Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
T-cell exhaustion in allograft rejection and tolerance

Purpose of reviewThe role of T-cell exhaustion in the failure of clearance of viral infections and tumors is well established. There are several ongoing trials to reverse T-cell exhaustion for treatment of chronic viral infections and tumors. The mechanisms leading to T-cell exhaustion and its role in transplantation, however, are only beginning to be appreciated and are the focus of the present review. Recent findingsExhausted T cells exhibit a distinct molecular profile reflecting combinatorial mechanisms involving the interaction of multiple transcription factors important in control of cell metabolism, acquisition of effector function and memory capacity. Change of microenvironmental cues and limiting leukocyte recruitment can modulate T-cell exhaustion. Impaired leukocyte recruitment induces T-cell exhaustion and prevents allograft rejection. SummaryPreventing or reversing T-cell exhaustion may lead to prevention of transplant tolerance or triggering of rejection; therefore, caution should be exercised in the use of agents blocking inhibitory receptors for the treatment of chronic viral infections or tumors in transplant recipients. Further definition of the role of T-cell exhaustion in clinical transplantation and an understanding of the mechanisms of induction of T-cell exhaustion are needed to develop strategies for preventing allograft rejection and induction of tolerance.
Household Demand for Health Care and Health Care Expenditure by Controlling Endogeneity Bias in Bangladesh

This paper uses the data of Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2005, a nationally representative sample of 10,080 households in Bangladesh from January, 2005 to December, 2005, to investigate the determinants of illness, choice of health care provider and household out-of-pocket health care expenditures. Three models were used in this paper- logistic model for illness, multinomial logistic model for provider choice and selection model for household health care expenditure. Endogeneity biases arising due to the selection of providers were controlled in the selection model. Our results of this study show that individual, household and environmental characteristics has substantial effects on illness, choice of health care providers as well as health care expenditures. The common perception is that the decision of whether and where to seek care and the amount of expenditure depends on how serious the illness is. Our results also show that illness is not the only factor involved in demand for health care. Other influences, such as individual, household and environmental characteristics, are found to determine the magnitude of expenditure incurred. These findings call for policy makers to either design new health policy or strengthen existing ones, taking into consideration various factors that are identified in this study in order to improve health care system in developing countries like Bangladesh.
[Differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid gland in an area of endemic goiter. Clinical study and prognostic correlation].

OBJECTIVE Differentiated thyroid Carcinoma is a relatively frequent malignant neoplasia with three histologic types: papillary, follicular, and Hürtle cell carcinoma. Although papillary is the most common type, in endemic goitre areas the frequency of follicular type increases. Up to now, the only European studies about clinical aspects of differentiated thyroid carcinoma in endemic goitre areas are those performed in the Bavarian region until 1983. As the province of Orense (assistance zone concerning to the Hospital Virgen del Cristal) is a zone of endemic goitre, we have analyzed clinical presentation features and prognostic correlation factors in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma living in this area. DESIGN Retrospective study. Variables analyzed: 1) Age. 2) Sex. 3) Histologic type. 4) Tumor size. 5) Stage. 6) Presence of multinodular goitre. 7) Posttherapeutic disease persistence. 8) Recurrence. 9) Distant metastases. 10) Death attributed to thyroid carcinoma. PATIENTS 61 cases of differentiated thyroid carcinoma, detected from 1983 to 1993. Mean follow-up period: 5 years (minimum 1, maximum 21). All patients were treated with total thyroidectomy followed by radioiodine ablation. RESULTS 67.2% of papillary, 31.2% of follicular and 1.6% of Hürtle cell carcinoma. Male/female ratio: 1/4. Mean age: 48.8 +/- 2.9 (M +/- ESM) in papillary and 55 +/- 3.2 in follicular. Tumor size was smaller in papillary: 2.2 +/- 0.2 vs 6.2 +/- 0.5 cm (p < 0.001). Papillary type was detected more frequently than follicular in stages I, II and III, whereas follicular prevailed in stage IV (p < 0.03). Positive correlation between age and size in papillary: r = 0.393 (p < 0.01) and similar tendency in follicular: r = 0.423 (p = 0.057). Multinodular goitre was more frequent in follicular: 47% vs 25% (p = 0.02). Free of disease cases after treatment: 81% of papillary (p < 0.05) and 42% of follicular. Stage correlated independently with disease persistence after treatment (p = 0.0006). Age was minor in free of disease group: 50.0 +/- 3.8 vs 65.3 +/- 3.8 (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS In our area, papillary is the most common type, but follicular proportion is higher than reported from non endemic goitre areas. PC is a small tumor detected in stage I, whereas FC is large and detected in stage IV. Tumor stage is an independent prognostic factor. Frequent presence of multinodular goitre in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma suggests that in zones of endemic goitre, clinical attitude in multinodular goitre and solitary nodule must be similar.
Death Concern: Measurement and Correlates

Psychological research on death concern has been impeded by the absence of measuring instruments with high reliability and by the dearth of systematic research into the relationships of death concern with other personality variables. The present paper describes the construction of a Death Concern Scale with a high level of internal consistency and stability. Relationships between the Death Concern Scale and State Anxiety, Trait Anxiety, Manifest Anxiety, Repression-Sensitization, as well as needs Heterosexuality, Succorance, and Change of the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule are presented and discussed.
Why is There an Evaporation Minimum at the Equator ? *

At all longitudes oceanic evaporation rates are lower on the equator than at latitudes to the north and south. Over the oceanic cold tongues this is related to the presence of cold water and divergence of heat by the ocean circulation. Herein is investigated why there is also a minimum over the Indo-Pacific warm pool. Model results confirm the recent suggestion of Sobel that deep convective clouds over the warm pool reduce the amount of solar radiation coming into the ocean that the evaporation has to balance. The results also confirm that this is only a partial explanation. Less evaporation over the warm pool than in the trade wind regions is also caused by an interaction between the ocean heat transport and the distribution of surface wind speeds. Low wind speeds over the warm pool reduce the latent heat flux and increase the SST, and stronger wind speeds in the offequatorial regions of the Tropics increase the latent heat flux and cool the SST. Consequently, the wind speed distribution increases the meridional temperature gradient and increases the poleward ocean heat transport. Low latent heat fluxes over the warm pool can be sustained because the incoming solar radiation is partially offset by ocean heat flux divergence. Large values under the trade winds are sustained by ocean heat flux convergence. Climate models are used to show that, in equilibrium, wind speeds can only influence the latent heat flux distribution through their coupling to the ocean heat transport. In the presence of ocean heat transport, advection of moisture in the atmospheric boundary layer from the subtropics to the equator also increases the evaporation under the trade winds, but this has a much smaller effect than the wind speed or the cloud–radiation interactions.
Corporate Governance as Correlate for Firm Performance: A Pooled OLS Investigation of Selected Nigerian Banks

The theoretical obligation of the managers in the agency theory is to safeguard the interest of the shareholders, and this study is targeted at investigating the impact of corporate governance on the performance of nine selected banks in Nigeria. The study performs a pooled Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression analysis of the data from 2006 to 2010. The findings suggest that both size of the board and its ownership structure have positive significant effects on the Return on Equity (ROE). However, the influence of governance indicator on the assets of the companies is significantly negative. Further, the board composition is found to be insignificant as a predictor of profitability measures. The regulatory influence and economic conditioning factors also show no significant effect on Return on Assets (ROA) as well as ROE, suggesting that the banks have developed the ability to absorb or conceal domestic shocks in the economy. The results generally support the hypothesized fact that the banking industry suffers from asset management and poor governance malaise. The study recommends that the regulatory authorities, including the Asset Management Company of Nigeria, be involved in the screening and monitoring of debt assets beyond the current salvage practice.
Electroacupuncture ameliorates experimental colitis induced by TNBS through activation of interleukin-10 and inhibition of iNOS in mice.

PURPOSE To study the anti-inflammatory actions of electroacupuncture (EAc) on an experimental colitis model in mice. METHODS Thirty-eight male Swiss mice, divided in five groups, were subjected to induction of colitis by TNBS in 50% ethanol. Saline (SAL) and ethanol (ETNL) groups served as controls. TNBS+EAc and TNBS+ dexamethasone subgroups were treated with EAc 100Hz and dexamethasone (DEXA) 1 mg/Kg/day, respectively. After three days, a colon segment was obtained for quantification of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, immunohistochemistry for iNOS, malondialdehyde (MDA) and cytokines (IL-1β and IL-10). RESULTS Neutrophilic activity, assayed as MPO activity, was significantly higher in the TNBS colitis group than that in the saline control group. TNBS+EAc group showed suppression of IL-10 in the colon. EAc treatment significantly reduced the concentration of MDA and the expression of iNOS, as compared to the other groups. CONCLUSION Electroacupuncture 100Hz applied to acupoint ST-36 promotes an anti-inflammatory action on the TNBS-induced colitis, mediated by increase of IL-10 and decrease of iNOS expression.
Cost of illness and comorbidities in adults diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a retrospective analysis.

OBJECTIVE This retrospective study assessed the cost of illness and medical and psychiatric comorbidities in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) compared with adults without ADHD (matched 1:3) and adults with depression (1:1). Individuals with depression were included as a benchmark against which the burden of ADHD could be measured. METHOD Measures of health care and employment-related costs were compared to generate estimates of medical expenditures, workplace absences, and comorbidities in adults with ADHD (using ICD-9-CM codes) who were enrolled in employer-sponsored health plans throughout 2006. Individuals with ADHD (31,752) were matched with 95,256 non-ADHD controls. The majority of individuals with ADHD (n = 29,965) were also matched with an equal number of individuals with a depression diagnosis (using ICD-9-CM codes). RESULTS In this adult population with ADHD enrolled in an employer-sponsored health plan, medical and psychiatric comorbidities were the primary drivers of health care utilization and cost. Of note, depression was significantly prevalent among those with ADHD compared to matched non-ADHD controls (14% vs 3.2%; P ≤ .0001). Subgroup analysis demonstrated that ADHD patients with depression had a significantly higher number of medical and other psychiatric comorbid illnesses including diabetes, hypertension, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, bipolar disorder, anxiety, alcohol abuse, and substance abuse compared to those with ADHD alone (P ≤ .0001). Patients with ADHD incurred higher total annual health care expenditures than control subjects ($4,306 vs $2,418); approximately 15% of costs were paid by the patient. The total annual costs associated with productivity losses were also higher (driven by differences in short-term disability costs) in the ADHD group compared with controls ($4,403 vs $4,209). CONCLUSIONS Medical and psychiatric comorbidities were primary drivers of the direct health care cost associated with ADHD in adult patients. The present study demonstrated that the total costs of ADHD among adults are doubled when indirect costs associated with workplace productivity losses are included.
Application of life cycle assessment for hospital solid waste management: A case study

ABSTRACT This study was meant to determine environmental aspects of hospital waste management scenarios using a life cycle analysis approach. The survey for this study was conducted at the largest hospital in a major city of Pakistan. The hospital was thoroughly analyzed from November 2014 to January 2015 to quantify its wastes by category. The functional unit of the study was selected as 1 tonne of disposable solid hospital waste. System boundaries included transportation of hospital solid waste and its treatment and disposal by landfilling, incineration, composting, and material recycling methods. These methods were evaluated based on their greenhouse gas emissions. Landfilling and incineration turned out to be the worst final disposal alternatives, whereas composting and material recovery displayed savings in emissions. An integrated system (composting, incineration, and material recycling) was found as the best solution among the evaluated scenarios. This study can be used by policymakers for the formulation of an integrated hospital waste management plan. Implications: This study deals with environmental aspects of hospital waste management scenarios. It is an increasing area of concern in many developing and resource-constrained countries of the world. The life cycle analysis (LCA) approach is a useful tool for estimation of greenhouse gas emissions from different waste management activities. There is a shortage of information in existing literature regarding LCA of hospital wastes. To the best knowledge of the authors this work is the first attempt at quantifying the environmental footprint of hospital waste in Pakistan.
Posttranscriptional and Posttranslational Regulation of C/EBPδ in G0 Growth-arrested Mammary Epithelial Cells*

Previous work from our laboratory demonstrated that CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein δ (C/EBPδ) functions in the initiation and maintenance of G0 growth arrest in mouse mammary epithelial cells (MECs). In this report, we investigated the posttranscriptional and posttranslational regulation of C/EBPδ in G0 growth-arrested mouse MECs. The results of transcriptional inhibitor studies demonstrated that the C/EBPδ mRNA exhibits a relatively short half-life in G0growth-arrested mouse MECs (t 1 2 ∼35 min). In contrast, C/EBPδ mRNA has a longer half-life in G0 growth-arrested mouse fibroblast cells (t 1 2 >100 min). Oligo/RNase H cleavage analysis and rapid amplification of cDNA ends-poly(A) test both confirmed the short C/EBPδ mRNA half-life observed in MECs and demonstrated that the C/EBPδ mRNA poly(A) tail is relatively short (∼100 nucleotides). In addition, the poly(A) tail length was not shortened during C/EBPδ mRNA degradation, which suggested a deadenylation-independent pathway. The C/EBPδ protein also exhibited a relatively short half-life in G0growth-arrested mouse MECs (t 1 2 ∼120 min). The C/EBPδ protein was degraded in a ubiquitin-dependent manner, primarily in the nucleus, during G0 growth arrest. In conclusion, these studies indicated that the C/EBPδ mRNA and protein content are under tight regulation in G0 growth-arrested mouse MECs, despite the general concept that G0 growth arrest is associated with a decrease in cellular activity.
Dual‐phase hybrid 18F‐Fluoride Positron emission tomography/MRI in ankylosing spondylitis: Investigating the link between MRI bone changes, regional hyperaemia and increased osteoblastic activity

Focal 18F‐Fluoride uptake on blood‐pool phase PET represents regional hyperaemia, while it indicates osteoblastic activity on mineralization phase PET. This study investigates the link between regional hyperaemia and osteoblastic activity in inflammatory and chronic lesions of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) of the sacroiliac joints (SIJ) using dual‐phase 18F‐Fluoride PET/MRI.
Prevalence and Factors Associated with Opportunistic Infections in HIV Positive Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy in Uganda.

Introduction: Opportunistic infections (OIs) remain the single main cause of ill-health and death among HIV/AIDS patients in resource poor countries. We assessed the prevalence of 17 OIs and associated factors among HIV positive patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in Uganda. Methods: Observational data from 2004 to 2013 for adult HIV positive patients (>=15yrs) obtaining care and treatment from the AIDS support organization (TASO) in Uganda were reviewed. Original Research Article Rubaihayo et al.; IJTDH, 10(1): 1-13, 2015; Article no.IJTDH. 18953 2 Electronic data were obtained from TASO HIV clinics representing 4 different geographical areas of Uganda. Descriptive statistics were summarized in terms of frequencies and percentages. Logistic regression was used to assess the factors associated with occurrence of OIs. Results: Between 2004 and 2013, a total of 36,133 HIV patients were enrolled on HAART of which two thirds (66%) were female and one third (34%) were male. In univariate analysis, significant differences were observed between male and female ART clients with men being older (median age 36yrs IQR 29-43 vs 32 yrs IQR 26-39, p<0.0001); likely to be more educated(>secondary 31% vs 19%, p<0.0001); likely to be more severely ill(CD4 count<100 26% vs 21%, p<0.0001); were more likely to be married (65% vs 42%, p<0.0001) and were more likely to be formally employed (27% vs 12%, p<0.0001). Mean annual prevalence for any OI in 2004 was 57.6% and in 2013 was 27.5% (X2trend = 122, b= -0.0283, p <0.0001). The most commonly encountered OIs were geohelminths (35%), diarrhea<1 month (18%) and mycobacterium tuberculosis (11%). Factors associated with any OI after HAART were male gender, if from Northern Uganda, low education (<primary), baseline WHO stages III&IV, stavudine ART regimen, baseline CD4 count <100cells/μl, low baseline weight <55 kg and period 2004-2008 (p<0.05). Conclusion and Recommendations: In these settings, the burden of OIs is still high in spite of increased access to HAART. The prevalence of geohelminthes and diarrhoea is worrying among HIV patients on HAART. Men remain at greater risk of OIs and should be the main target for early HAART initiation.
Serious myeloproliferative reactions associated with the use of thalidomide in myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia.

Current treatment in myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM) is inadequate: only a small proportion of patients derive benefit from bone marrow transplantation, splenectomy, or drug therapy. [1][1] We have recently demonstrated a prognostically detrimental increase in bone marrow microvessel
Occurrence of an activated, profibrotic pattern of gene expression in lung CD8+ T cells from scleroderma patients.

OBJECTIVE Pulmonary fibrosis is a major cause of death in scleroderma patients. Previous studies have shown an increase in CD8+ T cells in the lungs of scleroderma patients. In the present study, we sought to determine whether activated CD8+ T cells contribute to pulmonary fibrosis in scleroderma patients through the production and activation of profibrotic mediators. METHODS CD8+ cells were isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained from 19 scleroderma patients and 7 healthy subjects. The phenotype of these cells was determined using DNA array technology. Expression of selected genes was confirmed in real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay experiments. RESULTS Hierarchical clustering of gene expression profiles revealed 2 groups of subjects. Group 1 consisted of 11 patients (8 with and 3 without lung inflammation). Group 2 consisted of 15 subjects (7 healthy controls and 2 patients with and 6 without lung inflammation). Gene expression in group 1 indicated T cell activation, a type 2 phenotype, production of profibrotic factors and matrix metalloproteinases, and reduced activation-induced cell death. Increased expression of beta6 integrin messenger RNA by CD8+ T cells in group 1 suggested the possibility that these T cells might induce cell-contact-dependent activation of latent transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta). CONCLUSION A subset of scleroderma patients at higher risk of progressive lung disease have activated, long-lived CD8+ T cells in their lungs that could promote fibrosis directly, through production of profibrotic factors such as interleukin-4 and oncostatin M, as well as indirectly, through activation of TGFbeta.
Culture media conditioned by heat‐shocked osteoblasts enhances the osteogenesis of bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stromal cells

Osteogenic cells differentiated from bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) hold much promise in bone tissue engineering and reconstructive surgery. There is a dire need for well‐defined and efficient protocols to promote the osteogenesis of ex vivo cultured MSC. Hence, this study investigated whether a combination of chemical stimuli (ascorbic acid, beta‐glycerophosphate and dexamethasone) and culture media conditioned by a human foetal osteoblast cell line (hFOB) had any synergistic effect on the osteogenesis of MSC. Conditioned media with or without prior heat shock treatment (42°C for 1 h) of the hFOB cell line, were collected and tested on rabbit MSC cultures, in the presence and absence of chemical stimuli. Osteogenic differentiation of MSC was assessed on both day 14 and 21 of ex vivo culture. The results showed conclusively that conditioned media promoted osteogenesis of MSC, which was further enhanced by prior heat shock‐treatment of the hFOB cells, as well as by the presence of chemical stimuli. Among all experimental groups, the combination of culture medium conditioned by heat shocked hFOB cells together with chemical stimuli, exhibited the highest level of calcium mineralization, as assessed by Von Kossa staining. This provides clear evidence of a synergistic effect of conditioned media, heat shock and chemical stimuli. It is hoped that the data may contribute to the development of a more well‐defined and efficient in vitro culture protocol to promote the osteogenesis of MSC for both clinical and non‐clinical applications. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Boardization and Corporate Governance in the UK as a Response to Depoliticization and Failing Accountability

Administrative leadership in UK central government has been reformed through the creation of boards in all departments and agencies. This `boardization' is modelled on principles of private sector corporate governance and is a civil service designed response to the administrative implications of depoliticization. It raises issues of political accountability and adaptation of private sector models to the public sector and therefore poses a challenge to the UK Whitehall model. Boardization has been variously implemented across accounting units of central government involving the negotiation of a variety of public sector bargains. It highlights a de-synchronization of administrative and political reforms but provides a potential for boards to become alternative locations for governance and accountability. The article registers concerns about the suitability of reform based on private sector corporate governance and identifies new research agendas.