Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hopelessness, suicide ideation, and depression in chronic kidney disease patients on hemodialysis or transplant recipients.

INTRODUCTION Hopelessness, suicide ideation and depression symptoms affect life quality and expectancy of chronic kidney disease patients. OBJECTIVE To verify whether there are differences in hopelessness, suicide ideation and depression symptoms between chronic kidney disease patients on hemodialysis or transplant recipients. We also analyzed the influence of sociodemographic factors in these symptoms. METHODS Cross-sectional study in which 50 clinically stable chronic hemodialysis patients and 50 renal transplant patients matched by gender and age. Instruments-Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). RESULTS BHS: 2% of each group scoring > 8 (p = 1.00). BSI: 4% in hemodialysis and 6% of the transplant patients scoring > 1 (p = 1.000). BDI: 20% in hemodialysis and 12% of transplant patients scoring > 14 (p = 0.275). Patients who did not have a labor activity presented more depressive symptoms (average BDI score: 10.5 vs. 7.3, p = 0.027). Transplant patients from deceased donor presented more depressive symptoms compared with those with transplant from living donors (average BDI score: 11.0 vs. 6.7, p = 0.042). CONCLUSION There was no difference in the intensity of hopelessness, suicide ideation and depression symptoms between stable hemodialysis and transplant patients. Not performing a labor activity and receiving the transplant from deceased donor lead to more depressive symptoms. The high prevalence of depressive symptoms and the finding of suicide ideation in both modalities of renal replacement therapy point to the need to monitor and care for those patients.
Potential eligibility of congenital heart disease patients for subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator based on surface electrocardiogram mapping.

AIMS The eligibility of complex congenital heart disease (C-CHD) patients for subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) has yet to be determined. The aim of this study was to determine in C-CHD patients: (i) the S-ICD eligibility, (ii) the most effective sensing vector, (iii) the impact of posture change on screening eligibility, and (iv) the impact of using two vs. six postures for screening. Adults with structurally normal hearts were used as controls. METHODS AND RESULTS The Boston Scientific ECG screening tool was used to determine eligibility for S-ICD in two and six different postures in 30 patients with C-CHD and 10 controls. Statistical significance was determined using Fisher's exact test. In total, 1440 bipolar vectors were collected. The mean age was 36.3 years, 57% subjects were men. Over all 86.7% of C-CHD patients and 100% controls (P > 0.05) met S-ICD eligibility. In controls, the primary vector (PV) was the most effective, and the alternate vector (AV) was least effective. In C-CHD patients, the AV was comparable to the PV. Posture change did not significantly affect S-ICD eligibility in C-CHD patients and controls (P > 0.05). Screening with six postures vs. two did not significantly affect S-ICD eligibility of C-CHD patients (83% vs. 87%, P > 0.05) or controls (90% vs. 100% P = >0.05). CONCLUSION No significant differences were observed between S-ICD eligibility in C-CHD patients and controls. The AV and PV are most suitable in C-CHD patients. No significant impact of postural change was observed for S-ICD eligibility between the two groups. No significant difference was observed in S-ICD eligibility when screening using two or six postures in both groups.
A Simple Method to Measure Renal Function in Swine by the Plasma Clearance of Iohexol

There is no simple method to measure glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in swine, an established model for studying renal disease. We developed a protocol to measure GFR in conscious swine by using the plasma clearance of iohexol. We used two groups, test and validation, with eight animals each. Ten milliliters of iohexol (6.47 g) was injected into the marginal auricular vein and blood samples (3 mL) were collected from the orbital sinus at different points after injection. GFR was determined using two models: two-compartment (CL2: all samples) and one-compartment (CL1: the last six samples). In the test group, CL1 overestimated CL2 by ~30%: CL2 = 245 ± 93 and CL1 = 308 ± 123 mL/min. This error was corrected by a first-order polynomial quadratic equation to CL1, which was considered the simplified method: SM = −47.909 + (1.176xCL1) − (0.00063968xCL12). The SM showed narrow limits of agreement with CL2, a concordance correlation of 0.97, and a total deviation index of 14.73%. Similar results were obtained for the validation group. This protocol is reliable, reproducible, can be performed in conscious animals, uses a single dose of the marker, and requires a reduced number of samples, and avoids urine collection. Finally, it presents a significant improvement in animal welfare conditions and handling necessities in experimental trials.
Acquaintance Molestation and Youth-Serving Organizations

This article is based not only on the research literature but also on the extensive field experience of the authors in consulting with investigators, attorneys, and organizations on the prevention, investigation, prosecution, and civil litigation of molestation of children within or in connection with youth-serving organizations. Acquaintance molesters have often pursued careers or sought out paid or volunteer work with organizations through which they can meet children. To address the problem of such offenders, it is necessary for youth-serving organizations to recognize the diversity of sexual activity, the phenomena of “nice-guy” offenders and compliant child victims, and the grooming/seduction process, each of which is reviewed here. The four most important protection practices for organizations are screening; management, and supervision; response to suspicions, allegations, and complaints; and prevention and awareness programs. The authors recommend general approaches to each of these and describe the reasons many organizations resist implementing available preventive measures.
Preinfusion anxiety predicts lactate‐induced panic attacks in normal controls.

&NA; Preinfusion anxiety, heart rate, and blood pressure were measured in 31 normal subjects who received sodium lactate infusions. Eight subjects developed symptoms of panic anxiety during these infusions. Preinfusion anxiety as measured by psychologic symptoms of anxiety on the Panic Description Scale was significantly higher in the panickers while heart rate and blood pressure were not.
Postcontusion polyphenol treatment alters inflammation and muscle regeneration.

PURPOSE Given the major role that oxidants play in cellular damage, and the recent focus on antioxidants as treatment for muscle injuries, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of short-term postinjury grape seed-derived polyphenol supplementation on muscle inflammation and repair processes after contusion injury. METHODS Experimental injury of the right gastrocnemius muscle was achieved by drop-mass method (200 g from a height of 50 cm), after which rats were gavaged with either 0.9% saline (placebo-PLA) or 20 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹ of proanthocyanidolic oligomer (PCO) from 2 h after contusion injury, for up to 14 d after injury. Blood samples and injured muscle were collected at 4 h and at days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 after injury. RESULTS Compared to an uninjured control group, PCO supplementation resulted in an earlier peak in number of activated satellite cells in contusion-injured muscle tissue (4 h for PCO vs day 3 for PLA, n = 4 per time point per group) and fetal myosin heavy chain expression (day 5 for PCO, P < 0.01 with no change in PLA, n = 3 per time point per group), indicative of quicker muscle regeneration. PCO supplementation limited neutrophil infiltration and facilitated earlier macrophage infiltration into the injured area (n = 4 per group). PCO also resulted in an earlier return toward control levels of muscle proinflammatory cytokines on day 3 (P < 0.01 for interleukin 6 and P < 0 05 for tumor necrosis factor α, both n = 3 per group). CONCLUSIONS Data show that short-term postinjury PCO supplementation was able to quicken muscle regeneration by facilitating earlier recruitment of activated satellite cells and to modulate the immune system in favor of an anti-inflammatory status.
Subliminal Speed Control in Air Traffic Management: Optimization and Simulation

We address the conflict resolution problem in air traffic management. It is widely acknowledged that air traffic controllers' ATCs workload is related to the density of flights. ATCs' main task is to ensure the safety of flights throughout their trips and consists of ensuring the respect of separation standards. Recently, the concept of subliminal control has emerged as a promising conflict resolution technique that could be used to reduce the impact of conflicts on ATCs' workload. In this research, we present deterministic conflict resolution models adapted to subliminal speed control. The proposed models are formulated as nonlinear optimization problems that seek to minimize indicators related to ATCs' workload total conflict duration, total number of conflicts using only minor speed adjustments. We introduce a linear approximation of the aircraft separation equations to implement the obtained mixed integer programs on a continental size air traffic network. Specifically, we develop a simulation framework aiming at reproducing realistic navigation conditions and evaluate the robustness of our conflict resolution models using a generic uncertainty model. We show that the impact of conflicts on ATCs' workload can be significantly reduced using only limited resources, i.e., a narrow speed modulation range, even in the presence of perturbations. Further, we demonstrate that a significant share of the potential conflicts can be resolved without inducing important delays to flights. Finally, we report that our model does not require extensive computational resources as most instances can be solved to global optimality in a few seconds.
Impact of efforts to increase participation in repetitive screenings for early breast cancer detection.

31092 women aged 44-64 years members of the Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York were invited to participate in an X-ray screening program to detect breast cancer in order to examine: 1) differences among population groups in their participation in 3 annual breast screening examinations following participation in an initial examination; 2) the extent to which increased efforts at gaining participation in the initial examination of the breast cancer screening program influenced participation in later screenings with particular attention to population group differences in continued participation; and 3) the extent to which increased contact efforts contributed to the detection of breast cancer at an early stage in its development. 20211 (65%) took part in the initial screening examination. Nonparticipants were followed during the study period for detection of breast cancer. Health behavior was studied by questionnaire in 3232 women (20%). Contact and follow-up for programs participation are described and also 3 types of participants according to contact effort -- minimum effort secondary effort and repeated effort. The population group most likely to appear for a full set of screenings was under 60 years of age Jewish American-born better educated with higher incomes and professional occupations and had had contact with the medical group within 1 year of the study. The minimum effort group was more likely to participate in the full set of examinations than those requiring increased efforts. 80% of the repeated effort group participants had at least 1 examination after the initial one and 40% had all 4. Added effort increased overall participation in the study by 1/3. Results indicate that high levels of response can be maintained in a repetitive screening program among a broad range of population groups. Participation may have been enhanced because this was an extension of a total system of medical care. There was a total of 218 positive diagnoses 163 from the minimum effort group and 55 from an increased effort group. 25% of the breast cancers were found in the initial screenings and 39% between screenings or after the 3rd annual examination. In the study group evidence of axillary node involvement was absent in 62% of the breast cancer cases while in nonparticipants only 40% had no such involvement.
Enhanced IL-6 transcriptional response to adenosine receptor ligands in horses with lower airway inflammation.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY Accumulation of extracellular adenosine has been closely associated with human asthmatic responses. However, the relevance of adenosine signalling in equine airways has not previously been investigated. OBJECTIVES To determine the expression of adenosine receptors (AR) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells and assess the reactivity of these cells to AR ligands ex vivo, employing IL-6 as readout of adenosinergic inflammatory signalling. METHODS Eight horses with varying degrees of lower airway inflammation and 10 healthy controls were analysed. Expression of AR-subtypes in each BAL sample was determined by quantitative RT-PCR and compared to that in 13 other tissues. Bronchoalveolar lavage cells were stimulated either with the adenosine analogue NECA, CGS-21680 (A(2A) AR selective agonist) or with a combination of NECA and SCH-58261 (A(2A) AR antagonist) and IL-6 expression assessed. RESULTS Bronchoalveolar lavage cells predominantly expressed A(2B) AR, with lower A(2A) AR levels and marginal A(3) AR expression; A(1) AR was not detected. This pattern was similar to that of PBMCs but different from the other tissues tested. No significant differences in AR expression in BAL cells from both groups were detected, although a trend for decreased A(2B) AR in airway-compromised horses was observed. Treatment of BAL cells with the nonselective agonist NECA upregulated IL-6 expression in cells from airway-compromised horses, but levels remained unchanged in control animals. Furthermore, blockage of A(2A) AR with SCH-58261 enhanced IL-6 mRNA induction by NECA in both groups, with higher levels in airway-compromised horses; the amplitude of this response correlated with neutrophil count. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate the presence of an adenosine/IL-6 inflammatory axis in the bronchoalveolar milieu of airway-compromised horses. While A(2B) AR is the predominant proinflammatory AR subtype expressed, A(2A) AR appears to modulate inflammatory signalling (IL-6 expression) by adenosine. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE This study supports selective AR targeting as a potential therapeutic approach for the modulation of inflammation in the equine lower respiratory tract.
Long-term survival of peripheral intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with metastasis to the para-aortic lymph nodes.

A 64-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WAS ADMITTED with upper abdominal pain. On admission physical examination revealed only slight tenderness in the abdomen. The laboratory data showed slight elevations of leucine aminopeptidase (57 U/L) and γglutamyl transpeptidase concentrations (43 U/L), a normal serum level of carcinoembryonic antigen (1.3 ng/mL), and an elevated serum level of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (229.2 U/L). Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed a tumor measuring 15 mm and dilated intrahepatic bile ducts at the left lateral lobe of the liver but no swelling of regional or para-aortic lymph nodes. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography showed stenosis of an intrahepatic bile duct at the left lateral superior segment of the liver and dilation of the peripheral intrahepatic bile duct (Figure). At surgery para-aortic lymph nodes metastasis was proved by biopsy and intraoperative pathologic examination. Left hemihepatectomy with lymph nodes dissection was performed. The resected specimen revealed an infiltrating bile duct tumor that measured 20 × 20 mm at the left lateral superior segment. Histologic examination showed a moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma with metastases to 7 of 12 para-aortic lymph nodes and 1 of 5 lymph nodes in the hepatoduodenal ligament. Immunohistochemical stains showed a strong positive plasma membrane–type pattern CD44 standard, CD44 variant 6, and E-cadherin, but telomerase activity (with a telomeric repeat amplification protocol) was not detectable. The patient has survived for 7 years without evident recurrence.
Ribosome hopping and translational frameshifting are inadequate alternatives to translational attenuation in cat-86 regulation

The induction of cat-86 by chloramphenicol has been proposed to follow the translational attenuation model. In the absence of inducer, the cat-86 gene is transcribed but remains phenotypically unexpressed because the transcripts sequester the ribosome binding site for the cat coding sequence in a stable stem-loop structure, preventing translation initiation. The translational attenuation model proposes that the natural inducer, chloramphenicol, stalls a ribosome in the leader region of cat transcripts, which causes localized melting of the downstream stem-loop structure, allowing initiation of translation of the cat-86 coding sequence. Although it is established that ribosome stalling in the cat-86 leader can induce translation of the coding sequence, several subsequent steps predicted by the model remain to be experimentally confirmed. As a consequence, the present evidence for cat-86 regulation can also be explained by two other potential control devices, ribosome hopping and translational frameshifting. Here we describe experiments designed to determine whether the alternatives to translational attenuation regulate cat-86. The results obtained are inconsistent with both competing models and are consistent with predictions made by the translational attenuation model.
Effectiveness of pharmacotherapy and behavioral interventions for smoking cessation in actual clinical practice

Objectives: This study evaluated the effectiveness of behavioral interventions (brief counseling, nonspecific psychological support in groups — NSGS and cognitive behavioral group therapy — CBGT) in combination with bupropion SR for smoking cessation in the field, through a smoking cessation clinic. Methods: Two-hundred-and-five smokers were enrolled in a 19-week course during 2007/ 2008, and were randomly assigned to: bupropion SR combined with brief counseling (group A), bupropion SR combined with NSGS (group B), bupropion SR combined with CBGT (group C), or CBGT as the only approach (group D). Results: Continuous abstinence rates at the end of therapy were 53.2% for group A, 62.9% for group B, 50.0% for group C, and 22.2% (p < 0.05) for group D. Sustained abstinence rates in 12 months were 29.6%, 28.1%, 34.3% and 19.4% (p > 0.05), respectively. Conclusions: Bupropion SR is an effective aid for smoking cessation in clinical practice. NSGT increased the chances for success at the end of therapy when combined with bupropion SR, while CBGT as monotherapy was less effective compared with the approaches including pharmacotherapy. It is suggested that smoking cessation interventions in real-life healthcare settings should be implemented through comprehensive programs using pharmacotherapy where applicable, combined with NSGT, and integrated by specialized healthcare professionals.
Di-tripeptides and oligopeptides are taken up via distinct transport mechanisms in Lactococcus lactis

Lactococcus lactis ML3 possesses two different peptide transport systems of which the substrate size restriction and specificity have been determined. The first system is the earlier-described proton motive force-dependent di-tripeptide carrier (E. J. Smid, A. J. M. Driessen, and W. N. Konings, J. Bacteriol. 171:292-298, 1989). The second system is a metabolic energy-dependent oligopeptide transport system which transports peptides of four to at least six amino acid residues. The involvement of a specific oligopeptide transport system in the utilization of tetra-alanine and penta-alanine was established in a mutant of L. lactis MG1363 that was selected on the basis of resistance to toxic analogs of alanine and alanine-containing di- and tripeptides. This mutant is unable to transport alanine, dialanine, and trialanine but still shows uptake of tetra-alanine and penta-alanine. The oligopeptide transport system has a lower activity than the di-tripeptide transport system. Uptake of oligopeptides occurs in the absence of a proton motive force and is specifically inhibited by vanadate. The oligopeptide transport system is most likely driven by ATP or a related energy-rich, phosphorylated intermediate.
Characterizing the genetic basis of transcriptome diversity through RNA-sequencing of 922 individuals

Understanding the consequences of regulatory variation in the human genome remains a major challenge, with important implications for understanding gene regulation and interpreting the many disease-risk variants that fall outside of protein-coding regions. Here, we provide a direct window into the regulatory consequences of genetic variation by sequencing RNA from 922 genotyped individuals. We present a comprehensive description of the distribution of regulatory variation—by the specific expression phenotypes altered, the properties of affected genes, and the genomic characteristics of regulatory variants. We detect variants influencing expression of over ten thousand genes, and through the enhanced resolution offered by RNA-sequencing, for the first time we identify thousands of variants associated with specific phenotypes including splicing and allelic expression. Evaluating the effects of both long-range intra-chromosomal and trans (cross-chromosomal) regulation, we observe modularity in the regulatory network, with three-dimensional chromosomal configuration playing a particular role in regulatory modules within each chromosome. We also observe a significant depletion of regulatory variants affecting central and critical genes, along with a trend of reduced effect sizes as variant frequency increases, providing evidence that purifying selection and buffering have limited the deleterious impact of regulatory variation on the cell. Further, generalizing beyond observed variants, we have analyzed the genomic properties of variants associated with expression and splicing and developed a Bayesian model to predict regulatory consequences of genetic variants, applicable to the interpretation of individual genomes and disease studies. Together, these results represent a critical step toward characterizing the complete landscape of human regulatory variation.