Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hormonal evaluation and mutation screening for steroid 21-hydroxylase deficiency in patients with unilateral and bilateral adrenal incidentalomas.

OBJECTIVE The aims of the present study were (a) to examine the occurrence of 21-hydroxylase gene (CYP21) mutations in patients with unilateral and bilateral adrenal incidentalomas and (b) to correlate the results of mutation screening with hormonal parameters of 21-hydroxylase deficiency. DESIGN The frequency of the eight commonly occurring CYP21 mutations in blood DNA samples of 19 patients with bilateral, as well as in blood and tumoral tissue DNA samples of 31 patients with unilateral adrenal incidentalomas, was determined. In all patients, hormonal evaluation for 21-hydroxylase deficiency was performed using measurements of basal and ACTH-stimulated plasma 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) concentrations. METHODS Blood and tumoral DNA samples were analyzed by allele-specific PCR for the detection of the eight commonly occurring CYP21 mutations (deletion/large gene conversion, intron 2 splicing, Ile172Asn, exon 6 cluster, Val281Leu, Leu307insT, Gln318Stop and Arg356Trp mutations). Plasma 17-OHP concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS Of the 19 patients with bilateral adrenal incidentalomas, one patient had homozygous (Val281Leu) and three patients had heterozygous germline CYP21 mutations (Val281Leu in two cases and Arg356Trp in one case). Heterozygous germline CYP21 mutations were also detected in five of the 31 patients with unilateral adrenal incidentalomas (Ile172Asn in three cases and Val281Leu in two cases). Mutation screening of tumoral DNA in unilateral incidentalomas showed the presence of corresponding germline mutations but no additional somatic mutations were found. ACTH-stimulated plasma 17-OHP concentrations were above 1500 ng/dl in all patients with bilateral incidentalomas who had homozygous and heterozygous CYP21 mutations, but heterozygous carriers with unilateral incidentalomas had highly variable ACTH-stimulated plasma 17-OHP levels (between 111 and 1705 ng/dl). CONCLUSIONS These results suggest a similar frequency of germline CYP21 mutations in patients with bilateral and unilateral adrenal incidentalomas (21.1% and 16.1% respectively). Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that, in at least some patients, CYP21 mutations may play a role in the pathomechanism of bilateral and unilateral adrenal incidentalomas. However, the lack of clear association of CYP21 mutations with increased ACTH-stimulated plasma l7-OHP response, especially in patients with unilateral incidentalomas, suggests that the effect of CYP21 mutations on adrenocortical tumor formation may also involve mechanism(s) independent of ACTH-induced changes in 17-OHP secretion.
Perceived Social Support and Its Association With Obesity-Specific Health-Related Quality of Life

Objective: To (1) describe type and source of social support perceived by obese youth and examine associations with sociodemographic/anthropometric characteristics, and (2) examine relationships between social support and obesity-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Methods: Seventy-four obese youth and their primary caregivers participated. Youth completed the Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale and an obesity-specific HRQOL measure, Sizing Me Up. Results: Close friends and parents provided the most social support and were rated most important, except for teacher informational support. Classmates and schools provided the least social support. Body mass index z-score was correlated with teacher support frequency (r = −.26, p < .05) and minority youth reported more parent support (t(72) = −2.21, p < . 05). Compared with other support providers, classmate support significantly predicted most HRQOL scales (p < .001). Conclusions: Close friends, parents, and teachers are significant sources of support to youth with obesity; however, classmates play a unique role in the HRQOL of obese youth.
Only a minority of patients referred for elective coronary artery bypass surgery have risk factors diagnosed and treated according to established guidelines

Patients deserve to be medically optimised for treatment of metabolic risk factors and hypertension before referral for elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We describe here a prospective study of 347 consecutive patients referred for elective CABG. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed and metabolic risk factors and hypertension were determined pre-operatively. Compliance to treatment guidelines was calculated. From the total of 347 patients, 80 patients (23%) had known and 66 (19%) had previously unknown diabetes. Dysglycaemia (that is, diabetes and pre-diabetes) was found in 194 (73%) of the 267 patients without known diabetes. Among patients with dysglycaemia, 111/274 (41%) received one antihypertensive medication, or none, and blood pressure guidelines were met in 39/274 (14%); statins were being taken by 206 (75%; average dose 23 mg simvastatin) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol guidelines were met in 43 (16%). In conclusion, diabetes diagnosis and titration of risk factor treatment to guidelines is inadequate even in elective CABG patients. A pre-admission OGTT affords an opportunity to improve care significantly.
Early growth response factor‐1 mediates insulin‐inducible vascular endothelial cell proliferation and regrowth after injury *

Hyperinsulinemia in diabetes mellitus is a significant risk factor in the development of atherosclerosis and early restenosis after balloon angioplasty. These manifestations could be mediated by the ability of insulin to potentiate the cellular proliferative and reparative response of vascular cell types to local stimuli. Here we demonstrate that insulin stimulates DNA synthesis in aortic endothelial cells. Reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction and Northern blotting revealed that insulin induces the expression and transcriptional activity of the immediate early gene and zinc finger transcription protein, early growth response factor‐1 (Egr‐1). Western immunoblot analysis revealed that insulin‐inducible Egr‐1 expression was inhibited using phosphorothioate‐specific antisense oligonucleotides targeting Egr‐1 mRNA. These agents blocked endothelial cell DNA synthesis stimulated by insulin in a dose‐dependent manner and inhibited the capacity of insulin to potentiate the reparative response of endothelial cells to mechanical injury in vitro. These oligonucleotides also attenuated wound repair in smooth muscle cells. DNA synthesis induced by insulin was suppressed by inhibitors of two upstream activators of Egr‐1, extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) and phosphatidylinositol 3‐phosphate (PI 3‐K), whereas p38 kinase inhibitors had no effect. These present findings demonstrate that insulin‐inducible DNA synthesis and repair after injury are processes critically dependent upon the activation of Egr‐1. Additionally, they implicate this transcription factor as a potential target for the inhibition of restenosis in diabetics. J. Cell. Biochem. 81:523–534, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dendritic cells in chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia

Blood dendritic cells (DC) differentiate in vitro via two separate pathways: either directly from blood DC precursors (DCp) or from CD14+ monocytes. In chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML) abnormal bone marrow precursors contribute to blood monocyte development but DC development has not been studied previously. Monocytes comprised 60% of blood MNC in 15 CMML patients studied, compared with 20% in 16 age‐matched controls. The increase in blood monocytes was accompanied by a reciprocal decrease in mean blood DC percentage (from 0.42% of MNC in normal individuals to 0.16% of MNC in CMML patients). Absolute blood DC numbers showed a minimal (non‐significant) reduction from 9.8 × 106/l in normal individuals to 7.5 × 106/l in CMML patients. The CD14lowCD16+ monocyte subpopulation was not found in CMML patients. After culture in GM‐CSF/IL‐4, CMML CD14+ monocytes acquired the phenotype of immature monocyte derived DC (Mo‐DC) with similar yields to normal blood Mo‐DC generation. Addition of TNF‐α or LPS induced both normal and CMML Mo‐DC to express prominent dendritic processes, the CMRF44+ and CD83+ antigens and high levels of HLA‐DR, CD80 and CD86. Treatment either with TNF‐α or LPS increased the allostimulatory activity of normal Mo‐DC, but had little effect on the allostimulatory activity of CMML Mo‐DC, perhaps reflecting the underlying neoplastic changes in monocyte precursors. We conclude that the blood DC numbers are relatively unaffected in CMML, suggesting discrete regulation of monocyte and DC production.
Optimal Redistributive Taxation

Tax systems raise large amounts of revenue for funding public sector's activities, and tax/transfer policy, together with public provision of education, health care, and social services, play a crucial role in treating the symptoms and the causes of poverty. The normative analysis is crucial for tax/transfer design because it makes it possible to assess separately how changes in the redistributive criterion of the government, and changes in the size of the behavioural responses to taxes and transfers, affect the optimal tax/transfer system. Optimal tax theory provides a way of thinking rigorously about these trade-offs. Written primarily for graduate students and researchers, this volume is intended as a textbook and research monograph, connecting optimal tax theory to tax policy. It comments on some policy recommendations of the Mirrlees Review, and builds on the authors work on public economics, optimal tax theory, behavioural public economics, and income inequality. The book explains in depth the Mirrlees model and presents various extensions of it. The first set of extensions considers changing the preferences for consumption and work: behavioural-economic modifications (such as positional externalities, prospect theory, paternalism, myopic behaviour and habit formation) but also heterogeneous work preferences (besides differences in earnings ability). The second set of modifications concerns the objective of the government. The book explains the differences in optimal redistributive tax systems when governments - instead of maximising social welfare - minimise poverty or maximise social welfare based on rank order or charitable conservatism social welfare functions. The third set of extensions considers extending the Mirrlees income tax framework to allow for differential commodity taxes, capital income taxation, public goods provision, public provision of private goods, and taxation commodities that generate externalities. The fourth set of extensions considers incorporating a number of important real-word extensions such as tagging of tax schedules to certain groups of tax payers. In all extensions, the book illustrates the main mechanisms using advanced numerical simulations.
Energy-aware network planning for non-contiguous frequency bands based cellular networks

We propose an energy-efficient network planning scheme for non-contiguous frequency bands based cellular networks. Firstly, the network planning is formulated as a mixed integer programming problem. Main innovations of the proposed model includes: i) a general non-contiguous frequency resource model with hardware capability constraints is proposed, ii) the impact of scheduler on the planning of orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) network is considered in our model, iii) the BS power consumption mode is extended to multiple frequency bands scenario. Secondly, for the difficulty of finding a feasible initial solution, a random-start two-step tabu search algorithm is developed to solve this problem. Numerical results show that the network energy efficiency can be significantly improved compared with the conventional network planning scheme without violating the system QoS.
Decerebration activates thermogenesis in the rat.

Under fluothane anaesthesia, suction decerebration was performed at the immediate pre‐pontine level in adult, male, Sprague‐Dawley rats; this resulted in a large and sustained rise in rectal temperature from 35.6 +/‐ 0.2 (control) to 38.8 +/‐ 0.5 degrees C (decerebrate) following recovery from anaesthesia. Propranolol inhibited this rise. In a separate group of continuously (urethane) anaesthetized rats, brain transection at the immediate pre‐pontine level produced marked increases in rectal temperature and oxygen consumption, both of which were inhibited by injection of the beta‐adrenergic antagonist propranolol (10 mg/kg). The rise in rectal temperature (2.8 +/‐ 0.4 degrees C) after transection was preceded by a greater increase (3.6 +/‐ 0.3 degrees C) in the temperature of the interscapular brown adipose tissue (i.b.a.t.). Skin temperature on the tail showed no immediate response. In anaesthetized lean (+/? ) male Zucker rats, rectal and i.b.a.t. temperatures showed similar responses to Sprague‐Dawley rats after decerebration, but in the genetically obese (fa/fa) Zucker rat, temperatures were not significantly altered by decerebration. The above results, together with macroscopic examination of the transected brains, suggest that descending pathways (possibly arising in the mid‐brain tegmentum) normally inhibit a sustained thermogenic drive from areas in the lower brain stem. Decerebration can release this inhibition and cause a large rise in body temperature and in metabolic rate, which apparently result from sympathetic activation of i.b.a.t. The genetically obese Zucker rat exhibits an impaired thermogenic response to decerebration.
Ab initio and density functional theory reinvestigation of gas-phase sulfuric acid monohydrate and ammonium hydrogen sulfate.

We have calculated the thermochemical parameters for the reactions H(2)SO(4) + H(2)O <--> H(2)SO(4). H(2)O and H(2)SO(4) + NH(3) <--> H(2)SO(4). NH(3) using the B3LYP and PW91 functionals, MP2 perturbation theory and four different basis sets. Different methods and basis sets yield very different results with respect to, for example, the reaction free energies. A large part, but not all, of these differences are caused by basis set superposition error (BSSE), which is on the order of 1-3 kcal mol(-1) for most method/basis set combinations used in previous studies. Complete basis set extrapolation (CBS) calculations using the cc-pV(X+d)Z and aug-cc-pV(X+d)Z basis sets (with X = D, T, Q) at the B3LYP level indicate that if BSSE errors of less than 0.2 kcal mol(-1) are desired in uncorrected calculations, basis sets of at least aug-cc-pV(T+d)Z quality should be used. The use of additional augmented basis functions is also shown to be important, as the BSSE error is significant for the nonaugmented basis sets even at the quadruple-zeta level. The effect of anharmonic corrections to the zero-point energies and thermal contributions to the free energy are shown to be around 0.4 kcal mol(-1) for the H(2)SO(4). H(2)O cluster at 298 K. Single-point CCSD(T) calculations for the H(2)SO(4). H(2)O cluster also indicate that B3LYP and MP2 calculations reproduce the CCSD(T) energies well, whereas the PW91 results are significantly overbinding. However, basis-set limit extrapolations at the CCSD(T) level indicate that the B3LYP binding energies are too low by ca. 1-2 kcal/mol. This probably explains the difference of about 2 kcal mol(-1) for the free energy of the H(2)SO(4) + H(2)O <--> H(2)SO(4). H(2)O reaction between the counterpoise-corrected B3LYP calculations with large basis sets and the diffusion-based experimental values of S. M. Ball, D. R. Hanson, F. L Eisele and P. H. McMurry (J. Phys. Chem. A. 2000, 104, 1715). Topological analysis of the electronic charge density based on the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) shows that different method/basis set combinations lead to qualitatively different bonding patterns for the H(2)SO(4). NH(3) cluster. Using QTAIM analysis, we have also defined a proton transfer degree parameter which may be useful in further studies.
Current emerging situation of dengue in India

Outbreaks of dengue fever (DF) have been reported from various countries. Although DF has been endemic in India from the nineteenth century, dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) was first reported in 1987. The first major widespread epidemic of DHF and dengue shock syndrome (DSS) was reported in 1996 with four serotypes reported to be in co-circulation. In 2012 an outbreak occurred in India during which a total of 47,029 DF cases and 242 deaths were reported – three times higher than the previous year. Twelve states reported a large number of cases, including Tamil Nadu which recorded 12,264 from various districts. We discuss methods of prevention and control.
Oral health status in patients with moderate-severe and terminal renal failure.

AIMS To evaluate the oral health status of patients with moderate-severe chronic renal failure (CRF) and with terminal renal failure (TRF). DESIGN The study group was formed of 50 patients: 22 (44%) with moderate-severe CRF and 28 (56%) with TRF included in a haemodialysis programme. The controls (n=64) presented similar characteristics with regard to sex, age, weight and educational level. A single dentist performed an intraoral examination on all the subjects, gathering information on: number of decayed, missing or filled teeth; supragingival plaque accumulation; calculus deposits; periodontal pockets in the Ramfjord teeth; and depth of loss of insertion. RESULTS No significant differences were detected in the values of the DMF index between the two groups. The mean number of decayed teeth was lower in the patients than in the controls, showing a tendency to statistical significance (p=0.052). The mean number of missing teeth was higher in the patients than in the controls (p=0.002). Twelve patients and seven controls were completely edentate. The mean number of filled teeth was significantly lower in the patients than the controls (p<0.001). Supragingival plaque accumulation and the loss of insertion were significantly greater in the patients than in the controls (p=0.006 and p<0.001, respectively). No significant differences were found with respect to the calculus deposits or to the presence of periodontal pockets in the two groups. The value of the DMF index, the mean number of teeth with caries and the number of filled teeth were significantly higher in the patients with moderate-severe CRF than in the patients with TRF (p=0.004, p=0.030 and p=0.006, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Patients with CRF have a lower prevalence of caries, more supragingival plaque, more teeth with a loss of insertion and more missing teeth than the healthy controls. The prevalence of caries is affected by the severity of the renal failure and/or by haemodialysis treatment.
A physicochemical basis for the extensive intestinal lymphatic transport of a poorly lipid soluble antimalarial, halofantrine hydrochloride, after postprandial administration to dogs.

The highly lipid soluble, free-base form of halofantrine (Hf base; approximately 50 mg/mL in triglyceride lipids), a highly lipophilic (calculated log P approximately 8.5) antimalarial, has recently been shown to undergo significant intestinal lymphatic transport (54% of administered dose) after postprandial administration to dogs. In contrast, the clinically available hydrochloride salt of Hf (Hf small middle dot HCl), was not considered to be a likely substrate for lymphatic transport because its solubility in long-chain triglyceride lipids is low (< 1 mg/mL). This paper reports the lymphatic transport of Hf after postprandial administration of Hf.HCl, which was surprisingly high at 47% of the administered dose, and not significantly different from that of Hf base. It was postulated that partial conversion of solubilized Hf.HCl to the highly lipid soluble Hf base within the intestinal lumen might account for the extensive lymphatic transport. However, as Hf is a tertiary amine with an expected pK(a) of > 10, at gastrointestinal pH, the fraction of Hf present as the free base form is likely to be extremely low. Physicochemical studies exploring the solubility and pK(a) of Hf suggest that Hf.HCl was extensively solubilized following fed administration. When solubilized in representative fed state mixed micellar solutions, its apparent pK(a) was 6.92 and considerably lower than anticipated for a tertiary amine. It appears that the extensive lymphatic transport of Hf observed after postprandial administration of Hf.HCl was likely to be due to the conversion of solubilized Hf.HCl to the free base. Therefore, in addition to indicators such as log P and triglyceride solubility, factors such as drug solubilization in representative fed state intestinal conditions and the possible conversion to the un-ionized form should be considered when predicting the potential lymphatic transport of salts of poorly water soluble acids and bases.
INDIKASI PENYALAHGUNAAN DISCRETIONARY FUND DALAM ANGGARAN PENDAPATAN DAN BELANJA DAERAH MENJELANG PEMILUKADA 2015

This study aims to investigate the possibility of any indication of misuse of discretionary funds in the budget, and to obtain empirical evidence on the factors of budget capability and political motives that affect the proportion of these funds before the local election in 2015. The study was conducted in 143 districts/cities in Indonesia in 2015 which implement the local election simultaneously. The results using t-test showed that there was no different proportion of discretionary funds before and ahead of the local election in 2015. This implies that there is no indication of misuse of grant and social aid before the local election in 2015. The results of multiple regression analysis showed that the fiscal capacity factor (fiscal space) and political factors affect the size of proportion of discretionary funds (grants and social aid) before the local election in 2015. The larger the local government fiscal space, the greater the allocation of its discretionary funds. Incumbents are more likely to use discretionary funds to lure prospective voters to reelect in the local election 2015 than non-incumbent regional head. Keywords: discretionary fund, grants, local election, politics, social aid --- Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menginvestigasi kemungkinan adanya indikasi penyalahgunaan discretionary fund dalam APBD serta memperoleh bukti empiris tentang adanya faktor kemampuan keuangan daerah dan motif politik yang memengaruhi proporsi dana tersebut menjelang Pemilukada 2015. Penelitian dilakukan pada 143 daerah kabupaten/kota di Indonesia yang pada tahun 2015 melaksanakan Pemilukada secara serentak. Hasil uji t menunjukkan bahwa tidak ada beda proporsi discretionary fund sebelum dan menjelang Pemilukada 2015. Hal ini menunjukkan bahwa tidak ada indikasi terjadinya penyalahgunaan dana hibah maupun bantuan sosial menjelang Pemilukada 2015. Namun, hasil uji regresi linier berganda menunjukkan bahwa faktor kemampuan keuangan daerah (ruang fiskal) dan faktor politik berpengaruh terhadap besarnya proporsi discretionary fund (hibah dan bantuan sosial) menjelang Pemilukada 2015. Semakin besar ruang fiskal pemerintah daerah, maka semakin besar pula alokasi discretionary fund-nya. Kepala daerah incumbent lebih cenderung menggunakan discretionary fund untuk menarik simpati calon pemilih agar memilihnya kembali pada Pemilukada 2015 daripada kepala daerah non incumbent. Kata kunci: bantuan sosial, discretionary fund, hibah, pemilukada, politik, ruang fiskal
Autonomic influence on atrial fibrillatory process: head‐up and head‐down tilting

Changes in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) tone are present before, during, and after episodes of atrial fibrillation (AF). Atrial fibrillatory rate (AFR, the inverse of the atrial cycle length) has been used as a surrogate marker for local refractoriness and is a key characteristic of the fibrillatory process in patients with AF. Aim of this study is to assess changes in AFR, as an effect of autonomic balance change.