Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis of Elderly Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Complicated with Hyponatremia: A Retrospective Analysis.

AIM This study was designed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of elderly small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients complicated with hyponatremia, thus providing increased attention for appropriate intervention and improving outcomes in symptomatic subjects. PATIENTS AND METHODS The clinical data of 320 patients with SCLC in the Yuhuangding Hospital from March 1st, 2006, to March 1st, 2012, were studied retrospectively. The prognosis and possible association with hyponatremia was investigated. RESULTS The incidence rate of hyponatremia in SCLC was 46.56% (149/320). The mean survival time was 1.10±0.42 years in patients with normal values and 0.83±0.35 years in patients with subnormal serum sodium. In the hyponatremia group, the mean survival time of corrected hyponatremia patients was 0.91±0.42 years, which was significantly longer than uncorrected hyponatremia patients whose mean survival time was 0.68±0.26 years (t=2.75, p<0.05) after symptomatic treatment. The mean survival time of the normal group and the hyponatremia group in elderly patients had a tendency to decrease when compared to another group of patients younger than 60 years old. Hyponatremia at 1- and 3-year follow-up was associated with worse survival rates (p<0.05). CONCLUSION The severity of hyponatremia has unfavorable prognostic impacts. Elderly SCLC patients with hyponatremia are difficult to cure and associated with significantly shorter survival, especially in the uncorrected group. It is important that the cause of the hyponatremia is diagnosed at an early stage and precise medical treatment is provided.
Value of surrogate tests to predict exercise‐induced bronchoconstriction in atopic childhood asthma

Exercise challenge tests are helpful in the diagnosis and management of childhood asthma, but methodology is complex and time‐consuming. The aim of this study was to investigate whether exercise‐induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) can be predicted by the results of different surrogate tests in a pediatric population. Eighty‐five children (mean age: 11 years, range: 5–16 years) with atopic asthma were studied. Measurements of exhaled nitric oxide (eNO), spirometry and whole body plethysmography were performed followed by a standardized exercise testing. Questionnaires were completed asking for respiratory symptoms within 2 weeks preceding the study protocol. In 12/85 children (14%), forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) was significantly reduced by ≥15% after exercise testing. eNO was significantly elevated in this group of 12 patients as compared to patients without EIB (51.3 (31.1–67.3) parts per billion (ppb) versus 20.2 (10.9–42.3) ppb; P = 0.003). All children with normal eNO levels (≤25 ppb) had normal lung function results after exercise; hence the negative predictive value (NPV) of elevated eNO levels for prediction of EIB was 100%. However, the positive predictive value (PPV) was only 28%. The NPV and PPV for reported asthma symptoms within 2 weeks preceding the study were 96% and 26%, respectively. Considering recent symptom history in addition to elevated eNO improved the PPV to 40%, and resulted in the best combination of sensitivity and specificity. No baseline lung function parameter predicted whether a patient would develop EIB or not. In conclusion, eNO measurements, symptom questionnaires and most efficiently a combination of both surrogate tests can be used as time‐saving methods to exclude EIB in atopic childhood asthma. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2007; 42:225–230. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
ATOM: a powerful gene-based association test by combining optimally weighted markers

BACKGROUND Large-scale candidate-gene and genome-wide association studies genotype multiple SNPs within or surrounding a gene, including both tag and functional SNPs. The immense amount of data generated in these studies poses new challenges to analysis. One particularly challenging yet important question is how to best use all genetic information to test whether a gene or a region is associated with the trait of interest. METHODS Here we propose a powerful gene-based Association Test by combining Optimally Weighted Markers (ATOM) within a genomic region. Due to variation in linkage disequilibrium, different markers often associate with the trait of interest at different levels. To appropriately apportion their contributions, we assign a weight to each marker that is proportional to the amount of information it captures about the trait locus. We analytically derive the optimal weights for both quantitative and binary traits, and describe a procedure for estimating the weights from a reference database such as the HapMap. Compared with existing approaches, our method has several distinct advantages, including (i) the ability to borrow information from an external database to increase power, (ii) the theoretical derivation of optimal marker weights and (iii) the scalability to simultaneous analysis of all SNPs in candidate genes and pathways. RESULTS Through extensive simulations and analysis of the FTO gene in our ongoing genome-wide association study on childhood obesity, we demonstrate that ATOM increases the power to detect genetic association as compared with several commonly used multi-marker association tests.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Employment: Perspectives of People with Mental Illness

In this article, the author presents the perspectives of people with mental illness about the benefits and drawbacks of employment, what factors influence these, and how they affect consumers’ decisions and actions. Forty-one consumers of mental health services participated in 76 in-depth interviews and two focus groups. The author coded data inductively and analyzed them using grounded theory method. The results demonstrate that the benefits and drawbacks of employment are experienced in six domains. Individuals’ perceptions of benefits and drawbacks are influenced by individual and contextual factors, are dynamic over time, and are instrumental in determining their employment-related actions. The findings suggest several areas for future exploration with a view to improving policy and practice in employment for people with mental illness.
Seasonal Expression Profiles of Insecticidal Protein and Control Efficacy Against Helicoverpa armigera for Bt Cotton in the Yangtze River Valley of China

Abstract Seasonal levels of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticidal protein and its control efficacy against Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) in Bt transgenic cotton GK19 (carrying a Cry1Ac/Cry1Ab fused gene) and BG1560 (carrying a Cry1Ac gene) were investigated in Tianmen County, Hubei Province, located in the Yangtze River valley of China, in 2001 and 2002. The results showed that the toxin content in Bt cotton changed significantly over time, and that the structure, growth stage, and variety were significant sources of variability. Generally, insecticidal protein levels were high during the early stages of cotton growth; they declined in mid-season, and rebounded in late season. On most dates sampled, the toxin contents in leaf, square, petal, and stamens (including nonovule pistil tissue) were much higher than those in ovule and boll. Compared with BG1560, the expression of Cry1Ac/Cry1Ab protein in GK19 was more variable during the whole growth period of cotton. The field evaluation on larval population dynamics of H. armigera in Bt and conventional cotton showed that the larval densities in BG1560 and GK19 fields decreased, respectively, 92.04 and 81.85% in 2001, and 96.84 and 91.80% in 2002.
Application of photoaffinity labeling with [3H] all trans‐ and 9‐cis‐retinoic acids for characterization of cellular retinoic acid–binding proteins I and II

Cellular retinoic acid–binding proteins (CRABPs) are carrier proteins thought to play a crucial role in the transport and metabolism of all‐trans‐retinoic acid (atRA) and its derivatives within the cell. This report describes a novel photoaffinity‐based binding assay involving competition between potential ligands of CRABP and [3H]atRA or [3H]‐9‐cis‐RA for binding to the atRA‐binding sites of CRABP I and II. Photoaffinity labeling of purified CRABPs with [3H]atRA was light‐ and concentration‐dependent, saturable, and protected by several retinoids in a concentration‐dependent manner, indicating that binding occurred in the CRABP atRA‐binding site. Structure–function relationship studies demonstrated that oxidative changes to the atRA β‐ionone ring did not affect ligand potency. However, derivatives lacking a terminal carboxyl group and some cis isomers did not bind to CRABPs. These studies also identified two novel ligands for CRABPs: 5,6‐epoxy‐RA and retinoyl‐β‐D‐glucuronide (RAG). The labeling of both CRABPs with 9‐cis‐RA occurred with much lower affinity. Experimental evidence excluded nonspecific binding of RAG to CRABPs and UDP‐glucuronosyltransferases, the enzymes responsible for RAG synthesis. These results established that RAG is an effective ligand of CRABPs. Therefore, photoaffinity labeling with [3H]atRA can be used to identify new ligands for CRABP and retinoid nuclear receptors and also provide information concerning the identity of amino acid(s) localized in the atRA‐binding site of these proteins.
Homoploid hybridization signals due to ancestral subdivision: a case study on the D lineage in wheat

Homoploid hybrid speciation has been reported in a wide range of species since the exploitation of genome sequences in evolutionary studies. However, the interference of ancestral subdivision has not been adequately considered in many such investigations. Using the D lineage in wheat as an example, we showed clearly that ancestral subdivision has led to false detection of homoploid hybridization signals. We develop a novel statistical framework by examining the changes in shared ancestral variations and infer on the likelihood of speciation due to genuine homoploid hybridization or ancestral subdivisions. Applying this to wheat data, we found that homoploid hybridization was not involved in the origin of the D lineage contrary to the now widely held belief. This example indicates that the significance of homoploid hybrid speciation is likely exaggerated. The underlying methodology developed in this study should be valuable for clarifying whether homoploid hybridization has contributed to the speciation of many other species.
Experimental intracerebral haemorrhage: description of a semi-coagulated autologous blood model in rats

Abstract Objectives: A major limitation of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) research is the lack of reproducible animal models. The purpose of the present study was to produce experimental haemorrhages and to characterise the lesion by histology and behaviour in rats. Methods: A total of 180 male SD rats were anaesthetised with chloral hydrate. Rats were placed in a stereotactic frame, and a microinjector was introduced through a burr hole into the right striatum. Each rat received an injection of 60 μL of semi-coagulated autologous whole blood over 6 minutes. The needle was slowly withdrawn 40 minutes after the injection. Control rat had only needle insertion. Time courses of haematoma resolution and pathological changes after intrastriatal injection of semi-coagulated autologous blood were observed. Neurological status was evaluated on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 14 and 21.The behavioural tests used were forelimb placing and a corner turn test. Results: Rats with ICH had a marked, persistent neurological deficit and a highly reproduced haematoma in shape and size. Histologically, haematoma was observed at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days and cysts at 3 weeks. Behavioural abnormalities were present for 14 days, with the recovery of function occurring during the third week. Conclusions: The present ICH model in rats produces a consistent neurological deficit and reproducible haematoma in shape and size. This model could be useful to evaluate the future pharmaceutical therapies in ICH.
Temperature-sensitive forms of large and small invertase in a mutant derived from a SUC1 strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Mutagenesis of the sucrose-fermenting (SUC1) Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain 4059-358D yielded an invertase-negative mutant (D10). Subsequent mutagenic treatment of D10 gave a sucrose-fermenting revertant (D10-ER1) that contained the same amount of large (mannoprotein) invertase as strain 4059-358D but only trace amounts of the smaller intracellular nonglycosylated enzyme. Limited genetic evidence indicated that the mutations in D10 and D10-ER1 are allelic to the SUC1 gene. The large invertases from D10-ER1 and 4059-358D were purified and compared. The two enzymes have similar specific activity and Km for sucrose, cross-react immunologically, and show the same subunit molecular weight after removal of the carbohydrate with endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidae H. They differ in that the large enzyme from the revertant is rapidly inactivated at 55 degrees C, whereas that from the parent is relatively stable at 65 degrees C. The small invertase in extracts of D10-ER1 is also heat sensitive as compared to the small enzyme from the original parent strain. The low level of small invertase in mutant D10-ER1 may reflect increased intracellular degradation of this heat-labile form. In several crosses of D10-ER1 with strains carrying the SUC1 or SUC3 genes, the temperature sensitivity of the large and small invertases and the low cellular level of small invertase appeared to cosegregate. These findings are evidence that SUC1 is a structural gene for invertase and that both large and small forms are encoded by a single gene. A detailed genetic analysis is presented in a companion paper.
Intense Management of Diabetes Mellitus: Role of Glucose Control and Antiplatelet Agents

Type 2 diabetes has now reached epidemic proportions across the world and is the cause of substantial morbidity and mortality. Patients with diabetes suffer from their mircovascular complications of retinopathy (blindness), nephropathy (renal failure, dialysis), and neuropathy (neropathic pain, trophic ulcers). However, ultimately, the majority of diabetics will die from macrovascular cardiovascular disease. Not only does cardiovascular disease develop earlier in the presence of diabetes, mortality from cardiovascular disease is increased by a factor of two to three in persons with diabetes as compared with the general population. To reduce this increased risk, a multifactorial approach to the management of type 2 diabetes has been advocated. The American Diabetes Association recommends not only good glycemic control but also identification and aggressive treatment of associated cardiovascular risk factors, with more stringent target levels for lipids and blood pressure than those recommended for the general population. Studies have shown that an intensified and goal‐oriented approach to the treatment of type 2 diabetes addressing tight glucose control, optimal lipid and blood pressure management and the use of antiplatelet agents like aspirin reduces cardiovascular events, as well as nephropathy, retinopathy, and neuropathy.
Management of variceal and nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis

Acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage remains the most common medical emergency managed by gastroenterologists. Causes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) in patients with liver cirrhosis can be grouped into two categories: the first includes lesions that arise by virtue of portal hypertension, namely gastroesophageal varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy; and the second includes lesions seen in the general population (peptic ulcer, erosive gastritis, reflux esophagitis, Mallory–Weiss syndrome, tumors, etc.). Emergency upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is the standard procedure recommended for both diagnosis and treatment of UGIB. The endoscopic treatment of choice for esophageal variceal bleeding is band ligation of varices. Bleeding from gastric varices is treated by injection with cyanoacrylate. Treatment with vasoactive drugs as well as antibiotic treatment is started before or at the same time as endoscopy. Bleeding from portal hypertensive gastropathy is less frequent, usually chronic and treatment options include β-blocker therapy, injection therapy and interventional radiology. The standard of care of UGIB in patients with cirrhosis includes careful resuscitation, preferably in an intensive care setting, medical and endoscopic therapy, early consideration for placement of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt and, sometimes, surgical therapy or hepatic transplant.
Diet‐induced adaptation of vagal afferent function

Non‐technical summary Obesity is the result of a disruption in the maintenance of energy balance such that energy intake exceeds expenditure. Why this occurs is unknown. We show that after food deprivation or consumption of a high fat diet gastric vagal afferent responses to distension are reduced. In addition, the effect of the orexigenic peptide ghrelin is enhanced. Thus the satiety signal is reduced not only after food deprivation but also after a high fat diet. This reduction in satiety signalling may explain the increase in energy intake and disruption in maintenance of energy balance in obesity.
The Catz-Itzkovich SCIM: a revised version of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure.

PURPOSE To examine the suitability of the revised Spinal Cord Independence Measure, the Catz-ltzkovich SCIM, for evaluation of patients with spinal cord lesions, as compared to the original SCIM and to the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). METHOD The revised SCIM was applied by paired independent teams of occupational therapists, physiotherapists and nurses and the FIM by a single nurse. The examiners assigned scores to the functional capabilities of 28 patients with spinal cord lesions. The scores by the revised SCIM were analysed for reproducibility as between the two teams of examiners (interrater reliability) and for their correlation with the FIM scores. RESULTS The frequency of identical scoring by two independent examiners (total agreement) was 80% or higher for 13/18 individual functions listed in the revised SCIM. In the self-care category it was 80-99%, as compared to 75-87% before revision. In neither bowel management nor bed mobility was there an increase over the original SCIM in the frequency of identical scores, despite rephrasing and restructuring of the scoring criteria. A high correlation was noted between the paired scores for all functions listed as well as for those comprising each of the four functional categories (r = 0.90-0.96, p <0.001). The total revised-SCIM scores were significantly correlated with those derived by the FIM (r = 0.835, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The findings indicate that the newly revised SCIM (Catz-Itzkovich) is a valid and highly reproducible measure of daily function in patients with spinal cord lesions, and is superior to the original SCIM. We recommend that it supersede the original SCIM.
Automatic quantification of mitochondrial fragmentation from two‐photon microscope images of mouse brain tissue

The morphology of mitochondria can inform about their functional state and, thus, about cell vitality. For example, fragmentation of the mitochondrial network is associated with many diseases. Recent advances in neuronal imaging have enabled the observation of mitochondria in live brains for long periods of time, enabling the study of their dynamics in animal models of diseases. To aid these studies, we developed an automatic method, based on supervised learning, for quantifying the degree of mitochondrial fragmentation in tissue images acquired via two‐photon microscopy from transgenic mice, which exclusively express Enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (ECFP) under Thy1 promoter, targeted to the mitochondrial matrix in subpopulations of neurons. We tested the method on images prior to and after cardiac arrest, and found it to be sensitive to significant changes in mitochondrial morphology because of the arrest. We conclude that the method is useful in detecting morphological abnormalities in mitochondria and, likely, in other subcellular structures as well.
Iridovirus-Like Viruses in Erythrocytes of Lacertids from Portugal

Abstract Icosahedral nucleo-cytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLDV)-like viruses, which form inclusions in the erythrocyte cytoplasm of reptiles, were previously presented as candidates for a new genus of the Iridoviridae family. The present work describes the distribution of infected lizard hosts and ultrastructural characteristics of the viral inclusions of NCLDV-like viruses from Portugal and adjacent locations in Spain. Giemsa-stained blood smears of 235 Lacerta schreiberi from Portugal and Spain, 571 Lacerta monticola from the mountain Serra da Estrela (Portugal), 794 Podarcis hispanica from several localities in Portugal and Spain, and 25 Lacerta dugesii from Madeira Island, were studied. Infection in L. schreiberi was only found in mountain populations, up to 30% in Serra da Estrela and 9–11% elsewhere. It was absent in lizards from lowlands. Prevalence of infection among L. monticola in Serra da Estrela was 10%; infected lizards were found during March to July and October but not in August and September. Infection in P. hispanica was below 3.3%. Only one infected specimen of L. dugesii was identified by light microscopy. Ultrastructural examination of infected samples revealed that the inclusions are virus assembly sites of icosahedral cytoplasmic iridovirus-like virions. Virions from different host species have different ultrastructural features and probably represent different related viruses.
International Classification of Diseases coding changes lead to profound declines in reported idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension mortality and hospitalizations: implications for database studies.

BACKGROUND Database studies have reported several associations between the diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) and mortality attributable to IPAH, including older age, black race, and diabetes. METHODS We investigated reported deaths and hospital discharges coded as IPAH and compared these with other forms of pulmonary hypertension. Three databases were used: the US National Center for Health Statistics database (1979-2006), queried for mortality data; the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database (1993-2007), queried for hospital discharge data; and the University of Texas Southwestern Hospital-Zale Lipshy discharge database (1999, 2002). RESULTS Marked increases in mortality attributable to IPAH and to pulmonary hypertension (all codes combined) generally were reported from 1979 until 2002 in the National Center for Health Statistics database. In 2003, reported IPAH mortality fell sharply while total pulmonary hypertension deaths increased. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database showed a similar pattern of changes beginning approximately 2 years earlier. In both cases, the timing of these observations corresponded with changes made to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) coding system in use for pulmonary hypertension in that particular database. Review of pulmonary hypertension discharge data from the University of Texas Southwestern Hospital-Zale Lipshy showed similar changes in diagnosis code use. CONCLUSIONS Sudden shifts in reported IPAH mortality and hospital discharges were seen in all databases, likely related to coding changes. These findings raise questions about the accuracy of pulmonary hypertension diagnosis codes. Studies based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision and International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes may have inadvertently included patients with other forms of pulmonary hypertension and should be reevaluated in this context. Validation studies of the IPAH diagnosis code are needed, and changes to the ICD coding system should be considered.