Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A behavioral approach to achieving initial cocaine abstinence.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a behavioral treatment program for achieving initial cocaine abstinence in individuals enrolled in outpatient treatment for cocaine dependence. METHOD Thirteen consecutively admitted outpatients were offered behavioral treatment consisting of contingency management procedures and the community reinforcement approach. Fifteen consecutively admitted outpatients were offered treatment with 12-step counseling. All 13 of the patients who were offered the behavioral treatment accepted it; 12 of the patients offered 12-step counseling accepted it. RESULTS Eleven of the 13 patients in the behavioral treatment were retained for 12 weeks of treatment, compared with five of the 12 patients given 12-step counseling. Ten of the patients given behavioral therapy achieved 4 weeks of continuous cocaine abstinence, compared with only three of those given 12-step counseling. Six of the patients in the behavioral treatment group achieved 8 weeks, and three achieved 12 weeks; none of the patients in the 12-step counseling program achieved 8 weeks. CONCLUSIONS The behavioral treatment described in this paper offers promise as an effective intervention for achieving initial cocaine abstinence. A randomized trial is underway to assess the generality of these findings.
Relation of chromosome structure and gene expression.

We have been able to map specific DNA fragments at the bases of chromatin loops with the help of a novel extraction procedure by using lithium-3',5'-diiodosalicylate. One such scaffold-attached region (SAR) is found in the non-transcribed spacer in each repeat of the histone gene cluster, on a 657 base pair (b.p.) restriction fragment. Exonuclease III digestion has localized two protein-binding domains on the SAR of the histone cluster. Each covers approximately 200 b.p. and they are separated by a nuclease-accessible region of about 100 b.p. These domains are rich in sequences closely related to the topoisomerase II cleavage consensus. We have studied the scaffold association of three developmentally regulated genes of Drosophila melanogaster: alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh), the homoeotic gene fushi tarazu (ftz) and Sgs-4, a gene encoding one of the glue proteins secreted by third-instar larvae. We find regions attached to the nuclear scaffold (SARS) both 5' and 3' of all three genes, defining small domains ranging from 4.5 to 13 kilobases. In the case of Adh, a gene with two promoters, we find two upstream and two downstream SARS. Those 5' of the gene co-map with regulatory regions for the adult and the larval transcripts, respectively. For Sgs-4, the 5' SAR covers 866 b.p. immediately upstream of the transcript, and encompasses the 200 b.p. regulatory region defined by two deletion mutants that produce little or no Sgs-4 protein. In ftz the 5' SAR is found 4.8 kilobases upstream of the start of transcription within a 2.5 kilobase element required for a high level of ftz expression in the early embryo. Sequence analysis of five upstream SARS reveals clusters of sequences closely related to the cleavage consensus of topoisomerase II. In addition, they contain multiple copies of two sequence motifs: a specific 10 b.p. A-rich sequence, and another 10 b.p. T-rich stretch. In conclusion, the intimate association of the SAR with the upstream/enhancer elements, the presence of clustered sequences highly homologous to the topoisomerase II cleavage consensus, and the localization of topoisomerase II in the scaffold, suggest a structure-function relation between chromosome organization and gene expression.
Characterization of CD34‐deficient myofibroblastomas of the breast

Mammary myofibroblastoma is a benign spindle cell tumor that can show variable morphologic patterns and lines of differentiation. Diffuse and strong immunohistochemical expression of CD34 is a characteristic of myofibroblastoma and greatly aids in confirming a diagnosis. Myofibroblastoma has been shown to belong to a family of CD34‐positive tumors with similar morphology that show a deletion of 13q14, which includes RB1 and FOXO1A genes. The purpose of this study was to better understand a subset of myofibroblastomas that is characteristically CD34‐deficient by immunohistochemistry. Six myofibroblastomas were studied by immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for RB1. Patients included five women and one man, aged 41‐85 years (median, 52.5). Tumor size ranged from 0.4 to 1.5 cm (mean, 0.95). Tumors showed spindle cell morphology in five cases and epithelioid features in one case. Two tumors showed complete lack of CD34 staining. The remaining showed weak focal or weak patchy CD34 staining. Dichotomous staining was seen in one case with CD34‐positive spindle cell areas and CD34‐negative myxoid areas. All six tumors showed ER expression, five of six showed desmin expression, and four of six showed bcl‐2 positivity. Two of six (33.3%) tumors showed deletion of RB1 by FISH, including one that showed loss of Rb immunohistochemical staining. Myofibroblastomas uncommonly show absent/focal expression of CD34, a potential diagnostic pitfall, particularly in small samples. Characteristic staining with other immunohistochemical markers is seen which can aid in confirming the diagnosis. These tumors may harbor deletion of RB1, similar to CD34‐positive myofibroblastomas, and this deletion may not correlate with loss of Rb by immunohistochemistry.
The occurrence of depression in Parkinson's disease. A community-based study.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the frequency of major depression (MD) and the severity of depressive symptoms among patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). DESIGN The PD population was derived from a community-based prevalence study. Total case ascertainment and a high diagnostic accuracy of PD were attempted through a detailed community study and the use of a new clinical diagnostic classification. Major depression was diagnosed according to the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Revised Third Edition. The severity of depression in the prevalence population was scored with the Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale. The occurrence of depressive symptoms among patients with PD was compared with the occurrence among age-matched groups of patients with diabetes mellitus and of healthy elderly. In addition, the patients with PD and the control groups completed the Beck Depression Inventory. SETTING Depression among patients with PD derived from a prevalence study in the county of Rogaland, Norway. PATIENTS Two hundred forty-five patients with PD. Two age-matched control groups (each including 100 patients); one group included patients with diabetes mellitus and the other, healthy elderly. RESULTS Of the 245 patients with PD, 7.7% met the criteria for MD. Based on their Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating score, 5.1% of the patients were moderately to severely depressed whereas another 45.5% had mild depressive symptoms. Among the patients who scored 20 or more on the Mini-Mental State Examination, 3.6% had MD compared with 25.6% of the patients with a score below 20. The frequency of patients with a Beck Depression Inventory score of 18 or more was higher in the PD group (24.1%) than among patients with diabetes mellitus (11%) and the healthy elderly controls (4%). CONCLUSION This study suggests that the prevalence of MD in PD is lower than previously assumed, but a substantial proportion of patients with PD have less severe depressive symptoms.
[Prevalence of chronic diseases and risk factors among the Spanish prison population].

BACKGROUND chronic diseases are responsible for 60% of deaths and 75% of spending on public health. There are few works on the prevalence of this type of pathology in prison. OBJECTIVE Describe the prevalence of chronic major diseases in the population and the major risk factors observed. METHODS Multicenter transversal descriptive study. The sample size was 1,170 people, who were selected through sampling stratified with simple allocation by strata among 9 prisons in the country. There were interviews and physical examinations between May and June 2013. Variables were collected: socio-demographic, diagnostic, anthropometric, clinical-analytical and risk factors. A descriptive and subsequent comparative analysis was carried out using non-parametric tests for quantitative variables using the Mann-Whitney test and a Ji-square test for categorical variables. Subsequently, binary logistic regression models to evaluate the influence of factors of risk in major pathologies. The manuscript was approved by the Ethics Committee for clinical research of the University General Hospital of Castellon. RESULTS 1 of every 2 inmates has some type of chronic disease out of the 1,077 participated (92.1). Median age of 37.4 years IQR (30.0 to 44.8). 95 males, 40.6 foreigners. Prevalence: dyslipidemias (34.8); arterial hypertension (17.8); Diabetes (5.3); asthma (4.6); COPD (2.2); ischaemic heart disease (1.8) and (1.5) cardio-circulatory pathologies. Main risk factors: smoking, obesity, abdominal fat distribution, consumption of cocaine and age. CONCLUSIONS It would be interesting to establish early diagnosis, encourage giving up smoking, and physical activity and dietary advice to combat the major modifiable risk factors.
Membrane structure and function of malaria parasites and the infected erythrocyte

SUMMARY According to the World Health Organization the global estimate of malaria is over 200 million infections, the majority of which are caused by the most life-threatening species, Plasmodium falciparum (Report of the Steering Committees of the Scientific Working Groups on Malaria, World Health Organization, June 1983). The causative agent of the disease, the malarial parasite, requires two hosts: a blood-sucking mosquito and a blood-containing vertebrate. Commonly, infection of the vertebrate begins when an infected mosquito bites a suitable vertebrate and injects minute sporozoites into the bloodstream. Within 30 mm the introduced sporozoites leave the bloodstream and enter parenchymal cells of the liver (mammals) or endothelial cells (birds). In these sites the parasite undergoes asexual multiplication (= exo-erythrocytic schizogony) producing daughter progeny called merozoites. The exo-erythrocytic merozoites are released from the tissues into the circulation where they invade red blood cells. Within an erythrocyte the merozoite undergoes asexual multiplication (= erythrocytic schizogony) producing a substantial number of merozoites. The erythrocyte lyses, merozoites are released, and invasion of another erythrocyte may then take place. The synchronous rupture of the red cell and merozoite release is marked by the periodic fever–chill cycles so characteristic of the malarial infection. Some merozoites continue to reinvade other erythrocytes and multiply by asexual means, whereas others enter erythrocytes and differentiate into sexual stages, male or female gametocytes. When a suitable mosquito feeds on an infected vertebrate gametocytes are ingested and the sexual cycle of development is initiated. In the mosquito stomach the gametocytes transform into gametes, fertilization takes place, the resultant worm-like zygote penetrates the cells of the mosquito gut and comes to lie on the outer surface of the stomach. Here each zygote forms a cyst-like body, the oocyst, within which thousands of sporozoites are produced by asexual multiplication. When the swollen oocysts burst, sporozoites are freed and these make their way to the salivary gland. At the next blood feeding the mosquito injects the infective sporozoites and the life-cycle is completed.
Occurrence of ochratoxin A in sweet wines produced in Spain and other countries

A survey for the presence of ochratoxin A (OTA) was undertaken from 2001 to 2005 in 188 samples of sweet wines produced in Spain and in 102 samples originating from other countries: France (n = 49), Austria (9), Chile (9), Portugal (9), Greece (6), Italy (5), Germany (3), Hungary (2), Slovenia (2), Switzerland (2), Canada (1), Japan (1), New Zealand (1), Ukraine (1), South Africa (1) and the USA (1). The analytical method was based on immunoaffinity chromatography clean-up and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. The limit of detection (defined as a signal–noise ratio = 3) was estimated to be 0.01 µg l−1. The limit of quantification (0.02 µg l−1) was checked as being the lowest measurable concentration. OTA was detected in 281 out of 290 samples analysed (96.9% positive) at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 4.63 µg l−1. The overall mean and median levels were estimated to be 0.50 and 0.14 µg l−1, respectively. In Spanish sweet wines OTA was found in 99% of the samples, with mean and median values of 0.65 and 0.19 µg l−1, respectively. The mean value obtained in this study for OTA in the Spanish sweet wines would result in an intake of about 37.5 and 3.2 ng day−1 of OTA for regular consumers and for the overall population, respectively. These figures represent a minor contribution to the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) or TWI established by the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and the European Food Safety Authority: 3.8 and 3.1% for regular consumers; and 0.4 and 0.3% for the whole adult population, respectively.
Plasma‐dependent, antibody‐ and Fcγ receptor‐mediated translocation of CD8 molecules from T cells to monocytes

CD8αβ heterodimers are mainly expressed on cytotoxic T lymphocytes. This study demonstrated the detection of CD8αβ heterodimers on human monocytes by whole blood erythrocyte lysis method in flow cytometry. Results revealed that CD8αβ heterodimers were not produced by monocytes themselves, but were transferred from T cells to monocytes when these cells were coincubated in plasma and with anti‐CD8 monoclonal antibody (mAb). For completion of CD8 translocation from T cells to monocytes, cell‐to‐cell contact between T cells and monocytes, as well as binding of the Fc portion of the anti‐CD8 mAb and Fcγ receptor II (FcγRII) on monocytes were required. Furthermore, the dynamism of cell membrane and cytoskeleton were involved in the mechanism of CD8 translocation. Interestingly, CD3 and αβT cell receptor (TCR) were also transferred from T cells to monocytes accompanied by CD8. These phenomena are consistent with Ab‐dependent and FcγR‐mediated trogocytosis, which is recently recognized as one of the intercellular communication processes of the immune system. Trogocytosis means exchange of plasma membrane including cell surface molecules in conjugates formed between immune cells. Results of this study could provide another model of trogocytosis and clearly indicated that putative plasma factors were critically implicated in the mechanism of Ab‐dependent and FcγR‐mediated trogocytosis. © 2010 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
The Transdermal Contraceptive Patch: An Updated Review of the Literature

The transdermal contraceptive patch which contains ethinyl estradiol and norelgestromin has an efficacy similar to current oral contraceptives (OCs). The major advantages include transdermal application and maintenance of adequate hormonal levels for at least 7 days. Side effects are similar to OC except for breast tenderness in the first 2 months of use and skin irritation at the application site. Although concern has been raised about a possible increased risk of venous thromboembolism, current available data comparing the patch to a norgestimate-containing OC ranges from no increase in risk to a 2.4-fold increase.
Übersichtsartikel Pain Assessment and Treatment Challenges in Patients with Dementia 1

Pain is likely to be equally prevalent in people with dementia, however, only a small minority are prescribed regular analgesics. This is a key issue since untreated pain leads to reduced quality of life and increases the likelihood of emergence of behavioural and psychological symptoms such as agitation. Better assessment and treatment of pain in this fragile patient group are therefore mandatory. In this context, we reviewed the literature on pain and dementia and summarised the best available evidence regarding the frequency of pain and pain diagnosis. Unfortunately, hardly any randomized, controlled studies of pain treatment efficacy in patients with dementia are available, with the consequence that most pain treatment recommendations are not based on the highest level of evidence.
Cytokine Responses of Oral Epithelial Cells to Porphyromonas gingivalis Infection

Accumulating evidence indicates that epithelia are not merely mechanical barriers but also important elements of the innate immune system. The present study was performed to examine cytokine responses of oral epithelial cells after infection with the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis. The KB-cell line and primary cultures of periodontal pocket epithelium were infected with P. gingivalis for assessment of bacterial invasion by an antibiotic protection assay, and examinination of expression of interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. We observed that P. gingivalis induces a strong cytokine response, positively correlated with the adhesive/invasive potential of the infecting strain, in both KB cells and primary cultures. These findings indicate that the epithelial cells of the periodontal pocket are an integral part of the immune system, eliciting cytokine responses to a bacterial challenge. In this context, the adhesive/invasive phenotype of P. gingivalis appears to contribute to pathogenicity.
Sexual dysfunction in patients under dialytic treatment.

AIM Erectile dysfunction (ED) is very common in patients with renal failure, probably as a side effect of long-term treatments and dialysis, among other etiologic factors. Over the last few years, new highly effective oral treatments for ED have been introduced in the market. We designed a prospective trial in 42 dialytic patients with ED, focusing on the therapeutic effect of syldenafil and apomorphine. METHODS Forty-two patients aged 57 years (range 34-71), [40 on hemodialysis (HD) and 2 on peritoneal dialysis (PD)] were enrolled in a prospective study comparing sildenafil with apomorphine. After a careful nephrologic anamnesis and uroandrological examination, all patients underwent, before and after each treatment, the International Index Erectile Function (IIEF) test, and the Life Satisfaction test. Expert opinion was based on grading of evidence based medical literature, widespread internal committee discussion, public presentations and debates. RESULTS The 2 patients on PD were the only responders to 25 mg sildenafil; 25 patients on HD had a clear improvement of the IIEF score after 50 mg sildenafil administration; finally, 11 patients on HD would benefit only from 100 mg sildenafil; the nonresponders to sildenafil were only 4 patients, having to switch to PgE1. When apomorphine was tested on the same patients, a mild response was seen only in 6 patients at the 3 mg dose. No response was seen in the 2 patients on PD. CONCLUSIONS There was a statistically significant difference in the therapeutic role of sildenafil versus apomorphine, the first producing an overall improvement of the IIEF in 90.5% of patients, compared to 14% of the same patients receiving apomorphine (P<0.001).
Distribution of fibronectin and laminin in human thymoma

The distribution of fibronectin and laminin, two extracellular matrix and basement membrane components, was studied in 55 cases of thymoma using immunohistochemistry. The results were compared according to histologic type or clinical stage of the tumor. In addition, electron microscopic observation was done to clarify the extracellular structure of thymoma. Two staining patterns were seen. First, a diffusely or partially intricate network of fibers that contained fibronectin and laminin surrounded tumor cells in 21 out of 55 cases. Most of these cases were spindle cell thymomas and showed low invasive tumors. Second, fibers that contained fibronectin and laminin were restricted only to the septa, blood vessels, and perivascular spaces that did not show a network in the remaining 34 cases. Polygonal cell thymomas showed the latter staining pattern and these were more invasive tumors. We conclude that this network is a characteristic structure of spindle cell thymomas and is related to the invasiveness of the tumor.
SHP‐2 regulates the phosphatidylinositide 3′‐kinase/Akt pathway and suppresses caspase 3‐mediated apoptosis

The Src homology domain 2 (SH2)‐containing tyrosine phosphatase SHP‐2 has been implicated in the regulation of the phosphatidylinositol 3′‐kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway. The ability of SHP‐2 to regulate the PI3K/Akt pathway is suggested to result in the positive effect of SHP‐2 on cell survival. Whether SHP‐2 regulates insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1)‐dependent activation of Akt at the level of PI3K has yet to be established. Furthermore, the identification of the down‐stream apoptotic target engaged by SHP‐2 in cell survival also has yet to be determined. Here, we show that overexpression of a catalytically inactive mutant of SHP‐2 inhibited insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1)‐dependent PI3K and Akt activation. Consistent with the observation that SHP‐2 participates in pro‐survival signaling fibroblasts expressing a deletion within exon 3 of SHP‐2, which results in a truncation of the amino‐terminus SH2 domain (SHP‐2Ex3−/−), were hypersensitive to etoposide‐induced cell death. SHP‐2Ex3−/− fibroblasts exhibited enhanced levels of etoposide‐induced caspase 3 activity as compared to wild‐type fibroblasts and the enhanced level of caspase 3 activity was suppressed by a caspase 3‐specific inhibitor. Re‐introduction of wild‐type SHP‐2 into the SHP‐2Ex3−/− fibroblasts rescued the hypersensitivity to etoposide‐induced caspase 3 activation. The effects of abrogating SHP‐2 function on cell survival were not specific to the loss of the amino‐terminus SH2 domain of SHP‐2 since RNAi‐mediated knock‐down of SHP‐2 also reduced cell survival. Taken together, these data indicate that the catalytic activity of SHP‐2 is required to regulate the PI3K/Akt pathway and thus likely participates in anti‐apoptotic signaling by suppressing caspase 3‐mediated apoptosis. J. Cell. Physiol. 199: 227–236, 2004© 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Crossed cerebellar diaschisis: assessment with dynamic susceptibility contrast MR imaging.

The authors investigated the feasibility of using T2-weighted, half-Fourier rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement, or RARE, dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to depict crossed cerebellar diaschisis. In 10 patients after unilateral supratentorial stroke, crossed cerebellar diaschisis was demonstrated in the relative regional cerebellar blood volume maps obtained with MR imaging. Cerebellar blood volume values for the nonaffected cerebellar hemisphere were significantly larger than those for the affected side (P = .0003).