Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Alcohol dependence is independently associated with sepsis, septic shock, and hospital mortality among adult intensive care unit patients*

Objective:To determine the association between alcohol dependence (alcoholism not in remission and/or alcohol withdrawal) and sepsis, septic shock, and hospital mortality among intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Design:Retrospective cohort study. Setting:Two ICUs in an urban hospital. Patients:Patients included 11,651 adult admissions to Denver Health Medical Center from January 1, 1999, to December 31, 2004, with ≥1 ICU day. Interventions:None. Measurements and Main Results:Of first admissions appearing in the data set (n = 9,981), 1,222 (12.2%) had a diagnosis consistent with alcohol dependence. These patients had higher rates of sepsis (12.9% vs. 7.6%, p < .001), organ failure (67.3% vs. 45.8%, p < .001), septic shock (3.6% vs. 2.1%, p = .001), and hospital mortality (9.4% vs. 7.5%, p = .022) on unadjusted analyses. Patients with alcohol dependence also had fewer hospital-free days. After adjustment for factors with known association with sepsis, alcohol dependence was associated with sepsis. This association was modified if the patient received (adjusted odds ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.65–1.31) or did not receive (adjusted odds ratio, 1.91; 95% confidence interval, 1.49–2.44) red cell transfusions. A general predisposition to infections mediated some, but not all, of this association. Results were similar when repeat admissions were included in the analysis. Alcohol dependence was also associated with septic shock and hospital mortality in multivariable analyses. Among those with liver disease and sepsis, alcohol dependence was associated with more than two-fold increased risk-adjusted odds of hospital mortality (adjusted odds ration, 2.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.26–4.24). Similarly, sepsis and liver disease carried higher odds of death for alcohol-dependent patients than for those without alcohol dependence. Conclusions:Alcohol dependence is independently associated with sepsis, septic shock, and hospital mortality among ICU patients. The underlying mechanisms of this association require exploration, as an increased rate of infections mediated some, but not all, of this association.
Somatosensory evoked potentials in subclinical portosystemic encephalopathy: A comparison with psychometric tests

We prospectively studied the role of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) and psychometric tests in the assessment of subclinical portosystemic encephalopathy (PSE) in 61 cirrhotic patients with grade 0 PSE and 20 controls. Six additional uneducated controls underwent only psychometric tests. Median nerve‐evoked cortical responses were recorded for N20‐N65 interpeak latencies (IPLs). Psychometric tests were conducted within 4 hours of SEP testing. Seven (26.9%) controls and 30 (49.2%) cirrhotic patients had abnormal psychometric test results (writing sample tests, 20; five‐point star tests, 17; number‐connection tests, 19; and following‐a‐track tests, 18); seven controls and 25 cirrhotic patients had 6 or fewer years of education; 7 controls and 28 cirrhotics were older than 50 years of age. Cirrhotic patients (47.6 ± 8.3 milliseconds) had higher N20‐N65 IPLs than controls (40.2 ± 3.0 milliseconds; P < .001). Twenty‐nine (47.5%) cirrhotic patients had abnormal N20‐N65 IPLs. Of the 26 cirrhotic patients with more than 6 years of education, 15 (57.7%) had abnormal N20‐N65 IPLs and 5 (19.2%) had abnormal psychometric test results (P = .005). Our data show that N20‐N65 IPLs of SEPs are helpful in the assessment of subclinical PSE; 47.5% of cirrhotic patients had subclinical PSE. Poorly educated and older subjects tended to have abnormal psychometric test results. SEPs were not affected by education and age and were more sensitive than psychometric tests in the assessment of subclinical PSE in better‐educated cirrhotic patients.
Determinants of House Prices in Sweden

The thesis analyses the main determinants of the Swedish house prices. We use panel data of 290 Swedish municipalities across 2003 2016 to estimate Spatial Durbin Model, which allows us to capture spatial dependencies in the data, thus obtaining unbiased estimates of the main drivers. Further, we run the cross-sectional regressions for every year to discover the dynamics in the determinants. This proves to be especially valuable having the period of the financial crisis of 2008 in our data set. We obtain a comprehensive picture of the spatial dependencies and spillovers from one municipality to the others. Proper analysis of the dynamics in the housing sector is vital for assessing policy implications made by important players such as the central banks. Since the price development has not been even among the individual municipalities, analysis on the regional level may give us better insight into the sector than country-level studies. We estimate the total effects as well as the direct and indirect effects of the spatially autocorrelated variables. We find that the main determinants for the Swedish house prices are construction costs and real income. We find that developers are not fully able to transfer the cost onto the final buyers. Real income is a stable driver of the house prices, dropping in importance only in 2009; we attribute it to the higher uncertainty in the markets, thus people withholding their house purchases. Comparing to other countries, availability of credit for households plays more significant role; possibly due to the fact that Swedish households rely more on credit and have more often floating-rate mortgages. Housing supply and unemployment have effect on prices only when there is a same shift also in the neighbouring municipalities. There is no visible difference for the spillover patterns of different municipalities. The spatial model proves to be a better suit for the estimation, since it outperforms the non-spatial model in out-of-sample forecast.
Horizontal Flow of Semantic and Phonological Information in Chinese Spoken Sentence Production

A variant of the picture—word interference paradigm was used in three experiments to investigate the horizontal information flow of semantic and phonological information between nouns in spoken Mandarin Chinese sentences. Experiment 1 demonstrated that there is a semantic interference effect when the word in the second phrase (N3) and the first noun in the initial phrase (N1) are semantically related, while there is no effect when N3 and the second noun in the initial phrase (N2) are semantically related. Experiments 2 and 3 showed that there is a phonological facilitation effect only when the two phonologically related words are both in the initial phrase, and there is no effect when they are in different phrases. Reinforcing the findings of an earlier study of horizontal information flow by Smith and Wheeldon (2004), our results indicate that there is a temporal overlap in the access of the nouns in spoken Mandarin Chinese sentences and a flow of semantic and phonological information between these nouns. Moreover, our results are incompatible with a wholly parallel view of horizontal information flow and instead provide support for a view which is partly serial and partly parallel in nature.
Childhood Estimates of Glomerular Filtration Rate Based on Creatinine and Cystatin C: Importance of Body Composition

Background: Creatinine and cystatin C concentrations are commonly used to estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in clinical practice and epidemiological studies. To estimate the influence of different body composition measures on eGFR from creatinine and cystatin C blood concentrations, we compared the associations of different anthropometric and body composition measures with eGFR derived from creatinine (eGFRcreat) and cystatin C (eGFRcystC) blood concentrations. Methods: In a population-based cohort study among 4,305 children aged 6.0 years (95% range 5.7-8.0), we measured weight and height and calculated body mass index (BMI) and body surface area (BSA), and lean and fat mass using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. At the same age, we measured creatinine and cystatin C blood concentrations and estimated the GFR. Results: Correlation between eGFR based on creatinine and cystatin C concentrations was r = 0.40 (p value <0.01). Higher BMI was associated with lower eGFRcystC but not with eGFRcreat. Higher BSA was associated with higher eGFRcreat and lower eGFRcystC (p value <0.05). Lean and fat mass percentages were associated with eGFRcreat but not with eGFRcystC. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that both eGFRcreat and eGFRcystC are influenced by BMI and BSA. eGFRcreat is more strongly influenced by body composition than eGFRcystC.
Titin-based stiffening of muscle fibers in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE tenascin-X (TNX) is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein whose absence leads to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). TNX-deficient EDS patients present with joint hypermobility and muscle weakness attributable to increased compliance of the extracellular matrix. We hypothesized that in response to the increased compliance of the extracellular matrix in TNX-deficient EDS patients, intracellular adaptations take place in the elastic properties of the giant muscle protein titin. METHODS we performed extensive single muscle fiber mechanical studies to determine active and passive properties in TNX-deficient EDS patients. Gel-electrophoresis, Western blotting, and microarray studies were used to evaluate titin expression and phosphorylation. X-ray diffraction was used to measure myofilament lattice spacing. RESULTS passive tension of muscle fibers from TNX-deficient EDS patients was markedly increased. Myofilament extraction experiments indicated that the increased passive tension is attributable to changes in the properties of the sarcomeric protein titin. Transcript and protein data indicated no changes in titin isoform expression. Instead, differences in posttranslational modifications within titin's elastic region were found. In patients, active tension was not different at maximal activation level, but at submaximal activation level it was augmented attributable to increased calcium sensitivity. This increased calcium sensitivity might be attributable to stiffer titin molecules. CONCLUSION in response to the increased compliance of the extracellular matrix in muscle of TNX-deficient EDS patients, a marked intracellular stiffening occurs of the giant protein titin. The stiffening of titin partly compensates for the muscle weakness in these patients by augmenting submaximal active tension generation.
Increased Prolactin Receptor Immunoreactivity in the Hypothalamus of Lactating Rats

Prolactin (PRL) exerts numerous effects in the brain including induction of maternal behaviour, increased food intake, and inhibition of GnRH secretion. Knowledge about the distribution of PRL receptors (PRL‐R) in the brain will be critical for investigating mechanisms of PRL–brain interactions during lactation. The present study aimed to investigate the distribution of PRL‐R in specific hypothalamic nuclei of lactating rats by immunohistochemistry and to compare this distribution with that in dioestrous rats. Rats were perfused with 2% paraformaldehyde and brains were cut into coronal sections (18 μm) for immunostaining. Immunoreactivity was detected by the avidin biotin complex method using mouse monoclonal antibody U5. In dioestrous rats, PRL‐R immunoreactivity was observed in the choroid plexus, three hypothalamic nuclei: medial preoptic, periventricular and arcuate, and in the median eminence. The number of labelled profiles per section in the medial preoptic and arcuate nuclei increased significantly (P<0.05) in lactating rats (days 7–10 to post partum) when compared with dioestrous rats. Furthermore, in lactating rats, PRL‐R immunoreactive neurons were identified in the cerebral cortex, substantia nigra and numerous additional hypothalamic nuclei including the ventromedial preoptic, ventrolateral preoptic, lateroanterior hypothalamic, ventrolateral hypothalamic, paraventricular hypothalamic, supraoptic, suprachiasmatic, and ventromedial hypothalamic nuclei. These observations assist our understanding of the multiple sites of PRL effects on brain function during lactation.
Molecular diagnosis of respiratory virus infections

The appearance of eight new respiratory viruses, including the SARS coronavirus in 2003 and swine-origin influenza A/H1N1 in 2009, in the human population in the past nine years has tested the ability of virology laboratories to develop diagnostic tests to identify these viruses. Nucleic acid based amplification tests (NATs) for respiratory viruses were first introduced two decades ago and today are utilized for the detection of both conventional and emerging viruses. These tests are more sensitive than other diagnostic approaches, including virus isolation in cell culture, shell vial culture (SVC), antigen detection by direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) staining, and rapid enzyme immunoassay (EIA), and now form the backbone of clinical virology laboratory testing around the world. NATs not only provide fast, accurate and sensitive detection of respiratory viruses in clinical specimens but also have increased our understanding of the epidemiology of both new emerging viruses such as the pandemic H1N1 influenza virus of 2009, and conventional viruses such as the common cold viruses, including rhinovirus and coronavirus. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays introduced in the last five years detect up to 19 different viruses in a single test. Several multiplex PCR tests are now commercially available and tests are working their way into clinical laboratories. The final chapter in the evolution of respiratory virus diagnostics has been the addition of allelic discrimination and detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with antiviral resistance. These assays are now being multiplexed with primary detection and subtyping assays, especially in the case of influenza virus. These resistance assays, together with viral load assays, will enable clinical laboratories to provide physicians with new and important information for optimal treatment of respiratory virus infections.
Comparative Capitalisms and Energy Transitions: Renewable Energy in the European Union

We develop new theory pertaining to institutional determinants of renewable-energy usage across countries and over time. Building on key strands of the comparative capitalisms literature, we introduce new hypotheses relating to the 2009 Directive from the European Union (EU) on energy generation, as well as the impact of labour market regimes, national stock markets and M&A activity, among other ‘doing business’ conditions across countries. Based on a renewable energy data across 27 EU countries over a period of 11 years, we provide new tests of the determinants of renewable-energy usage. The data show strong and robust evidence of a causal impact of institutional determinants on renewable energy usage, consistent with a positive impact of the EU’s 2009 Directive, and other specific institutional factors. We discuss the implications for policy and practice.
Hypoxia induced upregulation and function of the thiamine transporter, SLC19A3 in a breast cancer cell line

Adaptive responses within hypoxic tumor microenvironments require the altered expression of Solute Carrier (SLC) transporters to maintain nutrient uptake in support of cellular metabolism and biosynthesis. Using a real time PCR array strategy to further characterize changes in transporter expression within a chronic hypoxia breast cancer cell line model (BT474), we have found a 31 fold increase in the expression of the thiamine transporter, SLC19A3. Thus, further investigations into the expression changes of the thiamine transporters, SLC19A2 and SLC19A3, and the role of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) regulating their expression were conducted. Chronic culturing of BT474 cells in 1% O2 up to 142 days consistently demonstrated a high level of SLC19A3 expression with a mean of approximately 40 fold with no change in SLC19A2. A corresponding 2 fold increase in thiamine uptake over 15 min was measured in chronic hypoxic BT474 cells compared to normoxia. Acute 1% O2 exposure of BT474 cells up to 72h demonstrated a 7.5 fold increase in SLC19A3 expression. The chemical hypoxia mimetic deferoxamine, resulted in an approximately 70 fold increase in SLC19A3 expression. Stable shRNA knockdown of HIF-1α reduced hypoxia mediated SLC19A3 up-regulation by approximately 3 fold compared to scrambled construct. In conclusion, SLC19A3 transporter expression was observed to be up-regulated under acute, chronic and DFO induced hypoxia. The attenuated increase in SLC19A3 expression after HIF-1α knockdown suggests a role for HIF-1α mediated pathways regulating SLC19A3 gene expression.
[Injuries associated with cardiopulmonary resuscitation].

INTRODUCTION Therapeutic procedures performed during cardiopulmonary resuscitation on patients in cardiac arrest or unconsciousness from any other cause can have serious adverse effects. Scale of injuries scale is very wide - from simple skin lacerations up to serious injuries which can even thwart possibility of successful resuscitation and cause death. MATERIALS AND METHODS Comprehensive review of current literature aimed at injuries associated with cardiopulmonary resuscitation. RESULTS Authors of this paper offer up-to-date review of possible cardiopulmonary resuscitation associated injuries, which are discussed depending on the method of performed resuscitation - airway management, chest compressions without tools or with automated mechanical devices, and defibrillation. Airway management is frequently associated with subcutaneous hematomas of the neck and head, mucosal membrane lacerations, teeth fractures and airway aspiration. Autopsy findings after cardiac massage are: rib and sternal fractures (very frequent); pleura, lung and cardiac injuries (frequent); cervical spine injuries, pericardial tamponades due to cardiac or aorta rupture, liver, spleen or stomach lacerations (rare). Defibrillation can create skin burns, cardiac or renal injuries due to rhabdomyolysis. CONCLUSION Forensic pathologists as well as clinical practitioners should be aware of the relevance of possible injuries associated with cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The injuries should be avoided if possible, or distinguished from injuries of other origin if they cannot be prevented.
TNFalpha and IL10 SNPs act together to predict disease behaviour in Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND The cytokines tumour necrosis factor (TNF)alpha and interleukin (IL)10 have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD), with increased concentrations reported in patients with active disease. However, limited data exist on their effects on disease phenotype in the same population. Certain single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the promoter region of the IL10 (-1082G/A, -592C/A) and TNFalpha (-308G/A, -857C/T) genes have been associated with altered levels of circulating IL10 and TNFalpha. METHODS We conducted an Australian based case-control study (304 CD patients; 231 healthy controls) of these four SNPs. Further investigation of two SNPs was conducted using a logistic regression analysis. RESULTS We identified a possible association of both IL10 SNPs and TNFalpha-857 with CD. Further investigation of a relationship with disease severity showed a significant association of higher producing IL10-1082G and TNFalpha-857C alleles with stricturing behaviour, which was strongest when these alleles were combined and persisted after multivariate analysis (p = 0.007; odds ratio (OR) 2.37, 95% CI 1.26 to 4.43). In addition, the TNFalpha-857CC genotype was independently associated with familial CD (p = 0.03; OR 3.12; 95% CI 1.15 to 8.46). CONCLUSION These two SNPs may help to predict disease behaviour in CD patients, which may be clinically useful in shaping treatment of the disease at an earlier stage.
Extracellular domain of HER2: a useful marker for the initial workup and follow-up of HER2-positive breast cancer.

PURPOSE The extracellular domain (ECD) of the HER2 receptor is proposed as a real-time marker of HER2-positive breast cancer (BC). In this study, ECD-HER2 levels were compared with standard clinical and pathological prognostic factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS In 247 consecutive patients (116 with early or localized BC, 116 with advanced or metastatic BC, and 16 with benign mastopathies), serum ECD-HER2 levels were measured. In 116 advanced-disease patients ECD-HER2 status was also studied by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and compared with established clinical and pathological variables. RESULTS Mean serum ECD-HER2 value was 19.62 ng/ml (median 10.35, range 3-->250). Mean value in benign mastopathies was 9.04 ng/ml, 9.4 ng/ml in early disease and 34.5 ng/ml in advanced disease. No difference between benign mastopathies and early BC was observed, while significant difference between early and advanced BC (p<0.001) was noted. However, in advanced-disease patients a positive correlation of ECD-HER2 with IHC (p=0.002), disease grade (p=0.034) and level II axillary node involvement (p=0.011) was noted, as well as a significant negative correlation with estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) (p=0.035 and p=0.011, respectively). CONCLUSION ECD-HER2 is a reliable marker for breast cancer, as suggested from the existing literature; therefore, its integration in the initial workup and follow-up routine of breast cancer, particularly the HER2-positive, is proposed.
Pengaruh Tingkat Suku Bunga, Inflasi Dan Nilai Tukar Terhadap Return Saham Di Bursa Efek Indonesia

Return is a reward for investor bravery in taking risks on the investment it does. Recurn can motivate and attract investors to invest. The rate of return earned by investors is influenced by microeconomic factors and macroeconomic factors. In this research, factors that influence stock return use macroeconomic factors, ie, interest rate, inflation, and exchange rate. This study aims to obtain empirical evidence on the influence of interest rates, inflation and exchange rates on stock returns. This research was conducted on property and real estate companies in Indonesia Stock Exchange. The population used is all property and real estate companies listed on the IDX period 2013-2016. Sample determination method used is to use saturated samples. Data analysis used is multiple linear regression test. Based on the results of this study found that the interest rate has a positive and insignificant effect on stock returns. Inflation has negative and insignificant effect on stock return, while exchange rate has negative and significant effect on stock return. Keywords: interest rate, inflation, exchange rate, and stock return. n