Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the Effect of Memantine in Reducing the Worsening of Clinical Symptoms in Patients with Moderate to Severe Alzheimer’s Disease

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and delaying disease worsening is a relevant treatment outcome. Methods: Data from 6 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 6-month studies were pooled and a subgroup of patients (867 on placebo, 959 on memantine) with moderate to severe AD (Mini- Mental State Examination <20) was analyzed. ‘Any clinical worsening’ was defined as a decline on the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale – Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-cog) or the Severe Impairment Battery (SIB) and on the Clinician’s Interview-Based Impression of Change Plus Caregiver Input (CIBIC-plus) and the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study – Activities of Daily Living Inventory (ADCS-ADL), and ‘marked clinical worsening’ as ≧4 points decline on the ADAS-cog or ≧5 points on the SIB and decline on the CIBIC-plus and the ADCS-ADL. Results: More placebo-treated than memantine-treated patients showed any clinical worsening (28 vs. 18%; p < 0.001), and 21% placebo-treated patients compared to 11% memantine-treated patients had marked clinical worsening (p < 0.001). Conclusion: In this population of moderate and severe AD patients, treatment with memantine was associated with reducing worsening of clinical symptoms in AD during the 6-month study period.
Optimized Backlight Power Saving Algorithm Using Joint Power-PSNR Characteristics Among Multiple Frames

In this paper, an optimized backlight power saving algorithm using joint power-peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) characteristics among multiple frames is proposed. In existing state-of-the-art methods, the optimal decision for clipping point is made only with consideration of current frame, and the target frame PSNR are set the same for all frames. Therefore they have the same power-PSNR performance. In the proposed work, we show that better power-PSNR performance can be achieved by assigning different target frame PSNR for different frames. In the proposed algorithm, the decisions for clipping points associated with all frames are made at once. The inefficiency ratio of each clipping point is evaluated and put into the algorithm design. An optimization problem is formulated, and a solution-search procedure is proposed. Compared with state-of-the-art methods, the proposed work performs better in both aspects of power and PSNR; the BD-PSNR and the BD-Power of the proposed work against all other methods are better for every tested video; the BD-PSNR and the BD-Power can be as high as 19.80 dB on average, and the BD-Power can be as low as – 26.25% on average.
Evaluation of adenosine deaminase in the diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis: a Brazilian meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate Brazilian studies by summarizing the accuracy of adenosine deaminase in the diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis, with the objective of lending support to the movement to make the test part of the routine investigation of pleural effusions. METHODS A search for Brazilian studies related to the determination of adenosine deaminase levels in the pleural liquid was carried out. These studies were evaluated and included in this study. The data were analyzed using summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves, which enabled the studies to be collected and evaluated regarding the accuracy of the diagnosis. As for the global values of sensitivity and specificity, the Bayes' theorem was applied to calculate the post-test probabilities in different prevalences of the disease. RESULTS Twenty-five studies dating from 1987 to 2005 and including enough information to be used in the meta-analysis were identified. After evaluation, nine studies were included, totaling 1674 patients. According to the SROC curve, a sensitivity of 91.8% (95% CI: 89.8-93.6%) and a specificity of 88.4% (95% CI: 86.0-90.5%) were found, with an area of 0.969 below the curve. The overall odds ratio was 112.0 (95% CI: 51.6-243.2). Considering a prevalence of tuberculosis of 50% (considered neutral), the post-test probability was 88.7% for a positive test and 91.5% for a negative test. CONCLUSIONS Despite the differences found among studies, it is possible to conclude that the determination of adenosine deaminase levels has high accuracy in the diagnosis of the pleural tuberculosis and should be used as a routine test in its investigation.
More Evidence for the Role of the Central Executive in Retrieving Arithmetic Facts – A Case Study of Severe Developmental Dyscalculia

It has been shown repeatedly that simple mental calculation depends not only on long-term memory (LTM) representations but also on working memory (WM) resources. The study describes the performance of an adolescent, M.O. , exhibiting severe developmental dyscalculia, but literacy problems as well. Despite having relatively preserved procedural skills, M.O. exhibited outstanding difficulties in retrieving arithmetic facts which are most pronounced on multiplication and division problems. Interestingly, his performance on non-numerical memory tests was within average (independent of modality), while his attention span was just below average. Testing the different components of WM, the results emphasize the major role of the central executive in solving simple mental calculations.
Predictors of Men’s Acceptance of Modern Contraceptive Practice: Study in Rural Vietnam

Studies have shown family planning adoption is likely to be more effective for women when men are actively involved. The transtheoretical model of behavior change was used to examine men’s involvement in general contraception and intrauterine device (IUD) use by their wives. The study was carried out in rural Vietnam with 651 eligible participants. Cons of IUD use for men in precontemplation and contemplation/preparation were significantly higher than those in the action/maintenance stages, whereas the reverse was true for pros of IUD. The self-efficacy for convincing wife to have IUD in precontemplation was significantly lower than for those in higher stages. Women’s education and ages, spontaneous recall of modern contraceptive method, cons for IUD, and self-efficacy for contraception and for convincing wives to get IUD inserted (or continue use) were significant predictors of men’s readiness to accept IUD. Interventions are targeted to reduce cons and increase self-efficacy for IUD use.
Beta-glucan, immune function, and upper respiratory tract infections in athletes.

PURPOSE This study investigated the effects of oat beta-glucan (BG) supplementation on chronic resting immunity, exercise-induced changes in immune function, and self-reported upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) incidence in human endurance athletes. METHODS Trained male cyclists were randomized to BG (N = 19) or placebo (P; N = 17) groups and under double-blind procedures received BG (5.6 g x d(-1)) or P beverage supplements for 2 wk before, during, and 1 d after a 3-d period in which subjects cycled for 3 h x d(-1) at approximately 57% maximal watts. URTI symptoms were monitored during BG supplementation and for 2 wk afterward. Blood samples were collected before and after 2 wk of supplementation (both samples, 8:00 a.m.), immediately after the 3-h exercise bout on day 3 (6:00 p.m.), and 14 h after exercise (8:00 a.m.) and were assayed for natural killer cell activity (NKCA), polymorphonuclear respiratory burst activity (PMN-RBA), phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation (PHA-LP), plasma interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-10, IL-1 receptor agonist (IL-1ra), and IL-8, and blood leukocyte IL-10, IL-8, and IL-1ra mRNA expression. RESULTS Chronic resting levels and exercise-induced changes in NKCA, PMN-RBA, PHA-LP, plasma cytokines, and blood leukocyte cytokine mRNA did not differ significantly between BG and P groups. URTI incidence during the 2-wk postexercise period did not differ significantly between groups. CONCLUSIONS An 18-d period of BG versus P ingestion did not alter chronic resting or exercise-induced changes in immune function or URTI incidence in cyclists during the 2-wk period after an intensified exercise.
Is it possible to prevent cleft palate by prenatal administration of folic acid? An experimental study.

OBJECTIVE In this study, folic acid was tested for its antiteratogenic effects on experimentally induced cleft palate in animals. DESIGN Eleven pregnant Lew 1 A dams (75 fetuses) received 200 mg/kg procarbazine via gastric tubing on postconception (p.c.) day 14 to induce a cleft palate (CP); seven of the pregnant dams (45 fetuses) were additionally given 4 mg/kg folic acid subcutaneously from the 14th to the 17th day p.c. As a control group, three more pregnant dams (24 fetuses) were not treated with the drugs mentioned above. All fetuses were delivered by Caesarian section on day 20 p.c. OUTCOMES MEASURED All fetuses were weighed and examined macroscopically with a stereomicroscope. Each fetal head was cut into 35 frontal sections and scrutinized histologically. RESULTS None of the control fetuses (n = 24) exhibited a cleft. Without folate administration, 90% of the fetuses (27 of 30) that received procarbazine exhibited a CP. After additional prenatal folate administration, this rate remained virtually unchanged (91%; 41 of 45). However, the proportion of complete (total) CP (4%) was significantly (p <.0001) lower than in the group without folate (53%). Cleft-associated microgenia and microglossia were also significantly less frequent when folate was administered prenatally: microgenia was reduced by 22% (p =.029) and microglossia by 24% (p =.032). CONCLUSIONS On the basis of these results, folate has a partial ameliorating effect on the teratogenicity of procarbazine given to pregnant rats. Additional studies are necessary on the effect of folate in different species, also taking cleft lip and CP into consideration.
How and Why Does Immigration Affect Crime? Evidence from Malaysia

The perception that immigration fuels crime is an important source of anti-immigrant sentiment. Using Malaysian data for 2003-10, this paper provides estimates of the overall impact of economic immigration on crime, and evidence on different socio-economic mechanisms underpinning this relationship. The IV estimates suggest that immigration decreases crime rates, with an elasticity of around −0.97 for property and -1.8 violent crimes. Three-quarters of the negative causal relationship between immigration and property crime rates can be explained by the impact of immigration on the underlying economic environment faced by natives. The reduction in violent crime rates is less readily explained by these factors.
Longitudinal changes in young people's short-term power output.

PURPOSE The influences of age, body size, skin-fold thickness, gender, and maturation on the short-term power output of young people were examined using multilevel modelling. METHODS Subjects were 97 boys and 100 girls, aged 12.2 +/- 0.4 yr at the onset of the study. Sexual maturity was classified according to Tanner's indices of pubic hair. Peak power (PP) and mean power (MP) were determined on two occasions 1 yr apart using the Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT). The data were analyzed using multilevel regression modelling. RESULTS Initial models identified body mass and stature as significant explanatory variables with an additional positive effect of age, which was smaller for girls' MP. A significant gender difference was apparent for both power indices with girls achieving lower values than boys. A significant incremental effect of later maturity (stages 4 and 5 for pubic hair development) was identified for MP only. Subsequent incorporation of sum of two skin-fold thicknesses into the model yielded significant negative parameter estimates for PP and MP and negated both the stature effects and the maturation influence upon MP. CONCLUSION There are gender differences in the longitudinal growth of performance on the WanT. Regardless of gender differences, body mass and skin-fold thicknesses appear to be the best anthropometric predictors of WAnT determined PP and MP in young people.
Gender inequality at home is associated with poorer health for women

Background: As more women have joined the work force, the difference in employment rate between men and women has decreased, in Sweden as well as many other countries. Despite this, traditional gender patterns regarding, for example, responsibility for household duties still remain. Women are on sick leave more often than men, and previous studies have indicated that an unequal split of household responsibilities and perceived gender inequality could be associated with negative health outcomes. Aims: The aim of the present study was to explore whether an unequal distribution of responsibilities in the home was related to various health related outcomes among women. Methods: A sample consisting of 837 women living in a relationship, and working at least 50% of full time, responded to a questionnaire including information about division of responsibilities at home as well as various psychological and physiological health related outcomes. Results: The results showed that women living in relationships with perceived more unequal distribution of responsibility for house hold duties showed significantly higher levels of perceived stress, fatigue, physical/psychosomatic symptoms, and work family conflict compared with women living in more equal relationships. They also had significantly increased odds for insufficient time for various forms of recovery, which may further contribute to an increased risk of poor health. Conclusions: Although an increasing employment rate among women is valuable for both society and individuals, it is important to work towards greater gender equality at home to maintain this development without it having a negative effect on women’s health and well-being.
HIV-1 drug resistance in newly infected individuals.

CONTEXT There is concern that the widespread use of antiretroviral drugs to treat human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infection may result in the increased transmission of drug-resistant virus. OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of drug resistance-conferring mutations and phenotypic resistance to antiretroviral agents in a cohort of individuals newly infected with HIV-1. DESIGN Case series with genetic analyses of the HIV-1 plasma-derived pol gene using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction followed by direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction products. Phenotypic analysis was performed with a recombinant virus assay. SETTING AND PATIENTS Eighty individuals referred, on average, 1.7 months after infection with HIV-1 to the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center between July 1995 and April 1999. Subjects were from large urban areas (65 from New York, NY; 11 from Los Angeles, Calif); 60 (75%) were white, and 75 (93.8%) were homosexual men. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Prevalence of known resistance-conferring genotypes and reduced susceptibility to individual antiviral agents by phenotype. RESULTS Thirteen individuals (16.3%) had genotypes associated with drug resistance to any antiretroviral agent. Virus with known resistance-conferring mutations to any nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors was found in 10 individuals, to any nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors in 6 subjects, and to any protease inhibitors in 2 cases. Multidrug-resistant virus was identified in 3 individuals (3.8%). Extensive polymorphism in the protease gene was identified. Interpretation of genotypes and phenotypes was concordant in 57 (85%) of the 67 cases in which both studies were performed. CONCLUSION The prevalence of HIV-1 variants with known resistance-conferring genotypes to any antiretroviral agent in this cohort of 80 newly infected individuals is 16.3%. These data support expanded use of resistance testing in the setting of primary HIV-1 infection. Clinical trials should be initiated to establish whether therapy guided by resistance testing, compared with the use of empirical triple combination antiretroviral therapy, provides additional virological and immunological benefit when treating primary HIV-1 infection. Further efforts to expand the study of transmission of drug-resistant HIV-1 variants, particularly in cohorts with different epidemiological profiles, are indicated.
Effects of targeting the VEGF and PDGF pathways in diffuse orthotopic glioma models

Currently available compounds that interfere with VEGF‐A signalling effectively inhibit angiogenesis in gliomas, but influence diffuse infiltrative growth to a much lesser extent. Development of a functional tumour vascular bed not only involves VEGF‐A but also requires platelet‐derived growth factor receptor‐β (PDGFRβ), which induces maturation of tumour blood vessels. Therefore, we tested whether combined inhibition of VEGFR and PDGFRβ increases therapeutic benefit in the orthotopic glioma xenograft models E98 and E473, both displaying the diffuse infiltrative growth that is characteristically observed in most human gliomas. We used bevacizumab and vandetanib as VEGF(R) inhibitors, and sunitinib to additionally target PDGFRβ. We show that combination therapy of sunitinib and vandetanib does not improve therapeutic efficacy compared to treatment with sunitinib, vandetanib or bevacizumab alone. Furthermore, all compounds induced reduction of vessel leakage in compact E98 tumour areas, resulting in decreased detectability of these mostly infiltrative xenografts in Gd‐DTPA‐enhanced MRI scans. These data show that inhibition of VEGF signalling cannot be optimized by additional PDGFR inhibition and support the concept that diffuse infiltrative areas in gliomas are resistant to anti‐angiogenic therapy. Copyright © 2011 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Calcium signalling through nucleotide receptor P2X1 in rat portal vein myocytes

1 ATP‐mediated Ca2+ signalling was studied in freshly isolated rat portal vein myocytes by means of a laser confocal microscope and the patch‐clamp technique. 2 In vascular myocytes held at −60 mV, ATP induced a large inward current that was supported mainly by activation of P2X1 receptors, although other P2X receptor subtypes (P2X3, P2X4 and P2X5) were revealed by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction. 3 Confocal Ca2+ measurements revealed that ATP‐mediated Ca2+ responses started at initiation sites where spontaneous or triggered Ca2+ sparks were not detected, whereas membrane depolarizations triggered Ca2+ waves by repetitive activation of Ca2+ sparks from a single initiation site. 4 ATP‐mediated Ca2+ responses depended on Ca2+ influx through non‐selective cation channels that activated, in turn, Ca2+ release from the intracellular store via ryanodine receptors (RYRs). Using specific antibodies directed against the RYR subtypes, we show that ATP‐mediated Ca2+ release requires, at least, RYR2, but not RYR3. 5 Our results suggest that, in vascular myocytes, Ca2+ influx through P2X1 receptors may trigger Ca2+‐induced Ca2+ release at intracellular sites where RYRs are not clustered.
Subclinical hyperthyroidism seems not to have a significant impact on systemic anticoagulation in patients with coumarin therapy

Summary There is little data regarding the impact of subclinical hyperthyroidism on coagulation metabolism in patients undergoing systemic anticoagulation therapy with coumarin derivates. In this retrospective analysis we studied 233 patients with benign thyroid disorders receiving therapeutic iodine-131, as well as concomitant systemic anticoagulation therapy (subclinical hyperthyroidism: n=178; overt hyperthyroidism: n=15; euthyroidism: n=40). Multivariate regression analyses were performed in the total study population as well as in the subgroup of patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism to identify the possible impact of several variables on anticoagulation therapy, large enough to push the International Normalized Ratio (INR) level out of the therapeutic range (INR <2.0 or >3.0). Therapy with antibiotics or nitrates was significantly associated with INR-values >3.0 in the total population, while ACE inhibitors were associated with lower incidence of INR-values <2.0. In patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism, therapy with antibiotics was predictive of INR-values >3.0, whereas therapy with thyroid suppressive drugs or TSH-values <0.1 mU/l was associated with INR-values <2.0. Moreover, in a subgroup of 40 patients with the positive history of both subclinical hyperthyroidism and euthyroidism intraindividual comparison with regard to the possible impact on anticoagulation therapy was performed which failed to show any significant differences in INR-values between the two thyroid metabolic conditions. In conclusion, subclinical hyperthyroidism seems to have no significant impact on coagulation metabolism in patients receiving anticoagulation therapy.
Retail Investor Attention and IPO Valuation

Given restrictions placed on communication with prospective investors, retail investor attention can help firms/underwriters with the task of initially valuing an IPO. Using Google search volume to proxy for retail investor attention, we find that the presence of and an increase in retail attention following initial filing but prior to initial pricing are positively related to initial valuations. Our results are robust to alternative matching methods to identify our matched sample of non-IPO firms and to including several controls for institutional demand. We conclude that retail investor attention plays a critical role in the early stages of IPO valuation.
Constitutive NF-κB Activation Confers Interleukin 6 (IL6) Independence and Resistance to Dexamethasone and Janus Kinase Inhibitor INCB018424 in Murine Plasmacytoma Cells*

Myeloma cells are dependent on IL6 for their survival and proliferation during the early stages of disease, and independence from IL6 is associated with disease progression. The role of the NF-κB pathway in the IL6-independent growth of myeloma cells has not been studied. Because human herpesvirus 8-encoded K13 selectively activates the NF-κB pathway, we have used it as a molecular tool to examine the ability of the NF-κB pathway to confer IL6 independence on murine plasmacytomas. We demonstrated that ectopic expression of K13, but not its NF-κB-defective mutant or a structural homolog, protected plasmacytomas against IL6 withdrawal-induced apoptosis and resulted in emergence of IL6-independent clones that could proliferate long-term in vitro in the absence of IL6 and form abdominal plasmacytomas with visceral involvement when injected intraperitoneally into syngeneic mice. These IL6-independent clones were dependent on NF-κB activity for their survival and proliferation but were resistant to dexamethasone and INCB018424, a selective Janus kinase 1/2 inhibitor. Ectopic expression of human T cell leukemia virus 1-encoded Tax protein, which resembles K13 in inducing constitutive NF-κB activation, similarly protected plasmacytoma cells against IL6 withdrawal-induced apoptosis. Although K13 is known to up-regulate IL6 gene expression, its protective effect was not due to induction of endogenous IL6 production but instead was associated with sustained expression of several antiapoptotic members of the Bcl2 family upon IL6 withdrawal. Collectively, these results demonstrate that NF-κB activation cannot only promote the emergence of IL6 independence during myeloma progression but can also confer resistance to dexamethasone and INCB018424.