Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence , impact of medications and disparities in health care WPA EDUCATIONAL MODULE

World Psychiatry 10:1 February 2011 A number of reviews and studies have shown that people with severe mental illness (SMI), including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder and major depressive disorder, have an excess mortality, being two or three times as high as that in the general population (1-21). This mortality gap, which translates to a 13-30 year shortened life expectancy in SMI patients (4,5,22-27), has widened in recent decades (11,28-30), even in countries where the quality of the health care system is generally acknowledged to be good (11). About 60% of this excess mortality is due to physical illness (27,31). Individuals with SMI are prone to many different physical health problems (Table 1). While these diseases are also prevalent in the general population, their impact on individuals with SMI is significantly greater (31,32). Although many factors contribute to the poor physical health of people with SMI (33), the increased morbidity and mortality seen in this population are largely due to a higher prevalence of modifiable risk factors, many of which are related to individual lifestyle choices (31). However, this is not the whole story. It seems that the somatic well being of people with a (severe) mental illness has been neglected for decades (15), and still is today (7,34-39,40,41). There is increasing evidence that disparities not only in health care Physical illness in patients with severe mental disorders. I. Prevalence, impact of medications and disparities in health care WPA EDUCATIONAL MODULE
Clinical trial of tooth whitening with 6% hydrogen peroxide whitening strips and two whitening dentifrices.

PURPOSE To compare tooth whitening with 6% hydrogen peroxide whitening strips and two whitening dentifrices in a 12-week randomized controlled trial at a Belgian dental school. METHODS After informed consent, 46 healthy adults were randomly assigned to one of three strip + dentifrice treatment groups. Subjects received either 6% hydrogen peroxide whitening strips (Crest Whitestrips) and an anticavity toothpaste (Crest Cavity Protection), placebo strips and a sodium fluoride (NaF) whitening dentifrice (Mentadent Whitening Toothpaste) or placebo strips and a sodium monofluorophosphate (MFP) whitening dentifrice (Rembrandt Low Abrasion Whitening Toothpaste). Strip use (peroxide or placebo) was for 30 minutes, twice daily for 2 weeks, while dentifrice use was at least twice daily for 12 weeks. Efficacy was measured from standardized digital images of the maxillary facial tooth surfaces, while safety was evaluated from oral examination and interview. Treatments were compared after 2 weeks (strip use) and 12 weeks (dentifrice use) using analysis of covariance. RESULTS All subjects completed the 12-week evaluation. Adjusting for baseline and age, the peroxide strip group had -2.45 Deltab*, 2.39 DeltaL*, and -0.96 Deltaa* at Week 2. Between-group comparisons demonstrated significant (P< 0.0001) reductions in yellowness and redness, and increased brightness favoring the peroxide strip group. The peroxide strip group demonstrated 95%+ color retention (Deltab* & DeltaL*) at Week 12, differing significantly (P< 0.0001) versus either of the continuously used whitening dentifrices. There were no significant (P> 0.18) differences between the whitening dentifrice groups at any timepoints. All treatments were well-tolerated, with minor tooth sensitivity and oral irritation representing the most common findings.
Visual languages for sketching documents

We present a visual approach to layout documents as hand-drawn compositions of simple geometric shapes. This approach is based on a grammatical method to support document design through sketch recognition which explicitly addresses visual ambiguity. We use fuzzy relational adjacency grammars to provide a natural handling of fuzzy logic and spatial relation syntax in a single unified formalism. Fuzzy relations enable us to replace spatial constraints such as "a is above b" or "a is parallel to c" by quantities that express a degree of uncertainty. Their use allows us to associate a "measure of goodness" to all data and to intermediate and final results. We developed a prototype application that supports document layout sketching in a simple way.
Effect of chlorination on antibiotic resistance profiles of sewage-related bacteria

A total of 1,900 lactose-fermenting bacteria were isolated from raw sewage influent and chlorinated sewage effluent from a sewage treatment plant, as well as from chlorinated and neutralized dilute sewage, before and after a 24-h regrowth period in the laboratory. Of these isolates, 84% were resistant to one or more antibiotics. Chlorination of influent resulted in an increase in the proportion of bacteria resistant to ampicillin and cephalothin, the increase being most marked after regrowth occurred following chlorination. Of the other nine antibiotics tested, chlorination resulted in an increased proportion of bacteria resistant to some, but a decrease in the proportion resistant to the remainder. Multiple resistance was found for up to nine antibiotics, especially in regrowth populations. Identification of about 5% of the isolates showed that the highest proportion of Escherichia coli fell in untreated sewage. Some rare and potentially pathogenic species were isolated from chlorinated and regrowth samples, including Yersinia enterocolitica, Yersinia pestis, Pasteurella multocida, and Hafnia alvei. Our results indicate that chlorination, while initially lowering the total number of bacteria in sewage, may substantially increase the proportions of antibiotic-resistant, potentially pathogenic organisms.
Regularization method for predicting an ordinal response using longitudinal high-dimensional genomic data

Abstract An ordinal scale is commonly used to measure health status and disease related outcomes in hospital settings as well as in translational medical research. In addition, repeated measurements are common in clinical practice for tracking and monitoring the progression of complex diseases. Classical methodology based on statistical inference, in particular, ordinal modeling has contributed to the analysis of data in which the response categories are ordered and the number of covariates (p) remains smaller than the sample size (n). With the emergence of genomic technologies being increasingly applied for more accurate diagnosis and prognosis, high-dimensional data where the number of covariates (p) is much larger than the number of samples (n), are generated. To meet the emerging needs, we introduce our proposed model which is a two-stage algorithm: Extend the generalized monotone incremental forward stagewise (GMIFS) method to the cumulative logit ordinal model; and combine the GMIFS procedure with the classical mixed-effects model for classifying disease status in disease progression along with time. We demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed models in classification using a time-course microarray dataset collected from the Inflammation and the Host Response to Injury study.
The Performance of Newly Issued Stocks in Thailand

This paper aims to examine the relative long-run performance of the newly issued stocks in the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET). The sample of 325 newly issued stocks in Stock Exchange of Thailand during the year 1990–2006 is filtered to 314 stocks by excluding the issues during the mid-1997 to 1998 Asian Financial Crisis period. 3-year and 5-year holding period returns of IPOs portfolio are compared with those of the matching firms. In addition to the event study, the time series cross-sectional regressions are employed to investigate the long-run overpriced of newly issued stocks when controlling for size and Book-to-Market Value ratio. The overall results show that, relative to that of the size-matched portfolio, the long-run performance of portfolio consist of was underperformed by approximately 15% and 29% for the three-year holding period portfolio and five-year holding period portfolio, respectively.
Analysis of pairs of individual Ia‐E.P.S.P.S in single motoneurones.

1. Recordings of individual e.p.s.p.s evoked by the action of single medial gastrocnemius Ia fibres have been made from medial gastrocnemius motoneurones. In many motoneurones the action of two Ia fibres has been observed and the properties of the e.p.s.p.s compared. 2. For sixty‐three pairs of averaged e.p.s.p.s, each from the same motoneurone, the ratio of half‐widths was plotted against the ratio of rise times. These results were compared with theoretical values derived from the Rall compartmental model. It was found that variations in synaptic current time courses and differences in the termination of localized synaptic terminals were not sufficient to account for all the data. 3. Amplitude and rise time were inversely related but the correlation coefficient was very low. For pairs of e.p.s.p.s in the same motoneurone the e.p.s.p. with the fast rise time was larger than that with the slow rise time in forty‐eight of sixty‐three cases. 4. In a given motoneurone individual e.p.s.p.s evoked by the action of different Ia fibres did not vary greatly in amplitude. The ratio of peak amplitudes was less than 3 for 86% of the pairs of e.p.s.p.s examined, and the maximum was 4‐8. 5. Amplitude histograms were constructed for individual e.p.s.p.s at thirty‐three synapses. Twenty‐two of them could be shown to satisfy the Poisson law. The others satisfied the binomial law or neither. 6. Within a given motoneurone the amplitude of an e.p.s.p. is closely related to the mean number of quanta released but not to the amplitude of the unit e.p.s.p. produced by the action of a single quantum of transmitter.
Associations between higher-level competence and general intelligence in community-dwelling older adults

Objectives: Higher-level competence is crucial for healthy and socially independent living, and general intelligence may underlie heath status. The aim of this study was to elucidate associations between general intelligence and higher-level competence in elderly individuals without dementia. Methods: A total of 207 community-dwelling elderly persons, aged 70–74 years, were enrolled. A personal interview was performed to obtain data on socio-demographic and medical factors; higher-level competence was evaluated using the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology index of competence (TMIG index). Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices (RCPM) test was used to assess general intelligence. Correlations between the TMIG index, its subscale scores and the RCPM score were evaluated by Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. Ordinal regression models were conducted with the TMIG index and its subscales as the dependent variables, RCPM as the principal independent variable, and age, sex, type of household, employment status, educational background, chronic medical conditions and number of natural teeth as the potential independent variables. Results: There were significant but weak positive correlations between total score on the TMIG index, scores on the intellectual activity and social role subscales and RCPM score. In ordinal regression models, RCPM and educational background were significantly associated with total score on the TMIG index and the intellectual activity subscale, and only RCPM was associated with the social role subscale score, after adjusting for other potential variables. Conclusion: General intelligence may be significantly associated with higher-level competence, especially with intellectual activity and social role subscales, in community-dwelling older adults.
Apoptosis-related factors (TRAIL, DR4, DR5, DcR1, DcR2, apoptotic cells) and proliferative activity in ameloblastomas.

BACKGROUND Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a recently identified death factor that acts as a potent apoptosis inducer in ameloblastomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS The expression of TRAIL and its receptors (TRAIL-R), and the location of apoptotic cells were evaluated in 15 cases of ameloblastoma using immunohistochemistry and an in situ DNA nick-end labeling method. The proliferative activity of ameloblastomas was analyzed by determining the Ki-67 labeling index. RESULTS TRAIL and TRAIL-R were diffusely expressed in ameloblastomas, without clear correlation with the location of apoptotic cells. Apoptosis and proliferation were opposite in the peripheral and central components of the ameloblastomas. In some ameloblastoma variants, apoptosis and proliferation seemed to modify in the same direction. CONCLUSION TRAIL and its receptors might be involved in neoplastic transformation of odontogenic epithelium and might suggest some intrinsic regulation of neoplastic cell proliferation and death in ameloblastomas, thus explaining their slow growth and inability to metastasize.
Bisphosphonates in vitro specifically inhibit, among the hematopoietic series, the development of the mouse mononuclear phagocyte lineage

Bisphosphonates (BP) are powerful inhibitors of bone resorption. We have previously shown that 4‐amino‐1‐hydroxybutylidene‐1,1‐bisphosphonate (AHBuBP), 3‐amino‐1‐hydroxypropylidene‐1,1‐bisphosphonate (AHPrBP), and dichloromethylenebisphosphonate (Cl2MBP) inhibit the proliferation of macrophages in vitro at concentrations that do not affect the viability of nonproliferating cells. In this study we further investigated whether the antiproliferative effect of these three BP is, among the hematopoietic series, preferential to the mononuclear phagocyte lineage. BP were unable to inhibit more than 30–40% of the [3H]thymidine (3H‐TdR) incorporation into bone marrow cells stimulated to proliferate by multilineage colony‐stimulating activity containing conditioned medium (multi‐CSA). From the analysis of the colonies induced in semisolid medium by multi‐CSA and recombinant murine granulocyte‐macrophage colony stimulating factor (rmGM‐CSF), a dose‐dependent disappearance specific to the macrophage‐containing colonies emerged. In contrast, the number and composition of colonies other than macrophage and, in particular, the granulocyte colonies were not affected by these compounds, even at high concentrations (100 μM) previously also shown to be toxic for nonproliferating macrophages. Since the macrophages, differently from polymorphonuclear phagocytes, are known to be highly pinocytotic, it is possible that by this means they selectively concentrate BP intracellularly, leading to toxic concentrations. We postulate tht BP may also act in vivo in addition to their effect on osteoclast activity, by a similar mechanism on osteoclast precursors and on bone resident macrophages, a source of cytokines stimulating bone resorption and leading to impaired osteoclast recruitment and activity. Furthermore, their specific effect on the mononuclear phagocyte lineage may also be relevant in other pathologic situations in which these cells are involved.
Computerized Telethermographic Assessment in Migraine, with Particular Reference to the Prodromal Phase

We have studied the angular orbit and supraorbital arteries in 58 patients with classic migraine (36 females, 22 males; age (x), 43.5 years). A Dorex telethermograph apparatus, which utilizes the infrared radiations emitted by a patient, was used. The individual is placed at standard distance, and the temperature and humidity of the environment are kept constant. Three thermographic tests were performed in each patient: the first in basal condition, the other during the visual and/or sensory aura, and the last during the pain phase. The skin temperature levels decreased during the prodromal phase and increased during the migraine attack as compared with the levels obtained in basal conditions. There were significant asymmetries during the pain phase.
Trehalose Metabolism and Stress Resistance in Aspergillus niger

Food spoilage by filamentous fungi, moulds, is a global issue of great significance. Mould growth can cause food losses due to deterioration, and adverse health effects due to toxin production. Conidia, asexual spores, are the main factors of dispersal and infection in most food-relevant moulds. They therefore constitute important objects of study when trying to improve food safety. This thesis sought to increase understanding of conidial germination and stress resistance in the common food spoilage mould Aspergillus niger, by investigating the inhibitory properties of phenyllactic acid, a lactic acid bacteria metabolite, as well as the role and metabolism of trehalose. This sugar is a major component of spores and well known for its ability to protect proteins and membranes against various kinds of abiotic stress. A thorough examination in A. niger revealed that it contains six genes involved in trehalose synthesis: tpsA-C and tppA-C. All genes were expressed during conidial germination, and conserved orthologues could be identified in related Aspergilli. However, when creating deletion mutants, only ΔtpsA, ΔtppA and ΔtppB had significantly lowered trehalose content. These three genes therefore seem to be most significant for trehalose accumulation. Degradation of internal trehalose is catalysed by trehalase; in A. niger this enzyme is encoded by treB. Studies of ΔtppA, ΔtppB and ΔtreB demonstrated that a functional synthesis as well as utilisation of trehalose is crucial for heat stress resistance of A. niger conidia. Inability to produce or degrade trehalose also negatively affects the ability of the fungus to generate conidia. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have long been used to ferment foods, thereby extending the shelf life. Several LAB metabolites with antifungal properties have been identified, but the underlying mechanisms of inhibition are largel unknown. We have investigated the effect of phenyllactic acid (PLA) on growth and development of single A. niger conidia. Results showed that PLA inhibits moulds in a manner similar to that of weak acid preservatives, such as benzoic acid; but it also strongly restricts asexual development at sub-inhibitory concentrations. This effect is not seen by other acids, and therefore indicates a unique mechanism of action for PLA.
111 THE COURSE AND CLINICAL FEATURES OF OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER

Twenty years have passed since the landmark National Epidemiology Catchment Area Survey first demonstrated the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in the general population to be 50 to 100 times greater than had been previously believed (1). This unexpected finding was instrumental in the renewed interest in and rapid growth of our understanding of the clinical features, pathophysiology, and treatment of OCD. Epidemiologic studies in different cultures have confirmed the findings that up to 1% to 2% of the general population worldwide suffer from the disorder at any given time (2). Widespread attention in the media, in addition to growing recognition of the disorder among health care professionals, has resulted in improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of large numbers of patients with OCD who would not even have presented for treatment before 1980. Knowledge of the clinical features of the disorder has also expanded significantly in the last 10 years. Treatment centers specializing in OCD have succeeded in enrolling large cohorts of patients, so that a more sophisticated analysis of the heterogeneity and comorbidity of OCD and the relationship of these variables to treatment outcome has been possible. Prospective observational studies of the longitudinal course of OCD have contributed further insights into the clinical characteristics and prognosis of the illness (3). Improvements in methodology, including the development of structured interviews with proven reliability and validity, the application of survival analysis and other statistical techniques to assess longitudinal variables, and more sophisticated database management systems, have been instrumental in these advances. Epidemiologic studies have consistently shown that 2%
Prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of Down syndrome. After major malformations, soft markers, nuchal translucency and skeletal signs, a new vascular sign?

In the last 30 years considerable advances have been made in ultrasound technology and fetal medicine and, in terms of Down syndrome detection, we have witnessed ultrasonography evolve from a simple vehicle to guide the needle in amniocentesis procedures in ‘older’ women, to a powerful imaging tool for screening fetuses for markers of Down syndrome in women of all ages. Down syndrome detection continues to be one of the main challenges of perinatal medicine, and its detection seems as complex as the seemingly infinite number of signs and markers that have been reported in preand postnatal series. In this issue of the journal, Prefumo et al.1 report on another possible marker, i.e. a thoracic vascular malformation.
Rodent Models of Depression: Forced Swim and Tail Suspension Behavioral Despair Tests in Rats and Mice

The development of antidepressants requires simple rodent behavioral tests for initial screening before undertaking more complex preclinical tests and clinical evaluation. Presented in the unit are two widely used screening tests used for antidepressants, the forced swim (also termed behavioral despair) test in the rat and mouse, and the tail suspension test in the mouse. These tests have good predictive validity and allow rapid and economical detection of substances with potential antidepressant‐like activity. The behavioral despair and the tail suspension tests are based on the same principle: measurement of the duration of immobility when rodents are exposed to an inescapable situation. The majority of clinically used antidepressants decrease the duration of immobility. Antidepressants also increase the latency to immobility, and this additional measure can increase the sensitivity of the behavioral despair test in the mouse for certain classes of antidepressant. Testing of new substances in the behavioral despair and tail suspension tests allows a simple assessment of their potential antidepressant activity by the measurement of their effect on immobility. Curr. Protoc. Neurosci. 55:8.10A. 1‐8.10A. 14. © 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Trimetazidine Protects Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells Against Hypoxia and Serum Deprivation Induced Apoptosis by Activation of Akt

Background: Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation is a promising therapy for cardiac repair. However, the efficacy is limited by the poor viability of MSCs in the infarcted heart. Recent findings have implicated that trimetazidine (TMZ) enhanced the survival of the stem cells under various conditions. However, as the stem cells in these studies were animal-derived, little information is available about the effects of TMZ on human MSCs. Herein, we propose that TMZ may protect human MSCs against apoptosis induced by Hypoxia/Serum deprivation (H/SD). Methods: Human umbilical cord MSCs (UC-MSCs) from Wharton's jelly were pretreated with 10µM TMZ of H/SD with or without the Akt inhibitor LY294002. The morphological changes were assessed using Hoechst 33342. Apoptosis was evaluated via Annexin V/PI staining; and apoptosis-related proteins were detected using Western-blot. Protein chip technology was used to screen for differences between the cell supernatants. Results: TMZ had a significant protective effect against H/SD-induced apoptosis, accompanied by an increase in Bcl-2 and p-Akt. The TMZ-mediated anti-apoptotic effect on MSCs could be attenuated by treatment with LY294002. Moreover, protein chip assays showed that TMZ treatment increased the paracrine functions of MSCs. Conclusion: Trimetazidine protects human UC-MSCs from H/SD-induced apoptosis via the Akt pathway and may therefore be a potentially useful therapeutic adjunct for transplanting MSCs into damaged heart after myocardial infarction.