Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels and laboratory and clinical parameters indicating expression of disease are not associated with fatigue, well-being and functioning in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to compare serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) levels and clinical and laboratory parameters reflecting expression of disease between female patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) and age-matched healthy women and to examine in pSS patients the correlation of these variables with fatigue, well-being, and functioning. METHODS Comparisons were made between 60 female pSS patients and 60 age-matched healthy women. We assessed questionnaire scores of general fatigue, depressed mood, mental wellbeing, and physical functioning, tear production (Schirmer I test), tender point counts, serum DHEAS level, haemoglobin concentration, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and serum immunoglobulin G. RESULTS As compared to healthy participants, patients had more fatigue and depressed mood, reduced well-being and functioning, more dryness and pain, lower serum DHEAS levels, and more expression of disease as reflected by laboratory assessments (p≤0.001). In pSS patients, fatigue, well-being, and functioning correlated with tender point counts, but not with the extent of dryness and also not with laboratory assessments including serum DHEAS levels. CONCLUSIONS The high prevalence of fatigue and reduced functioning in pSS patients might suggest a mediating role of generalised autoimmune processes. In the present study, clinical observations and laboratory assessments are not correlated with persistent fatigue and reduced functioning. Our results suggest that treatment of fatigue, well-being, and functioning, should target other variables than those examined in this study, preferably psychological variables or perhaps specific immunologic parameters.
Individual Difference Factors in the Learning and Transfer of Patterning Discriminations

In an associative patterning task, some people seem to focus more on learning an overarching rule, whereas others seem to focus on acquiring specific relations between the stimuli and outcomes involved. Building on earlier work, we further investigated which cognitive factors are involved in feature- vs. rule-based learning and generalization. To this end, we measured participants' tendency to generalize according to the rule of opposites after training on negative and positive patterning problems (i.e., A+/B+/AB− and C−/D−/CD+), their tendency to attend to global aspects or local details of stimuli, their systemizing disposition and their score on the Raven intelligence test. Our results suggest that while intelligence might have some influence on patterning learning and generalization, visual processing style and systemizing disposition do not. We discuss our findings in the light of previous observations on patterning.
Land Degradation and Economic Development in Algeria

This study examines the relationship between land degradation and economic development in Algeria using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) co-integration framework, and examine the existence of environmental Kuznets curve. The results based on the bound testing process endorse a long-run relationship between land degradation and economic development. Data were obtained from the FAO and World Bank Development Indicators for the period of 1970 to 2011. Importantly, our results reveal that land degradation insignificantly related to economic development, also, no evidence found for EKC hypothesis. Therefore, there is a dire need for technology improvement which may reduce the pressure on agriculture land demand and halt desertification.
Roles for γ‐aminobutyric acid in the development of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus

The development of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) involves several factors that work together to establish a cell group that regulates neuroendocrine functions and behaviors. Several molecular markers were noted within the developing PVN, including estrogen receptors (ER), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). By contrast, immunoreactive γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) was found in cells and fibers surrounding the PVN. Two animal models were used to test the hypothesis that GABA works through GABAA and GABAB receptors to influence the development of the PVN. Treatment with bicuculline to decrease GABAA receptor signaling from embryonic day (E) 10 to E17 resulted in fewer cells containing immunoreactive (ir) ERα in the region of the PVN vs. control. GABABR1 receptor subunit knockout mice were used to examine the PVN at P0 without GABAB signaling. In female but not male GABABR1 subunit knockout mice, the positions of cells containing ir ERα shifted from medial to lateral compared with wild‐type controls, whereas the total number of ir ERα‐containing cells was unchanged. In E17 knockout mice, ir nNOS cells and fibers were spread over a greater area. There was also a significant decrease in ir BDNF in the knockout mice in a region‐dependent manner. Changes in cell position and protein expression subsequent to disruption of GABA signaling may be due, in part, to changes in nNOS and BDNF signaling. Based on the current study, the PVN can be added as another site where GABA exerts morphogenetic actions in development. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:2710–2728, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of cytosine methylation on DNA-DNA recognition at CpG steps.

Although DNA methylation is a fundamental mechanism for repressing genetic activity, the influence of methyl groups on DNA conformation is found to be small. In this study, the role of cytosine methylation is analysed in the context of DNA condensation by examining its influence on DNA-DNA recognition processes. Previously CpG sites were found to act as sequence determinants for the close and specific self-fit of B-DNA helices into cross-overs. In the present study, the crystal structure of the B-DNA dodecamer d(ACCGCCGGCGCC) methylated at its central CpG sequence shows that the methyl groups do not interfere with DNA self-fitting. In contrast, the two methyl groups form a clamp, which traps the incoming phosphate in the groove-backbone interaction. This geometry allows the formation of two new C-H.O hydrogen bonds between the methyl groups and the anionic oxygen atoms of the phosphate, which may further stabilize the interaction. This finding relates cytosine methylation to the formation of higher-order DNA structures and could provide new insights for understanding the mode of action of DNA methylation in genetic inactivation.
Development of a model to induce transient synovitis and lameness in the hip joint of dogs.

OBJECTIVE To develop a model of hip joint synovitis on the basis of intra-articular injection of a sodium urate suspension in dogs and to characterize associated gait changes. ANIMALS 6 healthy adult dogs. PROCEDURES Each dog was sedated, and synovitis was induced by injection of 1 mL of a sodium urate suspension (20 mg/mL) into the right hip joint under ultrasonographic guidance. Observational and instrumented gait analyses to determine temporospatial, kinetic, and kinematic variables were performed prior to and 4, 8, and 24 hours after sedation and synovitis induction. RESULTS Injection of a sodium urate suspension into the hip joint of healthy dogs resulted in lameness of the ipsilateral pelvic limb as determined by observational and instrumented gait analyses. For all dogs, lameness was clinically detectable within 1.5 to 2 hours after injection, reached its maximum intensity at 4 hours after injection, and had subsided by 24 hours after injection. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that injection of a sodium urate suspension into the hip joint of healthy dogs reliably induced synovitis and signs of pain and lameness in the ipsilateral pelvic limb that lasted 24 hours. This model can be used in conjunction with instrumented gait analysis to provide information on gait changes associated with hip joint disease and might be useful for evaluating the efficacy of analgesics or other interventions for the treatment of hip joint disease in dogs.
Monomethyl selenium–specific inhibition of MMP‐2 and VEGF expression: Implications for angiogenic switch regulation

Previous work suggested that antiangiogenic activity may be a novel mechanism contributing to the cancer chemopreventive activity of selenium (Se). Because methylselenol has been implicated as an in vivo active chemopreventive Se metabolite, experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that this metabolite pool might inhibit the expression of matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2) by vascular endothelial cells and of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by cancer epithelial cells, two proteins critical for angiogenesis and its regulation. In human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), zymographic analyses showed that short‐term exposure to methylseleninic acid (MSeA) and methylselenocyanate (MSeCN), both immediate methylselenol precursors, decreased the MMP‐2 gelatinolytic activity in a concentration‐dependent manner. In contrast, Se forms that enter the hydrogen selenide pool lacked any inhibitory effect. The methyl Se inhibitory effect on MMP‐2 was cell dependent because direct incubation with Se compounds in the test tube did not result in its inactivation. Immunoblot and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay analyses showed that a decrease of the MMP‐2 protein level largely accounted for the methyl Se–induced reduction of gelatinolytic activity. The effect of MSeA on MMP‐2 expression occurred within 0.5 h of exposure and preceded MSeA‐induced reduction of the phosphorylation level of mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) 1 and 2 (∼3 h) and endothelial apoptosis (∼25 h). In addition to these biochemical effects in monolayer culture, MSeA and MSeCN exposure decreased HUVEC viability and cell retraction in a three‐dimensional context of capillary tubes formed on Matrigel, whereas comparable or higher concentrations of selenite failed to exert such effects. In human prostate cancer (DU145) and breast cancer (MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐468) cell lines, exposure to MSeA but not to selenite led to a rapid and sustained decrease of cellular (lysate) and secreted (conditioned medium) VEGF protein levels irrespective of the serum level (serum‐free medium vs. 10% fetal bovine serum) in which Se treatments were carried out. The concentration of MSeA required for suppressing VEGF expression was much lower than that needed for apoptosis induction. Taken together, the data support the hypothesis that the monomethyl Se pool is a proximal Se for inhibiting the expression of MMP‐2 and VEGF and of angiogenesis. The data also indicate that the methyl Se–specific inhibitory effects on these proteins are rapid and primary actions, preceding or independent of inhibitory effects on mitogenic signaling at the level of MAPK1/2 and on cell growth and survival. Mol. Carcinog. 29:236–250, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Differential expression of apoptosis, Bcl‐x and c‐Myc in normal and malignant lymphoid tissues

Abstract: Bcl‐x and c‐Myc have an important role for the immune response by regulating the programmed cell death (apoptosis) of lymphocytes. Dysfunction of these selection processes can lead to the development of malignant lymphoma. The present study aimed at defining the differential expression of apoptosis, Bcl‐x and c‐Myc in normal and in malignant lymphoid tissues. Follicular centre lymphoma (FCL‐F) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) contained the lowest apoptotic indices (AIs), whereas Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) had the highest AIs. The AIs correlated significantly with the growth rates of the tumours and with the extent of Bcl‐x expression. Bcl‐x was expressed in almost all BL cells, but in few tumour cells in FCL‐F and in MCL. c‐Myc, in contrast, was found in the majority of the tumour cells in FCL‐F and in MCL, but not in BL. Whereas the extent of Bcl‐x expression correlated positively with the growth rates, an inverse correlation was observed between the percentages of c‐Myc‐positive tumour cells and the growth rates of the tumours. We conclude that normal and malignant lymphoid tissues have a distinct pattern of apoptosis and that expression of Bcl‐x and c‐Myc in B cell lymphoma is differentially regulated.
Cytomegalovirus-Seropositive Children Show Inhibition of In Vitro EBV Infection That Is Associated with CD8+CD57+ T Cell Enrichment and IFN-γ

EBV, a human herpesvirus, is commonly acquired during childhood and persists latently in B cells. EBV seropositivity has been connected to immunomodulatory effects such as altered T and NK cell functional responses as well as protection against early IgE sensitization; however, owing to the asymptomatic presentation during childhood little is known regarding the infection process in children of different ages. In this study, we used mononuclear cells from cord blood and from 2- and 5-y-old EBV-naive children for in vitro EBV infection. We show that the degree of EBV-induced B cell activation and expansion differs between age groups and in particular in relationship to IFN-γ production capacity. EBV infection induced redistribution between B cell subsets with enrichment of IgD+CD27+ cells (commonly referred to as non–switched memory) in infected cord blood cell cultures, and of IgD−CD27+ cells (switched memory) in cell cultures from older children. We also related results to serostatus to CMV, a persistent herpesvirus that can affect differentiation status of T and NK cells. As compared with CMV− children, the EBV-induced enrichment of IgD−CD27+ B cells was significantly reduced in infected cell cultures from CMV+ children. This effect was associated with high levels of IFN-γ and frequencies of highly mature CD8+CD57+ T cells in CMV+ children. Our results demonstrate that both a child’s age and serostatus to CMV will have an impact on EBV-induced B cell activation and expansion, and they point to the ability of viruses with immunomodulatory functions, such as CMV, to affect immune responses within the host system.
Relationship of cognitive function and adjustment difficulties among children and adolescents with dissociative disorder

Background and Aims: Although it has been suggested that children and adolescents with dissociative disorder have some cognitive deficits, the association of these cognitive impairments with adjustment difficulties has not been evaluated. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between cognitive functioning and adjustment difficulties in children and adolescents with dissociative disorder. Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive assessment was carried out in the outpatient setting of child and adolescent psychiatric service in a tertiary care hospital. Fifty newly diagnosed children and adolescents with dissociative disorder were included. The cognitive functions were assessed by varied neuropsychological tests, and Bell's adjustment inventory was used for assessing various domains of adjustment. Results: The mean age of the sample which comprised 40% males was 13.0 (±2.4) years. The mean intelligence quotient (IQ) of the sample was 90.6. Impairment in cognitive test was maximum for verbal working memory followed by sustained attention, visual learning and memory, and verbal retention and recall. Adjustment difficulties were greatest in the domains of self, followed by domains of health, school, and family. Significant association was found between the IQ and adjustment in school; visual learning and memory and adjustments in school and overall adjustment; and sustained attention and adjustment of health. Conclusions: Dissociative children have poor cognitive ability which may be related to poor adjustment scores.
Effect of uraemic status on immunofluorescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for detection of human herpesvirus type 8 antibodies

Summary Our previous study showed that human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) seroprevalence was significantly higher in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) immediately after haemodialysis than in healthy controls based on an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). However, other studies indicated that ESRD patients and healthy controls had similar HHV-8 seroprevalence. This study aimed to investigate whether this discrepancy is due to the effect of uraemic status. Plasma samples from 162 ESRD patients, taken immediately before and after haemodialysis, and 162 age and sex matched healthy controls were analysed for HHV-8 antibodies using both IFA and ELISA. HHV-8 seropositivities based on IFA and ELISA, both before and after haemodialysis, were significantly greater in ESRD patients than in healthy controls (p < 0.008 for all comparisons). The seropositivities and antibody titres of ESRD patients obtained with IFA were similar before and after haemodialysis. Seropositivities based on ELISA were identical before and after haemodialysis. The seropositivities obtained with the IFA markedly exceeded those with ELISA in each group of subjects (p < 0.0001 for all comparisons). Uraemic status did not significantly affect the IFA or ELISA results for HHV-8 antibodies.
Importing and Firm Productivity in China: The Self-Selection Effect or the Learning Effect?

ABSTRACT This paper uses data on Chinese manufacturing enterprises from 2000 to 2005 to explore the possible causal relationship between importing and firm productivity. By examining firm heterogeneity, we find that importers outperform non-importers on all the major scale and efficiency indicators. With respect to total factor productivity (TFP), importers perform better than firms with no international trade, and bilateral traders perform better than exporters. However, the positive relationship between importing and firm productivity is induced by the learning by importing effect, rather than the self-selection effect. We find no self-selection effect among non-exporters, processing trade exporters, and other exporters, whereas non-exporters and processing trade exporters benefit from importing; processing trade exporters with low TFP in particular benefit from faster TFP growth. No learning by importing effect is found among other exporters.
Feasibility of a cardiovascular cohort in a Sub-Saharan Africa community: preliminary report of the pilot project TAHES (Tanvè Health Study) in Benin

ABSTRACT Background: Faced with the growing burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) including atherosclerotic in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the development of appropriate prediction tools, based on large cohorts, appears useful for prevention. Objective: The objective of the pilot project TAHES (Tanvè Health Study) was to explore the feasibility of a large cohort study focused on CVD and risk factors in Benin. Methods: We implemented a prospective cohort over 2 years. The sample consisted of all people aged 25 years or older who had lived for at least the previous 6 months in the villages of Tanvè or Dékanmè. At baseline in February 2015, behaviours and medical histories were recorded using a standardized questionnaire adapted from the WHO Steps instrument; screening questionnaires for angina, claudication, congestive heart failure, and stroke were applied; anthropometric measures and fasting capillary blood glucose were taken. All participants were included in the follow-up phase. Surveillance of target CVD and deaths was implemented through a medical and a community network. Results: A total of 1,195 participants were enrolled at baseline; women represented 65.5% and the median age was 39 years. The high participation rate (91.4%), the quality of baseline data, and the functionality of the events surveillance network over 8 months indicated good perspective for the feasibility of a large cohort. We recorded a 3.8% prevalence of daily smoking, 3.6% of harmful use of alcohol, 10.7% of obesity, 25.5% of high blood pressure, and 3.5% of diabetes. Prevalence of angina pectoris (2.7%), intermittent claudication (2.0%), congestive heart failure (0.9%), and stroke survival with motor impairment (3‰) were also recorded. Ten deaths occurred during the first 8 months, all within households; a cardiovascular cause was suspected in four cases. Conclusion: These preliminary results support the feasibility of establishing a cohort in Benin. It would require technical and resource support.
Comparing Quality of Care for Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Specialized and General Clinics

Objective. The objective of this study was to compare quality of care for patients with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in specialized vs. general clinics. Methods. The authors conducted a retrospective chart review evaluating compliance with a set of STD-related process of care quality indicators for adult patients seen in six Los Angeles County clinics (two STD specialized clinics and four general medical clinics). Results. Thirty-two quality indicators were selected using a modified Delphi process. From March 1, 1996, to June 31, 1996, there were 205 STD-related visits to the two specialized STD clinics and 373 STD-related visits to the four general medical clinics. For patients with “classic” STDs (those for which sexual contact is the primary means of transmission), STD clinics achieved greater compliance than general medical clinics on 14 quality indicators, while general medical clinics achieved greater compliance on 4 indicators. Conclusion. STD clinics provide better overall STD care than general medical clinics. Possible explanations include differences in clinician experience with STD patients and greater use of standardized protocol sheets.
Evaluation of Venous and Arterial Conduit Patency by 16-Slice Spiral Computed Tomography

Background—Computed tomography has been shown to be useful in the evaluation of aortocoronary bypass grafts (CABG). This is the first prospective study to evaluate the accuracy of a new-generation scanner in the detection of patency and significant stenoses (>50% decrease in diameter) of venous and arterial grafts in patients with previous CABG. Methods and Results—In 96 patients (80 males, mean age 62 years) with previous CABG, a multislice computed tomography (MSCT) scan was performed (collimation 16×0.625 mm). Patients with atrial fibrillation, renal failure, severe respiratory disease, severe heart failure, heart rate >70 bpm despite therapy, or unstable angina were excluded. A total of 285 conduits implanted on the native coronary arteries at the time of CABG were evaluated. MSCT data were analyzed by 2 independent radiologists and compared with the results of conventional angiography. Three patients were excluded from analysis. All conduits were judged evaluable in 84 patients. Among these patients, MSCT correctly diagnosed 54 occluded grafts and 4 significant stenoses on the body of the grafts. Of the 17 significant anastomotic lesions, MSCT correctly diagnosed 15. For these 84 patients, diagnostic accuracy was 99%, sensitivity was 97%, and specificity was 100%. When all 93 patients were considered, the sensitivity of MSCT in diagnosing significant stenoses was 96%. Conclusions—MSCT with the new-generation scanner allows for accurate assessment of venous and arterial conduits in patients with previous CABG with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity. Exclusion criteria and radiation exposure remain limitations of the method.