Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of infliximab in subjects with active pulmonary sarcoidosis.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To evaluate the safety and tolerability of infliximab in the treatment of active pulmonary sarcoidosis, and to provide an initial assessment of the efficacy of infliximab in the treatment of active pulmonary sarcoidosis. DESIGN Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase II study. SETTING Multicenter. PATIENTS Active Radiographic Stage II, III, and IV active pulmonary sarcoidosis despite corticosteroids or previous intolerance to corticosteroids. INTERVENTION Infliximab 5mg/kg (group I) or placebo (group II) at weeks 0 and 2 and open-label infliximab 5mg/kg for all subjects at weeks 6 and 14. MEASUREMENTS Pulmonary function, chest radiographs, dyspnea stage, SF-36. RESULTS Mean vital capacity (VC) at wk 0 was 2.47 +/- 0.2 (group I) and 2.37 +/- 0.31 (group II). At 6 weeks the mean +/- SD relative change in VC compared to baseline was 15.22 +/- 9.91% for group I (n=13) and 8.39 +/- 3.33% for group II (n=6) (p=0.65). Four patients had serious adverse events, including decreased WBC and elevated CPK (1 patient), pneumonia (1 patient), cellulitis, acute renal failure, pulmonary embolus and death (1 patient), and visual field defect (1 patient). CONCLUSIONS Infliximab may improve VC in patients with active PS resistant to steroids. Larger scale, longer term studies will be needed to assess both safety and efficacy.
Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein inhibits the synthesis of IgE and proinflammatory cytokines by allergen-stimulated mononuclear cells.

The ability of interleukin-1 (IL-1) to activate diverse cell populations supports its role as a preeminent cytokine in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammation. In this study, we investigated the role of Il-1 and IL-1 receptor antagonist protein (IRAP) in the regulation of allergen-induced synthesis of IgE and proinflammatory cytokines. The temporal expression of IL-1 beta and IRAP during 5-day allergen-activated peripheral mononuclear cell (PMNC) cultures suggested differential production of the two cytokines. To determine the influence of IRAP on IL-1-mediated cellular responses, we cultured PMNC from allergic donors with specific allergens in the presence or absence of IRAP pretreatment. Culture supernatants were assayed for IgE and cytokines using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. IRAP at concentrations 0.01, 0.1, and 1 microgram/ml decreased the allergen-stimulated IgE synthesis by 33 +/- 7%, 50 +/- 7%, and 66 +/- 5%, respectively (P < 0.05). Increasing the concentration of allergen did not affect the reduction in IgE synthesis observed in the presence of IRAP. Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated IgE synthesis was also significantly inhibited by IRAP (P < 0.05). In parallel experiments, anti-IL-1 beta monoclonal antibody showed a comparable inhibitory pattern on IgE synthesis (P < 0.05). IRAP inhibited the synthesis of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05); the mean inhibition was 31 +/- 4%, 75 +/- 5%, and 88 +/- 2%, respectively, at 1 microgram/ml of IRAP. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Increase of T-cell receptor gamma/delta-bearing T cells in cord blood of newborn babies obtained by in vitro stimulation with mycobacterial cord factor

Cord blood T lymphocytes proliferated in vitro in response to mycobacterial organisms but did not proliferate in the presence of tuberculin purified protein derivative. Components recognized by cord blood T cells were resistant to protease digestion. In contrast, T lymphocytes derived from tuberculin-positive adult peripheral blood proliferated when stimulated by the protease-sensitive component of mycobacterial organisms or purified protein derivative, confirming that adult T cells respond to protein components whereas cord blood T cells respond to the nonpeptide component of mycobacteria. In vitro culture of cord blood lymphocytes stimulated by either mycobacterial lysates or the lipid fraction showed increases in the numbers of T-cell receptor (TcR) gamma/delta T lymphocytes with no changes in the numbers of TcR alpha/beta T lymphocytes in contrast to the in vitro cultures of adult blood lymphocytes stimulated with mycobacterial ligands in which no increase of TcR gamma/delta cells was observed. Interleukin-2 receptor (CD25) and Ia antigen (HLA-DR) analyses evidenced the activation of a large proportion of cord blood gamma/delta T cells which had increased after stimulation with mycobacteria in vitro. Further characterization of mycobacterial ligand suggested that the lipid fraction of mycobacterial lysate or trehalose dimycolate-cord factor was the most plausible cause for T-cell proliferation in cord blood. These results suggest that when the gamma/delta T cells in a newborn infant not yet sensitized to any pathogenic organisms are confronted by a mycobacterium, they respond nonspecifically to the mycobacterial organism or its lipid component (cord factor). gamma/delta T cells may therefore play a distinct role in forming the first line of the host defense system against certain microorganisms.
Doublecortin expression in the normal and epileptic adult human brain

Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) is a neurological disorder associated with spontaneous recurrent complex partial seizures and hippocampal sclerosis. Although increased hippocampal neurogenesis has been reported in animal models of MTLE, increased neurogenesis has not been reported in the hippocampus of adult human MTLE cases. Here we showed that cells expressing doublecortin (Dcx), a microtubule‐associated protein expressed in migrating neuroblasts, were present in the hippocampus and temporal cortex of the normal and MTLE adult human brain. In particular, increased numbers of Dcx‐positive cells were observed in the epileptic compared with the normal temporal cortex. Importantly, 56% of Dcx‐expressing cells in the epileptic temporal cortex coexpressed both the proliferative cell marker, proliferating cell nuclear antigen and early neuronal marker, TuJ1, suggesting that they may be newly generated neurons. A subpopulation of Dcx‐positive cells in the epileptic temporal cortex also coexpressed the mature neuronal marker, NeuN, suggesting that epilepsy may promote the generation of new neurons in the temporal cortex. This study has identified, for the first time, a novel population of Dcx‐positive cells in the adult human temporal cortex that can be upregulated by epilepsy and thus, raises the possibility that these cells may have functional significance in the pathophysiology of epilepsy.
[The Italian deprivation index at census block level: definition, description and association with general mortality].

OBJECTIVE the study is aimed at developing a nationwide deprivation index at municipality and census block level, based on the 2001 Census data, and meeting epidemiological needs. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS The study uses data drawn from the 2001 General Census of Population and Housing. From the 280 variables defined at census block level (352,605 census tracts with average number of inhabitants 169, standard deviation 225; and average area 0.6 km², sd 2.4 km²) five traits that operationally combine to represent the multidimensionality of the social and material deprivation concept have been selected; these are: low level of education, unemployment, non-home ownership, one parent family and overcrowding. The index is calculated by summing standardized indicators and it is also available as categorical by quintiles of population. The same procedure is applied to aggregate frequency data at municipality level. The correlation between mortality and deprivation has been evaluated using 2000-2004 general mortality. RESULTS considering national data, a strong north-south gradient in deprivation was observed. The municipality deprivation index 2001 is highly correlated to the index likewise calculated on the basis of the previous 1991 Census (r=0.91). General mortality was positively correlated to the index (in particular in population up to 64 years and in larger size municipalities). CONCLUSION the pattern described by the deprivation index was coherent with what is already known about geographic distribution of poverty and its impact on mortality. Such outcome bears out the index use for epidemiological purposes.
RESEARCH ON ORGANIC FOOD PURCHASE IN CROATIA ISTRAŽIVANJE KUPOVINE EKOLOŠKE HRANE U REPUBLICI HRVATSKOJ

poveza-ABSTRACT This paper presents research fi ndings based on the research conducted on a representative sample of respondents using a highly structured questionnaire. The fi rst part of the paper focuses on the theoretical background and overview of the research results related to the research problem in the world and in Croatia. The results of the research which has been conducted indicate that respondents are not familiar with the de-fi nition of organic food. Furthermore, the paper elaborates on the Croatian consumers’ perception of organic food and conventional food. The research on organic food purchase places a special emphasis on regular buyers of organic food who were asked to evaluate the importance of individual characteristics in choosing a place of
Auditors' Perceptions of Audit Firm Rotation Impact on Audit Quality in Egypt

This study aims to explore professional auditorsâ€™ perceptions of the impact of audit firm rotation on audit quality. It also investigates the possible benefits and determining factors of mandatory auditor rotation. A sample of 83 auditors was drawn from a group of large firms and another of smaller firms in Egypt. Data were analyzed using one sample t-test; the findings indicate that auditorsâ€™ perceived mandatory rotation of auditors to have a positive effect on audit quality, a negative effect on client-specific knowledge, and a positive impact on auditorsâ€™ independence. The impact from the auditorsâ€™ perspective of industry specialization and fee dependence on the relationship between mandatory auditor rotation and audit quality was also determined.
Split cord malformations: A two years experience at AIIMS

Background: Over a 2-year period, 2008-2009, a total of 53 cases of split cord malformation (SCM) were treated at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). This study is a retrospective analysis of clinical features, radiological findings, and surgical outcome of these patients. Materials and Methods: During this period, 53 cases of SCM were treated at AIIMS. They constitute around 27% of all spinal dysraphism surgeries performed at the department of Neurosurgery, AIIMS; as 200 cases of spinal dysraphism were operated during the study period. The data was obtained from case files, operation notes, discharge summaries, and follow-up files. Observations: There were 30 cases of SCM type I and 23 cases of type II SCM. Seven patients were adult above 18 years of age. Except 7 patients, remaining 46 were symptomatic. Bony deformity of spine was recorded in 24 patients; of them, 19 had scoliosis and 4 had kyphosis. Deformity of foot was recorded in 10 patients. Thirteen patients had hypertrichosis, while four had dermal sinus. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in all patients. MRI revealed syringomyelia in 14 patients; however, only one patient had associated Chiari malformation. Six patients had meningomyelocele. Intra-operative; thick filum was noticed in 10 cases and in another 9 cases, there was filum lipoma. Dermoid was encountered in 4 patients, one patient had epidermoid tumor. Site of split was thoracic in 22, followed by lumbar region in 21 patients. Only 3 patients had split in cervical spinal cord. Seven patients had two separate splits at two different levels. Two patients had posteriorly located bony spur. All patients underwent surgery. Seven patients, those who had no neurological deficits pre-op, remained unchanged post-op. Amongst the 46 patients who had preoperative neurological deficits, eight had neurological deterioration post-op; five had deterioration in motor power and three had urinary problem. Five of these patients had type Id split, 2 had type Ic split, and one had type Ib split. However, among 8 patients who deteriorated post-op, four improved to preoperative status by the time of discharge. Thus, 4/53(7%) patients had long-term deficits, all with type Id split. Follow-up data was available for 36 patients (68%) and mean follow-up period was 12 months (range 6-24 months). Follow-up MRI revealed decrease in syringomyelic cavity in 6 of the 14 patients (44%) who had syringomyelia on preoperative MRI scans. Conclusion: Overall, SCM is an uncommon condition. In all cases of progressive scoliosis, MRI must be carried out. We subjected all asymptomatic patients to surgery and none developed post-op deterioration. Overall post-op neurological deterioration was noticed in 15% patients, of which 8% had transient post-operative deterioration. The new Type I SCM subclassification system proposed by Mahapatra and Gupta is found to have a significant prognostic value in assessing post-operative neurological deterioration in patients with type I SCM.
The importance of creative match in television sponsorship

It is one of the accepted wisdoms of sponsorship literature that there should be a good fit between sponsor and sponsored. This paper reports an exploratory study into the way in which programme audiences respond to television sponsors’ credits and to the sponsorships they announce. The study used a purposive sample of young television viewers and focused on the programmes they like to watch. It was found that, although the viewers expected a fit between the programme and the product or its image, they would accept a sponsor that added to the entertainment value of the programme. Clever or funny creative treatments that match the programme content apparently make up for a lack of fit elsewhere.
A Bayesian analysis of bivariate ordinal data: Wisconsin epidemiologic study of diabetic retinopathy revisited

In many biomedical experiments one may often encounter bivariate data which are componentwise ordinal. The data set of the ophthalmologic experiment of the Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy (WESDR) is an example of such data. Several authors considered the analysis of such data from different viewpoints. The present work reviews the existing literature based on the WESDR data and on the basis of some latent variables provide the technique for analysing such data more easily in a Bayesian framework. Computation supports the methodology to a great extent. A comparison between our approach and the likelihood based approach considered by Kim has also been made. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Readability Analysis of Australian Stroke Information

Abstract The aims of this study were to document the readability of a stroke education brochure and to illustrate how the readability of this document might be improved. Readability analyses using three different formulas were conducted on a stroke education brochure from the Australian National Stroke Foundation. Consistent with previous studies of the readability of written health information, results indicated that the overall level of difficulty of the material was too complex for the average member of the public to read and understand. Revision of a randomly selected section of text using established guidelines for writing patient information, and subsequent reanalysis of this section, showed that simple revisions of health literature can dramatically improve readability. Given the importance of effective communication of preventative information about stroke, we present these results as a model of how future revisions of difficult to read stroke-related literature might be conducted to improve public education.
Epidemiology and Pathogenesis of Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

Primary biliary cirrhosis is an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology leading to progressive destruction of small intrahepatic bile ducts and eventually to liver cirrhosis and failure. It is characterized by female predominance (with most cases observed between the ages of 40 and 60) and serum autoantibodies to mitochondrial antigens as highly specific hallmarks. Epidemiologic data indicate a variable incidence and prevalence of the disease. A number of genetic factors have been indicated as playing a role in determining disease susceptibility or progression, although no definitive conclusion has been reached so far. However, as suggested by some epidemiologic observations, a number of environmental factors, including molecular mimicry by either microorganisms or xenobiotics, have also been proposed. A hypothesis gaining support is that environmental factors may trigger disease in genetically predisposed individuals. In this review, the available data regarding the epidemiology and pathogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis will be described and discussed.
The Role of Communication in Organizational Change

Purpose: We perform this research to come to know that either communication has any effect on organizational change or not if it has any effect then what is the level of influence of the communication in organizational change. It is found that there is a very little research takes place on this topic. Design/Methodology: In this research I use questionnaire to check that what people have in their mind regarding this topic. It is a quantitative research so quantitative data is used to describe the result of this research. We use three measures of Penley and Hawkins (1985) and three dimension of Ekvall’s questionnaire. Findings: In this research we find that communication has great effect on organizational change and it directly affects the organizational change. Mean if communication skills in the organization is good then it is very easy to bring change in that organization.
THE FIRST MASSIVE BLACK HOLE SEEDS AND THEIR HOSTS

We investigate the formation of the first massive black holes (MBHs) in high redshift galaxies, with the goal of providing insights to which galaxies do or do not host MBHs. We adopt a novel approach to forming seed black holes in galaxy halos in cosmological SPH+N-body simulations. The formation of MBH seeds is dictated directly by the local gas density, temperature, and metallicity, and motivated by physical models of MBH formation. We explore seed black hole populations as a function of halo mass and redshift, and examine how varying the efficiency of MBH seed formation affects the relationship between black holes and their hosts. Seed black holes tend to form in halos with mass between 107 and 109 M☉, and the formation rate is suppressed around z = 5 due to the diffusion of metals throughout the intergalactic medium. We find that the time of MBH formation and the occupation fraction of black holes are a function of the host halo mass. By z = 5, halos with mass Mhalo > 3 × 109 M☉ host MBHs regardless of the efficiency of seed formation, while the occupation fraction for smaller halos increases with black hole formation efficiency. Our simulations explain why MBHs are found in some bulgeless and dwarf galaxies, but we also predict that their occurrence becomes rarer and rarer in low-mass systems.
Impact of meningococcal C conjugate vaccination programs with and without catch-up campaigns in adolescents: Lessons learned from Bahia, Brazil

ABSTRACT The significant increase in the incidence rates and ongoing outbreaks of serogroup C meningococcal (MenC) disease, associated with the sequence type-103 complex, motivated the incorporation of the meningococcal C conjugate (MCC) vaccine in the routine immunization program in the State of Bahia, Brazil in early 2010, targeting children younger than 5 years of age. In its capital, Salvador, the program also included a catch-up campaign for individuals 10–24 years of age. We performed an observational, ecological study, analyzing data collected from 2007 to 2015, to compare the impact of these two immunization strategies on meningococcal disease incidence and mortality rates. In Salvador, following the vaccination program, a dramatic early impact on MenC disease and mortality rates could be observed, with significant reductions in incidence rates of MenC disease in all age groups, including individuals that were too old to have been vaccinated, indicating the presence of herd protection. Compared to the pre-vaccine period, a virtual disappearance of MenC disease was observed in 2015. However, in the state of Bahia (excluding the city of Salvador), no herd protection could be observed, with significant impact only among vaccine-eligible children within 5 years of introduction of the MCC vaccination program. These results highlight the importance of catch-up campaigns, including adolescents and young adults, to induce herd protection compared to immunization strategies restricted to infants and young children. This information is crucial for identifying optimal immunization policies and future strategies, focused on adolescents, to optimize the impact of MCC vaccination programs.
Crucial Role of Rho-Kinase in Pressure Overload–Induced Right Ventricular Hypertrophy and Dysfunction in Mice

Objective—Right ventricular (RV) failure is the leading cause of death in various cardiopulmonary diseases, including pulmonary hypertension. It is generally considered that the RV is vulnerable to pressure overload as compared with the left ventricle (LV). However, as compared with LV failure, the molecular mechanisms of RV failure are poorly understood, and hence therapeutic targets of the disorder remain to be elucidated. Thus, we aimed to identify molecular therapeutic targets for RV failure in a mouse model of pressure overload. Approach and Results—To induce pressure overload to respective ventricles, we performed pulmonary artery constriction or transverse aortic constriction in mice. We first performed microarray analysis and found that the molecules related to RhoA/Rho-kinase and integrin pathways were significantly upregulated in the RV with pulmonary artery constriction compared with the LV with transverse aortic constriction. Then, we examined the responses of both ventricles to chronic pressure overload in vivo. We demonstrated that compared with transverse aortic constriction, pulmonary artery constriction caused greater extents of mortality, Rho-kinase expression (especially ROCK2 isoform), and oxidative stress in pressure-overloaded RV, reflecting the weakness of the RV in response to pressure overload. Furthermore, mice with myocardial-specific overexpression of dominant-negative Rho-kinase showed resistance to pressure overload–induced hypertrophy and dysfunction associated with reduced oxidative stress. Finally, dominant-negative Rho-kinase mice showed a significantly improved long-term survival in both pulmonary artery constriction and transverse aortic constriction as compared with littermate controls. Conclusion—These results indicate that the Rho-kinase pathway plays a crucial role in RV hypertrophy and dysfunction, suggesting that the pathway is a novel therapeutic target of RV failure in humans.