical analysis and fundamental analysis together for the result. In addition, this study also shows that neural network as a predictive model could significantly outperform the minimum return.
Understanding the Impact of Wilderness Therapy on Adolescent Depression and Psychosocial Development

Rates of adolescent depression in the United States have become alarmingly high, reemphasizing the need for holistic interventions for afflicted youth. This study examined the impact of wilderness therapy on youth with depression using a mixed methods research design. Data were collected via pre- and post-tests using the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale-2 and the Measures of Psychosocial Development. Qualitative data were also collected via three month, post-course phone interviews. Rates and prevalence of depression decreased after the wilderness therapy intervention, and wilderness therapy also increased the prevalence of psychosocial health among participants, including gains in school improvement, decreased substance abuse and improved family relationships. Findings held up even three months post-course. This study’s consumer evaluation research component assessed the importance of various elements of the wilderness therapy intervention. Data analysis revealed the importance of a positive group experience on psychosocial health, and positive communication with family members decreased depression. Participants reported that being in nature, challenge and adventure, and contemplation were all important aspects of the change process.
Preclinical efficacy and safety of mepolizumab (SB-240563), a humanized monoclonal antibody to IL-5, in cynomolgus monkeys.

BACKGROUND Allergic respiratory diseases are characterized by large numbers of eosinophils and their reactive products in airways and blood; these are believed to be involved in progressive airway damage and remodeling. IL-5 is the principal cytokine for eosinophil maturation, differentiation, and survival. Mepolizumab (SB-240563), a humanized monoclonal antibody (mAb) specific for human IL-5, is currently in clinical trials for treatment of asthma. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to characterize the pharmacologic activity and long-term safety profile of an anti--human IL-5 mAb to support clinical trials in asthmatic patients. METHODS Naive and Ascaris suum -sensitive cynomolgus monkeys received various dose levels of mepolizumab and were monitored for acute and chronic pharmacologic and toxic responses. RESULTS To support preclinical safety assessment, cynomolgus monkey IL-5 was cloned, expressed, and characterized. Although monkey IL-5 differs from human IL-5 by 2 amino acids (Ala27Gly and Asn40His), mepolizumab has comparable inhibitory activity against both monkey IL-5 and human IL-5. In A suum--sensitive monkeys, single doses of mepolizumab significantly reduced blood eosinophilia, eosinophil migration into lung airways, and levels of RANTES and IL-6 in lungs for 6 weeks. However, mepolizumab did not affect acute bronchoconstrictive responses to inhaled A suum. In an IL-2--induced eosinophilia model (up to 50% blood eosinophilia), 0.5 mg/kg mepolizumab blocked eosinophilia by >80%. Single-dose and chronic (6 monthly doses) intravenous and subcutaneous toxicity studies in naive monkeys found no target organ toxicity or immunotoxicity up to 300 mg/kg. Monkeys did not generate anti-human IgG antibodies. Monthly mepolizumab doses greater than 5 mg/kg caused an 80% to 100% decrease in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage eosinophils lasting 2 months after dosing, and there was no effect on eosinophil precursors in bone marrow after 6 months of treatment. Eosinophil decreases correlated with mepolizumab plasma concentrations (half-life = 13 days). CONCLUSION These studies demonstrate that chronic antagonism of IL-5 by mepolizumab in monkeys is safe and has the potential, through long-term reductions in circulating and tissue-resident eosinophils, to be beneficial therapy for chronic inflammatory respiratory diseases.
Comparisons of Two Real-Valued MIMO Signal Models and Their Associated ZF-SIC Detectors over the Rayleigh Fading Channel

Two real MIMO models, the new lattice representation and the conventional real model, have been proposed in literature as equivalent models to the same complex MIMO model. To learn which one shares more information with the complex model, we show in this paper that the matrices produced by singular value decomposition and QR-decomposition of the complex and new real channel matrices for the complex and new real models, respectively, are fully related. Also, the new real zero-forcing successive interference cancellation (ZF-SIC) detector is shown to find the same solution as the complex ZF-SIC detector. Comparisons of the two real ZF-SIC detectors based on the two real models are therefore equivalent to the comparisons of the complex and conventional real ZF-SIC detectors. Plenty comparisons of the two real ZF-SIC detectors over the Rayleigh fading channel are reported, including the average joint error probability at finite signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), outage probability at different layers, average error probability at high SNR, and the scenario with optimal transmit power allocation. These comparisons provide much understanding about the complex and two real models as well as their associated detectors.
Follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma: a comparative study of histopathologic features and cytology results in 141 patients.

OBJECTIVE To characterize the histopathologic features of follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPC) and its cytology results on fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy and compare them with those of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PC). METHODS We searched the University of Massachusetts Medical Center pathology database for all surgical specimens associated with a diagnosis of FVPC or PC between January 1992 and February 1998 and reviewed the related pathology reports. In addition, the associated preoperative FNA results were analyzed. RESULTS On initial assessment, FVPC was associated with a significantly lower incidence of cervical lymph node metastatic involvement in comparison with PC (5.6% versus 35.7%; P<0.001). Even though the mean size of FVPC was larger than that of PC (2.57 cm versus 1.75 cm; P<0.05), FVPC showed a lower incidence of thyroid capsule invasion (5.6% versus 11.4%), infiltrative resection margins (2.8% versus 20.0%; P = 0.01), local soft tissue invasion (7.0% versus 25.7%; P<0.005), and multicentricity (25.4% versus 47.1%; P<0.01). Lymphocytic thyroiditis was a common feature of both FVPC (36.6%) and PC (35.7%). FNA biopsy revealed the presence of malignant cells in 9.8% of patients with FVPC in comparison with 67.5% of patients with PC. Most cytology specimens of FVPC (58.8%) were interpreted as suspicious for a malignant lesion or as a follicular neoplasm. CONCLUSION FVPC is associated with a significantly lower incidence of cervical lymph node metastatic lesions and invasive histologic features than is PC. Long-term prospective clinical studies are needed to determine whether these findings translate into a more benign natural history for this variant of PC. Results of FNA biopsy in FVPC are more commonly interpreted as suspicious rather than malignant; this factor has major implications for preoperative planning.
Immediate cytology improves accuracy and decreases complication rate in real‐time computed tomography‐guided needle lung biopsy

Computed tomography‐guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (CTNB) of the lung is a well‐established diagnostic technique for the evaluation of thoracic lesions. At our institution, we have performed real‐time CTNB using automated biopsy needles since 1998 and we introduced immediate cytology in 2004. We evaluate immediate cytology in CTNB to increase the diagnostic accuracy and to reduce the number of inadequate specimens.
Study of 5-Aza-CdR on Transcription Regulation of RASSF1A Gene in the BIU87 Cell Line

Objectives: To investigate the effect of 5-Aza-CdR on methylation and expression of RASSF1A gene in the human bladder cancer BIU87 cell line. Methods: Cultured BIU87 cells were treated with increasing concentrations (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 5.0 μmol/l) of 5-Aza-CdR. MTT was used to detect the proliferation of BIU87 cells. The methylation status and expression level of RASSF1A gene in BIU87 cells were analyzed by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction and RT-PCR before and after treatment with 5-Aza-CdR. Meanwhile, Western blot was used to detect the changes of RASSF1A protein. Results: In this study we found that the growth velocity of the BIU87 cell line was suppressed to various degrees after having been treated with different concentrations of 5-Aza-CdR, and the survival rate decreased with increasing 5- Aza-CdR concentrations. Besides, the methylation status of RASSF1A was obviously reversed and mRNA was re-expressed after treatment with 5-Aza-CdR. Expression of RASSF1A protein increased with increasing 5-Aza-CdR concentrations. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the tumor-suppressive effect of 5-Aza-CdR may result from reactivation of silenced RASSF1A through a demethylation function.
Influence of Co‐Morbid Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder and Personality Disorders on the Outcome of Cognitive Behavioural Treatment of Obsessive‐Compulsive Disorder

This study examined co‐morbid generalized anxiety disorder and/or panic disorder and personality disorders as predictors of treatment outcomes in adult outpatients with obsessive‐compulsive disorder. The patients received exposure with response prevention (ERP) treatment with the addition of either elements of cognitive therapy (ERP+CT) or relaxation training (ERP+REL). It was hypothesized that the addition of cognitive interventions would yield better treatment outcomes for patients with co‐morbid generalized anxiety disorder and/or panic disorder. It was also hypothesized that patients with any personality disorder would show less treatment gains in both conditions. Using intention‐to‐treat criteria, patients with generalized anxiety disorder and/or panic disorder co‐morbidity showed less treatment gains at post‐treatment across both treatment conditions. This group showed significantly more treatment gains in the ERP+CT condition at the post‐treatment and the 12‐month follow‐up assessments compared with patients in the ERP+REL condition. However, this was not significant when comparing treatment completers. Patients with a co‐morbid Cluster A or B personality disorder showed significantly less treatment gains in both treatment conditions at the 12‐month follow‐up assessment. Among treatment completers, patients with a Cluster C personality disorder showed significantly better outcomes at the post‐treatment assessment in the ERP+REL treatment condition. These results, clinical implications, and the importance of further investigations are discussed.