Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Association Between DSM-IV Nicotine Dependence and Stressful Life Events in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions

Background and Objectives: Nicotine dependence (ND) is a pervasive public health concern and a leading cause of preventable mortality. Stressful life events (SLEs), which severely disrupt the lives of individuals experiencing such events, have been posited as correlates of persisting ND. While both ND and SLEs have been studied extensively in relation to other variables, there are few instances in which they have been investigated in concert. Methods: In this study, we use data on 18,013 smokers from the 2001–2002 data set of the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC, N = 43,093) to examine whether experiencing a SLE in the past 12 months was associated with meeting criteria for ND in the same past 12 months. Logistic regression analyses were conducted while accounting for a variety of covariates. Results: A majority of the SLEs were associated with past 12 month ND, even after controlling for poverty, psychiatric and substance use disorders, and a prior history of ND (odds-ratios 1.35–2.20). The rates of past 12 month ND were considerably greater in those experiencing more than one SLE. Conclusions: While these data do not allow us to make causal interpretations, our results suggest an association between SLE and ND. Potentially, individuals experiencing SLEs may find it difficult to quit smoking; alternatively, directly or via correlated risks (e.g., living in a high risk neighborhood), smoking may increase the likelihood of exposure to SLEs.
Search for unstable DNA in schizophrenia families with evidence for genetic anticipation.

Evidence for genetic anticipation has recently become an important subject of research in clinical psychiatric genetics. Renewed interest in anticipation was evoked by molecular genetic findings of a novel type of mutation termed "unstable DNA. " The unstable DNA model can be construed as the "best fit" for schizophrenia twin and family epidemiological data. We have performed a large-scale Southern blot hybridization, asymmetrical PCR-based, and repeat expansion-detection screening for (CAG)n/(CTG)n and (CCG)n/(CGG)n expansions in eastern Canadian schizophrenia multiplex families demonstrating genetic anticipation. There were no differences in (CAG)n/(CTG)n and (CCG)n/(CGG)n pattern distribution either between affected and unaffected individuals or across generations. Our findings do not support the hypothesis that large (CAG)n/(CTG)n or (CCG)n/(CGG)n expansions are the major etiologic factor in schizophrenia. A separate set of experiments directed to the analysis of small (30-130 trinucleotides), Huntington disease-type expansions in individual genes is required in order to fully exclude the presence of (CAG)n/(CTG)n- or (CCG)n/(CGG)n-type unstable mutation.
Rapamycin prevents N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate‐induced retinal damage through an ERK‐dependent mechanism in rats

Recent studies have demonstrated that inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) protects against neuronal injury, but the mechanisms underlying this protection are not fully understood. The present study investigates whether rapamycin, an inhibitor of the mTOR pathway, protects against N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA)‐induced retinal neurotoxicity and whether the extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) pathway contributes to this protective effect in rats. Significant cell loss in the ganglion cell layer and a reduction in thickness of the inner plexiform layer were observed 7 days after a single intravitreal injection of NMDA (200 nmol/eye). These NMDA‐induced morphological changes were significantly reduced by rapamycin (20 nmol/eye). The number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP nick‐end labeling‐positive apoptotic cells had increased 6 hr after NMDA injection, an effect that was significantly attenuated by rapamycin. The ERK inhibitor U0126 (1 nmol/eye) almost completely abolished rapamycin's inhibition of NMDA‐induced apoptosis. Immunohistochemical studies showed that NMDA caused a time‐dependent increase in levels of the phosphorylated form of the ribosomal protein S6 (pS6), a downstream indicator of mTOR activity. The increased pS6 levels were markedly decreased by rapamycin. Both NMDA and rapamycin increased the level of phosphorylated ERK (pERK) in Müller cells, and coinjection of both agents further increased pERK levels. These results suggest that rapamycin has a neuroprotective effect against NMDA‐induced retinal neurotoxicity and that this effect could be patially mediated by activation of the ERK pathway in retinal Müller cells. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Neurobiology of Emotionally Influenced Memory Implications for Understanding Traumatic Memory

Substantial evidence from animal and human subject studies converges on the view that memory for emotionally arousing events is modulated by an endogenous memory-modulating system consisting, at minimum, of stress hormones and the amygdaloid complex. Within the normal range of emotions experienced, this system is viewed as an evolutionarily adaptive method of creating memory strength that is, in general, proportional to memory importance. In conditions of extreme emotional stress, the operation of this normally adaptive system may underly the formation of strong, "intrusive" memories characteristic of PTSD. An improved understanding of the neurobiology of memory modulation should lead to an improved ability to treat or prevent traumatic memories.
Decline in verbal memory performance with advancing age: The role of frontal lobe functioning

This study investigated the relationship between measures of frontal lobe functioning (FLF) and verbal memory performance among healthy, community-dwelling older adults (60-85 years old). All were administered measures of FLF, attention, verbal memory, and depression. After controlling for the effects of attention and depression, FLF accounted for significant amounts of the variance in verbal memory scores. Age related to the FLF measure according to the level of organization of verbal material to be recalled. Frontal lobe functioning and performance on an attention measure explained the greatest amount of the variance in the recall of unorganized verbal material, whereas age and attention abilities were the best predictors of the recall of organized verbal material. The data indicate a central role of frontal dysfunction in understanding age-related memory loss.
Interpersonal dependence and major depression: aetiological inter-relationship and gender differences

Background. Although prior research has demonstrated a strong association between interpersonal dependency (IPD) levels and risk for major depression (MD), the possible aetiological explanations of this association as well as any gender differences in the IPD–MD relationship need further clarification. Method. Population-based twin samples (N=7174) were interviewed in multiple waves to assess IPD and MD as part of a larger twin study. IPD levels were assessed using the Interpersonal Dependency Inventory while MD diagnoses were derived from the SCID. Cox proportional hazard models and multiple regression techniques were utilized. Results. IPD was strongly associated with a risk for lifetime MD. Pre-morbid IPD scores were predictive of future onsets of MD while experiencing a MD episode was also associated with a significant rise in IPD levels. While females had higher IPD scores, IPD scores were more significantly associated with risk for lifetime MD in males. Controlling for the level of IPD substantially reduced the observed association between gender and risk for MD. Conclusion. The strong association observed between IPD and risk for MD results largely from IPD being a risk factor for MD, but state effects of MD on IPD also contribute. IPD scores in males were more predictive of lifetime MD than for females. The higher levels of IPD in women than in men may contribute meaningfully to the sex differences in risk for MD.
Field Chronobiology of a Molluscan Bivalve: How the Moon and Sun Cycles Interact to Drive Oyster Activity Rhythms

The present study reports new insights into the complexity of environmental drivers in aquatic animals. The focus of this study was to determine the main forces that drive mollusc bivalve behavior in situ. To answer this question, the authors continuously studied the valve movements of permanently immersed oysters, Crassostrea gigas, during a 1-year-long in situ study. Valve behavior was monitored with a specially build valvometer, which allows continuously recording of up to 16 bivalves at high frequency (10 Hz). The results highlight a strong relationship between the rhythms of valve behavior and the complex association of the sun-earth-moon orbital positions. Permanently immersed C. gigas follows a robust and strong behavior primarily driven by the tidal cycle. The intensity of this tidal driving force is modulated by the neap-spring tides (i.e., synodic moon cycle), which themselves depend of the earth–moon distance (i.e., anomalistic moon cycle). Light is a significant driver of the oysters' biological rhythm, although its power is limited by the tides, which remain the predominant driver. More globally, depending where in the world the bivalves reside, the results suggest their biological rhythms should vary according to the relative importance of the solar cycle and different lunar cycles associated with tide generation. These results highlight the high plasticity of these oysters to adapt to their changing environment. (Author correspondence: d.tran@epoc.u-bordeaux1.fr)
Descriptive Information of Topographic Parameters Computed at the Optic Nerve Head with the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph

PurposeTo analyze the frequency distribution and descriptive information of topometric data obtained with the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT) in a normal population. MethodsTopographic measurements of the optic disc were acquired and evaluated using the HRT in 225 subjects between 12 and 90 years of age. After randomly selecting one eye per subject, the frequency distributions, mean values, minima, maxima, and first, fifth, fiftieth, ninety-fifth, and ninety-ninth percentiles were evaluated for topographic parameters computed by the HRT. The influence of age, intraocular pressure (IOP), disc size, and disc shape on optic disc topometric data was analyzed. A principal component analysis of the topometric parameters was performed. The frequency distributions, mean values, minima, maxima, and first, fifth, fiftieth, ninety-fifth, and ninety-ninth percentiles of the interocular difference in topographic parameters were evaluated. ResultsAll topographic parameters showed a unimodal but not necessarily normal distribution. None of the parameters showed a relevant correlation with age, IOP (in the normal range), and overall shape of the anterior optic nerve, but a few parameters showed a clinically significant correlation with disc size. A principal component analysis identified four relevant factors (optic nerve cup, retinal nerve fiber layer, optic disc size, and optic nerve cup shape) in the entire data set of optic nerve topometric data. The absolute value of all interocular differences in topographic parameters showed an asymmetric but unimodal distribution. ConclusionThe mathematical description of the optic nerve cup shape provides information on optic nerve head topography independently from cupping, nerve fiber layer thickness, and disc size. Potentially, quantification of further aspects in optic nerve head topography might improve the discriminatory power of computerized quantitative optic nerve head analysis.
Cerebral, umbilical, and uterine resistance using Doppler velocimetry in postterm pregnancy.

The purpose of this study is to assess alterations in vascular resistance as measured by Doppler ultrasound in the postterm fetus. Forty‐five postterm patients (greater than or equal to 287 days gestation by "good" dates) underwent Doppler velocimetry and calculation of systolic to diastolic (S/D) ratios of the umbilical, internal carotid, and uterine artery waveforms within 7 days of delivery. Patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 26 patients with normal antepartum fetal surveillance that included reactive nonstress test and an amniotic fluid index (using the four‐quadrant technique) equal to or greater than 5 cm. Group 2 consisted of 19 patients with antepartum compromise on the antepartum fetal surveillance tests. There was significantly greater (p less than .05) morbidity in group 2 compared to group 1 as judged by cesarean section for fetal distress (47% vs 15%), meconium at delivery (53% vs 4%), and 5‐minute Apgar score less than 7 (30% vs 4%). There were no significant differences in the umbilical and uterine artery S/D ratios in the two groups, although patients in group 2 had significantly lower cerebral S/D ratios (3.6 +/‐ .5) compared to group 1 (4.4 +/‐ 0.4) (p less than .05). The ratio of cerebral to placental (umbilical) resistance in group 2 was significantly lower (1.1 +/‐ .3) compared to group 1 (1.8 +/‐ .3) (p less than .05). There was a low incidence of abnormal umbilical (greater than 3) and uterine (greater than 2.6) S/D ratios in both groups. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Incidence of postoperative residual neuromuscular blockade after general anesthesia: a prospective, multicenter, anesthetist-blind, observational study

Abstract Objective: Evidences demonstrate that postoperative residual neuromuscular blockade (rNMB) is a primary and frequent anesthetic risk factor for postoperative complications. This study was designed to mitigate the paucity of data regarding the occurrence and degree of rNMB in a real-life setting. Methods: This prospective, multicenter, anesthetist-blind, observational study enrolled 1571 Chinese adults undergoing elective open or laparoscopic abdominal surgery lasting ≤4 hours from 32 hospitals across China. The patients received anesthesia in accordance with routine practice at the study site. Neuromuscular blockade (NMB) was monitored using acceleromyography, with rNMB defined as a train-of-four (TOF) ratio <0.9. Results: The patients’ mean age was 46 years and 71% were female. The procedures included laparoscopic (67%), open abdominal (31%), and laparoscopic to open abdominal (2%). NMB was reversed with neostigmine in 78% of patients. The overall incidence of rNMB at extubation was 57.8%, and the proportions of participant with TOF ratios <0.6, 0.6–0.7, 0.7–0.8, 0.8–0.9 were 22.9%, 6.9%, 11.1% and 16.9%, respectively, immediately prior to endotracheal extubation. Age <45 years (OR = 0.630, 95% CI = 0.496–0.801, p = 0.002), use of one neuromuscular blocking agent (NMBA) (OR = 0.387, 95% CI = 0.243–0.618, p < 0.0001), time from neostigmine administration to endotracheal extubation ≥10 min (OR = 0.513, 95% CI = 0.400–0.658, p < 0.0001) and time from last NMBA administration to endotracheal extubation ≥60 min (OR = 0.902, 95% CI = 0.801–0.989, p = 0411) were correlated with non-rNMB at the time of extubation. Conclusions: This observational study demonstrated that the overall incidence of rNMB at the time of endotracheal extubation was high in Chinese patients undergoing abdominal procedures, which necessitates appropriate management in current real-life practice. Clinical trial registry number: NCT01871064.
Sympathetic vasomotor tone is associated with depressive symptoms in young females: a potential link between depression and cardiovascular disease.

BACKGROUND Although increased sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity is commonly associated with major depressive disorder (MDD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD), a biomarker linking these two entities remains elusive. We therefore evaluated the relationship between depressive symptoms and cardiovascular modulation by heart rate variability (HRV), brachial blood pressure (BP), ambulatory BP (ABP), and low frequency component of systolic BP variability (LFSBP), a surrogate of sympathetic vasomotor tone. We hypothesized that LFSBP would be the strongest predictor of depressive symptoms compared with HRV and BP measurements. METHODS Eighty young healthy female subjects (20.51 ± 2.82 years) were evaluated for depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Data collection was conducted after a 10-minute resting period. Beat-to-beat BPs were recorded for 5-minute at baseline (BASE) followed by a 3-minute cold pressor test (CPT). ABP was obtained for 24 hours. RESULTS Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that LFSBP at BASE was a stronger predictor of CES-D variance than BP and HRV indices, with LFSBP uniquely accounting for 8.1% of variance in CES-D scores during laboratory beat-by-beat BP assessments and 44.7% in ABP assessments. Individuals with acute depression scores (n = 12; CES-D ≥ 16) had significantly higher (P < 0.001) mean LFSBP values (6.66 ± 2.54 mm Hg(2)) than the remaining sample (3.32 ± 2.2 mm Hg(2)), whereas no other significant differences were detected in any of the other cardiovascular variables. Cardiovascular responses to CPT did not predict CES-D scores. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that LFSBP could be a biomarker of neurovascular functioning with potential clinical implications for understanding the interaction between MDD and CVD.
Cytotoxicity and DNA damage of five organophosphorus pesticides mediated by oxidative stress in PC12 cells and protection by vitamin E

Previous studies have demonstrated that pesticides could induce cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in vivo and in vitro, and that oxidative stress may be an important factor involved. However, investigations comparing the capability of different organophosphorous (OP) compounds to induce cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and oxidative stress are limited. Hence, the aim of this paper was to access the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of five OPs or metabolites, Acephate (ACE), Methamidophos (MET), Chloramidophos (CHL), Malathion (MAT) and Malaoxon (MAO), and to clarify the role of oxidative stress, using PC12 cells. The results demonstrated that MET, MAT and MAO caused significant inhibition of cell viability and increased DNA damage in PC12 cells at 40 mg L−1. MAO was more toxic than the other OPs. ACE, MET, MAT and MAO increased the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and decreased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) at 20 mg L−1 and 40 mg L−1 to different degrees. Pre-treatment with vitamin E(600 μM)caused a significant attenuation in the cytotoxic and genotoxic effect; pre-treatment reversed subsequent OP-induced elevation of peroxidation products and the decline of anti-oxidant enzyme activities. These results indicate that oxidative damage is likely to be an initiating event that contributes to the OP-induced cytotoxicity.
Morphological, immunohistochemical and biochemical characterization of 6 newly established human ovarian carcinoma cell lines

Six permanent human tumor cell lines (OV‐MZ‐1 to 6) were established from 6 patients with serous adenocarcinomas of the ovary. These cell lines were derived from both solid tumors and ascites, from pre‐treated and untreated patients, and are available over a range of in vitro passage numbers. The tumor cells grow its monolayers and develop foci of “piled‐up” cells in confluent cultures. Flow cytophotometry showed that all the lines exhibited DNA hyperdiploidy with DNA tetraploidy in one cell line and DNA aneuploidy in the other cell lines. The mean population doubling time ranged from 24 to 52 hr. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that the tumor cells of all cell lines exhibited features of epithelial differentiation such as desmosomes and intracellular gland‐like lumina. Immunocy‐ tochemical analysis showed that the co‐expression of cytokeratins and vimentin, which is a feature of ovarian serous cystadeno‐ carcinomas; in situ, was fully preserved in the majority of cell lines. The main cytokeratin polypeptides expressed were numbers 7, 8, 17, 18 and 19. The tumor‐associated antigen CA‐125, but not CEA, was shed in the culture supernatant. This was in accordance with FACScan analysis of the cell lines and the level of CA‐125 and CEA in the patients' serum. The estrogen and progesterone receptors were negative both in the cell lines and in the original tumors. These new ovarian carcinoma cell lines will be valuable models for further investigations into a variety of biological properties. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Improved Sparsity Behaviour and Error Localization in Detectors for Large MIMO Systems

Sparsity based techniques have been found to be promising for detection in large/massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. They initialize with an initial solution vector, localize its erroneous symbols and then correct them. However, the process works only if the errors in the initial solution vector are sparse enough and are localized accurately. In this paper, we improve the localizing capability by proposing a modification in the residual update computed by the generalized orthogonal matching pursuit algorithm. Subsequently, we show that the sparsity behaviour can be improved by concatenating error vectors to create a larger vector, with no increase the complexity. Combining both these strategies, we propose to concatenate MMSE solution vectors (say $K$) as a single vector and then apply the improved error localization algorithm. It is shown that the proposed strategy results in a significant improvement in error performance without compromising the complexity.
Directional coronary atherectomy plus stent implantation vs. left internal mammary artery bypass grafting for isolated proximal stenosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery

The aim of this study was to compare the short‐ (< 30 days) and long‐term (≥ 30 days) clinical outcomes of left internal mammary artery bypass grafting (LIMA‐LAD) and directional coronary atherectomy plus stent implantation (DCA + stent) in the treatment of isolated proximal left anterior descending coronary (LAD) lesions. One hundred and twenty‐six patients underwent LIMA‐LAD and 132 consecutive patients underwent DCA + stenting. The primary endpoint was the incidence of short‐ and long‐term major adverse cardiac events (MACE); the secondary endpoints included any periprocedural events and long‐term target vessel revascularization (TVR). We found no significant between‐treatment difference in the occurrence of short‐term MACE, and the long‐term MACE rate per 100 person‐years was 3.0 in the LIMA‐LAD group and 4.6 in the DCA + stent group. After 5‐year follow‐up, 79% of the patients in the DCA + stent group and 89% of those in the LIMA‐LAD group were still MACE‐free. The risk of any periprocedural events was six times lower in the DCA + stent group, and the risk of TVR was six times higher. We conclude that both procedures lead to good short‐ and long‐term follow‐up results in isolated proximal LAD disease. As fewer periprocedural events and more TVRs occur after DCA + stenting than after LIMA‐LAD, they can be considered valuable alternatives to each other. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2005;64:45–52. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.