Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association between change in self-efficacy to resist drinking and drinking behaviors among an HIV-infected sample: Results from a large randomized controlled trial

Heavy drinking among HIV-infected individuals is associated with health complications. Health-behavior self-efficacy may be characteristically low among this population or negatively affected by HIV-infected status. We assessed whether self-efficacy to resist drinking increased during brief educational and motivational drinking-reduction interventions within HIV primary care and whether increases in self-efficacy predicted drinking among HIV-infected heavy drinkers. Results indicate that increases in self-efficacy from baseline to end-of-intervention inversely predicted drinking at end-of-intervention and at follow-up. Findings suggest that brief treatment interventions within HIV primary care may promote self-efficacy and that increases in self-efficacy predict initiation and maintenance of drinking reductions among HIV patients.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Related Coronavirus Is Inhibited by Interferon-α

Abstract Current treatment schemes for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) include broad-spectrum antibiotics, glucocorticoids, and ribavirin. We evaluated the susceptibility of the SARS-related coronavirus (SARS CoV) to ribavirin and interferon (IFN)-α in vitro by use of cytopathic effect, plaque assay, and immunoblot analysis. Ribavirin did not inhibit viral growth at concentrations attainable in human serum. In contrast, IFN-α showed an in vitro inhibitory effect starting at concentrations of 1000 IU/mL. In conclusion, ribavirin alone is unlikely to be beneficial in the prophylaxis or treatment of SARS CoV infections. Clinical trials with IFN-α might be justified to determine a beneficial effect on the outcome of SARS.
Exogenously added BMP-6, BMP-7 and VEGF may not enhance the osteogenic differentiation of human adipose stem cells

Abstract In the present study bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-6 alone or in synergy with BMP-7 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were tested with human adipose stem cells (hASCs) seeded on cell culture plastic or 3D bioactive glass. Osteogenic medium (OM) was used as a positive control for osteogenic differentiation. The same growth factor groups were also tested combined with OM. None of the growth factor treatments could enhance the osteogenic differentiation of hASCs in 3D- or 2D-culture compared to control or OM. In 3D-culture OM promoted significantly total collagen production, whereas in 2D-culture OM induced high total ALP activity and mineralization compared to control and growth factors groups, but also high cell proliferation. In this study, hASCs did not respond to exogenously added growth although various parameters of the study set-up may have affected these findings contradictory to the previous literature.
Neuropsychiatric manifestations in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: epidemiology and radiology pointing to an immune-mediated cause

Background Different pathogenetic pathways have been proposed for neuropsychiatric (NP) manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Objective To describe the patient characteristics of a large cohort of patients with SLE with NP manifestations (NPSLE) in a single centre and to review whether these and other data are compatible with immune-mediated mechanisms. Methods A total of 212 patients were identified from MRI scans of the brain ordered for suspected NPSLE. Data were collected from the medical records. NP syndromes were classified according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) nomenclature and case definitions. Results 155 patients fulfilled the criteria for SLE. In 102 patients NP manifestations were attributed to SLE itself (primary NPSLE) whereas, in the remaining patients, the NP symptoms were due to other causes. The median age at the time of SLE diagnosis in patients with primary NPSLE was 27.5 years and the median duration prior to NPSLE was 2.8 years. Forty patients (39%) had a NP manifestation in the first year of the disease. Cerebrovascular disease, cognitive dysfunction, seizures and headache were the most prevalent syndromes. In 47% of patients with primary NPSLE the MRI scan of the brain showed no abnormalities. Conclusions Most NP manifestations in SLE occur early in the disease. This finding, as well as data from quantitative imaging studies and recent pathological studies, point to an immune-mediated pathogenesis.
A Novel Type of Splicing Enhancer Regulating Adenovirus Pre-mRNA Splicing

ABSTRACT Splicing of the adenovirus IIIa pre-mRNA is subjected to a temporal regulation, such that efficient IIIa 3′ splice site usage is confined to the late phase of the infectious cycle. Here we show that IIIa pre-mRNA splicing is activated more than 200-fold in nuclear extracts prepared from late adenovirus-infected cells (Ad-NE) compared to uninfected HeLa cell nuclear extracts (HeLa-NE). In contrast, splicing of the β-globin pre-mRNA is repressed in Ad-NE. We constructed hybrid pre-mRNAs between IIIa and β-globin in order to identify the minimal IIIa sequence element conferring enhanced splicing in Ad-NE. Using this approach, we show that the IIIa branch site/pyrimidine tract functions as a Janus element: it blocks splicing in HeLa-NE and functions as a splicing enhancer in Ad-NE. Therefore, we named this sequence the IIIa virus infection-dependent splicing enhancer (3VDE). This element is essential for regulated IIIa pre-mRNA splicing in Ad-NE and sufficient to confer an enhanced splicing phenotype to the β-globin pre-mRNA in Ad-NE. We further show that the increase in IIIa splicing observed in Ad-NE is not accompanied by a similar increase in U2AF binding to the IIIa pyrimidine tract. This finding suggests that splicing activation by the 3VDE may operate without efficient U2AF interaction with the pre-mRNA. Importantly, this report represents the first description of a splicing enhancer that has evolved to function selectively in the context of a virus infection, a finding that adds a new level at which viruses may subvert the host cell RNA biosynthetic machinery to facilitate their own replication.
Treatment of Candida infection: a view from the trenches!

Purpose of review To provide an overview of the treatment of Candida infections from the perspective of the infectious disease clinician in the community. An insight is given into relevant issues as they apply to clinical practice. As community hospitals strive to provide state-of-the-art medical care to critically ill patients, effective infection control programs and the infectious disease consultation availability become indispensable. Recent findings Candida infections rank as the fourth most common cause of nosocomial bloodstream infections. Although C. albicans remains the most common pathogen, emerging trends in invasive candidiasis are notable for a dramatic increase in infections due to non-albicans Candida species, reflecting changes in clinical practice. These trends affect our practice because infections with non-albicans species raise concerns for inherent decreased antifungal susceptibility, ultimately impacting our preventive, empirical and therapeutic approaches. It seems inevitable for most acutely ill patients today to be admitted to the intensive care unit, thus increasing their risk for nosocomial infections. In addition, cost containment efforts may force patients receiving intravenous therapy into less supervised environments, potentially increasing their risk for candidemia. Summary Potentially fatal Candida infections are commonplace in seriously ill hospitalized patients. The infectious disease physician is challenged to develop expertise in using the newly introduced antifungal agents, applying evidence-based guidelines developed from quality randomized clinical trials. The infectious disease specialist is called to play a multidisciplinary role formulating infection control policies, developing drug formularies, educating the staff and treating the sickest patients. Infection surveillance in local communities coupled with available antifungal agents may improve our management of Candida infections.
The Perception of Moving Subjective Contours by 4-Month-Old Infants

We investigated whether 4-month-old infants are capable of perceiving illusory contours produced by the Kanizsa-square display, first introduced by Prazdny (1983, Perception & Psychophysics 34 403–404), which tests whether a viewer perceives the illusory contour in the absence of brightness contrast (illusory brightness). Because the illusory square appears to move across the computer screen and infants are attracted to motion, this display holds their interest. In experiment 1, 4-month-old infants were tested for their ability to distinguish between a continuously moving illusory square and a continuously moving control display in which the pacman elements were rotated so that the perception of subjective contours did not occur. Data analysis revealed a significant preference for the subjective contour display. In experiment 2, habituation-dishabituation was used with 4-month-old infants. They were tested for their ability to discriminate between the illusory Kanizsa square that continuously moved back and forth and an illusory square which changed positions randomly. Although the infants did not show differences in dishabituation as a function of the habituation display, they looked significantly longer at the continuously moving display.
Reg IV activates the epidermal growth factor receptor/Akt/AP-1 signaling pathway in colon adenocarcinomas.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Reg IV, a secreted protein and member of the Reg multigene family, is up-regulated in malignancies of the human gastrointestinal tract, including colorectal carcinoma (CRC). However, in vitro signal transduction pathway(s) utilized by Reg IV are not yet known. METHODS To determine the signaling pathway(s) responsive to Reg IV, we examined the effects of purified recombinant human Reg IV (rhR4) on HCT116 and HT29 colon adenocarcinoma cells. RESULTS Addition of rhR4 to cultures led to a dose-dependent increase in cell number similar to that observed after treatment with epidermal growth factor (EGF). In addition, rhR4 treatment resulted in rapid phosphorylation of EGF receptor at Tyr992 and Tyr1068 and Akt at Thr308 and Ser473. Using luciferase reporter gene assays, we demonstrated that Reg IV signaling through EGF receptor and Akt results in increased activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factor activity. Real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses revealed quantitative increases in c-Jun, JunB, JunD, and FosB expression associated with increased AP-1 activity. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay further revealed significant increases in AP-1 binding activity in rhR4-treated cells, with increased supershift in the presence of antibodies to JunB, JunD, and FosB. Furthermore, rhR4 treatments led to the increased expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, survivin, and matrilysin, genes associated with a poor prognosis in advanced CRC. CONCLUSIONS Reg IV is a potent activator of the EGF receptor/Akt/AP-1 signaling pathway in CRC. Disruption of Reg signaling may have utility as a therapeutic intervention for human gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas.
Determinants of Arterial Stiffness in Greek and French Hypertensive Men

The aim of the present study was to assess the main determinants of arterial stiffness in Greek and French middle-aged, hypertensive men, by using pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurements, which is an established method of quantification of arterial stiffness. The study was performed in 83 consecutive Greek and 79 consecutive French untreated male hypertensive outpatients aged 45-65 years. French subjects were examined in Paris at the "Centre d'Investigations Préventives et Cliniques" (the IPC Center). Greek patients were examined in Athens at the hypertension outpatient clinic in Sotiria Hospital (University of Athens). In both Greek and French hypertensive subjects, aortic stiffness was determined by the same parameters: age, blood pressure and heart rate (HR) explained approximately 40% of the aortic PWV variations, whereas lipids, triglycerides and tobacco smoking were not significant associated with aortic stiffness. After multivariate adjustments, Greek hypertensives had higher aortic stiffness as compared to the French patients by 1.2 m/s (approximately 10%); p < 0.001. Greek hypertensive subjects had also a higher body weight, waist, HR and prevalence of smoking. However, among all these factors only HR had a significant effect on PWV. Also after adjustment for HR, the difference in PWV between the two populations persisted. In conclusion, in two different populations, stiffness seems to be regulated by the same major factors. The higher aortic stiffness found in Greek hypertensives may be explained by the presence of other non-evaluated risk factors and/or patient selection differences
Mycelium Growth and Biological Efficiency of Ganoderma lucidum on Substrate Supplemented with Different Organic Additives

Ganoderma lucidum (W. Curt.: Fr.) P. Karst. (in China known as Ling Zhi and in Japan as Reishi) is one of the most popular medicinal mushrooms in China, Japan, Korea and other Asian countries (Stamets, 2000; Chang and Miles, 2004; Zhou et al., 2012). Numerous studies have shown that Reishi mushroom contains several pharmacologically active substances (Wasser, 2005, 2011; Paterson, 2006; Boh et al., 2007). Medicinal properties of G. lucidum are connected first of all with its anti– cancer and immunomodulatory effects (Wasser, 2002; Sanodiya et al., 2009; Xu et al., 2011; Batra et al., 2013). Numerous preparations based on G. lucidum are commercially available worldwide and the observed demand for these products shows a marked upward trend (Lai et al., 2004). Ganoderma lucidum grows on dead trees of many species, mainly deciduous (hardwood), while it is rather rarely found in coniferous (softwood) species (Stamets, 2000; Chen, 2002; Wasser, 2005). As it was reported by Curvetto et al. (2002), Hsieh and Yang (2004) and Sanodiya et al. (2009), in order to meet the increasing demand this species is grown on different natural solid substrates as well as liquid nutrient media. Fruit bodies of G. lucidum are traditionally produced on wood, sawdust and grain (Stamets, 2000; Chen, 2002 2004; Wasser, 2005; Boh et al., 2007; Azizi et al., 2012). As it was reported by Sukarno et al. (2009), hardwood is particularly useful in this case. In the culture of G. lucidum other organic materials are also used, most frequently agricultural or industrial waste, e.g. sunflower husks (Gonzalez–Matute et al., 2002), coir (Mishra and Singh, 2008), different types of straw (Mishra and Singh, 2008; Ke et al., 2011; Veena and Pandey, 2011) as well as hemp and flax shives (Siwulski et al., 2010). Numerous studies have shown that the application of such substrate additives as wheat, rice or maize bran (Chen, 2004; Erkel, 2009a; Azizi et al., 2012), corn meal and gram flour (Gurung et al., 2012), tea waste (Peksen and Yakupoglu, 2009), soy residue (Hsieh and Yang, 2004), molasses (Stamets, 2000; Erkel 2009b), malt (Gonzalez–Matute et al., 2002), stillage grain (Yang et al., 2003), yeasts (Ke et al., 2011), food waste compost (Jo et al., 2013a,b) and fishing industry waste (Lakshmi, 2013) may improve yields of Reishi mushrooms. The effect of these additives on yielding depends first of all on their contents of nitrogen sources and the supply of carbon compounds available for mycelium (Hsieh and Yang, 2004; Erkel, 2009b; Peksen and Yakupoglu, 2009; Jo et al., 2013a). Many studies showed an effect of cultivation conditions and the composition of the substrate on mycelium growth, biological efficiency and contents of bioactive compounds in Reishi mushrooms (Siwulski and Mycelium Growth and Biological Efficiency of Ganoderma lucidum on Substrate Supplemented with Different Organic Additives
Integration host factor affects expression of two genes at the conjugal transfer origin of plasmid R100

Integration host factor (IHF) binds to two sites near the origin of transfer of the conjugative antibiotic resistance plasmid, R100. DNase I footprinting shows that one site is immediately adjacent to or/T and the gene X promoter, and another is adjacent to the traM promoter. A third site, known only from retardation gels, is near the traJ promoter. The relative promoter activities of genes X, traJ and traM are reduced in himA mutants (IHF), as measured by chloramphenicol‐resistance assays. Transcript analyses by Northern blots showed a reduction in size of the principal gene X and traJ transcripts in the absence of IHF.
Resective Surgery for Intractable Focal Epilepsy in Patients with Low IQ: Predictors for Seizure Control and Outcome with Respect to Seizures and Neuropsychological and Psychosocial Functioning

Summary: Purpose: To investigate possible predictive factors for seizure control in a group of children and adults with low IQs (IQ, ≤70) who underwent resective surgery for intractable focal epilepsy and to study outcome with respect to seizures and neuropsychological functioning. We also studied psychosocial outcome in the adult patients.
High amounts of circulating interleukin (IL)‐6 in the form of monomeric immune complexes during anti‐IL‐6 therapy. Towards a new methodology for measuring overall cytokine production in human in vivo

A patient with plasma cell leukemia was treated with anti‐interleukin (IL)‐6 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) for 2 months. Using chromatography on protein A‐Sepharose, anti‐murine‐IgG‐Sepharose, anti‐IL‐6‐mAb‐Sepharose and gel filtration at pH 2.3, we have demonstrated that the anti‐IL‐6 mAb, by preventing the binding of IL‐6 to its cell membrane receptor and its renal elimination, has induced huge amounts of IL‐6 to circulate in the form of monomeric immune complexes. By using this observation, we have developed a mathematical modelling that allows the determination of the overall daily production of IL‐6 in this patient, which was in the range of 15 μg per day. Overall in vivo production of cytokines has never been evaluated in animals or in humans before.
The influence of emotional body posture on adults' and 8-year-olds' perception facial expressions

The present set of experiments was designed to investigate the development of children's sensitivity of facial expressions observed within emotional contexts. Past research investigating both adults' and children's perception of facial expressions has been limited primarily to the presentation of isolated faces. During daily social interactions, however, facial expressions are encountered within contexts conveying emotions (e.g., background scenes, body postures, gestures). Recently, research has shown that adults' perception of facial expressions is influenced by these contexts. When emotional faces are shown in incongruent contexts (e.g., when an angry face is presented in a context depicting fear) adults' accuracy decreases and their reaction times increase (e.g., Meeren et a1. 2005). To examine the influence of emotional body postures on children's perception of facial expressions, in each of the experiments in the current study adults and 8-year-old children made two-alternative forced choice decisions about facial expressions presented in congruent (e.g., a face displayed sadness on a body displaying sadness) and incongruent (e.g., a face displaying fear on a body displaying sadness) contexts. Consistent with previous studies, a congruency effect (better performance on congruent than incongruent trials) was found for both adults and 8-year-olds when the emotions displayed by the face and body were similar to each other (e.g., fear and sad, Experiment la); the influence of context was greater for 8-year-olds than adults for these similar expressions. To further investigate why the congruency effect was larger for children than adults in Experiment 1 a, Experiment 1 b was conducted to examine if increased task difficulty would increase the magnitude of adults' congruency effects. Adults were presented with subtle facial and despite successfully increasing task difficulty the magnitude of the. congruency effect
Neonatal Dexamethasone Treatment for Chronic Lung Disease of Prematurity Alters the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis and Immune System Activity at School Age

OBJECTIVE. To compare long-term effects of neonatal treatment with dexamethasone or hydrocortisone for chronic lung disease of prematurity on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and the immune response in children at school age. PATIENTS AND METHODS. A total of 156 prematurely born children were included in this retrospective matched cohort study. Children treated with dexamethasone (n = 52) or hydrocortisone (n = 52) were matched for gestational age, birth weight, grade of infant respiratory distress syndrome, grade of periventricular or intraventricular hemorrhage, gender, and year of birth. A reference group of 52 children not treated with corticosteroids was included for comparison. Plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol in response to a social stress task were determined. Cytokine production was analyzed after in vitro stimulation of whole-blood cultures. RESULTS. The Trier Social Stress Test adapted for children induced an adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol response in all of the groups. The adrenocorticotropic hormone response was blunted in the dexamethasone group. The overall cortisol level was lower in the dexamethasone than in the hydrocortisone and reference group. Cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone in the hydrocortisone and reference groups were similar. The ratio of T-cell mitogen-induced interferon-γ/interleukin-4 secretion was significantly higher in the dexamethasone group than in the hydrocortisone group. Interferon-γ production and the ratios of interferon-γ/interleukin-4 and interferon-γ/ interleukin-10 were significantly higher in the dexamethasone group than the reference group. However, production of these cytokines did not differ between the hydrocortisone and the reference groups. CONCLUSION. Neonatal treatment of prematurely born children with dexamethasone but not with hydrocortisone resulted in long-lasting programming effects on hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and on the T-helper 1/T-helper 2 cytokine balance. Follow-up of these children is required to investigate long-term clinical consequences. We recommend that authors of previously performed randomized, controlled trials on neonatal glucocorticoid treatment include immune and neuroendocrine analyses in prolonged follow-up of these children.
Influence of a fabella in the gastrocnemius muscle on the common fibular nerve in Japanese subjects

The fabella is a sesamoid bone located in the proximal tendon of the gastrocnemius muscle. In rare cases, its presence may lead to a variety of clinical problems, including fabella syndrome and common fibular (CF) nerve palsy. The purpose of this study was to analyze the morphology of the fabella and CF nerve and discuss the influence of any existing fabellae on the size of the CF nerve. The morphology of the fabella and CF nerve in the popliteal region of the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle was investigated in 102 knees of 51 Japanese cadavers. The maximum circumference of the thigh, knee, and calf and the frequency, position, and size of the fabella were measured. In addition, the CF nerve width and thickness were measured proximal to the fabellar region and again as the CF nerve passed posterior, lateral, or medial to the region. A fabella was observed in 70 knees (68.6%). The CF nerve adjacent to the fabella was significantly wider and thinner than in the region proximal to the fabella (P < 0.001). In cases in which a bony fabella was present, there was a significant relationship between the thickness of the CF nerve and the circumference of the thigh and knee. The following factors were observed to contribute to the presence of a fabella causing alterations in the size of the CF nerve: a bony fabella, a CF nerve path posterior or lateral to the fabella, and subjects with a thin physique and bony fabella. Clin. Anat. 26:893–902, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.