Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the effects of everolimus‐eluting and paclitaxel‐eluting stents on target lesions with jailed side branches: 2‐year results from the SPIRIT III randomized trial

Objective: To evaluate whether an everolimus‐eluting stent (EES) with thinner stent struts and polymer results in less periprocedural myonecrosis and adverse outcomes. Background: Higher periprocedural myocardial infarction (MI) rates have been reported with the TAXUS® EXPRESS2 paclitaxel‐eluting stent (PES) compared to the bare metal EXPRESS2® stent due to more frequent side branch compromise, presumably attributable to the thickness of the stent/polymer on the PES. Methods: In the SPIRIT III trial, we identified 113 patients in the XIENCE V® EES group and 63 patients in the TAXUS EXPRESS2 PES group who met the criteria of having a lesion with a jailed side branch (<2 mm diameter, and <50% stenosis). Two‐year clinical outcomes were evaluated. Results: A periprocedural increase in Creatine Kinase‐MB >1× upper normal level occurred in 9.0% of EES compared to 29.7% of PES patients with jailed side branches, P = 0.01. Through 2 years, major adverse cardiac events (MACE; cardiac death, MI, or target lesion revascularization [TLR]) occurred in 6.8% of EES and 19.0% of PES jailed side branch patients (P = 0.03), with numerically lower rates of MI (2.9% vs. 10.3%, P = 0.07) and TLR (3.9% vs. 10.3%, P = 0.17) in the EES group, with comparable rates of cardiac death (1.9% vs. 1.7%, P = 1.00). Conclusions: In this post‐hoc analysis of the SPIRIT III RCT, patients undergoing stenting of target lesions with jailed side branches with the thin strut and polymer XIENCE V EES compared to the thicker strut TAXUS PES had lower rates of MACE through 2 years due to fewer MIs and TLRs. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Improving fatigue assessment in immune‐mediated neuropathies: the modified Rasch‐built fatigue severity scale

Abstract Fatigue is a major disabling complaint in patients with immune‐mediated neuropathies (IN). The 9‐item fatigue severity scale (FSS) has been used to assess fatigue in these conditions, despite having limitations due to its classic ordinal construct. The aim was to improve fatigue assessment in IN through evaluation of the FSS using a modern clinimetric approach [Rasch unidimensional measurement model (RUMM2020)]. Included were 192 stable patients with Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) or polyneuropathy associated with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUSP). The obtained FSS data were exposed to RUMM2020 model to investigate whether this scale would meet its expectations. Also, reliability and validity studies were performed. The original FSS did not meet the Rasch model expectations, primarily based on two misfitting items, one of these also showing bias towards the factor ‘walking independent. ’ After removing these two items and collapsing the original 7‐point Likert options to 4‐point response categories for the remaining items, we succeeded in constructing a 7‐item Rasch‐built scale that fulfilled all requirements of unidimensionality, linearity, and rating scale model. Good reliability and validity were also obtained for the modified FSS scale. In conclusion, a 7‐item linearly weighted Rasch‐built modified FSS is presented for more proper assessment of fatigue in future studies in patients with immune‐mediated neuropathies.
DETECTING SCAPEGOAT EFFECTS IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EXCHANGE RATES AND MACROECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS: A NEW APPROACH

This paper presents a new testing method for the scapegoat model of exchange rates. A number of steps are implemented to determine whether macro-fundamentals are scapegoats for the evolution of exchange rates. Estimation is conducted using a Bayesian Gibbs sampling approach applied to eight countries (five developed and three emerging) versus the USA over the period 2002Q1–2014Q4. The macro-fundamentals that we consider are real GDP growth, the inflation rate, the long-run nominal interest rate, and the current account to GDP ratio. We calculate the posterior probabilities that these macro-fundamentals are scapegoats. For the inflation rate, these probabilities are considerably higher than the imposed prior probabilities of ½ in five out of eight countries (in particular, the Anglo-Saxon economies).
Gender issues in watershed development and management in India

A previous article, “Gender and Watershed Development”, published in the July 1997 edition of the AgREN newsletter, described the impact of watershed development on womens’ lives and on gender relationships. It indicated that while watershed development does initially lead to an increase in women’s workloads, it can also offer them unique opportunities to improve their economic situation as well as enhance their status in society. Specifically, watershed development has a notable impact on employment and income opportunities, food security, fodder, fuel and water availability and access to credit. Socially, impacts relate to migration rates and the status and self-confidence of women. The degree to which impacts are positive varies in time (with benefits becoming evident three to four years after initiation of programmes) and the extent to which development plans and allows for women’s empowerment. This paper focuses on some options for mitigating the negative impacts of watershed development and to enable women to become more self-reliant and more self confident. It addresses two key issues: • How to capitalise on the opportunities offered and mitigate some of the key problems arising from watershed development
The Immersive Virtual Reality Lab: Possibilities for Remote Experimental Manipulations of Autonomic Activity on a Large Scale

There is a need for large-scale remote data collection in a controlled environment, and the in-home availability of virtual reality (VR) and the commercial availability of eye tracking for VR present unique and exciting opportunities for researchers. We propose and provide a proof-of-concept assessment of a robust system for large-scale in-home testing using consumer products that combines psychophysiological measures and VR, here referred to as a Virtual Lab. For the first time, this method is validated by correlating autonomic responses, skin conductance response (SCR), and pupillary dilation, in response to a spider, a beetle, and a ball using commercially available VR. Participants demonstrated greater SCR and pupillary responses to the spider, and the effect was dependent on the proximity of the stimuli to the participant, with a stronger response when the spider was close to the virtual self. We replicated these effects across two experiments and in separate physical room contexts to mimic variability in home environment. Together, these findings demonstrate the utility of pupil dilation as a marker of autonomic arousal and the feasibility to assess this in commercially available VR hardware and support a robust Virtual Lab tool for massive remote testing.
Vav1 Oncogenic Mutation Inhibits T Cell Receptor-induced Calcium Mobilization through Inhibition of Phospholipase Cγ1 Activation*

Background: The oncogenic version of Vav1 inhibits calcium signaling in T cells. Results: Oncogenic Vav1 alters the fine structure of the signaling clusters and inhibits phospholipase Cγ1 (PLCγ1). Conclusion: Oncogenic mutation of Vav1 impairs Vav1 adaptor functions and interferes with PLCγ1 activation. Significance: These findings shed new light on the mechanisms underlying the adaptor-like functions of Vav1 and the effect produced by its oncogenic mutation. Robust elevation of the cytosolic calcium concentration is a crucial early step for T cell activation triggered by the T cell antigen receptor. Vav1 is a proto-oncogene expressed in hematopoietic cells that is indispensable for transducing the calcium-mobilizing signal. Following T cell receptor stimulation, Vav1 facilitates formation of signaling microclusters through multiple interactions with other proteins participating in the signaling cascade. Truncation of the N terminus of Vav1 produces its oncogenic version, which is unable to support normal calcium flux following T cell activation. We show here that truncation of the N-terminal region of Vav1 alters the fine structure of protein complexes in the signaling clusters, affecting the interaction of Vav1 with phospholipase Cγ1 (PLCγ1). This alteration is accompanied by a decrease in PLCγ1 phosphorylation and inhibition of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production. We suggest that the structural integrity of the N-terminal region of Vav1 is important for the proper formation of the Vav1-associated signaling complexes. The oncogenic truncation of this region elicits conformational changes that interfere with the Vav1-mediated activation of PLCγ1 and that inhibit calcium mobilization.
Effects of Oral and Subarachnoid Clonidine on Spinal Anesthesia with Bupivacaine

This study was designed to determine whether clonidine has analgesic properties, decreases the minimum alveolar concentration of inhalational anesthetics, or affects the quality and the duration of spinal anesthesia with bupivacaine. The comparative effects of oral and subarachnoid clonidine on spinal anesthesia with bupivacaine were studied in 36 patients scheduled for orthopedic surgery. Patients were allocated randomly into four groups to receive either oral diazepam (10 mg in Groups I and II) or oral clonidine (150 μg and 300 μg in Groups III and IV, respectively) as premedication. Spinal anesthesia was performed with 15 mg hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% plus either 1 ml isotonic saline in Groups I, III, and IV, or 150 μg clonidine in Group II. Subarachnoid but not oral clonidine significantly prolonged the duration of sensory block (time for regression to L2 was 157 ± 21 minutes in Group I and 267 ± 75 minutes in Group II) and the duration of motor block (duration of Grade 3 motor block—Bromage scale—was 103 ± 20 minutes in Group I and 175 ± 68 minutes in Group II). Only the subarachnoid administration of clonidine achieves adequate concentrations to significantly increase the duration of spinal anesthesia.
Quality of life in end-stage renal disease patients: Differences in patient and spouse perceptions

Objectives: Spouses and other proxies consistently rate patient quality of life (QOL) lower than patients rate it themselves. This pattern has been observed in end-stage renal disease (ESRD), cancer, stroke and other chronic illnesses, but it has not been explained. The purpose of the current paper is to examine similarities and differences in spouse and patient ratings of the QOL of patients with ESRD. Method: Patients with ESRD and their spouses participated in baseline and one-year follow-up interviews. Both patients and spouses rated the patient's QOL, mood, functional ability, subjective health, and kidney disease symptoms. Spouses also rated their own QOL. Results: Spouses rated all patient characteristics, including QOL, as worse than did the patient. Change in perceptions of patient's mood and their subjective health predicted both patient and spouse ratings of patient QOL. Change in spouse's perceptions of patient's functional ability predicted spouse ratings of patient QOL, but not the patient's own ratings. Finally, change in the spouse's own QOL explained additional variance in their rating of the patient's QOL. Conclusion: Patients and spouses perceive patient QOL and predictors of patient QOL differently. Implications include the need to be aware of negative bias in spouse ratings of patients of QOL and other psychosocial variables, especially when spouse perceptions are considered by health care professionals. Discussing differences in patient and spouse perceptions in clinical settings with both patients and spouses will allow for a more comprehensive understanding of patient status.
The Distribution of Corneal Thickness in a 40- to 64-Year-Old Population of Shahroud, Iran

Purpose: To determine the distribution of central and peripheral corneal thickness values and its determinants in an Iranian population. Methods: This population-based study was conducted between 2009 and 2010 in Shahroud, with a response rate of 82.2%. Here in, we present the data on central and peripheral corneal thickness in 3890 participants of the study, which included all 40- to 64-year-old participants except those with a history of ocular surgery. Measurements were done with the Pentacam, and correlations with age, gender, height, body mass index, and refraction were tested. Results: The mean age (± standard deviation) of the participants was 50.7 years (±6.2 years). Mean corneal thickness in the thinnest point, the center, and 3 mm away from it in the inferior, superior, nasal, and temporal directions were 525.5 ± 35.9 μm, 528.5 ± 35.8 μm, 608.2 ± 39.8 μm, 635.5 ± 41.9 μm, 611.7 ± 43.2 μm, and 601.0 ± 40.4 μm, respectively. The thinnest point was in the inferotemporal quadrant in 87.5% of cases. The center of the cornea was thinner than 500 μm in 36.6% of myopic cases and 21.8% of hyperopic cases. The thickness and location difference between the center and thinnest point were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Central corneal thickness was directly correlated with refraction (P = 0.028) and inversely with age (P = 0.027). Conclusions: In this population-based study, the thinnest point was usually located inferotemporally and the thickest point superiorly. The peripheral cornea was significantly thicker than the central cornea but thinned faster with age. The thickness difference between the thinnest and central points was significantly greater in men. People with hyperopia had thicker corneas compared with those with myopia.
Benchmark dose approach for renal dysfunction in workers exposed to lead

Benchmark dose (BMD) and the lower confidence limit on the benchmark dose (BMDL) of blood lead were estimated to explore the biologic exposure limits for renal dysfunction caused by lead. One hundred thirty‐five workers from one storage battery plant were selected as lead exposure group while 143 mechanics as the control. The relationship between the blood lead concentration and the urinary excretion of total protein (TP), β2‐microglobulin (β2‐MG), and N‐acetyl‐β‐D‐glucosaminidase (NAG) was studied. The quantal linear logistic regression model (BMDS Version 1.3.1) was used to calculate BMD and BMDL of blood lead. The results showed that the levels of NAG, β2‐MG, and TP in lead‐exposed workers were higher than those of control group and elevated along with rising length of employment. The levels of three indices for renal dysfunction increased with the elevated blood lead. The BMD and BMDL of blood lead for renal dysfunction were from 299.4 to 588.7 μg/L and from 253.4 to 402.3 μg/L, respectively. The BMDL of blood lead was ranged from high to low as TP, β2‐MG, and NAG. It is suggested that the urinary NAG activity could be a sensitive and early biomarker of renal tubular dysfunction induced by lead. When assessing renal function in workers occupationally exposed to lead, a blood lead level of 250 μg/L could serve as a warning signal. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 22: 229–233, 2007.
Pricing behaviour of Croatian Companies: results of a Firm survey and a Comparison with the eurozone

This paper aims to clarify the issue of price stickiness, i.e. the relatively slow adaptation of prices to changes in the economic environment. The median enterprise in Croatia changes the price of its main product less frequently than once a year, i.e. more rarely than the median enterprise in the eurozone (once a year). Prices are more flexible downwards in the event of major demand shocks, whereas in the event of major changes in costs it is the other way round. The implicit contract theory and the cost-based pricing theory are the most important elements for the explanation of price stickiness in Croatia. It was shown that price stickiness is strongly related to the efforts to build long-term business relationships with customers, and to customer preferences for stable nominal prices. Increased demand and higher costs (especially raw material prices and wages) are the main factors influencing decisions on price increases. Moreover, shocks resulting in a change in trading conditions (reduced demand and a lower price by a competitor) are the key driving factors of price decreases.
Daily energy expenditure in male endurance athletes with differing energy intakes.

The 24-h energy expenditure (24-h EE), resting EE (REE), sleeping EE (SEE), and spontaneous physical activity (SPA) were compared between six male endurance athletes whose reported energy intake was low (LOW) and did not match that theoretically required for weight maintenance and four whose reported energy intake appeared adequate (ADQ) and matched their estimated EE. Groups did not differ in age, body weight, fat-free mass, and daily EE estimated from activity records. The LOW athletes reported an energy intake 6338 +/- 2164 kJ.d-1 less than estimated EE. The 24-h EE, REE, SEE, and SPA of the LOW athletes were significantly lower than the ADQ athletes (862, 523, 770 kJ.d-1, and 43 min.d-1, respectively). Using all subjects, there was a significant positive correlation between REE and free thyroxine (FT4) (r = 0.82) and SEE and FT4 (r = 0.66). Thus, part of the LOW athlete's ability to maintain body weight on a seemingly low energy intake appears due to a lower daily sedentary EE.
Aqueous and cosolvent solubility data for drug-like organic compounds

Recently 2 QSPR-based in silico models were developed in our laboratories to predict the aqueous and non-aqueous solubility of drug-like organic compounds. For the intrinsic aqueous solubility model, a set of 321 structurally diverse drugs was collected from literature for the analysis. For the PEG 400 cosolvent model, experimental data for 122 drugs were obtained by a uniform experimental procedure at 4 volume fractions of PEG 400 in water, 0%, 25%, 50%, and 75%. The drugs used in both models represent a wide range of compounds, with log P values from −5 to 7.5, and molecular weights from 100 to >600 g/mol. Because of the standardized procedure used to collect the cosolvent data and the careful assessment of quality used in obtaining literature data, both data sets have potential value for the scientific community for use in building various models that require experimental solubility data.
Proteomics applications in prion biology and structure

Prion diseases are a heterogeneous class of fatal neurodegenerative disorders associated with misfolding of host cellular prion protein (PrPC) into a pathological isoform, termed PrPSc. Prion diseases affect various mammals, including humans, and effective treatments are not available. Prion diseases are distinguished from other protein misfolding disorders – such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease – in that they are infectious. Prion diseases occur sporadically without any known exposure to infected material, and hereditary cases resulting from rare mutations in the prion protein have also been documented. The mechanistic underpinnings of prion and other neurodegenerative disorders remain poorly understood. Various proteomics techniques have been instrumental in early PrPSc detection, biomarker discovery, elucidation of PrPSc structure and mapping of biochemical pathways affected by pathogenesis. Moving forward, proteomics approaches will likely become more integrated into the clinical and research settings for the rapid diagnosis and characterization of prion pathogenesis.
Thioredoxin Activation of Phosphoribulokinase in a Bi-enzyme Complex from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Chloroplasts*

The activation of oxidized phosphoribulokinase either “free” or as part of a bi-enzyme complex by reduced thioredoxins during the enzyme reaction was studied. In the presence of reduced thioredoxin, the product of the reaction catalyzed by phosphoribulokinase within the bi-enzyme complex does not appear in a linear fashion. It follows a mono-exponential pattern that suggests a slow dissociation process of the bi-enzyme complex in the assay cuvette. A plot of the steady state of product appearance against thioredoxin concentration gave a sigmoid curve. On the basis of our experimental results, we propose a minimum model of the activation of phosphoribulokinase by reduced thioredoxin. Reduced thioredoxin may act on the phosphoribulokinase, either within the complex or in the dissociated metastable form. However, the time required to activate the enzyme as part of the complex is shorter (about 20 s) than that required to activate the dissociated form (about 10 min). This might be of physiological relevance, and we discuss the role of the interactions between phosphoribulokinase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in the regulation of the Calvin cycle.
Depression-related variation in brain morphology over 3 years: effects of stress?

CONTEXT Results of experimental studies suggest that neuroplastic changes may occur during depressive episodes. These effects have not been confirmed in patients with depression, to our knowledge. OBJECTIVE To examine changes in the brains of patients with major depression vs those of healthy control subjects. DESIGN Prospective longitudinal 3-year study. SETTING Inpatients with major depression were recruited from the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Munich, Germany, and controls were recruited from the local community. PARTICIPANTS The study included 38 patients with major depression and 30 healthy controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging was performed at baseline and 3 years later. Voxel-based morphometric measurements were estimated from magnetic resonance images, and psychopathologic findings were assessed at baseline, weekly during the inpatient phase, and then after 1, 2, and 3 years. RESULTS Compared with controls, patients showed significantly more decline in gray matter density of the hippocampus, anterior cingulum, left amygdala, and right dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. Patients who remitted during the 3-year period had less volume decline than nonremitted patients in the left hippocampus, left anterior cingulum, left dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, and bilaterally in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. CONCLUSION This study supports findings from animal studies of neuroplastic stress-related processes that occur in the hippocampus, amygdala, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and anterior cingulum during depressive episodes.
Comparison between effects of free curcumin and curcumin loaded NIPAAm-MAA nanoparticles on telomerase and PinX1 gene expression in lung cancer cells.

BACKGROUND Herbal compounds such as curcumin which decrease telomerase and gene expression have been considered as beneficial tools for lung cancer treatment. In this article, we compared the effects of pure curcumin and curcumin-loaded NIPAAm-MAA nanoparticles on telomerase and PinX1 gene expression in a lung cancer cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS A tetrazolium-based assay was used for determination of cytotoxic effects of curcumin on the Calu-6 lung cancer cell line and telomerase and pinX1 gene expression was measured with real-time PCR. RESULTS MTT assay showed that Curcumin-loaded NIPAAm-MAA inhibited the growth of the Calu-6 lung cancer cell line in a time and dose-dependent manner. Our q-PCR results showed that the expression of telomerase gene was effectively reduced as the concentration of curcumin-loaded NIPAAm-MAA increased while expression of the PinX1 gene became elevated. CONCLUSIONS The results showed that curcumin- loaded- NIPAAm-MAA exerted cytotoxic effects on the Calu-6 cell line through down-regulation of telomerase and stimulation of pinX1 gene expression. NIPPAm-MAA could be good carrier for such kinds of hydrophobic agent.