Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Changes in BMI in hospitalized patients during treatment with antipsychotics, depending on gender and other factors

Abstract Objective: To investigate the differences in body mass index (BMI) changes between men and women during hospitalization. Methods: The retrospective study monitored demographic and clinical data of 462 schizophrenic patients hospitalized 737 times between 2006 and 2011. BMI analysis was performed on patients on antipsychotic medication hospitalized longer than four days. Results: Patients with an initial BMI < 25 gained more weight than patients with a BMI > 25 (3.94% vs. 0.23%, men 4.02% vs. 0.69%, women 3.79% vs. −0.52%, always p < 0.001). Greater BMI gains were reported during the first hospitalization than during subsequent ones (3.94% vs. 1.66%, men 3.97% vs. 1.98%, women 3.88% vs. 1.18%, always p < 0.001). The comparison between men and women showed a higher increase in BMI in men 2.36% vs. 1.54%, p = 0.022. Men also gained significantly more weight than women on polytherapy (+2.55% vs. +1.37%) and during subsequent hospitalizations (1.98% vs. 1.18%). For treatment with various atypical antipsychotics (AP), no significant differences were found in weight changes between men and women; during treatment using a combination of multi-receptor AP and metabolically neutral aripiprazole, a significant increase of BMI occurred in men, but not in women (p = 0.018). Conclusions: Men appear to be more prone to weight gain than women.
The Effect of Ankle Taping on the Ground Reaction Force in Vertical Jump Performance

Abstract Koyama, K, Kato, T, and Yamauchi, J. The effect of ankle taping on the ground reaction force in vertical jump performance. J Strength Cond Res 28(5): 1411–1417, 2014—The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of closed basket weave (CBW) ankle taping on the vertical ground reaction force during the contact phase before the take-off in vertical jump performance. We hypothesized that ankle taping would limit the capability for explosive force generation during the contact phase before the take-off in jump performance. Twelve healthy young men (age, 20.2 ± 1.3 years; height, 1.76 ± 0.05 m; body mass, 66.1 ± 6.1 kg; mean ± SD) performed a vertical jump performance on a force plate without (CON) or with ankle taping (CBW technique) of the right ankle joint. Vertical jump ability was assessed using 2 styles of vertical jump with no arm swing: a countermovement jump (CMJ) and squat jump (SJ). From the vertical ground reaction force (GRF), maximum jump height, vertical impulse (VI), rate of force development, maximum GRF (GRFmax), and time-series GRF (GRFts) during the contact phase before the take-off in jump performance were determined. Jump height was significantly lower for CBW (36.6 ± 6.6 cm) than CON (38.1 ± 6.7 cm) in CMJ, but not in SJ. Rate of force development and GRFts at 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, and 65% of total time of the contact phase in jumping performance were also significantly smaller for CBW than CON in CMJ, but not in SJ. Conversely, VI and GRFmax were not significantly different between the groups in either jump condition. These results suggest that ankle taping impairs CMJ performance, because of a decreased ability to develop large force rapidly on the ground before the take-off.
Uterine blood flow, myometrial activity and their response to adenosine during the peri-implantation period in sheep.

Summary. Uterine blood flow and myometrial activity were measured simul-taneously in anaesthetized sheep 15 days after a sterile (non-pregnant group) or fertile (pregnant) mating. During the peri-implantation period uterine blood flow was similar in both groups of animals, but spontaneous myometrial activity was greatly reduced in pregnant ewes. This 'block' of myometrial activity was associated with circulating levels of progesterone which were significantly higher (2\m=.\8 \m=+-\ 0\m=.\8 ng/ml, mean \m=+-\ s.e.m.) than those in non-pregnant animals (0\m=.\4 \m=+-\ 0\m=.\3 ng/ml). Adenosine injected into the uterine artery produced uterine vasodilatation in both groups, but the log dose\p=n-\response was significantly less in pregnant than in non-pregnant animals (P < 0\m=.\001). Myometrial activity was stimulated by adenosine, particularly in the pregnant group (P < 0\m=.\001). Vascular and myometrial effects were potentiated by a previous infusion of dipyridamole. Occlusion of the uterine artery produced reactive hyperaemia, and oestradiol infused close-arterially induced vasodilatation after a lag phase of about 30 min. Our results are consistent with a hypothesis that vascular and myometrial cells in the uterus may contain two types of adenosine receptor, one mediating excitatory and the other inhibitory responses, and that both responses are modified by the presence of a conceptus. The results also support the idea that oestrogens produce uterine vasodilatation by increasing the local concentration of vasoactive substances.
Further studies of polymers as carcinogenic agents in animals.

Summary 1.Malignant tumors were induced in rodents by subcutaneously imbedding the following polymer films: Cellophane, Dacron, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, Silastic, Pliofilm, Nylon, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, Saran, Ivalon, Kel-F, Teflon, and silk. 2.The polymer films were always found encpsulated in a pocket of connective tissue, except when a tumor was induced. 3.It does not appear that the carcinogenic activity is a result of the presence of impurities, since tumors were induced by pure polymers as well as by commercial products. 4.The monomers, styrene, methyl methacrylate, and hexamethylene diamine, were not carcinogenic in rodents when painted on the skin. 5.Studies with tagged polymers showed that they decomposed at a minute rate when left in the organism. 6.A possible mechanism by which polymers may exert their carcinogenic activity, based on the observed degradation, is suggested.
Monokine induced by interferon-gamma (MIG/CXCL9) is derived from both donor and recipient sources during rejection of class II major histocompatibility complex disparate skin allografts.

Chemokines, including monokine induced by interferon-gamma (Mig/CXCL9), are produced both in allografts and during the direct T-cell infiltration that mediates graft rejection. Neither the specific production nor contribution of allograft donor versus recipient Mig in allograft rejection is currently known. C57BL/6 mice with a targeted deletion in the Mig gene were used as both skin allograft donors and recipients in a class II major histocompatibility complex-mismatched graft model to test the requirement for donor- versus recipient-derived Mig for acute rejection. B6.Mig(-/-) allografts had a 10-day prolonged survival in B6.H-2(bm12) recipients when compared with wild-type C57BL/6 allograft donors, and B6.H-2(bm12) skin allografts had a 5-day prolonged survival in B6.Mig(-/-) versus wild-type recipients. Transplantation of B6.Mig(-/-) skin grafts onto B6.H-2(bm12). Mig(-/-) recipients resulted in further prolonged allograft survival with more than 30% of the grafts surviving longer than 60 days. Prolonged allograft survival was also associated with delayed cellular infiltration into grafts but not with altered T-cell proliferative responses to donor stimulators. Immunohistochemical staining of allograft sections indicated that Mig is produced by both donor- and recipient-derived sources, but Mig from each of these sources appeared in different areas of the allograft tissue. These results therefore demonstrate the synergy of donor- and recipient-derived Mig in promoting T-cell infiltration into allografts.
Viral DNA Synthesis Defects in Assembly-Competent Rous Sarcoma Virus CA Mutants

ABSTRACT The major structural protein of the retroviral core (CA) contains a conserved sequence motif shared with the CA-like proteins of distantly related transposable elements. The function of this major region of homology (MHR) has not been defined, in part due to the baffling array of phenotypes in mutants of several viruses and the yeast TY3. This report describes new mutations in the CA protein of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) that were designed to test whether these different phenotypes might indicate distinct functional subdomains in the MHR. A comparison of 25 substitutions at 10 positions in the RSV conserved motif argues against this possibility. Most of the replacements destroyed virus infectivity, although either of two lethal phenotypes was obtained depending on the residue introduced. At most of the positions, one or more replacements (generally the more conservative substitutions) caused a severe replication defect without having any obvious effects on virus assembly, budding, Gag-Pol and genome incorporation, or protein processing. The mutant particles exhibited a defect in endogenous viral DNA synthesis and showed increased sensitivity of the core proteins to detergent, indicating that the mutations interfere with the formation and/or activity of the virion core. The distribution of these mutations across the MHR, with no evidence of clustering, suggests that the entire region is important for a critical postbudding function. In contrast, a second class of lethal substitutions (those that destroyed virus assembly and release) consists of alterations that are expected to cause severe effects on protein structure by disruption either of the hydrophobic core of the CA carboxyl-terminal domain or of the hydrogen bond network that stabilizes the domain. We suggest that this duality of phenotypes is consistent with a role for the MHR in the maturation process that links the two parts of the life cycle.
Comparison of toxins of Clostridium butyricum and Clostridium botulinum type E

The toxin of Clostridium butyricum strains isolated from two infants with botulism is neutralized by antitoxin for type E botulinum toxin. This toxin and that of a C. botulinum type E strain were purified by the same protocol. Both toxins were Mr 145,000 proteins which, when activated with trypsin, were composed of an H subunit of Mr 105,000 and an L subunit of Mr 50,000. The activated specific toxicity of purified butyricum toxin based on an intravenous assay was 2 X 10(8) mouse 50% lethal doses (LD50s)/mg of protein, but that based on an intraperitoneal assay was 7 X 10(7) LD50s/mg, compared with 6 X 10(7) LD50s/mg for type E toxin as determined by both methods. Immunodiffusion tests with antitoxin raised with type E toxin indicated that the two toxins were serologically very similar except for a spur formed by type E toxin. The close similarities of the two toxins suggest that toxigenic C. butyricum could arise when a wild-type strain, which is normally nontoxigenic, acquires the toxin gene of a C. botulinum type E strain.
Regional Surveys in the Eastern United States: The Strengths and Weaknesses of Implementing Subsurface Testing Programs

The probability of detecting sites using subsurface testing programs is a serious concern for archaeologists working in the eastern United States. Some have suggested that current test-probe programs provide a poor method for estimating the frequency and distribution of sites. In this article I examine the usefulness of subsurface testing programs by comparing the results of an Eastern subsurface survey with a pedestrian surface survey conducted in the Southwest. The subsurface survey at Shelter Island, New York, was designed so that probability limits could be calculated for detecting sites of varying sizes. These probabilities were then employed to estimate the number and kinds of sites contained in sample units. When these results were compared with those from a pedestrian surface survey in northeastern Arizona, the results suggested that carefully designed subsurface surveys, although extremely labor-intensive, can provide settlement-pattern information as detailed as that collected in surface surveys.
A new approach to in situ left ventricular volume clamping in dogs.

Major contributing factors modulating left ventricular (LV) diastolic behavior are active relaxation of myocardium and volume change during filling, the interaction of which complicates analysis of diastolic pressure-volume relationship, especially in early diastole. To separate the effect of active relaxation and filling, a method was introduced [E. L. Yellin, M. Hori, C. Yoran, E. H. Sonnenblick, S. Gabbay, R. W. M. Frater, Am. J. Physiol. 250 (Heart Circ. Physiol. 19): H620-H629, 1986] to interrupt mitral inflow and keep LV volume constant throughout diastole. Their preparation requires replacing the mitral valve with an artificial valve using cardiopulmonary bypass, which might cause significant change in cardiac performance or produce detrimental systemic effects. We developed a new volume-clamping method that preserves the native mitral valve and apparatus intact and avoids cardiopulmonary bypass. A modified Bjork-Shiley prosthetic valve (20 mm orifice diam) in a special mounting ring was placed above the native mitral valve through the left atrium and secured from outside the heart. This prosthetic valve was controlled by a cable connected to solenoids outside the dog, triggered by the electrocardiogram or other physiological signal. We compared our method (n = 7) with that of Yellin et al. (n = 2) in nine random source dogs. In our method, no end-diastolic pressure gradient or regurgitant pressure wave was observed, and the prosthetic valve did not disturb movement of the native mitral valve. When the prosthetic valve was forced to a closed position at end systole, LV volume, measured with a conductance catheter, was maintained at or near end-systolic volume throughout diastole. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Response by Trachtenberg and Hare to Letter Regarding the Article, "Inflammatory Cardiomyopathic Syndromes".

Thank you Bestetti et al for your interest in our article1 and for your important letter. Indeed, although antiparasital therapy is clearly recommended for acute Chagas disease and is not recommended for chronic Chagas associated with cardiomyopathy, antiparasital therapy for those with the indeterminate form is controversial. This is largely because of a lack of large, randomized trials in this population. As Bestetti et al point out, most patients have …
The natural history of breast carcinoma in patients with ≥ 10 metastatic axillary lymph nodes before and after the advent of adjuvant therapy

The majority of patients with breast carcinoma with ≥ 10 metastatic axillary lymph nodes (ALNs) develop recurrent disease within 5 years from diagnosis. The purpose of the current study, performed retrospectively, was to characterize the natural history of this subset of patients, both before and after the advent of adjuvant anthracycline‐based chemotherapy and tamoxifen.
Phenylpropanoid Metabolism in Suspension Cultures of Vanilla planifolia Andr. : III. Conversion of 4-Methoxycinnamic Acids into 4-Hydroxybenzoic Acids.

Feeding of 4-methoxycinnamic acid, 3,4-dimethoxycinnamic acid and 3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamic acid to cell suspension cultures of Vanilla planifolia resulted in the formation of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, and syringic acid, respectively. The homologous 4-methoxybenzoic acids were demethylated to the same products. It is concluded that the side chain degrading enzyme system accepts the 4-methoxylated substrates while the demethylation occurs at the benzoic acid level. The demethylating enzyme is specific for the 4-position. Feeding of [O-(14)C-methyl]-3,4-dimethoxycinnamic acid revealed that the first step in the conversion is the glycosylation of the cinnamic acid to its glucose ester. A partial purification of a UDP-glucose: trans-cinnamic acid glucosyltransferase is reported. 4-Methoxy substituted cinnamic acids are better substrates for this enzyme than 4-hydroxy substituted cinnamic acid. It is suggested that 4-methoxy substituted cinnamic acids are intermediates in the biosynthetic conversion of cinnamic acids to benzoic acids in cells of V. planifolia.
Meta‐analysis of COMT val158met in panic disorder: Ethnic heterogeneity and gender specificity

There is strong evidence for a genetic contribution to the pathogenesis of panic disorder, with the functional catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT) val158met polymorphism having been suggested as a potential susceptibility factor. In the present study, a meta‐analysis of six available case‐control studies (557 patients with panic disorder and 763 healthy controls in total) on the role of the COMT val158met polymorphism in panic disorder was conducted in an attempt to reconcile previous conflicting results and to facilitate evaluation of the role of COMT gene variation in panic disorder. Overall, no significant association, but strong between‐study heterogeneity, was discerned. Analysis of studies pooled by ancestry yielded a significant association of the COMT 158val allele with panic disorder in Caucasian samples and, conversely, a trend towards association of the COMT 158met allele with the disorder in Asian samples. Interestingly, stratification for gender as well as ethnicity revealed that association of the 158val allele in Caucasians and, reciprocally, the 158met allele in Asian samples was restricted to females. The present meta‐analysis provides tentative support for the COMT val158met polymorphism as a possible risk factor for panic disorder, with differential effects in Caucasian and Asian populations, and suggests a female‐specific effect. However, given the relatively small number of case‐control studies presently available, several more association studies, preferably including a larger number of family‐based studies, are warranted for conclusive evaluation of the COMT val158met polymorphism as a vulnerability factor in panic disorder. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hepadnavirus Infection in Captive Gibbons

ABSTRACT The recent isolation of a nonhuman primate hepadnavirus from woolly monkeys prompted an examination of other primates for potentially new hepadnaviruses. A serological analysis of 30 captive gibbons revealed that 47% were positive for at least one marker of ongoing or previous infection with a hepatitis B virus (HBV). The amino acid sequences of the core and surface genes of human and gibbon virus isolates were very similar. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the gibbon isolates lie within the human HBV family, indicating that these HBV isolates most likely stem from infection of gibbons from a human source.
Exemption of Annual Audit for Small Companies: A Review.

In Malaysia, all companies are required to have their accounts audited. However, the application of this mandatory requirement on small companies is currently under review, and the issue is whether audit firms could survive should voluntary audit be implemented. Salleh et al. (2008) surveyed the perception of small audit firms on this issue. Most of the respondents perceived that the benefits derived from statutory audit outweighed its costs, and thus, mandatory audit should be retained. Nonetheless, the views of other stakeholders of statutory audits are also pertinent. This paper reviews the previous research on the issue of voluntary audit in Malaysia and other countries, some of which surveyed the perceptions of the directors and management of small companies. These studies revealed that companies which perceived that they would benefit from the audit would continue to have their accounts audited. Thus, clients of audit firms which produced quality audit work might continue to have their accounts audited, and such audit firms, immaterial of their sizes, could survive even if audits for small companies were made voluntary.
Towards Monetary Incentives in Social Q&A Services

Community-based question answering (CQA) services are facing key challenges to motivate domain experts to provide timely answers. Recently, CQA services are exploring new incentive models to engage experts and celebrities by allowing them to set a price on their answers. In this paper, we perform a data-driven analysis on two emerging payment-based CQA systems: Fenda (China) and Whale (US). By analyzing a large dataset of 220K questions (worth 1 million USD collectively), we examine how monetary incentives affect different players in the system. We find that, while monetary incentive enables quick answers from experts, it also drives certain users to aggressively game the system for profits. In addition, in this supplier-driven marketplace, users need to proactively adjust their price to make profits. Famous people are unwilling to lower their price, which in turn hurts their income and engagement over time. Finally, we discuss the key implications to future CQA design.
Testosterone suppresses phospholipase D, causing sex differences in leukotriene biosynthesis in human monocytes

Sex disparities in inflammation have been reported, but the cellular and molecular basis for these discrepancies is unknown. Monocytes are central effector cells in immunity and possess high capacities to produce proinflammatory leukotrienes (LTs). Here, we investigated sex differences in the activation of 5‐lipoxygenase (5‐LO), the key enzyme in LT biosynthesis, in human peripheral monocytes. In cells from females, 5‐LO product formation was 1.8‐fold higher than in cells from males, as evaluated by HPLC. When female monocytes were resuspended in plasma from males, 5‐LO products were significantly lower than in female plasma. Interestingly, 5α‐dihydrotestosterone (5α‐DHT, 10 nM) repressed LT synthesis in female cells down to the levels observed in males, while estradiol (100 nM) was without effect, and progesterone (100 nM) caused only a slight inhibition. 5α‐DHT (10 nM) caused ERK phosphorylation and inhibition of phospholipase D (PLD), as evaluated by Western blot and measurement of PLD activity via radioenzymatic diacylglyceride (DAG) and nonradioactive choline assays. Accordingly, PLD activity and DAG formation were 1.4‐ to 1.8‐fold lower in male vs. female monocytes connected to increased ERK phosphorylation. Our data indicate that ERK activation by androgens in monocytes represses PLD activity, resulting in impaired 5‐LO product formation due to lack of activating DAGs. —Pergola, C. , Rogge, A. , Dodt, G. , Northoff, H. , Weinigel, C. , Barz, D. , Rådmark, O. , Sautebin, L. , Werz, O. Testosterone suppresses phospholipase D, causing sex differences in leukotriene biosynthesis in human monocytes. FASEB J. 25, 3377–3387 (2011). www.fasebj. org
Antimullerian hormone and inhibin B are hormone measures of ovarian function in late reproductive‐aged breast cancer survivors

In late reproductive‐aged breast cancer survivors, there is a need for real‐time biomarkers of postchemotherapy ovarian function. The objective was to determine whether antimullerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin B are such biomarkers. The authors tested whether AMH and inhibin B were impacted by breast cancer treatment by comparing cancer survivors to age‐matched control women and determined the association between these hormones and postchemotherapy menstrual pattern.