Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lifespan influences on mid- to late-life cognitive function in a Chinese birth cohort

Objective: To explore factors throughout the lifespan that influence cognition in midlife to late life. Methods: We conducted a retrospective birth cohort study of 2,062 individuals born during 1921-1954 in Beijing, China. In 2003-2005, birth records were abstracted, and participants then 50-82 years old received standardized examinations for health, cognition, and socio-environmental measures. Using cumulative logit models, we assessed adjusted relative effects of prenatal, early life, and adult factors on mid- to late-life cognition. Results: Most prenatal factors were associated with mid- to late-life cognition in the unadjusted models. However, when childhood and adult factors were sequentially added to the models, the impact of prenatal factors showed successive attenuation in effect size, and became insignificant. In contrast, early life factors remained significantly associated with mid- to late-life cognition even after full life-course adjustments. Specifically, those whose fathers had laborer vs professional occupations (odds ratio [OR]Laborer 1.74; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.25-2.42) had poorer cognitive outcomes, while individuals who drank milk daily in childhood (OR 0.65; 95% CI: 0.54-0.80), had more years of education (OR10-12 years 0.60; 95% CI: 0.45-0.81; OR13+ yrs 0.29; 95% CI: 0.23-0.38), and were taller adults (ORheight ≥ SD 0.65; 95% CI: 0.49-0.86) had better cognition. The high prenatal risk infants had similar patterns with a trend toward a stronger association between cognition and socioenvironmental factors. Conclusion: Mid- to late-life cognition is influenced by factors over the entire lifespan with the greatest impact coming from early life exposures. Nutrition, education, social, and family environment in early life may have a long-term impact on cognition in developing countries.
Over-Indebtedness and Consumption Patterns in Digital Society – A Research Review

This LUii report presents a research review of the field of over-indebtedness and consumption patterns in digital society, which addresses phenomena such as e-commerce, smart phones and their role in consumption and credit, new methods of payment, debt-incurrence and more. The research review has been produced by researchers at Lund University on behalf of the Swedish Enforcement Authority, why it also is in part using Sweden as a case study. The research was conducted during 2014 and primarily includes three sub-studies of somewhat different approaches to provide as comprehensive and accurate an overview of current research in the field as possible: 1) a bibliometric study, 2) a systematic literature review, and 3) additional searches which also include reports written in Swedish, studies and books. A general conclusion drawn from all sub-studies is that research on over-indebtedness and research on digital development are often conducted within different disciplines that share little contact. One consequence of this, with regards to the review materials and results, is that research on potential opportunities created by digital technology in the credit and financial markets is not linked to the emergence of problematic financial situations in the individual. The potential links between these areas therefore deserves further scientific examination. For example, the results indicate that international research on debt and consumer behavior in a digital context is largely conducted from a systemic or business-oriented perspective, and deals only to a minor degree with consumer vulnerability and other negative aspects for the individual. This means that the economic/business-oriented perspective dominates in the research on debt incurrence in digital contexts. Furthermore, young adults comprise the population group that is repeatedly mentioned as particularly vulnerable to the implications of digital technology in consumption and debt. Stefan Larsson, Head of Lund University Internet Institute (LUii), PhD in sociology of law and PhD in spatial planning, has acted as project manager for this research review. Co-researchers for this project were Hanna Carlsson, PhD in information science, and Fredrik Astrom, Assoc Prof and bibliometrician. (Less)
SAXS structural study of PrPSc reveals ~11 nm diameter of basic double intertwined fibers

A sample of purified Syrian hamster PrP27–30 prion fibers was analyzed by synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The SAXS pattern obtained was fitted to a model based on infinitely long cylinders with a log-normal intensity distribution, a hard-sphere structure factor and a general Porod term for larger aggregates. The diameter calculated for the cylinders determined from the fit was 11.0 ± 0.2 nm. This measurement offers an estimation of the diameter of PrPSc fibers in suspension, i.e., free of errors derived from estimations based on 2D projections in transmission electron microscopy images, subjected to further possible distortions from the negative stain. This diameter, which corresponds to a maximum diameter of approximately 5.5 nm for each of the two intertwined protofilaments making up the fibers, rules out the possibility that PrPSc conforms to a stack of in-register, single-rung flat PrPSc monomers; rather, PrPSc subunits must necessarily coil, most likely several times, into themselves.
Plasma Rich in Growth Factors Promotes Hair Growth on Female Androgenetic Alopecia

Androgenetic alopecia is a common hair disorder that affects around 45% of population at middle-advanced age. This condition has severe psychosocial impact especially among women, and few treatments have been proven to be effective against hair loss. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of autologous plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF) injected intradermally for the treatment of female pattern hair loss. Two intra dermal injections of PRGF were administered every four weeks. Trichogramsat baseline and four months after the first treatment were performed in order to elucidate the anagen/telogen ratio. At the same time, macrophotographs were taken for overall improvement evaluation.150 PRGF treated cases of women with androgenetic alopecia were enrolled. Results showed a significant improvement among anagen hairs of 7.43 percentage points while a decrease of 6.38 percentage points was observed for telogen ones. Additionally, an overall improvement was noticed after PRGF treatment. Although additional randomized clinical studies are needed, our preliminary results suggest that plasma rich in growth factor therapy could be a safe and effective treatment for female pattern hair loss as the anagen/telogen ratio is significantly increased at four months follow up period.
Inhibiting effects of cidofovir (HPMPC) on the growth of the human cervical carcinoma (SiHa) xenografts in athymic nude mice.

At present more than 70 human papillomaviruses (HPV) genotypes have been described and each shows a predilection for a cutaneous or mucosal surface. There is a strong association between infection with specific genital viruses (i.e., types 16 and 18) and the development of cervical cancer. Thus, intervention with the natural history of HPV infection in the genital tract may form the basis for an effective anticancer strategy. We have shown that treatment of cell lines derived from human cervical carcinomas [i.e., SiHa and CaSki (HPV-16-positive)] and HeLa (HPV-18-positive)] with HPMPC (cidofovir) results in a concentration- and time-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation. We report here the effects of HPMPC on the growth of cervical carcinoma (SiHa) xenografts in athymic nude mice. Athymic mice between the age of 6 and 8 weeks were injected SC with 5 to 10x10(6) cells. Once tumors were established, the mice were injected with PBS (placebo), HPMPC, or cytarabine (AraC) at the tumor site. Animals that were injected intratumorally with HPMPC at a dose of 5 mg/ml (0.25 mg/injection) or 10 mg/ml (0.5 mg/injection) three or five times per week, once daily, during 4 weeks showed a statistically significant reduction in tumor size compared to the placebo group or AraC group. However, when HMPC was administered topically (as a cream) or systemically (intraperitoneally), no reduction of tumor growth was observed at nontoxic concentrations, suggesting that a high local concentration of HPMPC is required to achieve a significant decrease of tumor growth.
Mandatory Standards and Organizational Information Security

Mandatory security standards that force firms to establish minimum levels of security controls are enforced in many domains, including information security. The information security domain is characterized by multiple intertwined security controls, not all of which can be regulated by standards, but compliance with existing security standards is often used by firms to deflect liability if a security breach occurs. We analyze a stylized setting where a firm has two security controls that are linked in either a serial or a parallel configuration. One control is directly regulated by a security standard, whereas the other one is not. We show that a higher security standard does not necessarily lead to a higher firm security. Furthermore, the conditions under which a higher standard hurts the firm security are sharply different in the two—serial and parallel—configurations. If standard compliance leads to reduced liability for a firm following a breach, such liability reduction in turn weakens the tie between the standard and firm security. Under a setting in which the firm meets the optimal standard set by a policy maker, both firm security and social welfare are higher when the damage to the firm following a breach takes a higher share of the total damage to social welfare, and also when the firm takes a larger share of liability.
Profile of the oral health among ambulant older Greek and Italian migrants living in Melbourne.

BACKGROUND Over the last 50 years an increasing number of migrants have settled in Australia. These immigrants now constitute a large proportion of the Australian population, and some research suggests that they may be at high-risk for oral diseases. METHODS This paper presents data on the oral health status of a convenience sample of 721 ambulant Greek- (n = 367) and Italian-born (n = 354) adults aged 55 years or older. The volunteer participants were recruited through ethnic social clubs located in Melbourne, Australia. RESULTS The sample was largely a dentate one (83.6 per cent); with a mean DMFS score of 67.5 (s.d. 37.4). Dentate participants had 13 per cent of their restorative care unmet, and 57.3 per cent needed oral hygiene instruction plus removal of stain and hard deposits on their teeth. Almost 8 per cent required complex periodontal therapy and 30 per cent of those fully edentulous were in need of full dentures. CONCLUSIONS Comparing these findings with existing data on oral health of older adults in Australia, the participants in this study appear to have lower DMFS scores and a higher prevalence of gingivitis, but less need for complex periodontal treatment. Inequalities were apparent in the proportion of unmet restorative and prosthetics needs.
Clinical and Laboratory Features of Mycobacterium mageritense

ABSTRACT Six clinical isolates of the nonpigmented, rapidly growing species Mycobacterium mageritense were recovered from sputum, bronchial wash, blood, sinus drainage, and two surgical wound infections from separate patients in Texas, New York, Louisiana, and Florida. The isolates matched the ATCC type strain by PCR restriction enzyme analysis of the 65-kDa hsp gene sequence of Telenti, high-performance liquid chromatography, biochemical reactions, and partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing. These are the first isolates of this species to be described in the United States and the first isolates to be associated with clinical disease. Susceptibility testing of all known isolates of the species revealed all isolates to be susceptible or intermediate to amikacin, cefoxitin, imipenem, and the fluoroquinolones and sulfonamides but resistant to clarithromycin. Because of their phenotypic and clinical similarity to isolates of the Mycobacterium fortuitum third biovariant complex (sorbitol positive), isolates of M. mageritense are likely to go undetected unless selected carbohydrate utilization or molecular identification methods are used.
Age in men does not determine gonadotropin-releasing hormone's dose-dependent stimulation of luteinizing hormone secretion under an exogenous testosterone clamp.

BACKGROUND Aging is associated with a decline in incremental LH pulse amplitude, which could be due to decreased GnRH secretion or impaired GnRH action. HYPOTHESIS Inconsistent published studies of GnRH action in older men may be due to disparate sex-steroid milieus. FACILITY This study was conducted at a clinical translational-research unit. SUBJECTS We studied 16 healthy men (8 young men and 8 older men). METHODS An overnight transdermal testosterone (T) clamp was implemented before randomly ordered injections of 0, 2.5, 10, 25, 250, and 750 ng GnRH on separate days (96 study sessions). OUTCOMES LH responses were quantified by variable-waveform deconvolution analysis. RESULTS The T clamp maintained age-invariant mean concentrations of total, bioavailable, and free T, SHBG, LH, FSH, and prolactin. By two-way analysis of covariance, GnRH dose (P < 0.001) but not age (0.15 < or = P < or = 0.83) determined mean, peak, incremental, and pulsatile LH responses. Statistical power (median) was 95, 98, 90, and 99% to detect a 30% or greater age contrast at P < or = 0.05 in mean, peak, incremental, and pulsatile LH responses, and greater than 99% to detect a 30% or greater age contrast in bioavailable or total T concentrations. Higher GnRH doses (P < 0.001) abbreviated LH secretory bursts in both age groups. CONCLUSION In the face of eugonadal concentrations of total, bioavailable, and free T, young and older men exhibit remarkably similar LH responses to a 300-fold dose range of exogenous GnRH. Accordingly, previously reported disparate effects of age on GnRH action may reflect in part age-discrepant sex-steroid milieus.
Major depression and irritable bowel syndrome: is there a relationship?

BACKGROUND Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been reported in 10% to 22% of adults. Seventy percent to 90% of patients with IBS who seek medical attention have psychiatric comorbidity, most commonly major depression. In contrast, few studies have looked at the prevalence of IBS among psychiatric patients. METHOD Using a semistructured clinical interview to study the prevalence of IBS, we compared 56 patients seeking treatment for major depression in an outpatient setting to an age- and sex-matched control group of patients (N = 40) who were seeking treatment in a general physician's office for other medical illnesses. The control group had no Axis I disorders. IBS was diagnosed according to the criteria of Drossman et al. RESULTS Twenty-seven percent (N = 15) of patients with major depression met criteria for IBS in contrast to 2.5% (N = 1) of the control group (p = .0005). Patients with major depression and IBS were more likely to report symptoms of back pain, weakness, heartburn, and nocturnal bowel movements as well as a personal or family history of bowel disease compared with patients with major depression but without IBS. CONCLUSION IBS is fairly common in patients seeking treatment for major depression. Prospective studies should address the question whether treatment of major depression leads to an improvement or resolution of the symptoms of IBS.
Role of Endogenous Interleukin-12 in Immune Response to Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B in Mice

ABSTRACT In the present study, the roles of interleukin 12 (IL-12) and IL-18 and their possible interaction during superantigen-induced responses were studied by injection of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) into mice. These data suggest that the role of IL-12 in SEB-induced responses is limited to sustaining gamma interferon release by an IL-18-independent mechanism.
Making life easier for people with low vision

There are many things you can suggest that will help people with low vision make the most of their vision, whether they are able to benefit from magnification devices or not. If you are working at the community or at primary level, remember that these environmental modifications should never be a substitute for referral: always refer someone with low vison for an eye examination, refraction and low vision services wherever possible. If you are working at district/secondary or tertiary level, refer your patient for vision rehabilitation. The suggestions given here are a good starting point, but some people may require further support and training in order to make the most of their vision. A way of remembering environmental modifications is to think about:
Teaching Speech Sounds to Young Children Using Randomly Ordered, Variably Complex Task Sequences

Three children, ages 4:8 to 5:11, were taught a speech sound using a randomly ordered variably complex task sequence (concurrent treatment), in which practice occurred in randomized easy-to-hard tasks. In an AB research design replicated across participants, the children quickly advanced to 60% accurate productions of the target speech sound and displayed generalization to untaught tasks.
Predictors of Use of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) Among Persons With AIDS in San Francisco, 1996‐1999

&NA; Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has contributed to a decrease in AIDS‐related morbidity and mortality. This study used population‐based AIDS surveillance data to evaluate the prevalence and predictors of HAART use among persons with AIDS in San Francisco. Use of HAART among persons living with AIDS increased from 41% in 1996 to 72% in 1999. Fourteen percent of persons diagnosed with AIDS between 1996 and 1999 initiated HAART before their AIDS diagnosis. Use of HAART before an AIDS diagnosis increased from 5% in 1996 to 26% in 1999. In the multivariable analysis, African Americans, injection drug users, and those without insurance at the time of AIDS diagnosis were less likely to use HAART before AIDS diagnosis. Delayed initiation of HAART after AIDS was more likely to occur among African Americans, injection drug users, homeless persons, those with public insurance, and those with higher CD4 counts. Although the overall prevalence of HAART use was high, disparity in use of HAART existed by race and risk group, patient's insurance status, and facility of diagnosis. Barriers in use of treatment should be identified so all persons with AIDS can benefit from improved therapies.
Overexpression of HSP-72 confers cytoprotection in experimental peritoneal dialysis.

BACKGROUND Peritoneal dialysis is complicated by mesothelial cell injury due to low biocompatibility of peritoneal dialysis fluid (PDF). We have previously demonstrated that heat shock protein (HSP)-72 is potently up-regulated in response to PDF exposure of mesothelial cells in in vitro and in vivo models of peritoneal dialysis. The aim of this study was to evaluate potential cytoprotective effects of overexpression of HSP-72. METHODS Cytoprotection was assessed by comparing cellular viability between pretreated versus nonpretreated human mesothelial cells (Met 5a; ATCC, Manassas, VA, USA, and primary cell cultures) subjected to extended, usually lethal PDF exposure times (120 min, CAPD2; Fresenius, Bad Homburg, Germany). Pretreatment was performed with exposure to PDF (60 min, CAPD2; Fresenius) or heat (15 min, 41.5 degrees C), and by transient transfection with HSP-72. RESULTS When mesothelial cells were pretreated by nonlethal exposure to PDF or heat, HSP-72 was markedly up-regulated (>5-fold, P < 0.01). Pretreated human mesothelial cells were significantly protected against subsequent "lethal" exposures to PDF, as assessed by dye exclusion (>50% reduction, P < 0.05) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release (>30% reduction, P < 0.05). Comparable cytoprotection (50% reduction by dye exclusion) was indicated by overexpression of HSP-72 in cultered human mesothelial cells (>5-fold) after transient transfection with HSP-72. This cytoprotection was confirmed at a cellular basis by double staining techniques with HSP-72 and ApopTag (apoptosis detection kit). CONCLUSION Our study therefore shows that the mesothelial stress response confers cytoprotection in experimental peritoneal dialysis, mediated by the induction of HSP-72, and that the stimulus of the pretreatment does not have to be identical to the subsequent injury. These data offer the basis for an attractive novel therapeutic approach against PDF toxicity.
Binding of the NG2 Proteoglycan to Kringle Domains Modulates the Functional Properties of Angiostatin and Plasmin(ogen)*

Interactions of the developmentally regulated chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan NG2 with human plasminogen and kringle domain-containing plasminogen fragments have been analyzed by solid-phase immunoassays and by surface plasmon resonance. In immunoassays, the core protein of NG2 binds specifically and saturably to plasminogen, which consists of five kringle domains and a serine protease domain, and to angiostatin, which contains plasminogen kringle domains 1–3. Apparent dissociation constants for these interactions range from 12 to 75 nm. Additional evidence for NG2 interaction with kringle domains comes from its binding to plasminogen kringle domain 4 and to miniplasminogen (kringle domain 5 plus the protease domain) with apparent dissociation constants in the 18–71 nm range. Inhibition of plasminogen and angiostatin binding to NG2 by 6-aminohexanoic acid suggests that lysine binding sites are involved in kringle interaction with NG2. The interaction of NG2 with plasminogen and angiostatin has very interesting functional consequences. 1) Soluble NG2 significantly enhances the activation of plasminogen by urokinase type plasminogen activator. 2) The antagonistic effect of angiostatin on endothelial cell proliferation is inhibited by soluble NG2. Both of these effects of NG2 should make the proteoglycan a positive regulator of the cell migration and proliferation required for angiogenesis.
CARDIOVASCULAR RISK ASSESSMENT THROUGH TARGET ORGAN DAMAGE: ROLE OF CAROTID TO FEMORAL PULSE WAVE VELOCITY

1 Cardiovascular risk prediction relies on classical risk factors such as age, gender, lipids, hypertension, smoking and diabetes. Although the value of such scales of risk is high for populations, its value for individuals is reduced and much influenced by non‐modifiable risk factors (age and sex). 2 Biomarkers of risk have been deceiving and the genome‐wide scan approach is too recent to have been useful. Target‐organ damage may help in selecting patients at high risk and determine the necessity of intervention. 3 Aortic pulse wave velocity, an index of aortic stiffness, has been widely validated as providing additional risk prediction above and beyond classical risk factors and has now entered the 2007 guidelines for hypertension of the European Society of Hypertension. 4 We aim to show that individual prediction of cardiovascular‐related death can be improved by taking aortic stiffness into account in a cohort of patients during a longitudinal follow‐up. 5 Points to be improved are the homogenization and spreading of the technique of measurement, the establishment of a reference value database and the demonstration of the added value of aortic stiffness screening and stratification in interventional trials.