Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Study of Hepatic Osteodystrophy in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease.

INTRODUCTION Chronic Liver Disease (CLD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It involves haemodynamic and metabolic complications. Hepatic Osteodystrophy is a metabolic bone disease that may occur in individuals with chronic liver disease. It can significantly affect morbidity and quality of life of these patients. Fractures are also associated with an excess mortality. It has been an under recognized and inadequately studied complication among Indian population. An early diagnosis is essential to correct reversible risk factors which predispose to bone mass loss. AIM To assess the prevalence of metabolic bone disease and identify the risk factors associated with hepatic osteodystrophy in patients with cirrhosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was an observational, cross-sectional, hospital based study conducted at a medical college hospital. All patients more than 20-year-old, diagnosed with chronic liver disease/Cirrhosis were enrolled. They were subjected to haematological, biochemical investigations, evaluation of Vitamin D and other hormonal parameters. Bone Mineral Density (BMD) was estimated by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA). RESULTS A total of 72 patients with mean age 50.04±11.24 years were included in the study. Amongst causes of chronic liver disease were alcoholic liver disease 22 (30.6%), CLD due to hepatitis B 24 (33.3%) and chronic hepatitis C 26 (36.1%). Twenty one (29.2%) patients had normal BMD while 51 (70.8%) had a low BMD. Out of these 51 patients, 36 (70.6%) were diagnosed of osteopenia and 15 (29.4%) others were found to have osteoporosis. Vitamin D levels and severity of liver disease had correlation with low BMD. CONCLUSION Low BMD is highly prevalent in patients with chronic liver disease of variable aetiologies. We advocate more randomised and prospective studies to be conducted on homogeneous groups with chronic liver disease in its various stages. In view of numerous therapeutic options available both for liver disease and bone disease, it is prudent to characterize this condition in order to give these patients a better chance of survival with good quality of life.
An Investigation into the Use of Cohesive Devices in Second Language Writings

As far as the communicative nature of writing is concerned, cohesion is regarded as an essential textual component both in creating organized texts and rendering the content comprehensible to the reader. Many researchers have explored the connection between the use of cohesive devices (CDs) and the quality of the writing. To gain more insight into this area, this study reviewed some studies focusing on the use of CDs and the relationship between the number of CDs and writing quality. The analysis of collected data from different EFL/ESL researchers has shown that the learners were able to use various CDs in their writings. Additionally, the study highlighted some of the cohesive problems in writing and the possible pedagogical implications for teachers. The purpose of the present study is to investigate CDs used in different genres composed by learners from around the globe and the relationship between the use of CDs and quality of their essays. The findings also provide insight into the abilities of native and nonnative writers to convey their ideas into written forms. The results of this research will provide us with insights into the general pattern of CDs in EFL/ESL learners’ academic and nonacademic writing. This would help to identify students’ problems in using CDs, for instance, overuse or underuse of certain categories, and, thereby, modify teaching writing and incorporate a more precise plan for teaching the appropriate use of CDs.
Acute and posttraumatic stress symptoms in a prospective gene x environment study of a university campus shooting.

CONTEXT The serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) has been associated with several stress-related syndromes including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The ability to detect meaningful associations is largely dependent on reliable measures of preexisting trauma. OBJECTIVE To study the association of genetic variants within SLC6A4 with acute and posttraumatic stress symptoms in a civilian cohort with known levels of preexisting trauma and PTSD symptoms collected prior to a shared index traumatic event. DESIGN Ongoing longitudinal study. SETTING On February 14, 2008, a lone gunman shot multiple people on the campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, killing 5 and wounding 21. As part of an ongoing longitudinal study on that campus, a cohort of female undergraduate students, interviewed prior to the shooting, completed follow-up trauma-related measures including PTSD symptom severity (follow-up survey was launched 17 days postshooting; n = 691). To obtain DNA, salivary samples were collected from a subset of the original study population based on willingness to participate (n = 276). PARTICIPANTS Two hundred four undergraduate women. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES SLC6A4 polymorphisms STin2, 5-HTTLPR, and rs25531 were genotyped in 235 individuals. RESULTS We found that although the STin2 variant and 5-HTTLPR alone did not associate with increased PTSD symptoms, rs25531 and the 5-HTTLPR multimarker genotype (combined 5-HTTLPR and rs25531) were associated with significantly increased acute stress disorder symptoms at 2 to 4 weeks postshooting (n = 161; P < .05). This association remained significant when controlling for race and for level of shooting exposure (n = 123; P < .007). The association was most robust with the 5-HTTLPR multimarker genotype and avoidance symptoms (P = .003). CONCLUSION These data suggest that differential function of the serotonin transporter may mediate differential response to a severe trauma. When examined in a relatively homogenous sample with shared trauma and known prior levels of child and adult trauma, the 5-HTTLPR multimarker genotype may serve as a useful predictor of risk for PTSD-related symptoms in the weeks and months following the trauma.
Transcriptional promiscuity of the human alpha-globin gene

The human alpha-globin gene displays the unusual property of transcriptional promiscuity: that is, it functions in the absence of an enhancer when transfected into nonerythroid cell lines. It is also unusual in that its promoter region lies in a hypomethylated HpaII tiny fragment (HTF) island containing multiple copies of the consensus sequence for the SP1-binding site. We have investigated whether there is a relationship between these two observations. First, we investigated the mouse alpha-globin gene since it does not lie in an HTF island. We have demonstrated that it was not transcriptionally promiscuous. Second, we studied the transcriptional activity of the human alpha-globin gene in the absence of the GC-rich region containing putative SP1-binding sites and found a small (two- to threefold) but consistent positive effect of this region on transcriptional activity in both nonerythroid and erythroid cell lines. However, this effect did not account for the promiscuous nature of the human alpha-globin gene. We found that in a nonreplicating system, the human alpha-globin gene, like that of the mouse, required a simian virus 40 enhancer in order to be transcriptionally active in nonerythroid and erythroid cell lines. Since we only observed enhancer independence of the human alpha-globin gene in a high-copy-number replicating system, we suggest that competition for trans-acting factors could explain these results. Finally, our experiments with the erythroid cell line Putko suggest that there are no tissue-specific enhancers within 1 kilobase 5' of the human alpha-globin cap site or within the gene itself.
Introducing and evaluating a Gibbs sampler for spatial Poisson regression models

In this paper we present a Gibbs sampler for a Poisson model including spatial effects. Fruhwirth-Schnatter und Wagner (2004b) show that by data augmentation via the introduction of two sequences of latent variables a Poisson regression model can be transformed into a normal linear model. We show how this methodology can be extended to spatial Poisson regression models and give details of the resulting Gibbs sampler. In particular, the influence of model parameterisation and different update strategies on the mixing of the MCMC chains are discussed. The developed Gibbs samplers are analysed in two simulation studies and appliedto model the expected number of claims for policyholders of a German car insurance data set. In general, both large and small simulated spatial effects are estimated accurately by the Gibbs samplers and reasonable low autocorrelations are obtained when the data variability is rather large. However, for data with very low heterogeneity, the autocorrelations resulting from the Gibbs samplers are very high, withdrawing the computational advantage over a Metropolis Hastings independence sampler which exhibits very low autocorrelations in all settings.
LiDAR-Based Classification of Sagebrush Community Types

Abstract Sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) communities constitute the largest temperate semidesert in North America and provide important rangelands for livestock and habitat for wildlife. Remote sensing methods might provide an efficient method to monitor sagebrush communities. This study used airborne LiDAR and field data to measure vegetation heights in five different community types at the Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed, southwestern Idaho: herbaceous-dominated, low sagebrush (Artemisia arbuscula) –dominated, big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata spp.) –dominated, bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata) -dominated, and other vegetation community types. The objectives were 1) to quantify the correlation between field-measured and airborne LiDAR-derived shrub heights, and 2) to determine if airborne LiDAR-derived mean vegetation heights can be used to classify the five community types. The dominant vegetation type and vegetation heights were measured in 3 × 3 m field plots. The LiDAR point cloud data were converted into a raster format to generate a maximum vegetation height map in 3-m raster cells. The regression relationship between field-based and airborne LiDAR-derived shrub heights was significant (R2 = 0.77; P value < 0.001). An analysis of variance test with all pairwise post hoc comparisons indicated that LiDAR-derived vegetation heights were significantly different among all vegetation community types (all P values < 0.01), except for herbaceous-dominated communities compared to low sagebrush-dominated communities. Although LiDAR measurements consistently underestimated vegetation heights in all community types, shrub heights at some locations were overestimated due to adjacent taller vegetation. We recommend for future studies a smaller rasterized pixel size that is consistent with the target vegetation canopy diameter.
Diuresis renography for differentiation of upper urinary tract dilatation from obstruction: F+20 and F-15 methods.

INTRODUCTION The aim of this study was to evaluate diuresis renography with an intravenous injection of furosemide 20 minutes after administering the radiopharmaceutical (F+20 protocol) or 15 minutes before (F-15 protocol) in patients with upper urinary tract dilatation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-one patients with pyelocaliceal system dilatation, but not ureteral dilatation, on ultrasonography were evaluated. The patients underwent diuresis renography using the F+20 and F-15 protocols. Renal scan findings and kidney split function were recorded. Then, the patients underwent surgical or conservative treatment according to their clinical conditions and imaging results. Follow-up was done 3 and 6 months postoperatively by physical examination, intravenous urography, and diuresis renography. RESULTS Eleven patients (52.4%) had complete obstruction in both protocols of renography, and 5 (23.8%) had an equivocal result in the F+20 and an obstructive pattern in the F-15. These patients underwent surgical operation. In 3 patients (14.3%), both protocols demonstrated a normal urinary tract. In 2 patients (9.5%), a nonobstructive response in the F+20 and an equivocal result in the F-15 were seen. One of them underwent surgical operation because of impaired kidney function during the follow-up and 1 was treated conservatively. Overall, obstruction was found in 16 out of 21 patients (76.2%) by the F-15 protocol, while it was found in 11 (52.4%) by the F+20 protocol (P=.01). The mean kidney split function was 55.15% +/- 7.82% and 54.81% +/- 6.87% in F+20 and F-15 protocols, respectively (P=.45). CONCLUSION Using the F-15 protocol may reduce the equivocal results of the F+20 for diuresis renography.
Uncovering human METTL12 as a mitochondrial methyltransferase that modulates citrate synthase activity through metabolite-sensitive lysine methylation

Lysine methylation is an important and much-studied posttranslational modification of nuclear and cytosolic proteins but is present also in mitochondria. However, the responsible mitochondrial lysine-specific methyltransferases (KMTs) remain largely elusive. Here, we investigated METTL12, a mitochondrial human S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet)-dependent methyltransferase and found it to methylate a single protein in mitochondrial extracts, identified as citrate synthase (CS). Using several in vitro and in vivo approaches, we demonstrated that METTL12 methylates CS on Lys-395, which is localized in the CS active site. Interestingly, the METTL12-mediated methylation inhibited CS activity and was blocked by the CS substrate oxaloacetate. Moreover, METTL12 was strongly inhibited by the reaction product S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy). In summary, we have uncovered a novel human mitochondrial KMT that introduces a methyl modification into a metabolic enzyme and whose activity can be modulated by metabolic cues. Based on the established naming nomenclature for similar enzymes, we suggest that METTL12 be renamed CS-KMT (gene name CSKMT).
Epidermal growth factor receptor expression in human pancreatic cancer: Significance for liver metastasis.

Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor with an extremely poor prognosis. The mechanisms of the aggressive growth and metastasis are not yet extensively understood. Over-expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was suggested to be associated with malignant transformation of pancreatic cancer. We examined EGFR expression in 77 cases of invasive ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, and analyzed the relation between the EGFR expression pattern and clinicopathological factors. EGFR immunoreactivity was detected in 41.6% (32/77) of human pancreatic cancers; i.e. diffuse expression in 32.5% (25/77) and focal expression in 9.1% (7/77). The EGFR expression was associated with gender (p<0.05), histological differentiation (p<0.05) and metastatic status of TNM classification (p<0.01). The observations suggested that EGFR expression plays important roles in metastasis, especially liver metastasis and recurrence of human pancreatic cancer.
[Preventing prolonged antibiotic therapy by active implementation of switch guidelines].

OBJECTIVE To reduce the number of days of unnecessary intravenous antibiotic therapy via an early switch to oral antibiotic therapy. DESIGN Prospective, open trial. METHODS A guideline was drawn up for an early and yet safe switch from intravenous to oral antibiotic therapy. Patients on the wards of Internal Medicine, Pulmonology, Surgery and Orthopaedics of the Haaglanden Medical Centre in The Hague, the Netherlands, were followed for four months. A zero measurement at two months was followed by an intervention period of two months. The number of unnecessary days of intravenous antibiotic therapy was taken as the measure of effectiveness. A multidisciplinary team carried out the interventions, consisting of educational, supportive and guiding measures. Making progress measurable and giving feedback played an important role during the intervention. RESULTS During the zero-measurement period on the Internal Medicine and Pulmonology wards, 26% (9/35) of patients were switched within the timeframe predefined by the guideline. The average number of unnecessary i.v. days was 2.4 (median: 2). During the intervention period, 84% (64/76) were switched within the predefined timeframe, with an average of 0.2 unnecessary i.v. days per patient (median: 0). There was thus a significantly lower number of unnecessary i.v. days after intervention (difference: 2.2; 95%-CI: 1.5-3.0). On the surgical and orthopaedic wards, 9% (2/22) of patients were switched within the predefined timeframe during the zero-measurement period, with an average of 7.3 unnecessary i.v. days (median: 5). During the intervention period, 52% of patients (17/33) were switched within the predefined timeframe, for an average of 1.1 unnecessary i.v. days (median: 0). The reduction in the number of unnecessary i.v. days was also significant here (difference: 6.2; 95%-CI: 2.9-9.5). CONCLUSION A significant reduction in the number of unnecessary days of intravenous antibiotic therapy was obtained via simple interventions carried out by a multidisciplinary team.
Human Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells Cultured as Spheroids are Self‐activated to Produce Prostaglandin E2 that Directs Stimulated Macrophages into an Anti‐inflammatory Phenotype

Culturing cells in three dimension (3D) provides an insight into their characteristics in vivo. We previously reported that human mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (hMSCs) cultured as 3D spheroids acquire enhanced anti‐inflammatory properties. Here, we explored the effects of hMSC spheroids on macrophages that are critical cells in the regulation of inflammation. Conditioned medium (CM) from hMSC spheroids inhibited lipopolysaccharide‐stimulated macrophages from secreting proinflammatory cytokines TNFα, CXCL2, IL6, IL12p40, and IL23. CM also increased the secretion of anti‐inflammatory cytokines IL10 and IL1ra by the stimulated macrophages, and augmented expression of CD206, a marker of alternatively activated M2 macrophages. The principal anti‐inflammatory activity in CM had a small molecular weight, and microarray data suggested that it was prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). This was confirmed by the observations that PGE2 levels were markedly elevated in hMSC spheroid‐CM, and that the anti‐inflammatory activity was abolished by an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2), a silencing RNA for COX‐2, and an antibody to PGE2. The anti‐inflammatory effects of the PGE2 on stimulated macrophages were mediated by the EP4 receptor. Spheroids formed by human adult dermal fibroblasts produced low levels of PGE2 and displayed negligible anti‐inflammatory effects on stimulated macrophages, suggesting the features as unique to hMSCs. Moreover, production of PGE2 by hMSC spheroids was dependent on the activity of caspases and NFκB activation in the hMSCs. The results indicated that hMSCs in 3D‐spheroid cultures are self‐activated, in part by intracellular stress responses, to produce PGE2 that can change stimulated macrophages from a primarily proinflammatory M1 phenotype to a more anti‐inflammatory M2 phenotype. STEM Cells2012;30:2283–2296
The Effectiveness of TAG or Guard-Gates in SET Suppression Using Delay and Dual-Rail Configurations at 0.35 $\mu$ m

Four different latch designs are evaluated using heavy ion exposure and simulations. The latches were designed using the Transition AND Gate (TAG) in TSMC 0.35 mum technology. TAG based designs were less vulnerable at lower LETs as compared to unhardened designs. However, 1- and 3-TAG design vulnerability increased at a higher rate with increasing LET than the unhardened design. 4-TAG design did not show any upsets until 170 MeV/mg/cm 2. Simulation results are used to explain the behavior of each of the designs
One week versus four weeks of albendazole therapy for neurocysticercosis in children: a randomized, placebo-controlled double blind trial

Background. The appropriate duration of albendazole therapy in neurocysticercosis remains to be determined. Observations in small, uncontrolled clinical trials that short course therapy is as effective as longer regimens must be tested by proper trials. Objective. To compare efficacy of 1 and 4 weeks of albendazole therapy in children with neurocysticercosis. Study design and setting. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind clinical trial at the Pediatric Neurocysticercosis Clinic of Advanced Pediatric Centre, a tertiary care teaching hospital. Subjects. We observed 122 consecutive children with seizures and either a single small enhancing computerized tomographic lesion or up to 3 lesions on head computerized tomography (CT) examination. Intervention. All children received albendazole (15 mg/kg/day) for 7 days followed by either albendazole or placebo for the following 21 days according to their random number allocation. CT scans were repeated at 1 and 3 months after completion of therapy. Codes opened at the completion of study revealed that 60 children had received albendazole for 28 days (Group A) and 62 received albendazole for 7 days (Group B). All children were followed for at least 2 years. Results. Complete resolution of lesions was similar in the two therapy groups on the first (42% vs. 39%) and second (77% vs. 79%) follow-up CT. Reduction in total number and size was also similar. Also the proportion of lesions that calcified (5% vs. 10%) did not differ significantly. Seizure control at 2 years was similar in the 2 groups. Conclusions. In this clinical trial 1 week of albendazole therapy was as effective as 4 weeks of therapy in children with neurocysticercosis having one to three lesions.
Verbal learning in marijuana users seeking treatment: a comparison between depressed and non-depressed samples

Abstract Background: Both individuals with marijuana use and depressive disorders exhibit verbal learning and memory decrements. Objectives: This study investigated the interaction between marijuana dependence and depression on learning and memory performance. Methods: The California Verbal Learning Test – Second Edition (CVLT-II) was administered to depressed (n = 71) and non-depressed (n = 131) near-daily marijuana users. The severity of depressive symptoms was measured by the self-rated Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and the clinician-rated Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). Multivariate analyses of covariance statistics (MANCOVA) were employed to analyze group differences in cognitive performance. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated to examine the relative associations between marijuana use, depression and CVLT-II performance. Findings from each group were compared to published normative data. Results: Although both groups exhibited decreased CVLT-II performance relative to the test’s normative sample (p < 0.05), marijuana-dependent subjects with a depressive disorder did not perform differently than marijuana-dependent subjects without a depressive disorder (p > 0.05). Further, poorer CVLT-II performance was modestly associated with increased self-reported daily amount of marijuana use (corrected p < 0.002), but was not significantly associated with increased scores on measures of depressive symptoms (corrected p > 0.002). Conclusion: These findings suggest an inverse association between marijuana use and verbal learning function, but not between depression and verbal learning function in regular marijuana users.