Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Utility of the AD8 as a Self-Rating Tool for Cognitive Impairment in an Asian Population

Background: AD8 is a brief informant interview used to detect early cognitive change. This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of the participant-rated AD8 (p-AD8) in a predominantly Chinese population. Methods: Data on demographics, clinical, and cognitive features were collected from 73 participants with no cognitive impairment (NCI), 27 participants with mild cognitive impairments, and 78 participants with Alzheimer’s disease–informant dyads. Agreement and discriminative properties of p-AD8 were assessed. Results: AD8 scores were associated with dementia severity. Participant and informant AD8 scores were moderately correlated within dementia dyads. The p-AD8 showed good diagnostic performance in differentiating between participants with NCI and participants with cognitive impairment (sensitivity = 85.0%, specificity = 74.0%, and area under the curve = 0.80), with a cutoff score of ≥1. Combination of impairment in Mini-Mental State Examination and p-AD8 is more useful in detecting cognitive impairment than using the AD8 alone. Conclusion: Within a transcultural setting, the p-AD8 demonstrated good discriminative validity and can be used to gain a preliminary understanding of an individual’s cognitive status.
Utility of the Cognitive Difficulties Scale and Association With Objective Test Performance

Subjective memory complaints (SMCs) are commonly noted in memory disorder clinic patients. The present study sought to examine the presence of SMCs on the Cognitive Difficulties Scale (CDS) in older adults and to examine the relationship between CDS scores and current cognitive ability. Participants were 50 adults diagnosed with possible/probable Alzheimer’s disease (AD), 100 with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 84 cognitively healthy controls (HCs). Participants completed a neuropsychological evaluation and the self- and informant-reported CDS. Results indicated that greater self-reported SMCs were noted in the group with MCI ; however, self-reported CDS scores were associated with cognition in HCs only. Informant-reported CDS scores were predictive of cognitive ability in the diagnosis of MCI but not AD, indicating the importance of obtaining caregiver report in the evaluation of memory disorders. As AD is a neurodegenerative disorder, SMCs lose value in determining degree of cognitive impairment as disease stage increases.
Evaluation of a Pet-Assisted Living Intervention for Improving Functional Status in Assisted Living Residents With Mild to Moderate Cognitive Impairment

Background: In older adults with cognitive impairment (CI), decreased functional status and increased behavioral symptoms require relocation from assisted living (AL) to nursing homes. Studies support positive effects of pets on health/function. Purpose: Evaluate the effectiveness of the Pet AL (PAL) intervention to support physical, behavioral, and emotional function in AL residents with CI. Methods: Cognitively impaired AL residents randomized to 60-90 minute sessions [PAL (n = 22) or reminiscing (n = 18)] twice/week for 12 weeks. PAL interventionist encourages residents to perform skills with the visiting dog; reminiscing interventionist encourages residents to reminisce. Monthly assessment of physical (energy expenditure, activities of daily living), emotional (depression, apathy), and behavioral (agitation) function. Results: In linear mixed models, physical activity depressive symptoms improved more with PAL. Conclusion: Evidence supports that the PAL program helps preserve/enhance function of AL residents with CI. Additional study is required to evaluate the duration and predictors of effectiveness of the PAL intervention.
Protein Phosphatase Pph3 and Its Regulatory Subunit Psy2 Regulate Rad53 Dephosphorylation and Cell Morphogenesis during Recovery from DNA Damage in Candida albicans

ABSTRACT The ability of the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans to switch cellular morphologies is important for infection and virulence. Recent studies have revealed that C. albicans yeast cells can switch to filamentous growth under genotoxic stress in a manner dependent on the DNA replication/damage checkpoint. Here, we have investigated the functions of Pph3 (orf19.4378) and Psy2 (orf19.3685), whose orthologues in Saccharomyces cerevisiae mediate the dephosphorylation of the DNA damage checkpoint kinase Rad53 and the histone variant H2AX during recovery from DNA damage. Deleting PPH3 or PSY2 causes hypersensitivity to DNA-damaging agents, including cisplatin, methylmethane sulfonate (MMS), and UV light. In addition, pph3Δ and psy2Δ cells exhibit strong filamentous growth under genotoxic stress. Flow cytometry analysis shows that the mutant cells have lost the ability to adapt to genotoxic stress and remain arrested even after the stress is withdrawn. Furthermore, we show that Pph3 and Psy2 are required for the dephosphorylation of Rad53, but not H2AX, during DNA damage recovery. Taken together, these results show that C. albicans Pph3 and Psy2 have important roles in mediating genotoxin-induced filamentous growth and regulating Rad53 dephosphorylation.
An Investigation of Preconditions Necessary for the Introduction of a Campaign to Promote Breast Self-Examination Amongst Zimbabwean Women

This study examines elements of the health belief model as predictors of intentions to self-examine breasts in two samples of women. Undergraduate samples from London and Harare are compared on levels of knowledge of breast cancer and breast self-examination (BSE), and on scales measuring perceived susceptibility to breast cancer, exposure to information and experience of breast cancer and perceived costs, barriers and benefits of BSE. Analysis of results indicates that an education campaign to promote awareness and the practice of BSE which incorporates factors of the health belief model could increase the number of Zimbabwean women performing this valuable preventive health behaviour.
The Paf1 Complex Represses SER3 Transcription in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by Facilitating Intergenic Transcription-Dependent Nucleosome Occupancy of the SER3 Promoter

ABSTRACT Previous studies have shown that repression of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae SER3 gene is dependent on transcription of SRG1 from noncoding DNA initiating within the intergenic region 5′ of SER3 and extending across the SER3 promoter region. By a mechanism dependent on the activities of the Swi/Snf chromatin remodeling factor, the HMG-like factor Spt2, and the Spt6 and Spt16 histone chaperones, SRG1 transcription deposits nucleosomes over the SER3 promoter to prevent transcription factors from binding and activating SER3. In this study, we uncover a role for the Paf1 transcription elongation complex in SER3 repression. We find that SER3 repression is primarily dependent on the Paf1 and Ctr9 subunits of this complex, with minor contributions by the Rtf1, Cdc73, and Leo1 subunits. We show that the Paf1 complex localizes to the SRG1 transcribed region under conditions that repress SER3, consistent with it having a direct role in mediating SRG1 transcription-dependent SER3 repression. Importantly, we show that the defect in SER3 repression in strains lacking Paf1 subunits is not a result of reduced SRG1 transcription or reduced levels of known Paf1 complex-dependent histone modifications. Rather, we find that strains lacking subunits of the Paf1 complex exhibit reduced nucleosome occupancy and reduced recruitment of Spt16 and, to a lesser extent, Spt6 at the SER3 promoter. Taken together, our results suggest that Paf1 and Ctr9 repress SER3 by maintaining SRG1 transcription-dependent nucleosome occupancy.
The β-Arrestin-Like Protein Rim8 Is Hyperphosphorylated and Complexes with Rim21 and Rim101 To Promote Adaptation to Neutral-Alkaline pH

ABSTRACT β-Arrestin proteins are critical for G-protein-coupled receptor desensitization and turnover. However, β-arrestins have recently been shown to play direct roles in nonheterotrimeric G-protein signal transduction. The Candida albicans β-arrestin-like protein Rim8 is required for activation of the Rim101 pH-sensing pathway and for pathogenesis. We have found that C. albicans Rim8 is posttranslationally modified by phosphorylation and specific phosphorylation states are associated with activation of the pH-sensing pathway. Rim8 associated with both the receptor Rim21 and the transcription factor Rim101, suggesting that Rim8 bridges the signaling and activation steps of the pathway. Finally, upon activation of the Rim101 transcription factor, C. albicans Rim8 was transcriptionally repressed and Rim8 protein levels were rapidly reduced. Our studies suggest that Rim8 is taken up into multivesicular bodies and degraded within the vacuole. In total, our results reveal a novel mechanism for tightly regulating the activity of a signal transduction pathway. Although the role of β-arrestin proteins in mammalian signal transduction pathways has been demonstrated, relatively little is known about how β-arrestins contribute to signal transduction. Our analyses provide some insights into potential roles.
Median Facial Cleft Dysmorphism in Three Siblings: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Cleft of the facial midline is an extremely rare entity, occurring in probably less than 1 per 100,000 births (Kawamoto and Patel, 1998). Median facial cleft may present with a wide spectrum of features, including hypertelorbitism, V-shaped frontal hairline, bifid cranium, broad nasal root, bifid nose, median cleft of the upper lip, and median cleft of the premaxilla (Urata and Kawamoto, 2003). This condition is most commonly known as a 0–14 cleft, as classified by Tessier (1976), but multiple other classifications and terminologies have been proposed (DeMyer, 1963; Sedano et al., 1970; Cohen, 1982; van der Meulen et al., 1983; Kawamoto and Patel, 1998). In this article, we will refer to all cases as median facial cleft dysmorphism, as suggested by Kawamoto and Patel (1998). Genetic inheritance is most commonly sporadic, with other reported cases suggesting an autosomal dominant or Xlinked dominant inheritance pattern. We report three cases of median facial cleft dysmorphism, all of which occurred in siblings of the same family; we describe the clinical features and give support to the published literature suggesting an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern.
Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer: How Are We Doing? Can We Do Better?

Abstract: Chemotherapy for breast cancer is administered for both micrometastatic and overt metastatic disease. Adjuvant chemotherapy has clearly been shown to reduce the annual odds of recurrence and death, though it is difficult t o demonstrate a plateau in the survival curves (i.e. a statistical “cure” rate) of treated patients. Current trials in the adjuvant (micrometastatic) setting are designed t o answer important questions regarding dose intensity and scheduling of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide‐containing compounds, as well as the role of novel agents (pactitaxel) and technologies (high dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell support). Chemotherapy for overt metastatic disease with standard outpatient chemotherapy may palliate symptoms and (possibly) prolong survival, but is unlikely t o cure. Current efforts in this area are focused on the possible role of highdose chemotherapy, and on the introduction and optimization of novel agents (e.g. the taxanes). Advances in the therapy of metastatic breast cancer, both micrometastatic and overt, will require the introduction of new agents based on an improved understanding of breast cancer biology.
The Influence of Psychosocial and Cognitive Factors on Perceived Threat of Alzheimer’s Disease

This study explored psychosocial and cognitive predictors of perceived threat of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Respondents were 1641 adults (mean age: 64.4; 54% female; 82% white) who completed a module in the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative survey of adults aged ≥50. Findings show that perceived threat was significantly higher for those aged 50 to 64 (P < .001) and 65 to 74 (P < .05) than for those ≥75. Respondents with a family history of AD had significantly greater perceived threat (P < .001) than those with no experience. Stronger endorsement of the beliefs that stress (P < .01) or genetics (P < .01) are important AD risk factors was significantly associated with greater perceived threat, as was having more depressive symptoms (P < .01), poorer self-rated memory (P < .01), and lower cognitive function (P < .01). Personal experience moderated the relationship between perceived threat and 2 variables: age and self-rated memory. Understanding perceived AD threat may inform practice and policies centered on early and accurate diagnosis.
Self-Awareness for Memory Impairment in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Longitudinal Study

Aim: To assess memory impairment insight as a predictor of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: To verify whether the awareness of memory impairment assessed by Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was associated with the risk of progression to dementia and AD in a cohort of MCI, we used a Cox regression model adjusted for age, sex, education, subtypes of amnestic MCI, Mini-Mental State Examination, Cumulative Illness Rating Scale severity index, and apolipoprotein E genotype. Results: During a follow-up of 27.7 (20.8) months, 205 (63.3%) of 324 patients with amnestic MCI progressed to dementia, including 141 to AD. No association was found in the unadjusted, partially adjusted (for sociodemographic variables), and fully adjusted multivariate Cox analysis between the awareness of memory impairment and the progression to dementia and AD. Discussion: Awareness or anosognosia of memory deficits, identified by GDS, is not useful to predict progression to dementia of patients with amnestic MCI.
Epidemiology of Diabetic Foot and Management of Foot Problems in India

Diabetes the global epidemic is rapidly increasing at an alarming rate. Developing countries like India harbor the majority of diabetic people and by the year 2030 AD India will have the largest number of diabetic patients. Diabetic foot is one of the common diabetic complications found in India. Both aerobic and anaerobic pathogens form the etiology for diabetic foot infection. Members of the Enterobacteriaceae family were the most prominent among the aerobes while members of the Genus Peptostreptococcus and Clostridium were most prominent among the anaerobes. Ulcers infected with anaerobic pathogens showed a longer healing time than ulcers infected with aerobic pathogens. Oxidative stress is one of the major markers of inflammatory response and oxidative stress markers such as lipid peroxidation, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase, G Peroxidase, G-S Peroxidase and plasma total antioxidant play a major role in the nonhealing of diabetic foot ulcers. Growth factors such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor (VEGF), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) are needed for normal wound repair, while proteases such as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and serine proteases found in chronic wounds delay the healing process.
Never Amputate a Patient With Diabetes Without Consulting With a Specialized Unit

This study presents a case report of a patient who underwent a severe infection following revascularization because dry necrosis became infected. A major amputation had been indicated because the infection did not respond to antibiotics and advanced wound care with topical negative pressure wound therapy with silver. The patient did not accept the major amputation and attended the authors’ specialized unit. Persistent osteomyelitis was diagnosed with a simple X-ray, a cheap tool. Local surgery, antibiotics, appropriate wound care, and split-skin grafting achieved limb salvage in 12 weeks in this patient who had been scheduled for major amputation. Major amputation in patients with an infected foot can sometimes be avoided by correct diagnosis of infection and managing appropriately with specialized support.
Blind Channel Estimation for OFDM Systems via A General Non-Redundant Precoding

Based on the assumption that the transmitted symbols are independent and identically distributed (i.i.d), we develop a simple blind channel estimation technique for OFDM systems. Instead of using partial information from the signal covariance matrix, as done in previous works where a fixed precoder is used and channel is only estimated from one column of the signal covariance, our work jointly consider all entries in the signal covariance matrix, and is applicable for much general precoders. A design criteria of the precoders by which the performance can be greatly improved is provided, and the stochastic Cramér-Rao Bound (CRB) is derived in a close form. The numerical results clearly show the effectiveness and the improvement of our proposed algorithm in reducing the estimation errors.
Managing Diabetic Foot Infection in India

The burden of diabetic foot complications, in terms of both physical and socioeconomical constraints, poses a heavy challenge both to the patient and the physician, especially in developing countries, where the number of people living with diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate compared with the developed world. In developing countries like India, there are specific causes and risk factors that increase the burden of diabetic foot infections (DFIs), for example, sociocultural risk factors such as barefoot walking, using improper footwear, poor knowledge of foot care practices, lack of adequate and timely access to podiatry services, and poor health care resources. Management of DFI in light of these limitations is quite a challenge to health care professionals. Several techniques and strategies are required to address this problem and should be combined with a multidisciplinary team effort to reduce the burgeoning epidemic of diabetic foot disease. This review is intended to address some of the major aspects of management of DFI in India.
Personality and the ???Laboratory Style.???

Much laboratory training activity assumes that all individuals have adequate skills for learning from immediate experience. The following study is based on the alternate premise that this type of learning requires a scientific posture toward one's world, and that this posture may be much more difficult for some personality types than for others. The author investigated this premise, using the Sensation Intuition scale of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (1962), and assuming that the Intuitive (N) mode of perception would be more facilitative of operation in the "laboratory style" than the Sensation (S) mode. Using three laboratory populations, it was found that the S-N scale does predict tendencies toward laboratory interpersonal value orientations (as measured by the Managerial Behavior Questionnaire) and ratings of effectiveness in a T Group. The scale was found less effective in predicting actual change. Several implications for laboratory selection and design are suggested.
Reported macronutrient intake and metabolic risk factors: immigrant women from Iran and Turkey compared with native Swedish women

Background: Immigrants in general seem to be more vulnerable than the host populations to developing nutrition-related chronic conditions. This may be in part related to diverging dietary habits. Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the nutrient intake and its relationship to metabolic variables among immigrant versus native Swedish women. Design: A cross-sectional health survey of 157 randomly selected foreign-born and native Swedish women. This included 24 h dietary recall repeated four times and administered in the native language. Results: Underreporting was significant, especially among immigrant women. There were no major differences in terms of energy distribution of the macronutrients between very low energy reporters and acceptable energy reporters, indicating that the dietary data reflected the qualitative composition in spite of the underreporting of energy intake. Immigrant women consumed less alcohol and obtained a lower proportion of their energy from saturated fatty acids, but a higher proportion from polyunsaturated fatty acids, sucrose and total carbohydrates. Associations between dietary variables and metabolic risk factors were relatively weak. Conclusions: Underreporting might have attenuated possible associations between diet and risk factors. The study illustrates specific problems in the dietary assessment and the need to develop valid techniques when studying groups of people of diverging ethnic backgrounds. Keywords: dietary intake; immigrants; Iran; metabolic risk factors; Sweden; Turkey; underreporting
A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effects of Transcendental Meditation on Quality of Life in Older Breast Cancer Patients

This single-blind, randomized controlled trial evaluated the impact of the Transcendental Meditation program plus standard care as compared with standard care alone on the quality of life (QOL) of older women (≥55 years) with stage II to IV breast cancer. One hundred and thirty women (mean age = 63.8) were randomly assigned to either experimental (n = 64) or control (n = 66) groups. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—Breast (FACT-B), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy— Spiritual Well-Being (FACIT-SP), and Short-Form (SF)-36 mental health and vitality scales were administered every 6 months over an average 18-month intervention period. Significant improvements were found in the Transcendental Meditation group compared with controls in overall QOL, measured by the FACT-B total score (P = .037), emotional well-being (P = .046), and social well-being (P = .003) subscales, and SF-36 mental health ( P = .017). Results indicate that the Transcendental Meditation technique improves the QOL of older breast cancer patients. It is recommended that this stress reduction program, with its ease of implementation and home practice, be adopted in public health programs.
The Degree of Helicobacter pylori-Triggered Inflammation Is Manipulated by Preinfection Host Microbiota

ABSTRACT Helicobacter pylori infects over 3 billion people worldwide and is the primary risk factor for gastric cancer. Most individuals infected with H. pylori develop only asymptomatic gastritis; however, some develop ulcers or gastric adenocarcinoma. We demonstrate that one previously unappreciated parameter influencing H. pylori disease outcome is variation in the preinfection host microbiota. Utilizing a mouse model, we altered the microbiota by antibiotic treatment and found that these alterations resulted in significantly lowered H. pylori-triggered inflammation. Specifically, antibiotic pretreatment reduced CD4+ T-helper cells and Ifnγ transcript levels in gastric tissue after H. pylori infection. The bacterial communities in mice with a reduced response to H. pylori displayed many differences from those in untreated mice, including significantly more cluster IV and XIVa Clostridium spp. , bacteria known to influence inflammation via regulatory T cell populations. Our findings suggest that microbiota composition, perhaps Clostridium spp. , contributes to the variable disease outcome of H. pylori infection by altering the recruitment of CD4+ T cells to the gastric compartment. Our results suggest that gastric microbiota could be used as a diagnostic tool to determine which patients are at risk for developing severe disease.