Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serum Asymmetric and Symmetric Dimethylarginine and Morbidity and Mortality in Hemodialysis Patients.

BACKGROUND Asymmetric (ADMA) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) are putative uremic toxins that may exert toxicity by a number of mechanisms, including impaired nitric oxide synthesis and generation of reactive oxygen species. The study goal was to determine the association between these metabolites and cardiovascular outcomes in hemodialysis patients. STUDY DESIGN Post hoc analysis of the Hemodialysis (HEMO) Study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS 1,276 prevalent hemodialysis patients with available samples 3 to 6 months after randomization. PREDICTOR ADMA and SDMA measured in stored specimens. OUTCOMES Cardiac death, sudden cardiac death, first cardiovascular event, and any-cause death. Association with predictors analyzed using Cox regression adjusted for potential confounders (including demographics, clinical characteristics, comorbid conditions, albumin level, and residual kidney function). RESULTS Mean age of patients was 57±14 (SD) years, 63% were black, and 57% were women. Mean ADMA (0.9±0.2μmol/L) and SDMA levels (4.3±1.4μmol/L) were moderately correlated (r=0.418). Higher dialysis dose or longer session length were not associated with lower predialysis ADMA or SDMA concentrations. In fully adjusted models, each doubling of ADMA level was associated with higher risk (HR per 2-fold higher concentration; 95% CI) of cardiac death (1.83; 1.29-2.58), sudden cardiac death (1.79; 1.19-2.69), first cardiovascular event (1.50; 1.20-1.87), and any-cause death (1.44; 1.13-1.83). Compared to the lowest ADMA quintile (<0.745 μmol/L), the highest ADMA quintile (≥1.07μmol/L) was associated with higher risk (HR; 95% CI) of cardiac death (2.10; 1.44-3.05), sudden cardiac death (2.06; 1.46-2.90), first cardiovascular event (1.75; 1.35-2.27), and any-cause death (1.56; 1.21-2.00). SDMA level was associated with higher risk for cardiac death (HR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.03-1.92), but this was no longer statistically significant after adjusting for ADMA level (HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 0.86-1.68). LIMITATIONS Single time-point measurement of ADMA and SDMA. CONCLUSIONS ADMA and, to a lesser extent, SDMA levels are associated with cardiovascular outcomes in hemodialysis patients.
MiRNA-133b promotes the proliferation of human Sertoli cells through targeting GLI3

Sertoli cells play critical roles in regulating spermatogenesis and they can be reprogrammed to the cells of other lineages, highlighting that they have significant applications in reproductive and regenerative medicine. The fate determinations of Sertoli cells are regulated precisely by epigenetic factors. However, the expression, roles, and targets of microRNA (miRNA) in human Sertoli cells remain unknown. Here we have for the first time revealed that 174 miRNAs were distinctly expressed in human Sertoli cells between Sertoli-cell-only syndrome (SCOS) patients and obstructive azoospermia (OA) patients with normal spermatogenesis using miRNA microarrays and real time PCR, suggesting that these miRNAs may be associated with the pathogenesis of SCOS. MiR-133b is upregulated in Sertoli cells of SCOS patients compared to OA patients. Proliferation assays with miRNA mimics and inhibitors showed that miR-133b enhanced the proliferation of human Sertoli cells. Moreover, we demonstrated that GLI3 was a direct target of miR-133b and the expression of Cyclin B1 and Cyclin D1 was enhanced by miR-133b mimics but decreased by its inhibitors. Gene silencing of GLI3 using RNA inference stimulated the growth of human Sertoli cells. Collectively, miR-133b promoted the proliferation of human Sertoli cells by targeting GLI3. This study thus sheds novel insights into epigenetic regulation of human Sertoli cells and the etiology of azoospermia and offers new targets for treating male infertility
Cholecalciferol treatment to reduce blood pressure in older patients with isolated systolic hypertension: the VitDISH randomized controlled trial.

IMPORTANCE Observational data link low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels to both prevalent blood pressure and incident hypertension. No clinical trial has yet examined the effect of vitamin D supplementation in isolated systolic hypertension, the most common pattern of hypertension in older people. OBJECTIVE To test whether high-dose, intermittent cholecalciferol supplementation lowers blood pressure in older patients with isolated systolic hypertension. DESIGN Parallel group, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial. SETTING Primary care clinics and hospital clinics. PARTICIPANTS Patients 70 years and older with isolated systolic hypertension (supine systolic blood pressure >140 mm Hg and supine diastolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg) and baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels less than 30 ng/mL were randomized into the trial from June 1, 2009, through May 31, 2011. INTERVENTIONS A total of 100,000 U of oral cholecalciferol or matching placebo every 3 months for 1 year. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Difference in office blood pressure, 24-hour blood pressure, arterial stiffness, endothelial function, cholesterol level, insulin resistance, and b-type natriuretic peptide level during 12 months. RESULTS A total of 159 participants were randomized (mean age, 77 years). Mean baseline office systolic blood pressure was 163/78 mm Hg. Mean baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was 18 ng/mL. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels increased in the treatment group compared with the placebo group (+8 ng/mL at 1 year, P < .001). No significant treatment effect was seen for mean (95% CI) office blood pressure (−1 [−6 to 4]/−2 [−4 to 1] mm Hg at 3 months and 1 [−2 to 4]/0 [−2 to 2] mm Hg overall treatment effect). No significant treatment effect was evident for any of the secondary outcomes (24-hour blood pressure, arterial stiffness, endothelial function, cholesterol level, glucose level, and walking distance). There was no excess of adverse events in the treatment group, and the total number of falls was nonsignificantly lower in the group receiving vitamin D (36 vs 46, P = .24). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Vitamin D supplementation did not improve blood pressure or markers of vascular health in older patients with isolated systolic hypertension. TRIAL REGISTRATION isrctn.org Identifier: ISRCTN92186858.
[Effect of breastfeeding on the risk of becoming overweight in offspring of mothers with type 1 diabetes].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Breastfeeding is considered to be a protective factor against obesity in healthy children. But previous studies about the effect of breastfeeding in the offspring of diabetic mothers have provided inconsistent results. It was the aim of this study to assess the effect of breastfeeding on the risk of becoming overweight at two years of age in children of these mothers. METHODS In a prospective cohort study data on exclusive or partial breastfeeding habits, were obtained from questionnaires given to 816 mothers, aged between 17 and 43 years, with type 1 diabetes. Weight and height of their children was obtained from their pediatric records. Children with a BMI > or = 90th percentile were classified as being overweight. RESULTS 77.9 % of all mothers started breastfeeding after the child's birth. Six months later 33.1 % were still breast-feeding. 14.5 % of all children were overweight at two years of age. After adjusting for smoking in pregnancy and the child's gender and birth weight, there was a risk reduction for overweight of 60 % (OR=0.405; 95%-CI: 0.211-0.779) for breastfeeding duration of 12 to 25 weeks. A similar positive association was found for predominant breastfeeding for a duration of at least four months (OR=0.500; 95%-CI: 0.282-0.887). Protective effects were already present when the duration of breastfeeding was four weeks or more. CONCLUSIONS Mothers with type 1 diabetes breastfed less and for a shorter duration than those in the general population. Breastfeeding duration of at least four weeks was associated with a reduced risk for overweight at two years of age. Special needs regarding diabetes management have to be taken into account.
Factors affecting lymphocyte subset reconstitution after either related or unrelated cord blood transplantation in children – a Eurocord analysis

Immune recovery after cord blood transplantation (CBT) is of concern owing to the low number of lymphocytes transferred with the graft and their immaturity. Risk factors influencing lymphocyte subset reconstitution related to disease, patient, donor and transplant were studied in 63 children (< 16 years), given either related (n = 14) or unrelated (n = 49) CBT for malignant (n = 33) or non‐malignant diseases (n = 30). Only children with sustained myeloid engraftment were analysed. Absolute numbers of T (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+), B and natural killer (NK) cells were reported 2–3, 6, 9, 12 and 12–24 months after CBT. Median patient age was 4·0 years (0–15) and median follow‐up was 23 months (1·7–61·0). Twenty‐six patients received human leucocyte antigen (HLA)‐matched CBT and 37 received HLA‐mismatched CBT. The median number of nucleated cells (NCs) collected/recipient weight was 6·1 × 107/kg. In this selected population, the estimate 2 year survival was 85%. Lymphocyte reconstitution (defined as the median time to reach the normal value of age‐matched healthy children) was 3, 6 and 8 months for NK, B and CD8+ cells, while it was 11·7 months for both CD3+ and CD4+ lymphocytes. In the multivariate analysis, factors favouring T‐cell recovery were: related donor (P = 0·002); higher NCs/kg (P = 0·005) and recipient cytomegalovirus (CMV)‐positive serology (P = 0·04). Presence of acute graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) delayed T‐cell recovery (P = 0·04). To summarize, in children with sustained myeloid engraftment the concern that lymphocyte recovery after CBT could be delayed does not appear to be substantiated by our results.
Personal Savings from Top Incomes and Household Wealth Accumulation in the United States

Abstract: This article explores the determinants and distribution of household wealth. Looking at U.S. data since 1980, it finds convincing evidence that top incomes were saved at high rates and contributed to the steady increase in the household wealth–income ratio. First, I rule out counterclaims regarding the role of housing and real estate prices finding little evidence of their influence on the trends and magnitudes of household net worth relative to disposable income. With savings as the remaining explanation, I present an accounting decomposition formula that captures savings rates for any reference group using the dynamics of intergroup accumulation rates. This methodology is applied to data from national accounts, balance sheets, and income distribution statistics in order to compute saving rates for the top 1 percent of households in the U.S. income distribution. The estimates also support the idea that top income earners have outsaved other households, thereby capturing an increasing share of wealth.
Crystal structures of complexes of the small ribosomal subunit with tetracycline, edeine and IF3

The small ribosomal subunit is responsible for the decoding of genetic information and plays a key role in the initiation of protein synthesis. We analyzed by X‐ray crystallography the structures of three different complexes of the small ribosomal subunit of Thermus thermophilus with the A‐site inhibitor tetracycline, the universal initiation inhibitor edeine and the C‐terminal domain of the translation initiation factor IF3. The crystal structure analysis of the complex with tetracycline revealed the functionally important site responsible for the blockage of the A‐site. Five additional tetracycline sites resolve most of the controversial biochemical data on the location of tetracycline. The interaction of edeine with the small subunit indicates its role in inhibiting initiation and shows its involvement with P‐site tRNA. The location of the C‐terminal domain of IF3, at the solvent side of the platform, sheds light on the formation of the initiation complex, and implies that the anti‐association activity of IF3 is due to its influence on the conformational dynamics of the small ribosomal subunit.
Diagnostic techniques for bacterial vaginosis and vulvovaginal candidiasis - requirement for a simple differential test.

IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and bacterial vaginosis (BV) account for ∼ 90% of infectious cases of vaginitis in women. Differentiating between these two conditions based on clinical features can be difficult owing to the wide variety of signs and symptoms observed. AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW Current diagnostic techniques in the clinical setting are inadequate, and even trained physicians frequently fail to make a correct diagnosis. New techniques for the diagnosis of VVC and BV are being developed, but almost all require specialised equipment, with expensive reagents, and are laborious and time-consuming. Furthermore, many women prefer to self-diagnose their condition, but are more likely to assume they have VVC, having little awareness of BV. WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN The reader will be introduced to the specific diagnostic techniques for VVC and BV. Following this, recent advances and new approaches in diagnosis will be discussed. TAKE HOME MESSAGE Misdiagnosis may result in delay of correct treatment with resulting sequelae, particularly for BV. There is a need for a simple, rapid, unequivocal and economic diagnostic test that can differentiate between BV and VVC. This would be of use both to physicians and to women who wish to self-diagnose and self-medicate, and would also help educate women about the possible alternative causes of vaginitis and vulvovaginal symptoms.
Sleep quality among relatively younger patients with initial diagnosis of hypertension: Dippers versus non‐dippers

Background. Sleep is a basic physiological process. Normal sleep yields decrease in sympathetic activity, blood pressure (BP) and heart rate. Those, who do not have expected decrease in their BP are considered “non‐dippers”. We aimed to determine if there was any association between the non‐dipping status and sleep quality, designed a cross‐sectional study, and enrolled and evaluated the sleep quality of relatively young patients with an initial diagnosis of hypertension. Methods. Seventy‐five consecutive patients, diagnosed to have stage 1 hypertension by their primary physicians, were referred to our study. Patients had newly diagnosed with stage 1 hypertension. Patients with a prior use of any anti‐hypertensive medication were not included. Eligible patients underwent the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), which has an established role in evaluating sleep disturbances. All patients underwent ambulatory BP monitoring. Results. There were 42 non‐dipper patients (mean age = 47.5±11.9 years, 24 male/18 female), as a definition, 31 dipper hypertensive patients (mean age = 48.5±12.8 years, 21 male/10 female) and two with white coat hypertension. Daytime systolic and diastolic mean BPs were not significantly different between the two groups. Night‐time mean systolic and diastolic BPs were significantly higher in non‐dippers compared with dippers. PSQI scores, globally, were significantly higher in non‐dippers compared with dippers. Total PSQI score was not correlated with body mass index. It was noticed that, individually, sleep quality, sleep efficiency and sleep disturbance scores were significantly higher in non‐dippers. Being a poor sleeper in terms of high PSQI score (total score>5) was associated with 2.955‐fold increased risk of being a non‐dipper (95% confidence interval 1.127–7.747). Conclusion. We showed that the risk of having non‐dipping hypertension, a risk factor for poor cardiovascular outcomes among hypertensive individuals, was tripled (odds ratios) among poor sleepers. We think that evaluating sleeping status and sleep quality among the hypertensive population may help unmask non‐dipper hypertension, enabling physicians to treat appropriately.
Genistein Inhibits Osmotic Activation of Na+/H+ Exchange in Human Platelets

The osmotic shrinkage is an important activator of the Na+/H* exchanger. The intracellular signaling mechanisms by which shrinkage changes intracellular pH have not been fully elucidated. In human platelets, the removal of calcium did not prevent the osmotic activation of the exchanger. The increase of pHi after an hyperosmotic stress was reduced by W-7 (63 µmol l−1), and by ML-7 (25 µmol l−1), inhibitors of responses mediated by calmodulin or by myosin light chain kinase, but the high concentrations needed suggested that non-specific effects could be involved. Although the exchanger was quiescent during preincubation in hypertonic sodium free solutions, some steps of the signal transduction chain that links the shrinkage to the exchanger activation suffers a modification. Therefore, upon exposure to isotonic sodium-containing media, the rate of recovery from acid loads was increased. The presence of genistein (100 µmol l−1) during the preincubation inhibited this activation of Na+/H+ exchanger. We propose that shrinkage induce activation of tyrosine kinases, which in turn leads to the activation of Na+/H+ exchanger and contributes to the restoration of cell volume in human platelets.
Model Pemanfaatan Kawasan Cagar Budaya Trowulan Berbasis Masyarakat.

Abstract . Community Based Model of Trowulan Cultural Heritage Region Utilization . Managing cultural heritage is not solely the responsibility of the government. However, local people must be invited to play an active role too if preservation is to be successful, because utilizationof the site and its resources is directly related to the interaction of people’s lives with cultural heritage and if utilization is not managed properly then social conflict will arise. Trowulan is recognized as a national heritage area through Decree No. 260/M/2013 from the Ministry of Education and Culture, but its preservation needs to be properly managed. This study applied the qualitative approach: observation on sites used by people either controlled by the state or owned by the community; in-depth interviews to persons who have a role in public life, and of central and local government officials; discussion groups with researchers, academics, observers, officials of the central government; and the study of legislation. This study captured the essence of people’s aspirations in the utilization of Trowulan to create a model for community-based Trowulan utilization. Our model has produced benefits to social welfare and national identity. All aspects are related with each other to provide feedback (management board, legal aspect, blueprint, funding) so that it becomes strong and sustainable management. Abstrak. Penanganan cagar budaya diharapkan tidak semata-mata menjadi tanggung jawab pemerintah, masyarakat juga harus diajak berperan aktif. Utamanya, yang terkait langsung dengan kehidupan masyarakat dengan cagar budaya yaitu pemanfaatannya. Apabila pemanfaatan itu tidak dikelola secara baik maka yang timbul adalah konflik sosial. Trowulan ditetapkan sebagai Kawasan Cagar Budaya Nasional melalui SK Mendikbud No. 260/M/2013 namun penanganan puluhan ribu cagar budaya masih perlu dibenahi. Studi ini dilakukan melalui pendekatan kualitatif: observasi di situs-situs yang dimanfaatkan oleh masyarakat baik dikuasai oleh negara maupun dimiliki masyarakat; wawancara mendalam kepada tokoh-tokoh yang berperan di dalam kehidupan masyarakat, pejabat pemerintah; diskusi kelompok bersama para peneliti, akademisi, pemerhati, pejabat pemerintah; dan kajian legislasi. Hasil studi ini menangkap esensi dari aspirasi masyarakat dalam pemanfaatan Trowulan berbasis masyarakat. Model tersebut bermuara pada manfaat identitas nasional dan kesejahteraan sosial. Semua aspek saling terkait dan memberi umpan balik (badan pengelola, legalitas, cetak biru, dana) sehingga menjadi majemen yang kuat dan berkesinambungan.
Nursing work: challenges for health management in the northeast of Brazil.

AIM Social exchange theory is used as the framework to examine the interaction between supervisor-subordinate relationships, training and affective commitment for Northeast Brazilian public sector nursing professionals. BACKGROUND There are continuing challenges to nursing management worldwide in terms of the supply of nursing professionals, their work relationships, nurse training and commitment to their employing organisations. The interplay between these factors for nurses in the Northeast of Brazil has not been well understood. METHOD Quantitative data were collected from 550 nursing professionals using a cross-sectional, survey-base design. Qualitative data were collected from 25 participants using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. RESULT Using path analysis, and the ordinary least squares approach, the findings demonstrated a significant, but weak, linkage between supervisor-subordinate relationships, training and organisational commitment. The qualitative data suggest that contracting out may be a causative factor. CONCLUSION Healthcare managers in Brazil need to create more positive environments to strengthen supervisor-nurse relationships, improve the provision of training and to strengthen organisational commitment. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT Healthcare policy-makers in hospital can make significant contributions to improving organisational commitment by reducing multiple job holding, improving the ratio of registered nurses to nursing technicians/assistants and beginning nurse supervision training in effective people management.
Are all the access points necessary in WLAN-based indoor positioning?

Wireless Local Area Networks are widely used for indoor localization purposes based on Received Signal Strength-based positioning algorithms, due to the increasing demands for Location-based Services indoors. A huge number of hearable Access Points can however increase the complexity of the positioning system and the difficulty of location estimation, since not all of the available Access Points carry useful or significant information. This paper focuses on Wireless Local Area Networks-based indoor location by taking into account the contribution of each hearable Access Point in the location estimation. Several criteria for Access Point selection are examined, and we will show what is the permissible reduction factor without a large deterioration in positioning performance and which criterion is optimal for use in Access Point removal. The fingerprinting estimation method and the deconvolution based path loss positioning approach are both addressed, and the results are based on a large measurement campaign covering five different buildings with several floors each, in two countries.
THE WRISTEN OF THE PERMIAN BASIN : EFFECT OF TECTONICS ON PATTERNS OF DEPOSITION , DIAGENESIS , AND RESERVOIR DEVELOPMENT IN THE LATE SILURIAN

Rocks of the Upper Silurian Wristen Group display a range in facies and depositional style that contrasts markedly with the more homogeneous character of the underlying Middle to Lower Silurian Fusselman Formation. The Wristen contains distinct (1) shallow-water platform (Fasken Formation) and (2) deeper water, outer platform to slope carbonate facies (Frame and Wink Formations) that document crustal downwarping of the southern margin of the Laurentian paleocontinent during the Middle Silurian. Deeper water facies of the Frame and Wink Formations dominate the more southerly areas of the Wristen subcrop in the Permian Basin and consist of nodular mudstones and wackestones (Wink) and carbonate debris flows and shales (Frame). Wristen platform facies are assigned to the Fasken Formation and include platform-margin carbonate buildup successions and a complex variety of middle to inner platform facies ranging from small carbonate buildup facies to skeletal wackestones and packstones to tidal-flat complexes. Hydrocarbon reservoirs are restricted to the Fasken Formation; more than 1.2 billion barrels of oil has been produced. A large volume of oil (more than 1.8 billion barrels) remains as a target for improved characterization of reservoir facies and architecture. The models and data presented here provide an important basis for better understanding of this complex depositional system.