Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A randomized double-blind pilot study comparing Doloteffin and Vioxx in the treatment of low back pain.

OBJECTIVE This randomized, double-dummy, double-blind pilot study of acutely exacerbated low back pain was aimed to inform a definitive comparison between Doloteffin, a proprietary extract of Harpagophytum, and rofecoxib, a selective inhibitor of cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2). METHODS Forty-four patients (phyto-anti-inflammatory drug-PAID-group) received a daily dose of Doloteffin containing, inter alia, 60 mg of harpagoside for 6 weeks and 44 (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-NSAID-group) received 12.5 mg/day of rofecoxib. All were allowed rescue medication of up to 400 mg/day of tramadol. Several outcome measures were examined at various intervals to obtain estimates of effect size and variability that might be used to decide the most suitable principal outcome measure and corresponding numbers required for a definitive study. RESULTS Forty-three PAID and 36 NSAID patients completed the study. Ten PAID and 5 NSAID patients reported no pain without rescue medication for at least 5 days of the 6th week of treatment. Eighteen PAID and 12 NSAID patients had more than a 50% reduction in the week's average of their pain scores between the 1st and 6th weeks. The mean percentage decrease from baseline in the pain component of the Arhus Index was 23 (S.D. 52) in PAID and 26 (S.D. 43) in NSAID. The corresponding measures for the overall Arhus Index were 11 (31) and 16 (24) and, for the Health Assessment Questionnaire, 7 (8) and 6 (7). Tramadol was used by 21 PAID patients and 13 NSAID patients. Fourteen patients in each group experienced 39 adverse effects, of which 28 (13 in PAID) were judged to some degree attributable to the study medications. CONCLUSION Though no significant intergroup differences were demonstrable, large numbers will be needed to show equivalence.
Association of polymorphisms in the heparanase gene (HPSE) with hepatocellular carcinoma in Chinese populations

Abstract Heparanase activity is involved in cancer growth and development in humans and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the heparanase gene (HPSE) have been shown to be associated with tumors. In this study, we investigated whether SNPs in HPSE were a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by undertaking a comprehensive haplotype-tagging, case-control study. For this, six haplotype-tagging SNPs (htSNPs) in HPSE were genotyped in 400 HCC patients and 480 controls by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. A log-additive model revealed significant correlations between the HPSE polymorphisms rs12331678 and rs12503843 and the risk of HCC in the overall samples (p = 0.0046 and p = 0.0055). When the analysis was stratified based on hepatitis B virus (HBV) carrier status, significant interactions between rs12331678 and rs12503843 and HBV were observed. Conditional logistic regression analysis for the independent effect of one significant SNP suggested that rs12331678 or rs12503843 contributed an independent effect to the significant association with the risk of HCC, respectively. Our findings suggest that the SNPs rs12331678 and rs12503843 are HCC risk factors, although the potential functional roles of these two SNPs remain to be fully elucidated.
Interferon‐α for recurrent World Health Organization grade 1 intracranial meningiomas

Intracranial meningiomas are common, they frequently recur after surgery or radiotherapy, and there are limited data regarding the treatment of intracranial meningiomas with chemotherapy. A phase 2 study was designed to estimate the 6‐month progression‐free survival of patients with recurrent, treatment‐refractory, World Health Organization grade 1 meningiomas who were treated with interferon‐α.
Neuropsychiatric Correlates of Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in Alzheimer’s Disease

Background: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers and neuropsychiatric symptoms in people with Alzheimer’s disease. Psychosis, agitation, apathy and depression were assessed using standardised measures in 32 patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease. Methods: The levels of the 42-amino-acid form of β-amyloid (Aβ1–42), tau and p-tau (phosphorylated at threonine 181) were quantified using the conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Results: Our result shows that apathy is significantly correlated with tau and p-tau but not with Aβ1–42. There were no significant correlations between indices of psychosis/agitation,or depression and cerebrospinal fluid Aβ1–42, tau or p-tau concentrations. Conclusion: Our finding suggests that apathy is associated with the level of neurofibrillary tangles in people with mild Alzheimer’s disease. In contrast, the overall levels of neurofibrillary tangles or amyloid plaques do not seem to be associated with depression or psychosis, indicating that other brain changes contribute to these symptoms.
Sequence variation in the 18S rRNA gene, a target for PCR-based malaria diagnosis, in Plasmodium ovale from southern Vietnam

Field surveys of malaria were performed in southern Vietnam by using an acridine orange staining method for rapid diagnosis and a PCR-based, microtiter plate hybridization method for accurate diagnosis. A total of three patients of Plasmodium ovale infection were detected, but PCR-amplified DNA of the P. ovale isolates from two of the patients did not hybridize with the P. ovale-specific probe. Analysis of the target sequence in the 18S rRNA gene indicated that in the DNA of isolates from both patients three nucleotides in the probe region from the typical P. ovale sequence were different, with deletions of two nucleotides and the substitution of one nucleotide. These results may suggest that in addition to molecular biological methods, careful microscopic examination of stained thin blood films is still required in studies of the prevalence of different malaria species.
A phosphorylated basic vaccinia virion polypeptide of molecular weight 11,000 is exposed on the surface of mature particles and interacts with actin-containing cytoskeletal elements

A phosphorylated vaccinia virus structural polypeptide of an apparent molecular weight of 11,000 (p11K) was isolated by preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and used for antibody induction. After purification by antigen affinity chromatography, the immunoglobulins detected only one target of a rather basic nature in two-dimensional immune blotting procedures of total virion proteins. By use of a combination of biological, biochemical, and microscopic techniques, p11K could be located on the surface of those vaccinia virus particles, with "classical" morphology and a buoyant density of 1.27 g/cm3. Upon immunoprecipitation from radioactively labeled infected cells, p11K appeared to be complexed to two additional virus structural proteins, which could be tentatively identified by their molecular weights as precursors for the two major core constituents. When virus assembly was inhibited by rifampin treatment of infected cells, a great part of p11K, either free or in complexed form, was found associated with actin-containing cytoskeletal elements. The ability of p11K to interact with a not-yet-identified, microfilament-associated cellular protein may be related to previous findings showing that assembled vaccinia particles in situ are found in connection with microfilaments. A possible role for the structures precipitated by p11K-specific antibodies in early stages of particle assembly is discussed.
3 Metabolic Aspects of Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the most important causes of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and has a tremendous impact on public health worldwide. It is estimated that there are more than 170 million people chronically infected with HCV, and 3 to 4 million persons are newly infected annually. The risk for developing cirrhosis 20 years after initial HCV infection among those chronically infected varies between studies, but is estimated at around 10%–15% for men and 1–5% for women. Once cirrhosis is established, the rate of developing HCC is at 1%–4% per year. Approximately 280,000 deaths per year are related to HCV infection. HCV-related end-stage liver disease and HCC have become the leading cause for liver transplantation globally.
Sp1 is the major fasl gene activator in abnormal CD4–CD8–B220+ T cells of lpr and gld mice

The abnormal CD4–CD8–TCRα β+B220+ double‐negative (DN) T cells that accumulate in lpr and gld mice are refractory to TCR cross‐linking and IL‐2 stimulation, yet they have an activated phenotype and express a high level of fasl mRNA. Specific binding sites for Sp1, NFAT, Egr, and NF‐κB have been identified in thepromoter region of the fasl gene. To determine the critical factor for fasl gene activation, fasl promoter reporter and mutant constructs were transiently transfected into the abnormal DN T cells. The data demonstrate that the Sp1 binding site is the major response element that regulates fasl promoter activity. Moreover, the abnormal DN T cells contain in their nuclei a high level of Sp1, a low level of NFAT and NF‐κB, and a very low level of Egr. Ectopic expression of Egr‐3 but not Sp1 protein in the abnormal DN T cells enhanced fasl promoter activity, suggesting that the Egr but not Sp1 was limiting for fasl gene activation. Comparison between the abnormal DN T cells and the Sertoli TM4 cells showed a strong correlation betweenSp1 expression and fasl mRNA level and FasL function. Our study has identified Sp1 as the major transcription factor responsible for fasl gene activation in the abnormal DN T cells that are defective in signal transduction through TCR and IL‐2R, thereby, implicating a novel regulatory pathway for fasl gene activation during the physiological development and elimination of the abnormal DN T cells.
Break detection in the covariance structure of multivariate time series models

In this paper, we introduce an asymptotic test procedure to assess the stability of volatilities and cross-volatilites of linear and nonlinear multivariate time series models. The test is very flexible as it can be applied, for example, to many of the multivariate GARCH models established in the literature, and also works well in the case of high dimensionality of the underlying data. Since it is nonparametric, the procedure avoids the difficulties associated with parametric model selection, model fitting and parameter estimation. We provide the theoretical foundation for the test and demonstrate its applicability via a simulation study and an analysis of financial data. Extensions to multiple changes and the case of infinite fourth moments are also discussed.
Fast attainment of computer cursor control with noninvasively acquired brain signals

Brain–computer interface (BCI) systems are allowing humans and non-human primates to drive prosthetic devices such as computer cursors and artificial arms with just their thoughts. Invasive BCI systems acquire neural signals with intracranial or subdural electrodes, while noninvasive BCI systems typically acquire neural signals with scalp electroencephalography (EEG). Some drawbacks of invasive BCI systems are the inherent risks of surgery and gradual degradation of signal integrity. A limitation of noninvasive BCI systems for two-dimensional control of a cursor, in particular those based on sensorimotor rhythms, is the lengthy training time required by users to achieve satisfactory performance. Here we describe a novel approach to continuously decoding imagined movements from EEG signals in a BCI experiment with reduced training time. We demonstrate that, using our noninvasive BCI system and observational learning, subjects were able to accomplish two-dimensional control of a cursor with performance levels comparable to those of invasive BCI systems. Compared to other studies of noninvasive BCI systems, training time was substantially reduced, requiring only a single session of decoder calibration (∼20 min) and subject practice (∼20 min). In addition, we used standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography to reveal that the neural sources that encoded observed cursor movement may implicate a human mirror neuron system. These findings offer the potential to continuously control complex devices such as robotic arms with one's mind without lengthy training or surgery.
North atlantic oscillatiodannular mode: Two paradigms—one phenomenon

The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), as defined in the studies of Sir Gilbert Walker ca. 1930, and the zonal‐index cycle, as elaborated by investigators at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology some twenty years later, are different interpretations of the same entity, whose time variations are well represented by the leading principal component of the northern hemisphere sea‐level pressure field. The NAO paradigm envisions this phenomenon as involving a unique teleconnection pattern in the Atlantic sector that varies on interannual and longer time‐scales in association with large‐scale atmosphere‐ocean interaction. In contrast, the zonal‐index‐cycle paradigm posits the existence of independent, fundamentally zonally symmetric (or ‘annular’) modes of variability in the northern and southern hemispheres, both of which fluctuate on intraseasonal as well as interannual time‐scales. Spontaneous interactions between the zonally symmetric flow and the eddies are viewed as being largely responsible for the variability of the annular modes at the higher frequencies, and a variety of different mechanisms including, but by no means limited to, atmosphere‐ocean interaction are viewed as potentially capable of forcing them at the lower frequencies. The NAO and ‘annular mode’ paradigms offer contradictory interpretations of the causal linkages that are responsible for the observed correlations between North Atlantic climate variability and variations in a diverse array of zonally averaged quantities. They suggest different research agendas and they evoke quite different images in the popular press. It is argued that the two paradigms cannot be equally valid and that it is in the interests of the community to come to a consensus as to which of them is more appropriate. Rules of evidence are proposed as a basis for making that decision.
Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel inhibition by reactive oxygen species.

We studied the effect of H(2)O(2) on the gating behavior of large-conductance Ca(2+)-sensitive voltage-dependent K(+) (K(V,Ca)) channels. We recorded potassium currents from single skeletal muscle channels incorporated into bilayers or using macropatches of Xenopus laevis oocytes membranes expressing the human Slowpoke (hSlo) alpha-subunit. Exposure of the intracellular side of K(V,Ca) channels to H(2)O(2) (4-23 mM) leads to a time-dependent decrease of the open probability (P(o)) without affecting the unitary conductance. H(2)O(2) did not affect channel activity when added to the extracellular side. These results provide evidence for an intracellular site(s) of H(2)O(2) action. Desferrioxamine (60 microM) and cysteine (1 mM) completely inhibited the effect of H(2)O(2), indicating that the decrease in P(o) was mediated by hydroxyl radicals. The reducing agent dithiothreitol (DTT) could not fully reverse the effect of H(2)O(2). However, DTT did completely reverse the decrease in P(o) induced by the oxidizing agent 5,5'-dithio-bis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid). The incomplete recovery of K(V,Ca) channel activity promoted by DTT suggests that H(2)O(2) treatment must be modifying other amino acid residues, e.g., as methionine or tryptophan, besides cysteine. Noise analysis of macroscopic currents in Xenopus oocytes expressing hSlo channels showed that H(2)O(2) induced a decrease in current mediated by a decrease both in the number of active channels and P(o).
Effect of hypothalamic electrolytic lesions in White Leghorn and broiler male cockerels

1. This study compared the effect of bilateral electrolytic lesions of the basomedial hypothalamus (HL) in broiler and White Leghorn (WL) males. 2. Hypothalamic lesions were placed in WL at 10 weeks of age (body weight 1·1 kg) and in broilers, either at 6 weeks (body weight 1·5 kg) or at 10 weeks of age (body weight 3·4 kg). They were fed ad libitum until autopsy at 16 and 17 weeks of age for broilers and WL, respectively. 3. Hypothalamic lesions caused obesity (high percentage weight of abdominal adipose tissue) in both strains. Obese fowls with unimpaired reproductive systems were classified as OB and those with functional castration as FC (functionally castrated) or FCLC (functionally castrated with large comb). 4. All post-HL syndromes—OB, FC and FCLC—were present in WL, whereas all obese broilers (which are immature at this age) were classified as OB. 5. The percentage weight of abdominal adipose tissue in OB broilers was lower than in OB WL (3% vs 5%, respectively). 6. Daily food intake of OB broilers was higher than control at 12 to 15 weeks of age, regardless of time of placement of HL, whereas daily food intake of OB WL was significantly higher than that of control WL only during the first 2 weeks following HL. 7. Body weight of OB broilers at autopsy was 20% higher than control broilers, whereas body weight of OB WL was not significantly affected. 8. An additional group of broilers was reared to sexual maturity under food restriction until 28 weeks of age. HL were placed at 10 weeks of age (body weight 1·7 kg). Autopsy was performed after a 4-week period of ad libitum feeding. 9. There were OB as well as FC and FCLC among the HL, food-restricted broilers. Percentage weight of testes and spleen were reduced in OB fowls of both strains, but more so in OB WL. 10. Hyperphagia and weight gain were not observed during the ad libitum feeding period of those obese broilers after HL, indicating that hyperphagia and weight gain are secondary to obesity.
Étude des caractéristiques des épisodes de syndrome thoracique aigu survenus chez les patients drépanocytaires de Guadeloupe entre 2011 et 2014. Identification des facteurs prédictifs de sévérité

Introduction : Le syndrome thoracique aigu (STA) est la principale cause de deces chez les drepanocytaires. Son diagnostic est souvent retarde, et la cause indeterminee. L’objectif de cette etude etait de decrire les episodes de STA survenus en Guadeloupe ces quatre dernieres annees et d’identifier les facteurs predictifs de severite des STA. Materiel et methode : Il s’agissait d’une etude retrospective recensant 156 episodes de STA chez 115 patients drepanocytaires de janvier 2011 a decembre 2014, dans les centres hospitaliers de Basse Terre et de Pointe a Pitre. Deux groupes ont ete compares, selon la survenue d’un syndrome thoracique severe, defini par une aggravation clinique, et/ou un sejour en reanimation de plus de 48h, et/ou la necessite d’une assistance respiratoire. Par appariement avec les donnees a l’etat stable du patient, donnees avant l’admission, lors du STA et a l’issue de l’hospitalisation. Resultats : 70 STA pediatriques dont 17 graves, et 71 STA adultes dont 41 graves ont ete rapportes. Les caracteristiques des STA graves etaient la presence de CVO (p=0,003 chez l’enfant) ou de fievre avant l’episode, l’adulte jeune (p=0,01), la grossesse (p=0,016), le genotype SS et la tachycardie chez l’adulte (p=0,004). Une hemolyse importante, un syndrome inflammatoire marque et une chute de l’hemoglobine (0,9g/dl chez l’enfant, 0,6g/dl chez l’adulte), apparaissaient a l’initiation. Chez les enfants, une thrombopenie et une hyponatremie etaient retrouves. Conclusion : Une etude prospective a grande echelle est necessaire pour etudier l’influence de ces facteurs sur la survenue d’un STA grave afin d’identifier precocement les patients qui devraient beneficier de therapeutiques agressives.
Stress Reactions Cannot Explain the Gender Gap in Willingness to Compete

Women are often less willing than men to compete, even in tasks where there is no gender gap in performance. Also, many people experience competitive contexts as stressful and previous research has documented that men and women sometimes react differently to acute stressors. We use two laboratory experiments to investigate whether factors related to stress can help explain the gender gap in competitiveness. Experiment 1 studies whether stress responses (measured with salivary cortisol and through self-assessment) to taking part in a mandatory competition predict individual willingness to participate in a voluntary competition. We find that while the mandatory competition does increase stress levels, there is no gender difference in this reaction. Cortisol response does not predict willingness to compete for men but is positively and significantly correlated with choosing to enter the voluntary competition for women. In Experiment 2 we exogenously induce stress using the cold-pressor task. We find no causal effect of stress on competitiveness for the sample as a whole and only tentative evidence of a positive effect for women. In summary, even though there are some gender differences in the relation between stress responses and the decision to enter a competition or not, these cannot explain the general gender gap in willingness to compete that is generally found in the literature and which we replicate.
Effects of boron supplementation of adequate and inadequate vitamin D3-containing diet on performance and serum biochemical characters of broiler chickens.

In this study, supplementation of two levels (5 and 25 parts per million; ppm) of boron into broiler diets including 125 IU kg(-1) (inadequate) and 2000 IU kg(-1) (adequate) vitamin D3 was investigated. The effects of supplementation on performance and biochemical characters (Ca, P, Mg, glucose and AP) of broilers from 1 to 45 days of age were evaluated. Boron provided significant increases in performances of chicks fed both adequate and inadequate vitamin D3-containing diets. The improvements in the inadequate vitamin D3-containing group were higher than that of adequate vitamin D3-containing group. The boron addition had a positive effect on Ca, P and alkaline phosphatase levels of chicks. Boron might be regarded as beneficial in inadequate vitamin D3-containing broiler feed.
Association between smoking status and cardiovascular and cortisol stress responsivity in healthy young men

Acutely, cigarette smoking stimulates increases in blood pressure (BP). heart rate (HR), and cortisol, but little evidence is available concerning the impact of habitual smoking status on cardiovascular stress responsivity. This relation was assessed in 86 healthy male firefighters, age 19 to 31, comprising 52 nonsmokers and 34 smokers. Measures of BP, HR, salivary free cortisol, breathing pattern, and self-reported stress and alertness were obtained while subjects performed nonverbal mental arithmetic and a socially evaluative speech task. Systolic and diastolic BP were higher at rest in nonsmokers than smokers, and a consistent difference in stress responsivity was also found. BP, HR, and cortisol responses to mental arithmetic were significantly smaller in smokers than nonsmokers, with mean changes in BP (adjusted for body weight) averaging 19.3/1 l.0 mmHg and 28.5/15.4 mmHg in smokers and nonsmokers, respectively. There were no effects of smoking status on task performance or subjective stress responses and no differences between groups in family health history, health-related behaviors, or psychological characteristics that might account for the reactivity difference. Possible explanations of the results are discussed, and methodological implications for cardiovascular stress reactivity studies are outlined.