Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk factors for Kaposi's‐sarcoma‐associated herpesvirus (KSHV/HHV‐8) seropositivity in a cohort of homosexual men, 1981–1996

A newly identified herpesvirus has been associated with Kaposi's sarcoma. We determined risk factors for Kaposi's‐sarcoma‐associated herpesvirus/human herpesvirus 8 (KSHV/HHV‐8) seropositivity and incidence of infection over time in a cohort of Danish homosexual men followed from 1981 to 1996. Antibodies to a latent nuclear (LANA) and a structural (orf65) antigen of KSHV/HHV‐8 were measured by immunofluorescence and ELISA/WB respectively. Through linkage with the national AIDS registry, all cohort members diagnosed with AIDS as of September 1996 were identified and their hospital records were scrutinized to record all diagnoses of KS. Overall, 21.1% (52/246) of the men were KSHV/HHV‐8‐seropositive in 1981. Among the initially seronegative, the rate of KSHV/HHV‐8 seroconversion was highest between 1981 and 1982 and declined steadily thereafter. In a multivariate analysis of the status at enrollment in 1981, KSHV/HHV‐8 seropositivity was not associated with age but was independently associated both with number of receptive anal intercourses (OR = 2.83; p = 0.03) and with sex with US men (OR = 2.27; p < 0.05). In a multivariate analysis of follow‐up data, risk of KSHV/HHV‐8 seroconversion was independently associated with having visited homosexual communities in the United States, and current HIV‐positive status. More than 5 years' homosexual experience was associated with an insignificantly increased risk (RR = 2.68). KS occurred only in HIV‐positive men who were KSHV/HHV‐8‐positive at or prior to their KS diagnosis. In conclusion, KSHV/HHV‐8 appears to be sexually transmitted, probably by receptive anal intercourse, and may have been introduced to Danish homosexual men via sex with US men. The epidemic of KSHV/HHV‐8 is now declining. These findings are concordant with the view that KSHV/HHV‐8 may have been actively spread simultaneously with and by the same activities that lead to the spread of HIV. Int. J. Cancer 77:543–548, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Does the Momentum Strategy Work at the Industry Level? Evidence from the Chinese Stock Market

ABSTRACT This article examines the effectiveness of momentum strategy at the industry level in the Chinese stock market. We find that the intermediate-horizon momentum effect is stronger in industries with higher competition. This effect is consistent with the hypothesis that information contained in firms from highly competitive industries is vague and hence leaves more space for behavioral biases, which leads to the momentum effect. Alternatively, the measure of the Herfindahl–Hirschman index potentially captures the size effect in explaining this phenomenon. Moreover, concentrated industries experience a pronounced lead-lag effect of big firms on small firms, which is a potential explanation for the contrarian strategy. We do find that the short-horizon contrarian effect is pronounced in highly concentrated industries.
Relationship of diastolic blood pressure with cyclic GMP excretion among young adults (the CARDIA study): influence of a family history of hypertension

Background Guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) is the second messenger of nitric oxide and atrial natriuretic factor, and mediates local vasodilatation. These vasodilatory factors are important in blood pressure regulation and possibly in the etiology of hypertension. Urinary cGMP levels among normotensive young adults have not previously been studied. Subjects A subset of normotensive participants from the CARDIA study (n = 563), aged 23–35 years, was studied. The sample was approximately balanced for sex and race (black/white). Methods Twenty-four-hour urinary cGMP levels were measured using an enzyme immunoassay; levels were adjusted for creatinine excretion. The blood pressure, smoking status, and risk factors for hypertension [including a family history of hypertension (FHH), the body mass index, education, alcohol intake, and sodium excretion] were also measured. Results Women excreted more cGMP than did men, and blacks excreted more cGMP than did whites (both P < 0.0001). Excretion of cGMP was also greater among smokers (P < 0.001) and those with an FHH (P = 0.05), and was related directly and independently to sodium excretion (P < 0.02). The diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was related inversely to the excretion of cGMP among individuals without an FHH (r = −0.36, P < 0.001), but not among individuals with an FHH. In multiple regression analysis, the excretion of cGMP remained related significantly to the DBP and accounted for more variance in DBP than did any other variable among those without an FHH (ΔR2 = 0.08, P < 0.001). Conclusions Urinary cGMP excretion is related inversely and independently to the DBP among those without an FHH but not among those with an FHH, suggesting that cGMP-related vasodilatation is impaired in those with an FHH. Sex differences in urinary excretion of cGMP are consistent with results from studies showing that estrogen increases the endothelial production of nitric oxide.
Green neutrophil and monocyte inclusions – time to acknowledge and report

Bright green inclusions in neutrophils have been reported as a sign of impending patient death. Here we report a series of 20 patients in whom green inclusions were identified in neutrophils or monocytes. Thirteen (65%) of the patients died within days of the detection of the inclusions. A common feature to almost all patients was ischaemic or hypoxic hepatitis which, in fatal cases, was associated with lactic acidosis. Light and electron microscopy indicated that the inclusions were lipid‐rich, probably derived from lipofuscin‐like material released from necrotic liver parenchymal cells. The majority of patients were known to be seriously ill at the time of detection of neutrophil inclusions. We recommend that the detection of green inclusions, which we refer to as ‘critical green inclusions’, is acknowledged and reported by laboratories and correlated with clinical findings.
Increased ability for selection of zidovudine resistance in a distinct class of wild-type HIV-1 from drug-naive persons

Transmission of HIV-1 with reduced susceptibility to antiretroviral drugs raises public health concerns. Through surveillance of drug-resistant HIV-1 in 603 treatment-naïve, recently diagnosed HIV-1-infected persons, we identified a distinct group of viruses that have mutations at codon 215 of the reverse transcriptase (RT) gene that are different from either the wild-type (WT) T or the zidovudine (AZT)-selected T215Y/F. These mutations included 215D/C/S and were found in 20 patients (3.3%). The 215D, 215C, and 215S mutations differ from 215Y by a 1-nt change compared with 2 nt for the WT T215 and likely represent revertants of 215Y. These viruses all were found to have WT susceptibility to AZT, and all replicated efficiently as WT HIV-1T215. However, differences in fitness among HIV-1215D, HIV-1215C, and HIV-1215S were seen when RT backgrounds were changed, demonstrating a role of the RT background in the selection of these revertants. In vitro selection with AZT showed that HIV-1215D and HIV-1215C acquired 215Y more rapidly than did WT HIV-1T215, likely reflecting the need for only 1-nt change to evolve to 215Y. Our study demonstrates that HIV-1 with unusual mutations at codon 215 replicate efficiently, have WT susceptibility, and are commonly found in treatment-naïve persons. The increased ability for selecting resistance mutations defines this class of WT HIV-1 and highlights the higher potential of these viruses to compromise the efficacy of antiretroviral therapy.
Induction and repression of the urea amidolyase gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The DUR1,2 gene from Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been isolated on recombinant plasmids along with all DNA between the DUR1,2 and MET8 loci. DUR1,2 was found to encode a 5.7-kilobase transcript, which is consistent with our earlier suggestion that the DUR1 and DUR2 loci are two domains of a single multifunctional gene. Steady-state levels of the DUR1,2 transcript responded to induction and nitrogen catabolite repression in the same way as urea amidolyase activity. dal81 mutants (grown with inducer) contained barely detectable amounts of DUR1,2 RNA, whereas dal80 mutants (grown without inducer) contained the same amount as a wild-type induced culture. These observations support our earlier hypothesis that DUR1,2 is transcriptionally regulated, with control being mediated by the DAL80 and DAL81 gene products. We cloned the DUR1,2-Oh mutation and found it to be a Ty insertion near sequences required for complementation of dur1,2 mutations. The ROAM phenotype of the DUR1,2-Oh mutation is sharply different from that of cis-dominant, DUR80 mutations, which enhance DUR1,2 expression but do not affect the normal control pattern of the gene. There is evidence that DUR80 mutations may also be Ty insertions, which generate phenotypes that are different from those in DUR1,2-Oh mutations.
Diagnostic accuracy of tumour markers for malignant pleural effusion: a meta-analysis

Background: The role of tumour markers such as carbohydrate antigen (CA) 125, CA 15-3, CA 19-9 and CYFRA 21-1 (a fragment of cytokeratin 19) in differentiating malignant pleural effusions (MPE) from benign effusions is not yet clear. Methods: After a systematic review of English language studies, sensitivity, specificity and other measures of accuracy of pleural concentrations of CA 125, CA 15-3, CA 19-9 and CYFRA 21-1 or their combinations in the diagnosis of MPE were pooled using random effects models. Summary receiver operating characteristic curves were used to summarise overall test performance. Results: Twenty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria for the analysis. The summary estimates of the sensitivity and specificity of these tumour markers were as follows: CA 125, 0.48/0.85; CA 15-3, 0.51/0.96; CA 19-9, 0.25/0.96; CYFRA 21-1, 0.55/0.91 for diagnosing MPE. The estimated summary receiver operating characteristic curves showed that the performance of pleural CA 125 and CA 19-9 measurement in the diagnosis of MPE was limited, whereas that of CA 15-3 and CYFRA 21-1 was better. When two or more of the above four tumour markers were combined, or combined with carcinoembryonic antigen, the sensitivity and specificity were all increased to different extents. Conclusions: The current evidence does not recommend using one tumour marker alone for the diagnosis of MPE, but the combination of two or more tumour markers seems to be more sensitive. The results of tumour marker assays should be interpreted in parallel with clinical findings and the results of conventional tests.
Large, detergent‐resistant complexes containing murine antigens Thy‐1 and Ly‐6 and protein tyrosine kinase p56lck

A number of human and mouse leukocyte surface (glyco)proteins anchored in a membrane via glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) moiety have been previously shown to be noncovalently associated with protein tyrosine kinases (Science 1991. 254: 1016; J Biol. Chem. 1992. 267:12317). Here we show that two murine antigens of this group, Thy‐1 and Ly‐6, implicated in the activation of the T cells, are associated with each other, with the kinase p56lck and with several of potential kinase substrates in very large, detergent‐resistant complexes, the size of which is between 50 and 200 nm, as determined by ultrafiltration and gel chromatography. Experiments on simultaneous solubilization of mixed human and mouse cells rule out that the observed complexes are artifacts induced by the detergent. Complexes of similar composition and properties were obtained when either detergents Brij‐58, Nonidet‐P40 or 3‐[(3‐cholamidopropyl)‐dimethylammonio]‐1‐propane‐sulfonate (Chaps) were used for solubilization of the cells, while octylglucoside at least partially dissociated them. These “GPI‐complexes” may be essential for the well‐known signal‐transducing capacity of Thy‐1 and Ly‐6.
Longitudinal study on the effect of treatment on body composition and anthropometry of celiac disease patients.

OBJECTIVES This prospective study was designed to assess the nutritional changes associated with the long-term treatment of celiac disease. In addition, we analyzed whether these changes were related to the degree of compliance with a gluten-free diet. METHODS We studied nutritional parameters and body composition in 25 newly diagnosed celiac patients after a mean period of 37 months (range 25-49 months) on a gluten-free diet. Body composition parameters (fat, lean tissue, and bone masses) were measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Anthropometry was measured according to conventional formulas. RESULTS At diagnosis, fat (-49%), lean tissue (-12%), and bone (-24%) compartments were reduced, compared with that of sex- and age-matched controls. After treatment, we noted a significant increase in body weight (p < 0.0001), fat mass (p < 0.0005), bone mass (p < 0.002), and body mass index (p < 0.005). In contrast, we did not observe a significant increase in lean-tissue mass or muscle mass. Patients who adhered strictly to a gluten-free diet experienced a greater, though nonsignificant improvement in fat mass, body weight, and body mass index than patients whose compliance had been partial. Mean caloric intake at the end of the study was significantly lower among those patients who had adhered strictly to a gluten-free diet, compared with those who had complied only partially with the diet (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS This study shows that the institution of a gluten-free diet in celiac disease patients results in a significant improvement in nutritional parameters, as measured by anthropometry and/or body composition. This effect was more pronounced in patients who followed strict gluten restriction and was related mainly to changes in fat and bone compartments.
Testing of Short Sale Hypotheses on the U.S. Market in the Period from 1990 to 2015

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the validity of short sale hypotheses the NYSE and NASDAQ in the period 1990 – 2015. Short has been regulated in the U.S. market since the 1930s by so‑called up‑tick rules and other legal acts. The aim of this regulation was to prevent short sellers from adding to the downward momentum when the price of an asset was already experiencing sharp declines. During the 1990s, short sale regulations changed several times. In this paper, panel regression is applied to investigate short sale determinants on the NYSE and NASDAQ. Short seller motivation and the results are compared with those for particular markets and sub periods that represent different legal regulations of short selling activities in the period from 1990 to 2015.
Test‐Retest Reliability of Patrick's Hip Range of Motion Test in Healthy College‐Aged Men

This study determined the test-retest reliability of Patrick's test as a hip range of motion assessment method. Fifty healthy college-aged men (mean age = 20.0 years) were studied during 2 testing sessions separated by 24 hours. A single inexperienced tester performed all the measurements in this study. Before data collection, the tester participated in a 15-minute instructional session on how to perform Patrick's test. To determine the range of motion associated with Patrick's test, the tester passively flexed, abducted, and externally rotated the hip of the lower extremity that was to be tested while subjects were in a supine position, so that the lateral malleolus of the tested lower extremity rested just superior to their opposite extended knee. The vertical distance between a mark on the lateral border of the patella of the tested lower extremity and the treatment table was then measured. The results revealed that Patrick's test demonstrated high test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.93). The results of this study support the use of Patrick's test as being a reliable measure of general hip motion when used by an inexperienced tester who participated in a 15-minute instructional session on how to perform Patrick's test.
Gene-gene interaction of μ-opioid receptor and GluR5 kainate receptor subunit is associated with smoking behavior in a Greek population: presence of a dose allele effect

Abstract Background: Components of nicotine reward system can potentially influence smoking behavior. The μ-opioid receptor (OPRM1) binds the endogenous opioid peptide β-endorphin and mediates the reinforcing effects of nicotine, while the GluR5 kainate receptor subunit (encoded by GRIK1 gene), a binding site for known mediators of glutamate neurotransmission, potentially affects the glutaminergic system that is also indirectly implicated in the reward system. Methods: In the present study, OPRM1 A118G and GRIK1 rs2832407C>A polymorphisms and their interactions were analyzed in 132 smoking initiators (SI) and 144 non-initiators (NI) of Greek origin, using the PCR-RFLP method. Results: No differences were found in the genotype or allele distribution of OPRM1 A118G and GRIK1 rs2832407C>A between SI and NI. However, we found a significant interaction of OPRM1 A118G and GRIK1 rs2832407C>A genotypes associated with smoking initiation in a model adjusted for age, sex, BMI and type 2 diabetes mellitus (odds ratio=1.341, 95% CI 1.024–1.755, p=0.033). A dose effect of OPRM1 and GRIK1 variant alleles was present. Increased number of variant alleles (from 0 to 4) was associated with smoking initiation in the same adjusted model (odds ratio=1.537, 95% CI 1.030–2.293, p=0.036). Conclusions: Smoking phenotype is a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors. In the present study, we have shown that gene-gene interaction of components of different systems associated with nicotine reinforcing effects, such as OPRM1 and GRIK1, rather than one gene polymorphism, is associated with smoking behavior.
A comparison of 5‐fluorouracil metabolism in human colorectal cancer and colon mucosa

The metabolism of 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) was studied in biopsy specimens of primary colorectal cancer and healthy colonic mucosa obtained from previously untreated patients immediately after surgical removal. The conversion of 5‐FU to anabolites was measured under saturating substrate (5‐FU) and cosubstrate concentrations. For all enzymes, the activity was about threefold higher in tumor tissue compared with healthy mucosa of the same patient. The activity of pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylase with deoxyribose‐1‐phosphate (dRib‐1‐P) was about tenfold higher (about 130 and 1200 nmol/hr/mg protein in tumors) than with ribose‐1‐phosphate (Rib‐1‐P), both in tumor and mucosa. Synthesis of the active nucleotides (5‐fluoro‐uridine‐5′‐monophosphate [FUMP] and 5‐fluoro‐2′deoxyuridine‐5′‐monophosphate [FdUMP]) was studied by adding physiologic concentrations of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to the reaction mixture; the rate of FdUMP synthesis was 50% of that of FUMP (about 4 and 7 nmol/hr/mg protein in tumors). Direct synthesis of FUMP from 5‐FU in the presence of 5‐phosphoribosyl‐1‐pyrophosphate (PRPP) was about 2 nmol/hr/mg protein. With the natural substrate for this reaction, orotic acid, the activity was about 14‐fold higher. To obtain insight into the recruitment of precursors for these cosubstrates, the authors also tested the enzyme activity of pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylase with inosine and ribose‐5‐phosphate (Rib‐5‐P, as precursors for Rib‐1‐P) and deoxyinosine (as a precursor for dRib‐1‐P); enzyme activities were approximately 7%, 7%, and 3%, respectively, of that with the normal substrates, both in tumors and mucosa. However, when ATP and Rib‐5‐P were combined, the synthesis of FUMP was about 70% of that with PRPP, but only in tumors. In normal tissues no activity was detectable. These data suggest a preference of colon tumor over colon mucosa for the conversion of 5‐FU to active nucleotides by a direct pathway; a selective antitumor effect of 5‐FU may be related to this difference.
Correlating Ca2+ Responses and Secretion in Individual RBL-2H3 Mucosal Mast Cells*

The role of Ca2+ in stimulus-response coupling in nonexcitable cells is still not well understood. The Ca2+ responses of individual cells are extremely diverse, often displaying marked oscillations, and almost nothing is known about the specific features of these Ca2+signals that are important for the functional response of a cell. Using the RBL-2H3 mucosal mast cell as a model, we have studied the temporal relationship between changes in intracellular Ca2+ and serotonin secretion at the single-cell level using simultaneous indo-1 photometry and constant potential amperometry. Secretion in response to antigen never occurs until intracellular Ca2+ is elevated, nor is it seen during the first few oscillations in Ca2+. Exocytotic events tend to be clustered around the peaks of oscillations, but excellent secretion is also seen in cells with sustained elevations in Ca2+. Ca2+ release from stores in the absence of influx fails to elicit secretion. If refilling and continued release of Ca2+ from stores is prevented with thapsigargin, Ca2+ influx can still trigger secretion, suggesting that store-associated microdomains of Ca2+ are not required for exocytosis. Our findings demonstrate the importance of an amplitude-encoded Ca2+ signal and Ca2+influx for stimulus-secretion coupling in these nonexcitable cells.
The nexus between US dollar, oil price and commodity index

This research investigates the relationship between the US Dollar Index and some commodities such as Crude Oil, Gold, Silver, Agriculture, Fats and Oils, Metals and Minerals. According to authors Radomski (2016), Hawkes (2015) and Hameed and Arshad (2008) the US Dollar/ Crude Oil can be assumed as a driver of the value of other commodities. So with the results provided by the theoretical framework and the empirical analysis, this research has the purpose to answer the following questions: Does the nexus between oil prices, exchange rate and commodity prices, differs because of the type of the commodity? Why the effect of oil and dollar should differ due to the different commodity type? To study the relationships between the US Dollar Index and the value of some commodities, there were used three different periods, the first one form January of 1990 to December 1999, the second one from January 2000 to December 2007 and the last one from January 2008 to December 2015. In this study the stationarity is tested, used the Johansen test to study the cointegration, the Akaike information criteria (AIC) to observe how many lags should be used into estimations, the vector error correction model (VECM) to observe if there is unidirectional or bidirectional relationships and estimated the forecast error variance decomposition (FEDV) to observe how a change in returns can explain the variance of the errors of the other variables under analysis. The main conclusions observed after the empirical results and the theoretical framework were that the relationship among variables differs according to the period that was studied. The empirical results did not show a strict relationship between the US Dollar/Crude oil as a driver of the values of the other commodities. The results of the FEDV supported some signs of overshooting from the values of the commodities on a decrease of the value of the US Dollar Index. These results are useful for investors to understand how they could manage their investment portfolios in order to ensure minimum losses depending over the investment period.