Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Maternally Administered Dexamethasone at 0.7 of Gestation Suppresses Maternal and Fetal Pituitary and Adrenal Responses to Hypoxemia in Sheep

Women who are at risk of preterm delivery are treated with antenatal steroids to facilitate fetal lung maturation. During this period, there is a potential for fetal or maternal hypoxemia to occur. Fetal responses to hypoxemia in sheep are well documented. However, less is known regarding maternal responses to hypoxemia. Therefore, we determined the effects of dexamethasone (DM) on maternal and fetal responses to hypoxemia in sheep. Ewes received four i.m. injections of DM or saline at 12-h intervals beginning at 103 d of gestation. Samples for ACTH, cortisol, and glucose were collected at 0900 h. At 105 d of gestation, hypoxemia was induced for 1 h by maternal nitrogen gas inhalation. Samples for ACTH, cortisol, and glucose were collected at 15-min intervals before, during, and after the hypoxemia challenge. Fluorescent microspheres were administered to the mother and the fetus before and during hypoxemia to measure organ perfusion. DM suppressed basal fetal and maternal cortisol and ACTH concentrations but increased glucose levels. DM also increased fetal but not maternal blood pressure. In control subjects, hypoxemia elevated fetal and maternal cortisol and ACTH concentrations. These responses were obliterated by DM. Hypoxemia increased blood pressure in DM-exposed fetuses but not in control subjects. In addition, hypoxemia decreased fetal adrenal vascular resistance in saline but not DM fetuses or ewes from either treatment group. In summary, maternal administration of a low dose of DM at 0.7 of gestation suppresses maternal and fetal adrenal function and changes fetal responses to hypoxemic stress to resemble those observed later in gestation.
Role of procalcitonin and C-reactive protein for discrimination between tumor fever and infection in patients with hematological diseases

Abstract Tumor fever is a common complication in patients with hematological malignancies. We retrospectively analyzed the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) in patients with lymphoid malignancies and fever that was attributed to tumor (39 episodes, group I) or infection (26 episodes, group II) before chemotherapy, and bloodstream infection (26 episodes, group III) after chemotherapy. The PCT level and PCT/CRP ratio were significantly higher in groups II and III than in group I (p = 0.003, p = 0.0005, respectively for groups II and I, and p = 0.003, p = 0.00002, respectively for groups III and I). At the cut-off level of 0.071 or 0.014 for PCT/CRP, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of PCT/CRP were 53.8% or 96.2%, 89.7% or 53.8%, 77.8% or 58.1% and 74.5% or 95.5%, respectively, for discrimination between groups I and II or groups I and III. PCT/CRP ratio was the best marker for discrimination between tumor fever and infection.
Summary of contributions to GAW Group 15: family‐based samples are useful in identifying common polymorphisms associated with complex traits

Traditionally, family‐based samples have been used for genetic analyses of single‐gene traits caused by rare but highly penetrant risk variants. The utility of family‐based genetic data for analyzing common complex traits is unclear and contains numerous challenges. To assess the utility as well as to address these challenges, members of Genetic Analysis Workshop 16 Group 15 analyzed Framingham Heart Study data using family‐based designs ranging from parent—offspring trios to large pedigrees. We investigated different methods including traditional linkage tests, family‐based association tests, and population‐based tests that correct for relatedness between subjects, and tests to detect parent‐of‐origin effects. The analyses presented an assortment of positive findings. One contribution found increased power to detect epistatic effects through linkage using ascertainment of sibships based on extreme quantitative values or presence of disease associated with the quantitative value. Another contribution found four single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) showing a maternal effect, two SNPs with an imprinting effect, and one SNP having both effects on a binary high blood pressure trait. Finally, three contributions illustrated the advantage of using population‐based methods to detect association to complex binary or quantitative traits. Our findings highlight the contribution of family‐based samples to the genetic dissection of complex traits. Genet. Epidemiol. 33 (Suppl. 1):S99–S104, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Influence of ingesting versus mouth rinsing a carbohydrate solution during a 1-h run.

PURPOSE To investigate the influence of ingesting versus mouth rinsing a carbohydrate-electrolyte solution on 1-h running performance. METHODS After a 14- to 15-h fast, 10 endurance-trained male runners (mean ± SD: VO2peak = 65.0 ± 4.4 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1)) completed three 1-h performance runs separated by 1 wk. In random order, runners ingested either a 8-mL·kg(-1) body mass of either a 6.4% carbohydrate-electrolyte solution (CHO) or a placebo solution (P) 30 min before or a 2-mL·kg(-1) body mass at 15-min intervals throughout the 1-h run. On a separate occasion, runners mouth rinsed (R) a 6.4% CHO, i.e., without ingestion, at the same times as in the ingestion trials. RESULTS Total distances covered in the CHO, P, and R trials were 14,515 ± 756, 14,190 ± 800, and 14,283 ± 758 m, respectively. Runners covered 320 m more (90% confidence interval = 140-510 m, P = 0.01) during the CHO trial compared with the P trial and 230 m more (90% confidence interval = 83-380 m, P = 0.019) in comparison with the R trial. There was no difference in n distance covered between the R and P trials (P = 1.0). CONCLUSIONS A greater distance was covered after the mouth rinse and ingestion of a 6.4% CHO during a 1-h performance run than when mouth rinsing the same solution or mouth rinsing followed by the ingestion of the same volume of a placebo solution.
(Un)intended Consequences of a Mandatory Dividend Payout Regulation for Earnings Management: Evidence From a Natural Experiment

We examine the (un)intended consequences of a mandatory dividend payout regulation for firms’ financial reporting choices using a natural experiment in China. Beginning in October 2008, China required firms desiring to raise new equity capital to maintain a cumulative dividend payout ratio of at least 30% over the past 3 years. We find that firms with a cumulative payout ratio from the prior year very close to but slightly lower than the mandated dividend threshold report lower discretionary accruals but do not increase dividends. In addition, this pattern is more pronounced in firms with greater cash flow deficits, firms with faster sales growth, and firms located in regions with lower bank development. We also find that the negative discretionary accruals are concentrated in firms with return on equity well in excess of another regulatory benchmark. In contrast, the only firms that increase dividends in response to the regulation are firms with a positive cumulative payout ratio far below the mandated threshold. Because dividend payout regulations have been suggested as a possible solution to agency problems, our results provide important policy feedback about the effectiveness of such regulations.
Etioplasts with protochlorophyll and protochlorophyllide forms in the under-soil epicotyl segments of pea (Pisum sativum) seedlings grown under natural light conditions.

To study if etiolation symptoms exist in plants grown under natural illumination conditions, under-soil epicotyl segments of light-grown pea (Pisum sativum) plants were examined and compared to those of hydroponically dark-grown plants. Light-, fluorescence- and electron microscopy, 77 K fluorescence spectroscopy, pigment extraction and pigment content determination methods were used. Etioplasts with prolamellar bodies and/or prothylakoids, protochlorophyll (Pchl) and protochlorophyllide (Pchlide) forms (including the flash-photoactive 655 nm emitting form) were found in the (pro)chlorenchyma of epicotyl segments under 3 cm soil depth; their spectral properties were similar to those of hydroponically grown seedlings. However, differences were found in etioplast sizes and Pchlide:Pchl molar ratios, which indicate differences in the developmental rates of the under-soil and of hydroponically developed cells. Tissue regions closer to the soil surface showed gradual accumulation of chlorophyll, and in parallel, decrease of Pchl and Pchlide. These results proved that etioplasts and Pchlide exist in soil-covered parts of seedlings even if they have a 3-4-cm long photosynthetically active shoot above the soil surface. This underlines that etiolation symptoms do develop under natural growing conditions, so they are not merely artificial, laboratory phenomena. Consequently, dark-grown laboratory plants are good models to study the early stages of etioplast differentiation and the Pchlide-chlorophyllide phototransformation.
Infusion of Pharmaceutical-Grade Natural Human C-Reactive Protein Is Not Proinflammatory in Healthy Adult Human Volunteers

Rationale: Baseline circulating concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) are significantly associated with cardiovascular disease risk in general populations. This modest association has been inappropriately conflated with causality, and it has been claimed that CRP is proatherogenic. Most of the known causative factors for atherosclerosis stimulate increased CRP production, but comprehensive genetic epidemiology studies provide no support for a pathogenic role of CRP. The reported proinflammatory effects of human CRP preparations on healthy cells in vitro and in healthy animals in vivo have all been produced by poorly characterized CRP preparations, demonstrably caused by impurities, or elicited by CRP made in recombinant Escherichia coli not by humans. None of the in vitro or animal findings have been reproduced with pure natural human CRP. Nevertheless, the strong proinflammatory effects of infusing recombinant bacterial CRP into humans have still been inappropriately ascribed to CRP. Objective: To investigate the effects of infusion into healthy adult human volunteers of pure natural human CRP. Methods and Results: Comprehensively characterized, pharmaceutical-grade, endotoxin-free, purified CRP, prepared to GMP standard from pooled normal human donor plasma was infused as an intravenous bolus in 7 healthy adult human volunteers at ⩽2 mg/kg to provide circulating CRP concentrations ⩽44 mg/L. No recipient showed any significant clinical, hematologic, coagulation, or biochemical changes, or any increase in proinflammatory cytokines or acute phase proteins. Conclusions: The human CRP molecule itself is not proinflammatory in healthy human adults.
Isolation of three new naturally occurring compounds from the culture of Micromonospora sp. P1068

Bioassay guided isolation of an antibacterial extract prepared from the fermentation broth of a Micromonospora sp. P1068 led to the isolation of eight compounds identified as (3R) 3,4′,7-trihydroxy-isoflavanone (1), 3-hydroxydehydrodaidzein, daidzein (2), 3-methyl-1H-indole-2-carboxylic acid (3), 1H-indole-3-carboxaldehyde (4), 3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-N-methylpropionamide, N-methylphloretamide (5), phenyl acetic acid (6), 2-hydroxy phenyl acetic acid (7) and 4-hydroxy-5-methoxy-benzoic acid (8). Compounds 1 and 5 were found to be novel chemical entities while 3 was isolated from a natural source for the first time. All compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial activities against a panel of clinically significant microorganisms. Compound 4 was active against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC, 32 µg/ml), Enterococcus faecium (MIC, 32 µg/ml) and Escherichia coli (MIC, 64 µg/ml).
Localization and function of the D3 dopamine receptor.

A novel dopamine receptor has been recently cloned, which differs from D1 and D2 receptors by its sequence, localization, pharmacology and possibly signalling system, hence its designation as D3 receptor. The D3 receptor cDNA was obtained by a combination of screenings of DNA libraries and PCR polymerase chain reaction experiments. It encodes a protein with a predicted structure consisting in 7 transmembrane domains indicating that it belongs to the G-protein coupled receptor family. Its global homology is 52% with the D2 receptor but 78% if only transmembrane domains are considered. Two shorter transcript variants, in addition to the full-length cDNA were detected by PCR in various rat brain regions. The shorter transcripts are generated by alternative splicing and encode two putative proteins respectively interrupted after the second transmembrane domain and lacking the second extracytoplasmic loop. After transfection of this latter isoform into cultured cells, no dopaminergic activity could be detected. These shorter splice variants may regulate the number of active D3 receptors. The human D3 receptor was also cloned using similar approaches with rat D3 receptor cDNA probes and was found highly homologous to the rat receptor, except in the third intracytoplasmic loop. The human D3 receptor gene was assigned to the chromosome 3 at q13.3 band. Visualisation of D3 receptor mRNA in rat brain by in situ hybridization indicated a predominant expression of the message in the ventral striatum and other "limbic" areas. There is no overlap in the distributions of D2 and D3 receptor mRNAs in discrete structures, suggesting that the two transcripts are expressed by different cells. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Potentiation of paclitaxel-induced apoptosis by the novel cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor NU6140: a possible role for survivin down-regulation

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) play a crucial role in the control of the cell cycle. Aberrations in the control of cell cycle progression occur in the majority of human malignancies; hence, CDKs are promising targets for anticancer therapy. Here, we define the cellular effects of the novel CDK inhibitor NU6140, alone or in association with paclitaxel, with respect to inhibition of cell proliferation and cell cycle progression and induction of apoptosis in HeLa cervical carcinoma cells and in comparison with purvalanol A. Both CDK inhibitors induced a concentration-dependent cell cycle arrest at the G2-M phase and an increase in the apoptotic rate, with a concomitant down-regulation of the antiapoptotic protein survivin, a member of the inhibitors of apoptosis protein family. Notably, the addition of NU6140 to paclitaxel-treated cells resulted in markedly increased cytotoxic effect and apoptotic response in comparison with the paclitaxel-purvalanol A combination (86 ± 11% and 37 ± 8%, respectively). Similarly, the extent of caspase-9 and caspase-3 activation in paclitaxel-NU6140–treated cells was ∼4-fold higher than after the paclitaxel-purvalanol A combination. Moreover, an almost complete abrogation of the expression of the active, Thr34-phosphorylated form of survivin was observed in cells exposed to the paclitaxel-NU6140 combination. A synergistic effect of the paclitaxel-NU6140 combination, as a consequence of survivin inhibition and increased activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, was also observed in OAW42/e ovarian cancer line but not in the derived OAW42/Surv subline ectopically expressing survivin. Results from this study indicate that NU6140 significantly potentiates the apoptotic effect of paclitaxel, with inhibition of survivin expression/phosphorylation as the potential mechanism.
Exploring the Relationship Between Patient Call-Light Use Rate and Nurse Call-Light Response Time in Acute Care Settings

Patient call-light usage and nurse responsiveness to call lights are two intertwined concepts that could affect patients' safety during hospital stays. Little is known about the relationship between call-light usage and call-light response time. Consequently, this exploratory study examined the relationship between the patient-initiated call-light use rate and the nursing staff's average call-light response time in a Michigan community hospital. It used hospital archived data retrieved from the call-light tracking system for the period from February 2007 through June 2008. Curve estimation regression and multiple regression analyses were conducted. The results showed that the call-light response time was not affected by the total nursing hours or RN hours. The nurse call-light response time was longer when the patient call-light use rate was higher and the average length of stay was shorter. It is likely that a shorter length of stay contributes to the nursing care activity level on the unit because it is associated with a higher frequency of patient admissions/discharges and treatment per patient-day. This suggests that the nursing care activity level on the unit and number of call-light alarms could affect nurse call-light response time, independently of the number of nurses available to respond.
Helicobacter pylori and pancreatic cancer risk: a meta- analysis based on 2,049 cases and 2,861 controls.

AIM Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) have been considered as a risk factor for many cancers. We conducted this meta-analysis to clarify the association between H. pylori infection and the risk of pancreatic cancer. METHODS We searched the Medicine/Pubmed and Embase databases, studies about the association between H. pylori infection and pancreatic cancer published up to Jan.2014 were included. Finally, a total of 9 studies were used for this a meta-analysis. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) of H. pylori infection on pancreatic cancer with respect to control groups were evaluated. Two authors independently assessed the methodological quality and extracted data. This meta-analysis was conducted using software, state (version 12.0) to investigate heterogeneity among individual studies and to summarize the studies. Using the fixed-effects or random-effects model, depending on the absence or presence of significant heterogeneity. Sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the influence of each individual study on the pooled ORs by omitting a single study each time. Publication bias was evaluated by funnel plot, using Egger's and Begg's tests. RESULTS There was no significant association between H. pylori infection and pancreatic cancer risk in the summary ORs,(OR=1.06, 95%CI: 0.74-1.37) through the random-effect method, but heterogeneity among studies was significant (I2=58.9%), so we put the studies into two subgraphs (eastern and western). The results about western (OR=1.14 95%CI:0.89, 1.40) showed heterogeneity among the western countries of I2=6.6%, with no significant association between Hp+ and pancreatic cancer, but the eastern countries (OR=0.62, 95%CI:0.49, 0.76), I2=0, suggested that decreasing pancreas-cancer risk in subjects with Hp+ infection. Simultaneously, 7 studies examined CagA+ strains was (OR=0.84 95%CI:0.63, 1.04), I2=36% with the random-effect method, subgraphs indicated that CagA+ could decrease the risk of pancreatic cancer in the eastern subjects (OR=0.66, 95%CI:0.52-0.80), but the association was not statistically significant in the western subjects (OR=0.95, 95%CI:0.73, 1.16). CONCLUSION Hp+ and CagA+ infection are associated with a decreased risk of pancreatic cancer in eastern populations but have no significant associations in western countries.
Preimplantation genetic screening reveals a high incidence of aneuploidy and mosaicism in embryos from young women undergoing IVF.

BACKGROUND In order to assess the frequency of aneuploidy and mosaicism in embryos obtained from IVF patients aged <38 years, preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) was performed after biopsy of two blastomeres. Furthermore, the reliability of this diagnosis was assessed by performing reanalysis of the embryo on day 5. METHOD The copy numbers of 10 chromosomes (1, 7, 13, 15, 16, 18, 21, 22, X and Y) were investigated by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. Embryos that were found to be abnormal or of insufficient morphological quality were cultured until day 5 and reanalysed. Results obtained were compared to the day 3 blastomere analysis. RESULTS After analysis of 196 embryos (one cell in 38% and two cells in 62%), only 36% of the embryos were found to be normal on day 3. After analysis of two blastomeres, 50% showed chromosomal mosaicism. Comparison of the FISH results from day 3 blastomeres and day 5 embryos yielded an overall cytogenetic confirmation rate of 54%. CONCLUSIONS The rates of mosaicism and aneuploidy in these embryos from young IVF patients are similar to those published for older women. We found the best confirmation rate after a diagnosis based on two cells, where both blastomeres showed the same chromosomal abnormality. In contrast, after a mosaic diagnosis the confirmation rate was low. The present study provides the first detailed reanalysis data of embryos analysed by PGS and clearly demonstrates the impact of mosaicism on the reliability of the PGS diagnosis.
Poverty, Urbanization and Crime: Are They Related in Pakistan?

Purpose: This study attempts to analyze the possible impact of poverty; inflation, economic growth, and urbanization on crime for a developing economy like Pakistan. Methodology: This study applies autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL) to find long term relationship and Granger causality test for finding direction of causality between crime and its determinants for the period from 1978 to 2011. Findings: The empirical findings of the study have exposed that poverty; economic growth and urbanization have a significant and positive impact on crime in both long and short terms. Moreover; the findings of the Granger causality test demonstrate biâ€“directional Granger causality between urbanization and crime and uniâ€“directional Granger causality running from between economic growth and crime which runs from economic growth to crime. Recommendations: Policy recommendations have been provided.
Long‐term results of balloon‐occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration for gastric variceal bleeding and risky gastric varices: A 10‐year experience

Background and Aim: Balloon‐occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (B‐RTO) is a new alternative treatment for gastric varices (GVx), but the long‐term efficacy is not known. We investigated the long‐term effects of B‐RTO on rebleeding, prevention of first bleeding, mortality and occurrence of risky esophageal varices (EVx).
The Impacts of Common Commercial Policy on Export Performances of Visegrad Countries

The paper aims to investigate the impact of Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) and common commercial policy (CCP) on export performances of Visegrad group of countries (The Visegrad Four, V-4: Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary) preceding and following the EU accession. The V-4, before becoming the EU members, have participated actively in regionalism, signing free trade agreements and customs unions which often also resulted in the extended economic integration. But since the EU accession in 2004, all RTAs of the new members were no longer valid as these countries became the parties of the CCP of the EU. To analyse whether CCP was beneficial on the export performances of the V-4 countries, we estimate the augmented gravity model by employing Poisson pseudo-maximum-likelihood (PPML) estimator for time periods before and after the EU accession, in 1999-2003 and 2004-2013, respectively.