Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interest of routine measurement of serum calcitonin: study of thyroidectomized patients.

Niccoli et al. (1) concluded that basal calcitonin measurement should become a routine aspect of the diagnostic evaluation of nodular thyroid disease, because it could detect undiagnosed medullary thyroid carcinoma. An interesting point, not commented upon by the authors, was suggested in the accompanying editorial by Horvit and Gagel (2): some patients with elevated calcitonin levels were found to have differentiated thyroid carcinoma, which might be explained by C cell hyperplasia adjacent to a follicular or papillary carcinoma. We would like to add another unexpected yield of serum calcitonin measurement: the possibility of concurrent medullary and papillary thyroid carcinomas. We here report a case of 59-yr-old woman presenting with right thyroid nodule. She had no family history of thyroid diseases. Both serum calcitonin and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were increased (2000 pg/mL and 14.3 ng/mL, respectively), whereas thyroglobulin was normal (11.5 ng/mL). Further examinations, including fine needle aspiration and I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy, indicated a diagnosis of medullary thyroid carcinoma, and total thyroidectomy with bilateral central and right modified neck dissection was performed. Both serum calcitonin and CEA levels decreased to normal range after the operation. Pathological examinations of the resected specimen showed several foci of follicles with ground glass-like nucleus, which were surrounded by medullary carcinoma tissue. Both intrathyroidal lesion and metastatic lymph node tissue showed positive staining for both thyroglobulin and calcitonin. Therefore the diagnosis of concurrent medullary and papillary carcinomas was made. Coexistence of medullary and papillary carcinomas has been, although rarely, reported in the literature (3–6). Actually, two cases with both medullary and papillary carcinomas were described in a study by Niccoli et al. (1). It is controversial whether those cases should be regarded as concurrent or collision tumor of two distinct neoplasms derived from different origin (3, 5, 6) or true mixed carcinomas probably arising from a common stem cell (4). When serum calcitonin level is adopted as a screening for medullary thyroid carcinoma, it should be kept in mind that this unusual association may be present.
The U.S. Dollar Real Exchange Rate a Real Option Approach

The aim of this paper is to discuss the determinants of the U.S. dollar real exchange rate fluctuation. We focus our analysis on a nominal exchange rate effect on tradable prices. We explicitly consider the effects of profit maximizing foreign firms’ entry decisions on the domestic tradable prices through the supply changes after a large appreciation. If firms face sunk entry costs when breaking into foreign markets, the extent of pass-through will depend on the expected changes of nominal exchange rate. Typically, exchange rate uncertainty is determined as a volatility of continuos time series process. We enlarge the discussion to consider also possible jumps in the expected exchange rate time path. Finally, an interesting perspective is provided by a real option approach that emphasize dynamic supply effects through sunk costs and uncertainty. ♣ Department of Economics, University of Tampere.
Central Nervous System Destruction Mediated by Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase-Specific CD4+ T Cells

High titers of autoantibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) 65 are commonly observed in patients suffering from type 1 diabetes as well as stiff-person syndrome (SPS), a disorder that affects the CNS, and a variant of SPS, progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity and myoclonus. Although there is a considerable amount of data focusing on the role of GAD65-specific CD4+ T cells in type 1 diabetes, little is known about their role in SPS. In this study, we show that mice possessing a monoclonal GAD65-specific CD4+ T cell population (4B5, PA19.9G11, or PA17.9G7) develop a lethal encephalomyelitis-like disease in the absence of any other T cells or B cells. GAD65-reactive CD4+ T cells were found throughout the CNS in direct concordance with GAD65 expression and activated microglia: proximal to the circumventricular organs at the interface between the brain parenchyma and the blood-brain barrier. In the presence of B cells, high titer anti-GAD65 autoantibodies were generated, but these had no effect on the incidence or severity of disease. In addition, GAD65-specific CD4+ T cells isolated from the brain were activated and produced IFN-γ. These findings suggest that GAD65-reactive CD4+ T cells alone mediate a lethal encephalomyelitis-like disease that may serve as a useful model to study GAD65-mediated diseases of the CNS.
Microfoundations of Small Business Tax Behaviour: A Capability Perspective

Small business tax behaviour has received surprisingly little attention. We argue that an organizational capability perspective using microfoundations will allow us to better understand the relationships between different drivers and the dynamics of small business tax behaviour. This study draws on in-depth interviews with 42 small business owners who are matched with the firms’ factual tax compliance status. Using grounded theory, we build a framework that (a) identifies different microfoundations of small business capability to manage tax and (b) explains the dynamic nature of the relationship between organizational capability and compliance. Findings suggest that high capability does not necessarily translate into high tax compliance and this relationship is mediated by the owner-managers’ perceptions of taxation as well changes in the economic and regulatory environment.
Language-based embedded performance validity measures in traumatic brain injury

No studies to date have investigated the Boston Naming Test (BNT) as an embedded performance validity test (PVT). This study investigated the classification accuracy of the Boston Naming Test (BNT) and the Verbal Fluency Test (FAS and Animal Fluency), as embedded PVTs in a compensation-seeking mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) sample (N = 57) compared to a non-compensation-seeking moderate-to-severe TBI (STBI) sample (N = 61). Participants in the MTBI sample who failed two or more PVTs were included, as were STBI participants who passed all PVTs. The classification accuracy of the individual tests and a logistically derived combined (LANGPVT) measure were studied. Results showed significant group differences (p < .05) on BNT, Animal Fluency, and LANGPVT between the MTBI and STBI groups. However, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses indicated that only LANGPVT had acceptable classification accuracy (area under the curve > .70). Setting specificity at approximately . 90, the recommended LANGPVT cutoff scores had sensitivity of . 26. Results indicated that, similar to other embedded PVTs, these measures had low sensitivity when adequate specificity levels were maintained. However, extremely low scores on these measures are unlikely to occur in non-compensation-seeking, non-language-impaired, STBI cases.
Compliance and Contact Lens Care: A New Assessment Method

We propose a new method for assessing and quantifying compliance with contact lens care regimens. We recommend two separate procedures: one in which trained interviewers examine the actual lens care techniques used by typical, experienced patients and another in which clinicians rate each step in a lens care regimen as to the level of risk to the patient's comfort and safety if noncompliance with that step occurs. When combined, these steps quantify compliance with the regimen under investigation. The method can be used to assess the incidence of compliance with the regimen in question, and to compare compliance across dissimilar care systems. In our investigation, we applied the method to a multi-purpose solution regimen which has been marketed as being simple to use and, therefore, the correct care procedures are more likely to be complied with. However, we found that patient compliance with this regimen was equivalent to that found in an earlier study of an oxidative (hydrogen peroxide) care system, with noncompliance posing significant risks to both safety and comfort. The results indicate that 91% of patients were noncompliant with one or more of the steps in the lens care regimen that were judged to be clinically significant safety risk factors. Factors which posed significant risks to comfort were less likely to induce noncompliance. Only 34% of patients failed to follow one or more of the steps judged to provide clinically significant risks to comfort. The authors conclude that multi-purpose or simplified regimens are not acceptable substitutes for careful patient training and frequent follow-up.
Juvenile hormone acid methyltransferase: A key regulatory enzyme for insect metamorphosis

Juvenile hormone (JH) acid methyltransferase (JHAMT) is an enzyme that converts JH acids or inactive precursors of JHs to active JHs at the final step of JH biosynthesis pathway in insects. By fluorescent mRNA differential display, we have cloned a cDNA encoding JHAMT from the corpora allata (CA) of the silkworm, Bombyx mori (BmJHAMT). The BmJHAMT cDNA encodes an ORF of 278 aa with a calculated molecular mass of 32,544 Da. The predicted amino acid sequence contains a conserved S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) binding motif found in the family of SAM-dependent methyltransferases. Purified N-terminal 6×His-tagged recombinant BmJHAMT protein expressed in Escherichia coli catalyzed conversion of farnesoic acid and JH acids I, II, and III to their cognate methyl esters in the presence of SAM, confirming that this cDNA encodes a functional JHAMT. Putative orthologs, DmJHAMT and AgJHAMT, were identified from the genome sequence of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, and a malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae, respectively. Northern blot and quantitative RT-PCR analyses revealed that the BmJHAMT gene was expressed specifically in the CA throughout the third and fourth instar. At the beginning of the last (fifth) instar, the expression level of BmJHAMT declined rapidly and became undetectable by day 4 and remained so until pupation. Correlation of the BmJHAMT gene expression and the JH biosynthetic activity in the CA suggests that the transcriptional suppression of the BmJHAMT gene is crucial for the termination of JH biosynthesis in the CA, which is a prerequisite for the initiation of metamorphosis.
Effects of extended-release niacin with laropiprant in high-risk patients.

BACKGROUND Patients with evidence of vascular disease are at increased risk for subsequent vascular events despite effective use of statins to lower the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level. Niacin lowers the LDL cholesterol level and raises the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level, but its clinical efficacy and safety are uncertain. METHODS After a prerandomization run-in phase to standardize the background statin-based LDL cholesterol-lowering therapy and to establish participants' ability to take extended-release niacin without clinically significant adverse effects, we randomly assigned 25,673 adults with vascular disease to receive 2 g of extended-release niacin and 40 mg of laropiprant or a matching placebo daily. The primary outcome was the first major vascular event (nonfatal myocardial infarction, death from coronary causes, stroke, or arterial revascularization). RESULTS During a median follow-up period of 3.9 years, participants who were assigned to extended-release niacin-laropiprant had an LDL cholesterol level that was an average of 10 mg per deciliter (0.25 mmol per liter as measured in the central laboratory) lower and an HDL cholesterol level that was an average of 6 mg per deciliter (0.16 mmol per liter) higher than the levels in those assigned to placebo. Assignment to niacin-laropiprant, as compared with assignment to placebo, had no significant effect on the incidence of major vascular events (13.2% and 13.7% of participants with an event, respectively; rate ratio, 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.90 to 1.03; P=0.29). Niacin-laropiprant was associated with an increased incidence of disturbances in diabetes control that were considered to be serious (absolute excess as compared with placebo, 3.7 percentage points; P<0.001) and with an increased incidence of diabetes diagnoses (absolute excess, 1.3 percentage points; P<0.001), as well as increases in serious adverse events associated with the gastrointestinal system (absolute excess, 1.0 percentage point; P<0.001), musculoskeletal system (absolute excess, 0.7 percentage points; P<0.001), skin (absolute excess, 0.3 percentage points; P=0.003), and unexpectedly, infection (absolute excess, 1.4 percentage points; P<0.001) and bleeding (absolute excess, 0.7 percentage points; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Among participants with atherosclerotic vascular disease, the addition of extended-release niacin-laropiprant to statin-based LDL cholesterol-lowering therapy did not significantly reduce the risk of major vascular events but did increase the risk of serious adverse events. (Funded by Merck and others; HPS2-THRIVE ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00461630.).
Clinical Trial with Sodium 99mTc-Pertechnetate Produced by a Medium-Energy Cyclotron: Biodistribution and Safety Assessment in Patients with Abnormal Thyroid Function

A single-site prospective open-label clinical study with cyclotron-produced sodium 99mTc-pertechnetate (99mTc-NaTcO4) was performed in patients with indications for a thyroid scan to demonstrate the clinical safety and diagnostic efficacy of the drug and to confirm its equivalence with conventional 99mTc-NaTcO4 eluted from a generator. Methods: 99mTc-NaTcO4 was produced from enriched 100Mo (99.815%) with a cyclotron (24 MeV; 2 h of irradiation) or supplied by a commercial manufacturer (bulk vial eluted from a generator). Eleven patients received 325 ± 29 (mean ± SD) MBq of the cyclotron-produced 99mTc-NaTcO4, whereas the age- and sex-matched controls received a comparable amount of the generator-derived tracer. Whole-body and thyroid planar images were obtained for each participant. In addition to the standard-energy window (140.5 keV ± 7.5%), data were acquired in lower-energy (117 keV ± 10%) and higher-energy (170 keV ± 10%) windows. Vital signs and hematologic and biochemical parameters were monitored before and after tracer administration. Results: Cyclotron-produced 99mTc-NaTcO4 showed organ and whole-body distributions identical to those of conventional 99mTc-NaTcO4 and was well tolerated. All images led to a clear final diagnosis. The fact that the number of counts in the higher-energy window was significantly higher for cyclotron-produced 99mTc-NaTcO4 did not influence image quality in the standard-energy window. Image definition in the standard-energy window with cyclotron-produced 99mTc was equivalent to that with generator-eluted 99mTc and had no particular features allowing discrimination between the 99mTc production methods. Conclusion: The systemic distribution, clinical safety, and imaging efficacy of cyclotron-produced 99mTc-NaTcO4 in humans provide supporting evidence for the use of this tracer as an equivalent for generator-eluted 99mTc-NaTcO4 in routine clinical practice.
PENGARUH FAKTOR - FAKTOR FUNDAMENTAL TERHADAP HARGA SAHAM PADA PERUSAHAAN TELEKOMUNIKASI

This research is meant to find out the influence of fundamental factor which consists of Net Profit Margin, Return on Equity, Earning per Share, Price Earning Ratio, dan Price to Book Value to the stock price at telecommunication companies which are listed in the IDX in 2010-2014 periods. The samples of this research are 5 telecommunication companies which have been selected by using purposive sampling method during the observation periods of 2010-2014. The secondary data source of this research has been retrieved from Indonesia Stock Exchange. The analysis technique has been done by using multiple linear analyses. Based on the result of the test, it shows that Net Profit Margin and Earning per Share have significant influence to the stock price, meanwhile Return on Equity, Price Earning Ratio, and Price to Book Value do not have any significant influence to the stock price. Coefficient determination is 64.7% which means that stock price is feasible to be explained by the variables i.e. Net Profit Margin, Retrun on Equity, Earning per Share, Price Earning Ratio, and Price To Book Value. Meanwhile the remaining is 35.3% which is explained by other variables outside of the regression model. Keywords: NPM, ROE, EPS, PER, PBV.
Maternal‐neonatal 8‐hydroxy‐deoxyguanosine serum concentrations as an index of DNA oxidation in association with the mode of labour and delivery

Aim. To investigate the effect of the mode of labour and delivery on the total antioxidant status (TAS), and the biomarker of DNA oxidation, 8‐hydroxy‐deoxyguanosine (8‐OHdG) serum levels, in mothers and their newborns. Subjects and methods. Some 106 women with normal pregnancy and normal blood biochemical parameters were divided into 4 groups: Group A (n = 28) with normal labour and vaginal delivery (VG), Group B (n = 25) with scheduled cesarean section (CS), Group C (n = 26) with ‘emergency’ CS, and Group D (n = 27) with prolonged labour + VG. Blood was obtained from the mothers at the beginning of labour, and immediately after delivery (pre‐ and post‐delivery), as well as from the umbilical cord (CB). TAS, 8‐OHdG and creatine kinase (CK) were measured in the sera with appropriate methodology. Results. TAS levels were almost similar in all the groups pre‐delivery, and in CB irrespective of the mode of labour and delivery, and remarkably decreased in Groups C and D post‐delivery. 8‐OHdG levels in Group C (0.94±0.08 ng/ml) and Group D (0.98±0.08 ng/ml) were significantly higher than those in Group A (0.26±0.01 ng/ml, p<0.001) and Group B (0.28±0.07 ng/ml, p<0.001) post‐delivery. 8‐OHdG levels were low in CB, independent of the mode of labour. CK positively correlated with 8‐OHdG (r = 0.48, p<0.001), the latter negatively correlated with TAS (r = − 0.53, p<0.01). Conclusions. The lowest TAS and the highest 8‐OHdG levels were found in Groups C and D post‐delivery, probably due to the long‐term participation of the mothers’ skeletal and uterus muscles, whereas 8‐OHdG levels were low in CB irrespective of the mode of delivery, possibly as a consequence of the antioxidant action of the placenta and/or the low lipid levels in the serum of the umbilical cord.
Reduced amount and disrupted temporal pattern of spontaneous exercise in diabetic rats.

INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE The beneficial effects of exercise for subjects with diabetes or prediabetic states are well established. However, the converse, that is, the effect of diabetes on spontaneous exercise performance, is not as well defined. Mice with mdx muscular dystrophy not only reduce total spontaneous running distance, but also decrease the duration of periods during which they are active, suggesting a defect in endurance. Studies tested the hypothesis that Type I diabetes causes similar changes in spontaneous exercise performance. METHODS Wistar rats received streptozotocin to produce a model of Type I diabetes or buffer alone, and had access to running wheels for the next 8 wk. RESULTS Diabetic rats had elevated serum glucose levels (689 +/- 85 vs 270 +/- 21 mg x dL(-1), P = 0.0003) but normal serum bicarbonate levels. After 8 wk, diabetic rats were running for considerably lower distances than normal animals (daily distance 182 +/- 58 vs 4981 +/- 1373 m, P = 0.006). Furthermore, the average consecutive running time was much shorter in diabetic than normal rats (16 +/- 1 vs 40 +/- 6 min, P = 0.004). Differences in running behavior between diabetic and normal mice were absent early after injection of streptozotocin, but were fully established by week 4 for both total distance and consecutive running times. CONCLUSION Severe untreated Type I diabetes in rats reduces spontaneous exercise in a manner similar to that seen in mdx mouse muscular dystrophy, with reduced running distance and consecutive running times.
An attempt to induce "Graves' disease of the gonads" by immunizing mice with the luteinizing hormone receptor provides insight into breaking tolerance to self-antigens.

BACKGROUND Gonadotropin receptors, unlike the thyrotropin receptor (TSHR), are not cleaved into disulfide-linked A- and B-subunits, nor do they shed A-subunits. Heavily glycosylated TSHR A-subunits initiate or amplify responses leading to stimulating TSHR-autoantibodies and Graves' hyperthyroidism. METHODS To investigate the possibility that mice immunized with luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) would develop functional antibodies, we constructed adenoviruses expressing the rat-LH holoreceptor (LHR-Ad) and an LHR A-subunit equivalent (LHR-289-Ad). Female BALB/c mice were immunized with high doses (10(11) particles) of LHR-Ad, LHR-289-Ad, or control (Con)-Ad. Sera were tested using LHR-expressing eukaryotic cells for antibody binding by flow cytometry and for bioactivity by measuring cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) stimulation. RESULTS Elevated serum binding to LHR cells in some LHR-Ad and LHR-289-Ad immunized mice was not specific for LHR-expressing cells. Moreover, sera lacked bioactivity, consistent with unchanged serum estradiol and ovary histology. The difference between rat and mouse LHR-ectodomains is relatively small (3% at the amino-acid level). In contrast, despite amino-acid identity, immunization of mice with adenovirus expressing membrane-bound mouse thyroid peroxidase (TPO), but not soluble mouse TPO ectodomain, elicited strong TPO-specific antibodies. CONCLUSIONS Our investigations provide insight into antibody responses to self-antigens. First, antibodies are induced to large self-antigens like mouse-TPO when membrane bound. Second, lesser amino acid homology between the immunogen and mouse protein (91% vs. 97% for the human-TSHR and rat-LHR, respectively) favors antibody induction. Finally, from previous studies demonstrating the immunogenicity of the highly glycosylated human TSHR A-subunit versus our present data for the nonimmunogenic less glycosylated rat LHR, we suggest that the extent of glycosylation contributes to breaking self-tolerance.
Change is Inevitable, Progress is Optional: Impact of FED Tapering Announcements on North African Equity Markets

We propose one of the first empirical evaluations of the transmission of the 2013–2015 Federal reserve Tapering announcements of assets purchases, to the stock markets of the three north African countries with the most advanced financial development: Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia. We use two alternative announcement effects dummy variables: one constructed from econometric tests of individual announcements, the other constructed from the media coverage. In spite of a relatively low level of financial integration, the results of panel data tests show a significant negative impact of announcements, generally associated with the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meetings rather than minutes. This result is in line with the literature on the domestic and international announcement effects of the information released by the FOMC, in the absence of discordance of tone between the meeting statement and the minutes. From the perspective of policy recommendations, the study of the interaction of Tapering announcements with domestic fundamentals shows interesting results. Fundamentals with favorable direct effects on equity markets dynamics could indirectly increase their vulnerability to announcement effects. Inflation, domestic investment and commercial openness show significant interaction effects in the opposite sense of their direct effects, some of which are superior to the direct effects.